Conveyed material storage device

Abstract

To provide a transported object storage device that can store multiple transported objects in a space-saving manner. [Solution] The conveyed object storage device 101 comprises a lifting machine 10, a first guide machine 20, and a second guide machine 30. The first guide machine 20 has two upper rails 21 arranged in parallel with a space 21a that allows the front wheels 3 of the conveyed object 1 to be guided in a first direction X and permits the passage of the main body 2 of the conveyed object 1, a clamping device 22 for holding the front wheels 3 of the conveyed object 1 in a state that allows the main body 2 to tilt, and a rack member 24 and a travel motor 25 for moving the clamping device 22 in the first direction X. The second guide machine 30 has two lower rails 31 arranged in parallel directly below the two upper rails 21 and capable of guiding the rear wheels 4 of the conveyed object 1 to be guided in a first direction X.

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , ,

[0005] , , , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveyance storage device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in automobile production equipment and the like, a large number of carts for mounting vehicles are used. This cart is generally stored flat on the floor inside the equipment. However, when a plurality of carts are stored flat on the floor, there arises a problem that the proportion of the storage space occupied on the floor increases. In particular, when storing this type of large and long cart, such a problem is prominent.

[0003] In order to solve such a problem, for example, the structure of the shelf-type warehouse disclosed in Patent Document 1 below can be adopted. This shelf-type warehouse has a plurality of shelf storage spaces capable of storing pallets, which are conveyances, stacked in the vertical direction, and is configured to store a plurality of pallets in the shelf storage spaces using a conveyance cart. According to this configuration, it is effective for reducing the storage space in the horizontal direction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, a structure such as the above shelf-type warehouse is disadvantageous in that, while it can reduce the storage space in the horizontal direction, it requires an installation height in the vertical direction. Therefore, in the design of a storage device for storing various conveyances, there is a need for a technology that can achieve space saving by suppressing not only the storage space in the horizontal direction but also the installation height in the vertical direction.

[0006] This invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to provide a conveyed object storage device that can store multiple conveyed objects in a space-saving manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is, A conveying material storage device for storing conveyed materials, A lifting device capable of raising and lowering the aforementioned transported object, A first guide machine is installed adjacent to the elevator at the same height as the upper position of the elevator, A second guide device is provided adjacent to the elevator at the same height as the lower position of the elevator, Equipped with, The first guide machine includes two upper guide members arranged parallel to each other, separated by a space that allows the passage of the main body of the conveyed object, and capable of guiding a first held portion provided on the front side of the conveyed object in the horizontal direction; a first holding mechanism for holding the first held portion of the conveyed object in a state that allows the main body to tilt; and a first feeding mechanism for moving the first holding mechanism in the horizontal direction. The second guide machine has two lower guide members that are capable of guiding a second held portion provided on the rear side of the conveyed object in the horizontal direction and are arranged parallel to the two upper guide members directly below them. Conveying and storage device, It is located there. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] In the conveyed object storage device described above, by setting the elevator to the upper position, the front first held portion of the conveyed object placed on the elevator can be guided toward the first guide machine by the upper guide member. After the first held portion of the conveyed object is held by the first holding mechanism, the first holding mechanism is moved horizontally by the first feeding mechanism, thereby allowing the conveyed object to be pulled toward the first guide machine while leaving the rear second held portion on the elevator.

[0009] Subsequently, by lowering this elevator from the upper position to the lower position, the transported object can be rotated downwards around the first holding mechanism. As a result, the transported object forms an inclined state in which the main body is interposed in the space between the two upper guide members, and the first held part is positioned higher than the second held part.

[0010] Subsequently, by moving the first holding mechanism horizontally using the first feeding mechanism, the second held portion of the conveyed object can be guided toward the second guide machine by the lower guide member. This allows the conveyed object to be brought in and stored horizontally while remaining in an inclined state. By performing the same series of loading operations for other conveyed objects, it becomes possible to store multiple conveyed objects in a parallel inclined state relative to each other.

[0011] This conveyed material storage device allows for the storage of multiple conveyed materials in an inclined state, thus reducing the proportion of floor space required for storage compared to storing multiple conveyed materials flat on the floor. Furthermore, by using a two-tiered storage structure consisting of the upper guide member of the first guide machine and the lower guide member of the second guide machine to incline the conveyed materials, the vertical installation height can be kept low. As a result, the number of conveyed materials that can be stored per unit space can be increased, and the equipment costs required for storing multiple conveyed materials can be reduced.

