JP7543791B2 - Automated Warehouse System - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an automated warehouse system.

The automated warehouse system includes an automated warehouse, a loading/unloading conveyor, and a transfer station. The baggage placed at the transfer station is transported to the automated warehouse by the loading/unloading conveyor.
2. Description of the Related Art A conveyor system is known in which a load placed on a sheet pallet is removed from the pallet by a forklift (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 7-2333

The goods placed on the sheet pallets are removed from the container by a forklift and then placed into the automated warehouse.
Specifically, two forklifts are required to carry out the work of storing goods in an automated warehouse: one forklift that can handle sheet pallets and one forklift that is a normal two-pronged forklift. In this case, the forklift that can handle sheet pallets de-vanes the goods on the sheet pallets in the container and places them on a plastic pallet in the warehouse. Next, another two-pronged forklift carries the plastic pallet with the goods on it into the automated warehouse.
However, when two forklifts are used as described above, the work efficiency decreases and the length of the berth increases.

The object of the present invention is to place cargo on a pallet using a single forklift in an automated warehouse system.

Below, we will explain several aspects as a means to solve the problem. These aspects can be combined as needed.

An automated warehouse system according to one aspect of the present invention includes an automated warehouse, the automated warehouse system including a pallet conveyor, a first loading/unloading station, a first receiving conveyor, a second loading/unloading station, and a second receiving conveyor.
The pallet conveyor delivers the pallets.
The first loading/unloading station is disposed adjacent to an end of the pallet conveyor and is connected to the pallet conveyor via a switching conveyor.
The first receiving conveyor connects with the first loading/unloading station and is disposed parallel to the pallet conveyor.
The second transfer station is disposed adjacent to an end of the pallet conveyor on the opposite side to the first transfer station, and is connected to the pallet conveyor via a switching conveyor.
The second receiving conveyor connects with the second loading/unloading station and is disposed parallel to the pallet conveyor.
A cargo is a single or multiple cargoes, and is a unit that can be transported and transferred at one time.

In this system, a first transfer station and a second transfer station are connected to the pallet conveyor. Furthermore, a first receiving conveyor and a second receiving conveyor are connected to the first transfer station and the second transfer station, respectively.
The pallets are supplied from the pallet conveyor to the first and second transfer stations. The articles are placed on the pallets by, for example, a forklift. The pallets on which the articles are placed are stored in the automated warehouse by the first and second receiving conveyors.
With the above configuration and operation, for example, an item removed from a container by a forklift can be placed directly on a pallet supplied to the first or second transfer station. The pallet and the item are stored in the automated warehouse continuously by the first and second receiving conveyors. As a result, in the automated warehouse system, an item can be placed on a pallet by the operation of a single forklift.

The automated warehouse system may further include a forklift and a placement position mark.
The forklift transfers cargo onto the pallets placed at the first and second transfer stations.
The placement position marks are provided at the first transfer station and the second transfer station.
When there are multiple objects, each object is placed on a sheet pallet, for example. The forklift is equipped with push-pull or roller type claws.
In this system, when a forklift driver places a load on a pallet placed at the first or second transfer station, the driver can place the load accurately on the pallet by aligning the load with the placement position mark.

The automated storage system may further include a pallet bin, which may be located on an opposite side of the first receiving conveyor from the pallet conveyor.
This system makes use of dead space to store pallets in stock.

The automated warehouse system may further include a placement sensor that detects that an item has been placed on a pallet in each of the first and second transfer stations.
With this system, transport of luggage can begin once a placement sensor detects that the luggage has been placed on a pallet, allowing luggage to be stored efficiently.

The placement sensor may be capable of detecting the number of times a package is placed.
In this system, for example, if a pallet is set to be automatically stored when it is placed on the pallet twice, when the placement sensor detects that the pallet has been placed on for the second time, it will recognize that the pallet can be stored.

The automated warehouse system may include a first identification sensor and a second identification sensor.
The first identification sensor may be provided in one of the first loading/unloading station and the first receiving conveyor, and may be capable of detecting identification information of the luggage.
The second identification sensor may be provided in one of the second loading/unloading station and the second receiving conveyor, and may be capable of detecting identification information of the luggage.
In this system, even if a forklift driver randomly removes packages from a container, the identification information of the packages is automatically recognized at the first transfer station, the second transfer station, the first receiving conveyor, or the second receiving conveyor. As a result, the type and number of packages are recognized, and the inventory number of the packages is registered in the memory unit.

