Automatic warehouse

Abstract

To provide an automatic warehouse allowing efficient movement of an article.SOLUTION: An automatic warehouse comprises a shelf 13 that includes a column accommodation unit 14 juxtaposed with three or more article-accommodating parts 15 in a column direction X extending along a loading / unloading direction of an article 12, and a transport member 21 that is configured to move in a column direction X and carry an article 12 placed in the article-accommodating part 15 in the column direction X. The number of the transport member 21 provided is two or more and less than the number of the article-accommodating part 15 juxtaposed in the column direction X.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an automated warehouse. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional automated warehouse includes a shelf on which three or more article storage sections are arranged side by side in a row along the direction in which articles are taken in and out, and a transport vehicle that is movable in the row direction and can transport articles placed in the article storage sections in the row direction (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such an automated warehouse, the articles can be freely moved in the row direction by the transport vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-160040 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the automated warehouse described above, one transport vehicle is deployed per row of storage units, and it is not possible to simultaneously move multiple items lined up in the row. In such cases, the transport vehicle has to make multiple round trips, resulting in poor transport efficiency.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide an automated warehouse that enables efficient movement of items. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The automated warehouse disclosed herein is an automated warehouse equipped with shelves including row storage sections in which three or more item storage sections are arranged side by side in a row direction along the direction in which items are taken in and out, and a conveying member configured to be movable in the row direction and capable of transporting the items placed in the item storage sections in the row direction, wherein the number of conveying members is less than the number of the item storage sections arranged side by side in the row direction, and there are two or more of the conveying members.

[0007] According to this configuration, the number of conveying members is two or more, and is less than the number of article storage sections arranged side by side in the row direction, so that, for example, two or more articles stored in the row storage sections can be conveyed in the row direction at the same time, thereby enabling efficient movement of the articles. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The automated warehouse of the present disclosure enables efficient movement of goods. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an automated warehouse according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a partial schematic diagram of an automated warehouse according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of an automated warehouse in one embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of an automated warehouse in one embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of an automated warehouse in one embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of an automated warehouse in one embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of an automated warehouse in one embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of an automated warehouse in one embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of an automated warehouse in one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An embodiment of the automated warehouse will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 9. In the following description, three mutually orthogonal directions (X, Y, and Z in the figures) will be described as the column direction X, row direction Y, and height direction Z of the automated warehouse 11, respectively.

[0011] 1, the automated warehouse 11 of this embodiment is a stocker that is arranged in the middle of a manufacturing facility where products are manufactured from one side to the other in the row direction X, and has the function of stocking items 12 and the function of transporting the items 12 from one side to the other in the row direction X. The items 12 are, for example, storage boxes that store parts that are in the middle of being manufactured.

[0012] The automated warehouse 11 includes shelves 13. The shelves 13 are provided with a plurality of column storage sections 14 extending in a column direction X along the loading and unloading direction of the items 12, the column storage sections 14 being provided in a row direction Y and a height direction Z. Note that FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the shelves 13 made of metal rod-shaped members and the like, and does not illustrate members and the like that can be seen between the rod-shaped members.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the row storage section 14 has three or more article storage sections 15 arranged side by side to store three or more articles 12. Note that FIG. 2 schematically illustrates only one row storage section 14 on the shelf 13, and the article storage sections 15 without any partitions are shown as being separated by two-dot chain lines. In addition, in the row storage section 14 of this embodiment, six article storage sections 15 are arranged side by side in the row direction X so that six articles 12 can be stored. Furthermore, the article storage sections 15 at both ends of the row storage section 14 in the row direction X are each open to the outside, and are configured to allow the insertion and removal of articles 12, more specifically, the carrying-out and carrying-in of articles 12. The article storage section 15 on one side in the row direction X (left side in FIG. 2) is basically the article storage section 15 on the carry-in side where the articles 12 are carried in, and the article storage section 15 on the other side in the row direction X (right side in FIG. 2) is basically the article storage section 15 on the carry-out side where the articles 12 are carried out.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1 , the automated warehouse 11 includes traveling carriages 16. The traveling carriages 16 are arranged on both sides of the shelf 13 in the column direction X and are configured to be able to travel along the row direction Y. The traveling carriages 16 have forks 17 that are movable in the column direction X and the height direction Z, and are configured to be able to lift an item 12 using the forks 17. The traveling carriages 16 operate in accordance with control signals from a control device (not shown). For example, the traveling carriage 16 on one side in the column direction X uses the forks 17 to lift an item 12 placed on an adjacent tray 18 and transports the item 12 to an item storage section 15 on the loading side at a position instructed by the control signal. Furthermore, for example, the traveling carriage 16 on the other side in the column direction X uses the forks 17 to lift an item 12 placed on an item storage section 15 on the unloading side at a position instructed by the control signal and transports the item 12 out of the tray 19. The traveling carriage 16 on one side in the column direction X and the traveling carriage 16 on the other side in the column direction X are each configured to be capable of performing the reverse operation to the above-described operation.

