JP4433893B2 - Automatic warehouse - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic warehouse.

The automatic warehouse automatically stores articles, manages inventory, or manages delivery, and includes a transport device that transports articles. The following Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe an example of an automatic warehouse.
JP-A-8-143112 JP 2000-238906 A

  By the way, the automatic warehouse currently disclosed by the said patent documents 1 and 2 is a structure which conveys a box (stock object) one by one, and its conveyance efficiency is low. Moreover, the automatic warehouse currently disclosed by the said patent document 2 is a structure which has an overhead crane, a rod-shaped holding | grip apparatus hold | grips a stock target object, moves to an up-down direction, and conveys it. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a space for moving the gripping device near the ceiling of the warehouse (above the overhead crane). In this case, a useless space is provided in the warehouse (near the ceiling of the warehouse), and the storage efficiency of the warehouse is reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic warehouse that can save space in the warehouse and improve storage efficiency and transport efficiency.

  In order to solve the above problems, the automatic warehouse of the present invention can accommodate the case unit having a connection unit that connects a plurality of cases so as to be relatively movable, and the case unit in a state in which the cases are arranged in a vertical direction. A rack portion, a movable portion that is movable while holding the case unit, a guide portion that is provided above the rack portion and guides the movement of the movable portion, and the guide portion is disposed above the rack portion. A moving device, and the guide portion includes a vertical region that guides the moving portion in a vertical direction, a horizontal region that guides the moving portion in a horizontal direction, and a bend provided between the vertical region and the horizontal region. The moving unit is configured such that the case unit is connected between the guide unit and the rack unit in a state where the lower end of the vertical region of the guide unit and the upper end of the rack unit are connected to each other. Characterized in that it in movement.

  According to the present invention, since the case unit is configured by connecting the plurality of cases with the connection unit, the moving unit can carry the plurality of cases at a time by holding and moving the case unit. Therefore, the conveyance efficiency can be improved. In addition, since the guide unit having the vertical region, the horizontal region, and the bending region for guiding the movement of the moving unit is arranged above the rack unit, the moving unit can be operated even if there is no large space near the ceiling of the warehouse. The case unit can be held and moved between the guide portion and the rack portion to be conveyed. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a useless space in the warehouse, so that the storage efficiency can be improved. In this case, since the cases are connected to each other by the connecting portion so as to be relatively movable, the case unit can be easily bent, and can move well along the guide portion together with the moving portion. And, in order to move the case unit between the guide part and the rack part, when connecting the lower end part of the vertical region of the guide part and the upper end part of the rack part, by moving the guide part by the drive device, The lower end and the upper end can be positioned.

  In the automatic warehouse according to the present invention, the connecting portion connects the cases so as to be rotatable about a direction intersecting a moving direction of the moving portion.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a case unit can be bent easily and the movement at the time of a case unit moving on the guide part which has a bending area | region can be performed smoothly.

  In the automatic warehouse according to the present invention, the case unit has a traveling unit that travels on the guide unit.

  According to the present invention, since the traveling unit is provided in the case unit, the case unit can smoothly move on the guide unit.

  In the automatic warehouse according to the present invention, the rack portion includes a rack guide portion that guides the movement of the case unit and restricts the movement of the case unit in a direction other than the movement direction.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the movement at the time of a case unit being conveyed by a rack part can be performed smoothly. Further, by restricting the movement of the case unit in directions other than the movement direction, the case unit is stably accommodated in the rack portion.

  In the automatic warehouse of the present invention, the case has an opening for allowing articles to pass through the inside of the case, and the rack includes a holding member that opens and closes at least a part of the opening. And

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent an inconvenience that an article comes out of the case accommodated in the rack portion by closing the opening by the holding member. And when taking out articles | goods from a case, an article | item can be taken out through an opening part by operating a suppressing member and opening an opening part.

  According to the present invention, storage efficiency and conveyance efficiency can be improved.

  Hereinafter, an automatic warehouse according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an automatic warehouse S of the present invention. In the following description, the predetermined direction in the horizontal plane is the X axis direction, the direction orthogonal to the X axis direction in the horizontal plane is the Y axis direction, and the direction orthogonal to the X axis direction and the Y axis direction (vertical direction) is the Z axis direction. To do.

