JP5487433B2 - Automatic library system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic library system, and more particularly, to a user who issues a shipping instruction by himself / herself and performs a book extraction operation.

  In the automatic library system, a book user issues a book release instruction from the dedicated terminal to the automatic library system, the book corresponding to the delivery instruction is issued from the library, and the staff performs the work of taking out the issued book. It is often used in the form of handing it over to a user who has come to pick up. However, it is also desired that users themselves take out the books themselves without bothering the staff. Patent Document 1 describes an apparatus in which such a user takes out a book by himself / herself.

JP 2006-327738 A

  In the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of depositing / dispensing stations are provided for a user to take out a book, and a standby shelf for temporarily storing a reserved container storing a book reserved by the user is installed near the depositing / dispensing station. The reserved container is transported from the standby shelf to the depositing / dispensing station, and the user takes out the book himself. Since a plurality of cashier stations are provided and a standby shelf for temporarily storing reserved containers is installed in the vicinity of the cashier station, the installation space of the cashier station and the peripheral devices as a whole is increased and the cost is increased. In addition, since the number of standby shelves is limited, if the number of reservations is large, container transportation cannot be performed until empty space is created in the standby shelves, which may increase the waiting time of the user. Of course, if the number of standby shelves is increased, the reserved container can be made to wait, but this increases the installation space and the cost. In addition, as a rule, the reservation container is automatically transported to a vacant accounting station on the premise that the reservation containers are performed in the order of the reservation numbers, and enters a waiting state for the user. For this reason, if the user is not in the vicinity of the cashier station, the reservation user at the time must wait until the cancellation process is performed even though the cashier station that is not actually operating has occurred. There are a lot of cases that don't happen.

  An object of the present invention is to propose an automatic library system that is convenient for the user while reducing costs without increasing space.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, when a user searches for a book from a dedicated terminal and issues a delivery instruction from a container storage shelf that stores containers that can store a plurality of books, Enter the scheduled time to get the book in the station and set it, and when the scheduled time is near, move the container where the reserved book is stored to the reserved container temporary standby shelf, and from the reserved container temporary standby shelf to the depositing station To be transported to. That is, in the present invention, the reservation container temporary standby is managed by managing the order in which the reservation container is moved to the reservation container temporary standby shelf according to the scheduled time for the user to pick up the reserved book, not the order in which the book is reserved. The shelf was used effectively and the waiting time of the user was shortened.

  In addition, an area close to the unloading / transporting means for transporting the reserved container to the depositing station in the container storage shelf that stores containers that can store a plurality of books is set as the reserved container temporary standby shelf, and the container is normally left empty. I didn't keep it.

  That is, the automatic library system according to the present invention stores a container storage shelf for storing a plurality of containers in which books are stored, reservation means for a user to perform book reservation processing, and books reserved by the reservation means. A reserved container temporary standby shelf for storing the reserved container, a transport means for moving the reserved container between the container storage shelf and the reserved container temporary standby shelf, and a cashier station for a user to take out a book from the reserved container; A time setting means for setting a scheduled time for the user to take the book reserved by the reservation means to the depositing station, and when the reference time set in advance for the scheduled time set by the time setting means is reached, the reservation container It has the control means which controls operation | movement of a conveyance means so that it may move to a reservation container temporary standby shelf.

  In the automatic library system according to the present invention, the automatic storage system has a delivery / conveying means for transporting the reservation container stored in the reservation container temporary standby shelf to the depositing / dispensing station, and the reservation processing by the reservation means includes an issuing process for issuing a receipt number. When the receipt number issued by the process is input from the cashier station side, the control means controls the operation of the cargo carrier means so that the reserved container located on the reserved container temporary standby shelf is transported to the cashier station. It is characterized by.

  In the automatic archive system according to the present invention, when the scheduled time set by the time setting means has passed a predetermined time, the reservation content made by the reservation means is canceled and positioned on the reserved container temporary standby shelf. The control means controls the operation of the transport means so that the reserved container being moved is moved to a container storage shelf other than the reserved container temporary standby shelf.

  The automatic library system according to the present invention further includes a staffing station for staff to take out and return books, and a window transport means for transporting the reserved container located on the reserved container temporary standby shelf to the staffing station. Then, when the predetermined time set in advance by the time setting unit elapses, the control unit controls the operation of the window transfer unit so that the reserved container located on the reserved container temporary standby shelf is transferred to the staffing station. It is characterized by controlling with.