[0015] 2, the automated warehouse 11 is also equipped with conveying members 21 configured to be movable in the row direction X along the row storage sections 14. The number of conveying members 21 is two or more, and is less than the number of article storage sections 15 arranged side by side in the row direction X. In this embodiment, the number of conveying members 21 is five, which is one less than the number of article storage sections 15 arranged side by side in the row direction X. The multiple conveying members 21 are configured to move integrally in the row direction X, and are each configured to be able to lift an article 12 individually.

[0016] More specifically, the five conveying members 21 in this embodiment are held by a movable base member 22 arranged below the row storage sections 14. The movable base member 22 is set to a length corresponding to the five article storage sections 15 arranged side by side in the row direction X, and the conveying members 21 are held at positions corresponding to the five article storage sections 15 arranged side by side in the row direction X. Furthermore, the five conveying members 21 are each movable up and down relative to the movable base member 22 by the driving force of a drive source (not shown), and are each capable of individually lifting an article 12 placed in an article storage section 15 above it.

[0017] The movable base member 22 is drivingly connected to a driving device 23 via a driving force transmission mechanism 24, and can be driven in the column direction X by the driving force of the driving device 23. Next, the operation of the automated warehouse 11 configured as above will be described.

[0018] For example, as shown in Fig. 2, in one row storage section 14, assume that articles 12 are currently placed and stored in each of the first to fifth article storage sections 15 on one side in the row direction X (left side in Fig. 2). Then, for example, when a control signal is output from a control device (not shown) to transport each of the five articles 12 one by one to the other side in the row direction X (right side in Fig. 2), first, as shown in Fig. 3, the five transport members 21 move upward and lift the articles 12.

[0019] Next, from the state shown in FIG. 3 to the state shown in FIG. 4, with the article 12 being lifted by each of the five conveying members 21, the movable base member 22 is driven to the other side in the column direction X.

[0020] Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the five conveying members 21 move downward to place the article 12 in the article storage section 15, and the conveying ends. Then, for example, from the state shown in FIG. 5 to that shown in FIG. 6, a control signal from a control device not shown causes the item 12 on the traveling cart 16 to be carried into the item storage section 15 on the loading side on one side of the column direction X (the left side in FIG. 6), and the item 12 to be carried out from the item storage section 15 on the unloading side on the other side of the column direction X (the right side in FIG. 6) to the traveling cart 16.

[0021] Also, for example, in the state shown in Figure 5, if for some reason a control signal is output from a control device (not shown) to transport only the item 12 at the end on one side of the column direction X (the left side in Figure 6) to the item storage section 15 on the loading side, the transport member 21 and the movable base member 22 are driven sequentially as shown in Figures 7 to 9.

[0022] That is, first, as shown in FIG. 7, only the conveying member 21 corresponding to the article 12 at one end in the column direction X moves upward, and the article 12 is lifted. Next, as shown in FIG. 8, with article 12 being lifted by one of conveying members 21, movable base member 22 is driven to one side in column direction X.

[0023] 9, one of the conveying members 21 moves downward to place the item 12 in the item storage section 15 on the carry-in side, and the conveyance ends. By conveying the item 12 in this manner, for example, it becomes possible to convey the item 12 that has been brought into the shelf 13 out of the item storage section 15 on the carry-in side.

[0024] Next, the effects of the above embodiment will be described below. (1) The number of conveying members 21 is two or more, and is less than the number of article storage sections 15 arranged side by side in the row direction X. Therefore, for example, it is possible to simultaneously convey two or more articles 12 stored in the row storage sections 14 in the row direction X. Therefore, it is possible to move the articles 12 efficiently.