  In FIG. 1, the automatic warehouse S includes a case unit 3 having a connecting portion 2 that connects a plurality of cases 1 so as to be relatively movable, and a rack portion that accommodates the case unit 3 in a state in which the cases 1 are arranged in the Z-axis direction. 4, a rack 6 having a plurality of racks 4, a movable unit 6 that can move while holding the case unit 3, and a guide unit 7 that is provided above the rack unit 4 (rack unit 5) and guides the movement of the movable unit 6. And a drive device 8 that moves the guide portion 7 above the rack portion 4.

  The guide unit 7 includes a vertical region 7A that guides the moving unit 6 in the Z-axis direction (vertical direction), a horizontal region 7C that guides the moving unit 6 in the Y-axis direction (horizontal direction), and the vertical region 7A and the horizontal region 7C. And a bent region 7B provided. The vertical region 7A, the bent region 7B, and the horizontal region 7C are formed to be continuous. The bent region 7B is formed in a substantially arc shape in a side view so as to smoothly connect the horizontal region 7C and the vertical region 7A. The position (height) in the Z-axis direction of the lower end portion of the vertical region 7A of the guide portion 7 is substantially equal to the position (height) of the upper end portion of the rack portion 4 (rack unit 5) or the upper end portion of the rack portion 4 It is provided to be higher than the position (height).

  The guide portions 7 are provided on both sides of the moving portion 6 in the X-axis direction, and the moving portions 6 move along the guide portions 7. One end of a wire 6W is connected to the moving unit 6, and a wire winding device 6D is connected to the other end. Here, the hoisting device 6 </ b> D is provided at the other end portion on the opposite side of the lower end portion (one end portion) of the vertical region 7 </ b> A of the guide portion 7. When the winding device 6D winds the wire 6W, the moving portion 6 moves along the guide portion 7 in a direction approaching the winding device 6D (the other end side of the guide portion 7). On the other hand, when the winding device 6D feeds the wire 6W, the moving unit 6 moves along the guide portion 7 in a direction away from the winding device 6D (one end side of the guide portion 7). The driving means for moving the moving unit 6 can be arbitrarily configured. An actuator (driving unit) may be provided in the moving unit 6, and the moving unit 6 may be moved by driving the actuator. You may make it the guide part 7 incline and move by the dead weight of the moving part 6 (and case unit 3 hold | maintained at the moving part 6).

  Moreover, the moving part 6 has a roller part (running part) 6R. The roller portions 6R are provided on both sides of the moving portion 6 in the X-axis direction. The guide portion 7 guides the movement of the roller portion 6R while holding the roller portion 6R, and restricts the movement of the moving portion 6 in directions other than the moving direction. The moving unit 6 having the roller unit 6R moves in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) in the vertical region 7A of the guide unit 7, moves in the horizontal direction (Y-axis direction) in the horizontal region 7C, and in the bent region 7B. Moves in the direction of rotation about the X axis.

  In addition, the moving unit 6 includes a gripping unit 6H that can hold (hold) one end (upper end) of the case unit 3. The moving part 6 is movable in a state where the upper end part of the case unit 3 is held by the gripping part 6H. The case unit 3 moves as the moving unit 6 moves.

  The drive device 8 includes a first drive unit 9 that is movable in the X-axis direction while being guided by a first guide unit 10 that is a spar member extending in the X-axis direction, and a second guide unit that is a spar member extending in the Y-axis direction. 11 and a second drive unit 12 that is movable in the Y-axis direction while being guided by the motor 11. In the present embodiment, two first drive units 9 are provided and move on the first guide unit 10 in a state where both ends of the horizontal region 7C of the guide unit 7 extending in the Y-axis direction are supported. . As the first drive unit 9 moves, the guide unit 7 moves in the X-axis direction. Two second drive units 12 are also provided and move on the second guide unit 11 in a state where both ends of the first guide unit 10 extending in the X-axis direction are supported. As the second drive unit 12 moves, the first guide unit 10 moves in the Y-axis direction together with the first drive unit 9, the guide unit 7, and the moving unit 6. Thus, the drive device 8 can move the guide portion 7 having the vertical region 7A, the bent region 7B, and the horizontal region 7C in the XY direction (horizontal direction) above the rack unit 5. The moving unit 6 on the guide unit 7 also moves with the movement of the guide unit 7 in the XY directions.