The automated storage system may further include a destacking device. The destacking device may be provided at an intermediate position of the pallet conveyor and may be capable of destacking the pallets.
In this system, the de-stack device can supply a large number of pallets to the pallet conveyor, so that the system can handle even if the goods are continuously loaded into the first transfer station or the second transfer station.

In the automated warehouse system of the present invention, cargo can be placed on a pallet using a single forklift.

FIG. 2 is a schematic partial plan view of the automated warehouse system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing an operation of a forklift truck transferring a load to a first transfer station. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the automated warehouse system. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a forklift truck transferring a load to a first transfer station. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing an operation of a forklift truck transferring a load to a first transfer station. FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing the operation of the first inbound/outbound conveyor transporting luggage. FIG. 2 is a schematic partial plan view of the automated warehouse system, showing the pallet transport direction when retrieving goods from the warehouse. FIG. 11 is a schematic side view showing an operation of the forklift truck of the second embodiment transferring a load to the first transfer station.

1. First embodiment (1) Basic configuration of an automated warehouse system The basic configuration of an automated warehouse system 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a schematic partial plan view of the automated warehouse system of the first embodiment. Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a forklift transferring luggage to a first transfer station. Note that in Figure 1, the pallet transport direction during warehousing is indicated by an arrow.
The up-down direction in Fig. 1 is the first direction (arrow X), the left-right direction in Fig. 1 is the second direction (arrow Y), and the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of Fig. 1 is the third direction (arrow Z). The left sides of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are the first side of the second direction, and the right sides of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are the second side of the first direction.

The automated warehouse system 1 is part of a logistics center. The automated warehouse system 1 is configured so that cargo W is supplied from a container (not shown) provided on the right side of the figure, near the entrance/exit of a cargo loading section of a truck (not shown), or from inside the container/truck by a sheet pallet forklift 17 (hereinafter referred to as "forklift 17").
The forklift 17 is a known type and has a platen that supports the sheet pallet SP and a gripper above the platen that is movable forward and backward. The sheet pallet forklift 17 may be manned or unmanned.
The cargo W is stacked on a sheet pallet SP to form a unit. The sheet pallet SP is a thin, plate-like pallet having tabs.

The automated warehouse system 1 has an automated warehouse 3, a loading/unloading station 5, a tracked vehicle system 7, and a loading/unloading conveyor 9.

(2) Automated Warehouse The automated warehouse 3 has a pair of racks 11 and a stacker crane 13. The pair of racks 11 has a plurality of shelves 11a. A large number of shelves 11a are provided lined up in the second direction and the up-down direction. The stacker crane 13 transports the pallet P along the pair of racks 11. The stacker crane 13 is a known technology and has a traveling section, a lifting section, and a transfer section. The transfer section is, for example, a slide fork, and performs transfer operations such as loading the pallet P onto the stacker crane 13 and unloading it from the stacker crane 13.

(3) Receiving/Shipping Station The receiving/shipping station 5 is a place where a forklift 17 loads luggage W onto a pallet P, and is a device that supplies luggage W and pallets P to the automated warehouse 3 side.
A berth is provided as a loading/unloading space for the automated warehouse 3 on the second side in the second direction of the loading/unloading station 5, and a first forklift turning space 15A and a second forklift turning space 15B are provided in part of the berth. The first forklift turning space 15A is a turning space for the forklift 17 when it accesses the first transfer station 23 (described later). The second forklift turning space 15B is a turning space for the forklift 17 when it accesses the second transfer station 27 (described later).

The loading/unloading station 5 includes a pallet conveyor 21, a first transfer station 23, a first loading/unloading conveyor 25, a second transfer station 27, and a second loading/unloading conveyor 29.