  The automatic library system according to the present invention is characterized in that the reserved container temporary standby shelf is located in the vicinity of the delivery / conveyance means.

  In the automatic library system according to the present invention, the address information of the container removal position in the container storage shelf is stored in the control means, and among these address information, the container removal position to which the address information in the vicinity of the delivery / conveyance means is given. Is assigned as a reserved container temporary standby shelf by the control means.

  According to the present invention, when the scheduled time approaches, the reserved container is moved to the reserved container temporary standby shelf, so that the reserved container is not a reserved container according to the scheduled time for the user to take the reserved book instead of the reserved order. Moved to a temporary waiting shelf. For this reason, the reserved container temporary standby shelf can be used effectively, the waiting time of the user can be shortened, and the convenience of the user can be achieved while reducing the cost without increasing the space of the container storage shelf. Can be improved.

  According to the present invention, a special facility is provided by positioning the reserved container temporary standby shelf for storing the reserved container in which the reserved books are stored in the vicinity of the unloading / transporting means for transporting the reserved container to the depositing / dispensing station. In addition, it is possible to secure a temporary storage place for the reserved container with only ordinary equipment. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide a space for the temporary storage place of the reserved container, and the reserved container can be transported to the depositing / receiving station in a shorter time than the normal delivery, thereby reducing the cost without increasing the space. However, user convenience can be improved. This is particularly effective when the number of user accounting stations is small, the reservation processing is not limited to only the terminals in the library, and reservation processing is possible from a distance via the network.

It is a schematic plan view which shows one structural example of the automatic library system which is embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the container storage shelf of an automatic library system, a reservation container temporary standby shelf, and a delivery conveyance means. It is a layout view showing one form of a user accounting station, a staff accounting station, a delivery transportation means and a window transportation means. It is a layout view showing one form of a user accounting station, a staff accounting station, a delivery transportation means and a window transportation means. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the bank account station for employees. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the banking station for users. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a reservation means. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of an automatic library system. It is a flowchart which shows one form of the control which concerns on taking out from the reservation of a book. It is a flowchart which shows one form of the control which concerns on taking out from the reservation of a book.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an automatic archive system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The automatic library system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is arranged in a library library 4 and includes racks 2A and 2B serving as container storage shelves for storing containers 15 that can store a plurality of books 16 (see FIG. 2), and racks 2A. , 2B, the stacker cranes 6A, 6B that are movable in the passages 5A, 5B, the transport conveyors 7, 8 that transport the containers 15 that are carried by the stacker cranes to the transport cart 9, and the transport cart 9, A horizontal transfer conveyor 38 that delivers the container 15 between the container 15, a staffing station 10 in which the container 15 is transported and a staff member takes out and returns books to the container 15, and a user User's depositing / dispensing station 11 for taking out the book from the book, and the reservation means 51 provided in the reception counter 12 and the user counter 50 The has. With these configurations, the container 15 storing the books 16 is loaded and unloaded between the depositing / dispensing stations 10 and 11 and the racks 2A and 2B.

The racks 2A and 2B include a single type having a row, a series and a step on the front side with respect to the passages 5A and 5B, and a double type having a row, a series and a step on the front and rear surfaces with respect to the passages 5A and 5B. When comparing the simplex and duplex, although the direction of double racks amount accommodated increases, since they must be replaced shelved once other shelf containers 15 that are shelved in the front case of extracting from the rear, Compared to the single type, the container delivery interval tends to be longer. Rack 2A shown in FIG. 1, 2B is the case of a double only, classified facing passages 5A, 5B and has a front side, the opposite rear side. For example, in the rack 2B, reference numeral 201 indicates the front side, and reference numeral 202 indicates the rear side. Although FIG. 1 illustrates a double rack, a single rack may be used. The rack 2A, the 2B, there is a movable type types and archive unit 4 fixed to the archive unit 4 is described the type of fixing in this embodiment as an example, be of the mobile type It doesn't matter.

  The stacker cranes 6A and 6B reciprocate and move up and down in the passages 5A and 5B, respectively, and select a container 15 stored at an arbitrary position from the containers 15 stored in the racks 2A and 2B. It is a well-known thing which conveys the container 15 located in the conveyance conveyors 7B and 8B for warehousing of the conveyors 7 and 8 to the racks 2A and 2B, while conveying to the conveyance conveyors 7A and 8A for delivery of the conveyors 7 and 8 .

