Article processing apparatus and article storage facility

Abstract

To provide an article processing apparatus which can easily execute treatment of immersing an article into a liquid.SOLUTION: In an article processing apparatus 1, a lifting device 12 is configured to allow a support part 11 to lift relative to a first height H1 as a height at which the support part 11 and a supported article Wt do not interfere with a liquid tank 13 moving back and forth by a moving device 7 each other, a second height H2 as a height which is lower than the first height H1 and at which the supported article Wt immerses into a liquid 9 in the liquid tank 13, and a third height H3 which is lower than the first height H1. The support part 11 and the liquid tank 13 are configured such that the support part 11, the supported article Wt and the liquid tank 13 do not interfere each other even when the support part 11 and the supported article Wt are lifted between the first height H1 and the second height H2 in a state where the liquid tank 13 is in a use position T1, and also, the support part 11, the supported article Wt and the liquid tank 13 do not interfere each other even when the support part 11 and the supported article Wt are lifted between the first height H1 and the third height H3 in a state where the liquid tank 13 is in a retreat position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an article processing device and an article storage facility. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2012-249803 (Patent Document 1) discloses a technology relating to an article processing device. In the following description of the background art, the reference numerals in parentheses refer to those in Patent Document 1.

[0003] The article storage facility of Patent Document 1 includes a storage shelf (test shelf 16) for storing articles (batteries 19), a transport device (stacker crane 13) for transporting the articles to the storage shelf, and a liquid tank (submerged tank 30) in which water is stored for cooling the articles. In this article storage facility, if an abnormality (heat generation, smoke, etc.) occurs in an article (battery 19) on the test shelf, the transport device transports the article to the liquid tank and also places the article into the liquid tank. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-249803 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the article storage facility of Patent Document 1, a liquid vat is disposed on a storage shelf. Therefore, a conveying device that conveys articles between the storage shelf and the liquid vat directly places the articles in the liquid vat, thereby immersing the articles in the liquid (here, water) in the liquid vat. However, depending on the structure around the liquid vat, for example, if an obstacle that interferes with the conveying device is placed directly above the liquid vat, it may be difficult for the conveying device to place the articles in the liquid vat.

[0006] Therefore, there is a demand for an article processing device that can easily perform processing by immersing an article in a liquid. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The article processing apparatus according to the present disclosure is provided adjacent to a conveying apparatus that conveys an article, and is an article processing apparatus that performs a liquid immersion process by immersing the article in a liquid, a support section that receives the article from the conveying device and supports the article; a lifting device that raises and lowers the support section; a liquid tank that contains the liquid and has an opening facing upward; and a moving device that moves the liquid tank back and forth between a use position and a retracted position along a horizontal direction, The article supported by the support portion is used as a supported article, the lifting device is configured to raise and lower the support part to a first height at which the support part and the supported article do not interfere with the liquid tank in which the moving device reciprocates, a second height lower than the first height at which the supported article is immersed in the liquid in the liquid tank, and a third height lower than the first height at which the support part receives the article from the conveying device, The support part and the liquid tank are configured so that when the liquid tank is in the use position, the support part and the support item do not interfere with the liquid tank even when they are raised and lowered between the first height and the second height, and so that when the liquid tank is in the retracted position, the support part and the support item do not interfere with the liquid tank even when they are raised and lowered between the first height and the third height.

[0008] With this configuration, even if it is not possible to receive items from the conveying device to the support unit at a position above the liquid tank due to vertical space limitations at the location where the item processing device is installed or configuration limitations of the conveying device, the items can be properly received from the conveying device to the support unit and the received items can be properly immersed in the liquid in the liquid tank. Therefore, with this configuration, the article processing device can be installed in places where there is a space limitation in the height direction. Also, since the device can receive articles from various types of conveying devices, restrictions on the conveying devices can be reduced. In this manner, with this configuration, it is possible to easily perform a liquid immersion process in which an article is immersed in a liquid.

[0009] Further features and advantages of the article processing device will become apparent from the following description of exemplary, non-limiting embodiments which proceed with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] Overall overview of the goods storage facility [Figure 2] Schematic cross-sectional view of an article processing device [Figure 3] Control Block Diagram [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a front view schematically illustrating an immersion process in an article processing apparatus; [Figure 5] Overall schematic diagram of an item storage facility according to another embodiment [Figure 6] Overall schematic diagram of an item storage facility according to another embodiment DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] [First embodiment] A first embodiment of an item processing device 1 and an item storage facility 100 equipped with the item processing device 1 will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the item storage facility 100 includes an item processing device 1 and an automated warehouse 10. The item storage facility 100 also includes a carry-in / out conveyor 53 that carries items W into and out of the automated warehouse 10. A plurality of items W are stored in the automated warehouse 10.

[0013] The automated warehouse 10 includes a storage shelf 3 having a plurality of storage sections 31, and a conveying device 2 having a transfer device 21. The automated warehouse 10 also includes a control device 80 that controls the conveying device 2 (FIG. 3). The storage shelf 3 is configured to be able to store items W in the storage sections 31. The conveying device 2 conveys items W between the loading / unloading conveyor 53, the plurality of storage sections 31, and the item processing device 1. In this example, a pair of storage shelves 3 are provided facing each other across the conveying path 5 of the conveying device 2. A plurality of storage sections 31 are arranged on each of the pair of storage shelves 3. The plurality of storage sections 31 are arranged in a row along the conveying path 5 on each of the pair of storage shelves 3. The plurality of storage sections 31 are also arranged in the vertical direction. Here, the conveying path 5 is formed in a straight line.

[0014] The storage section 31 is capable of storing a plurality of articles W. Specifically, each of the plurality of storage sections 31 is configured to store N (N is an integer of 2 or greater) articles W in an arrayed state. In this example, each storage section 31 stores N (here, N=3) articles W in an arrayed state along a direction (here, referred to as the "entrance / retraction direction X") perpendicular to the direction along the conveying path 5 (here, referred to as the "width direction Y") when viewed from above and below.