[0012] As described above, according to the above embodiment, it is possible to provide a transported object storage device that can store multiple transported objects in a space-saving manner. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] A perspective view of the conveyed material storage device of Embodiment 1, viewed from diagonally above. [Figure 2] An enlarged side view of the first positioning mechanism between the elevator and the upper rail in the conveyed material storage device of Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] A side view of the second positioning mechanism between the elevator and the lower rail in the conveyed material storage device of Embodiment 1, viewed from the side. [Figure 4] Plan view of the structure around the clamp device of the elevator in the conveyed object storage device of Embodiment 1, as viewed from above. [Figure 5] Plan view showing the operation of the clamp device in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] Plan view of the structure around the clamp device of the first guide machine in the conveyed object storage device of Embodiment 1, as viewed from above. [Figure 7] Plan view showing the operation of the clamp device in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] Plan view of the structure around the clamp device of the second guide machine in the conveyed object storage device of Embodiment 1, as viewed from above. [Figure 9] Plan view showing the operation of the clamp device in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] Block diagram related to the control system of the conveyed object storage device of Embodiment 1. [Figure 11] Flowchart of the loading operation of the conveyed object by the conveyed object storage device of Embodiment 1. [Figure 12] Perspective view showing the state of the first step in FIG. 11 for the conveyed object storage device of Embodiment 1. [Figure 13] Perspective view showing the state of the second step in FIG. 11 for the conveyed object storage device of Embodiment 1. [Figure 14] Perspective view showing the state of the third step in FIG. 11 for the conveyed object storage device of Embodiment 1. [Figure 15] Perspective view showing the state of the fourth step in FIG. 11 for the conveyed object storage device of Embodiment 1. [Figure 16] Perspective view showing the state of the fifth step in FIG. 11 for the conveyed object storage device of Embodiment 1. [Figure 17] Perspective view showing the state of the sixth step in FIG. 11 for the conveyed object storage device of Embodiment 1. [Figure 18] Perspective view showing the state of the first stage of the seventh step in FIG. 11 for the conveyed object storage device of Embodiment 1. [Figure 19] Perspective view showing the state of the second stage of the seventh step in FIG. 11 for the conveyed object storage device of Embodiment 1. [Figure 20]A perspective view showing the storage state of multiple transport trolleys for the transported material storage device of Embodiment 1. [Figure 21] A flowchart illustrating the process of unloading transported goods using the transported goods storage device of Embodiment 1. [Figure 22] Figure 21 is a perspective view showing the first step of the conveyed material storage device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 23] Figure 21 is a perspective view showing the first stage of the second step of the conveyed material storage device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 24] This is a perspective view showing the second stage of the second step in Figure 21 for the conveyed material storage device of Embodiment 1. [Figure 25] This is a perspective view showing the third step of the conveyed material storage device of Embodiment 1 shown in Figure 21. [Figure 26] A perspective view showing the fourth step of the conveyed material storage device of Embodiment 1 in Figure 21. [Figure 27] A perspective view showing the fifth step of the conveyed material storage device of Embodiment 1 in Figure 21. [Figure 28] A perspective view showing the sixth step of the conveyed material storage device of Embodiment 1 in Figure 21. [Figure 29] A perspective view of the conveyed object according to Embodiment 2, viewed from the rear and diagonally above. [Figure 30] A side view illustrating the process of loading materials into the material storage device of Embodiment 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Preferred embodiments of the above-described aspects are described below.

[0015] In the conveyed object storage device according to the above-described embodiment, it is preferable that the elevator has a second holding mechanism for holding the second held portion of the conveyed object, and a second feeding mechanism for moving the second holding mechanism in the horizontal direction.

[0016] With this conveyed object storage device, when the elevator is set to the upper position, the second holding mechanism and the second feeding mechanism can be used when moving the conveyed object placed on the elevator toward the first guide machine. In other words, the second held portion of the conveyed object placed on the elevator is held by the second holding mechanism, and then this second holding mechanism is moved horizontally by the second feeding mechanism. Therefore, it becomes possible to smoothly move the conveyed object from the elevator toward the first guide machine.

[0017] In the conveyed object storage device according to the above-described embodiment, the second guide machine has a plurality of third holding mechanisms for holding the second held portion of the conveyed object, and a third feeding mechanism for moving the plurality of third holding mechanisms together in the horizontal direction, and it is preferable that the plurality of third holding mechanisms are arranged in the horizontal direction with a storage interval when the plurality of conveyed objects are stored in an inclined state.

[0018] In this conveyed object storage device, the second held portion of the inclined conveyed object is held by the third holding mechanism, and then the third holding mechanism is moved horizontally by the third feeding mechanism, thereby transporting the conveyed object to the storage position. At this time, since the third feeding mechanism moves multiple third holding mechanisms as a single unit, multiple conveyed objects can be transported to the storage position simultaneously while remaining inclined. Therefore, the time required for the transport operation to transport multiple conveyed objects to the storage position can be reduced.

[0019] In the conveying and storage device according to the above-described embodiment, it is preferable that the second guide machine has a link mechanism that synchronizes the operation of the plurality of third holding mechanisms.

[0020] This transport and storage device allows for the simultaneous operation of multiple transport items by linking the movements of multiple third-holding mechanisms via a linkage mechanism, enabling the simultaneous holding and release of the second-held portion of each transport item. Therefore, it can reduce the time required for transporting multiple transport items to the storage location and reduce the number of power sources, thereby contributing to cost reduction.

[0021] In the conveyed object storage device according to the above-described embodiment, the conveyed object is preferably a wheeled trolley having a front wheel as the first held part and a rear wheel as the second held part.

[0022] This transport and storage device makes it possible to store multiple wheeled carts, which are the transported items, in a space-saving manner.

[0023] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the conveyed material storage device according to the above-described embodiment will be explained with reference to the drawings.

[0024] In this specification and drawings, unless otherwise specified, the first direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the conveyed object is indicated by arrow X, the second direction corresponding to the short direction of the conveyed object is indicated by arrow Y, and the third direction corresponding to the height direction of the conveyed object is indicated by arrow Z.

[0025] (Embodiment 1) 1. Structure of the conveyed material storage device 101 The conveyed material storage device 101 of Embodiment 1, shown in Figure 1, is for storing the conveyed material 1. This conveyed material storage device 101 is configured to allow the conveyed material 1 to be brought in for storage and to allow the conveyed material 1 to be brought out for use.

[0026] The transport and storage device 101 consists of multiple components, including an elevator 10, a first guide device 20, and a second guide device 30. Although not specifically shown, the multiple components are appropriately attached to support members, etc., fixed to the floor F. The elevator 10 is installed adjacent to the floor F. The first guide device 20 is installed directly above the floor F. The second guide device 30 is installed directly above the first guide device 20.

[0027] In this embodiment, the transported object 1 is a wheeled trolley suitable for loading vehicles in automobile production facilities and the like. With respect to this transported object 1, the side facing the elevator 10 is referred to as the "rear side," and the side opposite the elevator 10 is referred to as the "front side." The transported object 1 has a main body 2 that serves as a base, and two front wheels 3 and two rear wheels 4 that support the main body 2 so that it can move freely.

[0028] The two front wheels 3 are located on the front side of the transported object 1 and are positioned outside the main body 2 in the second direction Y. The two rear wheels 4 are located on the rear side of the transported object 1 and are positioned outside the main body 2 in the second direction Y. In this embodiment of the transported object 1, the distance between the two front wheels 3 and the distance between the two rear wheels 4 are the same.

