Article storage device

Abstract

The present application provides an article storage device. The article storage device is provided with a storage shelf, a storage section, an internal conveying device that conveys articles between the storage section and the storage shelf, and a control system. The control system sets, as a use buffer number (Nmax+A), a number obtained by adding an adjustment number (A) that is variably set to a maximum number of articles that can be held in the storage section, i.e., a holding upper limit number (Nmax), and conveys articles to the storage section within the range of the use buffer number (Nmax+A). The control system sets the adjustment number (A) so that it becomes a small value as the load of the internal conveying device becomes higher.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an article containment device. Background Technology

[0002] For example, in semiconductor factories, flat panel display factories, and other similar facilities, in order to perform multiple processing steps sequentially, there are cases where an article-receiving device equipped with an internal conveying device is installed in each step, and the article is transported between steps using an external conveying device. An example of such an article-receiving device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-130708 (Patent Document 1).

[0003] The article storage device (automatic warehouse system 4) of Patent Document 1 includes: a storage rack (rack 6) capable of storing articles (boxes 39); an inbound section (partial station 8) for receiving articles from an external conveying device (rail trolley 24); and an internal conveying device (stacking cranes 12, 14). The inbound section has multiple holding positions (support positions 60, 62), which function as a buffer section temporarily holding the next article during the period between the inbound section and the return of the preceding article by the internal conveying device.

[0004] By incorporating a receiving section that functions as a buffer, the overall processing efficiency of the item transport system, which includes an external conveyor and multiple item storage devices, can be improved to some extent. For example, if items are held in the receiving section when the transport process performed by the internal conveyor at a given point in time ends, the next transport process performed by the internal conveyor can begin during the period until the external conveyor delivers the next item, thus improving processing efficiency. Further improvements are always required to enhance such processing efficiency.

[0005] Existing technical documents Patent documents Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-130708. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, it is desirable to realize an item containment device that can further improve the overall processing efficiency of the item conveying equipment.

[0007] The article storage device disclosed herein includes: a storage shelf having multiple storage sections for storing articles; a storage section for holding the articles received from an external conveying device that transports the articles outside the storage shelf; an internal conveying device that moves along a conveying path defined along the front surface of the storage shelf and transports the articles between the storage section and the storage shelf; and a control system for controlling the external conveying device and the internal conveying device; the maximum number of articles that can be held in the storage section is set as a holding upper limit Nmax, and the articles are actually held at each time point. The number of items in the aforementioned storage section is set as the number of items to be held, Nr. The aforementioned control system sets the number obtained by adding an adjustment number A, which can be variably set to an integer value greater than or equal to 0, to the aforementioned upper limit number Nmax as the number of buffers to be used (Nmax+A). The control system controls the aforementioned external conveying device so that the number of items being conveyed toward the aforementioned storage section, i.e. the number of items being conveyed, becomes less than or equal to the number obtained by subtracting the number of items to be held, Nr, from the aforementioned buffers (Nmax+A-Nr). Furthermore, the aforementioned control system sets the aforementioned adjustment number A so that it becomes a small value as the load on the aforementioned internal conveying device increases.

[0008] According to this structure, by means of an internal conveying device that moves along a conveying path along the front surface of the receiving shelf, items received from the external conveying device can be stored in the receiving shelf and provided for subsequent processing when needed. At this time, the receiving section functions as a buffer section, and by using a buffer number (Nmax+A; an adjustment number where A is 0 or more) that can physically hold the maximum number of items in the receiving section, i.e., the holding limit Nmax, processing efficiency can be further improved. For example, if the adjustment number A is set to 1 or more, even if the receiving section is already filled with items equal to the holding limit Nmax, items up to the adjustment number A can still be conveyed towards the receiving shelf (receiving section) by the external conveying device. If the internal conveying device finishes its conveying process during this period, one item held in the receiving section will be conveyed, leaving the receiving section idle, so that the receiving section can receive items previously conveyed by the external conveying device. This further improves processing efficiency.

[0009] Furthermore, in this structure, the adjustment number A is set to a small value as the load on the internal conveying device increases. Therefore, even if there is a delay in the removal of items from the receiving section by the internal conveying device, it is easy to avoid a situation where the external conveying device becomes congested in front of the receiving section due to this delay. As a result, it is easy to avoid a situation where the overall processing efficiency of the item conveying equipment decreases due to congestion of the external conveying device.

[0010] Because of these factors, it is possible to create an item storage device that can further improve the overall processing efficiency of the item transport equipment.

[0011] Further features and advantages of the technology disclosed herein will become clearer from the following illustrative and non-limiting description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is an overall layout diagram of the material conveying equipment in the implementation method.

[0013] Figure 2 This is a schematic top view of the item storage equipment.

[0014] Figure 3 It is a 3D diagram of an item storage facility.

[0015] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the control system.

[0016] Figure 5 It is a diagram representing the data structure of the delivery instructions.

[0017] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of inbound transport processing.

[0018] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of conveying and handling within a shelf.

[0019] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of conveying and handling within a shelf.

[0020] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of conveying and handling within a shelf.

[0021] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a conveyor processing method.

[0022] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of outbound transport processing.

[0023] Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating the process sequence controlled by adjusting the number of buffers.

[0024] Figure 13 This is a flowchart representing the processing order of the highest priority control for inbound goods.

[0025] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of internal transport load adjustment control.

[0026] Figure 15 This is a flowchart representing the processing sequence of internal transport load adjustment control. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The embodiments of the article containment device will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, the article containment device 1 provided in an article conveying device 100 installed in a semiconductor factory, flat panel display factory, or similar facility for sequentially performing multiple processing steps will be used as an example for description.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, the article conveying equipment 100 includes an article receiving device 1, an external conveying device 8, and a processing device 9. In this embodiment, multiple article receiving devices 1 are provided, the external conveying device 8 is arranged around these multiple article receiving devices 1, and a processing device 9 is provided corresponding to each article receiving device 1. The article receiving devices 1 and their corresponding processing devices 9 constitute a process, and the external conveying device 8 surrounding the multiple article receiving devices 1 undertakes inter-process conveying.

[0029] The external conveying device 8 includes a plurality of conveyor trolleys 82 that orbit along a predetermined travel path (external conveying path To). In this embodiment, the external conveying device 8 includes a circular track 81 provided along the external conveying path To and a plurality of conveyor trolleys 82 that travel on the circular track 81. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the circular track 81 is provided on the floor surface. That is, the external conveying device 8 of this embodiment includes a plurality of tracked, floor-mounted conveyor trolleys 82. In addition, the external conveying device 8 includes a fork-type transfer device supported by the conveyor trolleys 82. The external conveying device 8 transports articles 10 between the plurality of article receiving devices 1 (between processes).

[0030] Article 10 may include, for example, semiconductor wafers used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, reticules used for processing, etc. In this embodiment, they are transported in a container (e.g., a FOUP for semiconductor wafers, a reticule pod for reticules). Therefore, the term "article 10" hereafter is also used to refer to the container that contains article 10.

[0031] The processing device 9 processes the article 10. In this embodiment, the processing device 9 has a transfer port Pp, which is used to transfer the article 10 between itself and the internal conveying device 3. Then, the processing device 9 performs various processes on the article 10 received from the internal conveying device 3 at the transfer port Pp. The processing device 9 may be, for example, a cleaning device, a film forming device, an exposure device, or an etching device. The processing device 9 transfers the processed article 10 to the internal conveying device 3 at the transfer port Pp. The transfer port Pp is located adjacent to the conveying path (internal conveying path Ti) of the internal conveying device 3.

[0032] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the goods storage equipment 1 includes storage shelves 2, an internal conveying device 3, an inbound section 4, and an outbound section 5. Furthermore, the goods storage equipment 1 includes a control system 7 (see reference). Figure 1 In this embodiment, the control system 7 is configured to control the multiple item receiving devices 1 individually and to control the item conveying device 100 as a whole.

