WO2018150927A1

WO2018150927A1 - Automated warehouse

Info

Publication number: WO2018150927A1
Application number: PCT/JP2018/003813
Authority: WO
Inventors: 忠行元村; 橋本　幸久; 幸男南部
Original assignee: 株式会社ナベル
Priority date: 2017-02-17
Filing date: 2018-02-05
Publication date: 2018-08-23

Abstract

This automated warehouse (1) comprises a plurality of storage shelves (16) arranged along the path (14) of stacker cranes (13). A housing rack (9) which can be loaded with a plurality of trays (S) accommodating eggs (E) may be placed in each of the storage shelves (16). In a state where at least one of the storage shelves (16) accommodates the housing rack (9), work to load the trays (S) into the storage rack (9) and work to unload the trays (S) from the storage rack (9) are performed.

Description

Automatic warehouse

The present invention relates to an automatic warehouse that temporarily stocks eggs stored in a tray, for example.

Known as an automated warehouse for storing eggs temporarily, a stacker crane is used to automatically store eggs in a predetermined position on a storage shelf in a state where a plurality of trays containing eggs are stacked. Yes.

In automatic warehouses used in fields other than eggs, a plurality of storage items are put together in a car (an example of a storage rack), and each car is stored on a storage shelf in the automatic warehouse with a stacker crane. There is (for example, Patent Document 1). By using the car, the workability is improved as compared with the case where the stored items are individually stored in the storage shelves.

In recent years, the handling amount of eggs required for automatic warehouses has increased, and it is considered to apply the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 to eggs. Specifically, after the selected eggs are packed into the tray from the distribution conveyor, they are loaded into the car cart automatically or manually on the downstream side. Carrying a basket car loaded with eggs by hand to the warehousing station of the automatic warehouse, the goods are received. When the car is taken out from the automatic warehouse, the car is brought out to the delivery station, and then the car is manually moved from the automatic warehouse to a place where eggs are packed.

Japanese Patent No. 4256718 JP 2002-104661 A

In the above-described series of operations, the manpower required for moving the car and its labor cost, the equipment necessary for moving the car and the cost thereof were problems.

The object of the present invention is to provide an automatic warehouse that can automatically carry out the work required for accommodating the entire storage rack in the storage shelf without human intervention.

In the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the following means are taken. That is, one automatic warehouse according to the present invention includes an accommodation rack, a plurality of storage shelves, and a stacker crane. The storage rack is loaded with a plurality of trays storing eggs. The plurality of storage shelves are respectively arranged along one direction, and the storage rack is placed thereon. The stacker crane travels along one direction and conveys the storage rack. At least one of the work of loading a plurality of trays into the storage rack and the operation of unloading the plurality of trays from the storage rack in a state where the storage rack is placed on one storage shelf among the plurality of storage shelves. Done.

Also, in one automated warehouse, the storage rack is preferably used only in the interior space of the automated warehouse.

Further, the one automatic warehouse includes a receiving station that receives a plurality of trays, and a transfer device on the warehousing side that loads the plurality of trays loaded into the receiving station into the receiving rack, and the transfer device on the warehousing station and the warehousing side. Is preferably provided on a storage shelf.

Further, the one automatic warehouse includes a delivery station for waiting for a plurality of trays to be sent to the next process, and a delivery device for unloading the plurality of trays to be delivered from the delivery station from the storage rack. The unloading side transfer device is preferably provided in a storage shelf.

Further, in one automatic warehouse, rack walls are arranged in the storage rack except for a loading / unloading side in which a plurality of trays are put in and out, and the stacker crane is arranged with side walls facing each other. Is preferably placed on the stacker crane with the loading / unloading side facing the side wall of the stacker crane.

Furthermore, in one automatic warehouse, it is preferable that the other storage shelves of the plurality of storage shelves serve as inspection stations that inspect the storage racks in an empty state where no eggs are stored in the storage racks.

Other automatic warehouses according to the present invention include a plurality of storage shelves, a storage rack, and a stacker crane. The plurality of storage shelves are respectively arranged along one direction. The storage rack is stored in a plurality of storage shelves and stores articles. The stacker crane travels along one direction and conveys the storage rack. One storage shelf among the plurality of storage shelves is an inspection station that inspects the storage rack in an empty state in which no articles are stored in the storage rack.

Here, the “article” may be anything as long as it can be stored in a multi-layered storage rack, and is not limited to eggs.

Also, in other automatic warehouses, a plurality of inspection stations are provided, and a stacker crane having a storage rack placed on one inspection station among the plurality of inspection stations is the other inspection station among the plurality of inspection stations. It is preferable to take out the inspected storage rack stored in the inspection station from another inspection station.