[0025] (2) The plurality of conveying members 21 are configured to move integrally in the column direction X, and therefore, for example, the plurality of conveying members 21 can be simultaneously moved in the column direction X by the driving force of a single driving device 23 or a single driving force transmission mechanism 24. In other words, if the plurality of conveying members 21 were configured to be individually movable in the column direction X, a driving device 23 and a driving force transmission mechanism 24 and their control would be required for each conveying member 21, but this can be avoided, and the drive system can be configured simply.

[0026] (3) Since the multiple conveying members 21 are configured to be able to lift the items 12 individually, it is possible to move only the items 12 that you want to move, for example, while leaving the items 12 that you do not want to move in the column direction X in their original positions.

[0027] (4) The number of conveying members 21 is one less than the number of item storage sections 15 arranged side by side in the column direction X, so that the number of items 12 that is one less than the number of item storage sections 15 can be moved simultaneously.

[0028] (5) The item storage sections 15 at both ends of the row storage section 14 in the row direction X are configured to allow items 12 to be put in and taken out, respectively. Therefore, the automated warehouse 11 can be effectively used, for example, as a stocker that has the function of stocking items 12 and the function of transporting items 12 from one side to the other side in the row direction X.

[0029] This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility. In the above embodiment, five conveying members 21 are provided, which is one less than the number of article storage sections 15 arranged side by side in the column direction X, but this is not limited to this and the number may be changed to any other number as long as it is two or more. Also, in the above embodiment, the column storage section 14 is configured with six article storage sections 15 arranged side by side in the column direction X, but the number of article storage sections 15 arranged side by side in the column direction X may be changed to any number as long as it is three or more.

[0030] In the above embodiment, the plurality of conveying members 21 are configured to move integrally in the column direction X, but this is not limited thereto, and the plurality of conveying members 21 may be configured to be individually movable in the column direction X.

[0031] In the above embodiment, the multiple conveying members 21 are configured to be able to move up and down individually and lift the items 12 individually, but this is not limited to this. For example, all of the conveying members 21 may be configured to always move up and down simultaneously.

[0032] In the above embodiment, the article storage sections 15 at both ends of the row storage section 14 in the row direction X are configured to allow the taking in and out of of the articles 12, but this is not limited thereto, and for example, the article storage section 15 on one side in the row direction X may be configured to prevent the taking in and out of of the articles 12. That is, in the above embodiment, the automated warehouse 11 is a stocker that is arranged in the middle of the manufacturing equipment and has the function of stocking the articles 12 and transporting the articles 12 from one side to the other in the row direction X, but this is not limited thereto, and the automated warehouse 11 may be embodied as a warehouse that stores the articles 12 from one side and removes them from the same side.

[0033] In the above embodiment, the shelf 13 is configured so that a plurality of column storage sections 14 extending in the column direction X along the direction in which the items 12 are taken in and out are provided in the row direction Y and a plurality of column storage sections 14 are provided in the height direction Z. However, this is not limited to this, and for example, only one column storage section 14 may be provided in the row direction Y, or only one column storage section 14 may be provided in the height direction Z.

[0034] In the above embodiment, the automated warehouse 11 is equipped with two traveling carts 16, but this is not limited to this, and it may be equipped with only one traveling cart 16 or no traveling cart 16. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 11...automated warehouse, 12...item, 13...shelf, 14...row storage section, 15...item storage section, 16...traveling cart, 17...fork, 18, 19...placement table, 21...conveying member, 22...movable base member, 23...drive device, 24...drive force transmission mechanism, X...column direction, Y...row direction, Z...height direction.

Claims

1. a shelf including a row storage section in which three or more article storage sections are arranged side by side in a row direction along the direction in which the articles are put in and taken out; a conveying member configured to be movable in the row direction and capable of conveying the articles arranged in the article storage section in the row direction; An automated warehouse equipped with The automated warehouse has two or more conveying members, the number of which is less than the number of the article storage sections arranged side by side in the column direction.

2. The automated warehouse according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conveying members are configured to move integrally in the row direction.

3. The conveying member conveys the article by moving in the column direction while lifting the article, The automated warehouse according to claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of conveying members is configured to be able to lift the article individually.

4. The automated warehouse according to claim 1 , wherein the number of the transport members provided is one less than the number of the article storage sections arranged side by side in the row direction.

5. The automated warehouse according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the article storage sections at both ends in the row direction of the row storage section are configured so that the articles can be put in and taken out.

Images