[0015] The transfer device 21 is configured to move along the storage shelf 3 (here, the front surface of the storage shelf 3) to transfer the articles W between the storage section 31. The transfer device 21 moves along the conveyance path 5 to transfer the articles W between the article processing device 1 and the carry-in / out conveyor 53. As shown in FIG. 2 , the transfer device 21 has a fork unit 22 that moves in and out in the entry / exit direction X during transfer. The transfer device 21 is configured to be able to remove N articles W stored in each storage section 31 while they are still arranged. Specifically, the transfer device 21 can remove N articles W (here, N = 3) stored in the storage section 31 while they are still arranged in the storage section 31 (in this example, while they are still arranged along the entry / exit direction X). In this specification, a member that supports the articles W and is moved in and out by the transfer device 21 is referred to as a "fork unit," and the term "fork unit" is not limited to a specific shape.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1 , the conveying device 2 further includes a conveying rail 26, a traveling main body 23 that travels while being guided by the conveying rail 26, a mast erected from the traveling main body 23, and an elevating unit 27 that moves up and down while being guided by the mast. The conveying rail 26 is laid along the conveying path 5. The transfer device 21 is provided on the elevating unit 27. In this example, the conveying device 2 is a stacker crane. The transfer device 21 moves along the conveying path 5 integrally with the traveling main body 23. The transfer device 21 is configured to be able to change its position by moving the fork unit 22 in the retracting direction X between a retracted position where the fork unit 22 is retracted toward the elevating unit 27 and an extended position where the fork unit 22 is extended toward the storage unit 31. The transfer device 21 is equipped with a drive motor for moving the fork unit 22 back and forth in this manner. Here, when the conveying device 2 receives an article W from a specific storage unit 31, the conveying device 2 is controlled by the control device 80 as follows. First, the traveling main body 23 stops at a position corresponding to the specific storage section 31. Then, the lifting section 27 is guided by the mast and moves to a height corresponding to the storage section 31. Then, the fork sections 22 change their position from the retracted position to the protruding position in front of the storage section 31. At this time, the fork sections 22 in the protruding position are positioned below the N articles W in the storage section 31. Then, as the lifting section 27 rises, the fork sections 22 in the protruding position scoop up the N articles W while keeping them aligned along the retraction direction X. As a result, the N articles W are placed on the placement surface 22a of the fork sections 22. Then, as the fork sections 22 change their position from the protruding position to the retracted position, the N articles W are transferred from the storage section 31 to the lifting section 27. When the conveying device 2 delivers the articles W to the specific storage section 31, the control device 80 performs the reverse procedure to the above. In addition to a stacker crane, the conveying device 2 may be a transporting cart that runs guided by rails or the like, a transporting cart that runs autonomously on a floor or the like, a conveyor, a forklift operated by a worker, or the like.

[0017] In this embodiment, the control device 80 includes a control unit 81 that controls the transport device 2 and the item processing device 1, and is configured to be able to communicate with a host controller C that manages the entire item storage facility 100. The control device 80 and the host controller C include, for example, a processor such as a microcomputer, peripheral circuits such as memory, etc. Each function is realized by cooperation between this hardware and a program executed on a processor such as a computer.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the article processing device 1 is disposed adjacent to a conveying device 2 that conveys articles W, and performs an immersion process in which the articles W are immersed in a liquid 9. In this embodiment, the article processing device 1 is disposed adjacent to the conveying device 2 and a storage shelf 3 (one of the multiple storage sections 31 at one end in the width direction Y). The immersion process is a process in which, when the articles W generate heat, the articles W are immersed in a liquid 9 to cool them down. In this example, the articles W are a product group in which multiple products (here, lithium ion batteries) are stacked. Here, in this specification, "heat generation" includes "abnormal heat generation" in which the temperature exceeds a threshold, "smoke generation," and "fire generation." In the example of FIG. 1, the article processing device 1 is disposed along the conveying path 5 and adjacent to one side of the storage shelf 3 in the width direction Y. The article processing device 1 may also be provided on the storage shelf 3. That is, the article processing device 1 may be installed in place of some of the storage sections 31 on the storage shelf 3. The articles W may also be other than the above-mentioned product group.

[0019] 2, 3, and 4, the article processing apparatus 1 includes a support unit 11 that receives the article W from the conveying device 2 and supports the article W, a lifting device 12 that raises and lowers the support unit 11, a liquid tank 13 that contains a liquid 9 and opens upward, and a moving device 7 that moves the liquid tank 13 back and forth horizontally between a use position T1 and a retracted position T2. The article processing apparatus 1 also includes a control system 8 that controls the lifting device 12 and the moving device 7. In this example, the control system 8 is provided in a control unit 81 that is provided in the control device 80. That is, the control unit 81 controls the lifting device 12 and the moving device 7. The control system 8 may also be provided in a control device other than the control device 80 (for example, a host controller C or a controller that controls only the article processing apparatus 1).

[0020] The liquid tank 13 is a container capable of storing a liquid 9 therein. In this example, the liquid tank 13 stores water as the liquid 9 for cooling the article W. The heated article W is placed in the liquid tank 13 storing the liquid 9 (here, water). The liquid tank 13 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open top. In this example, as shown in FIG. 2 , the surface facing upward of the bottom 131 of the liquid tank 13 is an inclined surface 132 that slopes downward toward the first advancing / retracting direction side X1 (here, one side of the advancing / retracting direction X is referred to as the "first advancing / retracting direction side X1," and the opposite side is referred to as the "second advancing / retracting direction side X2"). A side wall 135 is provided to rise from the periphery of the bottom 131. The liquid tank 13 is provided with a discharge mechanism 93 that discharges the liquid 9 to the outside of the liquid tank 13. A discharge hole is formed at the end of the inclined surface 132 on the first side X1 in the retraction direction (the area of the inclined surface 132 that is lowest in the up-down direction). A discharge mechanism 93 (here, a valve and a discharge hose) is connected to the discharge hole. By operating the valve of the discharge mechanism 93, the liquid 9 in the liquid tank 13 flows from the discharge hole into the discharge hose, thereby allowing the liquid 9 to be discharged to the outside of the liquid tank 13. By forming the inclined surface 132 in this manner, it is possible to facilitate the liquid 9 in the liquid tank 13 flowing into the discharge hole. Note that the liquid 9 may be a liquid other than water. For example, the liquid 9 may be a liquid other than water for cooling or extinguishing the article W. Furthermore, the liquid 9 may be a chemical or the like for performing some kind of treatment on the article W. In this way, the article processing device 1 described in this specification can be used for purposes other than cooling the article W or extinguishing a fire.

