Distribution warehouse and method for improving air conditioning efficiency in distribution warehouse

Abstract

To improve air conditioning efficiency by a simple method.SOLUTION: A distribution warehouse (1) includes a carrying-in-and-out space (S1) provided along a front wall (11) having an opening (15) for carrying in and out a package, and a rack space (S2) in which a plurality of racks (2) are disposed. A first windbreak member (51) attached to a frame of a rack and configured to close at least one opening other than a front opening of the frame and a second windbreak member (52) configured to openably close a passage (30) located between the racks, wherein the rack space is partitioned into a buffer area (R21) adjacent to the carry-in / out space and an air-conditioned area (R22) adjacent to the buffer area by the first windbreak member and the second windbreak member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a logistics warehouse and a method for improving air conditioning efficiency in a logistics warehouse. [Background technology]

[0002] When air conditioning is performed in a logistics warehouse, there is a problem that energy consumption tends to increase. The reason for this is that the volume of the logistics warehouse is large and conditioned air flows out and outside air flows in through large openings (where shutters are installed) used for loading and unloading cargo.

[0003] One method for preventing air from flowing in and out of the opening is to install a fan above the opening and blow air downward (hereinafter referred to as the "air curtain method") (see, for example, JP 2017-215110 A (Patent Document 1)).

[0004] Another method used for warehouses is to install a "front room" such as a vestibule outside the warehouse to prevent air from flowing in and out (see, for example, JP 2022-106012 A (Patent Document 2)). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-215110 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-106012 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] When the air curtain method is applied to openings used for loading and unloading in a logistics warehouse, the air is blown out from a high place (at a height of about 4 meters) toward the floor while maintaining a constant wind speed, which requires equipment with a large air blowing capacity, which can easily cause problems in terms of installation method and cost.In addition, air curtain measures have the problem that some of the airflow that hits the floor escapes to the outside, which means that they are not effective enough to prevent air leakage.

[0007] Furthermore, although the above-mentioned "front room" is effective from the viewpoint of energy conservation because it does not require a separate fan, it is not practical in logistics warehouses because it requires a large outdoor space to set up the front room, as well as separate walls and large shutters to construct the front room.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a logistics warehouse that can improve air conditioning efficiency in a simple manner, and a method for improving air conditioning efficiency in a logistics warehouse. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A logistics warehouse according to one aspect of the present invention is a logistics warehouse that includes a loading / unloading space arranged along a front wall having an opening for loading and unloading cargo, and a rack space in which a plurality of racks are arranged, and is characterized in that it is equipped with a first windbreak member attached to the frame of the rack and blocking at least one opening on the frame other than the front opening, and a second windbreak member that can be opened and closed and blocks the passages located between the racks, and the rack space is divided by the first windbreak member and the second windbreak member into a buffer area adjacent to the loading / unloading space and an air-conditioned area adjacent to the buffer area.

[0010] Preferably, the first windbreak member and the second windbreak member are arranged on the boundary surface that forms the boundary with the loading / unloading space and on the partition surface away from the boundary surface, and a buffer area is formed by the first windbreak member and the second windbreak member arranged on the boundary surface and the first windbreak member and the second windbreak member arranged on the partition surface.

[0011] It is desirable that the distance from the boundary surface to the partition surface be at least 2 meters.

[0012] Air conditioners may be installed in both the air-conditioned area and the buffer area. In this case, it is desirable that the temperature of the air conditioner in the buffer area be adjusted to a temperature closer to the outside air temperature than the set temperature of the air conditioner in the air-conditioned area.

[0013] Preferably, the first windbreak member is made of a material having heat insulating properties and is fixed to the frame via a hook member.

[0014] 2. The logistics warehouse according to claim 1, wherein the second windbreak member is preferably a light-transmitting curtain hung from a support member fixed to the frame.