[0033] The storage shelf 2 has multiple storage sections 23 for storing items 10. In this embodiment, the item storage device 1 has a pair of storage shelves 2 (first storage shelf 2A and second storage shelf 2B) arranged opposite each other. The first storage shelf 2A and the second storage shelf 2B are arranged opposite each other with the internal conveying device 3 sandwiched between them. The first storage shelf 2A and the second storage shelf 2B each have multiple pillars 21 erected from the floor at predetermined intervals and multiple support sections 22 fixed to the pillars 21 at predetermined intervals. The storage section 23 for storing items 10 is formed by the space above a pair of support sections 22 at the same height fixed to adjacent pillars 21. The first storage shelf 2A and the second storage shelf 2B each have storage sections 23 spanning multiple layers and columns. Each storage section 23 is arranged adjacent to the internal conveying device 3 in its orthogonal direction relative to the conveying path (internal conveying path Ti).

[0034] In this embodiment, the first storage shelf 2A and the second storage shelf 2B are arranged with one end aligned. Furthermore, an inlet section 4 and an outlet section 5 are provided adjacent to the aligned end. The inlet section 4 is located adjacent to the first storage shelf 2A, and the outlet section 5 is located adjacent to the second storage shelf 2B. In this embodiment, the second storage shelf 2B has more rows than the first storage shelf 2A. Therefore, at the end opposite to the inlet section 4 and the outlet section 5, the second storage shelf 2B protrudes beyond the first storage shelf 2A. Moreover, a processing device 9 is arranged adjacent to the first storage shelf 2A and opposite the second storage shelf 2B.

[0035] An internal conveying device 3 is disposed between a pair of opposing receiving shelves 2 (first receiving shelf 2A and second receiving shelf 2B). The internal conveying device 3 moves along an internal conveying path Ti set along the front surface of the receiving shelf 2, conveying the item 10 between the receiving section 4 and the receiving shelf 2, within the same receiving shelf 2, between one receiving shelf 2 and the other receiving shelf 2, and between the receiving shelf 2 and the exit section 5. In this embodiment, the internal conveying path Ti is equivalent to a "conveyor path".

[0036] Furthermore, the article receiving device 1 of this embodiment includes a pair of internal conveying devices 3 (first internal conveying device 3A and second internal conveying device 3B) arranged along the internal conveying path Ti. In this embodiment, the first internal conveying device 3A corresponds to the "first conveying unit," and the second internal conveying device 3B corresponds to the "second conveying unit." The first internal conveying device 3A and the second internal conveying device 3B are constructed by stacker cranes, each including a traveling trolley 32, a mast 33, a lifting platform 34, and a transfer device 35. The traveling trolley 32 travels on a traveling track 31 provided on the floor along the internal conveying path Ti. The mast 33 is erected from the traveling trolley 32. In this embodiment, the pair of masts 33 are separately arranged on both sides of the internal conveying path Ti in the traveling trolley 32. The upper ends of the masts 33 are guided by guide rails 36 provided on the ceiling. The lifting platform 34 rises and falls along the pair of masts 33. The transfer device 35 is fixed to the lifting platform 34 and transfers the article 10.

[0037] In this embodiment, the first internal conveying device 3A and the second internal conveying device 3B are arranged on a common travel track 31. That is, the travel trolley 32 of the first internal conveying device 3A and the travel trolley 32 of the second internal conveying device 3B travel on the common travel track 31. The first internal conveying device 3A is located closer to the inbound section 4 and the outbound section 5 than the second internal conveying device 3B.

[0038] like Figure 2As shown, the first internal conveying device 3A conveys the item 10 within a first conveying range R1, which includes the receiving section 4 and a receiving section 23 comprising at least a portion of the receiving shelf 2. The first conveying range R1 is configured to include the area of ​​the receiving section 4 and a portion of the receiving section 23 on the receiving section 4 side of the receiving shelf 2. Furthermore, the first conveying range R1 also includes the exit section 5 opposite to the receiving section 4. The second internal conveying device 3B conveys the item 10 within a second conveying range R2, which includes at least a portion of the receiving section 23 on the receiving shelf 2 but does not include the receiving section 4. In this embodiment, the second conveying range R2 is configured to include at least a portion of the receiving section 23 on the receiving shelf 2 and the area of ​​the processing device 9 disposed on the opposite side of the receiving section 4 and the exit section 5. The second conveying range R2 is configured to include the area of ​​the receiving section 23 on the processing device 9 side of the receiving shelf 2 and the area of ​​the processing device 9.

[0039] The first conveying range R1 and the second conveying range R2 are configured such that a portion of the first conveying range R1 overlaps with a portion of the second conveying range R2. A portion of the processing device 9 side in the first conveying range R1 overlaps with a portion of the inbound section 4 and the outbound section 5 side in the second conveying range R2.

[0040] The receiving unit 4 receives items 10 from the external conveying device 8 and holds the received items 10. In this embodiment, the receiving unit 4 includes a receiving conveyor 41. The receiving conveyor 41 can be, for example, a roller conveyor, a slat conveyor, or a belt conveyor. In this embodiment, the receiving unit 4 is configured to hold multiple items 10 in a stationary state. In this example, an example is shown where the receiving conveyor 41 constituting the receiving unit 4 holds two items 10. In this case, the receiving conveyor 41 has two support positions 43 and 44, and the maximum number of items 10 that can be held in the receiving unit 4, i.e., the holding limit Nmax, becomes "2" (Nmax = 2).

[0041] The inbound conveyor 41 operates when an item 10 is supported at support position 43 and not supported at support position 44, and is able to transport the item 10 from support position 43 to support position 44. The upstream support position 43 in the conveying direction is the position where the item 10 is received from the external conveying device 8, and is called the receiving port Pr. The downstream support position 44 in the conveying direction is the position where the item 10 is transferred to the internal conveying device 3 (first internal conveying device 3A) during inbound, and is called the inbound port Pi. The inbound port Pi is positioned adjacent to the internal conveying path Ti in its orthogonal direction.

[0042] The outbound section 5 holds the items 10 being transferred to the external conveying device 8. The outbound section 5 holds the items 10 received from the internal conveying device 3 (first internal conveying device 3A) and transfers the items 10 to the external conveying device 8. The outbound section 5 in this embodiment includes an outbound conveyor 51. The outbound conveyor 51 may be, for example, a roller conveyor, a slat conveyor, or a belt conveyor. In this embodiment, the outbound section 5 is configured to hold multiple items 10 in a stationary state. In this example, an example is shown where the outbound conveyor 51 constituting the outbound section 5 holds two items 10. In this case, the outbound conveyor 51 has two support positions 53 and 54, and the maximum number of items 10 that can be held in the outbound section 5 is "2".

[0043] The outbound conveyor 51 operates when an item 10 is supported at support position 53 and not supported at support position 54, and can transport the item 10 from support position 53 to support position 54. The upstream support position 53 in the conveying direction is the position where the item 10 is received from the internal conveying device 3 (first internal conveying device 3A) during outbound transport, and is called the outbound port Po. The outbound port Po is located adjacent to the internal conveying path Ti in its orthogonal direction and opposite to the inbound port Pi. The downstream support position 54 in the conveying direction is the position where the item 10 is transferred to the external conveying device 8, and is called the transfer port Ph.

[0044] The inbound port Pi and the outbound port Po are located at one end of the first conveying range R1. The inbound port Pi and the outbound port Po are only included in the first conveying range R1 and not in the second conveying range R2. The transfer port Pp of the processing device 9 is located at the end of the second conveying range R2 opposite to the inbound port Pi and the outbound port Po. The transfer port Pp is only included in the second conveying range R2 and not in the first conveying range R1. Among the multiple receiving sections 23 of the receiving shelf 2, there are receiving sections that are only included in the first conveying range R1, receiving sections that are only included in the second conveying range R2, and receiving sections that are included in the overlapping area L of the first conveying range R1 and the second conveying range R2.

[0045] In the item storage device 1 with such a structure, the internal conveying device 3 performs inbound conveying, shelf conveying, processing conveying, and outbound conveying.