[0021] In the example of FIG. 2, a liquid level detection device 94 is provided in the liquid vat 13 (here, the side wall portion 135). The liquid level detection device 94 detects the level of the liquid 9 stored in the liquid vat 13. This makes it possible to adjust the amount of liquid 9 stored in the liquid vat 13 in advance, for example, using the discharge mechanism 93, depending on the size of the item W to be placed in the liquid vat 13. This makes it easier to avoid a situation in which the liquid 9 in the liquid vat 13 overflows and spills outside the liquid vat 13 as a result of the item W being placed in the liquid vat 13. Note that the discharge mechanism 93 may be controlled by the control device 80 based on the detection result of the liquid level detection device 94.

[0022] As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, the moving device 7 includes a liquid tank support portion 71 that supports the liquid tank 13 and a drive device 72 for moving the liquid tank support portion 71 back and forth. The drive device 72 includes wheels 72a that roll on moving rails R laid on the floor surface and a drive motor 72b that drives the wheels 72a. The wheels 72a (here, multiple wheels 72a) support the liquid tank support portion 71 from below. The moving rails R are arranged to connect the use position T1 and the retracted position T2. Here, the use position T1 and the retracted position T2 are set along the entry / exit direction X. Here, the retracted position T2 is set on the first entry / exit direction side X1 (here, the side away from the conveying path 5) of the use position T1. The moving device 7 moves in the entry / exit direction X along the horizontal plane to place the liquid tank 13 at either the use position T1 or the retracted position T2. The moving device 7 may be configured to move on a floor surface slightly inclined relative to the horizontal plane. In this embodiment, the liquid tank support 71 is configured to allow the liquid tank 13 to be attached and detached. This allows workers to easily perform maintenance on the liquid tank 13. In this example, the rectangular parallelepiped liquid tank 13 supported by the liquid tank support 71 is oriented along the inward / outward direction X and the width direction Y. It is preferable that the liquid tank support 71 be provided with a positioning mechanism for positioning the liquid tank 13. This allows the liquid tank 13 to be positioned in the appropriate orientation during immersion processing. An example of the positioning mechanism is a raised portion for restricting movement of the liquid tank 13 in the inward / outward direction X and the width direction Y. The raised portion is preferably a plate-like member or the like that rises from the upward-facing surface of the liquid tank support 71.

[0023] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the support section 11 is configured to support the articles W received from the conveying device 2. In this embodiment, the support section 11 is configured to be able to support N (here, N = 3) articles W while they are arranged in an array. Specifically, the support section 11 can support the N articles W stored in the storage section 31 from below while they are arranged in the storage section 31, i.e., while they are arranged along the entry / exit direction X. Naturally, the support section 11 can also support an array of articles W that is fewer than N. In this embodiment, the articles W supported by the support section 11 are referred to as supported articles Wt.

[0024] In this embodiment, the support portion 11 has a support surface 111a that supports the article Wt from below. Here, the support portion 11 has a support plate portion 112 that supports the article Wt from below, and the support surface 111a is formed on the surface of the support plate portion 112 that faces upward. Here, the support plate portion 112 is a rectangular plate-like member that extends along the advancing / retracting direction X and the width direction Y. The dimension of the support plate portion 112 in the advancing / retracting direction X is smaller than the inner diameter of the liquid vat 13 in the advancing / retracting direction X. Similarly, the dimension of the support plate portion 112 in the width direction Y is smaller than the inner diameter of the liquid vat 13 in the width direction Y.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4 , the width direction Y is a direction perpendicular to the forward / backward direction X in which the support unit 11 receives the article W from the conveying device 2, as viewed in the vertical direction. The support unit 11 includes a fork insertion space S, which is a space through which the fork unit 22 moves in the forward / backward direction X when receiving the article W from the conveying device 2, and support members 111 arranged on both sides of the fork insertion space S in the width direction Y and supporting the supported article Wt from below. That is, the fork insertion space S is formed so as to be sandwiched between a pair of support members 111. The pair of support members 111 are provided on support surfaces 111a. Therefore, the support surfaces 111a support the article W via the support members 111. In this example, the dimension of the fork insertion space S in the width direction Y is formed larger than the dimension of the fork unit 22 in the width direction Y. As a result, the distance between the pair of support members 111 is wider than the dimension of the fork unit 22 in the width direction Y. When transferring the articles W from the fork section 22 to the support section 11, the control section 81 positions the fork section 22 on which the articles W are placed directly above the fork insertion space S. The control section 81 then lowers the fork section 22 and inserts it into the fork insertion space S from above. This causes the articles W to be supported by the pair of support members 111. In this way, the control section 81 moves the fork section 22 along the exit / retract direction X to receive the articles W from the storage section 31 and deliver the articles W to the support section 11. Therefore, the conveying device 2 can deliver the N articles W to the support section 11 in the same position (arranged position) as when they were received from the storage section 31.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the lifting device 12 includes a lifting drive mechanism 16 that generates and transmits a drive force for lifting and lowering the support portion 11, and a heat shielding member 17. The lifting device 12 also includes a guide mechanism 15 that guides the lifting and lowering of the support portion 11, and a support member 120 that supports the guide mechanism 15 and the lifting drive mechanism 16. In this example, the support member 120 further supports the heat shielding member 17. A pair of support members 120 are provided, separated in the width direction Y. Each of the pair of support members 120 is a column-shaped member that is elongated in the vertical direction as a whole, and stands upright from the floor. The guide mechanism 15 and the support portion 11 are disposed between the pair of support members 120. In this example, multiple pairs of support members 120 (two pairs in the example of FIG. 2) that are separated in the width direction Y are provided side by side in the retraction direction X.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the guide mechanism 15 includes a first moving member 113, a second moving member 115, and a base 114. The guide mechanism 15 is supported by each of a pair of support members 120. The base 114 is supported at the upper part of the support member 120 via a heat shield member 17. In the illustrated example, the base 114 is further supported by a plurality of (here, two) support members 120 arranged separately in the advancing / retracting direction X. Here, the base 114 is a rail member that guides the movement of the second moving member 115. The second moving member 115 is provided on the base 114 and configured to be movable in the vertical direction relative to the base 114. The first moving member 113 is provided on the second moving member 115 and configured to be movable in the vertical direction relative to the second moving member 115. The first moving member 113 is provided to connect the support member 11 and the second moving member 115. The lower end of the first moving member 113 is fixed to the support part 11. Therefore, the first moving member 113 and the support part 11 move up and down as a unit. Then, the first moving member 113 and the second moving member 115 provided on each of the pair of support members 120 slide relative to the base part 114, thereby moving the support part 11 and the supported article Wt supported by the support part 11 in the vertical direction.