[0015] A method for improving air conditioning efficiency in a logistics warehouse according to another aspect of the present invention is a method for improving air conditioning efficiency in a logistics warehouse that includes a loading / unloading space provided along the front wall having an opening for loading and unloading cargo, and a rack space in which a plurality of racks are arranged, and is characterized in that the rack space is divided into a buffer area adjacent to the loading / unloading space and an air-conditioned area adjacent to the buffer area by a first windbreak member attached so as to block at least one opening other than the front opening of the rack frame, and a second windbreak member that can be opened and closed to block the passage located between the racks. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, air conditioning efficiency can be improved in a simple manner. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view schematically showing the general configuration of a logistics warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a method for dividing a rack space in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3]FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing the general configuration of a logistics warehouse according to a modified example of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing another example of a method for dividing the rack space. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically illustrating the internal configuration of a typical logistics warehouse. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing an example in which a front room is provided in the outdoor space of a logistics warehouse. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals and description thereof will not be repeated.

[0019] (Schematic configuration) The general configuration of a logistics warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a plan view that schematically shows the general configuration of a logistics warehouse 1 according to this embodiment. In Fig. 1, the left-right direction (width direction) of the logistics warehouse 1 based on the front wall 11 is indicated by arrow A1, and the depth direction (rearward) as viewed from the front wall 11 is indicated by arrow A2.

[0020] The logistics warehouse 1 is typically roughly rectangular in plan view, and its outer hull is formed by a front wall 11 facing an outdoor truck berth, a rear wall 12, and a pair of side walls 13 and 14 that intersect (are perpendicular to) the front wall 11 and the rear wall 12. In describing the internal space of the logistics warehouse 1, the front wall 11 side will be referred to as the front, and the rear wall 12 side as the rear, as appropriate. Note that the walls other than the front wall 11 (the rear wall 12 and the side walls 13 and 14) may be exterior walls or partition walls.

[0021] The front wall 11 is provided with an opening 15 that can be closed by a large shutter (not shown), and goods are carried in and out through the opening 15. The interior space of the logistics warehouse 1 includes a loading / unloading space S1 provided along the front wall 11, and a rack space S2 in which a plurality (a large number) of racks 2 are arranged. At least a portion of the loading / unloading space S1 is used as a goods handling space for sorting goods.

[0022] A plurality of racks 2 are aligned in the left-right and depth directions within the rack space S2. Specifically, a large number of racks 2, each arranged with its front opening for loading and unloading cargo facing the aisle 30, are lined up in the depth direction to form a "rack row 20." The aisle 30 is an aisle along which forklifts travel. In the rack space S2, rack rows 20 and aisles 30 are alternately arranged along the left-right direction. A plurality of rack rows 20 and a plurality of aisles 30 extend in the depth direction so as to be perpendicular to the loading / unloading space S1. In this embodiment, the rack row 20 is appropriately divided along the depth direction, and an aisle 40 through which workers can pass is formed between adjacent rack rows 20 in the depth direction.

[0023] In a typical logistics warehouse, as shown in Fig. 5, the aisle 30 communicates with the loading / unloading space S1 without any partition. Fig. 5 is a comparison example of this embodiment and shows the internal configuration of a typical logistics warehouse 100. In a typical logistics warehouse 100, even if an air conditioner 5 is installed in the rack space S2, there is no partition between the loading / unloading space S1 and the rack space S2, so conditioned air (cooled air) flows out through the opening 15, or conversely, outside air flows in through the opening 15, which tends to reduce air conditioning efficiency (increase energy consumption).

[0024] To improve air conditioning efficiency, it is possible to provide a front room 110 surrounded by a wall with an opening 115 in front of the front wall 11 (outdoor space), as shown in Figure 6, but this would be a large-scale configuration and is therefore not realistic.

[0025] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the rack space S2 is divided into a buffer area R21 and an air-conditioned area R22 using windbreak members 51, 52, and the buffer area R21 is provided between the air-conditioned area R22 and the loading / unloading space S1.