[0029] 1-2. Structure of elevator 10 As shown in Figure 1, the elevator 10 comprises a main frame 11, a hoisting machine 12, a cable 13, a lifting motor 14, two lifting rails 15, a clamping device 16, a clamping cylinder 17, a rack member 18, and a travel motor 19. The elevator 10 is configured to be able to move up and down with the transported object 1 loaded on it.

[0030] The main frame 11 is attached to the hoisting machine 12 via a cable 13. The hoisting machine 12 is operated by a lifting motor 14 to perform either a winding operation of the cable 13 or a rewinding operation of the cable 13. The elevator 10 is configured to rise upward in the third direction Z in conjunction with the winding operation of the cable 13, and to descend downward in the third direction Z in conjunction with the rewinding operation of the cable 13. With this configuration, the elevator 10 can be set to either the floor position P1, the upper position P2, or the lower position P3 by controlling the lifting motor 14.

[0031] Floor position P1 is at the same height as floor F. Upper position P2 is at the same height as the first guide machine 20. Lower position P3 is at the same height as the second guide machine 30. Here, "same" includes not only cases where the heights are exactly the same, but also cases where they are substantially the same, creating a slight difference in height that allows the movement of the conveyed object 1.

[0032] Both lifting rails 15 extend in the first direction X and are arranged parallel to each other with a space 15a between them. The two lifting rails 15 are fixed to the main frame 11. The lifting rails 15 are rails for the front wheels 3 and rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1, and in this embodiment, the distance of the space 15a in the second direction Y roughly coincides with the distance of the two front wheels 3 and the two rear wheels 4 in the second direction Y. As a result, the two lifting rails 15 constitute guide members capable of guiding the transported object 1 brought into the elevator 10 in the first direction X.

[0033] The clamping device 16 is provided on the lifting rail 15. This clamping device 16 is a holding mechanism (second holding mechanism) for holding the rear wheels 4 of the conveyed object 1 when the conveyed object 1 is on the lifting rail 15. This clamping device 16 may be provided on each of the two lifting rails 15. The clamping cylinder 17 is fixed to the clamping device 16. This clamping cylinder 17 is configured to operate the clamping device 16 using the pressure of a fluid such as air.

[0034] The rack member 18 extends in a first direction X along the lifting rail 15 and is fixed to the main frame 11. The side of the rack member 18 has engagement teeth of the same shape (see "engagement teeth 18a" in Figure 4) engraved at equal intervals. On the other hand, the travel motor 19 is an electric motor, and its motor shaft is equipped with a pinion gear (see "pinion gear 19a" in Figure 4) that meshes with the engagement teeth of the rack member 18.

[0035] The rack member 18 and the travel motor 19 form a structure known as a "rack and pinion." Here, the travel motor 19 is fixed to the clamping device 16. Therefore, the rack member 18 and the travel motor 19 constitute a feed mechanism (second feed mechanism) for moving the clamping device 16 in a first direction X. That is, the rotational motion of the travel motor 19 when it is operating is converted by the rack member 18 into linear motion of the travel motor 19 in the first direction X. As a result, the clamping device 16 can be freely moved in the first direction X along the lifting rail 15 together with the clamping cylinder 17.

[0036] 1-2. Structure of the first guide machine 20 As shown in Figure 1, the first guide device 20 is installed adjacent to the elevator 10 at the same height as the upper position P2 of the elevator 10. The first guide device 20 includes two upper rails 21, a clamping device 22, a clamping cylinder 23, a rack member 24, and a travel motor 25.

[0037] Both upper rails 21 extend in the first direction X and are arranged parallel to each other with a space 21a between them. The two upper rails 21 are fixed to a frame member (not shown). The upper rails 21 are running rails for the front wheels 3 and rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1, and in this embodiment, the spacing of the space 21a in the second direction Y is approximately the same as the spacing of the two front wheels 3 and the two rear wheels 4 in the second direction Y. As a result, the two upper rails 21 constitute an upper guide member capable of guiding the front wheels 3 of the transported object 1, which has been loaded into the first guide machine 20, in the first direction X. In addition, in this embodiment, the spacing of the space 21a in the second direction Y is sized to allow the passage of the main body 2 of the transported object 1. As a result, when the main body 2 of the transported object 1 is inserted in an inclined state into the space 21a between the two upper rails 21, it is possible to move in the first direction X and the third direction Z.

[0038] The clamping device 22 is provided on the upper rail 21. This clamping device 22 is a holding mechanism (first holding mechanism) for holding the front wheels 3 of the conveyed object 1 in a state that allows the main body 2 to tilt when the conveyed object 1 is on the upper rail 21. This clamping device 22 may be provided on each of the two upper rails 21. The clamping cylinder 23 is fixed to the clamping device 22. This clamping cylinder 23 is configured to operate the clamping device 22 using the pressure of a fluid such as air.

[0039] The rack member 24 extends in a first direction X along the upper rail 21 and is fixed to a frame member (not shown). Similar to the rack member 18 of the elevator 10, the rack member 24 has engagement teeth of the same shape (see "engagement teeth 24a" in Figure 6) engraved on its side at equal intervals. On the other hand, the travel motor 25 is an electric motor similar to the travel motor 19 of the elevator 10, and its motor shaft is equipped with a pinion gear (see "pinion gear 25a" in Figure 6) that meshes with the engagement teeth of the rack member 24.

[0040] The rack member 24 and the travel motor 25 form a rack and pinion, similar to the rack member 18 and travel motor 19 of the elevator 10. Therefore, the rack member 24 and the travel motor 25 constitute a feed mechanism (first feed mechanism) for moving the clamping device 22 in a first direction X. That is, the rotational motion of the travel motor 25 when it is operating is converted by the rack member 24 into linear motion of the travel motor 25 in the first direction X. This allows the clamping device 22 to be moved freely in the first direction X along the upper rail 21 together with the clamping cylinder 23.

[0041] 1-3. Structure of the second guide unit 30 As shown in Figure 1, the second guide device 30 is installed adjacent to the elevator 10 at the same height as the lower position P3 of the elevator 10. This second guide device 30 includes two lower rails 31, a plurality of clamping devices 32, a link mechanism 33, a clamping cylinder 34, a rack member 35, and a shuttle motor 36.