[0046] The receiving and conveying process is the process of conveying the item 10 from the receiving section 4 to a specific receiving section 23 of the receiving shelf 2. In the receiving and conveying process, the item 10, which is supported at the support position 44 (receiving port Pi) of the receiving section 4, is conveyed by the first internal conveying device 3A to a specific receiving section 23 of the receiving shelf 2 (first receiving shelf 2A or second receiving shelf 2B) for receiving and storage.

[0047] The shelf-mounted transport process is the process of transporting an item 10 from a specific receiving section 23 of a receiving shelf 2 to another receiving section 23 of the same or another receiving shelf 2. In the shelf-mounted transport process, the item 10, housed in a specific receiving section 23 of a transport source, is transported to a specific receiving section 23 of a transport destination by either a first internal transport device 3A or a second internal transport device 3B. If the receiving section 23 of the transport source or the transport destination is only contained within the first transport range R1, the item 10 is transported by the first internal transport device 3A. If the receiving section 23 of the transport source or the transport destination is only contained within the second transport range R2, the item 10 is transported by the second internal transport device 3B. If the receiving sections 23 of both the transport source and the transport destination are contained within the overlapping range L of the first transport range R1 and the second transport range R2, the item 10 is transported by either the first internal transport device 3A or the second internal transport device 3B.

[0048] The processing conveying process is a process of transporting the article 10 between a specific receiving section 23 of the receiving shelf 2 and the processing device 9. In the processing conveying process, the article 10, which is received in the specific receiving section 23 of the conveying source, is conveyed by the second internal conveying device 3B to the transfer port Pp of the processing device 9. Alternatively, in the processing conveying process, the processed article 10, which is supported at the transfer port Pp of the processing device 9, is conveyed by the second internal conveying device 3B to the specific receiving section 23 of the conveying destination.

[0049] The outbound transport process is the process of transporting the item 10 from a specific receiving section 23 of the receiving shelf 2 to the outbound section 5. In the outbound transport process, the item 10, which is stored in the specific receiving section 23 of the receiving shelf 2 (first receiving shelf 2A or second receiving shelf 2B), is transported out of the warehouse by the first internal transport device 3A to the support position 53 (outbound port Po) of the outbound section 5.

[0050] As described above, the control system 7 individually controls the multiple item receiving devices 1 (internal conveying devices 3), and comprehensively controls the item conveying equipment 100, including the external conveying device 8. Therefore, as... Figure 4 As shown, the control system 7 includes an internal conveying control unit 71, an external conveying control unit 72, and an overall control unit 73. Furthermore, for simplicity, in... Figure 4 The text only shows an internal transport control unit 71 corresponding to one item storage device 1 (internal transport device 3), but it has internal transport control units 71 corresponding to multiple item storage devices 1 (internal transport devices 3).

[0051] The internal conveying control unit 71 controls the internal conveying device 3. In this embodiment, the internal conveying device 3 includes a first internal conveying device 3A and a second internal conveying device 3B, and the internal conveying control unit 71 controls both the first internal conveying device 3A and the second internal conveying device 3B. The internal conveying control unit 71 controls the first internal conveying device 3A and the second internal conveying device 3B based on conveying commands (here, conveying commands within the process).

[0052] For example, the delivery instruction has Figure 5 The data structure is as shown. Each transport command includes information on the transport source (transport start position), transport destination (transport completion position), and the internal transport device 3 used. Figure 5 In this context, "S1" represents the first receiving shelf 2A, and "S2" represents the second receiving shelf 2B. Furthermore, "(m, n)" following "S1" and "S2" indicates the receiving section 23, which is the m-th column from the side of the receiving section 4 and the exit section 5, and the n-th layer from the bottom. In addition, "m" and "n" are integers.

[0053] For example, transport instruction A-2 is an instruction that uses the inbound port Pi as the transport source and the receiving section 23 of the first column, second layer of the first receiving shelf 2A as the transport destination (see reference). Figure 6 Since both locations are included in the first conveying range R1, the first internal conveying device 3A is assigned to the recipient of conveying instruction A-2. The conveying process based on this conveying instruction A-2 is an example of the aforementioned inbound conveying process.

[0054] Furthermore, for example, transport instruction A-4 is an instruction that uses the storage section 23 of the 4th layer of the 1st storage shelf 2A as the transport source and the storage section 23 of the 7th layer of the 5th row of the 2nd storage shelf 2B as the transport destination (see reference). Figure 7 Since both locations are included in the first conveying range R1, the first internal conveying device 3A is assigned to the bearer of conveying instruction A-4. The conveying process based on this conveying instruction A-4 is an example of the above-described in-shelf conveying process.

[0055] Furthermore, for example, transport instruction B-2 is an instruction that uses the 10th column, 1st layer storage section 23 of the 2nd storage shelf 2B as the transport source and the 4th column, 1st layer storage section 23 of the 2nd storage shelf 2B as the transport destination (see reference). Figure 8 Since both locations are included in the second conveying range R2, the second internal conveying device 3B is assigned to the recipient of conveying instruction B-2. The conveying process based on this conveying instruction B-2 is also an example of the above-described in-shelf conveying process.

[0056] Furthermore, for example, transport instruction A-1 is an instruction that uses the 4th column, 5th layer storage section 23 of the first storage shelf 2A as the transport source and the 6th column, 5th layer storage section 23 of the first storage shelf 2A as the transport destination (see reference). Figure 9 Since both locations are included within the overlapping area L of the first conveying range R1 and the second conveying range R2, either the first internal conveying device 3A or the second internal conveying device 3B could be the recipient of conveying command A-1, but in this example, the first internal conveying device 3A is assigned. The conveying process based on this conveying command A-1 is also an example of the above-described shelving conveying process.

[0057] Furthermore, for example, transport instruction B-1 is an instruction that uses the 8th column, 3rd layer, storage section 23 of the 1st storage shelf 2A as the transport source and the transfer port Pp as the transport destination (see reference). Figure 10 (Solid arrow). Since both of these locations are included in the second transport range R2, the second internal transport device 3B is assigned to the recipient of transport instruction B-1. Furthermore, transport instruction B-3 is an instruction that uses the transfer port Pp as the transport source and the receiving section 23 of the 8th column, 5th layer of the second receiving shelf 2B as the transport destination (see reference). Figure 10 (The dashed arrow). Since both positions are included in the second conveying range R2, the second internal conveying device 3B is assigned to the recipient of conveying command B-3. The conveying process based on these conveying commands B-1 and B-3 is an example of the conveying process described above.

[0058] Furthermore, for example, transport instruction A-3 is an instruction that uses the storage section 23 of the 7th layer of the 2nd column of the 2nd storage shelf 2B as the transport source and the outbound port Po as the transport destination (see reference). Figure 11 Since both locations are included in the first conveying range R1, the first internal conveying device 3A is assigned to the recipient of conveying instruction A-3. The conveying process based on this conveying instruction A-3 is an example of the outbound conveying process described above.

[0059] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first internal conveying device 3A and the second internal conveying device 3B are respectively configured to convey materials based on... Figure 5 The conveying instructions displayed above are executed sequentially. In this example, the conveying sequence for the first internal conveyor 3A is predetermined by conveying instructions A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, ..., and the conveying sequence for the second internal conveyor 3B is predetermined by conveying instructions B-1, B-2, B-3, ... . These can be configured, for example, by prioritizing the processing efficiency of the first internal conveyor 3A and the second internal conveyor 3B.

[0060] The external transport control unit 72 controls the external transport device 8. The external transport control unit 72 controls multiple transport trolleys 82 traveling on the circular track 81 and the transfer devices supported by them. The external transport control unit 72 controls the transport trolleys 82 and the transfer devices based on transport instructions (here, inter-process transport instructions). The inter-process transport instruction includes information about the source process (the item receiving device 1 of the source process), the destination process (the item receiving device 1 of the destination process), and the transport trolley 82 used. Based on this inter-process transport instruction, the designated transport trolley 82 transports the item 10 supported by the outgoing section 5 of the source process to the receiving section 4 of the destination process. At this time, multiple inter-process transport instructions can be executed simultaneously.