[0026] (Rack space division method) In this embodiment, a buffer area R21 is formed over the entire area adjacent to the loading / unloading space S1. The buffer area R21 is formed across the entire width of the rack space S2 (between the pair of side walls 13, 14). The air-conditioned area R22 is located adjacent to and on the far side (rear) of the buffer area R21. The air-conditioned area R22 is surrounded on three sides by the rear wall 12 and the pair of side walls 13, 14.

[0027] A buffer area R21 is formed by installing windbreak members 51, 52 on the boundary surface B1 with the loading / unloading space S1 and on a partition surface B2 spaced rearward from the boundary surface B1. As shown in Fig. 1, the windbreak members 51, 52 are alternately arranged across substantially the entire width of the boundary surface B1 and the partition surface B2.

[0028] An example of how windbreak members 51 and 52 are attached will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2(A) corresponds to a view of rack space S2 seen from loading / unloading space S1 (from direction IIA in Fig. 5) in a comparative logistics warehouse 100, and Fig. 2(B) corresponds to a view of rack space S2 seen from loading / unloading space S1 (from direction IIB in Fig. 1) in a logistics warehouse 1 according to this embodiment.

[0029] As shown in Figure 2(A), each rack 2 is composed of a rack frame 2f formed by combining vertical and horizontal members. Therefore, a gap or opening (hereinafter referred to as a "side opening") 2a that communicates with the luggage storage space is exposed on the side of the rack 2. A gap or opening (hereinafter referred to as a "rear opening") that communicates with the luggage storage space is also exposed on the back of the rack 2 (not shown).

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2(B), the windshield member 51 is attached to the rack 2 so as to cover the side opening 2a. Typically, the vertically long windshield member 51 is attached so as to cover substantially the entire side surface of the rack 2 (the front end surface of the row of racks 20). The windshield member 51 is made of a sheet-like or plate-like member (panel member). The windshield member 51 is fixed to, for example, the upper end of the rack frame 2f via a hook member 53. The windshield member 51 may be divided into multiple pieces in the vertical direction. It is desirable that the windshield member 51 have thermal insulation properties. This allows the buffer area R21 to function similarly to a walled front room 110 (FIG. 6).

[0031] The windbreak member 52 is attached so as to be able to open and close and block the passage 30. The windbreak member 52 is made of a curtain. The curtain is typically a strip-shaped vinyl curtain with slits at the top and bottom, and is configured so that items can pass through the slits when pushed by a forklift. The windbreak member 52 is preferably translucent. This prevents the windbreak member 52 from blocking the view when entering and exiting the buffer area R21 from the loading / unloading space S1 or the air-conditioned area R22.

[0032] The windshield member 52 is suspended from a support member 54 fixed to the upper end of the rack frame 2f. The support member 54 is bridged between the rack frames 2f on both sides of the aisle 30, and both ends of the support member 54 are connected and fixed to the rack frame 2f via known connecting members (not shown).

[0033] It is desirable that the wind protection members 51, 52 extend vertically from near floor height to near ceiling height, but since the height of the rack 2 is 4 meters or more, there may be some gap between them and the ceiling. Note that the wind protection member 52 is not limited to the example formed by a curtain, and may be formed by, for example, an opening / closing member (such as an automatic door) that automatically opens when a forklift (or a worker) passes through.

[0034] When a forklift truck travels straight from the loading / unloading space S1 through the aisle 30 and into the buffer area R21, the windbreak members 52 on the boundary surface B1 and the partition surface B2 are sequentially opened. The distance (linear distance) D between the boundary surface B1 and the partition surface B2 is preferably determined taking into account the traveling speed of the forklift truck so that the windbreak members 52 on the boundary surface B1 and the partition surface B2 are not simultaneously opened. Specifically, the distance D is preferably set to, for example, 2 meters or more. On the other hand, if the area of ​​the buffer area R21 is too large, the unconditioned area of ​​the rack space S2 will increase, so the distance D is preferably set to, for example, 5 meters or less.

