KR20120103696A - Automated warehouse system, fire-extinguishing unit, and fire-extinguishing method for automated warehouse - Google Patents

Abstract

With a limited amount of extinguishing agent, extinguish fires in automated warehouses. The automated warehouse system 2 is provided with the shelf 7 provided with the some area | region 8, and the conveying apparatus 4 which runs along the shelf 7. As shown in FIG. A fire extinguishing agent having a tank 14 and a nozzle 44 of the extinguishing agent and a lid member 20 which covers the region 8 of the shelf 7 and allows the injection of the extinguishing agent from the nozzle 44 to the region 8 side. A retreat device 50 for advancing and retreating the unit 12 and the lid member 20 between the position on the conveying device 4 side and the position on the side covering the region 8 is provided. The upper and lower sides of the region 8 are the non-combustible or flame-retardant ceiling 37 or the floor 37, and the left and right sides and the back are the non-combustible or flame-retardant walls 35 and 36, and the conveying apparatus 4 at the time of fire. ), The fire extinguishing unit 12 is conveyed, and a fire extinguishing agent is injected from the nozzle 44 into the fired region 8.

Description

AUTOMATTED WAREHOUSE SYSTEM, FIRE-EXTINGUISHING UNIT, AND FIRE-EXTINGUISHING METHOD FOR AUTOMATED WAREHOUSE}

The present invention relates to fire extinguishing in an automated warehouse system.

The applicant proposed that a fire extinguishing device is mounted on a stacker crane traveling in an automatic warehouse, and the extinguishing agent is sprayed by injecting a extinguishing agent such as carbon dioxide from a nozzle to a ignition point (Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H09-150911A). Unlike chemical extinguishing agents such as powders, carbon dioxide does not contaminate the interior of an automated warehouse and, unlike water, does not short the electrical wiring. And since carbon dioxide is heavier than air, it stays in a ignition place and extinguish a fire.

However, a large amount of carbon dioxide is required to reliably extinguish. The size of the carbon dioxide tank that can be transported by the stacker crane is limited by the size of the cargo that can be transported. Because of this, there is a possibility that it is not possible to reliably digest. The same applies to extinguishing agents other than carbon dioxide.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H09-150911A

An object of the present invention is to reliably extinguish a fire in an automatic warehouse with a limited amount of extinguishing agent.

A further object of the present invention is to reliably prevent the digested article from re-ignition.

The automatic warehouse system of the present invention, the shelf having at least one, a plurality of areas,

A conveying device that runs along the shelf;

A fire extinguishing unit having a tank and a nozzle of the extinguishing agent, a lid member covering the area of the shelf and allowing injection of the extinguishing agent from the nozzle to the area side;

And a retraction apparatus for advancing and retracting the lid member between a position on the conveying apparatus side and a position on the side covering the region,

The upper and lower sides of the area of the shelf are the non-flammable or flame-retardant ceiling or floor, the left and right sides and the back are the non-flammable or flame-retardant wall,

The fire extinguishing unit and the retreating apparatus are conveyed to the said conveying apparatus at the time of a fire, and it is characterized by spraying a extinguishing agent from a nozzle in the area which ignited.

Moreover, in the fire extinguishing method of the automatic warehouse of this invention, in order to extinguish a fire in the area | region in the automatic warehouse provided with the shelf provided with the at least 1 some area | region, and the conveying apparatus which runs along the said shelf,

The upper and lower sides of the area of the shelf are the non-flammable or flame-retardant ceiling or floor, the left and right sides and the back are the non-flammable or flame-retardant wall,

A fire extinguishing unit having a tank and a nozzle of the extinguishing agent, a lid member covering the area of the shelf and allowing injection of the extinguishing agent from the nozzle to the area side, and a position of the cover member on the conveying device side and the position of the side covering the area; The fire extinguishing unit which conveys the advance and retreat apparatus which advances and retreats among the at the time of a fire,

The extinguishing agent is sprayed from the nozzle into the ignited area, and the cover member also restricts the leakage of the extinguishing agent from the area and the inflow of air into the area.

In the present invention, since the region is surrounded by a fireproof wall or the like except for the front surface, it is difficult to burn, and the inflow of air is restricted to the front surface side. And if the cover member of the fire-extinguishing unit advances to the ignited region side and covers the region, it is possible to restrict or block the entry of air. In addition, it is possible to restrict the ejected extinguishing agent from the fired area. For this reason, even a small amount of extinguishing agents can be surely digested.