[0061] The overall control unit 73 oversees the external transport control unit 72 and the internal transport control unit 71. For example, when transporting the item 10 between processes, the overall control unit 73 coordinately controls the internal transport control unit 71 corresponding to the item receiving device 1 of the transport source, the external transport control unit 72, and the internal transport control unit 71 corresponding to the item receiving device 1 of the transport destination. The overall control unit 73 controls the internal transport control unit 71 corresponding to the item receiving device 1 of the transport source to ensure that the item 10 to be transported is supported in the outgoing section 5 of the item receiving device 1; controls the external transport control unit 72 to receive the item 10 supported by the outgoing section 5 and transport it to the item receiving device 1 of the transport destination, transferring it to its receiving section 4; and further controls the internal transport control unit 71 corresponding to the item receiving device 1 of the transport destination to house the item 10 supported by the receiving section 4 of the item receiving device 1 in the receiving shelf 2.

[0062] Incidentally, in order to improve the overall processing efficiency of the conveying equipment 100 in this embodiment, the system is designed to maintain a physical buffer number, i.e., a maximum buffer number Nmax, or more of the items 10 in the receiving section 4, and each section is controlled accordingly. Specifically, the buffer number B (B = Nmax + A) is set as the number obtained by adding an adjustment number A to the maximum buffer number Nmax (see reference). Figure 2 The receiving section 4 of the item receiving device 1 at the destination is configured to accept items 10 in a number of buffers B or less. The receiving section 4 of the item receiving device 1 at the destination is considered to support items 10 in a system imaginary adjustment number A or less, other than the upper limit number Nmax that can be accepted in actual support physics, and then performs the subsequent transport process.

[0063] Here, the adjustment number A is an integer value greater than or equal to 0 that can be variably set. Preferably, the adjustment number A is an integer value greater than or equal to 1. Even when the storage section 4 of the item receiving device 1 at the destination is completely full, items 10 with an adjustment number less than A can be transported towards the storage section 4 first. The adjustment number A is set based on the number of items 10 that can be transported from the storage section 4 to the receiving shelf 2 by the internal conveying device 3 (first internal conveying device 3A) during the period from when the items 10 transported first by the external conveying device 8 arrive at the storage section 4 of the item receiving device 1 at the destination. Based on this viewpoint, in practice, it is preferable to set the adjustment number A to, for example, around 1 to 3.

[0064] exist Figure 2 The example shown illustrates how, with the maximum limit Nmax (2) being adjusted by adding "2" to the adjustment number A, and setting "4" as the buffer number B, the receiving section 4 can theoretically accept up to 4 items 10. If the internal conveying device 3 (first internal conveying device 3A) transports the item 10 from the receiving port Pi of the receiving section 4 to a receiving section 23 of the receiving shelf 2, the receiving conveyor 41 operates, moving the next item 10 to the receiving port Pi, and forming a receiving space for the item 10 that was previously transported by the external conveying device 8.

[0065] In this structure, if the storage section 4 becomes full due to the actual number of items 10 held in the item receiving device 1 at the destination, the item 10 cannot be transferred even if the external conveying device 8 delivers the next item 10. In this case, it must wait until there is free space in the storage section 4, resulting in congestion in the external conveying device 8 and a decrease in the overall processing efficiency of the equipment. In view of this, in the item conveying device 100 of this embodiment, the control system 7 is configured to perform buffer number adjustment control, storage priority control, and internal conveying load adjustment control, as detailed below.

[0066] <Using buffer number adjustment control> The buffer number adjustment control is a control that adjusts the buffer number B under certain conditions. As described above, the control system 7 sets the buffer number B as the number obtained by adding an adjustment number A, which is variably set to an integer value of 0 or higher (preferably 1 or higher), to the holding upper limit number Nmax (B = Nmax + A), and controls the item conveying device 100 based on this buffer number B. Here, the number of items 10 actually held in the storage section 4 at each time point is set as the "holding item number Nr", and the number of items 10 being conveyed from the external conveying device 8 to the storage section 4 is set as the "conveyed item number Nt". At this time, the control system 7 controls the external conveying device 8 so that the conveyed item number Nt becomes less than or equal to the number obtained by subtracting the holding item number Nr from the buffer number B (B - Nr = Nmax + A - Nr).

[0067] Based on this structure, in the application of buffer number adjustment control, the control system 7 sets the adjustment number A so that it becomes a small value as the load of the internal conveying device 3 increases. Here, in particular, the control system 7 sets the adjustment number A so that it becomes a small value as the load of the first internal conveying device 3A operating within the first conveying range R1 including the storage section 4 increases.

[0068] As described above, the first internal conveyor 3A handles inbound conveying, shelf-in conveying, and outbound conveying. Therefore, if the load on the first internal conveyor 3A increases (especially the ratio of shelf-in conveying to outbound conveying), the likelihood of delays in the conveying of items 10 from the inbound section 4 to the receiving shelf 2 (inbound conveying) increases. In view of this, by setting an adjustment number A to a small value as the load on the first internal conveyor 3A increases, the number of items 10 conveyed first from the external conveyor 8 to the inbound section 4 can be reduced according to the level of load on the first internal conveyor 3A. Since fewer items 10 are conveyed first, it becomes easier to avoid the situation where the inbound section 4 is full when these items 10 arrive. Thus, a decrease in the overall processing efficiency of the equipment can be suppressed.

[0069] In this embodiment, the control system 7 determines the load of the first internal conveying device 3A based on the number of conveying instructions for the items 10 of the first internal conveying device 3A. Moreover, the control system 7 determines that the load is high as the number of conveying instructions for the items 10 of the first internal conveying device 3A increases.

[0070] Here, since the transport of items 10 whose source or destination is within the first transport range R1 (but not within the overlap range L of the first transport range R1 and the second transport range R2) is exclusively handled by the first internal transport device 3A, all corresponding transport commands become commands for the first internal transport device 3A. On the other hand, since the transport of items 10 whose source and destination are both within the overlap range L of the first transport range R1 and the second transport range R2 is shared by the first internal transport device 3A and the second internal transport device 3B, only a portion of the corresponding transport commands become commands for the first internal transport device 3A. In this embodiment, to reduce computational processing, the control system 7 considers the transport of items 10 within the overlap range L to be equally shared by the first internal transport device 3A and the second internal transport device 3B, and considers half of the corresponding transport commands as commands for the first internal transport device 3A.

[0071] That is, when the sum of the number of transport instructions for items 10 whose transport source or destination is within the first transport range R1 and the number of transport instructions for items 10 whose transport source and destination are within the overlapping range L (hereinafter referred to as the "transport instruction number") increases, the control system 7 determines that the load on the first internal transport device 3A is increasing, and sets an adjustment number A so that it becomes a small value as the load on the first internal transport device 3A increases. For example, in Figure 2 In the example, the adjustment number A, initially set to "2", is reset to "1" if the number of transmission commands exceeds the first reference value, and is reset to "0" if the number of transmission commands exceeds the second reference value, which is greater than the first reference value. Subsequently, the buffer number B is gradually reduced from "4" to "3" and then to "2".

[0072] By setting the adjustment number A to a smaller value, the buffer number B (=Nmax+A) also decreases, and the difference between the number of items 10 actually held in the storage section 4 (the number of held items Nr) (=Nmax+A-Nr) also decreases. This difference corresponds to the number of items 10 that could be transported to the storage section 4 by the external conveying device 8 at that point in time, and the situation where this number of items 10 is already being transported due to its decrease. In such a case, the control system 7 is set to not start the transport of new items 10 to the storage section 4 by the external conveying device 8 during the period when the number of items being transported Nt is equal to the number obtained by subtracting the number of held items Nr from the buffer number B (B-Nr=Nmax+A-Nr).