[0035] If the imaginary plane forming the partition surface B2 faces the aisle 40 between the rows of racks 20 aligned in the front-to-rear direction, it is easy to attach the windbreak members 51. Also, the windbreak members 52 arranged in the aisle 30 are unlikely to interfere with the loading and unloading of luggage into the storage space of the rack 2.

[0036] (Air conditioning methods for logistics warehouses) In this embodiment, the air conditioner 5 is installed only in the air-conditioned area R22, and no air conditioner is installed in the buffer area R21. The air conditioner 5 is installed, for example, on the rear wall 12, and blows conditioned air (low-temperature air) forward. The air conditioner 5 adjusts and controls the air volume, etc., so that the temperature in the air-conditioned area R22 approaches a set temperature (for example, 26°C). The installation location of the air conditioner 5 is not particularly limited, and the air conditioner 5 may be installed on the ceiling or floor.

[0037] In this embodiment, most of the partition surface B2 (excluding the ceiling portion) is blocked by the windbreak members 51, 52, which reduces the amount of conditioned air from the air conditioner 5 that flows into the buffer area R21. Also, most of the boundary surface B1 (excluding the ceiling portion) is blocked by the windbreak members 51, 52, which reduces the amount of high-temperature outdoor air that flows in from the opening 15 and flows into the rack space S2 (buffer area R21).

[0038] Therefore, the air-conditioned area R22 can be efficiently air-conditioned by the air conditioner 5. As a result, the amount of energy used by the air conditioner 5 can be reduced compared to a typical logistics warehouse 100. Note that the buffer area R21 is a non-air-conditioned area, and the temperature environment in the buffer area R21 is an intermediate temperature environment between the temperature of the conditioned air in the air-conditioned area R22 and the outside air temperature, so it is desirable to store items in the buffer area R21 that can withstand the effects of outside air.

[0039] Furthermore, as described above, the distance D is set so that the windbreak members 52 installed on boundary surface B1 and the windbreak members 52 installed on partition surface B2 are not open at the same time, so the loading / unloading space S1 and the air-conditioned area R22 can be kept constantly disconnected via the buffer area R21. This reduces the advection between the conditioned air in the air-conditioned area R22 and the outside air, thereby further improving air-conditioning efficiency.

[0040] Furthermore, the windbreak members 51 and 52 that divide the rack space S2 can be made of commercially available materials and can be easily attached by using the rack frame 2f as a base. Therefore, the method for dividing the rack space S2 in this embodiment can be easily applied to existing logistics warehouses. In other words, simply by dividing the rack space S2 using the windbreak members 51 and 52 into a buffer area R21 adjacent to the loading / unloading space S1 and an air-conditioned area R22 adjacent only to the buffer area R21, it is possible to improve the air-conditioning efficiency of the logistics warehouse. This reduces the initial cost and running costs of the equipment required to improve air-conditioning efficiency.

[0041] (Variation) In this embodiment, the buffer area R21 is a non-air-conditioned area, but as shown in Fig. 3, an air conditioner 5 may also be installed in the buffer area R21, making the buffer area R21 an air-conditioned area. Fig. 3 shows an example in which, for example, ceiling-mounted air conditioners 5 are installed in both the air-conditioned area R22 and the buffer area R21.

[0042] In this modification, it is desirable to adjust the installation temperature of the air conditioner 5 in the buffer area R21 to a temperature higher than the set temperature (for example, 26°C) of the air conditioner 5 in the air-conditioned area R22, i.e., to a temperature close to the outside air temperature (for example, 30°C), and to designate the buffer area R21 as a weakly conditioned area. This causes the air in the buffer area R21 that enters the air-conditioned area R22 by opening the windbreak members 52 installed on the partition surface B2 to become conditioned air (air that is cooler than the outside air), further reducing the energy consumption of the air conditioner 5 in the air-conditioned area R22.

[0043] Furthermore, weak cooling of the buffer area R21 can also improve the working environment in the buffer area R21.

