Disaster prevention system for transport robot operating facilities

Abstract

To enable efficient initial firefighting by executing fire extinguishing activities intensively for a transfer robot that has caught fire in a facility where goods are conveyed by operating a conveyance robot.SOLUTION: A disaster prevention system installed in a facility where goods are conveyed by operating a conveyance robot that can autonomously travel includes: a support body installed so as to surround a recharging space to which the conveyance robot returns for recharging a battery mounted on itself; a fire detector supported on the upper part of the support body for detecting a fire in the recharging space; a fire extinguisher supported on the upper part of the support body for jetting a fire extinguishing agent in a smoke state inside the recharging space; and a control machine for actuating the fire extinguisher when the fire detector detects a fire.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a disaster prevention system installed in a facility where an autonomously movable transport robot operates. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, facilities that operate transport robots to transport goods (so-called robot warehouses) have become known in warehouses and other locations that serve as logistics hubs. Such facilities use autonomously traveling transport robots, and progress is being made in automating tasks such as consolidation work, in which goods with high shipping rates are selected from stored goods and stored in a specific space (consolidation space), and picking work, in which ordered goods are selected and removed from the goods in the consolidation space (see Patent Document 1 below). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-128266 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The transport robots operating in robot warehouses are electrically powered and equipped with their own batteries (secondary batteries), which poses a risk of fire due to thermal runaway.If a transport robot were to catch fire due to battery thermal runaway or other reasons, the operating transport robot would move along various routes and approach items within the facility, making it difficult to carry out initial fire extinguishing efforts focused solely on the transport robot that caught fire.

[0005] In addition, robot warehouses are often operated under lease agreements, and in such cases, there is an obligation to return the facility to its original state when the contract expires and the facility is removed, making it difficult to install large-scale disaster prevention equipment.Even in cases where this is not the case, if an attempt is made to extinguish the fire at the entire robot warehouse, the problem of stored goods and the robot warehouse equipment being contaminated with fire extinguishing agents can arise.

[0006] The present invention was proposed to address these circumstances, and aims to enable efficient early fire extinguishing by focusing fire extinguishing on a transport robot that has caught fire in a robot warehouse, to create a system that makes it easy to restore the robot warehouse to its original state when it is removed, and to prevent stored items and the robot warehouse equipment from being contaminated by fire extinguishing agents. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve such problems, the present invention has the following configuration. A disaster prevention system for a transport robot operating facility is installed in a facility where an autonomously traveling transport robot is operated to transport goods, and includes a support installed so as to surround a charging space to which the transport robot returns to charge its mounted battery, a fire detector supported on an upper portion of the support and configured to detect a fire in the charging space, and a fire detector supported on an upper portion of the support. 、 The charging space is equipped with a fire extinguishing device that sprays a fire extinguishing agent into the charging space, and a controller that activates the fire extinguishing device when the fire detector detects a fire. The charging space is equipped with a charger to which the transport robot can connect itself, and also accommodates the entire transport robot when it has returned. Containment The charging space is surrounded by a wall material that constitutes the support body, and an entrance and exit for the transport robot is opened in the wall material. a flexible sheet is provided at the entrance that opens the entrance only when the transport robot passes through; the charger extends along the inside of the wall material that does not have the entrance open so as to surround the storage space; the fire detector and the fire extinguisher are provided on the upper end of the wall material; and the wall material has a height that forms, above the storage space and the charger, an enclosed space that confines the extinguishing agent sprayed from the fire extinguisher. A disaster prevention system for transport robot operating facilities. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] A disaster prevention system for transport robot operating facilities with these characteristics can efficiently extinguish a fire in its initial stage by focusing on extinguishing the fire on the transport robot that has caught fire.It can also easily restore the system to its original state when removed, and it can be used to create a system that prevents stored items and robot warehouse equipment from being contaminated with fire extinguishing agents. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overview of a facility in which a transport robot operates. [Figure 2] 1 is an explanatory diagram of a disaster prevention system for a transport robot operating facility according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of an entrance / exit for a transport robot. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the system configuration of a disaster prevention system for a transport robot operating facility. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different drawings denote parts with the same functions, and duplicated descriptions in each drawing will be omitted as appropriate.

[0011] 1 shows an example of a facility (hereinafter referred to as a robot warehouse F) in which a disaster prevention system for a facility operating a transport robot (hereinafter referred to as a disaster prevention system) according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed. The robot warehouse F is a facility in which various types of items are stored in racks (shelves) R, and a transport robot T that travels autonomously on the floor operates to select and transport the items stored in the racks R. The transport robot T can take various forms, but one example is a form in which the transport robot T is caused to enter under a selected rack R, the transport robot T lifts the rack R, and transports the item via the rack R.