  The transport carriage 9 transports the container 15 by reciprocating between the transport conveyors 7 and 8 and the horizontal transport conveyor 38, and as shown in FIG. 2, the exit cart 9A and the entry cart 9B are arranged vertically. Has been.

  The transfer conveyors 7 and 8 deliver containers 15 between the stacker cranes 6A and 6B and the transfer carriage 9, and the delivery conveyor 7A for transferring the containers 15 from the stacker cranes 6A and 6B to the exit cart 9A. , 8A, and unloading conveyors 7B, 8B for conveying the container 15 from the trolley 9B to the stacker cranes 6A, 6B are arranged above and below, respectively.

  The horizontal transport conveyor 38 transports the container 15 between the transport cart 9 and the vertical transport conveyor 39. The horizontal transport conveyor 38A transports the container 15 from the transport cart 9A to the vertical transport conveyor 39A. A warehousing horizontal transfer conveyor 38B for transferring the container 15 from the vertical transfer conveyor 39B to the trolley 9B is disposed up and down.

  The vertical transfer conveyor 39 includes an output vertical transfer conveyor 39A for transferring the container 15 transferred by the output horizontal transfer conveyor 38A to the staff depositing / dispensing station 10 or the user depositing / dispensing station 11, and the staff loading / unloading station 10. Alternatively, it includes a warehousing vertical transfer conveyor 39B for transferring the container 15 from the user deposit / dispensing station 11 to the warehousing horizontal transfer conveyor 38B.

  Inside the depositing / dispensing station 10 and the depositing / dispensing station 11, station conveyors 40 and 41 for moving the container 15 in the station are installed. As shown in FIG. 4, the station conveyors 40 and 41 convey the containers 15 from the delivery station conveyors 40A and 41A that receive the containers 15 from the delivery vertical transport conveyors 39A, and from the depositing and unloading stations to the entry vertical transport conveyors 39B. The warehousing station conveyors 40 </ b> B and 41 </ b> B are provided, and the container 15 can be transferred between each of the depositing / dispensing stations and the vertical transfer conveyor 39.

  The automatic library system 1 includes a plurality of depositing / dispensing stations including a depositing / dispensing station 10 for staff and a depositing / dispensing station 11 for users. As shown in FIG. 3, the staff accounting station 10 and the user accounting station 11 are installed on different floors F2 and F3 with respect to the floor F1 of the building where the library 4 is located. For this reason, the cashier station 10 for staff and the cashier station 11 for users are respectively connected to the vertical transfer conveyor 39 as shown in FIG. The positional relationship between the cashier station 10 for staff and the cashier station 11 for users is not limited to the form of installation on different floors as shown in FIG. Of course, it may be installed on the floor. When each depositing station and the library 4 are installed on the same floor, the vertical transfer conveyor 39 is not necessary. The arrangements of the depositing / dispensing stations 10 and 11 and the library 4 can be appropriately changed according to the building in which the system is introduced and the use form.

The staffing station 10 has a housing having an appearance as shown in FIG. 5, and a work counter 18 is installed on the front side thereof, and a station conveyor 40 for transporting the container 15 is installed inside. A monitor 20 for displaying various information and a work completion button 23 are provided on the side of the casing, and a movement completion lamp 24 is provided on the top of the casing.

  On the upper surface of the work counter 18, a book ID reading device 21, a mouse 22, a keyboard 25, and the like are provided. The book ID reader 21 is used when reading a barcode (not shown) attached to the book 16. The mouse 22 and keyboard 25 serving as input means are used when inputting various data. The work completion button 23 is operated when returning the container 15 that has been taken out and returned to the book 16 at the depositing / dispensing station 10 to the library 4 (at the time of warehousing), and the movement completion lamp 24 is moved to the container 15 carried from the library 4. Is turned on when it arrives at a predetermined position of the station conveyor 40.

  Covers 28, 28 for covering the station conveyor 40 are provided in the cashier station 10. Each cover 28 is provided with doors 29 and 29 that can be opened and closed in the width direction of the station. Each door 29 is normally closed and is manually opened when the container 15 arrives at a predetermined position. The monitor 20 displays the book data such as the name, classification, ID number, etc. of the book 16 to be loaded and unloaded and the contents that are reserved books. The monitor 20, the book ID reader 21, the mouse 22, the work completion button 23, the movement completion lamp 24, and the keyboard 25 are connected to a station terminal 61 installed in the depositing / dispensing station 10 so as to be communicable.