  The second guide portions 11 are disposed above the rack unit 5 and on both sides of the rack unit 5 in the X-axis direction, and are supported by the support columns 13. The second drive unit 12 includes a roller unit 12 </ b> R that can travel on the second guide unit 11, and moves in the Y-axis direction along the second guide unit 11 by rotating the roller unit 12 </ b> R. The first guide unit 10 is fixed on the second drive unit 12 and is disposed above the rack unit 5. The first drive unit 9 also has a roller unit (not shown) that can run on the first guide unit 10, and moves in the X-axis direction along the first guide unit 10 by rotating the roller unit. To do.

  The rack unit 5 includes a plurality of frame members 14 each having a beam 14H extending in the Y-axis direction and a column 14B that supports the beam 14H. A plurality of frame members 14 are arranged side by side in the Y-axis direction between the columns 13 and 13 that support the second guide portions 11 and 11. A plurality of rack portions 4 that can accommodate the case unit 3 are provided in the space between the frame members 14. The rack portion 4 is also provided between the support column 13 that supports the second guide portion 11 and the frame member 14. A rack guide portion 4G constituting the rack portion 4 is attached to the frame member 14. The rack guide portion 4G is also attached to the second guide portion 11 (the column 13). Further, outside the rack unit 5, there is provided an acquisition rack portion 15 that temporarily stores the case unit 3 carried into the automatic warehouse S and temporarily stores the case unit 3 carried out from the automatic warehouse S. ing. The loading / unloading rack unit 15 has the same configuration as the rack unit 4. The forklift 20 accesses the loading / unloading rack unit 15.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the case unit 3 accommodated in the rack portion 4. In FIG. 2, the case unit 3 is accommodated in the rack part 4 in a state where a plurality of (six in this embodiment) cases 1 are arranged in the Z-axis direction. The case unit 3 has a roller part (running part) 3R. The roller portions 3R are provided on both sides of the case unit 3 (case 1) in the X-axis direction and correspond to the positions of the connecting portions 2 that connect the cases 1 to each other in the longitudinal direction ( In FIG. 2, a plurality are provided along the Z-axis direction).

  The rack portion 4 includes a rack guide portion 4G that guides the movement of the roller portion 3R. The rack guide portions 4G are provided so as to extend in the Z-axis direction, and are disposed on both sides of the case unit 3 in the X-axis direction. The rack guide portion 4G is attached to the frame member 14 (second guide portion 11) as described with reference to FIG.

  The rack guide portion 4G can hold the roller portion 3R and guide the movement of the roller portion 3R only in the Z-axis direction. That is, the roller portion 3R can move only in the Z-axis direction along the rack guide portion 4G, and its movement is restricted in directions other than the Z-axis direction. Thus, the rack unit 4 is configured to include the rack guide unit 4G that guides the movement of the case unit 3 and restricts the movement of the case unit 3 in directions other than the movement direction.

  In addition, an insertion opening 4S is formed at the upper end of the rack guide portion 4G for inserting and removing the roller portion 3R with respect to the rack guide portion 4G. The roller unit 3R enters and exits the rack guide unit 4G through the insertion port 4S, so that the case unit 3 enters and exits the rack unit 4.

  Further, the roller portion 3R can travel along the guide portion 7, and the case unit 3 can move while being guided by the guide portion 7. At the lower end of the vertical region 7A of the guide portion 7, an insertion port 7S for inserting and removing the roller portion 3R with respect to the inside of the guide portion 7 is formed (see FIG. 1). The roller unit 3R enters and exits the guide unit 7 through the insertion port 7S, so that the case unit 3 enters and exits the guide unit 7.

  The case unit 3 (case 1) moves in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) in the vertical region 7A of the guide portion 7, moves in the horizontal direction (Y-axis direction) in the horizontal region 7C, and is bent in the bending region 7B. Moves in the rotation direction around the X axis. Here, the connecting part 2 that connects the cases 1 constituting the case unit 3 is connected so that the cases 1 can be rotated around the X axis that intersects the moving direction of the case unit 3 (moving part 6). is doing. Accordingly, the movement of the case unit 3 along the guide portion 7 is not hindered.

  Moreover, the moving part 6 which can move along the guide part 7 is provided so that movement is possible also along the rack guide part 4G. That is, the guide part 7 and the rack guide part 4G are provided in substantially the same shape, and the moving part 6 can be moved by both the guide part 7 and the rack guide part 4G of the rack part 4, and the case unit. 3 is also movable by both the guide portion 7 and the rack guide portion 4G of the rack portion 4.