[0028] In this example, as shown in FIG. 4, the first moving members 113 corresponding to each of the pair of support members 120 are fixed to both ends of the support unit 11 in the width direction Y. Each of the pairs of first moving members 113 provided separately in the width direction Y in the support unit 11 is a member that is long in the vertical direction. A plurality of pairs of first moving members 113 (two pairs in the example of FIG. 2) are arranged side by side in the advancing / retreating direction X, with each pair of first moving members 113 arranged to sandwich the support item Wt supported by the support unit 11 from both outer sides in the width direction Y. As a result, for example, even if a portion of the support item Wt melts due to heat generation and causes the support item Wt to tilt, the heat shield members 17 supported by the first moving members 113 can function as a wall to support the tilted support item Wt, making it easier to prevent the support item Wt (or a portion of the support item Wt) from tipping over and falling from the support unit 11. Furthermore, in order to prevent the support article Wt from tipping over and falling to the outside of the support portion 11 in the advancing / retracting direction X, for example, a receiving member for preventing the support article Wt from falling may be provided.

[0029] The lifting / lowering drive mechanism 16 is a mechanism that generates and transmits a drive force for moving the second moving member 115 relative to the base 114 and for moving the first moving member 113 relative to the second moving member 115. Here, the lifting / lowering drive mechanism 16 is composed of a lifting motor 16M and a transmission mechanism (for example, a mechanism composed of a rack gear and a pinion gear meshing with the rack gear) that transmits the drive force from the lifting / lowering motor 16M, but is not limited to this. Such a lifting / lowering drive mechanism 16 is disposed outside the support part 11 in the width direction Y. Furthermore, at least a portion of the lifting / lowering drive mechanism 16 is disposed inside the guide mechanism 15 and the support member 120. In the example of FIG. 4, the lifting / lowering motor 16M is disposed outside the guide mechanism 15 in the width direction Y.

[0030] The heat shield 17 faces the side of the support article Wt and is positioned between the lifting / lowering drive mechanism 16 and the support article Wt, and is configured to limit heat transfer from the support article Wt to the lifting / lowering drive mechanism 16. In this example, a heat shield 17 is provided on each of the pair of support members 120. Here, the heat shield 17 is a plate-shaped member (for example, a combination of a heat-resistant sheet and a heat-shielding metal plate). The heat shield 17 is fixed to the upper part of each of the support members 120 arranged separately in the width direction Y. The heat shield 17 is also arranged between the support members 120 and the guide mechanism 15 when viewed from the extension / retraction direction X (FIG. 4). The base 114 is fixed to the surface of the heat shield 17 facing inward in the width direction Y (the side where the liquid tank 13 is arranged). Furthermore, in this example, a heat shield 17 is provided on each of the pair of first moving members 113. Specifically, the heat shield 17 abuts against the entire surface of the first moving member 113 facing inward in the width direction Y, thereby being disposed between the support article Wt and the first moving member 113. The heat shield 17 may be a sheet-like member that is attached to the support member 120 or the first moving member 113. The heat shield 17 may also be a heat-resistant sheet alone, or a heat-shielding metal plate alone.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the article processing apparatus 1 further includes a lift-up restricting member 18 for restricting the lift-up of the supported article Wt immersed in the liquid 9 in the liquid tank 13. In this example, the lift-up restricting member 18 is disposed in a position covering the supported article Wt from above while it is supported by the support portion 11. Therefore, the lift-up restricting member 18 is disposed above the support surface 111a, with a distance equal to or greater than the vertical dimension of the supported article Wt. The lift-up restricting member 18 is configured to be raised and lowered together with the support portion 11 by the lifting device 12. In this example, the lift-up restricting member 18 is supported by the first moving member 113. In the illustrated example, the lift-up restricting member 18 is fixed to the upper end of the heat insulating member 17 that abuts against the first moving member 113. The lift-up restricting member 18 may also be directly fixed to the first moving member 113. The lift-up restricting member 18 is disposed to connect a pair of first moving members 113 to each other. The lift-up restricting member 18 is disposed at a height that does not interfere with the supported article Wt placed on the support unit 11 (here, a pair of support members 111). That is, the lift-up restricting member 18 is disposed at a position higher than the supported article Wt. The lift-up restricting member 18 may be configured so that its vertical position can be changed. Specifically, when receiving the article W from the conveying device 2, the lift-up restricting member 18 may be configured so that its vertical distance from the support surface 111a is wide so as not to interfere with the supported article Wt placed on the support unit 11. When the supported article Wt is immersed in the liquid 9 in the liquid tank 13, the lift-up restricting member 18 may be configured so that its vertical distance from the support surface 111a is narrow. This facilitates the transfer of the supported article Wt and prevents the supported article Wt from floating up due to buoyancy. In this example, the lift-up restricting member 18 is a plate-shaped member provided with a number of holes, but it does not necessarily have to have holes. The lift-up restricting member 18 may also be configured in a shape other than a plate.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 4 , the lifting device 12 is configured to raise and lower the support unit 11 to a first height H1, which is a height at which the support unit 11 and the supported article Wt do not interfere with the liquid tank 13 reciprocated by the moving device 7; a second height H2, which is lower than the first height H1 and at which the supported article Wt is immersed in the liquid 9 in the liquid tank 13; and a third height H3, which is lower than the first height H1 and at which the support unit 11 receives the article W from the conveying device 2. In this example, the second height H2 and the third height H3 are set to be the same height. Here, the first height H1, the second height H2, and the third height H3 are set as the vertical positions of the lower end of the support unit 11 (here, the lower end of the support plate portion 112) that moves vertically. In this embodiment, the first height H1 is a height at which the lower end of the support unit 11 is positioned above the upper end of the liquid tank 13 at the use position T1. The first height H1 is set to a position above the movement path of the liquid vat 13 (the upper end of the movement path). Here, the movement path of the liquid vat 13 is a movement path along which the liquid vat 13 moves back and forth between the use position T1 and the retracted position T2 by the moving device 7. The second height H2 and the third height H3 are set to positions lower than the first height H1 and to positions that interfere with the movement path of the liquid vat 13. In this embodiment, the support member 11 and the support article Wt are raised and lowered in the vertical direction between the first height H1, the second height H2, and the third height H3 by the guide mechanism 15. The first height H1 can also be set to a height lower than the upper end of the movement path of the liquid vat 13. In this case, for example, a notch can be provided in the side wall of the liquid vat 13 so that the support member 11 at the first height H1 does not interfere with the components that make up the liquid vat 13.

