Transfer device for tray storage facility

Abstract

To provide a transfer device capable of stably supporting and transferring stacked trays when storing the stacked trays using relatively weak strength trays such as American trays in a tray storage facility.SOLUTION: A tray storage facility in which a stacked tray ST formed by vertically stacking trays T containing eggs E is carried into a storage rack 4 by a transfer device 5, and is carried out from the storage rack 4 by the transfer device 5, the tray storage facility including a conveyance support portion 51 configured to support a lower surface of the lowermost tray T of the stacked tray ST, wherein the conveyance support portion 51 has protrusions 52 to be fitted into a plurality of recesses formed in the lower surface of the lowermost tray T.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a transfer device for a tray storage facility. [Background technology]

[0002] One example of conventional tray storage equipment is an automated warehouse that stores tray groups (also called stacked trays) stacked by a stacking device, as shown in Patent Document 1. This automated warehouse has an inlet port through which the tray groups are carried in, a plurality of storage shelves that store the tray groups carried in at the inlet port, an outlet port through which the tray groups stored in the storage shelves are carried out, and a transport means such as a stacker crane that carries the tray groups from the inlet port into the storage shelves and carries the tray groups stored in the storage shelves out to the outlet port.

[0003] Furthermore, as shown in Patent Document 2, a special tray suitable for storage in an automated warehouse has been devised. This tray has five rows and six columns of egg-receiving recesses for accommodating eggs, and reinforcing ribs are formed in a grid pattern on the bottom of the tray, connecting the tips of each egg-receiving recess. These reinforcing ribs prevent the tray from bending when eggs are stored inside or when the trays are stacked. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-179893 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-127082 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Some storage shelves in automated warehouses that use the above-mentioned special trays are configured to support only both widthwise ends of the stacked trays, as shown in Figure 7. Specifically, the storage shelf has two support beams corresponding to both widthwise ends of the stacked trays, and supports both widthwise ends of the bottom tray of the stacked trays.

[0006] However, when stacked trays made of general-purpose trays such as American trays are stored on a storage shelf with the above-described configuration, the widthwise center of the stacked trays will bend, making it difficult to store the stacked trays safely.In the worst case scenario, the bending of the stacked trays can cause them to come off the support beams and fall off the storage shelf.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a transfer device that can stably support and transfer stacked trays using trays with relatively low strength, such as American trays, when storing them in tray storage equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The transfer device for tray storage equipment of the present invention is a tray storage equipment in which stacked trays containing eggs are loaded onto a storage shelf using a transfer device and then loaded out of the storage shelf using the transfer device.The transfer device is provided with a transport support section that supports the underside of the bottommost tray of the stacked trays, and the transport support section has protrusions that fit into a plurality of recesses formed on the underside of the bottommost tray. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, when stacked trays using trays with relatively low strength, such as American trays, are stored in a tray storage facility, the stacked trays can be stably supported and transferred.

[0010] The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of a tray storage facility (automated warehouse) according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1A is a plan view showing the tray of the embodiment, FIG. 1B is a side view seen from the row direction, and FIG. 1C is a side view seen from the column direction. [Figure 3] 10 is a front view showing the positional relationship between a storage support portion of the storage shelf and a transport support portion of the transfer device in the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view of the transport support unit moved from FIG. 3. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams illustrating the configuration of a transport support section according to a modified embodiment. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams illustrating the configuration of a transport support section according to a modified embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a conventional storage shelf. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] An embodiment of a tray storage facility 100 according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that, for ease of understanding, all of the drawings shown below are drawn in a schematic manner with appropriate omissions or exaggerations. Identical components are designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted where appropriate.

[0013] <Configuration of tray storage facility 100> As shown in FIG. 1, the tray storage facility 100 of this embodiment is an automated warehouse in which stacked trays ST received through an inlet gate 2 are stored in storage shelves 4 by a transfer device 5.