As shown in FIG. 6, the user accounting station 11 basically has the same functions as the accounting station 10, and a work counter 181 is provided on the front side of the housing, and a container is provided on the inside. 15 station conveyor 41 for transporting installed a monitor 201 on which various information is displayed on the side of the housing, the work completion button 231, movement completion lamp 241 are respectively provided on the upper surface of the housing .

  On the upper surface of the work counter 181, a book ID reader 211, a mouse 221, a keyboard 215, and the like are provided. The book ID reader 211 is used when reading a barcode (not shown) attached to the book 16. A mouse 221 and a keyboard 251 serving as input means are used when inputting various data. The work completion button 231 is operated when returning the container 15 from which the book 16 has been taken out at the depositing / dispensing station 11 to the library 4 (at the time of warehousing), and the movement completion lamp 241 is used to transfer the container 15 transported from the library 4 to the station conveyor 41. It lights up when it arrives at a predetermined position.

  Covers 281 and 281 for covering the station conveyor 41 are provided at the cashier station 11. Each cover 281 is provided with doors 291 and 291 that can be opened and closed in the width direction of the station. Each door 291 is normally closed and is manually opened when the container 15 arrives at a predetermined position. The monitor 201 displays book data such as the name, classification, and ID number of the book 16 to be loaded and unloaded, and cancellation information to be described later. The monitor 201, the book ID reading device 211, the mouse 221, the work completion button 231, the movement completion lamp 241, and the keyboard 251 are connected so as to be communicable with the station terminal 62 installed in the depositing / dispensing station 11. The accounting stations 10 and 11 are provided with container information (ID) reading means (not shown) so that the containers 15 arriving at the accounting stations can be identified.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the user counter 50 is provided with a reservation means 51 for reserving a book 16 that the user wants to borrow. As shown in FIG. 7, the reservation means 51 includes a reservation terminal 52, an input means 53 for inputting user authentication information (user ID) and information of the book 16 to be reserved to the reservation terminal 52, an acceptance number, A printer 54 that prints and issues a scheduled time and a monitor 55 that displays information input by the input means 53, a reception number, a scheduled time, and the like are provided. The reservation unit 51 is configured to be able to input and set a scheduled time T for the user to take the book 16 reserved by the user to the depositing / dispensing station 11. In this embodiment, the reservation unit 51 functions as a time setting unit. Is given. Of course, the time setting means may be provided separately from the input means 53.

Next, the configuration of the control system of the automatic library system 1 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 8, the automatic archive system 1 includes a system management machine 60 as a control means having a server function, station terminals 61 and 62 provided in the respective depositing stations 10 and 11, and a central control as a control means. A board 63 is provided. A reservation terminal 52 of the reservation means 51, station terminals 61 and 62, and a central control panel 63 are connected to the system manager 60, and information can be communicated with each terminal.

  The station terminals 61 and 62 are also connected to the central control panel 63 so that information can be communicated with the central control panel 63. The reservation terminal 52, the system management device 60, the station terminals 61 and 62, and the central control panel 63 are configured by known computers.

  The automatic library system 1 is communicably connected to an existing library system installed in the library. This library system manages the information of the books 16 owned by the library.

  The reservation terminal 52 is connected to a library system (not shown), and is configured so that a user can search for books. The reservation terminal 52 has a function of notifying the reservation information to the system manager 60 when the user searches the book 16 and then inputs information of the book 16 to be delivered from the input means 53 and makes a reservation. Is provided with a function of printing or displaying the receipt number notified from the form as a form on the monitor 55. That is, the reservation process by the reservation unit 52 includes an issue process for issuing reservation information. In the present embodiment, the input means 53 also has a function of inputting a scheduled time T for taking the book 16 reserved by the user to the depositing / dispensing station 11. For this reason, when the scheduled time T is input and set, the reservation terminal 52 transmits the scheduled time information to the system manager 60 and further displays the input scheduled time T on the monitor 55 and the printer 54. Has a function to launch. Although the reservation unit 51 includes the printer 54, the printer 54 is not necessarily required, and the reception number and the scheduled time T may be displayed on the monitor 55 so that the displayed information can be noted by the user. In particular, if reservation processing is possible from a terminal outside the library via a network, there may be no printer.