[0033] 4, the support member 11 and the liquid tank 13 are configured such that when the liquid tank 13 is in the use position T1, the support member 11 and the support article Wt do not interfere with the liquid tank 13 even when the support member 11 and the support article Wt move up and down between a first height H1 and a second height H2, and when the liquid tank 13 is in the retracted position T2, the support member 11 and the support article Wt do not interfere with the liquid tank 13 even when the support member 11 and the support article Wt move up and down between the first height H1 and a third height H3. In this embodiment, the second height H2 is set at a position higher than the bottom 131 (specifically, the inclined surface 132) of the liquid tank 13 at the use position T1. In this example, the third height H3 is also set at a position higher than the bottom 131 of the liquid tank 13 at the use position T1. When the liquid tank 13 is in the use position T1 and the support member 11 and the support article Wt are lowered from the first height H1 to the second height H2, the support member 11 and the support article Wt are inserted into the liquid tank 13 through the opening of the liquid tank 13 and are positioned at the second height H2, which is above the bottom 131. In this example, at the second height H2, the support member 11 is positioned inside the liquid tank 13 and is entirely immersed in the liquid 9 (i.e., submerged). At the second height H2, at least a portion of the support article Wt is positioned inside the liquid tank 13 and is also at least a portion of the support article Wt is also submerged in the liquid 9. In the example of FIG. 4, at the second height H2, the entire support article Wt is positioned inside the liquid tank 13 and is completely submerged in the liquid 9. Furthermore, although the floatation restricting member 18 is positioned above the liquid level of the liquid 9 in the liquid tank 13, this is not limiting.

[0034] Furthermore, when the liquid vat 13 is in the retracted position T2, the liquid vat 13 and the liquid vat support part 71 are positioned so as not to interfere with the movement trajectory of the support part 11 and the supported article Wt, i.e., are positioned on the first side X1 in the advancing / retreating direction relative to the movement trajectory of the support part 11 and the supported article Wt. Therefore, even when the support part 11 and the supported article Wt move up and down between the first height H1 and the third height H3 (second height H2), they do not interfere with the liquid vat 13.

[0035] In this example, as shown in FIG. 3 , a control unit 81 included in a control device 80 controls the conveying device 2 and the article processing device 1 (lifting device 12, moving device 7). Here, as described above, the control system 8 is provided in the control unit 81. In this embodiment, the upper controller C transmits, for example, detection information detecting heat generation from an article W stored in a storage section 31 to the control device 80 as abnormality information D. The abnormality information D includes information such as the state of the article W for which abnormal heat generation has been detected and position information indicating the position of the article W (such as the position of the storage section 31 in which the article W is stored). The control unit 81 controls the conveying device 2 to receive the article W for which abnormal heat generation has been detected from the storage section 31 indicated in the abnormality information D and transport it to the article processing device 1.

[0036] In addition, it is preferable that the means by which the upper controller C obtains the abnormality information D be an abnormality detection device (temperature sensor, smoke detector, fire monitoring device, etc.) that detects abnormalities in the items W stored in each storage section 31, or a surveillance camera that monitors the condition of each storage section 31.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 , when an article W is received by the support unit 11 from the conveying device 2, the control system 8 (here, the control unit 81) controls the moving device 7 to position the liquid vat 13 at the retracted position T2 and controls the lifting device 12 to position the support unit 11 at the third height H3. In this example, when the article processing device 1 is not in use, the support unit 11 is positioned at the third height H3 and the liquid vat 13 is positioned at the retracted position T2. Therefore, when the article processing device 1 is used (when an article W is received by the support unit 11 from the conveying device 2), the control unit 81 controls the moving device 7 and the lifting device 12 to maintain the positions of the liquid vat 13 and the support unit 11 as they are. The control unit 81 moves the conveying device 2 (stacker crane) to the front of the lifting device 12, and then moves the fork unit 22 to a position corresponding to the third height H3. The control unit 81 then controls the conveying device 2 to transfer the article W placed on the fork unit 22 to the support unit 11. When performing immersion processing, it is conceivable that the transport device 2 transports and deposits the object W directly into the liquid tank 13 at the use position T1. However, in the example of Fig. 2, a structure 56 is provided directly above the lifting device 12, which may cause interference between the transport device 2 and the structure 56. Therefore, by using the object processing device 1 to transfer the object W from the transport device 2 to the support part 11 at the third height H3, interference between the transport device 2 and the structure 56 can be avoided.