[0014] A sorting system 11 is arranged upstream of the automated warehouse 100, and a packaging system 12 is arranged downstream of the automated warehouse 100. The sorting system 11, the automated warehouse 100, and the packaging system 12 form a sorting and packaging system.

[0015] This sorting and packaging system is installed at the GP center. Raw eggs E are brought into the GP center from the center's own farm or farms around the country, and raw eggs E are transported to the grading system 11 from neighboring farms via a raw egg conveyor. These raw eggs E are then sorted by grade for each lot by the grading system 11 and stored in the automated warehouse 100 by "variety (e.g., white, size M from XX farm)" for inventory management. In response to orders from supermarkets and other stores around the country, eggs E are shipped from the automated warehouse 100, packaged in containers by the packaging system 12, and shipped and managed as "egg products (XX eggs)."

[0016] Specifically, the automated warehouse 100 is equipped with a plurality of incoming gates 2, a plurality of outgoing gates 3, a plurality of storage shelves 4 for storing stacked trays ST, and a transfer device 5 for moving the stacked trays ST between the incoming gates 2, outgoing gates 3, and storage shelves 4.

[0017] An incoming-side conveying section 6, such as a conveyor, is connected to each of the multiple incoming gates 2, and conveys stacked trays ST to the incoming gate 2. Each incoming-side conveying section 6 is provided with a stacking device 10 that stacks trays T containing eggs E in a vertical direction. Furthermore, upstream of the stacking device 10 in the incoming-side conveying section 6, a sorting system 11 is provided that sorts the eggs E, for example, by weight, and stores them in trays T.

[0018] Each of the multiple outgoing gates 3 is connected to an outgoing-side conveying section 7, such as a conveyor, that conveys the stacked trays ST to a packaging system 12. The packaging system 12 has a de-stack device 12a that separates the stacked trays ST conveyed by the outgoing-side conveying section 7 into individual trays T, and a packaging device 12b that is arranged downstream of the de-stack device 12a. The packaging device 12b transfers the eggs E contained in the trays T into a container P, such as an egg pack, and packs the eggs E into the container P.

[0019] The multiple storage shelves 4 store the received stacked trays ST by type. Each storage shelf 4 may be configured to store one stacked tray ST, or may be configured to store multiple (e.g., three) stacked trays ST. The specific configuration of the storage shelf 4 will be described later.

[0020] The transfer device 5 transfers stacked trays ST from the incoming gate 2 to the storage shelf 4, and transfers stacked trays ST from the storage shelf 4 to the outgoing gate 3. In this embodiment, the transfer device 5 is configured with a stacker crane that can move up and down and left and right. This stacker crane is controlled by the management device CTL. The transfer device 5 then moves the stacked trays ST received at each incoming gate 2 to the storage shelf 4 for storage by type. The transfer device 5 also moves the stacked trays ST stored in each storage shelf 4 to each outgoing gate 3 for outgoing.

[0021] <Characteristics of tray storage equipment (automated warehouse)> The tray T of this embodiment is a general-purpose tray known as an American tray, and as shown in Fig. 2, has a rectangular shape in plan view, a plurality of egg accommodating sections T1 formed in a matrix on the top surface, and a plurality of protruding sections T2 protruding downward on the bottom surface corresponding to each of the egg accommodating sections T1. These protruding sections T2 form the bottoms of the egg accommodating sections T1.

[0022] Specifically, the tray T has a plurality of egg containing sections T1 arranged in 5 rows and 6 columns, and can contain a total of 30 eggs E. In addition to a plurality of protrusions T2 corresponding to the plurality of egg containing sections T1, the bottom surface of the tray T is also provided with protrusions T2 on the outside of the protrusions T2 in the first row and the outside of the protrusions T2 in the fifth row. In other words, the bottom surface of the tray T has a plurality of protrusions T2 arranged in 7 rows and 6 columns.