The pallet conveyor 21 receives and ships pallets P. Specifically, the pallet conveyor 21 extends long in the second direction and is capable of transporting the pallets P on it to both sides in the second direction. The pallet conveyor 21 is a roller conveyor. The pallet conveyor may be another conveyor, for example, a belt conveyor or a chain conveyor (the same applies hereinafter to the conveyor).
A switching conveyor 31 is provided at the tip of the pallet conveyor 21 (the end on the second side in the second direction) for changing the transport direction of the pallet P from the second direction to both sides of the first direction.

The loading/unloading station 5 further includes a pallet magazine 35 (an example of a tiering device). The pallet magazine 35 is provided at an intermediate position of the pallet conveyor 21. Pallets P are transported to the pallet magazine 35 in a stacked state (for example, 10 layers) as required. As a result, multiple pallets P are stored in a stacked state in the pallet magazine 35. The pallet magazine 35 tiers the stacked pallets P and transports each pallet one by one to the second side in the second direction.

In the pallet magazine 35, the pallets P can be taken out one by one and immediately transported by the pallet conveyor 21, so that the supply speed is increased.
As described above, the pallet magazine 35 can supply a large number of pallets P to the pallet conveyor 21. Therefore, even if the packages W are continuously stored, the system can be handled.
The pallet magazine 35 has a stacking function. Therefore, after the luggage W loaded on the pallet P is removed from the first transfer station 23 or the second transfer station 27 in the retrieval operation, the pallet P is transported by the pallet conveyor 21 and stacked in the pallet magazine 35. In addition, a stacking device (not shown) is also provided separately.

The first transfer station 23 is disposed adjacent to an end portion on the second side in the second direction of the pallet conveyor 21. The first transfer station 23 is connected to the pallet conveyor 21 via a switching conveyor 31.
The first incoming/outgoing conveyor 25 is connected to the first transfer station 23 and is disposed parallel to the pallet conveyor 21. Specifically, the first incoming/outgoing conveyor 25 extends long in the second direction and is capable of transporting the pallet P thereon in the second direction.

The second transfer station 27 is disposed adjacent to an end portion on the second side in the second direction of the pallet conveyor 21, and is connected to the pallet conveyor 21 via a switching conveyor 31. The second transfer station 27 is located on the opposite side of the pallet conveyor 21 from the first transfer station 23 in the first direction.
The second incoming/outgoing conveyor 29 is connected to the second transfer station 27 and is disposed parallel to the pallet conveyor 21. Specifically, the second incoming/outgoing conveyor 29 extends long in the second direction and is capable of transporting the pallet P thereon in the second direction.
As described above, in the loading/unloading station 5, the first transfer station 23 and the second transfer station 27 are connected to the pallet conveyor 21. Furthermore, the first transfer station 23 and the second transfer station 27 are connected to the first loading/unloading conveyor 25 and the second loading/unloading conveyor 29, respectively.

As shown in Fig. 4, the first transfer station 23 and the second transfer station 27 are provided with a placement position mark 65. The placement position mark 65 is a reference for the forklift operator to accurately place the load on the pallet. Specifically, the placement position mark 65 indicates a reference position on the front side of the sheet pallet SP provided in the first transfer station 23 and the second transfer station 27.
The forklift 17 places the cargo W on the sheet pallet SP on the pallet P placed in the first transfer station 23 or the second transfer station 27. At this time, the forklift 17 can place the cargo W accurately on the pallet P by aligning the sheet pallet SP with the placement position mark 65.
The shape, color, number, material, and position of the placement position mark are not particularly limited.

1, the loading/unloading station 5 further includes a buffer conveyor 33. The buffer conveyor 33 is disposed on the opposite side of the first loading/unloading conveyor 25 to the pallet conveyor 21. Specifically, the buffer conveyor 33 stores stacked pallets P. The buffer conveyor 33 also extends in the second direction and can transport the stacked pallets P in the second direction.
The buffer conveyor 33 is disposed on the first side in the second direction of a part of the first forklift turning space 15A. In other words, by providing the buffer conveyor 33 by utilizing a dead space, the pallets P can be stored in stock.