[0038] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, after the support unit 11 receives the article W from the conveying device 2, the control system 8 (here, the control unit 81) causes the lifting device 12 to raise the support unit 11 from the third height H3 to the first height H1. In this example, when the article W (supported article Wt) is supported by the pair of support members 111, the control unit 81 controls the lifting device 12 to raise the support unit 11 from the third height H3 to the first height H1. In addition, while the support unit 11 is at the first height H1, the control system 8 (here, the control unit 81) causes the moving device 7 to move the liquid tank 13 from the retracted position T2 to the use position T1. In this example, the liquid tank 13 at the use position T1 is located directly below the support unit 11 at the first height H1. Then, with the liquid tank 13 in use position T1, the control system 8 (here, the control unit 81) causes the lifting device 12 to lower the support unit 11 to the second height H2, thereby immersing the supported article Wt in the liquid 9 in the liquid tank 13. In this example, the control unit 81 controls the lifting device 12 to lower the support unit 11 to the second height H2, which is set to the same height as the third height H3. As a result, the entire support unit 11 is immersed in the liquid 9 in the liquid tank 13, and at least a portion of the supported article Wt is immersed in the liquid 9 in the liquid tank 13. In the example shown, at the second height H2, the entire support unit 11 and the supported article Wt are immersed in the liquid 9 in the liquid tank 13. Here, a portion of the guide mechanism 15 is also immersed in the liquid 9. Note that, although the floatation restricting member 18 is disposed above the surface of the liquid 9 at the second height H2, it may be immersed in the liquid 9.

[0039] Second Embodiment A second embodiment of the item storage facility 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. The following describes the item storage facility 100 of this embodiment, focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. Points that are not specifically mentioned are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals will be used to omit detailed description.

[0040] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 , the conveying device 2 is an automated guided vehicle that travels along a conveying path 5. The conveying device 2 conveys an article W between a carry-in / out conveyor 53 and an inlet / outlet conveyor 63 provided in the storage section 31. The conveying device 2 also receives the article W from the storage section 31 and delivers the article W to the article processing device 1. Here, the transfer device 21 of the conveying device 2 may be a fork type equipped with a fork unit 22 as in the first embodiment, or may be a conveyor type constituted by a roller conveyor, a belt conveyor, or the like. Note that if the transfer device 21 is a conveyor type, it is preferable that the support section 11 of the article processing device 1 also be provided with a conveyor. It is preferable that the third height H3 of the support section 11 to which the article W is transferred is set according to the placement surface of the article W on the transfer device 21 of the automated guided vehicle (here, the placement surface of the conveyor).

[0041] The storage section 31 may also be equipped with an inspection device that performs various inspections. In this example, a single storage section 31 can store a plurality of articles W. A different inspection device is provided for each of the plurality of storage sections 31, and the conveying device 2 is configured to sequentially convey the articles W to different storage sections 31. The conveying device 2 may be an automated guided vehicle that travels on the conveying path 5 without a track, or a rail-guided vehicle that travels guided by rails.

[0042] Third Embodiment A third embodiment of the item storage facility 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. The following description of the item storage facility 100 of this embodiment will focus on the differences from the first and second embodiments. Points that are not specifically mentioned are the same as those of the first and second embodiments, and the same reference numerals will be used to omit detailed description.

[0043] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 6, the transport device 2 is a conveyor 59 provided along the transport path 5. Here, the conveyor 59 is a roller conveyor, but is not limited to this. The article W moves along the transport path 5 by moving on the transport surface of the conveyor 59. In this configuration, the conveyor is provided on the support part 11 of the article processing device 1. The third height H3 of the support part 11, to which the article W is transferred, is set according to the transport surface of the conveyor 59.

[0044] Other Embodiments Next, other embodiments of the article processing apparatus and article storage facility will be described.

[0045] (1) In each of the above embodiments, the second height H2, which is the height at which the support article Wt is immersed in the liquid 9 in the liquid tank 13, and the third height H3, which is the height at which the support section 11 receives the article W from the conveying device 2, are the same height, but this is not limited to this. The third height H3 may be set lower than the second height H2 or higher than the second height H2.

[0046] (2) In the above embodiments, when the article processing apparatus 1 is not in use, the support unit 11 is located at the third height H3 and the liquid tank 13 is located at the retracted position T2. When the article processing apparatus 1 is in use, the control unit 81 controls the moving device 7 and the lifting device 12 to maintain the positions of the liquid tank 13 and the support unit 11. However, this is not limiting. For example, when the article processing apparatus 1 is not in use, the support unit 11 may be located at the first height H1 and the liquid tank 13 may be located at the use position T1. In this case, the control unit 81 may control the moving device 7 and the lifting device 12 to move the liquid tank 13 from the use position T1 to the retracted position T2 and move the support unit 11 from the first height H1 to the third height H3.

[0047] (3) In the above embodiments, the heat shield 17 is disposed so as to face the side of the supported article Wt and to be positioned between the lifting drive mechanism 16 and the supported article Wt. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the heat shield 17 may not be disposed at all. In this case, it is preferable that each component constituting the lifting device 12 (such as the support member 120 and the guide mechanism 15) functions as the heat shield 17.

[0048] (4) In the above embodiments, the lift-up restricting member 18 is disposed above the support surface 111a at a distance equal to or greater than the vertical dimension of the supported article Wt, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the lift-up restricting member 18 may be provided on the support surface 111a, and may be a member that fixes the supported article Wt supported by the support part 11 to the support part 11 and restricts the vertical movement of the supported article Wt.