It is preferable to enlarge the area in the vertical surface of the lid member, to cover the ignited area, and to restrict or block the entry of air. Therefore, preferably, the signal of the excess detection sensor of a load is invalid at the time of conveyance of a fire extinguishing unit. In this way, a large lid member can be conveyed without being limited by the excess sensor of a load.

In order to enlarge a cover member, it is preferable to provide the extinguishing unit with the extension apparatus for extending a cover member in a vertical surface. In other words, if the lid member extends to cover the area, it is possible to further block the inflow and out of air, and thus to extinguish more reliably with a limited amount of extinguishing agent. Preferably, the lid member comprises a main body and at least one extension part disposed at the periphery of the main body, and the extension device extends the at least one extension part at least vertically downward with respect to the lid member.

Extinguishing agents, such as carbon dioxide, hardly sustain the effect of covering a target to be digested, and there is a danger that the once-fired article is regenerated. Therefore, preferably, a water tank or a dedicated area for discharging extinguishing agents, such as carbon dioxide and halon gas, or a sprinkler for ejecting water, and storing a fired article to be cooled to below the ignition temperature while preventing re-ignition. Install. Then, after extinguishing the fired area, the fire extinguishing unit is returned to the shelf, and then the fired cargo is returned to the dedicated area, whereby refire can be prevented reliably. When installing a fire extinguishing device ejection apparatus or sprinkler, it is preferable to install a shutter and to block the whole surface of a dedicated area | region.

The fire extinguishing unit of the present invention includes a tank and a nozzle of a fire extinguishing agent, a lid member which covers the area of the shelf and permits the injection of the extinguishing agent from the nozzle, and a position of the cover member that covers the position and the area on the conveying device side. It is a unit which can be conveyed with the conveying apparatus provided with the advancing apparatus which advances and retreats between. The lid retracting apparatus may be a moving placing apparatus of the conveying apparatus. However, when the lid is placed in the extinguishing unit, the lid can be advanced only by the extinguishing unit without controlling the conveying apparatus. In the fire extinguishing unit of the present invention, since the area ignited by the cover member can be covered, it is possible to restrict or block the entry of air and to extinguish the fire even with a small amount of fire extinguishing agent.

Preferably, the fire extinguishing unit further includes an extension device for extending the cover member in the vertical plane. Particularly preferably, the lid member comprises a main body and at least one extension part disposed at the periphery of the main body, and the extension device extends the at least one extension part at least vertically downward with respect to the lid member.

In the present specification, the description regarding the automatic warehouse system also applies to the automatic fire extinguishing method and the fire extinguishing unit. In addition, the description regarding a fire extinguishing unit applies also to the automatic warehouse system and the fire extinguishing method of an automatic warehouse.

1 is a plan view of an essential part of the automated warehouse system of the embodiment.
2 is a front view illustrating the completed cover member in the fire extinguishing unit.
3 is a rear view of the lid member.
4 is a rear view of the lid member of the modification.
5 is a front view of the lid member of the second modification.
6 is a view showing the height, width direction and depth direction of the load.
7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the bath rack in the embodiment.
8 is a block diagram of a control system in the embodiment.

Below, the optimal Example for implementing this invention is shown. The scope of the present invention should be determined in accordance with the understanding of those skilled in the art based on the description of the specification and well-known techniques in this field, based on the description of the claims.

Example

1 to 8 show an embodiment and its modifications. FIG. 1: shows the principal part of the automatic warehouse system 2 of an Example, 4 is a stacker crane, may be another conveyance apparatus in a warehouse, is equipped with the mast 9, and elevates the platform 10. As shown in FIG. 5 is a travel rail of the stacker crane 4, 6 is a travel space. For example, there are a pair of racks 7 and 7 on both the left and right sides of the travel rail 5, and a station or the like not shown is provided.