[0042] Both lower rails 31 extend in the first direction X and are arranged parallel to the two upper rails 21, separated by a space 31a of the same spacing. The two lower rails 31 are fixed to a frame member (not shown) directly below the two upper rails 21. The two lower rails 31, like the two upper rails 21, constitute a lower guide member capable of guiding the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1, which has been loaded into the second guide machine 30, in the first direction X. Furthermore, when the main body 2 of the transported object 1 is inserted in an inclined state into the space 31a between the two lower rails 31, it becomes possible to move in the first direction X or the third direction Z.

[0043] Multiple clamping devices 32 are provided on the lower rail 31 and fixed to the rack member 35. These clamping devices 32 are holding mechanisms (third holding mechanisms) for holding the rear wheels 4 of the conveyed object 1 when the conveyed object 1 is on the lower rail 31. The multiple clamping devices 32 are arranged in the first direction X with a storage interval d when multiple conveyed objects 1 are stored in an inclined state. These multiple clamping devices 32 may be provided on each of the two lower rails 31.

[0044] The link mechanism 33 connects multiple clamping devices 32 so that they move in conjunction with each other via a clamp cylinder 34. The clamp cylinder 34 is configured to operate the link mechanism 33 using the pressure of a fluid such as air. Although Figure 1 shows three clamping devices 32 as an example, the number of clamping devices 32 is not limited to this and can be set as appropriate as needed.

[0045] The rack member 35 extends in a first direction X along the lower rail 31 and is slidably mounted in the first direction X relative to the lower rail 31. The upper part of this rack member 35 has engagement teeth of the same shape engraved at equal intervals. On the other hand, the shuttle motor 36 is an electric motor similar to the travel motor 25 of the first guide machine 20, and its motor shaft is provided with a pinion gear 36a that meshes with the engagement teeth 35a of the rack member 35.

[0046] The rack member 35 and the shuttle motor 36 form a rack and pinion. Therefore, the rack member 35 and the shuttle motor 36 constitute a feed mechanism (third feed mechanism) for moving the multiple clamping devices 32 to which the rack member 35 is fixed together in a first direction X. That is, the rotational motion of the shuttle motor 36 when it is operating is converted by the rack member 35 into linear motion of the rack member 35 in the first direction X. This allows the multiple clamping devices 32 to be moved freely in the first direction X along the lower rail 31 together with the link mechanism 33 and the clamping cylinder 34.

[0047] 1-4. Structure of the first positioning mechanism 26 The first positioning mechanism 26 shown in Figure 2 is for positioning the lifting rail 15 of the elevator 10 relative to the upper rail 21 of the first guide machine 20. This first positioning mechanism 26 consists of a positioning cylinder 11a fixed to the main frame 11 of the elevator 10 and a bracket 27 fixed to the upper rail 21 of the first guide machine 20.

[0048] The positioning cylinder 11a is configured to move the rod 11b forward and backward in a first direction X using the pressure of a fluid such as air. The bracket 27 is provided with an engagement hole 27a into which the rod 11b of the positioning cylinder 11a can engage.

[0049] When the positioning cylinder 11a holds the elevator 10 in the upper position P2, the rod 11b operates to engage with the engagement hole 27a of the bracket 27. This allows the height positions of the lifting rail 15 and the upper rail 21 in the third direction Z to be aligned, enabling the front wheels 3 and rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 to smoothly move between the lifting rail 15 and the upper rail 21. On the other hand, when the positioning cylinder 11a lowers the elevator 10 from the upper position P2, the rod 11b operates to disengage from the engagement hole 27a of the bracket 27. This enables the elevator 10 to descend from the upper position P2.

[0050] 1-5. Structure of the second positioning mechanism 37 The second positioning mechanism 37 shown in Figure 3 is for positioning the lifting rail 15 of the elevator 10 relative to the lower rail 31 of the second guide machine 30. This second positioning mechanism 37 consists of a positioning cylinder 11a fixed to the main frame 11 of the elevator 10 and a bracket 38 fixed to the lower rail 31 of the second guide machine 30.

[0051] The bracket 38 is provided with an engagement hole 38a into which the rod 11b of the positioning cylinder 11a can engage. When the positioning cylinder 11a holds the elevator 10 at the lower position P3, the rod 11b operates to engage with the engagement hole 38a of the bracket 38. This allows the height positions of the lifting rail 15 and the lower rail 31 to be aligned in the third direction Z, enabling the front wheels 3 and rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 to smoothly move between the lifting rail 15 and the lower rail 31. On the other hand, when the positioning cylinder 11a raises or lowers the elevator 10 from the lower position P3, the rod 11b operates to disengage from the engagement hole 38a of the bracket 38. This enables the elevator 10 to move up or down from the lower position P3.

[0052] 1-6. Structure of the clamping device 16 As shown in Figure 4, the clamping device 16 has two clamp rollers 16a spaced apart in the first direction X. Each clamp roller 16a is supported so as to be able to rotate by a support shaft. The distance between the two clamp rollers 16a is sized to slightly exceed the outer diameter of the rear wheels 4 of the conveyed object 1.

[0053] As shown in Figure 5, the two clamp rollers 16a of the clamping device 16 are configured to move back and forth in the second direction Y between an initial position Q1 (indicated by a dashed line) and a clamp position Q2 (indicated by a solid line) in conjunction with the movement of the rod (not shown) of the clamp cylinder 17. When the two clamp rollers 16a are in the initial position Q1, the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 can travel freely in the first direction X on the lifting rail 15 without being clamped. In contrast, when the two clamp rollers 16a are in the clamp position Q2, the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 are clamped by the two clamp rollers 16a from both sides in the first direction X, thus preventing travel in the first direction X. However, in this clamped state, each clamp roller 16a can rotate on its own, so tilting motion of the transported object 1 around the rear wheels 4 is permitted.

