Pallet rack system

Abstract

To provide a pallet rack system capable of efficiently unloading a cargo from a vehicle and efficiently delivering the cargo between the vehicle and a warehouse to prevent the cargo from overflowing around a platform.SOLUTION: A pallet rack system of the invention includes a pallet rack body placed in a perimeter area. The pallet rack body is loaded with pallets carrying cargo. The pallet rack body has: a tunnel-shaped passageway portion extending in a direction connecting the platform lower area and the platform upper area and enabling the pallets to be exchanged between the platform lower area and the platform upper area; and at least one of a first temporary placement section provided below the passage section and capable of temporarily placing the pallet and a second temporary placement section provided above the passage section and capable of temporarily placing the pallet.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pallet rack system capable of placing a pallet unloaded from a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] For example, a pallet rack capable of storing a pallet loaded with goods is known (see, for example, FIG. 4 of Patent Document 1). A pallet loaded with goods can be placed on the pallet rack by a forklift or taken out from the pallet rack by a forklift.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in recent years, the problem of a shortage of drivers responsible for logistics has become apparent. For this reason, it is necessary to quickly unload goods from a vehicle to a warehouse and load them from the warehouse to a vehicle to reduce the waiting time (loading waiting time) and the burden on the driver. In particular, after 2024, since the provision of unloading services by drivers is basically prohibited, it is necessary for the shipper (owner of the warehouse) to secure unloading personnel. However, forklift operators are in a chronic shortage of personnel. Therefore, it is necessary to quickly perform the unloading work from the vehicle with a small number of personnel.

[0005] On the other hand, even if the unloading of goods from the vehicle can be performed quickly, if the area below the platform where the vehicle stops and the area above the platform are filled with goods, even if the next vehicle can enter the warehouse, there is a problem that the goods cannot be unloaded from the vehicle because the periphery of the platform is filled with goods. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a pallet rack system capable of efficiently unloading luggage from a vehicle, efficiently transferring the luggage between the vehicle and the warehouse, and preventing the luggage from overflowing around the platform.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The above problems are solved by the following present invention. That is, the pallet rack system of the present invention (1) includes a lower region under the platform where the vehicle stops, an upper region on the platform provided above the lower region under the platform and continuous with the inner part of the warehouse, and a boundary region located at the boundary between the lower region under the platform and the upper region on the platform, the boundary region including a stepped portion, a lower stepped portion extending from the stepped portion and connected to the lower region under the platform, and an upper stepped portion extending from the stepped portion and connected to the upper region on the platform, and a warehouse a pallet rack body provided in the boundary region and on which a pallet loaded with luggage is placed, and includes the pallet rack body extends in a direction connecting the lower region under the platform and the upper region on the platform, and has a tunnel-shaped passage portion through which the pallet can be exchanged between the lower region under the platform and the upper region on the platform, at least one of a first temporary placement portion provided below the passage portion and capable of temporarily placing the pallet and a second temporary placement portion provided above the passage portion and capable of temporarily placing the pallet, and has

[0007] Further, the pallet rack system of the present invention (2) is the pallet rack system described in (1), wherein the passage portion is provided on the upper region of the platform.

[0008] Further, the pallet rack system of the present invention (3) is the pallet rack system described in (1) or (2), The pallet rack body has a slider provided on the passage portion, and the slider can carry the pallet and self-run in the direction from the lower region side of the platform toward the inner side of the warehouse, or self-run in the direction from the inner side of the warehouse toward the lower region side of the platform.

[0009] Also, the pallet rack system of the present invention (4) is the pallet rack system according to any one of (1) to (3), and The pallet rack body has a roller portion provided on the passage portion, and the roller portion can send the pallet from the lower region side of the platform toward the inner side of the warehouse.

[0010] Also, the pallet rack system of the present invention (5) is the pallet rack system according to any one of (1) to (4), and The pallet rack body includes a first shelf board installed at substantially the same height as the upper region of the platform and protruding from the upper step portion toward the lower region side of the platform. The first temporary placement portion is provided in the space below the first shelf board.

[0011] Also, the pallet rack system of the present invention (6) is the pallet rack system according to any one of (1) to (5), and The pallet rack body includes a second shelf board installed above the installation height of the upper region of the platform. The second temporary placement portion is provided in the space above the second shelf board.

[0012] Also, the pallet rack system of the present invention (7) is the pallet rack system according to (6), and The pallet rack body has a pedestal unit at the end on the side of the lower region of the platform above the second shelf board, and the pedestal unit extends from the lower region of the platform toward the upper region of the platform as the number of pallets placed thereon increases, and can be shortened to its original position as the number of pallets decreases.

[0013] Further, the pallet rack system of the present invention (8) is the pallet rack system according to any one of (1) to (7), The pallet rack body, a second shelf board installed above the installation height of the upper region of the platform, and a second passage portion provided on the second shelf board, extending in a direction connecting the lower region of the platform and the upper region of the platform, and being a tunnel-shaped second passage portion capable of exchanging the pallet between the lower region of the platform and the upper region of the platform, and includes.

[0014] Further, the pallet rack system of the present invention (9) is the pallet rack system according to (8), the pallet rack body has a slider provided on the second passage portion, and the slider can self-run in a direction from the lower region of the platform toward the upper region of the platform with the pallet placed thereon, or can self-run in a direction from the upper region of the platform toward the lower region of the platform.

[0015] Further, the pallet rack system of the present invention (10) is the pallet rack system according to (8), the pallet rack body has a roller portion provided on the second passage portion, and the roller portion can send the pallet from the lower region of the platform to the upper region of the platform.

Effects of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, a pallet rack system can be provided that can efficiently unload luggage from a vehicle and can efficiently transfer the luggage between the vehicle and the warehouse to prevent the luggage from overflowing around the platform.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, with reference to the following drawings, embodiments of the pallet rack system of the present invention will be described. The pallet rack system of the present invention is configured to install a pallet rack main body in a boundary region including a stepped portion of a platform within a warehouse site. Further, this pallet rack main body can provide a temporary placement space for goods in the boundary region. Furthermore, since a part of the pallet rack main body provides a passage through which goods unloaded from a vehicle pass, the pallet rack main body does not interfere with the unloading work from the vehicle.

[0019] Hereinafter, between the area below the platform and the area above the platform, the direction in which pallets loaded with goods are taken in and out of the warehouse is defined as the loading / unloading direction D, the width direction W which is a direction intersecting the loading / unloading direction D, and the height direction H, and the description will proceed.

[0020] Note that each of the following embodiments shows only one pallet rack system (pallet rack main body) as the minimum structural unit in the width direction W. When space permits in the warehouse in the width direction W, by installing a plurality of pallet rack systems (pallet rack main bodies), the work efficiency can be improved or the number of pallets that can be stored can be increased. [First Embodiment]

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pallet rack system 11 includes a warehouse 12 provided within the site and a pallet rack main body 13.

[0022] Warehouse 12 has a lower platform area 21 below the platform where the vehicle is parked, an upper platform area 22 provided above the lower platform area 21, and a boundary area 23 located at the boundary between the lower platform area 21 and the upper platform area 22. The lower platform area 21 is an area having a height substantially equivalent to the height of the ground of the so-called warehouse site. The upper platform area 22 is a location higher than the height of the ground of the warehouse site and is continuous with the inner part 24 of the warehouse.