  The user stores personal information such as name and address and the user ID in a database in the system manager 60 and inputs the user ID from the input unit 53 when using the reservation unit 51. . In this embodiment, the user ID is made into a database, but it is only necessary to specify the reservation contents when the reservation container is called at the user accounting station 11 described later (at the time of taking out the book). There is no. Further, the user authentication may be performed by issuing a known IC card to the user and reading the IC card with a reading terminal for authentication instead of inputting the user ID. In this case, the user operability is improved by connecting an IC card reading terminal to the reservation terminal 52 or the station terminal 62.

  The central control panel 63 is connected to the stacker cranes 6A and 6B, the conveyors 7 and 8, the conveyor cart 9, the horizontal conveyor 38, the vertical conveyor 39, and the drive sources of the station conveyors 40 and 41, respectively. The operation of each drive source is controlled based on the command transmitted from the system manager 60 to control the operation of each unit. The station terminals 61 and 62 have a function of instructing work in taking out and returning books at each accounting station.

The system management unit 60 has a database function in which information such as which books are stored in which containers 15 and which arrangement positions of the containers 15 are stored in the racks 2A and 2B is stored in the central control panel. 63 has a function of sending operation commands of the stacker cranes 6A and 6B and the conveyors. For this reason, a container ID (information) (not shown) composed of a barcode for identifying the container is attached to each container 15, and a book ID (not shown) for book identification is also attached to the book 16. Further, the system management machine 60 stores each rack serving as placement position information of each container 15 and a storage address including information on the row, series, stage, front side and rear side, and the container 15 The book 16 and the storage address are stored as a data table. The system manager 60 can search the position of the container 15 in which the books 16 are stored and the empty positions of the racks 2A and 2B by referring to this data table.

The system manager 60 reserves the container placement position to which the address information in the vicinity of the delivery conveyors 7A and 8A serving as the delivery and transportation means among the address information of the container placement positions in the racks 2A and 2B is reserved. A function of assigning the reserved container 15A in which the book 16 reserved by the means 51 is stored as the reserved container temporary standby shelf 13 for temporary storage is provided. Therefore, the assigned container Shelf position as reserved container temporary stand shelves 13, books 16, which is receipts from cashier station 10, 11 and the container 15 accommodating, are simply stored to store books 16 An empty space is provided so that the container 15 cannot be placed.

  When the reservation information is notified from the reservation terminal 52, the system manager 60 has a function of receiving the reservation information, issuing a reception number, and notifying the reservation terminal 52. The system manager 60 is preset with a reference time T1 (for example, 10 minutes before the scheduled time) prior to the set scheduled time T, and the reference time T1 with respect to the scheduled time T. When it comes to (10 minutes before the scheduled time), it has a function of transmitting an operation command to the central control panel 63 so as to move the reserved container 15A from the racks 2A and 2B to the reserved container temporary standby shelf 13. Upon receiving this command, the central control panel 63 controls the operations of the stacker cranes 6A and 6B serving as the conveying means.

  When the receipt number or user ID issued by the issuing means 51 is input from the station terminal 62 of the depositing / dispensing station 11 to obtain the book 16 reserved by the user, the system manager 60 receives the reservation container. A function of transmitting a command to the central control panel 63 so as to transport the reserved container 15A located on the temporary standby shelf 13 to the depositing / dispensing station 11 is provided. Upon receiving this command, the central control panel 63 operates the stacker cranes 6A and 6B, the delivery conveyors 7A and 8A, the delivery transport cart 9A, the delivery horizontal transport conveyor 38A, and the vertical transport conveyor 39, which are the delivery and delivery means. To control.

In the system manager 60, a predetermined time T2 (for example, an elapsed time of 30 minutes) later than the set scheduled time T is set in advance, and even if the predetermined time T2 has elapsed from the scheduled time T, the cashier station 11 If the reception number or the user ID is not input from the station terminal 62, the reservation processing performed by the reservation means 51 is canceled, and the reservation container 15 located on the reservation container temporary standby shelf 13 is replaced with the reservation container temporary standby shelf. An operation command is transmitted to the central control panel 63 so as to move to an empty container arrangement position other than 13. Upon receiving this command, the central control panel 63 controls the operation of the stacker cranes 6A and 6B serving as the conveying means. Although not shown, the system manager 60 includes a monitor composed of input means such as a keyboard and a mouse and a touch panel. The reference time T1 and the predetermined time T2 can be set or changed on the input means and the monitor. ing.

  When the station terminal 62 receives the receipt number or the user ID from the station terminal 62 after the cancel processing is performed by the system manager 60, the receipt and receipt shown in FIG. 6 indicates that the reservation information of the receipt number has been canceled. A function of displaying on the monitor 201 of the station 11 is provided.