12 is a fire extinguishing unit, which is mounted on the slide fork 11 of the platform 10 in FIG. 1, and includes, for example, a pair of fire extinguishing tanks 14 and 14, and a fire extinguishing agent, nitrogen gas, Powder extinguishing agent etc. may be sufficient. Carbon dioxide is stored in the extinguishing tank 14 as a liquid, and is heavier than air, so it does not easily rise to the rising air flow accompanying ignition. For this reason, the rising airflow in the region is weakened to cut off oxygen in the air that penetrates from the entire area of the region, and further, the article ignited by the heat of vaporization by vaporization is cooled. Carbon dioxide is also preferred in that it does not contaminate the region 8. The preferred extinguishing agent, following carbon dioxide, is halon gas. 16 is a valve | bulb provided in the tank 14, 18 is a valve which controls from which left and right nozzles, and 20 and 20 are a pair of cover member provided in the left and right both sides of the fire-extinguishing unit 12. As shown in FIG. In addition, in this specification, right and left are directions orthogonal to the traveling direction of the stacker crane 4 in a horizontal plane. 21 is a battery, a power supply of the fire extinguishing unit 12, 22 is a fire extinguishing unit control unit, and controls the fire extinguishing unit 12. 24 is an extension device, which extends the cover member 20 along the vertical direction up and down and in the travel direction, and particularly toward the vertical direction downward. 11 is a mobile mounting device such as a slide fork.

The rack 7 is provided with the shelf 30, 31 is a pillar, 32 is a fire sensor, for example, is installed in the ceiling of the fireproof floor 37, and is comprised with a heat sensor or a smoke sensor. 35 is a fireproof wall on the back side, and 36 is a fireproof wall on both sides. The fireproof walls 35 and 36 and the fireproof floor 37 consist of nonflammable materials, such as iron plate, concrete, a slate, a gypsum board, and heat-resistant glass, or a flame retardant material, such as wood and a flame-retardant resin which performed flame-retardant treatment, for example. By the fireproof walls 35 and 36 and the fireproof floor 37, each area | region 8 is made to be airtight except the traveling space 6 side. Surrounding three sides by fire-resistant walls 35 and 36, enclosing the upper and lower sides by the fire-resistant floor 37, and opening only the front surface to the area 8, each rack 7, 7 is a plurality of areas, respectively (8) and the shelf 30 is provided in the area | region 8. As shown in FIG.

The automated warehouse system 2 stores cargoes with a risk of ignition such as lithium ion batteries. 34 is a charging coupler, when the lithium ion battery is stored in the automated warehouse system 2, for example, initially charged with the charging coupler 34, and then stored for a period of time, and shipped from the stacker crane 4, Check the battery voltage, etc. The charging coupler 34 may be provided only in an area for initial charging or in all areas. Thermally unstable batteries may ignite during this time. The rack 7 is provided with an area for storing the fire extinguishing unit 12, and a charging coupler for charging the battery 21 is also installed in the area.

2 and 3 show the lid member 20. 40 is a main body of a cover member, for example, installs the extension part 41 around the four. In addition, 42 is an overlapping part in which the extension parts 41 and 41 were overlapped. 44 is a nozzle which injects a extinguishing agent, such as a carbon dioxide, into the area | region which ignited toward the side of the extension part 41 like the white arrow of FIG. This is to close the gap between the region and the lid member 20 with a fire extinguishing agent. The black arrow of FIG. 2 is a direction of movement of the extension part 41. 46 is a lens, for example, a lens of an optical fiber camera, and sends an image in the area to the camera provided in the fire extinguishing unit control unit via the optical fiber 48 shown in FIG. 47 in FIG. 3 is a bellows pipe, and the extinguishing agent is supplied to the nozzle 44.

3, the extension apparatus of the extension part 41 and the advancing / removing apparatus 50 of the cover member 20 are shown. The advance and retraction apparatus 50 consists of a combination of a ball screw and a nut, a cylinder of fluid pressure, a link mechanism, etc., for example. In addition, the lid member on the right side of the fire extinguishing unit and the lid member on the left side advance and fall independently. The extension part 41 advances by the cylinder 52, 53 is a piston, 54 is a spring, and applies the force of the direction which retracts the extension part 41. FIG. 55 is a linear guide, and the cylinder 52 is supplied with fluid from a pipe (not shown), the piston 53 is advanced, guided by the guide 55, and the extension part 41 is moved by the black arrow in FIG. Extends in the direction. Since the overlap part 42 exists between the extension parts 41 and 41 here, when it extends like FIG. 2, it will extend around 4 of the main body 40 without a clearance. In addition, when the carbon dioxide, which is an extinguishing agent, is supplied from the tank 14 to the fluid pressure cylinder, and the lid member 20 is advanced and returned to a spring (not shown), when the extinguishing agent is exhausted, the lid member 20 is automatically opened by the spring. Return to. Similarly, when the carbon dioxide is supplied from the tank 14 to the cylinder 52 and returned to the spring 54, the extension part 41 returns when the extinguishing agent disappears.