(4) Rail-Guided Vehicle System The rail-guided vehicle system 7 is a system that transports pallets P between the automated warehouse 3 and the shipping/receiving station 5.
The rail guided vehicle system 7 includes a travel path 41 consisting of a track-shaped traveling rail, and a plurality of transport vehicles 43 .
The transport cart 43 travels along the travel path 41 while holding the baggage W. The transport cart 43 has a dolly and a transfer device. The transport cart 43 can deliver the pallet P between the pallet conveyor 21, the first incoming/outgoing conveyor 25, the second incoming/outgoing conveyor 29, and the buffer conveyor 33 of the incoming/outgoing station 5. Specifically, the travel path 41 extends close to the ends of the pallet conveyor 21, the first incoming/outgoing conveyor 25, the second incoming/outgoing conveyor 29, and the buffer conveyor 33 on the first side in the first direction.

(5) Incoming/Outgoing Conveyor The ingoing/outgoing conveyor 9 is a device that transports luggage W between the automated warehouse 3 and the rail-guided vehicle system 7.
The inlet/outlet conveyor 9 has an inlet conveyor 9A and an outlet conveyor 9B.
The entrance conveyor 9A and the exit conveyor 9B extend in the second direction and are capable of transporting the luggage W in the second direction thereon. The entrance conveyor 9A and the exit conveyor 9B are capable of delivering the luggage W to and from the transport cart 43.

(6) Control configuration of the automated warehouse system The control configuration of the automated warehouse system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the automated warehouse system. Note that Fig. 3 mainly shows the control configuration of the inbound/outbound station 5, and omits the control configurations of the rail-guided cart system 7, the inbound/outbound conveyor 9, and the automated warehouse 3.

The automated warehouse system 1 has a controller 51.
The controller 51 is a computer system having a processor (e.g., a CPU), a storage device (e.g., a ROM, a RAM, a HDD, an SSD, etc.), and various interfaces (e.g., an A/D converter, a D/A converter, a communication interface, etc.) The controller 51 performs various control operations by executing a program stored in a storage unit (corresponding to a part or all of the storage area of the storage device).
The controller 51 may be configured with a single processor, or may be configured with multiple independent processors for each control.

A part or all of the functions of each element of the controller 51 may be realized as a program executable by a computer system constituting the controller 51. In addition, a part of the functions of each element of the controller 51 may be configured by a custom IC.
The controller 51 is connected to the pallet conveyor 21, the pallet magazine 35, the first incoming/outgoing conveyor 25, the second incoming/outgoing conveyor 29, and the switching conveyor 31. The controller 51 is capable of controlling these devices.

3, a first placement sensor 53A and a second placement sensor 53B are further connected to the controller 51. The first placement sensor 53A and the second placement sensor 53B detect that a package W is placed on a pallet P in the first transfer station 23 and the second transfer station 27, respectively. Specifically, the first placement sensor 53A and the second placement sensor 53B are weight sensors.
When the luggage W is placed at the first transfer station 23 and the second transfer station 27, the controller 51 causes the first inbound/outbound conveyor 25 or the second inbound/outbound conveyor 29 to start transporting the luggage W.
As described above, the placement sensor 53 detects that the luggage W has been placed on the pallet P, so that the luggage W can be efficiently stored.

As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 51 is further connected to a first barcode reader 55A and a second barcode reader 55B.
The first barcode reading device 55A (an example of a first identification sensor) is provided in one of or near the first transfer station 23 and the first inbound/outbound conveyor 25, as shown in Figure 4, and is capable of detecting identification information of the luggage W.
The second barcode reading device 55B (an example of a second identification sensor) is provided at or near either the second transfer station 27 or the second inbound/outbound conveyor 29, and is capable of detecting identification information of the luggage W.

4, the sheet pallet SP is provided with a barcode 59, which is an identification portion for identifying information on the sheet pallet SP. The barcode 59 is provided on both sides of the sheet pallet SP in the first direction.
The barcode 59 may be a one-dimensional barcode or a two-dimensional barcode. The barcode 59 may be attached to the sheet pallet SP with an adhesive or the like, or may be directly printed on the sheet pallet SP.