[0023] By storing the goods at a position higher than the ground in the upper platform area 22, the goods can be less affected by dust and moisture. Also, the upper platform area 22 is an area less likely to be damaged by flooding due to heavy rain or the like. Warehouse 12 further has a building formed to cover the upper platform area 22, but its illustration is omitted in this embodiment.

[0024] The boundary area 23 includes a step portion 23A, a lower step portion 23B extending from the step portion 23A and connected to the lower platform area 21, and an upper step portion 23C extending from the step portion 23A and connected to the upper platform area 22. The lower step portion 23B is smoothly continuous with the lower platform area 21. The upper step portion 23C is smoothly continuous with the upper platform area 22.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the pallet rack main body 13 is provided in the boundary area 23. As shown in FIG. 1, the size of the pallet rack main body 13 in the width direction W is arbitrary. For example, it is formed with a width that can accommodate two pallets 25 loaded with goods side by side. Also, when more space can be secured inside Warehouse 12, a plurality of pallet rack main bodies 13 may be installed in the width direction W and connected to each other. In this embodiment, as an example, one pallet rack main body 13 of the minimum constituent unit is shown.

[0026] The pallet rack body 13 has a first part 26 installed at the lower step part 23B, a second part 27 installed at the upper step part 23C, and a connecting part 28 that connects the first part 26 and the second part 27. The connecting part 28 is composed of, for example, a plurality of columns, but is not limited to this example, and may be composed of any frame, jig, screw, or the like as long as it can connect the first part 26 and the second part 27.

[0027] The first part 26 has a pair of left and right support frames 31, a first shelf board 32 spanned between the pair of support frames 31, and one or more second shelf boards 33 spanned between the pair of support frames 31. When there is enough space up to the ceiling of the warehouse 12, a third shelf board may be provided above the second shelf board 33, and further, a fourth shelf board, a fifth shelf board, a sixth shelf board,... may be provided above it.

[0028] Each support frame 31 has a pair of front and rear columns 34 and a plurality of frames 35 that connect the pair of columns 34. The pair of support frames 31 of the first part 26 are provided at a position in contact with at least a part of the step part 23A. Each of the pair of columns 34 has a plurality of through holes 36 for hooking the first shelf board 32 and the second shelf board 33. The plurality of through holes 36 are provided at a constant pitch along the longitudinal direction of the column 34.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the first shelf board 32 is installed so that its top surface (ceiling board) is at substantially the same height as the platform upper region 22 and has a flat shape. The first shelf board 32 is provided so as to project laterally from the upper step part 23C toward the platform lower region 21. It can also be said that the first shelf board 32 projects in a substantially horizontal direction from the upper step part 23C toward the platform lower region 21. The first shelf board 32 can exert an effect of extending the platform upper region 22 (upper step part 23C) in the access direction D toward the platform lower region 21.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the first shelf board 32 has a first beam 41 spanned between a pair of support frames 31 and a top board 42 placed on the first beam 41. The top board 42 may be omitted. The first beam 41 has a first bracket 43 for engaging with a plurality of through holes 36. The first bracket 43 has a plurality of claw portions to be inserted into the plurality of through holes 36.

[0031] The second shelf board 33 is provided at a position above the height of the upper region 22 of the platform. The second shelf board 33 extends in the lateral direction, and more specifically, is installed so as to extend in a substantially horizontal direction. The second shelf board 33 has a second beam 44, and the second beam 44 is spanned between a pair of support frames 31. The second beam 44 has a second bracket 45 for engaging with a plurality of through holes 36. The second bracket 45 has a plurality of claw portions to be inserted into the plurality of through holes 36. The second shelf board 33 does not have a top board, but may naturally have a top board similar to the top board 42 of the first shelf board 32.

[0032] The space above the first shelf board 32 constitutes a passage portion 46 that is hollow in a tunnel shape. The passage portion 46 extends in the direction (loading and unloading direction D) connecting the lower platform region 21 and the upper platform region 22. And as shown in FIG. 2, the top board 42 of the first shelf board 32 is flush with the upper platform region 22. For this reason, the passage portion 46 is continuous from the first portion 26 (on the first shelf board 32), through the stepped upper portion 23C, to the second portion 27. Through the passage portion 46, an operator operating the forklift 47 can exchange the pallet 25 loaded with goods between the lower platform region 21 and the upper platform region 22. In the present embodiment, the length of this passage portion 46 in the loading and unloading direction D is arbitrary, but as a guide, it is necessary to be within a length range such that the pallet 25 loaded with goods can be picked up by the forklift 47 from any region of the lower platform region 21 and the upper platform region 22.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the space below the first shelf board 32 (passage part 46) constitutes a first temporary placement part 51 where the pallet 25 loaded with goods can be temporarily placed. The space above the second shelf board 33 (passage part 46) constitutes a second temporary placement part 52 where the pallet 25 loaded with goods can be temporarily placed. When there is a third shelf board, the space above the third shelf board constitutes a third temporary placement part where the pallet 25 loaded with goods can be temporarily placed. When there is a fourth shelf board, the space above the fourth shelf board constitutes a fourth temporary placement part where the pallet 25 loaded with goods can be temporarily placed. The same applies when there are a fifth shelf board, a sixth shelf board, and more.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the second part 27 has a pair of left and right support frames 31 and a second shelf board 33 spanned between the pair of support frames 31. The second shelf board 33 is installed at the same height position as the second shelf board 33 of the first part 26 and is continuous with it. In the second part 27, the first shelf board 32 is omitted. The support frame 31 has the same configuration as the first part 26. The configuration of the second shelf board 33 of the second part 27 is the same as that of the second shelf board 33 of the first part 26. The space above this second shelf board 33 constitutes an upper temporary placement part 53 where the forklift 47 working in the upper area 22 of the platform can temporarily place the pallet 25. When the second part 27 has a third shelf board, the space above the third shelf board constitutes a second upper temporary placement part where the pallet 25 can be temporarily placed from the side of the upper area 22 of the platform. When the second part 27 has a fourth shelf board, the space above the fourth shelf board constitutes a third upper temporary placement part where the pallet 25 can be temporarily placed from the side of the upper area 22 of the platform. Similarly, when the second part 27 has a fifth shelf board, a sixth shelf board, and more, temporary placement parts are constituted above them.

[0035] Above the upper part 23C of the stage and below the second shelf board 33, the space constitutes the passage part 46. The passage part 46 of the second part 27 is integrally configured with the passage part 46 of the first part 26.

[0036] Subsequently, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the operation of the pallet rack system 11 of the present embodiment will be described.

[0037] When the vehicle arrives at the warehouse site and stops in the area 21 under the platform, the operator in the warehouse 12 uses a forklift 47 (see Fig. 7 etc.) to unload the luggage from the vehicle. At this time, the luggage is in a state of being loaded on the pallet 25.

[0038] The operator (forklift driver) who operates the forklift 47 can unload the pallet 25 loaded with luggage from the vehicle in the area 21 under the platform and temporarily place it in the first temporary placement part 51 or the second to sixth temporary placement parts 52 of the pallet rack body 13. Therefore, a situation where the area 21 under the platform is overflowing with luggage is prevented. Also, for the luggage that should be preferentially carried into the inner part 24 of the warehouse, the forklift driver does not temporarily place it in the first to sixth temporary placement parts 51, 52 but immediately places it on the passage part 46. At the same time, the forklift driver operating the forklift 47 in the area 22 above the platform immediately picks up the luggage on this passage part 46 and stores it in the inner part 24 of the warehouse. Also, the forklift driver working in the area 22 above the platform can appropriately temporarily place the pallet 25 on the upper side of the second upper temporary placement part 53 of the second part 27 (or on the upper sides of those when the third upper temporary placement part etc. is provided).