[0012] The transport robot T operating in such a robot warehouse F is equipped with an electric driving unit that enables autonomous driving, and the transport robot T itself is equipped with a battery (secondary battery) that serves as the power source for the electric driving unit. The robot warehouse F is provided with a charging space Cs for charging the battery installed in the transport robot T. A charger Cr is installed in the charging space Cs, and when the remaining battery power of the transport robot T becomes low, the transport robot T returns to the charging space Cs and connects itself to the charger Cr to charge the battery.

[0013] As mentioned above, when such a robot warehouse F is operated under a lease agreement, there is an obligation to return the facility to its original state when the facility is removed, making it difficult to install large-scale disaster prevention equipment.However, if the transport robot T catches fire, it is difficult to extinguish the fire at the source in the early stages due to the autonomous movement of the transport robot T.If initial fire extinguishing fails, the nature of the transport robot T means that it cannot avoid getting close to items while in operation, which could result in the fire spreading to the entire robot warehouse F, including the items.

[0014] An embodiment of the present invention can address such circumstances, focusing on the fact that the transport robot T returns to the charging space Cs in the robot warehouse F, and by carrying out fire extinguishing within the charging space Cs, it is possible to achieve effective initial fire extinguishing, and by concentrating on extinguishing only the transport robot T that is the source of the fire, it is possible to avoid the problem of stored items and the facilities of the robot warehouse F being contaminated with fire extinguishing agents, and it provides a fire extinguishing system that makes it easy to restore the original state when the system is removed.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, a disaster prevention system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a support body 2, a fire detector 3, a fire extinguishing device 4, and a controller 10.

[0016] The support body 2 supports the fire detector 3 and the fire extinguisher 4, and is installed so as to surround the charging space Cs where the transport robot T returns to charge the battery mounted on the robot. The support body 2 may be made of a frame material such as an L-shaped angle, but it is preferable to use a wall material that surrounds the charging space Cs in order to confine the extinguishing agent sprayed from the fire extinguisher 4 within the charging space Cs.

[0017] The support 2 is installed along the outside of the charger Cr provided in the charging space Cs, and when the support 2 is used as a wall material, the vertical sides of adjacent wall materials are brought into close contact to form a closed space inside the support 2. In the illustrated example, the top of the space surrounded by the support 2 is open, but the fire detector 3 and the fire extinguisher 4 may be placed within the space surrounded by the support 2, and the top of the space surrounded by the support 2 may be covered with a plate or the like.

[0018] When the support 2 is a wall material, an entrance / exit 2A for the transport robot T is opened in the wall material. The entrance / exit 2A is formed according to the height and width of the transport robot T, and is preferably set to a size that is necessary and sufficient for the transport robot T to pass through. If it is desired to make the entrance / exit 2A larger to facilitate the passage of the transport robot T, as shown in FIG. 3, a curtain 2B made of a flexible sheet or the like is provided at the entrance / exit 2A, and the entrance / exit 2A is opened only when the transport robot T passes through, thereby preventing the extinguishing agent sprayed from the fire extinguisher 4 from spreading outside the charging space Cs. It is preferable to use flame-retardant or non-flammable materials for the support 2 and the curtain 2B.

[0019] The fire detector 3 is supported on the upper part of the support body 2 and detects fires within the charging space Cs. One example of the fire detector 3 is a three-wavelength flame detector. A three-wavelength flame detector is less likely to react to heat sources other than flames or to lighting, so it can detect fires within the charging space Cs with high reliability. Furthermore, if a smoke detector is used as the fire detector 3, it will be necessary to cover the upper part of the space surrounded by the support body 2 with a plate or the like.

[0020] The fire extinguisher 4 is supported on top of the support body 2 and sprays a smoke-type fire extinguishing agent into the charging space Cs. The fire extinguisher 4 sprays a non-water-based fire extinguishing agent to prevent leakage of electricity from the battery mounted on the charger Cr and the transport robot T. However, since it is necessary to leave as little residue as possible after extinguishing the fire, particularly when considering the need to restore the original state upon removal, a smoke-type fire extinguishing agent such as an aerosol is used. Note that instead of a smoke-type fire extinguishing agent, an inert gas such as nitrogen may be used.