Furthermore, in other automatic warehouses, it is preferable that the inspection station has a function of cleaning the storage rack.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide one automatic warehouse and another automatic warehouse that can automatically carry out the work necessary for accommodating the entire storage rack in the storage shelf without human intervention.

It is a top view which shows typically the automatic warehouse which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows typically the principal part of the automatic warehouse which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows typically the principal part of the warehousing side transfer apparatus in the automatic warehouse which concerns on the embodiment. It is a side view which shows typically the principal part of the warehousing side transfer apparatus in the automatic warehouse which concerns on the embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows typically the principal part of the transfer apparatus by the side of delivery in the automatic warehouse which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a front view which shows typically the principal part of the transfer apparatus by the side of delivery in the automatic warehouse which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the accommodation rack used for the automatic warehouse which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a 1st partial top view for demonstrating operation | movement of the automatic warehouse which concerns on the embodiment. It is a 2nd partial top view for demonstrating operation | movement of the automatic warehouse which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a 3rd partial top view for demonstrating operation | movement of the automatic warehouse which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a top view which shows typically the automatic warehouse which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a 1st partial top view for demonstrating operation | movement of the automatic warehouse which concerns on the embodiment. It is a 2nd partial top view for demonstrating operation | movement of the automatic warehouse which concerns on the same embodiment. In each embodiment, it is a perspective view which shows the accommodation rack used for the automatic warehouse which concerns on one modification. In each embodiment, it is a top view which shows typically the automatic warehouse which concerns on another modification.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The automatic warehouse 1 according to the present embodiment is an automatic warehouse for temporarily storing eggs E that have passed through the sorting and collecting apparatus 4.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sorting and collecting apparatus 4 includes a supply conveyor (not shown) that conveys the eggs E in the X direction, and a distribution conveyor 41 that conveys the eggs E in the Y direction orthogonal to the X direction. Is provided. The eggs E transported by the distribution conveyor 41 are sorted and gathered in a predetermined sorting and gathering place 42 for each equal class and filled in the tray T. The distribution conveyor 41 is, for example, a single row conveyor, and sorts and discharges the eggs E by equal class toward a bucket (not shown) at a predetermined position on the conveyance path of the distribution conveyor 41. The released egg E is accommodated in the tray T here.

The trays T containing the eggs E are stacked in a plurality of stages using the well-known stacking device 5. The stacked trays (hereinafter referred to as “stacked trays S” or “tray S” in the present specification. It is conveyed to automatic warehouse 1 by warehousing conveyor 6 which conveys from 42 to the next process. The warehousing conveyor 6 is provided corresponding to each collection section. The conveyance path of each warehousing conveyor 6 and the conveyance direction (Y direction) of the distribution conveyor 41 are orthogonal to each other.

In the automatic warehouse 1, the tray S containing the eggs E is received from the warehousing conveyor 6, and the tray S is temporarily stored. The automatic warehouse 1 has a structure that is partitioned by a wall 11, and includes a plurality of storage shelves 16 arranged in the internal space 12 along a path 14 of the stacker crane 13. In the automatic warehouse 1, a pair of fixed racks 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B provided with a large number of storage shelves 16 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction are arranged on both sides of the path 14 of the stacker crane 13.

A storage rack 9 on which a plurality of trays S storing eggs E can be loaded is placed on each storage shelf 16 of the fixed

racks

1A and 1B.

The storage rack 16 of the fixed rack 1 </ b> A has a warehousing station 17 that receives the trays S conveyed from the warehousing conveyors 6 and a transfer device 2 on the warehousing side that loads the trays S loaded into the warehousing station 17 into the storage rack 9. Is provided. As shown in FIG. 1, the warehousing station 17 is formed over two adjacent storage shelves 16, and the storage rack 9 for loading the trays S and the warehousing side transfer device in this one space. 2 is arranged. The operation of loading the tray S into the storage rack 9 is performed in a state where the storage rack 9 is stored in the storage station 17 that is also the storage rack 16 of the fixed rack 1A. In FIG. 1, the warehousing stations are indicated by dots.

The transfer device 2 on the warehousing side is a device (rack-in) that automatically stuffs the tray S into the storage rack 9. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the transfer device 2 on the warehousing side of the present embodiment includes a loading table 22 into which trays S stacked from a loading conveyor 21 connected to the warehousing conveyor 6 are sent, An elevator 23 that moves up and down to a height corresponding to each stage of the accommodation rack 9 together with the loading table 22, and a loading arm 24 that pushes a plurality of stacked trays S placed on the loading table 22 toward the accommodation rack 9 side. It is mainly composed of. In FIG. 2 and FIGS. 8 to 10, the placement location of the transfer device 2 on the warehousing side is indicated by hatching.