[0039] By performing such an operation, a situation where the area 21 under the platform and the area 22 above the platform are overflowing with the pallet 25 during the loading and unloading operation of the pallet 25 is prevented. And even when vehicles arrive at the warehouse 12 one after another, a situation where the area 21 under the platform and the area 22 above the platform are overflowing with luggage and it becomes impossible to unload the luggage from the vehicle does not occur.

[0040] On the other hand, when loading luggage from the inner part 24 of the warehouse onto the vehicle, the luggage may be taken out through the passage part 46, or the luggage may be carried into the vehicle through a separately provided loading entrance (not shown).

[0041] According to this embodiment, the following can be said. The pallet rack system 11 includes a lower platform area 21 where the vehicle stops, an upper platform area 22 provided above the lower platform area 21 and continuous with the inner part 24 of the warehouse, and a boundary area 23 located at the boundary between the lower platform area 21 and the upper platform area 22, the boundary area 23 including a step portion 23A, a lower step portion 23B extending from the step portion 23A and connected to the lower platform area 21, and an upper step portion 23C extending from the step portion 23A and connected to the upper platform area 22; a warehouse 12 including the above; a pallet rack body 13 provided in the boundary area 23 and on which the pallet 25 loaded with goods is placed, the pallet rack body 13 extending in the direction connecting the lower platform area 21 and the upper platform area 22 and having a tunnel-shaped passage portion 46 capable of exchanging the pallet 25 between the lower platform area 21 and the upper platform area 22, and at least one of a first temporary placement portion 51 provided below the passage portion 46 and capable of temporarily placing the pallet 25 and a second temporary placement portion 52 provided above the passage portion 46 and capable of temporarily placing the pallet 25.

[0042] Conventionally, the periphery of the platform (the boundary between the lower area 21 under the platform and the upper area 22 above the platform) is a work area for loading and unloading goods. If the pallet rack body 13 is installed at this position, there is a problem that it will interfere with the work. Therefore, in terms of warehouse operation, it has been impossible to install the pallet rack body 13 at this position according to the common sense of the industry so far. According to the above configuration, the pallet rack body 13 is deliberately provided in the boundary area 23, and since the passage portion 46 is provided in the pallet rack body 13, it is possible to prevent the pallet rack body 13 from interfering with the loading and unloading operation of the pallet 25. In addition, since at least one of the first temporary placement portion 51 and the second temporary placement portion 52 is provided in the pallet rack body 13, it is possible to prevent the pallet 25 from being left in the periphery of the platform (the lower area 21 under the platform and the upper area 22 above the platform). As a result, even if the vehicle can stop in the lower area 21 under the platform, it is possible to prevent the situation where the lower area 21 under the platform and the upper area 22 above the platform are filled with goods and the goods cannot be unloaded from the vehicle. Thereby, the waiting time of the driver can be reduced, and the burden on the driver can be reduced and the working environment can be improved.

[0043] In this case, the pallet rack body 13 includes a first shelf board 32 installed at substantially the same height as the upper area 22 of the platform and protruding from the upper step portion 23C toward the lower area 21 side of the platform, and the first temporary placement portion 51 is provided in the space below the first shelf board 32.

[0044] According to this configuration, the space below the first shelf board 32 can be effectively utilized as a temporary placement space for the pallet 25, and it is possible to prevent the problem that the periphery of the platform is filled with goods.

[0045] In addition, the pallet rack body 13 includes a second shelf board 33 installed above the installation height of the upper area 22 of the platform, and the second temporary placement portion 52 is provided in the space above the second shelf board 33.

[0046] According to this configuration, the pallet 25 can be temporarily placed in a dead space under the roof of the warehouse 12. By doing so, the space under the roof of the warehouse 12 can be effectively utilized, preventing the problem that the periphery of the platform is filled with goods.

[0047] Subsequently, a modified example of the pallet rack system 11 of the present embodiment will be described. In the following modified examples, mainly the parts different from the first embodiment will be described, and the description of the parts common to the first embodiment will be omitted. (First Modified Example)

[0048] Referring to FIG. 5, the pallet rack system 11 of the first modified example will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the pallet rack body 13 is provided in the boundary region 23. More specifically, the pallet rack body 13 has only a first portion 26 installed in the lower step portion 23B of the boundary region 23. In this modified example, the second portion 27 is omitted.

[0049] The space above the first shelf board 32 forms a tunnel-shaped hollow passage portion 46. And the first shelf board 32 has a top board 42 flush with the upper region 22 on the platform. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the passage portion 46 is continuous from the first portion 26 (above the first shelf board 32) through the upper step portion 23C to the second portion 27. Through the passage portion 46, an operator operating the forklift 47 can exchange the pallet 25 loaded with goods between the lower region 21 under the platform and the upper region 22 on the platform. In the present embodiment, the length of the passage portion 46 in the loading and unloading direction D is arbitrary, but as a guide, it is necessary to be within a range of a length such that the pallet 25 loaded with goods can be picked up by the forklift 47 from any of the lower region 21 under the platform and the upper region 22 on the platform.

[0050] As shown in Fig. 5, the space below the first shelf board 32 constitutes a first temporary placement portion 51 where the pallet 25 loaded with goods can be temporarily placed. The space above the second shelf board 33 constitutes a second temporary placement portion 52 where the pallet 25 loaded with goods can be temporarily placed. Although not shown, the pallet rack body 13 may naturally have three or more shelf boards. When having a third shelf board, the space above the third shelf board constitutes a third temporary placement portion where the pallet 25 loaded with goods can be temporarily placed. When having a fourth shelf board, the space above the fourth shelf board constitutes a fourth temporary placement portion where the pallet 25 loaded with goods can be temporarily placed. The same applies when having a fifth shelf board, a sixth shelf board, or more. In this modified example, although the number of pallets 25 that can be temporarily placed is reduced compared to the above embodiment, this modified example also exhibits substantially the same operational effects as the above embodiment. (Second Modified Example)

[0051] Referring to Fig. 6, the pallet rack system 11 of the second modified example will be described. As shown in Fig. 6, the pallet rack body 13 is provided in the boundary region 23. More specifically, the pallet rack body 13 has only a second portion 27 installed on the upper step portion 23C of the boundary region 23. In this modified example, the first portion 26 is omitted.

[0052] The pallet rack body 13 of this modified example has the same configuration as the first portion 26 of the above embodiment. That is, the pallet rack body 13 has a first shelf board 32 and a second shelf board 33 in order from the bottom. The pallet rack body 13 may have shelf boards with more steps.