[0044] (Other embodiments) In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the buffer area R21 and the air-conditioned area R22 are provided across substantially the entire width of the rack space S2, and the air-conditioned area R22 is located at the rear of the buffer area R21, but this is not limiting. As long as the air-conditioned area R22 is surrounded by the walls or windbreak members 51, 52 of the logistics warehouse 1, the position and number of the air-conditioned areas R22 within the rack space S2 may be arbitrary.

[0045] An example in which two air-conditioned areas R22 are provided in the rack space S2 is shown in Fig. 4. Although the windbreak members 51 and 52 are not shown in Fig. 4, the windbreak member 51 is attached to the rack frame 2f so as to cover at least one opening (a side opening and / or a rear opening) other than the front opening for loading and unloading luggage.

[0046] When any position within the rack space S2 is designated as the air-conditioned area R22, another area within the rack space S2 (an area other than the air-conditioned area R22) can function as the buffer area R21. As shown in Fig. 4, part of the air-conditioned area R22 may be adjacent to both the buffer area R21 and the loading / unloading space S1.

[0047] Even in a configuration in which the air-conditioned area R22 is surrounded and partitioned by walls or windbreak members 51, 52, it is desirable to provide windbreak members 51, 52 (not shown in Figure 4) at the boundary between the buffer area R21 and the loading / unloading space S1 (part or all of the boundary surface B1) to prevent the loading / unloading space S1 and the buffer area R21 from being constantly ventilated.

[0048] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1,100 logistics warehouse, 2 racks, 2a side opening, 2f rack frame, 5 air conditioner, 11 front wall, 12 rear wall, 13, 14 side walls, 15 opening, 20 rack row, 30, 40 aisle, 51, 52 windbreak member, 53 hanging member, 54 support member, 110 front room, B1 boundary surface (virtual surface), B2 partition surface (virtual surface), R21 buffer area, R22 air-conditioned area, S1 loading / unloading space, S2 rack space.

Claims

1. A logistics warehouse including a loading / unloading space provided along a front wall having an opening for loading / unloading luggage, and a rack space in which a plurality of racks are arranged, a first windbreak member attached to a frame of the rack and blocking at least one opening on a side of the frame other than a front opening; a second windbreak member that opens and closes the passage located between the racks, A logistics warehouse characterized in that the rack space is divided by the first windbreak member and the second windbreak member into a buffer area adjacent to the loading / unloading space and an air-conditioned area adjacent to the buffer area.

2. the first windbreak member and the second windbreak member are disposed on a boundary surface that forms a boundary with the loading / unloading space and on a partition surface that is spaced apart from the boundary surface, 2. The logistics warehouse according to claim 1, wherein the buffer area is formed by the first windbreak member and the second windbreak member arranged on the boundary surface and the first windbreak member and the second windbreak member arranged on the partition surface.

3. The logistics warehouse according to claim 2 , wherein the distance from the boundary surface to the partition surface is 2 meters or more.

4. air conditioners are provided in both the air-conditioning target area and the buffer area, The logistics warehouse according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the air conditioner in the buffer area is adjusted to a temperature closer to the outside air temperature than the set temperature of the air conditioner in the air-conditioned area.

5. 2. The logistics warehouse according to claim 1, wherein the first windbreak member is made of a heat-insulating material and is fixed to the frame via a hook member.

6. 2. The logistics warehouse according to claim 1, wherein the second windbreak member is made of a light-transmitting curtain and is hung from a support member fixed to the frame.

7. A method for improving air conditioning efficiency in a logistics warehouse including a loading / unloading space provided along a front wall having an opening for loading and unloading cargo, and a rack space in which a plurality of racks are arranged, comprising: A method for improving air conditioning efficiency in a logistics warehouse, characterized in that the rack space is divided into a buffer area adjacent to the loading / unloading space and an air-conditioned area adjacent to the buffer area by using a first windbreak member attached so as to block at least one opening other than the front opening of the frame of the rack, and a second windbreak member that can be opened and closed to block the passageway located between the racks.

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