The storage rack 16 of the fixed rack 1 </ b> B has an unloading station 18 that waits for a tray S containing eggs E to be sent to the next process, and an unloading side transfer that unloads the tray S unloaded from the unloading station 18 from the containing rack 9. A mounting device 3 is provided. As shown in FIG. 1, the delivery station 18 is formed over three adjacent storage shelves 16, and the storage rack 9 for unloading the tray S and the storage rack in this one space. The unloading-side transfer device 3 is disposed so as to sandwich 9. An operation of unloading the tray S from the storage rack 9 is performed in a state where the storage rack 9 is stored in the delivery station 18 that is also the storage shelf 16 of the fixed rack 1B. In FIG. 1, the delivery station is indicated by dots.

The unloading-side transfer device 3 is a device (rack out) that automatically pushes out the tray S from the storage rack 9 as disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 2. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the unloading-side transfer device 3 of the present embodiment includes a receiving table 31, an extrusion arm 32, an extrusion-side elevator 33, a reception-side elevator 34, a discharge arm 35, and a carry-out conveyor 36. Consists of the subject. The receiving table 31 receives the trays S stacked from the accommodation rack 9. The pushing arm 32 feeds the tray S in the receiving rack 9 toward the receiving table 31. The extrusion side elevator 33 moves up and down to the height corresponding to each stage of the accommodation rack 9 together with the extrusion arm 32. The receiving side elevator 34 moves up and down together with the receiving table 31 to a height corresponding to each stage of the receiving rack 9. The delivery arm 35 delivers a plurality of trays S placed on the receiving table 31 to the carry-out conveyor 36 side. The carry-out conveyor 36 receives the tray S from the receiving table 31 and transfers it to the next process. In FIG. 2 and FIGS. 8 to 10, the placement location of the transfer device 3 on the unloading side is indicated by hatching.

The automatic warehouse 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of receiving stations 17 and a plurality of discharging stations 18, and the equal class of eggs E handled by the receiving stations 17 and the discharging stations 18 can be individually set.

The accommodation rack 9 has a multilayer structure in which a plurality of stacked trays S can be mounted as shown in FIG. The storage rack 9 of this embodiment is used only in the internal space 12 of the automatic warehouse 1. The storage rack 9 is configured by a rack side wall 92 except for an open surface 91 for taking in and out the stacked trays S from the side, and a fork (not shown) of the stacker crane 13 is provided on the lower surface side. An insertion port 93 that can be inserted is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8 to 10, the stacker crane 13 transfers the storage rack 9 from one storage shelf 16 to the other storage shelf 16 of the fixed

racks

1A and 1B. The stacker crane 13 can move along the path 14 arranged so as to be parallel to the transport path of the distribution conveyor 41, and can also move up and down. The stacker crane 13 includes side walls 15 on both sides in the direction of movement along the storage shelf 16. When the accommodation rack 9 is moved, the accommodation rack 9 is arranged so that the side wall 15 covers the open surface 91 of the accommodation rack 9.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the automatic warehouse 1 described above is connected to an unloading conveyor 7 (partly including an unloading conveyor 36) that conveys the unloaded tray S, and is predetermined when necessary. An equal class egg E can be removed from the automatic warehouse 1. In this embodiment, on the downstream side of the delivery conveyor 7, a refilling transfer device 8 for loading the trays S stacked in the transporting storage rack 9 is provided. Since the transfer device 8 for refilling has the same configuration as the transfer device 2 on the warehousing side described above, detailed description will not be repeated.

In addition, you may provide the packaging part which transfers the egg E accommodated in the tray T to a predetermined packaging container in the downstream of the delivery conveyor 7. FIG. As the packaging part, various kinds of so-called repackers well known in this field can be applied.

The automatic warehouse 1 is controlled by a control device (not shown). The control device is a microcomputer system having a processor, a memory, an input interface, an output interface, and the like.

Hereinafter, an example of the operation of the automatic warehouse 1 controlled by the control device will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, an empty storage rack stored in one storage shelf (not shown) is transferred to the warehousing station 17 using the stacker crane 13 as shown in FIG. When the storage rack 9 is moved by the stacker crane 13, the storage rack 9 is arranged so that the side wall 15 of the stacker crane 13 closes the open surface 91 of the storage rack 9. When the storage rack 9 enters the warehousing station 17, the open surface 91 of the storage rack 9 faces the loading table 22 of the transfer device 2 on the warehousing side, and the rack side wall 92 is placed on the inner side (front side) of the automatic warehouse 1. One faces.