[0023] That is, as shown in Figure 2(a), when viewed from the side in the row direction of the plurality of egg accommodating units T1, the tray T is configured so that five egg accommodating units T1 and seven protrusions T2 are visible, and the seven protrusions T2 form repeated recesses and protrusions on the underside of the tray T. Also, as shown in Figure 2(b), when viewed from the side in the column direction of the plurality of egg accommodating units T1, the tray T is configured so that six egg accommodating units T1 and six protrusions T2 are visible, and the six protrusions T2 form repeated recesses and protrusions on the underside of the tray T.

[0024] The transfer device 5 takes the stacked trays ST in and out of the storage shelf 4 so that the row direction or column direction of the plurality of egg accommodating sections T1 in the lowest tray T of the stacked trays ST faces the storage shelf 4. The transfer device 5 of this embodiment takes the stacked trays ST in and out of the storage shelf 4 so that the row direction of the plurality of egg accommodating sections T1 in the lowest tray T faces the storage shelf 4. In other words, five egg accommodating sections T1 are lined up on the storage shelf 4 side (leading edge) of the lowest tray T (five leading edges, see FIG. 2(b)).

[0025] Each storage shelf 4 has a plurality of storage support parts 41 that support the underside of the lowest tray T. Each storage support part 41 is linear and extends along the loading / unloading direction of the transfer device 5. Specifically, the storage support part 41 supports a protrusion row T2x (see FIG. 2(b)) consisting of a row of protrusions T2 along the loading / unloading direction on the underside of the lowest tray T.

[0026] The storage support parts 41 support both widthwise ends of the underside of the lowest tray T. In this embodiment, the two storage support parts 41 support the outermost protrusion row T2x and the protrusion row T2x inside it, i.e., the first and second protrusion row T2x from the left, and the sixth and seventh protrusion row T2x. When the stacked trays ST are supported by these storage support parts 41, a space is formed between the storage support parts 41 below the lowest tray T.

[0027] Corresponding to the structure of this storage shelf 4, the transfer device 5 has a transport support part 51 that supports the underside of the lowest tray T. The transport support part 51 has a shape that extends along the loading / unloading direction. The transport support part 51 is fixed to a slide member that moves horizontally by a horizontal drive part (not shown) of the transfer device 5.

[0028] The transport support portion 51 also has protrusions 52 that fit into the irregularities formed on the underside of the lowest tray T. The protrusions 52 may be, for example, ridges formed continuously along the tray pull-out direction, or may be formed intermittently to fit between the protrusions T2. The size and shape of the protrusions 52 are not limited to those shown in the figure. The protrusions 52 may be elastically deformable. In this embodiment, the transport support portion 51 supports the third, fourth, and fifth protrusion rows T2x. The protrusions 52 are disposed in the recesses T2y between the second and third protrusion rows T2x and the recesses T2y between the fifth and sixth protrusion rows T2x. The protrusion rows T2x may have any shape as long as they are aligned with the dimensions between the protrusion rows T2x of the tray T.

[0029] Next, the operation of the transfer device 5 for inserting and removing the stacked trays ST into and from the storage shelf 4 will be briefly described.

[0030] When storing stacked trays ST in the storage shelves 4, the transfer device 5 receives the stacked trays ST from the receiving gate 2 and moves to the front of the desired storage shelf 4. The transfer device 5 then moves the slide member toward the storage shelf 4. At this time, the transport support parts 51 of the transfer device 5 slide to be inserted between the storage support parts 41 of the storage shelf 4. After moving the stacked tray ST into the storage shelf 4, the transfer device 5 moves the transport support parts 51 downward to transfer the stacked tray ST onto the multiple storage support parts 41. The transfer device 5 then moves the slide member to the opposite side of the storage shelf 4 to move the transport support parts 51 out of the storage shelf 4, and moves to a predetermined standby position or to the receiving gate 2 to transfer the next stacked tray ST.