  The operation from the reservation to the take-out of the book 16 in the automatic library system 1 having such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that the ID information, the user ID, and the storage address for the reserved container temporary standby shelf 13 of the containers 15 and books 16 stored in the racks 2A and 2B are already registered in the system manager 60. And

  In step ST1 of FIG. 9, the user searches the book 16 to be reserved by operating the input means 53, and performs user authentication at the reservation terminal 52 which is a dedicated terminal in step ST2. Here, the input means 53 is operated to input the user ID of the user, and the scheduled time T for picking up the book reserved for delivery is entered to instruct the reservation terminal 52 to issue a reservation for delivery. User authentication is performed based on whether or not the input user ID is registered. When the scheduled time T is input, the reservation terminal 52 notifies the system manager 60 of a reservation instruction for leaving.

  In step ST <b> 3, the system management machine 60 accepts an outgoing reservation instruction issued from the reservation terminal 52, issues a reception number, and notifies the reservation terminal 52 of the reception number. Then, the reservation terminal 52 operates the printer 54 to print and issue a form in which the receipt number and the scheduled time T are described. In step ST4, the delivery data is stored. The outgoing data is a reserved book 16, a container 15 in which the reserved book 16 is stored, and a scheduled time T.

In step ST5, it is determined by the system manager 60 whether or not it is a preset reference time T1 with respect to the scheduled time T. For example, if it is 10 minutes before the scheduled time T, the process proceeds to step ST6 and the reserved book 16 is stored. A process of moving the reserved container 15A to the reserved container temporary standby shelf 13 is executed. Here, the storage address is a container 15 which is a library 16, which is reserved housed stored, the reservation system managing device 60 and the idle address container temporary standby shelf 13 is indexed. Then, it instructs the central control panel 63 to move the container 15 at the determined storage address to the empty address in the reserved container temporary standby shelf 13 as the reserved container 15A. Upon receiving the command, the central control panel 63 operates the stacker cranes 6A and 6B to move the reserved container 15A to the arrangement position that is an empty address in the reserved container temporary standby shelf 13.

  In step ST7, the system manager 60 determines whether or not the predetermined time T2 has elapsed from the scheduled time T, and the exit operation in step ST8 is waited until the predetermined time T2 has elapsed. When the predetermined time T2 has elapsed, the cancel process shown in steps ST14 to ST16 is executed.

  In step ST8, the user (reservation person) performs a leaving operation process for the reservation container 15A. Here, using the input means of the station terminal 62, the user ID of the reservation person is input to perform user authentication, the reception number issued in step ST2 is input, and a confirmation key (not shown) is operated. If the user authentication is successful and the receipt number is correct, the process proceeds to step ST9. In step ST9, a command is sent from the system manager 60 to the central control panel 63 to execute processing for transporting the reserved container 15A from the reserved container temporary standby shelf 13 to the user depositing / dispensing station 11.

  The central control panel 63 operates the corresponding ones of the stacker cranes 6A and 6B, the transfer conveyors 37A and 38A, the unloading carriage 9A, the unloading horizontal transfer conveyor 38A, the unloading vertical transfer conveyor 39A, and the station conveyor 41. In the above example, the reserved container 15A is temporarily stored in the reserved container temporary standby shelf 13 of the rack 2A, and therefore, here, the stacker crane 6A, the transfer conveyor 37A, the unloading transfer cart 9A, the unloading horizontal transfer conveyor 38A, The delivery vertical transport conveyor 39 </ b> A is operated as a delivery transport means to transport the reserved container 15 </ b> A to the depositing / dispensing station 11. The reserved container 15A conveyed to the depositing / dispensing station 11 is conveyed to a predetermined position of the station by the operation of the station conveyor 41.

  In step ST10, a book taking-out operation by a user (reserving person) is executed. Here, when it is detected by a container information (ID) reading device (not shown) that the reserved container 15A has arrived at a predetermined position of the depositing / dispensing station 11, the book information to be taken out is displayed on the monitor 201. Here, the user (reservation person) manually opens the doors 291 and 291 and takes out the book 16 reserved from the reservation container 15A. Then, the book ID reader 211 causes the book ID of the book 16 to be read. Here, when the book ID of the book 16 is read, the corresponding book is taken out from the container held in the depositing station and the database stored in the system manager 60 is updated. The station terminal 62 determines whether the read book ID is the book ID of the book 16 that has been reserved. When the book ID read here and the book ID of the reserved book 16 coincide with each other, the process proceeds to step ST11, and the presence / absence of another book to be taken out is determined. Here, the presence or absence of other books is determined based on whether or not the book IDs of all reserved books 16 have been read by the book ID reading device 211. In this embodiment, since one book is reserved, the process proceeds to step ST12.