[0053] The space above the first shelf board 32 forms a tunnel-shaped passage portion 46 that is hollow. Through the passage portion 46, an operator operating the forklift 47 can exchange the pallet 25 loaded with goods between the area below the platform 21 and the area above the platform 22. In this embodiment, the length of this passage portion 46 in the loading and unloading direction D is arbitrary, but as a guideline, it is necessary to be within a range of length such that the pallet 25 loaded with goods can be picked up by the forklift 47 from any of the areas of the area below the platform 21 and the area above the platform 22.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 6, the space below the first shelf board 32 forms a first temporary placement portion 51 where the pallet 25 loaded with goods can be temporarily placed. The space above the second shelf board 33 forms a second temporary placement portion 52 where the pallet 25 loaded with goods can be temporarily placed. When the pallet rack main body 13 has a third shelf board above the second shelf board 33, the space above the third shelf board forms a third temporary placement portion where the pallet 25 loaded with goods can be temporarily placed. When the pallet rack main body 13 has a fourth shelf board above the third shelf board, the space above the fourth shelf board forms a fourth temporary placement portion where the pallet 25 loaded with goods can be temporarily placed. The same applies when there are a fifth shelf board, a sixth shelf board, and more.

[0055] In this modification, although the number of pallets 25 that can be temporarily placed is reduced compared to the above embodiment, this modification also exhibits substantially the same operational effects as the above embodiment.

[0056] Subsequently, another embodiment of the pallet rack system 11 of this embodiment will be described. In the following embodiments, mainly the parts different from the above first embodiment will be described, and the description of the parts common to the above first embodiment will be omitted. [Second Embodiment]

[0057] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10, a second embodiment of the pallet rack system 11 will be described.

[0058] In this embodiment, the pallet rack body 13 is installed in the boundary area 23, similar to the first embodiment. The pallet rack body 13 has a first part 26, a second part 27, and a connecting part 28 that connects the first part 26 and the second part 27. In this embodiment, the second part 27 is provided so as to extend from the boundary area 23 onto the area 22 above the platform. The first part 26 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment. The first part 26 may have the third to sixth shelf boards above the second shelf board 33, or may have shelf boards with more tiers.

[0059] The second part 27 has the second shelf board 33. The second part 27 may further have the third to sixth shelf boards above the second shelf board 33, or may have shelf boards with more tiers. The second part 27 is formed longer than the second part 27 of the first embodiment in the loading and unloading direction D. Therefore, in this embodiment, the pallet rack body 13 can store a plurality of pallets 25 or send them to the inner part 24 side of the warehouse in the loading and unloading direction D. The configuration of the passage part 46 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The passage part 46 is formed so as to reach the lower side (area 22 above the platform) of the second shelf board 33 of the second part 27 via the stepped upper part 23C from the first shelf board 32 of the first part 26.

[0060] In this embodiment, there is a tunnel-shaped second passage part 54 having the same configuration as that of the passage part 46, straddling the second shelf board 33 of the first part 26 and the second shelf board 33 of the second part 27. The second passage part 54 extends in the direction (loading and unloading direction D) connecting the area 21 below the platform and the area 22 above the platform. Similarly, when the first part 26 and the second part 27 have the third to sixth shelf boards above the second shelf board 33, there may be third to sixth passage parts having the same configuration as that of the passage part 46, straddling the third to sixth shelf boards of the first part 26 and the third to sixth shelf boards of the second part 27. The same applies when there are shelf boards with more tiers.

[0061] In this embodiment, since the second passage portion 54 is provided, the second temporary placement portion 52 of the first embodiment is omitted. Further, as described above, when the third to sixth shelf boards are provided and the third to sixth passage portions are provided thereon, the third to sixth temporary placement portions are omitted.

[0062] In this embodiment, since the second portion 27 is formed long in the loading and unloading direction D, at the intermediate position of the second portion 27, the forks of the forklift 47 in the upper region 22 on the platform cannot physically reach. For this reason, in this embodiment, the first rail 55 is installed from the first shelf board 32 of the first portion 26 constituting the passage portion 46 through the stepped upper portion 23C to a part of the upper region 22 on the platform, and the transport robot (slider 56) travels back and forth on this first rail 55.

[0063] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the pallet rack body 13 has a pair of first rails 55 provided so as to extend along the loading and unloading direction D on the passage portion 46, and a slider 56 capable of self-running back and forth along the loading and unloading direction D on the pair of first rails 55. The pair of first rails 55 are formed in an "L" shape and are symmetric left and right, and the slider 56 can travel on the upper side of the lower side and inside the standing side of the first rail 55.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 10, the pair of first rails 55 are installed at a position one step lower than the floor surface 63 on which the pallet 25 loaded with goods is placed. For this reason, the slider 56 can freely reciprocate under the plurality of pallets 25 placed on the floor surface 63 of the passage portion 46 along the pair of first rails 55. Further, as will be described later, the slider 56 can lift the pallet 25 from the floor surface 63 or place it on the floor surface 63 again via the lifting mechanism 62. For this reason, the slider 56 can place the pallet 25 and self-run in the direction from the lower region 21 side of the platform toward the inner part 24 side of the warehouse, or self-run in the direction from the inner part 24 side of the warehouse toward the lower region 21 side of the platform.

[0065] A pair of first rails 55 are installed so as to extend from the first shelf board 32 through the upper step portion 23C to the area 22 above the platform. One or more sliders 56 can travel on the upper side of this pair of first rails 55.

[0066] In this embodiment, one slider 56 reciprocates on the first rail 55 from above the first shelf board 32 to the end on the side of the area 22 above the platform. However, when the length of the first rail 55 becomes extremely long, a plurality of sliders 56 may reciprocate on the first rail 55 from above the first shelf board 32 to the end on the side of the area 22 above the platform.

[0067] In this embodiment, furthermore, a pair of second rails 60 are provided straddling the upper side of the second shelf board 33 of the first portion 26 and the upper side of the second shelf board 33 of the second portion 27. The configuration of the pair of second rails 60 is the same as the configuration of the pair of first rails 55. Similarly, the pair of second rails 60 are also installed at a position one step lower than the floor surface 63 on which the pallet 25 loaded with goods is placed. For this reason, the slider 56 can freely move along the pair of second rails 60 under the plurality of pallets 25 placed on the floor surface 63 of the second passage portion 54.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 7, one or more sliders 56 can travel on the upper side of this pair of second rails 60. That is, the slider 56 can self - run on the second rail 60 in the direction of placing the pallet 25 and moving from the area 21 below the platform toward the area 22 above the platform, or in the direction of moving from the area 22 above the platform toward the area 21 below the platform.

[0069] In this embodiment, one slider 56 reciprocates on the second rail 60 from above the second shelf board 33 of the first part 26 to above the second shelf board 33 of the second part 27 (the end on the platform upper region 22 side). However, when the length of the second rail 60 becomes extremely long, a plurality of sliders 56 may reciprocate on the second rail 60 from above the second shelf board 33 of the first part 26 to above the second shelf board 33 of the second part 27 (the end on the platform upper region 22 side).

[0070] In this embodiment, when the third to sixth shelf boards, or shelf boards with more stages, are installed in the first part 26 and, similarly, the third to sixth shelf boards, or shelf boards with more stages, are installed in the second part 27, the following configurations can be adopted. That is, a pair of third rails having the same configuration as the pair of first rails 55 can be installed on the third shelf boards of the first part 26 and the second part 27, and one or more sliders 56 can be moved on the upper side thereof in the above manner. Similarly, a pair of fourth to sixth rails having the same configuration as the pair of first rails 55 can be installed on the fourth to sixth shelf boards of the first part 26 and the second part 27, and one or more sliders 56 can be moved on the upper side thereof in the above manner. Even when the first part 26 and the second part 27 have shelf boards with more stages, a pair of rails having the same configuration as the pair of first rails 55 can be installed in the same way, and one or more sliders 56 can be moved on the upper side thereof in the above manner.