Particularly important in the extinguishing is to prevent the extinguishing agent in the area from leaking out or air from entering the area from the gap between the main body 40 and the fireproof floor 37. Thus, the extension part 41 is allowed to extend at least downward in the vertical direction, preferably downward in both the vertical direction and to the left and right sides, and most preferably extends around 4 as in the embodiment.

4 shows a lid member 58 of the modification, 60 is a cylinder, 62 is a crank, 63 is the axis of the cylinder 60, and 61 is the rotation center of the cylinder 60. 64 is a linear guide, guides the arm 65 mounted on the main body 40, 66 is a stopper. When the shaft 63 is advanced from the cylinder 60 here, the arm 65 is guided by the linear guide 64, and the main body 40 moves forward. When the shaft 63 moves further and the stopper 66 contacts the linear guide 64, the crank 62 rotates, and the extension part 41 extends around four of the main body 40. Although the upper and lower extension parts 41 and 41 are shown in FIG. 4, the extension parts not shown also are provided in the front and inner side of FIG. 4 by linking to the crank 62, etc. As shown in FIG.

The lid member 67 of a 2nd modification is shown in FIG. 2-4, although the nozzle 44 is integral with the cover members 20 and 58, the cover member 67 of FIG. 5 provides the opening 68, and opens the opening 68 from the nozzle 69. In FIG. After spraying extinguishing agent. In other respects, it is the same as the embodiment of Figs.

In fire extinguishing, it is important to cover the area of the shelf with the cover member 20 to prevent air from entering and leaking of the extinguishing agent. For this reason, in the Example and the modification of FIGS. 2-5, the extension part 41 was extended in 4 directions of the cover member 20. As shown in FIG. As another possibility, detection of the size of a load in a stacker crane may be invalidated using the fire extinguishing unit provided with the cover member larger than the height and width of a normal load. The height H, width W and depth D of the article 70 are shown in FIG. 6, and since the cover member which has a high height and has a wide width is needed, the height direction H and width of FIG. The size detection in the direction W is invalid. In addition, a stacker crane monitors the size of a load by size sensors, such as a photoelectric sensor, and when it exceeds a threshold, it will be more than a load. Here, the width is the width in the traveling direction of the stacker crane. In addition, even if size detection of a depth direction is made invalid, it is not necessary to make it invalid. In addition, you may use both the extension apparatus of a cover member, the thing which invalidates the detection of the size of a load by a stacker crane, or just one of them.

Extinguishing agents such as carbon dioxide, halon gas, or nitrogen gas do not contaminate the rack, but the effect of covering the ignited article 70 is not maintained. 7 shows a bath shelf 72 for cooling the load 70. 74 is a lifter, which raises and lowers the shelf base 76, and the stacker crane extinguish the fired article 70 and then stores the fire extinguishing unit in, for example, an original shelf or a suitable shelf nearby. Subsequently, the ignited article 70 is conveyed to the water tank shelf 72, and is moved to the shelf support 76 supported by the lifter 74 from the opening 77. Thereafter, the article 70 is lowered by the lifter 74, soaked in water in the water tank shelf 72, and completely extinguished. Instead of installing the water tank shelf 72, for example, a dedicated shelf provided with a spray device such as carbon dioxide or a sprinkler and a shutter for maintaining airtightness, the digested load is brought into this shelf to close the shutter. The carbon dioxide may be blown out and stored until the article is cooled below the ignition temperature.