After this work, or in parallel with this work, for example, the tray T containing 30 M-size eggs E is automatically stacked from the warehousing conveyor 6 in a state where the tray T is stacked in 6 stages by the stacking device 5. It is received into the warehouse 1. At that time, the stacked trays S are stacked one by one on the loading table 22 of the transfer device 2 on the warehousing side provided in the warehousing station 17. When four stacks of stacked trays S are assembled, the trays S are moved by the elevator 23 to a height corresponding to the stage of the storage rack 9 to be loaded this time. Then, the loading arm 24 pushes the tray S toward the storage rack 9, whereby the loading of the tray S into the storage rack 9 is completed. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, this operation is repeated until each stage of the storage rack 9 is filled with the tray S.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the storage rack 9 loaded with the tray S in the warehousing station 17 is transferred to another storage shelf (not shown) using the stacker crane 13. When the storage rack 9 is moved by the stacker crane 13, the storage rack 9 is arranged so that the side wall 15 of the stacker crane 13 closes the open surface 91 of the storage rack 9. When the storage rack 9 enters another storage shelf, the open surface 91 of the storage rack 9 faces the side frame of the storage shelf 16, and one of the rack side walls 92 faces the inside (front side) of the automatic warehouse 1.

The above is an example of the movement when warehousing. Next, an example of the movement when leaving the store will be described.
First, the storage rack in which the trays stored in other storage shelves are loaded is transferred to the delivery station 18 using the stacker crane 13 and is in the state shown in FIG. In addition, the arrangement | positioning method of the accommodation rack 9 on the stacker crane 13 is the same as that of what was described previously. When the storage rack 9 enters the unloading station 18, the open surface 91 of the storage rack 9 faces the receiving table 31 of the transfer device 3 on the unloading side, and the rack side wall 92 is placed on the inner side (front side) of the automatic warehouse 1. One faces.

After this operation, the pushing arm 32 and the receiving table 31 are moved to the height corresponding to the stage to be unloaded at this time of the receiving rack 9 by the pushing side elevator 33 and the receiving side elevator 34, respectively. Then, the push-out arm 32 pushes the tray S four by four toward the receiving table 31 side, whereby the unloading of the tray S from the accommodation rack 9 is completed. Then, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, this operation is repeated until the trays S at each stage of the storage rack 9 are used up. In addition, what is necessary is just to move the storage rack 9 which became empty from the delivery station 18 to another storage shelf using the stacker crane 13. FIG.

The four trays S placed on the receiving table 31 are pushed out to the carry-out conveyor 36 (shipping conveyor 7) side by the payout arm 35 and discharged from the automatic warehouse 1 in a state of being stacked in six stages.

As described above, the automatic warehouse 1 according to this embodiment includes a plurality of storage shelves 16 arranged along the path 14 of the stacker crane 13. On each storage shelf 16, an accommodation rack 9 on which a plurality of trays S containing eggs E can be loaded is placed. The operation of loading the tray S into the storage rack 9 and the operation of unloading the tray S from the storage rack 9 in a state where the storage rack 9 is stored in at least one storage shelf 16 (the storage station 17 / the storage station 18). Do.

Thereby, the empty storage rack 9 to be loaded is supplied to the receiving station 17 (storage shelf 16) and the storage rack 9 to be unloaded is supplied to the discharge station 18 (storage shelf 16). The work can be performed using a stacker crane 13 provided in the automatic warehouse 1. The operation of storing the storage rack 9 that has been loaded into the predetermined storage shelf 16 and the operation of storing the empty storage rack 9 that has been unloaded into the predetermined storage shelf 16 are also performed by the stacker crane 13. Can be used.

That is, by effectively utilizing the stacker crane 13 in the automatic warehouse 1, operations that have conventionally been performed manually, such as a transfer device on the warehousing side (rack-in) and a transfer device on the warehousing side (rack-out) ) To supply a predetermined car (container rack) to the car, carry the car with trays loaded into the automatic warehouse, and take it out of the automatic warehouse and carry it. . Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the manpower and labor costs required to move the car, and the equipment and costs required to move the car.

The accommodation rack 9 is used only in the internal space 12 of the automatic warehouse 1. Therefore, the inside of the automatic warehouse 1 can be kept hygienic, which is particularly preferable when handling foods called eggs E. Further, it is possible to save the trouble of replenishment from the outside of the storage rack 9 for entering the warehousing station 17 and collecting the storage rack 9 delivered from the warehousing station 18.