A number unique to the sheet pallet SP is assigned to the barcode 59. The number of the barcode 59 is read by the first barcode reader 55A or the second barcode reader 55B when the luggage W is transported by the first inbound/outbound conveyor 25 or the second inbound/outbound conveyor 29 and passes in front of the first barcode reader 55A or the second barcode reader 55B. As a result, the controller 51 can know the type of luggage W from the identification information, and can further recognize the type and number of luggage W and register the inventory number of the luggage in the memory unit.
In the above configuration, even if, for example, the driver of the forklift 17 randomly removes cargo W from a container, logistics are managed on a pallet basis based on the number of the barcode 59 read by the first barcode reader 55A or the second barcode reader 55B at either the first transfer station 23, the second transfer station 27, the first loading/unloading conveyor 25, or the second loading/unloading conveyor 29, and the cargo is received reliably.

Although not shown, the controller 51 is also connected to sensors that detect the size, shape, and position of the pallet P and luggage W, sensors and switches that detect the status of each device, and an information input device.

(7) Basic Operation of the Embodiment The pallet P is supplied from the pallet conveyor 21 to the first transfer station 23 and the second transfer station 27 .
The cargo W is placed on the pallet P by a forklift 17.
The pallet P on which the luggage W is placed is carried into the automated warehouse 3 by the first incoming/outgoing conveyor 25 and the second incoming/outgoing conveyor 29. Specifically, the luggage W is transported by the rail-guided cart system 7 and the in-and-out conveyor 9. The luggage W is further stored on the shelf 11a of the rack 11 by the stacker crane 13.

(8) Effects of the embodiment With the above configuration and operation, the cargo W taken out from a container (not shown) by the forklift 17 can be placed directly on the pallet P supplied to the first transfer station 23 or the second transfer station 27. In addition, the pallet and the cargo W are continuously stored in the automated warehouse 3 by the first incoming/outgoing conveyor 25 and the second incoming/outgoing conveyor 29.

In other words, by providing the pallet conveyor 21 between the first incoming/outgoing conveyor 25 and the second incoming/outgoing conveyor 29 of the incoming/outgoing station 5, the pallets P can be automatically supplied to the automated warehouse 3. Therefore, the work of storing the packages W placed on the sheet pallets SP in the incoming/outgoing station 5 is carried out by one push-pull forklift 17.
In this way, the debunking work can be carried out by one push-pull machine, and therefore the berth can be shortened in the second direction.

A single forklift 17 can alternately access the first transfer station 23 and the second transfer station 27 to store cargo W. Conventionally, a forklift equipped with a push-pull mechanism for devanning would transfer cargo onto a plastic pallet, and then a regular fork would transport the plastic pallet to the conveyor, so a system with two forklifts would be required, which would make the berth longer in the second direction.

(9) Detailed Description of the Loading Operation The loading operation of the luggage W will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 to Fig. 6. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are schematic plan views showing a forklift transferring the luggage to the first transfer station. Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view showing an operation of the first inbound/outbound conveyor transporting the luggage.
The following description will be given for the case where the pallet P is transported to the first transfer station 23.

(9-1) Supply of Pallets Stacked pallets P are transported, for example, from the buffer conveyor 33 to the pallet conveyor 21. Furthermore, the stacked pallets P are stored in the pallet magazine 35.
The pallets P are transported one by one from the pallet magazine 35 to the downstream side of the pallet conveyor 21.
When the pallet P reaches the end of the second side in the second direction of the pallet conveyor 21, it is transported by the switching conveyor 31 to, for example, the first transfer station 23.
As a result, the pallet P is placed on the first transfer station 23 as shown in FIG.

5, the cargo W is placed on the pallet P on the first transfer station 23 by the forklift 17. At this time, the front edge of the sheet pallet SP is aligned with the placement position mark 65.

(9-3) Transport of the luggage In response to a detection signal from the first placement sensor 53A, a transport operation of the luggage W is started. Specifically, the pallet P and the luggage W are transported by the first inbound/outbound conveyor 25 to the first side in the second direction, as shown in FIG.

The pallet P and the luggage W are transferred from the first inbound/outbound conveyor 25 to the transport cart 43. The pallet P and the luggage W are transferred to the storage conveyor 9A by the transport cart 43, and are further carried into the automated warehouse 3 by the storage conveyor 9A. The pallet P and the luggage W are stored on the shelf 11a of the rack 11 by the stacker crane 13.