8 shows a control system of the embodiment. The signal of the fire sensor 32 is sent to the fire detection unit 80, and the ground control unit 82 of the automatic warehouse system instructs the stacker crane meteorological control unit 90 to travel to the area where the fire has occurred. The ground control unit 82 instructs the fire extinguishing unit control unit 22 to photograph an image in the area by the camera 92 using an optical fiber or the like. When the stacker crane arrives at the area where the fire has occurred, an image from the camera is displayed on the monitor 83, and a switch or the like for operating the fire extinguishing unit is displayed on the touch panel 84. On the other hand, the fire extinguishing control part 85, the crane control part 86, the tank shelf control part 88, the station control part 87, etc. are operated by the operator's input, for example. The fire extinguishing work may be automatically executed without waiting for the operator's instruction.

The fire extinguishing control unit 85 operates the valves 16 and 18 and the nozzles 44 through the fire extinguishing unit control unit 22 and instructs which nozzles to extinguish the fire extinguishing agent. Moreover, the camera 92 photographs an image in the area, the advancing and retracting device 50 moves the arbitrary left and right cover members, and the extension device 24 extends the extension part. The worker advances the lid member to the side of the area where the fire is occurring, operates the extension device, and injects a extinguishing agent such as carbon dioxide from the nozzle. Since the lens of the camera 92 is attached to the lid member, the situation in the area can be displayed on the monitor 83 during that time. In addition, the monitor 83 can display a situation such as smoke or temperature from the fire sensor in the fired region.

Since the inner side, upper and lower sides, and both sides of the region are hermetically surrounded by a fireproof wall or a fireproof floor, the opening is only the front surface. And the front surface of the area | region is covered with a cover member, and although the size of the main body of a cover member is smaller than an area | region, since the extension part 41 extends in 4 directions, the opening of a area | region can be covered substantially completely. In this state, if a fire extinguishing agent is injected into the zone, and particularly, a fire extinguishing agent is sprayed around the gap between the extension part and the zone, it is possible to extinguish the air by entering the zone.

Even after extinguishing the inside of the area on the image of the monitor 83, injection of the extinguishing agent is continued to wait for the ignited article to cool, and the lid member is retracted. Subsequently, the fire extinguishing unit is returned to, for example, a shelf dedicated to the fire extinguishing unit, or returned to a suitable shelf nearby, and the fired articles are returned to a water tank shelf or the like for complete extinguishing. In addition, the tank of the extinguishing unit is replaced or the extinguishing agent is refilled. Moreover, it is not necessary to provide the shelf for fire extinguishing, such as a tank shelf.

In the embodiment, the following effects are obtained.

(1) Even a cargo having a risk of ignition, such as a lithium ion battery during inspection, can be safely stored.

(2) Since five surfaces except the front surface of the area are covered with a fireproof floor which serves as a fireproof wall and a fireproof ceiling, and the remaining one surface is covered by a cover member, it is possible to restrict or block the entry of air into the fired area.

(3) Since the lid member is advanced to the region side by the advancing and retracting device, the gap between the region and the lid member can be made very small.

(4) In this state, since the extinguishing agent is injected to the area, the leakage of the extinguishing agent from the area can be restricted, and the extinguishing agent can be completely extinguished with a small amount of extinguishing agent.

(5) When the detection of the cargo size of the platform of the stacker crane is invalid, the large cover member can be conveyed, and as a result, the amount of air entering and exiting the ignited area is reduced, and the extinguishing agent is more likely to stay in the area. can do.

(6) By extending the cover member, the area can be more completely occluded and can be easily extinguished.

(7) By photographing the situation of the area ignited by the camera, it is possible to accurately display the situation of the fire on the monitor.

(8) If an area dedicated to preventing re-ignition, such as an area provided with a water tank, is provided, it is possible to completely prevent the fired once fired material from firing again.

Although the advancing and retreating apparatus 50 was provided in the fire extinguishing unit 12 in the Example, you may advance toward the area | region side which fired the whole fire extinguishing unit with the slide fork 11. In addition, the camera is not limited to being installed on the cover member, but may be installed inside the fire extinguishing unit, not the cover member, and photographed only before advancing the cover member. In the embodiment, although the extension part 41 was provided in four circumferences of the cover member 20, you may install only in the lower part or only three pieces of the lower part and both sides. In addition, instead of providing the extension part 41, the bag of flame retardant resins, such as a polyimide resin, may be provided in four circumferences of the cover member 20, etc., and it may expand | expand by gas, such as carbon dioxide, to cover an area | region.