[0071] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the slider 56 is composed of a general transportation-type robot. The slider 56 can carry a pallet 25 loaded with goods and self-run in the direction from the platform lower region 21 side to the platform upper region 22 side, or self-run in the direction from the platform upper region 22 side to the platform lower region 21 side.

[0072] The slider 56 includes a base 57 (slider body) on which the pallet 25 loaded with goods is placed, a plurality of wheels 61 (tires) rotatably provided with respect to the base 57, a motor for rotationally driving the wheels 61, a gear train for transmitting the driving force from the motor to the wheels 61, a battery for supplying power to the motor, a control unit (control circuit) for controlling the forward or reverse rotation of the motor according to a command from a remote controller held by an operator, a power supply circuit for supplying power from the battery to the motor, a wireless communication circuit for wirelessly communicating with the remote controller held by the operator, various sensors (contact sensors, optical sensors) for preventing collisions, a lifting mechanism 62 for lifting or placing the pallet 25 loaded with goods from or on the floor surface 63, and an emergency stop button 67 for emergently stopping the slider 56. The battery is composed of a lithium-ion battery. The lifting mechanism 62 is composed of a known actuator such as a hydraulic cylinder, or a known mechanism via a worm gear, other gears, and links, etc.

[0073] Subsequently, with reference to FIG. 7, the operation of the pallet rack system 11 of the present embodiment will be described.

[0074] When the vehicle arrives within the warehouse site and stops in the area 21 under the platform, an operator in the warehouse 12 performs a unloading operation of unloading the goods from the vehicle with a forklift 47. At this time, the goods are in a state of being loaded on the pallet 25.

[0075] In the area 21 under the platform, the forklift can unload the pallet 25 loaded with goods from the vehicle and temporarily place it in the first temporary placement part 51 of the pallet rack body 13. Therefore, a situation where the area 21 under the platform is filled with the pallet 25 is prevented. Also, for the pallet 25 that should be preferentially carried into the inner part 24 of the warehouse, the forklift places it directly on the floor surface 63 of the passage part 46 on the first shelf board 32 without temporarily placing it in the first temporary placement part 51. The forklift operates the remote control to move the slider 56 to the lower side of the pallet 25 placed on the passage part 46 on the side of the area 21 under the platform, and lifts the pallet 25 by the slider 56. At this time, the slider 56 raises the lifting mechanism 62 to lift the pallet 25 from the floor surface 63 of the passage part 46. In this state, the slider 56 sends the pallet 25 to the inner side (the end on the side of the area 22 above the platform) of the first rail 55. When the slider 56 reaches the inner side of the first rail 55, it lowers the lifting mechanism 62 at this position and places the pallet 25 on the floor surface 63 of the passage part 46.

[0076] In the area 21 under the platform, the forklift can efficiently repeat the operation of placing this pallet 25 in the passage part 46 and sending the placed pallet 25 to the inner side of the first rail 55 by the slider 56.

[0077] On the other hand, the forklift operator operating the forklift 47 in the area 22 above the platform can pick up the pallet 25 sent on the passage part 46 by the slider 56 at an arbitrary timing and store it in the inner part 24 of the warehouse. At that time, when the pallet 25 is picked up, the inner side of the first rail 55 is in a state where the pallet 25 does not exist.

[0078] The forklift operator operating the forklift 47 in the area 22 above the platform picks up the pallet 25 and then operates the remote control to perform the operation of sending out the pallet 25 (pushing it forward). By this sending-out operation, the slider 56 moves to the lower side of the pallet 25 that is closest to the back side of the first rail 55, lifts this pallet 25 via the lifting mechanism 62, and sends out the pallet 25 to the back side of the first rail 55. The slider 56 places the pallet 25 on the floor surface 63 at the back side of the first rail 55 (the position where the forks of the forklift 47 working in the area 22 above the platform can reach). The forklift operator picks up the pallet 25 and can store it in the inner part 24 of the warehouse. Thus, also in the area 22 above the platform, the forklift operator can store the pallet 25 in the inner part 24 of the warehouse without interruption.

[0079] Among the multiple modes prepared for the slider, by presetting the forward-pushing operation mode, it is also possible to eliminate the need for the above-described remote control operation by the forklift operator and automatically perform the operation of sending out the pallet 25 (forward-pushing operation).

[0080] Also, although it is not something that should be preferentially carried into the inner part 24 of the warehouse more than passing through the passage part 46, for the pallet 25 that should be given priority next to the pallet 25 placed on the passage part 46, the forklift operator in the area 21 below the platform places the pallet 25 on the second passage part 54.

[0081] The operation of the slider 56 on the second rail 60 in the second passage part 54 and the subsequent pickup of the pallet 25 from the side of the area 22 above the platform are the same as the operation of the slider 56 on the first rail 55 described above and the subsequent pickup of the pallet 25 from the side of the area 22 above the platform.

[0082] Provided with the third to sixth shelf boards on the pallet rack body 13, and provided with the third to sixth passage portions and a pair of the third to sixth rails thereon, when the slider 56 is made to self-run on the pair of the third to sixth rails, the same mode as described above can be adopted. That is, the operation of the slider on the third to sixth rails in the third to sixth passage portions and the subsequent pickup of the pallet 25 from the platform upper region 22 side are the same as the operation of the slider 56 self-running on the first rail 55 and the subsequent pickup of the pallet 25 from the platform upper region 22 side.

[0083] By performing such an operation, a situation where the platform lower region 21 and the platform upper region 22 are filled with goods can be prevented. And even when vehicles arrive at the warehouse 12 one after another, a situation where the platform lower region 21 and the platform upper region 22 are filled with goods and it becomes impossible to unload the goods from the vehicles does not occur.

[0084] On the other hand, when taking out the pallet 25 from the inner part 24 of the warehouse and loading it onto the vehicle, the goods may be taken out through the passage portion 46, or the pallet may be carried into the vehicle from a separately provided loading entrance (not shown).

[0085] According to this embodiment, the following can be said. The passage portion 46 is provided on the platform upper region 22. According to this configuration, since a part of the passage portion 46 can be formed using a part of the platform upper region 22, the passage portion 46 can be formed at a relatively low cost.

[0086] The pallet rack body 13 has a slider 56 provided on the passage portion 46, and the slider 56 can place the pallet 25 thereon and self-run in the direction from the platform lower region 21 side toward the inner part 24 of the warehouse or in the direction from the inner part 24 of the warehouse toward the platform lower region 21 side.

[0087] According to this configuration, the length of the passage portion 46 can be extended to a length that the forks of the forklift 47 cannot reach. Also, a plurality of pallets 25 can be placed on the passage portion 46, and as a whole pallet rack body 13, the storage capacity of the pallets 25 can be increased. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the situation where the area 21 under the platform and the area 22 above the platform are overflowed with luggage.

[0088] The pallet rack body 13 includes a second shelf board 33 installed above the installation height of the area 22 above the platform, and a second passage portion 54 provided on the second shelf board 33. The second passage portion 54 extends in a direction connecting the area 21 under the platform and the area 22 above the platform, and is a tunnel-shaped second passage portion 54 through which the pallet 25 can be exchanged between the area 21 under the platform and the area 22 above the platform.