Further, the automatic warehouse 1 includes a warehousing-side transfer device 2 for loading the tray S carried into the warehousing station 17 into the storage rack 9, and the warehousing station 17 and the warehousing-side transfer device 2 are provided on the storage shelf 16. It has been. Therefore, the tray S can be loaded on the storage rack 9 that opens laterally with respect to the storage shelf 16. In addition, by storing the main part of the transfer device 2 on the warehousing side inside the wall 11 of the automatic warehouse 1, it is possible to effectively arrange the equipment in the GP center and reduce the total occupied area. It ’s useful.

Further, the automatic warehouse 1 includes the unloading-side transfer device 3 for unloading the tray S unloaded from the unloading station 18 from the storage rack 9, and the unloading station 18 and the unloading-side transfer device 3 are placed in the storage shelf 16. Is provided. Therefore, similarly to the warehousing side, the tray S can be lowered from the storage rack 9 that opens laterally with respect to the storage shelf 16. Moreover, by storing the main part of the transfer-side transfer device 3 on the inner side of the wall 11 of the automatic warehouse 1, it is possible to effectively arrange the equipment in the GP center and reduce the total occupied area. It ’s useful.

The accommodation rack 9 is surrounded by a rack side wall 92 except for an open surface 91 for taking in and out the tray S from the side. The stacker crane 13 includes side walls 15 on both sides in the direction of movement along the storage shelf 16. When moving the storage rack 9, the storage rack 9 is arranged so that the side wall 15 covers the open surface 91 of the storage rack 9.

The accommodation rack 9 accommodates a non-stabilized article such as a stacked tray S, and handles a fragile article such as an egg E in a large number of shelves. Therefore, when an unusual movement occurs in the storage rack 9, the tray T may fall from the open surface 91. However, according to the arrangement of the storage rack 9 in the automatic warehouse 1 according to the present embodiment, even if the moving speed of the stacker crane 13 is increased or the movement suddenly stops in the event of a power failure or the like, the open surface The tray T can be prevented from falling from 91.

Furthermore, since the automatic warehouse 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of warehousing stations 17 and a plurality of warehousing stations 18, the processing amount of the eggs E that are admitted into and out of the automatic warehouse 1 can be dramatically increased. Note that the stacker crane 13 can perform operations on the other storage shelves 16 during the loading operation on the storage rack 9 or the unloading operation from the storage rack 9.

In addition, due to the nature of the eggs E, there is a limit to the number of trays T that can be stacked. However, since the storage rack 9 has a multi-layer structure, more space is available on the storage rack 9 for more eggs E. Can be loaded.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The automatic warehouse 1 according to this embodiment has the same basic configuration as the automatic warehouse 1 of the first embodiment described above, except that some storage shelves 16 are used as

inspection stations

19a and 19b. In the present embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated unless necessary.

The automatic warehouse 1 according to this embodiment is a stacker crane type including a plurality of storage shelves 16 arranged along a path 14 of the stacker crane 13. When the automatic warehouse 1 stores the eggs E in the storage shelf 16, the eggs E are placed on or stored in the multi-layered storage rack 9 used only in the internal space 12 of the automatic warehouse 1 and stored in the storage shelf 16. In this embodiment, at least one storage shelf 16 is used as

inspection stations

19a and 19b for inspecting an empty storage rack 9. Specifically, of the two storage shelves 16 at the end of one fixed rack 1B, one storage shelf 16 is a first inspection station 19a, and the other storage shelf 16 is a second inspection station 19b. . That is, the first inspection station 19a and the second inspection station 19b are provided adjacent to the left and right (Y direction). In FIG. 11, the warehousing station 17 and the warehousing station 18 are indicated by dots.

Inspection stations

19a, 19b are indicated by diagonal lines.

The

inspection stations

19a and 19b are in an empty state in which a plurality of trays S containing eggs E are unloaded, and visually check for adhesion, breakage, deformation, etc. of the storage rack 9, or an inspection device (FIG. It is a place for inspection using (not shown).

As an example of visual inspection, the following two functions may be added. The first function is a function for notifying an operator by means of a buzzer, a chime lamp or the like that the storage rack 9 has been carried into the

inspection stations

19a and 19b. The second function is that when the storage rack 9 is placed on the

inspection stations

19a and 19b or when the storage rack 9 is carried out of the

inspection stations

19a and 19b, the storage rack 9 is cleaned. This is a function for informing that the storage rack 9 that has been inspected after inspection, adhesion, breakage, deformation, etc. has been placed on the

inspection stations

19a and 19b.