  The case 1 has an opening 1 </ b> K that allows an article (here, a drawer) to pass through the inside of the case 1. The rack portion 4 includes a holding member 30 that opens and closes a part of the opening 1 </ b> K of the case 1. The holding member 30 is a plate member whose longitudinal direction is the Z-axis direction, and is supported by the rack guide portion 4G so as to be rotatable in the rotational direction around the Z-axis. The holding member 30 can simultaneously open and close the respective openings 1K of the plurality of cases 1 provided side by side in the Z-axis direction by rotating. The holding member 30 is also provided in the loading / unloading rack unit 15.

  Next, an example of a procedure for carrying out the case unit 3 accommodated in the rack unit 4 from the automatic warehouse S in the automatic warehouse S having the above-described configuration will be described.

  When the case unit 3 accommodated in the predetermined rack unit 4 among the plurality of rack units 4 constituting the rack unit 5 is carried out, the guide unit 7 is moved by driving of the driving device 8 as shown in FIG. Then, the lower end portion of the vertical region 7A of the guide portion 7 and the upper end portion of the rack guide portion 4G of the predetermined rack portion 4 are connected. Thereby, the insertion port 7S of the vertical area 7A and the insertion port 4S of the rack part 4 are connected.

  Next, the moving part 6 moves to the lower end part of the vertical region 7A of the guide part 7 (in some cases, enters the rack guide part 4G), and the gripping part 6H grips the upper end part of the case unit 3 as shown in FIG. Hold (grip) the part 3H.

  The moving part 6 holding the upper end part of the case unit 3 moves to the other end part side of the guide part 7. As the moving part 6 moves, the case unit 3 accommodated in the rack part 4 is moved upward while being guided by the rack guide part 4G, and eventually the roller part 3R of the case unit 3 travels along the guide part 7. To do. As a result, the case unit 3 moves onto the guide portion 7, moves in the horizontal direction while being guided by the guide portion 7, and is supported by the guide portion 7. As described above, the moving unit 6 moves the case unit 3 from the rack unit 4 to the guide unit 7 in a state where the lower end of the vertical region 7A of the guide unit 7 and the upper end of the rack unit 4 are connected. When the case unit 3 moves to support the guide part 7, the case unit 3 passes through the bending region 7 </ b> B of the guide part 7, but the connecting part 2 rotates the cases 1 around the X axis. Therefore, the case unit 3 (case 1) smoothly moves along the guide portion 7 (bending region 7B).

  After the case unit 3 is supported on the guide unit 7, the driving device 8 moves the guide unit 7 supporting the case unit 3 in the horizontal direction, and as shown in FIG. 5, the lower end of the vertical region 7 </ b> A of the guide unit 7. And the upper end part of the rack guide part 15G of the loading / unloading rack part 15 are connected. Then, when the moving unit 6 moves to one end side of the guide unit 7, as shown in FIG. 6, the case unit 3 is transferred to the loading / unloading rack unit 15 while being guided by the guide unit 7 and the rack guide unit 15G. . Thus, the moving unit 6 moves the case unit 3 from the guide unit 7 to the loading / unloading rack unit 15 in a state where the lower end of the vertical region 7A of the guide unit 7 and the upper end of the loading / unloading rack unit 15 are connected. Moving.

  After the rack unit 3 is stored in the loading / unloading rack unit 15, the forklift 20 accesses the rack unit 3 stored in the loading / unloading rack unit 15 as shown in FIG. 7. Then, the articles accommodated in the case 1 are taken out by the forklift 20 through the opening 1K of the case 1 and are carried out from the automatic warehouse S. Here, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 8, when the article is taken out from the inside of the case 1, the holding member 30 of the loading / unloading rack portion 15 rotates to open the opening 1 </ b> K of the case 1. By doing so, the article can be taken out from the case 1. Here, in the present embodiment, a gap 1D in which the fork of the forklift 20 can be disposed is formed between the case 1 and the article (drawer). The forklift 20 can take out articles by inserting a fork into the gap 1D.

  The procedure for carrying out the case unit 3 accommodated in the predetermined rack part 4 has been described above. However, when the case unit 3 is carried into the predetermined rack part 4, the procedure opposite to the above-described procedure is performed. Just do it.