[0073] If the inbound transport process performed by the first internal conveying device 3A progresses soon, the number of items being transported, Nt, becomes less than the number obtained by subtracting the number of items being held, Nr, from the number of buffers used, B (B - Nr = Nmax + A - Nr). Then, the control system 7 begins transporting new items 10 towards the inbound section 4 by the external conveying device 8. In this embodiment, if the number of items being transported, Nt, becomes less than the number obtained by subtracting the number of items being held, Nr, from the number of buffers used, B (Nmax + A - Nr), the control system 7 immediately begins transporting new items 10 by the external conveying device 8.

[0074] Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating the processing sequence of buffer number adjustment control. Buffer number adjustment control is executed collaboratively by the internal transport control unit 71, the external transport control unit 72, and the overall control unit 73 constituting the control system 7. In buffer number adjustment control, firstly, the internal transport control unit 71 determines the load (transport command number) of the first internal transport device 3A and generates load information representing that load (step #01). The generated load information is then sent from the internal transport control unit 71 to the overall control unit 73.

[0075] Next, the overall control unit 73 sets an adjustment number A based on the load information received from the internal transport control unit 71, so that it becomes a small value (#02) as the load of the first internal transport device 3A increases. Then, the overall control unit 73 sends an inter-process transport instruction for the number of items 10 based on the number of buffers B (B = Nmax + A) determined corresponding to the set adjustment number A to the external transport control unit 72.

[0076] More specifically, the overall control unit 73 determines whether the number of items Nt being transported at that point in time is less than the difference between the number of buffers used (=Nmax+A) and the number of items held (=Nmax+A-Nr) (#03). If the number of items being transported Nt is less than the difference between the number of buffers used (=Nmax+A) and the number of items held (#03: Yes), then the transport of new items 10 to the receiving section 4 by the external transport device 8 is permitted (#04). In this case, the overall control unit 73 sends a new inter-process transport instruction to the external transport control unit 72, and the external transport control unit 72, upon receiving the instruction, controls the external transport device 8 based on the inter-process transport instruction.

[0077] On the other hand, if the number of items being transported, Nt, is greater than or equal to the difference between the number of buffers used, B, and the number of items held, Nr (in fact, they are the same) (#03: No), then the transport of new items 10 to the receiving section 4 by the external transport device 8 will be temporarily stopped (#05). For example, the transmission of a new inter-process transport instruction from the overall control unit 73 to the external transport control unit 72 will be held, or the operation of the external transport device 8 based on the new inter-process transport instruction will be held based on the transmission of the new inter-process transport instruction to the external transport control unit 72. If soon the number of items being transported, Nt, becomes less than the difference between the number of buffers used, B, and the number of items held, Nr (#03: Yes), then the hold will be lifted, and the transport of new items 10 to the receiving section 4 by the external transport device 8 will be permitted (#04).

[0078] <Highest priority control for inbound goods> The highest priority control for receiving goods refers to the control of the conveying process performed by the internal conveying device 3, which prioritizes the receiving conveying process under certain conditions. In this embodiment, the control system 7 performs receiving priority control based on the sum of the number of held items Nr and the number of items being conveyed Nt (hereinafter referred to as the "potential number of held items Np"). Here, the number of held items Nr is the number of items 10 actually held in the receiving section 4 as described above, and the number of items being conveyed Nt is the number of items 10 being conveyed to the receiving section 4 by the external conveying device 8. In the highest priority control for receiving goods, if the potential number of held items Np is greater than the determination threshold Th, the control system 7 prioritizes the receiving conveying process over the outgoing conveying process and the shelving conveying process among the various conveying processes performed by the internal conveying device 3.

[0079] In this embodiment, among the first internal conveying device 3A and the second internal conveying device 3B constituting the internal conveying device 3, only the first internal conveying device 3A is responsible for the inbound conveying process. Therefore, the control system 7 only performs inbound priority control on the first internal conveying device 3A among the first internal conveying device 3A and the second internal conveying device 3B.

[0080] The determination threshold Th, which serves as the basis for determining whether the highest priority control for receiving items is executed, is set in this embodiment to the maximum number of items 10 that can be held in the receiving section 4, i.e., the holding limit number Nmax. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the potential number of items to be held Np is greater than the holding limit number Nmax, in other words, when there is no space in the receiving section 4 to receive at least one of all items 10 being transported by the external conveying device 8, the highest priority control for receiving items is executed.

[0081] As described above, in this embodiment, the first internal conveying device 3A is configured, for example, to execute a conveying sequence prioritizing its processing efficiency, for example in... Figure 5 In the example, the predetermined sequence of transport instructions A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, ... is used for transport processing. Control system 7, in its inbound priority control, changes this predetermined transport processing sequence to implement inbound priority control. For example, in... Figure 5 In the example, by swapping the order of the conveying process based on conveying instruction A-1 and the conveying process based on conveying instruction A-2, the inbound conveying process based on conveying instruction A-2 is executed with the highest priority.

[0082] By prioritizing the execution of the receiving and conveying process, it becomes easier to create space in the receiving section 4 early on for receiving items 10 being conveyed by the external conveying device 8. That is, it becomes easier to prevent the receiving section 4 from becoming full, and it is possible to suppress the decrease in processing efficiency as a whole. This is a consideration that prioritizes suppressing the decrease in processing efficiency as a whole of the item conveying equipment 100, even if it somewhat sacrifices the processing efficiency of the first internal conveying device 3A of the specific item receiving equipment 1.

[0083] Furthermore, when the operating rate of the multiple conveyor trolleys 82 in the external conveying device 8 is low, it is often the case that even if a portion of the conveyor trolleys 82 must remain idle in front of a certain storage section 4, the impact on the overall equipment is minimal. Therefore, in this embodiment, the control system 7 is configured to not perform storage priority control when the operating rate of the multiple conveyor trolleys 82 in the external conveying device 8 is below a predetermined operating rate threshold. As a result, when the overall processing efficiency of the goods conveying equipment 100 is not a major issue, the processing efficiency of the first internal conveying device 3A can be prioritized, as initially intended.

[0084] Here, the working rate of the conveyor trolley 82 is the ratio (percentage) of the number of conveyor trolleys 82 that have been assigned inter-process conveying instructions to the total number of conveyor trolleys 82. The working rate threshold is set to a value near the upper limit, for example, that even if one conveyor trolley 82 is idle for a certain period of time, subsequent conveyor trolleys 82 are not likely to be congested, specifically, it is set to a value of about 1% to 20%.

[0085] Figure 13 This is a flowchart illustrating the processing sequence of the highest priority control for receiving goods. The highest priority control for receiving goods is executed collaboratively by the internal conveying control unit 71, the external conveying control unit 72, and the overall control unit 73 constituting the control system 7. In the highest priority control for receiving goods, firstly, the overall control unit 73 determines the relationship between the operating rate of the multiple conveyor trolleys 82 in the external conveying device 8 and the operating rate threshold (#21). If the operating rate of the conveyor trolley 82 is below the operating rate threshold (#21: No), the highest priority control for receiving goods ends as is. On the other hand, if the operating rate of the conveyor trolley 82 is greater than the operating rate threshold (#21: Yes), the overall control unit 73 obtains the potential number of items to be held Np (#22). Specifically, the number of items to be held Nr is obtained from the internal conveying control unit 71, and the number of items in transit Nt is obtained from the external conveying control unit 72; these are added together to calculate the potential number of items to be held Np.

[0086] Then, the overall control unit 73 determines whether to perform warehousing priority control based on the potential number of items to be held, Np. Specifically, it determines whether the potential number of items to be held, Np, is greater than the determination threshold Th (#23). If the potential number of items to be held, Np, is greater than the determination threshold Th (#23: Yes), the overall control unit 73 determines to perform warehousing priority control. In this case, the overall control unit 73 sends an instruction containing this information to the internal transport control unit 71, and based on this, changes the predetermined order of the various transport processes performed by the first internal transport device 3A, performing the warehousing transport process with the highest priority (#24). On the other hand, if the potential number of items to be held, Np, is less than or equal to the determination threshold Th (#23: Yes), the transport processes performed by the first internal transport device 3A are performed in the predetermined order (#25).