Next, an example of the operation of the automatic warehouse 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the stacker crane 13 moves the receiving rack 9 into the

inspection stations

19a and 19b, or moves the receiving rack 9 from the

inspection stations

19a and 19b. The movement to take out is added.

Whether or not the storage rack 9 that has finished unloading all the trays S from the delivery station 18 is moved from the delivery station 18 to the

inspection stations

19a and 19b by using the stacker crane 13. Specifically, the control device of the automatic warehouse 1 records the usage frequency of the storage rack 9, and the number of times the tray S is loaded and unloaded on the storage rack 9 is a predetermined number (for example, 5 times or 10 times). Etc.), the storage rack 9 is controlled to move to the

inspection stations

19a, 19b. On the other hand, if the number of times is equal to or less than the predetermined number of times, the storage rack 9 is controlled to be moved to a normal storage shelf 16 other than the

inspection stations

19a and 19b. Note that the usage frequency of the storage rack 9 may be recorded, for example, by attaching a barcode or RFID to the storage rack 9.

Then, the stacker crane 13 on which the storage rack 9 is placed on the second inspection station 19b, the inspected storage rack 9 stored in the first inspection station 19a located in the vicinity of the second inspection station 19b, Control is taken out from the first inspection station 19a. Specifically, the storage rack 9 that can be used after the inspection and the like is first stored in the first inspection station 19a, and the second inspection station 19b located adjacent thereto is empty. From this state, the stacker crane 13 carries the storage rack 9 that has undergone a predetermined number of times of loading and unloading operations of the tray S, and is placed on the second inspection station 19b as shown in FIG. . Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 13, the stacker crane 13 moves to take out the storage rack 9 in the first inspection station 19 a, and then the storage rack 9 is moved to another storage shelf 16.

The accommodation rack 9 placed on the second inspection station 19b waits at the second inspection station 19b as it is after a predetermined inspection or the like is performed. Then, after the storage rack 9 requiring inspection is placed on the first inspection station 19a, the storage rack 9 is taken out from the second inspection station 19b, and the storage rack 9 is moved to another storage shelf 16.

As a result of the predetermined inspection in the

inspection stations

19a and 19b, when it is determined that continuous use is difficult even after washing due to damage or severe contamination, after being taken out from the

inspection stations

19a and 19b by the stacker crane 13, Once controlled to go out of the automatic warehouse 1. In this case, if a spare storage rack is inserted instead of the storage rack 9 placed outside the automatic warehouse 1, the total number of storage racks 9 used only in the internal space 12 of the automatic warehouse 1 is not changed. Can continue the normal use circulation.

As described above, in the automatic warehouse 1 according to the present embodiment, similarly to the automatic warehouse 1 shown in the first embodiment, the storage rack 9 is used as a unit to enter and exit the automatic warehouse 1 and the automatic warehouse 1 exits. Since the storage is performed on the storage shelf 16 of the automatic warehouse 1, the processing capacity of the stacker crane type automatic warehouse 1 can be improved, and the following effects can be obtained.

The stacker crane type automatic warehouse 1 includes a plurality of storage shelves 16 on which eggs E are placed or stored in a multi-layered storage rack 9 that is used only in the internal space 12 of the automatic warehouse 1. The plurality of storage shelves 16 are arranged along the path 14 of the stacker crane 13. Among the plurality of storage shelves 16, at least one storage shelf 16 is used as

inspection stations

19 a and 19 b that inspect the empty storage rack 9. For this reason, the operation | work which carries the accommodation rack 9 which should be test | inspected to the

inspection stations

19a and 19b can be performed using the stacker crane 13 with which the automatic warehouse 1 was equipped. Along with this, it is possible to reduce the equipment and cost required for managing the timing for taking out the storage rack 9 out of the automatic warehouse 1 and inspecting the storage rack 9 for dirt and the like. Note that the

inspection stations

19a and 19b only need to be able to inspect the state of the storage rack 9, and it is only necessary to be able to inspect whether there is dirt, damage, deformation, or the like.

More specifically, in the storage rack 9 that is used only in the internal space 12 of the automatic warehouse 1 according to the present embodiment, the storage rack 9 is soiled or damaged unless an opportunity to go outside the automatic warehouse 1 is actively provided. Or it is difficult to find deformation. In particular, when the target to be stored in the storage rack 9 is an egg E as in the automatic warehouse 1 according to this embodiment, the content of the cracked egg E leaks and the storage rack 9 is contaminated. There is a possibility. For this reason, in the automatic warehouse 1 which concerns on this Embodiment, the accommodation rack 9 used only by the internal space 12 is always maintained in an appropriate state by providing the

inspection stations

19a and 19b which inspect at every predetermined timing. This is preferable.