[0031] When removing a stacked tray ST from a storage shelf 4, the transfer device 5 moves to the front of the desired storage shelf 4. Then, the transfer device 5 moves the slide member toward the storage shelf 4. At this time, the transport support part 51 of the transfer device 5 slides to be inserted between the multiple storage support parts 41 of the storage shelf 4 so as not to come into contact with the stacked tray ST. Then, the transfer device 5 moves the transport support part 51 upward to transfer and lift the stacked tray ST onto the transport support part 51. Thereafter, the transfer device 5 moves the slide member to the opposite side from the storage shelf 4 to move the transport support part 51 out of the storage shelf 4. After moving the stacked tray ST out of the storage shelf 4, the transfer device 5 moves to the delivery gate 3 and transfers the stacked tray ST to the delivery gate 3.

[0032] In addition, the transport support portion 51 may be inserted between multiple storage support portions 41 so as to contact the underside of the stacked tray ST, and the stacked tray ST may be transferred to the multiple transport support portions 51 at the same time as the transport support portion 51 is inserted into the storage support portion 41.

[0033] As described above, the transfer device 5 for the tray storage facility 100 of this embodiment is configured to transport stacked trays ST, which are formed by stacking trays T containing eggs E one above the other, into the storage shelf 4 using the transfer device 5, and to transport them out of the storage shelf 4 using the transfer device 5. The tray storage facility 100 includes a transport support section 51 that supports the underside of the bottommost tray T of the stacked trays ST, and the transport support section 51 has protrusions 52 that fit into a plurality of recesses T2y formed on the underside of the bottommost tray T.

[0034] With this configuration, the stacked trays ST can be stably supported on the transport support part 51, and the stacked trays ST can be prevented from shifting or tipping over relative to the transport support part 51 when the stacked trays ST are transported by the transfer device 5. In other words, the multiple protrusions 52 serve as guides to prevent the stacked trays ST from shifting and / or tipping over.

[0035] This allows, for example, the transport speed when transporting stacked trays ST to be increased. Also, since the width of the transport support part 51 can be made smaller than conventional ones, the width of the storage support part 41 can be set larger than conventional ones, making it possible to suitably use American trays, which have a relatively large amount of deflection.

[0036] <Modified embodiment of the present invention> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0037] For example, the transfer device 5 may be as shown in Fig. 5. This transfer device 5 has protrusions 52 formed on a transport support section 51 so as to sandwich the protrusion row T2x from both the left and right sides. The protrusions 52 are arranged on both sides of the third protrusion row T2x and on both sides of the fifth protrusion row T2x.

[0038] Alternatively, a combination of a storage support section 41 and a transport support section 51 at the front of the six trays may be used, as shown in Figure 6. In this modification, the two storage support sections 41 support the first and second rows, and the fifth and sixth rows from the left. The transport support section 51 supports the third and fourth protrusion rows T2x. The protrusions 52 are arranged on the left side of the third protrusion row T2x and on the right side of the fourth protrusion row T2x.

[0039] The tray storage facility 100 in the above embodiment is an automated warehouse, but it may also be a facility other than an automated warehouse in which stacked trays ST are carried in and out of the storage shelves 4 by a transfer device 5. Furthermore, although the automated warehouse in the above embodiment stores eggs E after they have been sorted by the sorting system 11, this is not limited to this, and the automated warehouse may be, for example, an automated warehouse used upstream of the sorting system 11, i.e., an automated warehouse that stores raw eggs E.

[0040] The embodiments disclosed herein are examples and are not intended to be limiting. The present invention is defined not by the scope of the above description but by the scope of the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims. [Industrial Applicability]

[0041] The present invention can be used in a transfer device for a tray storage facility. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 100...Tray storage facility (automated warehouse) E…Egg T...tray T1: Egg storage area T2…Protrusion T2x…Protrusion row T2y…concave ST: Stackable tray 4. Storage shelf 41...Storage support part 5…Transfer device 51...Transport support section 52...Protrusion

Claims

[Claim 1] In a tray storage facility in which stacked trays containing eggs are loaded onto a storage shelf by a transfer device and then removed from the storage shelf by the transfer device, a transport support part for supporting a bottom surface of the bottommost tray of the stacked trays; A transfer device for tray storage equipment, wherein the transport support portion has protrusions that fit into multiple recesses formed on the underside of the lowest tray.

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