[0087] Internal conveying load adjustment control Internal conveying load adjustment control is a control that adjusts the balance of conveying loads of the first internal conveying device 3A and the second internal conveying device 3B constituting the internal conveying device 3. In this embodiment, in internal conveying load adjustment control, the operating range of the first internal conveying device 3A, i.e., the first conveying range R1, is adjusted under certain conditions based at least on the number of items 10 held in the storage section 4, i.e., the number of held items Nr. In this embodiment, internal conveying load adjustment control is performed based on the number of held items Nr plus the number of items 10 being conveyed to the storage section 4 by the external conveying device 8, i.e., the number of conveyed items Nt (the predetermined number of held items Ne). In internal conveying load adjustment control, the control system 7 adjusts the balance of conveying loads of the first internal conveying device 3A and the second internal conveying device 3B by performing a process as a range adjustment process that decreases the first conveying range R1 as the predetermined number of held items Ne increases.

[0088] Furthermore, in the internal conveying load adjustment control (range adjustment processing), the control system 7 corresponds to decreasing the first conveying range R1 and increasing the second conveying range R2. For example, the control system 7 decreases the first conveying range R1 by allocating a portion of the processing device 9 side in the first conveying range R1 to the second conveying range R2, and increases the second conveying range R2 accordingly to the amount by which the first conveying range R1 decreases.

[0089] like Figure 14As shown, in this embodiment, the control system 7 can set the first conveying range R1 to a normal range R1n of normal size and a limiting range R1l smaller than the normal range R1n. Furthermore, the control system 7 can set the second conveying range R2 to a normal range R2n of normal size and an expansion range R2e larger than the normal range R2n. Additionally, the difference between the normal range R1n and the limiting range R1l in the first conveying range R1 and the difference between the normal range R2n and the expansion range R2e in the second conveying range R2 are set to be equal.

[0090] In the internal conveying load adjustment control (range adjustment processing), when the predetermined number of items Ne to be held is less than the upper limit number Nmax, the control system 7 sets the first conveying range R1 of the first internal conveying device 3A to the normal range R1n, and sets the second conveying range R2 of the second internal conveying device 3B to the normal range R2n. Furthermore, this is the range setting itself in normal control.

[0091] Furthermore, in the internal conveying load adjustment control (range adjustment processing), when the predetermined number of items Ne is greater than or equal to the upper limit Nmax, the control system 7 sets the first conveying range R1 of the first internal conveying device 3A to a limited range R1l, and sets the second conveying range R2 of the second internal conveying device 3B to an expanded range R2e. By setting the first conveying range R1 to a limited range R1l when the predetermined number of items Ne is greater than or equal to the upper limit Nmax, the working range of the first internal conveying device 3A is reduced when the predetermined number of items Ne is large, thereby increasing the turnover rate and facilitating the conveying of items 10 from the receiving section 4.

[0092] For example, based on Figure 5 The conveying process within the shelf shown in conveying instruction A-1 (refer to...) Figure 9 Since the first conveying range R1 is set as a limited range R1l and the second conveying range R2 is set as an expanded range R2e, the conveying process is no longer within the overlapping range L. Consequently, the allocation of in-shelf conveying processes based on conveying command A-1 is changed from the first internal conveying device 3A to the second internal conveying device 3B. In this way, by narrowing the first conveying range R1, the processing burden of the first internal conveying device 3A can be reduced, and the resulting spare capacity can be used to prioritize the storage conveying process. As a result, it becomes easier to avoid the storage section 4 becoming full, and the decline in the overall processing efficiency of the item conveying equipment 100 can be suppressed.

[0093] In this embodiment, when the number of conveying commands assigned to the second internal conveying device 3B exceeds a command number threshold, the control system 7 does not perform range adjustment processing regardless of the size of the predetermined number of items Ne. The command number threshold is set to a value near the upper limit of the assigned conveying capacity of the second internal conveying device 3B, taking into account factors such as the size of the housing shelf 2 and the processing capacity of the second internal conveying device 3B. By configuring the system to perform range adjustment processing only when there is a certain degree of surplus load on the second internal conveying device 3B, it is possible to appropriately correspond to the increase in load on the second internal conveying device 3B as the second conveying range R2 increases.

[0094] Figure 15 This is a flowchart illustrating the processing sequence of the internal transport load adjustment control. The internal transport load adjustment control is executed by the internal transport control unit 71, which constitutes the control system 7. In the internal transport load adjustment control, firstly, the relationship between the number of transport commands assigned to the second internal transport device 3B and the command number threshold is determined (#41). If the number of transport commands assigned to the second internal transport device 3B is greater than or equal to the command number threshold (#41: No), the internal transport load adjustment control ends as is.

[0095] On the other hand, if the number of transport commands for the second internal transport device 3B is less than the command number threshold (#41: Yes), then the relationship between the predetermined number of items to be held Ne and the maximum holding limit Nmax is determined (#42). If the predetermined number of items to be held Ne is less than the maximum holding limit Nmax (#42: Yes), the first transport range R1 of the first internal transport device 3A is set to the normal range R1n, and the second transport range R2 of the second internal transport device 3B is set to the normal range R2n (#43). On the other hand, if the predetermined number of items to be held Ne is greater than or equal to the maximum holding limit Nmax (#42: No), the first transport range R1 of the first internal transport device 3A is set to the restricted range R1l, and the second transport range R2 of the second internal transport device 3B is set to the expanded range R2e (#44).

[0096] [Other Implementation Methods] (1) In the above embodiment, the example described is a structure in which the transport of a new item 10 is immediately started by the external transport device 8 if the number of items being transported, Nt, becomes less than the number obtained by subtracting the number of items held, Nr, from the number of items being transported, (Nmax+A-Nr), in the buffer number adjustment control. However, the structure is not limited to that. For example, after a certain period of time has elapsed since the number of items being transported, Nt, becomes less than the number obtained by subtracting the number of items held, Nr, from the number of items being transported, (Nmax+A-Nr), the transport of a new item 10 by the external transport device 8 may also begin.

[0097] (2) In the above embodiment, the structure in which the determination threshold Th is set to the maximum number of items 10 that can be kept in the storage section 4, i.e., the maximum number of items Nmax, is described as an example. However, it is not limited to such a structure. The determination threshold Th can also be set to a value different from the maximum number of items Nmax, such as "maximum number of items Nmax ± 1".

[0098] (3) In the above embodiment, the structure in which the potential number of items to be held, Np, is set as the sum of the number of items to be held, Nr, and the number of items to be transported, Nt, is described as an example. However, it is not limited to such a structure. For example, the potential number of items to be held, Np, may also include the number of items that have been generated for inter-process transport but are still before transport. In this case, the potential number of items to be held, Np, can be defined as "the sum of the number of items 10 held in the storage section 4, i.e., the number of items to be held, Nr, and the number of predetermined items 10 transported to the storage section 4 by the external transport device 8, i.e., the number of transported items".

[0099] (4) In the above embodiment, the example described is a structure in which the warehouse entry priority control is not performed when the working rate of the multiple conveyor trolleys 82 in the external conveying device 8 is below the working rate threshold. However, it is not limited to such a structure, and warehouse entry priority control may be performed regardless of the working rate of the conveyor trolleys 82.

[0100] (5) In the above embodiment, an example was described using a structure in which the first conveying range R1 is reduced and the second conveying range R2 is increased in the internal conveying load adjustment control. However, the structure is not limited to that; the degree to which the first conveying range R1 is reduced may differ from the degree to which the second conveying range R2 is increased. Alternatively, the size of the second conveying range R2 may not be changed and only the first conveying range R1 may be reduced.

[0101] (6) In the above embodiment, the example described is that the first conveying range R1 and the second conveying range R2 are switched in two stages in the internal conveying load adjustment control. However, it is not limited to such a structure. For example, the first conveying range R1 and the second conveying range R2 may be switched in three or more stages. In this case, the number of switching stages of the first conveying range R1 and the number of switching stages of the second conveying range R2 may be different from each other.