[0054] 1-7. Structure of the clamping device 22 As shown in Figure 6, the clamping device 22 has two clamp rollers 22a spaced apart in the first direction X. Each clamp roller 22a is supported so as to be able to rotate by a support shaft. The distance between the two clamp rollers 22a is sized to slightly exceed the outer diameter of the front wheels 3 of the conveyed object 1.

[0055] As shown in Figure 7, the two clamp rollers 22a of the clamping device 22 are configured to move back and forth in the second direction Y between an initial position R1 (indicated by a dashed line) and a clamp position R2 (indicated by a solid line) in conjunction with the movement of the rod (not shown) of the clamp cylinder 23. When the two clamp rollers 22a are in the initial position R1, the front wheels 3 of the conveyed object 1 can travel freely in the first direction X on the upper rail 21 without being clamped. In contrast, when the two clamp rollers 22a are in the clamp position R2, the front wheels 3 of the conveyed object 1 are clamped by the two clamp rollers 22a from both sides in the first direction X, thus preventing travel in the first direction X. However, in this clamped state, each clamp roller 22a can rotate on its own, so tilting motion of the conveyed object 1 around the front wheels 3 is permitted.

[0056] 1-8. Structure of the clamping device 32 As shown in Figure 8, the clamping device 32 has two clamp rollers 32a spaced apart in a first direction X, and a movable plate 32b that can rotate around a shaft portion 32c. Each clamp roller 32a is supported so as to be able to rotate by a support shaft. The distance between the two clamp rollers 32a is set to be slightly greater than the outer diameter of the rear wheels 4 of the conveyed object 1. The movable plate 32b is connected at the connecting portion 32d to one connecting rod 33a and the other connecting rod 33a of the link mechanism 33.

[0057] As shown in Figure 9, when each connecting rod 33a of the link mechanism 33 moves to the rear in the first direction X in conjunction with the movement of the rod (not shown) of the clamp cylinder 34, each movable plate 32b rotates rearward around the shaft portion 32c. At this time, the two clamp rollers 32a are configured to move in the second direction Y from the initial position S1 (position shown by the dashed line) to the clamp position S2 (position shown by the solid line) in conjunction with the movement of the movable plate 32b.

[0058] When the two clamp rollers 32a are in their initial position S1, the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 can travel freely in the first direction X on the lower rail 31 without being clamped. In contrast, when the two clamp rollers 32a are in the clamp position S2, the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 are clamped by the two clamp rollers 32a from both sides in the first direction X, thus preventing them from traveling in the first direction X. In this embodiment, the movement of the connecting rod 33a of the link mechanism 33 can be used to move multiple clamping devices 32 in conjunction. Therefore, it becomes possible to clamp and release the rear wheels 4 of multiple transported objects 1 simultaneously.

[0059] 1-9. Control system for conveyed material storage device 101 The control unit 40 shown in Figure 10 is mounted in a control panel (not shown) installed on floor F. This control unit 40 is composed of a known CPU, memory, input / output unit, etc., and is electrically connected to multiple control targets (control targets shown in Figure 10) provided on each of the elevator 10, the first guide machine 20, and the second guide machine 30. The multiple control targets are controlled as appropriate according to the control signals output from the control unit 40, as described above.

[0060] 2. Loading of transported item 1 Next, the loading operation for storage of the transported item 1 will be described. This loading operation is made possible by sequentially executing each step in the flowchart diagram in Figure 11. Note that additional steps may be added as needed, or at least one step may be divided into multiple steps. Except for some tasks performed by the operator, this loading operation is substantially carried out by the control unit 40.

[0061] The first step S101 in Figure 11 is the step of setting the elevator 10 to floor position P1. According to this first step S101, the elevator 10 is set to floor position P1, as shown in Figure 12. That is, if the elevator 10 is already at floor position P1, the elevator 10 is left in its current position and on standby. On the other hand, if the elevator 10 is at the upper position P2 or the lower position P3, the elevator 10 is lowered to floor position P1.

[0062] The second step S102 in Figure 11 is the step of loading the transported object 1 from the floor F into the elevator 10. In this second step S102, the transported object 1 is first pushed by the worker so that the rear wheels 4 are on the lift rail 15. Then, when the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 reach the position of the clamping device 16, the clamping device 16 is activated. As a result, the clamp rollers 16a of the clamping device 16 clamp the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 (see Figure 5). Then, the clamping device 16 is moved toward the elevator 10 in the first direction X by the travel motor 19 while maintaining the clamped state. As a result, the transported object 1 is loaded from the floor F into the elevator 10, as shown in Figure 13. The clamping device 16 continues to maintain the clamped state of the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 thereafter.

[0063] The third step S103 in Figure 11 is the step of raising the elevator 10 to the upper position P2. As a result of this third step S103, as shown in Figure 14, the cable 13 is wound up by the lifting motor 14, causing the elevator 10 to rise from the floor position P1 to the upper position P2. At this time, the first positioning mechanism 26 (see Figure 2) is used to align the height positions of the lifting rail 15 and the upper rail 21 in the third direction Z.

[0064] Step 4, S104, in Figure 11, is the step of transporting the transported object 1 to a position where only the front wheels 3 are on the upper rail 21. In this fourth step, S104, as shown in Figure 15, the clamping device 16, which is still clamping the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1, is moved by the travel motor 19 toward the first guide machine 20 in the first direction X. As a result, only the front wheels 3 of the transported object 1 are on the upper rail 21 from the lifting rail 15. Then, when the front wheels 3 of the transported object 1 reach the position of the clamping device 22, the clamping device 22 is activated. As a result, the two clamping rollers 22a of the clamping device 22 clamp the front wheels 3 of the transported object 1 (see Figure 7). The clamping device 22 continues to maintain the clamped state of the front wheels 3 of the transported object 1. In contrast, the clamping device 16 releases the clamp on the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1.