[0049] (5) In the above embodiments, the liquid tank support 71 is configured so that the liquid tank 13 can be attached and detached, but this is not limiting. For example, the liquid tank 13 may not be detachable from the liquid tank support 71, and the liquid tank support 71 and the liquid tank 13 may be formed as a single unit.

[0050] (6) In the above embodiments, the transfer device 21 is described as removing N (here, N = 3) articles W stored in the storage section 31 while they are still arranged in the storage section 31, i.e., while they are still arranged along the entrance / exit direction X. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the transfer device 21 may remove N articles W arranged in a direction other than the entrance / exit direction X (for example, the width direction Y). For this purpose, the transfer device 21 may be provided with a turning mechanism that turns the fork unit 22. In this case, the support unit 11 may be configured to support the N articles W while they are arranged in a direction other than the entrance / exit direction X. The N articles W may be arranged in multiple rows and multiple tiers in the storage section 31.

[0051] (7) In the first embodiment, the support unit 11 includes the support member 111 that supports the support article Wt from below. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the support member 111 may be configured to support the support article Wt from above.

[0052] (8) The configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiments can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, as long as no contradictions arise. Regarding other configurations, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are merely examples in all respects. Therefore, various modifications can be made as appropriate within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0053] Summary of the above embodiment Below, a summary of the article processing device and article storage facility described above will be given.

[0054] The article processing apparatus according to the present disclosure is provided adjacent to a conveying apparatus that conveys an article, and is an article processing apparatus that performs a liquid immersion process by immersing the article in a liquid, a support section that receives the article from the conveying device and supports the article; a lifting device that raises and lowers the support section; a liquid tank that contains the liquid and has an opening facing upward; and a moving device that moves the liquid tank back and forth between a use position and a retracted position along a horizontal direction, The article supported by the support portion is used as a supported article, the lifting device is configured to raise and lower the support part to a first height at which the support part and the supported article do not interfere with the liquid tank in which the moving device reciprocates, a second height lower than the first height at which the supported article is immersed in the liquid in the liquid tank, and a third height lower than the first height at which the support part receives the article from the conveying device, The support part and the liquid tank are configured so that when the liquid tank is in the use position, the support part and the support item do not interfere with the liquid tank even when they are raised and lowered between the first height and the second height, and so that when the liquid tank is in the retracted position, the support part and the support item do not interfere with the liquid tank even when they are raised and lowered between the first height and the third height.

[0055] With this configuration, even if it is not possible to receive items from the conveying device to the support unit at a position above the liquid tank due to vertical space limitations at the location where the item processing device is installed or configuration limitations of the conveying device, the items can be properly received from the conveying device to the support unit and the received items can be properly immersed in the liquid in the liquid tank. Therefore, with this configuration, the article processing device can be installed in places where there is a space limitation in the height direction. Also, since the device can receive articles from various types of conveying devices, restrictions on the conveying devices can be reduced. In this manner, with this configuration, it is possible to easily perform a liquid immersion process in which an article is immersed in a liquid.

[0056] The apparatus further includes a control system for controlling the lifting device and the moving device, The control system includes: when the object is received by the support unit from the conveying device, the moving device is controlled to place the liquid vat at the retracted position, and the lifting device is controlled to place the support unit at the third height; After the support unit receives the object from the conveying device, the lifting device raises the support unit from the third height to the first height; With the support portion at the first height, the moving device moves the liquid vat from the retracted position to the use position; It is preferable that, with the liquid tank in the use position, the lifting device lowers the support part to the second height, thereby immersing the support article in the liquid in the liquid tank.

[0057] With this configuration, the support unit receives the object from the conveying device while the support unit is at a third height lower than the first height, and the liquid vat and the support unit are operated so that the support unit, the supported object, and the liquid vat do not interfere with each other, thereby allowing the supported object to be appropriately immersed in the liquid in the liquid vat. Therefore, the immersion process of the object can be appropriately performed.

[0058] The liquid immersion treatment is a treatment for immersing the article in the liquid to cool it down when the article generates heat, the lifting device includes a lifting drive mechanism that generates and transmits a drive force for lifting and lowering the support portion, and a heat insulating member; It is preferable that the heat-shielding member is arranged to face the side of the support article and be located between the lifting drive mechanism and the support article, and is configured to limit heat transfer from the support article side to the lifting drive mechanism side.

[0059] According to this configuration, when the support article is generating heat, smoking, or catching fire, the support article can be appropriately cooled by performing the liquid immersion treatment. Furthermore, even if such an article is transferred to the support part, the heat shield member can appropriately protect the lifting drive mechanism of the lifting device from heat.

[0060] The liquid tank further includes a floating-up restricting member for restricting floating up of the support article immersed in the liquid in the liquid tank, the support portion has a support surface that supports the support article from below, It is preferable that the floating-up restricting member is arranged above the support surface at a distance equal to or greater than the vertical dimension of the support article, and is configured to be raised and lowered together with the support part by the lifting device.

[0061] According to this configuration, when the support article is immersed in the liquid in the liquid tank, the support article can be appropriately prevented from floating up due to buoyancy. Furthermore, with this configuration, the lift-up restricting member moves up and down together with the support portion, so the lift-up restricting member is less likely to get in the way when, for example, an article is received by the support portion from the transport device.

[0062] The moving device further includes a liquid vat support part that supports the liquid vat, and a drive device that reciprocates the liquid vat support part, It is preferable that the liquid tank support portion is configured so that the liquid tank can be attached and detached.

[0063] According to this configuration, the liquid tank can be removed from the moving device, which makes it easy to perform tasks such as discarding or replacing the liquid in the liquid tank, or replacing or cleaning the liquid tank itself.