(10) Luggage Unloading Operation An example of the operation when a luggage W is unloaded from the automated warehouse 3 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a schematic partial plan view of the automated warehouse system, showing the pallet transport direction at the time of unloading.
The stacker crane 13 loads the pallet P and the luggage W from the shelf 11a and transports them to the next location. Next, the outgoing conveyor 9B transports the pallet P and the luggage W and further hands them over to the transport cart 43. The transport cart 43 hands over the luggage W to the first incoming/outgoing conveyor 25 or the second incoming/outgoing conveyor 29. For example, the first incoming/outgoing conveyor 25 transports the luggage W to the first transfer station 23. Then, the forklift 17 scoops up the luggage W.
Next, the switching conveyor 31 transports the empty pallet P to the pallet conveyor 21. The pallet conveyor 21 transports the pallet P to the pallet magazine 35, which stores the pallets P in a stacked manner.

2. Second embodiment In the first embodiment, the first inbound/outbound conveyor 25 or the second inbound/outbound conveyor 29 starts transporting the luggage W as soon as the luggage W is placed at the first transfer station 23 or the second transfer station 27. However, multiple loads of luggage W may be placed at the first transfer station 23 or the second transfer station 27 before the transport of the luggage W starts.

Such an example will be described as a second embodiment with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a schematic side view showing a forklift truck according to the second embodiment transferring a load to a first transfer station.
In Fig. 8, two sets of luggage W are placed on a pallet P. This is because the two sets of luggage W have a luggage height close to that of the luggage stored in the automated warehouse 3. In this case, the sheet pallet SP between the two sets of luggage W may be removed or may be left as it is.
The placement sensor 53 detects that the two sets of luggage W have been placed on the pallet P. Based on the detection signal, the controller 51 determines that the transportation of the luggage W can begin.
The number of sets of luggage W that can be placed on a pallet P may be three or more.

3. Common Features Between the Embodiments The first and second embodiments have the following common features.
The automated warehouse system (e.g., the automated warehouse system 1) includes an automated warehouse (e.g., the automated warehouse 3). The automated warehouse system includes a pallet conveyor, a first transfer station, a first loading/unloading conveyor, a second transfer station, and a second loading/unloading conveyor.
A pallet conveyor (eg, pallet conveyor 21) supplies pallets (eg, pallet P).
A first transfer station (eg, first transfer station 23) is disposed adjacent to an end of the pallet conveyor and is connected to the pallet conveyor via a switching conveyor (eg, switching conveyor 31).
A first incoming conveyor (eg, first inbound/outbound conveyor 25) connects with the first loading/unloading station and is disposed parallel to the pallet conveyor.
A second transfer station (for example, second transfer station 27) is disposed adjacent to the end of the pallet conveyor on the opposite side to the first transfer station, and is connected to the pallet conveyor via a switching conveyor.
A second incoming conveyor (eg, second inbound/outbound conveyor 29) connects with the second loading/unloading station and is disposed parallel to the pallet conveyor.
As a result, for example, an item removed from a container by a forklift can be placed directly on a pallet supplied to the first or second transfer station. The pallets and items are successively stored in the automated warehouse 3 by the first incoming conveyor and the second incoming/outgoing conveyor.

4. Other Embodiments Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention. In particular, the multiple embodiments and modifications described in this specification can be arbitrarily combined as necessary.
(1) Modifications of the Receiving/Shipping Station A single automated warehouse system may be provided with a plurality of receiving/shipping stations.
(2) Modifications of warehousing of luggage The luggage may be loaded onto small normal pallets instead of sheet pallets.
The cargo may be loaded onto the first loading/unloading station or the second loading/unloading station three or more times.

(3) Modification of the start of transport of luggage In the first embodiment, the start of transport of the luggage W by the first inbound/outbound conveyor 25 or the second inbound/outbound conveyor 29 is performed based on the detection signal of the placement sensor 53. However, since the start of the transport can be performed as long as the conditions for the luggage to be brought in are met, the timing of the start of transport may be determined by other methods.
As a first variant, the first inbound/outbound conveyor or the second inbound/outbound conveyor may start transporting based on a detection signal from a sensor that detects that a forklift has approached the first transfer station or the second transfer station.
As a second modification, the first or second inbound/outbound conveyor may start conveying when a conveyance start switch provided on the forklift is operated. In this case, a forklift operator measures the height of the cargo using a height indicator that shows the cargo height and determines whether or not it is OK to start storing the cargo.