[0065] Step S105 in Figure 11 is the step of lowering the elevator 10 to the lower position P3. In this fifth step S105, first, the positioning of the lifting rail 15 and the upper rail 21 by the first positioning mechanism 26 is released. Then, as shown in Figure 16, the cable 13 is unwound by the lifting motor 14, resulting in the elevator 10 descending from the upper position P2 to the lower position P3. At this time, the height positions of the lifting rail 15 and the lower rail 31 in the third direction Z are aligned using the second positioning mechanism 37 (see Figure 3). Since the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 are on the lifting rail 15 of the elevator 10, as the elevator 10 descends, the transported object 1 rotates downward so that the position on the rear wheel 4 side gradually lowers around the front wheel 3. As a result, the transported object 1 is held in a predetermined inclined state by the elevator 10 and the first guide machine 20.

[0066] Step 6, S106, in Figure 11 is the step of transporting the transported object 1 to a position where the rear wheels 4 transfer onto the lower rail 31. In this sixth step, S106, as shown in Figure 17, the clamping device 22, which is still clamping the front wheels 3 of the transported object 1, is moved by the travel motor 23 toward the first guide machine 20 in the first direction X. This causes the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 to transfer from the lifting rail 15 onto the lower rail 31. Then, when the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 reach the position of the clamping device 32, the clamping device 32 is activated. As a result, the two clamping rollers 32a of the clamping device 32 clamp the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 (see Figure 9). The clamping device 32 continues to maintain the clamped state of the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1. In contrast, the clamping device 22 releases the clamp on the front wheels 3 of the transported object 1.

[0067] Step 7, S107 in Figure 11, is the step of transporting the transported object 1 to the storage position. In the first stage of Step 7, S107, as shown in Figure 18, first, the clamping device 32, which is still clamping the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1, is moved together with the remaining clamping devices 32 towards the second guide machine 30 in the first direction X by the shuttle motor 36. As a result, the transported object 1 moves parallel to the elevator 10 while maintaining a predetermined inclination angle. Then, in the second stage of Step 7, S107, as shown in Figure 19, after the clamping device 32 releases the clamp on the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1, this clamping device 32 is moved together with the remaining clamping devices 32 towards the elevator 10 in the first direction X by the shuttle motor 36. This prepares the elevator for the next transported object 1 to be loaded.

[0068] Step 8, S108, in Figure 11 is a step to determine whether or not to bring in another item 1. If another item 1 is to be brought in (if "Yes" is answered in Step 8, S108), the process returns to Step 1, S101; otherwise (if "No" is answered in Step 8, S108), the bringing-in operation is terminated.

[0069] By repeatedly performing the loading operation shown in Figure 11, multiple transported objects 1 can be stored in a state of relative inclination. For example, if the loading operation for three transported objects 1 is performed sequentially, the three transported objects 1 can be stored in a state of relative inclination with a certain storage interval d between them, as shown in Figure 20.

[0070] 3. Unloading of transported item 1 Next, the unloading operation of the transported object 1 during use will be described. This unloading operation is made possible by sequentially executing each step in the flowchart diagram in Figure 21. Note that additional steps may be added or at least one step may be divided into multiple steps as needed. This unloading operation is the reverse of the loading operation described above. Similar to the loading operation, this unloading operation is substantially performed by the control unit 40, with the exception of some tasks performed by the operator.

[0071] The first step S201 in Figure 21 is the step of setting the elevator 10 to the lower position P3. According to this first step S201, the elevator 10 is set to the lower position P3, as shown in Figure 22. That is, when the elevator 10 is already at the lower position P3, the elevator 10 is left in its current position and on standby. On the other hand, when the elevator 10 is at the floor position P1 or the upper position P2, the elevator 10 is raised or lowered to the lower position P3. At this time, the second positioning mechanism 37 (see Figure 3) is used as needed to align the height positions of the lifting rail 15 and the lower rail 31 in the third direction Z.

[0072] The second step S202 in Figure 21 is the step of transporting the transported object 1 to a position where only the rear wheels 4 are on the lifting rail 15. In the first stage of this second step S202, as shown in Figure 23, the clamping device 22 is first moved by the travel motor 23 toward the first guide machine 20 in the first direction X. Then, when the clamping device 22 reaches the position of the front wheels 3 of the transported object 1 closest to the front, the clamping device 22 is activated. As a result, the two clamping rollers 22a of the clamping device 22 clamp the front wheels 3 of the transported object 1 (see Figure 7). The clamping device 22 maintains the clamped state of the front wheels 3 of the transported object 1 thereafter. Subsequently, in the second stage of this second step S202, as shown in Figure 24, the clamping device 22, which is still clamping the front wheels 3 of the transported object 1, is moved by the travel motor 23 toward the lifting machine 10 in the first direction X. As a result, the transported object 1 moves parallel to the elevator 10 while maintaining a predetermined inclination angle. Then, the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 transfer from the lower rail 31 to the lifting rail 15.

[0073] The third step S203 in Figure 21 is the step of raising the elevator 10 to the upper position P2. In this third step S203, the positioning of the lifting rail 15 and the lower rail 31 by the second positioning mechanism 37 is released. Then, as shown in Figure 25, the cable 13 is wound up by the lifting motor 14, resulting in the elevator 10 rising from the lower position P3 to the upper position P2. At this time, the first positioning mechanism 26 (see Figure 2) is used to align the height positions of the lifting rail 15 and the upper rail 21 in the third direction Z. Since the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 are on the lifting rail 15 of the elevator 10, as the elevator 10 rises, the transported object 1 rotates upward so that the position on the rear wheel 4 side gradually rises around the front wheel 3. As a result, the transported object 1 is held horizontally by the elevator 10 and the first guide machine 20.

[0074] Step S204 in Figure 21 is the step of loading the transported object 1 into the elevator 10. In this fourth step S204, first, the clamping device 22 releases the clamp on the front wheels 3 of the transported object 1, and the clamping device 16 clamps the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1. Then, the travel motor 19 moves the clamping device 16 toward the elevator 10 in the first direction X while keeping it clamped. As a result, the transported object 1 is loaded from the first guide machine 20 into the elevator 10, as shown in Figure 26. The clamping device 16 then maintains the clamped state of the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1.