  As described above, since the case unit 3 is configured by connecting the plurality of cases 1 with the connecting portion 2, the moving portion 6 holds and moves the case unit 3 to move the plurality of cases 1 at a time. Can be transported. Therefore, the conveyance efficiency can be improved. In addition, the guide unit 7 having the vertical region 7A, the horizontal region 7C, and the bending region 7B for guiding the movement of the moving unit 6 is disposed above the rack unit 4, so that the case unit 3 is guided by the moving unit 6. It can be supported on the part 7 in a substantially horizontal state and can be moved together with the guide part 7 by the driving device 8 in that state. Therefore, even if there is no large space near the ceiling of the warehouse (above the transfer device 8), the moving unit 6 can move between the guide unit 7 and the rack unit 4 while holding the case unit 3. Thus, it is not necessary to provide a useless space in the warehouse, so that the storage efficiency can be improved. In this case, since the cases 1 are connected to each other by the connecting portion 2 so as to be relatively movable, the case unit 3 can be easily bent and can be moved well along the guide portion 7. And in order to move the case unit 3 between the guide part 7 and the rack part 4, when connecting the lower end part of the vertical area | region 7A of the guide part 7, and the upper end part of the rack part 4 (rack guide part 4G). By moving the guide portion 7 by the driving device 8, the lower end portion and the upper end portion can be positioned.

  And since the connection part 2 has connected the case 1 so that rotation is possible centering | focusing on the X axis | shaft which cross | intersects the moving direction of the moving part 6, the case unit 3 can be bent easily, The unit 3 can smoothly move when moving in the bending region 7B of the guide portion 7.

  Further, since the case unit 3 is provided with the roller portion 3R that travels on the guide portion 7, the case unit 3 can smoothly move on the guide portion 7.

  In addition, the rack units 4 and 15 are provided with rack guide units 4G and 15G that guide the movement of the case unit 3 and restrict the movement of the case unit 3 in directions other than the movement direction. , 15 can be smoothly moved. Moreover, the case unit 3 is stably accommodated in the rack parts 4 and 15 by restricting the movement of the case unit 3 in directions other than the moving direction.

  Further, since the holding member 30 for opening and closing the opening 1K of the case 1 is provided in the rack parts 4 and 15, the case accommodated in the rack parts 4 and 15 by closing the opening 1K by the holding member 30. The inconvenience that an article comes out from 1 can be prevented. When the article is taken out from the case 1 in the loading / unloading rack unit 15, the article can be taken out through the opening 1K by operating the holding member 30 to open the opening 1K.

  Note that the automatic warehouse S according to the present embodiment is applicable not only to storing various parts, but also to a bank safe deposit box.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the automatic warehouse of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the case unit of the state accommodated in the rack part which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view for demonstrating operation | movement of the automatic warehouse of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state in which the moving part is holding the case unit. It is a perspective view for demonstrating operation | movement of the automatic warehouse of this invention. It is a perspective view for demonstrating operation | movement of the automatic warehouse of this invention. It is a perspective view for demonstrating operation | movement of the automatic warehouse of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows operation | movement of a suppressing member.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Case, 1K ... Opening part, 2 ... Connection part, 3 ... Case unit, 3R ... Roller part (traveling part), 4 ... Rack part, 4G ... Rack guide part, 6 ... Moving part, 7 ... Guide part, 7A ... vertical region, 7B ... bending region, 7C ... horizontal region, 8 ... driving device, 15 ... loading / unloading rack part, 30 ... restraining member

Claims (5)

A case unit having a connecting portion for connecting a plurality of cases in a relatively movable manner;
A rack portion capable of accommodating the case unit in a state in which the cases are arranged in a vertical direction;
A movable part that is movable while holding the case unit;
A guide part provided above the rack part for guiding the movement of the moving part;
A drive unit that moves the guide part above the rack part,
The guide unit includes a vertical region that guides the moving unit in a vertical direction, a horizontal region that guides the moving unit in a horizontal direction, and a bent region provided between the vertical region and the horizontal region,
The moving part moves the case unit between the guide part and the rack part in a state where a lower end part of a vertical region of the guide part and an upper end part of the rack part are connected. To automatic warehouse.   2. The automatic warehouse according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion rotatably connects the cases with a direction intersecting a moving direction of the moving portion as an axis.   The automatic warehouse according to claim 1, wherein the case unit includes a traveling unit that travels on the guide unit.   The rack unit includes a rack guide unit that guides the movement of the case unit and restricts the movement of the case unit in a direction other than the movement direction. Automatic warehouse. The case has an opening that allows the article to pass through the inside of the case,
The automatic warehouse according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rack portion includes a holding member that opens and closes at least a part of the opening.

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