(4) Modifications of the Placement Sensor The placement sensor may be a cargo presence detection sensor. Specifically, the cargo presence detection sensor optically or mechanically detects that a cargo has been placed on the pallet P.
(5) Modifications of Bar Code An identification unit such as a bar code may be attached to the package.
(6) Modifications of the Identification Sensor An integrated circuit (IC) reader or a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader may be used instead of the barcode reader. In the case of an IC reader or an RFID reader, an IC tag is attached to the sheet pallet or the package.
(7) Modified examples of forklifts Two or more forklifts may be used.
The forklift may be unmanned.

This invention can be widely applied to automated warehouse systems.

1: Automated warehouse system 3: Automated warehouse 5: Receiving/shipping station 7: Rail-guided cart system 9: Receiving/shipping conveyor 9A: Receiving conveyor 9B: Shipment conveyor 11: Rack 11a: Shelf 13: Stacker crane 15A: 11th forklift turning space 15B: 2nd forklift turning space 17: Forklift for sheet pallets 21: Pallet conveyor 23: 1st transfer station 25: 1st receiving/shipping conveyor 27: 2nd transfer station 29: 2nd receiving/shipping conveyor 31: Switching conveyor 33: Buffer conveyor 35: Pallet magazine 41: Travel path 43: Transport cart 53A: 1st placement sensor 53B: 2nd placement sensor 55A: 1st barcode reader 55B: 2nd barcode reader 59: Barcode 65 : Placement position mark P : Pallet SP : Sheet pallet W : Baggage

Claims (5)

An automated warehouse system having an automated warehouse,
a pallet conveyor for supplying pallets;
a first transfer station disposed adjacent to an end of the pallet conveyor and connected to the pallet conveyor via a switching conveyor;
a first receiving conveyor connected to the first transfer station and arranged parallel to the pallet conveyor;
a second transfer station disposed adjacent to an end of the pallet conveyor on the opposite side to the first transfer station and connected to the pallet conveyor via a switching conveyor;
a second receiving conveyor connected to the second transfer station and disposed parallel to the pallet conveyor;
a forklift for transferring cargo to and from the pallets placed at the first transfer station and the second transfer station;
a placement position mark provided on the first transfer station and the second transfer station;
An automated warehouse system equipped with: An automated warehouse system having an automated warehouse,
a pallet conveyor for supplying pallets;
a first transfer station disposed adjacent to an end of the pallet conveyor and connected to the pallet conveyor via a switching conveyor;
a first receiving conveyor connected to the first transfer station and disposed parallel to the pallet conveyor;
a second transfer station disposed adjacent to an end of the pallet conveyor on the opposite side to the first transfer station and connected to the pallet conveyor via a switching conveyor;
a second receiving conveyor connected to the second transfer station and arranged parallel to the pallet conveyor;
a pallet storage area arranged on an opposite side of the first receiving conveyor from the pallet conveyor;
An automated warehouse system equipped with: An automated warehouse system having an automated warehouse,
a pallet conveyor for supplying pallets;
a first transfer station disposed adjacent to an end of the pallet conveyor and connected to the pallet conveyor via a switching conveyor;
a first receiving conveyor connected to the first transfer station and arranged parallel to the pallet conveyor;
a second transfer station disposed adjacent to an end of the pallet conveyor on the opposite side to the first transfer station and connected to the pallet conveyor via a switching conveyor;
a second receiving conveyor connected to the second transfer station and arranged parallel to the pallet conveyor;
a placement sensor that detects that a load is placed on the pallet in each of the first transfer station and the second transfer station,
The placement sensor is capable of detecting the number of times the luggage is placed.
Automated warehouse system. a first identification sensor provided in one of the first transfer station and the first receiving conveyor, capable of detecting identification information of the luggage;
The automated warehouse system according to claim 1 or 3 , further comprising a second identification sensor provided in one of the second transfer station and the second incoming conveyor, capable of detecting identification information of the luggage. The automated warehouse system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a de-stack device provided at an intermediate position of the pallet conveyor and capable of de-stacking the pallets.

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