[0102] (7) In the above embodiment, an example of an internal conveying load adjustment control is described using a structure that performs internal conveying load adjustment control based on a predetermined number of held items Ne (the number of held items Nr is the number of items 10 held in the storage section 4, plus the number of items 10 being conveyed to the storage section 4 by the external conveying device 8, i.e., the number of conveyed items Nt). However, the structure is not limited to that; for example, internal conveying load adjustment control may be performed based solely on the number of held items Nr without considering the number of conveyed items Nt.

[0103] (8) In the above embodiment, the structure in which internal conveying load adjustment control (range adjustment processing) is not performed when the number of conveying commands assigned to the second internal conveying device 3B is above the command number threshold is described as an example. However, it is not limited to such a structure, and internal conveying load adjustment control (range adjustment processing) may be performed uniformly regardless of the number of conveying commands assigned to the second internal conveying device 3B.

[0104] (9) In the above embodiment, the structure that performs all of the following functions—buffer number adjustment control, warehouse entry priority control, and internal transport load adjustment control—has been described as an example. However, it is not limited to that structure, and only one or two of these functions may be performed.

[0105] (10) In the above embodiment, the structure in which the first internal conveying device 3A and the second internal conveying device 3B are set on a common running track 31 is described as an example. However, it is not limited to such a structure. For example, the first internal conveying device 3A and the second internal conveying device 3B may be set on separate dedicated running tracks 31 that are laid parallel to each other.

[0106] (11) In the above embodiment, the internal conveying device 3 is described as having a structure with a first internal conveying device 3A and a second internal conveying device 3B. However, it is not limited to such a structure; for example, the internal conveying device 3 may consist of only one unit. In this case, one internal conveying device 3 undertakes the entire range of conveying processing from the receiving section 4 and the receiving section 5 to the processing device 9 via the receiving shelf 2, and the item 10 may be directly conveyed from the receiving section 4 to the processing device 9. In such a case, it is assumed that the processing of directly conveying the item 10 from the receiving port Pi of the receiving section 4 to the transfer port Pp of the processing device 9 by the internal conveying device 3 is also included in the receiving conveying processing. In addition, it is also assumed that one internal conveying device 3 can directly convey the item 10 from the receiving section 4 to the receiving section 5. In such a case, it is assumed that the processing of directly conveying the item 10 from the receiving section 4 to the receiving section 5 by the internal conveying device 3 is also included in the receiving conveying processing.

[0107] (12) In the above embodiment, the structure in which the receiving section 4 and the dispensing section 5 can each physically hold two items 10 has been described as an example. However, it is not limited to such a structure, and the number of items that the receiving section 4 and the dispensing section 5 can physically hold may be one or more. In this case, the number of items that the receiving section 4 can physically hold and the number of items that the dispensing section 5 can physically hold may be different from each other.

[0108] (13) In the above embodiment, an example of the internal conveying device 3 being composed of a stacker crane was described. However, it is not limited to such a structure. For example, the internal conveying device 3 may also be composed of a multi-layer shuttle trolley (a conveying device having multiple conveying trolleys that reciprocate along the front surface of the receiving shelf 2 at heights corresponding to each layer of the receiving shelf 2).

[0109] (14) In the above embodiment, the external conveying device 8 is described as having a structure of a floor-mounted conveyor trolley 82 with rails. However, it is not limited to that structure. The external conveying device 8 may also be configured as, for example, a floor-mounted trackless trolley, or a roof-mounted rail trolley. When the external conveying device 8 is configured as a roof-mounted rail trolley, it may also have a hoist-type transfer device that is suspended and supported from the conveyor trolley 82.

[0110] (15) In the above embodiment, the structure of the external conveying device 8 having a transfer device is described as an example. However, it is not limited to such a structure. It is also possible that the external conveying device 8 does not have a transfer device, but a transfer device is provided on the inbound section 4 and the outbound section 5.

[0111] (16) In the above embodiment, the control system 7 is described as having a structure in which the internal transport control unit 71, the external transport control unit 72, and the overall control unit 73 cooperate with each other. However, the specific structure of the control system 7 may also include multiple control units combined or a single control unit further subdivided. In addition, other control units that can perform other functions may also be included.

[0112] (17) The structures disclosed in the above-described embodiments (including the above-described embodiments and other embodiments; the same applies below) may be combined with structures disclosed in other embodiments, provided that no contradiction arises. Regarding other structures, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are also illustrative in all respects and can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit of this disclosure.

[0113] [Summary of Implementation Methods] In summary, the article containment device disclosed herein preferably has the following structures.

[0114] An item storage device includes: a storage shelf with a storage section for storing multiple items; a storage section for holding the items received from an external conveying device that transports the items outside the storage shelf; an internal conveying device that moves along a conveying path defined along the front surface of the storage shelf and transports the items between the storage section and the storage shelf; and a control system for controlling the external conveying device and the internal conveying device; wherein a maximum number of items that can be held in the storage section is set as a holding limit Nmax, and the items are actually held in the storage section at each time point. The number of items in the receiving section is set as the number of items to be held, Nr. The control system sets the number obtained by adding an adjustment number A, which can be variably set to an integer value greater than or equal to 0, to the number of the holding upper limit Nmax as the number of buffers to be used (Nmax+A). The control system controls the external conveying device so that the number of items being conveyed toward the receiving section, i.e. the number of items being conveyed, becomes less than or equal to the number obtained by subtracting the number of items to be held, Nr, from the number of the buffers to be used (Nmax+A-Nr). Furthermore, the control system sets the adjustment number A to a smaller value as the load on the internal conveying device increases.

[0115] According to this structure, by means of an internal conveying device that moves along a conveying path along the front surface of the receiving shelf, items received from the external conveying device can be stored in the receiving shelf and provided for subsequent processing when needed. At this time, the receiving section functions as a buffer section, and by using a buffer number (Nmax+A; an adjustment number where A is 0 or more) that can physically hold the maximum number of items in the receiving section, i.e., the holding limit Nmax, processing efficiency can be further improved. For example, if the adjustment number A is set to 1 or more, even if the receiving section is already filled with items equal to the holding limit Nmax, items up to the adjustment number A can still be conveyed towards the receiving shelf (receiving section) by the external conveying device. If the internal conveying device finishes its conveying process during this period, one item held in the receiving section will be conveyed, leaving the receiving section idle, so that the receiving section can receive items previously conveyed by the external conveying device. This further improves processing efficiency.

[0116] Furthermore, in this structure, the adjustment number A is set to a small value as the load on the internal conveying device increases. Therefore, even if there is a delay in the removal of items from the receiving section by the internal conveying device, it is easy to avoid a situation where the external conveying device becomes congested in front of the receiving section due to this delay. As a result, it is easy to avoid a situation where the overall processing efficiency of the item conveying equipment decreases due to congestion of the external conveying device.

[0117] Because of these factors, it is possible to create an item storage device that can further improve the overall processing efficiency of the item transport equipment.

[0118] As one preferred embodiment, the aforementioned control system determines that the load is increasing as the number of transport commands for the aforementioned items to the aforementioned internal transport device increases.

[0119] Based on this structure, the load level of the internal conveying device can be appropriately determined according to the number of conveying instructions for the items. Therefore, the adjustment number A can be appropriately reset, thereby improving the overall processing efficiency of the item conveying equipment.

[0120] In one embodiment, it is preferable that the control system does not begin transporting new items to the storage unit by the external transport device during the period when the number of items in the transport is equal to (Nmax+A-Nr) obtained by subtracting the number of items held from the number of the buffer used, and only begins transporting new items to the storage unit by the external transport device after the number of items in the transport becomes less than (Nmax+A-Nr) obtained by subtracting the number of items held from the number of the buffer used,.

[0121] According to this structure, the number of items conveyed from the external conveyor toward the receiving section can be appropriately limited, corresponding to a small adjustment number A set as the load on the internal conveyor increases. This more effectively prevents congestion of the external conveyor in front of the receiving section.