[0089] Conventionally, the periphery of the platform (the boundary area 23 between the area 21 under the platform and the area 22 above the platform) is a work area for loading and unloading luggage. If the pallet rack body 13 is installed at this position, there is a problem that it obstructs the work. For this reason, in terms of the operation of the warehouse 12, it has not been possible to install the pallet rack body 13 at this position according to the common sense of the industry so far. According to the above configuration, the pallet rack body 13 is provided in the boundary area 23 intentionally, and since the second passage portion 54 is provided in the pallet rack body 13, it is possible to prevent the pallet rack body 13 from obstructing the loading and unloading operation of the pallet 25. Also, since the pallet rack body 13 is provided with a temporary placement portion, it is possible to prevent the pallet 25 from being left in the periphery of the platform (the area 21 under the platform and the area 22 above the platform). As a result, even if the vehicle can stop in the area 21 under the platform, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a problem that the periphery of the platform is overflowed with luggage and the luggage cannot be unloaded from the vehicle. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the waiting time of the driver and improve the working environment of the driver by reducing the burden on the driver.

[0090] The pallet rack body 13 has a slider 56 provided on the second passage portion 54. The slider 56 can travel automatically in the direction from the platform lower region 21 side toward the platform upper region 22 side with the pallet 25 placed thereon, or can travel automatically in the direction from the platform upper region 22 side toward the platform lower region 21 side.

[0091] According to this configuration, the length of the second passage portion 54 can be extended to a length that the forks of the forklift 47 cannot reach. As a result, the length of the second passage portion 54 can be increased in the extending direction of the second passage portion 54. As a result, the amount of pallets 25 that can be stored in the second passage portion 54 can be increased. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation where the platform lower region 21 and the platform upper region 22 are filled with goods. [Third Embodiment]

[0092] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 11, a third embodiment of the pallet rack system 11 will be described.

[0093] In the present embodiment, the pallet rack body 13 has a roller unit 64 for sending the pallet 25 to the back of the warehouse 24 side on the passage portion 46. The roller unit 64 has a plurality of rollers 65 for sending the pallet 25 and a stopper 66 for stopping the pallet 25 sent by the rollers 65. The stopper 66 may be configured, for example, by a block-shaped cushioning material against which the pallet 25 moving on the roller 65 abuts. The stopper 66 is configured, for example, by a rubber-like elastic body having cushioning properties, a spring, or the like.

[0094] The plurality of rollers 65 of the roller unit 64 are provided at a uniform pitch along a straight line gently inclined with respect to the horizontal plane such that the installation height gradually decreases as it goes from the area 21 below the platform to the area 22 above the platform. For this reason, when the forklift places the pallet 25 with the load on the passage portion 46 on the first shelf board 32, the pallet 25 is sent from the area 21 below the platform to the area 22 above the platform by its own weight. The pallet 25 that has arrived at the end of the passage portion 46 on the side of the area 22 above the platform hits against the stopper 66 and stops. Also, when a plurality of pallets 25 are placed on the roller unit 64, the subsequent pallet 25 hits against the pallet 25 in front of it (on the side of the area 22 above the platform) and stops.

[0095] In the present embodiment, a second passage portion 54 is provided straddling the upper side of the second shelf board 33 of the first portion 26 of the pallet rack body 13 and the upper side of the second shelf board 33 of the second portion 27. The pallet rack body 13 has a second roller unit 67 having the same configuration as the roller unit 64 provided in the passage portion 46 in the second passage portion 54. The second roller unit 67 has a plurality of rollers 65 for sending the pallet 25 and a stopper 66 for stopping the pallet 25 sent by the rollers 65. The rollers 65 of the second roller unit 67 are gently inclined so that the installation height decreases as it goes from the area 21 below the platform to the area 22 above the platform.

[0096] The first part 26 may further have the third to sixth shelf boards above the second shelf board 33, or may have shelf boards with more tiers. The second part 27 may further have the third to sixth shelf boards above the second shelf board 33, or may have shelf boards with more tiers. Third to sixth passage parts may be provided respectively straddling the third to sixth shelf boards of the first part 26 and the third to sixth shelf boards of the second part 27. When the first part 26 and the second part 27 have shelf boards with more tiers, additional passage parts may also be provided above them. When providing the third to sixth passage parts, they have third to sixth roller parts with the same configuration as the above-mentioned roller part 64 above them. Even when having the above-mentioned additional passage parts, they have roller parts with the same configuration as the above-mentioned roller part 64 above them.

[0097] Subsequently, with reference to FIG. 11, the operation of the pallet rack system 11 of the present embodiment will be described.

[0098] When the vehicle arrives in the warehouse site and stops in the area 21 under the platform, the operator in the warehouse 12 performs the unloading operation of unloading the goods from the vehicle with the forklift 47. At this time, the goods are in a state of being loaded on the pallet 25.

[0099] The forklift operator can unload the pallet 25 loaded with goods from the vehicle in the area 21 under the platform and temporarily place it in the first temporary placement part 51 of the pallet rack body 13. Thus, a situation where the area 21 under the platform is filled with the pallet 25 is prevented. Also, for the pallet 25 that should be preferentially carried into the inner part 24 of the warehouse, the forklift operator can immediately place it on the passage part 46 on the first shelf board 32 without temporarily placing it in the first temporary placement part 51. In the passage part 46, due to the action of the roller part 64, the pallet 25 is sent by its own weight from the area 21 under the platform to the area 22 above the platform.

[0100] In the area 21 under the platform, since the forklift driver only repeats the operation of placing this pallet 25 in the passage part 46, the work can be carried out efficiently. The pallet 25 placed in the passage part 46 is automatically sent to the back side of the first rail 55 by the action of the roller part 64.

[0101] On the other hand, the forklift driver operating the forklift 47 in the area 22 above the platform can pick up the pallet 25 sent onto the passage part 46 by the action of the roller part 64 at an arbitrary timing and store it in the inner part 24 of the warehouse. At that time, when picking up one pallet 25, the subsequent pallets 25 are sequentially sent out (pushed forward) toward the area 22 (inner part 24 of the warehouse) above the platform by their own weight.

[0102] Also, although it is not something that should be preferentially carried into the inner part 24 of the warehouse as it passes through the passage part 46, for the pallet 25 that should be given priority next to the pallet 25 placed on the passage part 46, the forklift driver in the area 21 under the platform places the pallet 25 on the second passage part 54.

[0103] The action of the second roller part 67 in the second passage part 54 and the subsequent pickup of the pallet 25 from the second passage part 54 on the side of the area 22 above the platform are the same as the action of the roller part 64 of the above-described passage part 46 and the subsequent pickup of the pallet 25 from the side of the area 22 above the platform.

[0104] When the pallet rack main body 13 is provided with the third to sixth shelf boards and the third to sixth passage parts and the third to sixth roller parts are provided on these, the following mode is obtained. That is, the action of the third to sixth roller parts in the third to sixth passage parts and the subsequent pickup of the pallet 25 from the side of the area 22 above the platform are the same as the action of the roller 65 of the first rail 55 of the above-described first passage part 46 and the subsequent pickup of the pallet 25 from the side of the area 22 above the platform.