A plurality of

inspection stations

19a and 19b are provided, and the stacker crane 13 on which the accommodation rack 9 is placed on the second inspection station 19b is a first inspection station 19a located in the vicinity of the second inspection station 19b. The inspected storage rack 9 stored in is controlled to be taken out from the first inspection station 19a. Therefore, wasteful movement of the stacker crane 13 can be eliminated, and the operating rate is not reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.
As another example of the storage rack, a storage rack 9 shown in FIG. 14 can be considered. As shown in FIG. 14, casters may be attached to the lower part of the accommodation rack 9. Further, various changes such as the number of trays that can be accommodated and the number of shelves can be made. In addition, the storage rack 9 may not be provided with a fixed shelf, and may be formed in a multilayer structure via a divider or the like that can be arranged at a desired position. In addition, in the accommodation rack 9 shown in FIG. 14, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part corresponding to the accommodation rack 9 shown in FIG. The rack side wall 92 may be anything as long as it partitions the inside and outside of the rack, and includes a frame-shaped one as illustrated. Further, the storage rack 9 is not limited to a dedicated one in the automatic warehouse. Furthermore, when the storage rack 9 is stored in the storage shelf, the open surface 91 may be directed to the wall side of the automatic warehouse (the back side of the storage shelf when viewed from the stacker crane).

In the automatic warehouse 1 according to the above-described embodiment (see FIG. 1 and the like), the storage shelf 16 on the warehousing side that loads the tray T onto the storage rack 9 and the unloading that performs the operation of unloading the tray T from the storage rack 9 are performed. Although both the storage shelves 16 on the side are provided, only one of them may be provided. In the case where only the storage shelf 16 on the warehousing side is provided, the goods may be delivered from the delivery station 18 other than the storage shelf 16. When only the storage shelf 16 on the output side is provided, the storage station 17 other than the storage shelf 16 may be used for storage.

The storage shelf 16 on the warehousing side and the storage shelf 16 on the warehousing side may be provided at the ends of the fixed

racks

1A and 1B (see FIG. 1 and the like).

The number and arrangement of the fixed racks of the automatic warehouse 1 forming the storage shelf 16 are not limited to those illustrated.

The transfer device 2 on the warehousing side (see FIG. 2 and the like) may be any device as long as the operation of loading the tray T onto the storage rack 9 is possible, and is not limited to the illustrated one. Similarly, the unloading-side transfer device 3 may be any device as long as the operation of unloading the tray T from the storage rack 9 can be performed, and is not limited to the illustrated one. At least a part of the transfer device 2 on the warehousing side may be arranged outside the storage shelf 16 or the automatic warehouse 1. At least a part of the transfer device 3 on the delivery side may be arranged outside the storage shelf 16 or the automatic warehouse 1.

The eggs E stored in the automatic warehouse 1 are eggs (raw eggs before being sorted) filled by a filling device called a so-called farm packer in addition to eggs sorted by a sorting and collecting device called a so-called grader. May be.

The warehousing station 17 (see FIG. 2 and the like) may include a conveyor for moving the storage rack 9 in the depth direction of the storage shelf 16. In this case, the position of the storage rack 9 for receiving the tray T from the transfer device 2 on the warehousing side can be adjusted. Similarly, if the delivery station 18 (see FIG. 2 etc.) is provided with a conveyor for moving the storage rack 9 in the depth direction of the storage shelf 16, the delivery station 18 delivers the tray T to the delivery device 3 on the delivery side. The position of the storage rack 9 can be adjusted.

The

inspection stations

19a and 19b (see FIG. 11 and the like) may perform only a part of the inspection described above, and the arrangement method thereof can be variously changed. That is, the

inspection stations

19 a and 19 b may be provided at a place other than the end of the storage rack 9 of the automatic warehouse 1. Further, only one of the

inspection stations

19a and 19b may be provided. Even when a plurality of inspection stations are provided, the inspection stations do not have to be provided adjacent to each other.

For example, it is also conceivable to place inspection stations on the storage shelves 16 facing each other with the stacker crane 13 (see FIG. 11 etc.) interposed therebetween. That is, if one inspection station is provided in the storage shelf 16 of one storage rack 9 and another inspection station is provided in the storage shelf 16 of the other storage rack 9 located in the vicinity of the storage shelf 16, one inspection station is provided. This eliminates the need for the stacker crane 13 to travel between the work of placing the storage rack 9 in the inspection station and the operation of taking out the storage rack 9 that has already been inspected from other inspection stations. Can be achieved.