  In step ST12, a book extraction completion operation is performed. This operation is completed when the work completion button 231 is pressed by the user. When the work completion button 231 is pressed, a completion signal is transmitted from the station terminal 62 to the system management device 60, and the system management device 60 receives the completion signal and executes a container warehousing / conveying process in step ST13. The container warehousing process is to receive the reserved container 15A from the depositing / dispensing station 11 to the library 4. The system manager 60 searches the rack 2A or the rack 2B for an empty address other than the reserved container temporary standby shelf 13, and transfers the reserved container 15A from which the reserved books are taken to the empty address to the central control panel. A command is issued to 63. The central control panel 63 corresponds to any one of the station conveyor 41, the vertical transfer conveyor 39B, the horizontal transfer conveyor 38B, the transfer carriage 9B, the transfer conveyors 7B and 8B, and the stacker cranes 6A and 6B. Each of them operates to carry the reserved container 15A to the rack 2A or the rack 2B having the searched free address, and finish this control.

  On the other hand, when the predetermined time T2 has elapsed from the scheduled time T in step ST7, the system manager 60 proceeds to step ST14 to cancel the reservation contents, and an empty space other than the reserved container temporary standby shelf 13 from the rack 2A or the rack 2B. Search for an address. Then, the central control panel 63 is instructed to move the reserved container 15A from the reserved container temporary standby shelf 13 to a rack having an empty address. The central control panel 63 operates as any one of the stacker cranes 6A and 6B as a transfer means for warehousing, and moves the reserved container 15A to the rack 2A or the rack 2B having the searched empty address.

  If, after the elapse of the predetermined time T2, that is, after execution of the reservation content canceling process, in step ST15, the user (reserving person) performs the exit operation of the reservation container similar to step ST8 from the depositing / dispensing station 11, the station terminal 62 In step ST16, the monitor 201 displays that the reservation content has been canceled and notifies the user.

  In this way, the scheduled time T for taking the book reserved by the user is set, so that the reserved container is not wasted on the reserved container temporary standby shelf 13 and the predetermined time T2 is set from the scheduled time T. When the time has elapsed, the reservation content is canceled, and the reserved container 15A transported to the reserved container temporary standby shelf 13 is returned to the rack 2A or the rack 2B. The reserved container temporary standby shelf 13 can be used effectively, and the convenience for the user can be improved.

  In addition, the reserved container temporary standby shelf 13 for storing the reserved container 15A in which the reserved books are stored is set to the rack 2A or 2B in the vicinity of the unloading / transporting means for transporting the reserved container 15A to the depositing / dispensing station 11. The temporary storage place of the reservation container 15A can be ensured only with normal equipment without providing the equipment. For this reason, a space for a temporary storage location of the reserved container 15A can be secured without adding a rack, so that the reserved container 15A can be transported to the depositing / dispensing station 11 in a shorter time than normal delivery, and the user waits for The time can be shortened, and the convenience for the user can be further improved while increasing the cost without increasing the occupied space of the rack.

  FIG. 10 shows another form of operation from reservation to extraction of the book 16 shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the processing contents from step ST21 to step ST33, which indicate from the reservation to removal of the book 16 by the user, are the same as the processing contents from step ST1 to step ST13 shown in FIG. For this reason, the description of the processing content from step ST21 to step ST33 is omitted. The difference between FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 is the processing after a predetermined time T2 has elapsed from the scheduled time T. In FIG. 9, the reservation contents are canceled when the predetermined time T2 elapses, but in FIG. 10, the reservation container 15A after the predetermined time T2 elapses the scheduled container T is transferred to the staff accounting station 10, The book 16 booked by the user can be received at another cashier station.