[0075] Step S205 in Figure 21 is the step of lowering the elevator 10 to the floor position P1. In this fifth step S205, first, the positioning of the lifting rail 15 and the upper rail 21 by the first positioning mechanism 26 is released. Then, as shown in Figure 27, the cable 13 is unwound by the lifting motor 14, resulting in the elevator 10 descending from the upper position P2 to the floor position P1.

[0076] Step 6, S206, in Figure 21 is the step of unloading the transported object 1 from the elevator 10 to the floor F. In this sixth step, S206, first, the clamping device 22 releases the clamp on the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1. After that, the transported object 1 on the elevator 10 is pulled out to the floor F by the worker.

[0077] Step S207 in Figure 21 is a step to determine whether or not to unload another transported object 1. If another transported object 1 is to be unloaded (if the answer to Step S207 is "Yes"), the process returns to Step S201; otherwise (if the answer to Step S207 is "No"), the unloading process ends.

[0078] 4. Effects of Embodiment 1 In the transported object storage device 101, when the elevator 10 is set to the upper position P2, the front wheels 3 of the transported object 1 placed on the elevator 10 can be guided toward the first guide machine 20 by the upper rail 21. Then, after the front wheels 3 of the transported object 1 are held by the clamping device 22, the clamping device 22 is moved in the first direction X by the travel motor 25, thereby pulling the transported object 1 toward the first guide machine 20 while leaving the rear wheels 4 on the elevator 10.

[0079] Subsequently, by lowering the elevator 10 from the upper position P2 to the lower position P3, the transported object 1 can be rotated downwards around the front wheels 3. As a result, the transported object 1 forms an inclined state in which the main body 2 is interposed in the space 21a between the two upper rails 21, and the front wheels 3 are positioned higher than the rear wheels 4.

[0080] Subsequently, the clamping device 22 is moved in the first direction X by the travel motor 25, allowing the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 to be guided toward the second guide machine 30 by the lower rail 31. This allows the transported object 1 to be brought in and stored in the first direction X while remaining in an inclined state. By performing the same series of loading operations for other transported objects 1, it becomes possible to store multiple transported objects 1 in an inclined state parallel to each other.

[0081] This transported object storage device 101 allows multiple transported objects 1 to be stored in an inclined state, thus reducing the proportion of storage space on the floor F compared to storing multiple transported objects 1 flat on the floor F. Furthermore, by using a two-tiered storage structure consisting of the upper rail 21 of the first guide machine 20 and the lower rail 31 of the second guide machine 30 to incline the transported objects 1, the installation height in the third direction Z can be kept low. As a result, the number of transported objects 1 that can be stored per unit space can be increased, and the equipment costs required for storing multiple transported objects 1 can be reduced.

[0082] Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment 1, it is possible to provide a transported object storage device 101 that can store multiple transported objects 1 in a space-saving manner.

[0083] According to the transported object storage device 101, when the elevator 10 is set to the upper position P1, the clamping device 16 and the travel motor 19 can be used to move the transported object 1 placed on the elevator 10 toward the first guide machine 20. That is, after the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 placed on the elevator 10 are held by the clamping device 16, the clamping device 16 can be moved in the first direction X by the travel motor 19. Therefore, it becomes possible to smoothly move the transported object 1 from the elevator 10 toward the first guide machine 20.

[0084] According to the transported object storage device 101, the rear wheels 4 of the inclined transported object 1 are held by a clamping device 32, and then the clamping device 32 is moved in a first direction X by a shuttle motor 36, thereby transporting the transported object 1 to the storage position. At this time, since the shuttle motor 36 moves multiple clamping devices 32 as a single unit, multiple transported objects 1 can be transported to the storage position simultaneously while all remain in an inclined state. Therefore, the time required for the transport operation to transport multiple transported objects 1 to the storage position can be reduced.

[0085] According to the transported object storage device 101, by linking the operation of multiple clamping devices 32 with a link mechanism 33, the operation of holding and releasing the rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 can be performed for multiple transported objects 1 at once. Therefore, the time required for the transport operation to bring multiple transported objects 1 to the storage location can be shortened, and the number of power sources can be reduced, thereby contributing to cost reduction.

[0086] The conveying and storage device 101 makes it possible to store multiple large, long wheeled trolleys used in automobile production facilities in a space-saving manner.

[0087] In addition, in a modification particularly relevant to Embodiment 1, at least one of the front wheels 3 and rear wheels 4 of the transported object 1 may be made motor-driven so that the transported object 1 can move on its own.

[0088] Next, other embodiments related to Embodiment 1 described above will be explained with reference to the drawings. In the other embodiments, elements identical to those in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the explanation of such identical elements will be omitted.

[0089] (Embodiment 2) 5. Structure of the conveyed material storage device 102 Embodiment 2 differs from Embodiment 1 in that it stores different items. As shown in Figure 29, the conveying object 1A according to Embodiment 2 is a tray on which various workpieces can be placed. The conveying object 1A comprises two front shafts 3a that protrude outward in the second direction Y from the front of the main body 2, and two rear shafts 4a that protrude outward in the second direction Y from the rear of the main body 2. The front shafts 3a are first holding parts provided on the front of the conveying object 1A, and the rear shafts 4a are second holding parts provided on the rear of the conveying object 1A.

[0090] As shown in Figure 30, in the conveyed material storage device 102 of Embodiment 2, both of the two lifting rails 15 of the elevator 10 each have a plurality of roller members 15b. The plurality of roller members 15b are all held so as to be able to rotate and are arranged linearly in the first direction X with a small gap between them. The two upper rails 21 of the first guide machine 20 each have a plurality of roller members 21b. The two lower rails 31 of the second guide machine 30 each have a plurality of roller members 31b. The plurality of roller members 21b and the plurality of roller members 31b are all held so as to be able to rotate, similar to the plurality of roller members 15b, and are arranged linearly in the first direction X with a small gap between them.

[0091] The multiple roller members 15b, 21b, and 31b are all provided to smoothly transport the transported object 1A, which does not have wheels. Therefore, the multiple roller members 15b, 21b, and 31b have the function of supporting at least one of the front shaft 3a and rear shaft 4a of the transported object 1A so as to be movable in the first direction X.