As another example, as shown in FIG. 15, three

inspection stations

19 a, 19 b, 19 c may be arranged side by side, and the storage rack for one of the three

inspection stations

19 a, 19 b, 19 c is arranged. 9 (see FIG. 7 and the like) may be a specialized inspection station in which a cleaning device (not shown) for cleaning is disposed. In FIG. 15, the

inspection stations

19a, 19b, 19c are indicated by hatching. In such an automatic warehouse 1, only the storage rack 9 that requires cleaning of the storage rack 9 based on the inspection results at the first inspection station 19a and the second inspection station 19b for inspection. May be moved to the third inspection station 19c using the stacker crane 13. After cleaning the storage rack 9, the storage rack 9 may be moved again from the third inspection station 19c to the first inspection station 19a or the second inspection station 19b using the stacker crane 13. That is, by cleaning the storage rack 9 at the inspection station 19c, the storage rack 9 can be taken in and out of the cleaning device using the existing stacker crane 13.

As the cleaning device, for example, in the cleaning chamber that surrounds the entire storage rack 9, the cleaning liquid is sprayed from the cleaning liquid nozzle to clean the storage rack, and then air is sprayed from the air nozzle to perform drying, etc. Various things known in this field can be applied.

Further, the inspection station is provided regardless of the arrangement and number of warehousing stations or evacuation stations other than those shown in the figure. For example, as shown in FIG. The automatic warehouse 1 provided at the end of each may be provided with

inspection stations

19a, 19b, 19c.

The embodiment disclosed this time is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the scope described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

The present invention can be used in an automatic warehouse that temporarily stocks eggs stored in a tray.

1 automatic warehouse, 2 warehousing side transfer device, 3 warehousing side transfer device, 9 accommodating rack, 12 internal space, 13 stacker crane, 14 routes, 15 side walls, 16 storage shelves, 17 warehousing station, 18 evacuation station, 19a, 19b, 19c Inspection station, 91 open surface, 92 rack side wall, E egg, T tray.

Claims

A storage rack on which a plurality of trays storing eggs are loaded;
A plurality of storage shelves that are respectively arranged along one direction and on which the storage rack is placed;
A stacker crane that travels along the one direction and conveys the storage rack;
The operation of loading the plurality of trays into the storage rack and unloading the plurality of trays from the storage rack in a state where the storage rack is placed on one storage shelf among the plurality of storage shelves. An automated warehouse where at least some of the work is done.
The automatic storage according to claim 1, wherein the storage rack is used only in an internal space of the automatic warehouse.
A receiving station for receiving a plurality of said trays;
A warehousing-side transfer device that loads the plurality of trays carried into the warehousing station into the storage rack;
The automatic warehouse according to claim 1, wherein the storage station and the transfer device on the storage side are provided on the storage shelf.
A delivery station that waits for the plurality of trays to be sent to the next process;
An unloading side transfer device for unloading the plurality of trays unloaded from the unloading station from the storage rack;
The automatic warehouse according to claim 1, wherein the unloading station and the unloading-side transfer device are provided on the storage shelf.
A rack side wall is arranged in the storage rack, except for a loading / unloading side for loading / unloading the plurality of trays,
In the stacker crane, side walls facing each other are arranged,
The automatic storage according to claim 1, wherein the storage rack is placed on the stacker crane in a state where the loading / unloading side faces the side wall of the stacker crane.
2. The automatic warehouse according to claim 1, wherein another storage shelf among the plurality of storage shelves is an inspection station that inspects the storage rack in an empty state where eggs are not stored in the storage rack.
A plurality of storage shelves arranged along one direction,
A storage rack that is stored in a plurality of the storage shelves and stores articles; and a stacker crane that travels along the one direction and conveys the storage rack;
An automatic warehouse in which one storage shelf among the plurality of storage shelves is used as an inspection station that inspects the storage rack in an empty state in which no articles are stored in the storage rack.
A plurality of the inspection stations are provided,
The stacker crane in which the storage rack is placed in one inspection station among the plurality of inspection stations is configured to replace the storage rack that has been inspected stored in another inspection station among the plurality of inspection stations. The automatic warehouse according to claim 7, which is taken out from the inspection station.
The automatic warehouse according to claim 7, wherein the inspection station has a function of cleaning the storage rack.