2: automatic warehouse system
4: stacker crane
5: running rail
6: running space
7: rack
8: area
9: mast
10: platform
11: slide fork
12: fire extinguishing unit
14: Extinguishing Tank
16, 18: Valve
20: cover member
21: battery
22: fire extinguishing unit control unit
24 extension device
30: shelf
31: pillar
32: fire sensor
34: Charging Coupler
35, 36: fireproof wall
37: fireproof floor
40: body
41: extension parts
42: overlapping member
44: nozzle
46 lens
47: piping
48: optical fiber
50: retraction device
52: cylinder
53: piston
54: spring
55: linear guide
58: cover member
60: cylinder
61: center of rotation
62: crank
63: axis
64: linear guide
65: cancer
66: stopper
67: cover member
68: opening
69: nozzle
70: parcel
72: Countertop Shelf
74: lifter
76: shelf
77: opening
80: fire detection unit
82: ground control unit
83: monitor
84: touch panel
85: fire extinguishing control
86: crane control unit
87: station control unit
88: Countertop Shelf Control
90: crane weather control unit
92: camera

Claims (10)

An automated warehouse system comprising at least one shelf having a plurality of areas and a conveying device that travels along the shelf,
A fire extinguishing unit having a tank and a nozzle of the extinguishing agent, a lid member covering the area of the shelf and allowing injection of the extinguishing agent from the nozzle to the area side;
And a retraction apparatus for advancing and retracting the lid member between a position on the conveying apparatus side and a position on the side covering the region,
The upper and lower sides of the area of the shelf are the non-flammable or flame-retardant ceiling or floor, the left and right sides and the back are the non-flammable or flame-retardant wall,
The fire extinguishing system conveys the said fire extinguishing unit and the said retraction device to the said conveying apparatus at the time of a fire, and makes it extinguish a fire extinguishing agent from a nozzle in the area which ignited. The method of claim 1,
The said conveying apparatus is equipped with the excess detection sensor of a cargo, and the control apparatus for invalidating the signal of the said excess detection sensor at the time of conveyance of the said fire-extinguishing unit, The automatic warehouse system characterized by the above-mentioned. The method of claim 1,
And an extension device for extending said cover member in a vertical plane in said fire extinguishing unit. The method of claim 3, wherein
The lid member includes a main body and at least one extension part disposed at a periphery of the main body,
And the extension device extends the at least one extension part at least vertically downward with respect to the lid member. The method of claim 1,
A dedicated area for storing the fired article in the shelf to be cooled below the firing temperature while preventing re-ignition is provided, the fired area is extinguished, the fire extinguishing unit is returned to the shelf, and the fired load is then transferred to the dedicated area. Automated warehouse system characterized in that the return to the area. The method of claim 5, wherein
The said dedicated area | region is equipped with at least 1 of the group which consists of a water tank in which the ignited article is immersed, the extinguishing agent ejection apparatus, and a sprinkler. Retreat to advance and retreat between the tank and the nozzle of the extinguishing agent, the lid member covering the area of the shelf and allowing the injection of the extinguishing agent from the nozzle, and the lid member between the position on the conveying device side and the position on the side covering the area. A fire extinguishing unit which can be conveyed by a conveying apparatus equipped with a device. The method of claim 7, wherein
And an extension device for extending the cover member in a vertical plane. The method of claim 8,
The cover member includes a main body and at least one extension part disposed at the periphery of the main body, and the extension device extends the at least one extension part downward at least in a vertical direction with respect to the cover member. unit. As a method for extinguishing a fire in an area in an automatic warehouse having at least one shelf having a plurality of areas and a conveying device traveling along the shelf,
The upper and lower sides of the area of the shelf are the non-flammable or flame-retardant ceiling or floor, the left and right sides and the back are the non-flammable or flame-retardant wall,
A fire extinguishing unit having a tank and a nozzle of the extinguishing agent, a lid member covering the area of the shelf and allowing injection of the extinguishing agent from the nozzle to the area side, and a position of the cover member on the conveying device side and the position of the side covering the area; The fire extinguishing device for advancing and retreating between the conveying unit and the fire extinguishing unit to the conveying device at the time of fire,
A fire extinguishing method in an automated warehouse for injecting a fire extinguishing agent from a nozzle into a fired area and restricting the leakage of the extinguishing agent from the area and the inflow of air into the area by the cover member.

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