[0105] By performing such an operation, it is possible to prevent a situation where the area 21 under the platform and the area 22 above the platform are filled with luggage. Even when vehicles arrive at the warehouse 12 one after another, there will be no situation where the area 21 under the platform and the area 22 above the platform are filled with luggage and it becomes impossible to unload the luggage from the vehicle.

[0106] On the other hand, when taking out the pallet 25 from the inner part 24 of the warehouse and loading it onto the vehicle, the pallet 25 may be carried into the vehicle from a separately provided loading entrance (not shown) with respect to the vehicle. Also, a dedicated return passage part may be separately provided for carrying out the pallet 25 from the inner part 24 of the warehouse. The return passage part has, for example, a return roller part having a plurality of rollers 65 provided at a uniform pitch along a straight line gently inclined with respect to the horizontal plane such that the installation height gradually decreases as it goes from the area 22 above the platform to the area 21 under the platform. Therefore, the pallet 25 may be taken out from the inner part 24 of the warehouse through such a return passage part, picked up by the forklift 47 from the side of the area 21 under the platform, and loaded onto the vehicle.

[0107] According to the present embodiment, the following can be said. The pallet rack main body 13 has a roller part 64 provided on the passage part 46, and the roller part 64 can send the pallet 25 from the side of the area 21 under the platform to the side of the inner part 24 of the warehouse.

[0108] According to this configuration, the length of the passage part 46 can be extended to a length that the forks of the forklift 47 cannot reach. As a result, with respect to the extending direction of the passage part 46, the depth length of the passage part 46 can be increased. Thereby, the amount of the pallet 25 that can be held in the passage part 46 can be increased. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a situation where the area 21 under the platform and the area 22 above the platform are filled with luggage.

[0109] The pallet rack body 13 has roller parts 64 provided on the second passage part 54, and the roller parts 64 can send the pallet 25 from the under-platform area 21 to the on-platform area 22.

[0110] According to this configuration, the length of the second passage part 54 can be extended to a length that the forks of the forklift 47 cannot reach. As a result, the number of pallets 25 that can be held in the second passage part 54 can be increased. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation where the under-platform area 21 and the on-platform area 22 are overflowing with goods. [Fourth Embodiment]

[0111] Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment of the pallet rack system 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14.

[0112] In this embodiment, the configuration of the passage part 46 is the same as that of the third embodiment. Therefore, hereinafter, the structure above the second shelf board 33 of the first part 26 and the structure above the second shelf board 33 of the second part 27 will be mainly described.

[0113] Above the second shelf board 33 of the first part 26 of the pallet rack body 13 constitutes a second temporary placement part 52 continuous with the upper side of the second shelf board 33 of the second part 27. On the second temporary placement part 52, the pallet rack body 13 has an inclined rail 71 provided over the entire length of the second temporary placement part 52 in the access direction D, and a pedestal unit 72 provided on the second shelf board 33 of the first part 26 and capable of extending toward the on-platform area 22 side or shortening to the original position on the inclined rail 71.

[0114] The inclined rail 71 is installed slightly obliquely with respect to the horizontal plane so that the installation height gradually increases as it goes from the under-platform area 21 to the on-platform area 22.

[0115] The pedestal unit 72 is provided on the side of the platform lower region 21 of the second temporary placement portion 52. The pedestal unit 72 has a structure in which a plurality of carriages are nested, and includes, in descending order of height, a first carriage 73, a second carriage 74, a third carriage 75, and a fourth carriage 76. The number of carriages included in the pedestal unit 72 is arbitrary and can be appropriately increased or decreased according to the application. In the present embodiment, the second carriage 74 is stored below the first carriage 73, the third carriage 75 is stored below the second carriage 74, and the fourth carriage 76 is stored below the third carriage 75. The first to third carriages 75 can each travel individually on the inclined rail 71, for example. The fourth carriage 76 is fixedly provided with respect to the second shelf board 33 of the first portion 26 and does not travel on the inclined rail 71, for example. In the present embodiment, a plurality of pallets 25 can be temporarily placed on the second temporary placement portion 52 configured as described above from the side of the platform lower region 21.

[0116] The first portion 26 may further have third to sixth shelf boards above the second shelf board 33, or may have shelf boards with more stages. The second portion 27 may further have third to sixth shelf boards above the second shelf board 33, or may have shelf boards with more stages. Third to sixth temporary placement portions may be provided straddling the third to sixth shelf boards of the first portion 26 and the third to sixth shelf boards of the second portion 27, or when the first portion 26 and the second portion 27 have shelf boards with more stages, additional temporary placement portions straddling above them may be provided. When the third to sixth temporary placement portions are provided, they have second to fifth pedestal units having the same configuration as the pedestal unit 72 above them. Even when having the above additional temporary placement portions, they have pedestal units having the same configuration as the pedestal unit 72 above them.

[0117] Subsequently, with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14, the operation of the pallet rack system 11 of the present embodiment will be described.

[0118] When the vehicle arrives within the warehouse site and parks in the area 21 under the platform, the operator in the warehouse 12 performs the unloading operation of unloading the luggage from the vehicle with the forklift 47. At this time, the luggage is in a state of being loaded on the pallet 25.

[0119] The forklift operator can unload the pallet 25 loaded with luggage from the vehicle at the area 21 under the platform and temporarily place it in the first temporary placement part 51 of the pallet rack body 13. Therefore, the situation that the area 21 under the platform is filled with the pallet 25 is prevented. In addition, for the pallet 25 that should be preferentially carried into the inner part 24 of the warehouse, the forklift operator places it directly on the passage part 46 on the first shelf board 32 without temporarily placing it in the first temporary placement part 51. In the passage part 46, due to the action of the roller part 64, the pallet 25 is sent by its own weight from the area 21 under the platform to the area 22 above the platform.

[0120] In the area 21 under the platform, since the forklift operator only repeats the operation of placing this pallet 25 on the passage part 46, the work can be carried out efficiently. The pallet 25 placed on the passage part 46 is automatically sent to the back side of the first rail 55 by the action of the roller part 64.

[0121] On the other hand, the forklift operator operating the forklift 47 in the area 22 above the platform can pick up the pallet 25 sent on the passage part 46 at an arbitrary timing by the action of the roller part 64 and store it in the inner part 24 of the warehouse. At this time, when picking up one pallet 25, the subsequent pallets 25 are sequentially sent out (fed forward) by their own weight toward the area 22 above the platform (the inner part 24 of the warehouse).

[0122] In addition, for the pallet 25 that is not something that should be preferentially carried into the inner part of the warehouse 12, the forklift operator in the area 21 under the platform places the pallet 25 on the second temporary placement part 52. At this time, the forklift operator places the pallet 25 on the first cart 73 of the pedestal unit 72.

[0123] As the number of pallets 25 temporarily placed on the pedestal unit 72 increases, the first cart 73, the second cart 74, and the third cart 75 move toward the area 22 above the platform in that order. That is, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, when the second pallet 25 is temporarily placed on the pedestal unit 72, the second pallet 25 pushes the first cart 73 toward the area 22 above the platform, and the first cart 73 is pushed out in that direction on the inclined rail 71. Similarly, when the third pallet 25 is temporarily placed on the pedestal unit 72, the third pallet 25 pushes the second cart 74 toward the area 22 above the platform, and the first cart 73 and the second cart 74 are pushed out in that direction on the inclined rail 71. Further, when the fourth pallet 25 is temporarily placed on the pedestal unit 72, the fourth pallet 25 pushes the third cart 75 toward the area 22 above the platform, and the first cart 73, the second cart 74, and the third cart 75 are pushed out in that direction on the inclined rail 71. In this state, by temporarily placing the fourth pallet 25 on the fourth cart 76, a total of four pallets 25 can be temporarily placed in series on the second temporary placement portion 52.