[0122] As one embodiment, preferably, the aforementioned internal conveying device includes a first conveying unit and a second conveying unit; the first conveying unit conveys the aforementioned items within a first conveying range, the first conveying range including the aforementioned storage section and at least a portion of the aforementioned storage shelf; the second conveying unit conveys the aforementioned items within a second conveying range, the second conveying range including at least a portion of the aforementioned storage shelf and excluding the aforementioned storage section; configured such that a portion of the aforementioned first conveying range overlaps with a portion of the aforementioned second conveying range; the aforementioned control system determines that the aforementioned load is high when the sum of the number of conveying instructions for the aforementioned items whose conveying source or conveying destination is within the aforementioned first conveying range and the number of conveying instructions for the aforementioned items whose conveying source and conveying destination are both within the overlapping range of the aforementioned first conveying range and the aforementioned second conveying range increases.

[0123] According to this structure, the efficient transport of items within the item storage device can be achieved through the cooperation of the first and second transport units. Furthermore, the load on the first transport unit, which handles the transport of items from the receiving section, can be appropriately determined based on the number of transport commands, taking into account the relationship between the location of the transport source and destination of each command and the first and second transport ranges. This allows for more appropriate resetting of the subsequent adjustment number A, further improving the overall processing efficiency of the item transport device.

[0124] In one preferred embodiment, the control system comprises an external transport control unit for controlling the external transport device, an internal transport control unit for controlling the internal transport device, and a general control unit for overseeing both the external transport control unit and the internal transport control unit. The internal transport control unit sends load information representing the load of the internal transport device to the general control unit. The general control unit sets an adjustment number A based on the load information received from the internal transport control unit and sends a transport command for the items based on the number of buffers (Nmax+A) determined corresponding to the set adjustment number A to the external transport control unit. The external transport control unit controls the external transport device based on the transport command from the general control unit.

[0125] According to this structure, by making the control unit the central hub, the necessary information and instructions can be sent and received between the internal transport control unit and the external transport control unit, and the adjustment number A can be set appropriately and the external transport device can be controlled appropriately.

[0126] The item containment device disclosed herein only needs to be able to achieve at least one of the aforementioned effects.

[0127] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures 1. Item containment equipment 2 Storage shelves 2A First Reception Shelf 2B Second Reception Shelf 3 Internal conveying device 3A First Internal Conveying Device (First Conveying Unit) 3B Second Internal Conveying Device (Second Conveying Unit) 4. Warehousing Department 5. Outbound Department 7 Control System 8. External conveying device 9. Processing device 10 items 23 Containment Department 71 Internal transport control unit 72 External Conveyor Control Unit 73 Overall control unit 82 Conveyor Carts Ti internal transport path (transport path) Pi Inbound Port PO outbound port Pp processing port (interface) R1 First Conveying Range R1n typical range R1l Limitation Range R2 Second Conveying Range R2n typical range R2e Expansion Range L Overlap range B. Using buffer numbers Nmax remains at the upper limit. A Adjustment Number Nr maintains the number of items Np potential number of items to keep Nt Number of items in transit Ne refers to the number of items to be kept.

Claims

1. An item containment device, characterized in that, have: Storage shelves, a storage section equipped with multiple storage items; The receiving section holds the aforementioned items received from the external conveying device, which conveys the aforementioned items outside the aforementioned receiving shelves; An internal conveying device moves along a conveying path to transport the aforementioned items between the aforementioned storage section and the aforementioned receiving shelf, the conveying path being set along the front surface of the aforementioned receiving shelf; and The control system controls the aforementioned external conveying device and the aforementioned internal conveying device; The maximum number of the aforementioned items that can be kept in the aforementioned warehouse is set as the maximum number of items to be kept in the aforementioned warehouse, Nmax; and the number of the aforementioned items that are actually kept in the aforementioned warehouse at each point in time is set as the number of items to be kept, Nr. The aforementioned control system sets the number obtained by adding the aforementioned upper limit number Nmax to the variable integer value A, which is set to 0 or above, as the application buffer number (Nmax + A), and controls the aforementioned external conveying device so that the number of the aforementioned items being conveyed toward the aforementioned storage section, i.e. the number of items being conveyed, becomes less than or equal to the number obtained by subtracting the aforementioned number of items being held Nr from the aforementioned application buffer number (Nmax + A - Nr). Therefore, the aforementioned control system sets the aforementioned adjustment number A so that it becomes a small value as the load on the aforementioned internal conveying device increases.

2. The article containment device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The aforementioned control system determines that the load is increasing as the number of transport commands for the aforementioned items to the aforementioned internal transport device increases.

3. The article containment device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, During the period when the number of items in the aforementioned transport is equal to the number obtained by subtracting the number of items held Nr from the number of the aforementioned buffer (Nmax + A - Nr), the aforementioned control system does not start the transport of new items to the aforementioned storage unit by the aforementioned external transport device. After the number of items in the aforementioned transport becomes less than the number obtained by subtracting the number of items held Nr from the aforementioned buffer (Nmax + A - Nr), the transport of new items to the aforementioned storage unit by the aforementioned external transport device begins.

4. The article containment device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, During the period when the number of items in the aforementioned transport is equal to the number obtained by subtracting the number of items held Nr from the number of the aforementioned buffer (Nmax + A - Nr), the aforementioned control system does not start the transport of new items to the aforementioned storage unit by the aforementioned external transport device. After the number of items in the aforementioned transport becomes less than the number obtained by subtracting the number of items held Nr from the aforementioned buffer (Nmax + A - Nr), the transport of new items to the aforementioned storage unit by the aforementioned external transport device begins.

5. The article containment device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The aforementioned internal conveying device includes a first conveying unit and a second conveying unit; The aforementioned first conveying unit conveys the aforementioned items within a first conveying range, the first conveying range including the aforementioned storage section and at least a portion of the aforementioned storage shelf; The aforementioned second conveying unit conveys the aforementioned items within a second conveying range, which includes at least a portion of the aforementioned receiving section of the aforementioned receiving shelf but does not include the aforementioned storage section; It is configured such that a portion of the aforementioned first conveying range overlaps with a portion of the aforementioned second conveying range; The aforementioned control system determines that the load is high when the sum of the number of transport instructions for the aforementioned items whose transport source or transport destination is within the aforementioned first transport range and the number of transport instructions for the aforementioned items whose transport source and transport destination are both within the overlapping range of the aforementioned first transport range and the aforementioned second transport range increases.

6. The article containment device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The aforementioned control system includes an external conveying control unit for controlling the aforementioned external conveying device, an internal conveying control unit for controlling the aforementioned internal conveying device, and an overall control unit for encompassing the aforementioned external conveying control unit and the aforementioned internal conveying control unit. The aforementioned internal conveying control unit sends load information, representing the load of the aforementioned internal conveying device, to the aforementioned overall control unit; The aforementioned control unit sets the aforementioned adjustment number A based on the aforementioned load information received from the aforementioned internal transport control unit, and sends a transport command for the aforementioned items based on the aforementioned number of the aforementioned buffer number (Nmax+A) determined corresponding to the set aforementioned adjustment number A to the aforementioned external transport control unit. The aforementioned external transport control unit controls the aforementioned external transport device based on the aforementioned transport command from the aforementioned overall control unit.

7. The article containment device as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The aforementioned control system includes an external conveying control unit for controlling the aforementioned external conveying device, an internal conveying control unit for controlling the aforementioned internal conveying device, and an overall control unit for encompassing the aforementioned external conveying control unit and the aforementioned internal conveying control unit. The aforementioned internal conveying control unit sends load information, representing the load of the aforementioned internal conveying device, to the aforementioned overall control unit; The aforementioned control unit sets the aforementioned adjustment number A based on the aforementioned load information received from the aforementioned internal transport control unit, and sends a transport command for the aforementioned items based on the aforementioned number of the aforementioned buffer number (Nmax+A) determined corresponding to the set aforementioned adjustment number A to the aforementioned external transport control unit. The aforementioned external transport control unit controls the aforementioned external transport device based on the aforementioned transport command from the aforementioned overall control unit.

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