[0092] In Figure 30, only one of each rail 15, 21, and 31 is shown, but as in Embodiment 1, the two rails 15, 21, and 31 are arranged side by side in the second direction Y. The spacing between the two lower rails 31 may be the same as the spacing between the two upper rails 21, or it may be different from the spacing between the two upper rails 21.

[0093] The other configurations are the same as in Embodiment 1.

[0094] In the conveyed object storage device 102, when the elevator 10 is set to the upper position P2 (see the position indicated by the dashed line), the front shaft 3a of the conveyed object 1A placed on the elevator 10 can be guided toward the first guide machine 20 by the multiple roller members 15b of the lifting rail 15 and the multiple roller members 21b of the upper rail 21. Then, after the front shaft 3a of the conveyed object 1A is held by the clamping device 22, the clamping device 22 is moved in the first direction X by the travel motor 25, thereby pulling the conveyed object 1A toward the first guide machine 20 while leaving the rear shaft 4a on the elevator 10.

[0095] Subsequently, by lowering the elevator 10 from the upper position P2 to the lower position P3 (see the position shown by the solid line), the transported object 1A can be rotated downwards around the front shaft 3a. As a result, the transported object 1A forms an inclined state in which the main body 2 is interposed in the space 21a between the two upper rails 21, and the front shaft 3a is positioned higher than the rear shaft 4a.

[0096] Subsequently, by moving the clamping device 22 in the first direction X using the travel motor 25, the rear shaft 4a of the conveyed object 1A can be guided toward the second guide machine 30 by the multiple roller members 31b of the lower rail 31. This allows the conveyed object 1A to be transported and stored in the first direction X while remaining in an inclined state. By performing the same series of transport operations for another conveyed object 1A, it becomes possible to store multiple conveyed objects 1A in an inclined state parallel to each other.

[0097] 6. Effects of Embodiment 2 According to Embodiment 2, a transportable object storage device 102 can be provided that can smoothly transport multiple transportable objects 1A without wheels and store them in a space-saving manner.

[0098] Furthermore, it exhibits the same effects and advantages as in Embodiment 1.

[0099] In addition, in modifications particularly relevant to Embodiment 2, instead of the multiple roller members 15b, 21b, and 31b, multiple balls, a member such as a conveyor belt, or various means to reduce the sliding resistance between the conveyed object 1A and the shafts 3a and 4a may be used.

[0100] 7. Changes The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various applications and modifications are conceivable as long as they do not depart from the purpose of the present invention. For example, the following embodiments can be implemented by applying the embodiments described above.

[0101] In the above-described embodiment, the elevator 10 is illustrated as comprising a clamping device 16, a clamping cylinder 17, a rack member 18, and a travel motor 19. However, these components may be omitted as needed. Instead, another driving means can be used to move the transported objects 1,1A in the first direction X.

[0102] In the above-described embodiment, an example was given in which multiple clamping devices 32 are moved together in the first direction X using a shuttle motor 36. However, instead, each of the multiple clamping devices 32 may be moved individually in the first direction X.

[0103] In the above-described embodiment, the operation of multiple clamping devices 32 is illustrated by linking the operation of multiple clamping devices 32 using a link mechanism 33. However, instead, the link mechanism 33 may be omitted, and the operation of multiple clamping devices 32 may be performed individually. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0104] 1,1A...Conveyed object, 2...Main body, 3...Front wheels (first held part), 3a...Front shaft (first held part), 4...Rear wheels (second held part), 4a...Rear shaft (second held part) 10...Lifting mechanism, 16...Clamping device (second holding mechanism), 18...Rack member (second feeding mechanism), 19...Travel motor (second feeding mechanism), 20...First guide machine, 21...Upper rail (upper guide member), 21a...Space, 22...Clamping device (first holding mechanism), 24...Rack member (first feeding mechanism), 25...Travel motor (first feeding mechanism), 30...Second guide machine, 31...Lower rail (lower guide member), 31a...Space, 32...Clamping device (third holding mechanism), 33...Link mechanism 35...Rack member (third feed mechanism), 36...Shuttle motor (third feed mechanism), 101,102...Conveyed material storage device, d...Storage interval, P2...Upper position, P3...Lower position, X...First direction (horizontal direction)

Claims

1. A conveying material storage device for storing conveyed materials, A lifting device capable of raising and lowering the aforementioned transported object, A first guide machine is installed adjacent to the elevator at the same height as the upper position of the elevator, A second guide device is provided adjacent to the elevator at the same height as the lower position of the elevator, Equipped with, The first guide machine includes two upper guide members arranged parallel to each other, separated by a space that allows the passage of the main body of the conveyed object, and capable of guiding a first held portion provided on the front side of the conveyed object in the horizontal direction; a first holding mechanism for holding the first held portion of the conveyed object in a state that allows the main body to tilt; and a first feeding mechanism for moving the first holding mechanism in the horizontal direction. The second guide machine has two lower guide members that are capable of guiding a second held portion provided on the rear side of the conveyed object in the horizontal direction and are arranged parallel to the two upper guide members directly below them. A device for storing transported materials.

2. The conveyed object storage device according to claim 1, wherein the elevator has a second holding mechanism for holding the second held portion of the conveyed object, and a second feeding mechanism for moving the second holding mechanism in the horizontal direction.

3. The conveyed object storage device according to claim 2, wherein the second guide machine has a plurality of third holding mechanisms for holding the second held portion of the conveyed object, and a third feeding mechanism for moving the plurality of third holding mechanisms together in the horizontal direction, and the plurality of third holding mechanisms are arranged in the horizontal direction with a storage interval when storing a plurality of conveyed objects in an inclined state.

4. The conveyed object storage device according to claim 3, wherein the second guide device has a link mechanism that synchronizes the operation of the plurality of third holding mechanism parts.

5. The transported object storage device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the transported object is a wheeled trolley having a front wheel as the first held part and a rear wheel as the second held part.

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