  That is, when a predetermined time T2 has elapsed from the scheduled time T in step ST27 of FIG. 10, the system manager 60 instructs the central control panel 63 to transport the reserved container 15A to the staff accounting station 10 in step ST34. . In response to this command, the central control panel 63 corresponds to the stacker cranes 6A and 6B and the transfer conveyors 37A and 38A, the unloading transfer carriage 9A, the unloading horizontal transfer conveyor 38A, the unloading vertical transfer conveyor 39A, and the station conveyor 40. The thing operates as a window conveying means. In the above example, since the reserved container 15A is temporarily stored in the reserved container temporary standby shelf 13 of the rack 2A, the stacker crane 6A and the transfer conveyor 37A are operated to transfer the reserved container 15A to the delivery cart 9A. The transported reservation container 15A is transported to the shipping vertical transport conveyor 39A by the operation of the shipping horizontal transport conveyor 38A, is transported to the depositing / dispensing station 10 by the operation of the shipping vertical transport conveyor 39A, and the operation of the station conveyor 40 is performed. Is transferred to a predetermined position of the cashier station 10 for staff.

  After elapse of the predetermined time T2, in step ST35, a library taking-out process is performed by library staff. The book take-out process here includes a form issue process by the printer 32 of the book information of the taken-out book 16 and the user ID and receipt number reserved for delivery. The staff places the book in the reserved book storage area (not shown) by sandwiching it between the books 16 (reserved books) from which the issued forms have been taken out.

  When the user (reservant) performs a book removal operation from the reservation station 11 after a predetermined time T2, in step ST36, the station terminal 62 transports the reservation book to the staff station 10. The displayed contents are displayed on the monitor 201, and the process ends. Thereafter, the user goes to pick up the book reserved at the reception counter 12, presents the user ID and the reception number to the staff, and receives the book 16 reserved at the reserved book place.

  Thus, when the predetermined time T2 has elapsed from the scheduled time T, the user goes to the depositing station 11 at the scheduled time T by transporting the reserved container 15A to the accounting station 10 for staff. Even if it cannot be received, it can be received from the staff at the cashier station 10. For this reason, the user can receive the reserved book reliably with a short waiting time, and it is not necessary to reserve the book again, so the convenience is improved.

1 Automatic Library System 2A, 2B Container Storage Shelf 6A, 6B Transport means / Outlet transport means / Window transport means (stacker crane)
7A, 8A Outlet conveying means / window conveying means (conveying conveyor for outgoing)
9A Outlet transport means / window transport means (transport cart for delivery)
10 Reservation station for staff 11 Reservation station for users 13 Reservation container temporary standby shelf 15. ・ Multiple containers 15A Reservation container 16 Books 38A Outlet transport means / window transport means (horizontal transport conveyor for delivery)
39A Unloading and conveying means / window conveying means (vertical conveying conveyor for unloading)
51 Reserving means 53 Time setting means 60, 63 Control means T Scheduled time T1 Reference time T2 Predetermined time M Operator (user or staff)

Claims (4)

A container storage shelf for storing a plurality of containers storing books;
Reservation means for users to perform book reservation processing;
Reservation container temporary standby shelf for storing reservation containers storing books reserved by the reservation means;
Transport means for moving the reserved container between the container storage shelf and the reserved container temporary standby shelf;
A depositing / dispensing station where the user performs a book removal operation from the reserved container;
Time setting means for setting a scheduled time for the user to go to the depositing station for the book reserved by the reservation means;
Control means for controlling the operation of the transport means to move the reserved container to the reserved container temporary standby shelf when the preset reference time is reached with respect to the scheduled time set by the time setting means ,
A cashier station for staff, where staff take out and return books,
Window transport means for transporting the reserved container located on the reserved container temporary standby shelf to the cashier station for the staff,
The control means is configured to transfer the reserved container located on the reserved container temporary standby shelf to the staffing station when the predetermined time set by the time setting means passes a predetermined time. An automatic archive system characterized by controlling the operation of the window conveying means . In the automatic library system according to claim 1,
A delivery / conveying means for transporting the reservation container stored in the reservation container temporary standby shelf to the accounting station;
The reservation process by the reservation means includes an issue process for issuing a receipt number,
When the receipt number issued by the issuing process is input from the depositing / receiving station side, the control means is configured to transfer the reserved container located on the reserved container temporary standby shelf to the depositing / receiving station. An automatic archive system characterized by controlling the operation of a conveying means. In the automatic archive system according to claim 2 ,
The reservation container temporary standby shelf is located in the vicinity of the shipping / conveying means . In the automatic archive system according to claim 3 ,
The control means stores the address information of the container arrangement position in the container storage shelf, and among these address information, the container arrangement position to which the address information in the vicinity of the unloading and conveying means is given is An automatic library system that is allocated as a reserved container temporary storage shelf .

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