[0124] In this way, as the number of pallets 25 placed on the pedestal unit 72 increases, the pedestal unit 72 can extend from the area 21 below the platform toward the area 22 above the platform.

[0125] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14, when the fourth pallet 25 temporarily placed on the fourth cart 76 is retrieved from the area 21 below the platform, the third cart 75, the second cart 74, and the first cart 73 move from the area 22 above the platform toward the area 21 below the platform due to their own weights in that order. At this time, the third cart 75 returns to the area 21 below the platform at its original position.

[0126] Similarly, when the third pallet 25 temporarily placed on the third vehicle 75 is retrieved from the platform lower region 21 side, the second vehicle 74 and the first vehicle 73 move from the platform upper region 22 side to the platform lower region 21 side by their own weights in this order. At this time, the second vehicle 74 returns to the original platform lower region 21 side.

[0127] Furthermore, when the second pallet 25 temporarily placed on the second vehicle 74 is retrieved from the platform lower region 21 side, the first vehicle 73 moves from the platform upper region 22 side to the platform lower region 21 side by its own weight. In this state, the first pallet 25 placed on the first vehicle 73 can be retrieved from the platform lower region 21 side. In this way, as the number of pallets 25 placed on the pedestal unit 72 decreases, the pedestal unit 72 can be shortened to its original position.

[0128] Even when the third to sixth shelf boards are provided on the pallet rack body 13 and the third to sixth temporary placement parts and the second to fifth pedestal units are provided thereon, the same operational effects as those of the second temporary placement part 52 and the pedestal unit 72 can be exhibited.

[0129] By performing such an operation, a situation where the platform lower region 21 and the platform upper region 22 are overflowing with luggage is prevented. And even when vehicles arrive at the warehouse one after another, a situation where the platform lower region 21 and the platform upper region 22 are overflowing with luggage and it becomes impossible to unload the luggage from the vehicles does not occur.

[0130] On the other hand, when taking out the pallet 25 from the inner part 24 of the warehouse and loading it onto the vehicle, the pallet 25 may be carried into the vehicle from a separately provided loading entrance (not shown). Alternatively, a dedicated return passage may be provided separately for carrying out the pallet 25 from the inner part 24 of the warehouse. The return passage, for example, has a return roller section having a plurality of rollers 65 provided at a uniform pitch along a straight line gently inclined with respect to the horizontal plane such that the installation height gradually decreases as it goes from the upper region 22 of the platform to the lower region 21 of the platform. Therefore, the pallet 25 may be taken out from the inner part 24 of the warehouse through such a return passage and loaded onto the vehicle.

[0131] According to the present embodiment, the following can be said. The pallet rack main body 13 has a pedestal unit 72 at the end on the lower region 21 side of the platform above the second shelf board 33, and the pedestal unit 72 can extend from the lower region 21 side of the platform toward the upper region 22 side as the number of pallets 25 placed thereon increases, and can be shortened to its original position as the number of pallets 25 decreases.

[0132] According to this configuration, since the pallet 25 loaded with goods up to a position where the forks of the forklift 47 on the second temporary placement part 52 cannot reach can be placed, the total amount of pallets 25 that can be loaded on the second temporary placement part 52 of the pallet rack main body 13 can be increased. As a result, it is possible to prevent the problem that the periphery of the platform is overflowing with goods and the goods cannot be unloaded from the vehicle.

[0133] The above-described embodiments can be implemented with further various replacements and modifications. It is also naturally possible to combine different ones of the above embodiments as appropriate, combine different ones of the above modification examples as appropriate, or combine at least one embodiment and at least one modification example as appropriate to constitute one invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0134] 11 Pallet Rack System 12 Warehouse 13 Pallet rack body 21 Area below the platform 22 Area above the platform 23 Boundary area 23A Step portion 23B Lower step portion 23C Upper step portion 24 Inner part of the warehouse 25 Pallet 32 First shelf board 33 Second shelf board 46 Passage portion 51 First temporary placement portion 52 Second temporary placement portion 54 Second passage portion 56 Slider 64 Roller part 65 Roller 72 Pedestal unit

Claims

1. A warehouse comprising: a lower platform area where the vehicle is parked; an upper platform area provided above the lower platform area and continuous with the inner part of the warehouse; and a boundary area located at the boundary between the lower platform area and the upper platform area, the boundary area including a step portion, a lower step portion extending from the step portion and connected to the lower platform area, and an upper step portion extending from the step portion and connected to the upper platform area. A pallet rack body provided in the boundary area and on which a pallet loaded with goods is placed. Comprising: The pallet rack body has a tunnel-shaped passage portion that extends in the direction connecting the lower platform area and the upper platform area and allows the pallet to be exchanged between the lower platform area and the upper platform area. At least one of a first temporary placement portion provided below the passage portion and capable of temporarily placing the pallet and a second temporary placement portion provided above the passage portion and capable of temporarily placing the pallet. A pallet rack system.

2. The pallet rack system according to claim 1, wherein the passage portion is provided on the upper platform area.

3. The pallet rack body has a slider provided on the passage portion, and the slider can move automatically in the direction from the lower platform area side to the upper platform area side with the pallet placed thereon, or in the direction from the upper platform area side to the lower platform area side. The pallet rack system according to claim 1.

4. The pallet rack body has a roller portion provided on the passage portion, and the roller portion can send the pallet from the lower platform area side to the upper platform area side. The pallet rack system according to claim 1.

5. The pallet rack body includes a first shelf board installed at substantially the same height as the upper platform area and protruding from the upper step portion toward the lower platform area side. The first temporary placement portion is provided in the space below the first shelf board. The pallet rack system according to claim 1.

6. The pallet rack body includes a second shelf board installed above the installation height of the upper platform area. The pallet rack system according to claim 1, wherein the second temporary placement part is provided in a space above the second shelf board.

7. The pallet rack main body has a pedestal unit at an end on the lower region side of the platform above the second shelf board. The pedestal unit extends from the lower region side of the platform toward the upper region side of the platform as the number of pallets placed thereon increases, and can be shortened to its original position as the number of pallets decreases. The pallet rack system according to claim 6.

8. The pallet rack main body has a second shelf board installed above the installation height of the upper region of the platform, and a second passage part provided on the second shelf board, which extends in a direction connecting the lower region of the platform and the upper region of the platform, and is a tunnel-shaped second passage part through which the pallet can be exchanged between the lower region of the platform and the upper region of the platform. The pallet rack system according to claim 1.

9. The pallet rack main body has a slider provided on the second passage part. The slider can carry the pallet and travel automatically in a direction from the lower region side of the platform toward the upper region side of the platform, or in a direction from the upper region side of the platform toward the lower region side of the platform. The pallet rack system according to claim 8.

10. The pallet rack main body has a roller part provided on the second passage part. The roller part can send the pallet from the lower region of the platform to the upper region of the platform. The pallet rack system according to claim 8.

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