[0064] Further, there is provided an article storage facility including the article processing device and an automated warehouse, The automated warehouse comprises a storage shelf having a plurality of storage sections and the conveying device having a transfer device, the transfer device is configured to move along the front surface of the storage shelf to transfer the item between the storage section and the storage unit, Each of the plurality of storage sections is configured to be able to store N (N is an integer of 2 or more) of the articles in an arranged state, the transfer device is provided with a fork unit that moves forward and backward relative to the storage unit, and is configured to be able to remove the N articles stored in each of the storage units while maintaining the arrangement; It is preferable that the support section of the article processing device is configured to be able to support the N articles in the arranged state.

[0065] According to this configuration, N articles can be transported together and immersed in liquid together. In this way, multiple articles stored in one storage unit can be subjected to immersion treatment all at once, thereby improving the efficiency of article treatment in the article treatment device.

[0066] Further, there is provided an article storage facility including the article processing device and an automated warehouse, The automated warehouse comprises a storage shelf having a plurality of storage sections and the conveying device having a transfer device, the transfer device is configured to move along the front surface of the storage shelf to transfer the item between the storage section and the transfer device, and includes a fork section that moves forward and backward in a forward and backward direction during the transfer, The direction perpendicular to the outgoing / retracting direction when the support portion receives the article from the conveying device in a vertical view is defined as a width direction, The support section preferably comprises a fork insertion space, which is a space through which the fork section moves in the forward / backward direction when receiving the article from the conveying device, and support members arranged on both sides of the fork insertion space in the width direction to support the supported article from below.

[0067] According to this configuration, the support section can properly receive and support an article from a transfer device equipped with a fork section.

[0068] It is sufficient for the article processing device and article storage facility according to the present disclosure to achieve at least one of the above-described effects. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1: Goods handling equipment 2:Transportation device 3: Storage shelf 7: Mobile device 8: Control system 9:Liquid 10: Automated warehouse 11: Support part 12: Lifting device 13:Liquid tank 16: Lifting drive mechanism 17: Heat shielding material 18: Floating control member 21:Transfer device 22: Fork part 31: Storage unit 71:Liquid tank support part 72: Drive unit 100: Goods storage equipment 111: Support member 111a: Support surface H1: First height H2: Second height H3: Third height S: Fork insertion space T1: Usage position T2: Retreat position W:Goods Wt: Supporting article X: Exit / exit direction Y: Width direction

Claims

1. An article processing apparatus that is provided adjacent to a conveying apparatus that conveys an article and performs a liquid immersion process by immersing the article in a liquid, a support section that receives the article from the conveying device and supports the article; a lifting device that raises and lowers the support section; a liquid tank that contains the liquid and has an opening facing upward; and a moving device that moves the liquid tank back and forth between a use position and a retracted position along a horizontal direction, The article supported by the support portion is used as a supported article, the lifting device is configured to lift and lower the support part to a first height at which the support part and the supported article do not interfere with the liquid tank in which the moving device moves back and forth, a second height lower than the first height at which the supported article is immersed in the liquid in the liquid tank, and a third height lower than the first height at which the support part receives the article from the conveying device, The support part and the liquid tank are configured so that when the liquid tank is in the use position, the support part and the support item do not interfere with the liquid tank even when they are raised and lowered between the first height and the second height, and so that when the liquid tank is in the retracted position, the support part and the support item do not interfere with the liquid tank even when they are raised and lowered between the first height and the third height.

2. a control system for controlling the lifting device and the moving device; The control system includes: When the object is received by the support unit from the conveying device, the moving device is controlled to place the liquid vat at the retracted position, and the lifting device is controlled to place the support unit at the third height; After the support unit receives the article from the conveying device, the lifting device raises the support unit from the third height to the first height; With the support portion at the first height, the moving device moves the liquid vat from the retracted position to the use position; The article processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lifting device lowers the support part to the second height while the liquid tank is in the use position, thereby immersing the supported article in the liquid in the liquid tank.

3. The liquid immersion treatment is a treatment in which, when the article generates heat, the article is immersed in the liquid to cool it down; the lifting device includes a lifting drive mechanism that generates and transmits a drive force for lifting and lowering the support portion, and a heat insulating member; The article processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heat shielding member is positioned to face a side of the support article and between the lifting drive mechanism and the support article, and is configured to limit heat transfer from the support article side to the lifting drive mechanism side.

4. a floating-up restricting member for restricting floating up of the support article immersed in the liquid in the liquid tank; the support portion has a support surface that supports the support article from below, The article processing device according to claim 1, wherein the floating restricting member is positioned above the support surface at a distance greater than or equal to the vertical dimension of the supported article, and is configured to be raised and lowered together with the support part by the lifting device.

5. the moving device includes a liquid vat support part that supports the liquid vat, and a drive device that reciprocates the liquid vat support part; The article processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid tank support section is configured so that the liquid tank can be attached and detached.

6. An article storage facility comprising the article processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and an automated warehouse, The automated warehouse comprises a storage shelf having a plurality of storage sections and the conveying device having a transfer device, the transfer device is configured to move along the front surface of the storage shelf to transfer the item between the storage section and the storage unit, Each of the plurality of storage sections is configured to be able to store N (N is an integer of 2 or more) of the articles in an arranged state, the transfer device is provided with a fork unit that moves forward and backward relative to the storage unit, and is configured to be able to remove the N articles stored in each of the storage units while maintaining the arrangement; The article storage facility, wherein the support section of the article processing device is configured to be able to support N articles while maintaining the arrangement.

7. An article storage facility comprising the article processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and an automated warehouse, The automated warehouse comprises a storage shelf having a plurality of storage sections and the conveying device having a transfer device, the transfer device is configured to move along the front surface of the storage shelf to transfer the item between the storage section and the transfer device, and includes a fork section that moves forward and backward in a forward and backward direction during the transfer, The direction perpendicular to the outgoing / retracting direction when the support portion receives the article from the conveying device in a vertical view is defined as a width direction, The support section is an item storage facility that includes a fork insertion space in which the fork section moves in the forward / backward direction when receiving the item from the conveying device, and support members that are arranged on both sides of the fork insertion space in the width direction and support the supported item from below.

Images