[0021] The aerosol fire extinguishing system used as fire extinguishing system 4 sprays extinguishing ingredients (potassium carbonate and potassium bicarbonate) in the form of smoke, which causes the combustion radicals in the flame to combine with the K radicals of the extinguishing ingredients, suppressing the chain reaction of the combustion radicals and quickly suppressing the combustion of the flame. Because the aerosol fire extinguishing system does not have a high-pressure gas container like a gas fire extinguishing system and does not require piping, it is small and easy to install, and can be easily restored to its original state when removed.

[0022] The controller 10 activates the fire extinguisher 4 when the fire detector 3 detects a fire. The controller 10 is connected to the fire alarm 3 by a wire L1, for example, and to the fire extinguisher 4 by a wire L2. When the fire detector 3 detects a fire and an alarm signal is input to the controller 10, the controller 10 activates the fire extinguisher 4 to release a smoke-like fire extinguishing agent into the charging space Cs surrounded by the support body 2. As an example, the controller 10 sounds an alarm in synchronization with the activation of the fire extinguisher 4.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 4, the control unit 10 can be configured with a slave unit 11 and a master unit 12. The slave unit 11 is installed inside the robot warehouse F, and is wired to a fire detector 3 and a fire extinguisher 4 that are installed in each of the multiple charging spaces Cs. In contrast, the master unit 12 is installed in an administration building M or the like outside the robot warehouse F, and is connected to one or more slave units 11 via wireless communication.

[0024] At this time, the slave unit 11, as the control unit 10, activates the fire extinguisher 4 based on the alarm signal from the fire detector 3, and also functions as a repeater to send and receive signals with the master unit 12. That is, the master unit 12 constantly or periodically receives status signals from the fire detectors 3 installed in each charging space Cs via the slave unit 11, and when an alarm signal is sent from the fire detector 3, it performs operations such as identifying and displaying the charging space Cs in which the sending fire detector 3 is installed and sounding an alarm.

[0025] According to the disaster prevention system 1 described above, by equipping the support body 2 with the fire detector 3 and the fire extinguishing device 4 as an integrated unit, it can be easily installed in the charging space Cs of the robot warehouse F, and when it is removed, the support body 2 can be easily removed, allowing the system to be easily restored to its original state.

[0026] Furthermore, the disaster prevention system 1 does not require piping to send fire extinguishing agents, etc., and the wiring can be contained within a limited area near the charging space Cs, which also makes it easy to install and easy to restore to its original state when removed.

[0027] The disaster prevention system 1 focuses on the fact that the transport robot T returns to the charging space Cs and performs fire extinguishing within the charging space Cs, enabling effective initial fire extinguishing. By concentrating fire extinguishing only on the transport robot T that is the source of the fire, it is possible to avoid the problem of items stored in the robot warehouse F or the facilities of the robot warehouse F being contaminated with fire extinguishing agents.

[0028] In this case, by adding a control to the operation system of the transport robot T that immediately returns the transport robot T that has experienced a malfunction such as a fire to the charging space Cs, it becomes possible to achieve even more effective initial fire extinguishing.

[0029] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention also includes design changes within the scope of the present invention. For example, while the description has been given using an example of an autonomous robot that transports goods, the present invention may also be applied to a security robot or cleaning robot that patrols a building by autonomous traveling. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments can be combined by utilizing each other's technology as long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in the purpose, configuration, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1 Disaster prevention system for transport robot operating equipment (disaster prevention system), 2 Support body, 2A Entrance / Exit, 2B Curtain, 3 Fire detector, 4 Fire extinguishing device, 10 controller, 11 child machine, 12 parent machine, F robot warehouse, T Transport robot, Cs Charging space, Cr Charger, M Administration building, L1, L2 wiring

Claims

1. A disaster prevention system for a transport robot operating facility that is installed in a facility that operates an autonomously traveling transport robot to transport items, a support installed to surround a charging space to which the transport robot returns to charge the battery mounted thereon; a fire detector supported on an upper portion of the support body and configured to detect a fire in the charging space; a fire extinguishing device supported on an upper portion of the support body and configured to spray a fire extinguishing agent into the charging space; a controller that activates the fire extinguishing device when the fire detector detects a fire; the charging space is provided with a charger to which the transport robot can be connected, and has a storage space for storing the entire transport robot when it has returned; the charging space is surrounded by a wall material constituting the support body, an entrance for the transport robot is opened in the wall material, and a flexible sheet is provided at the entrance, which opens the entrance only when the transport robot is passing through; the charger extends along an inner side of a portion of the wall material that does not have an opening for the entrance so as to surround the storage space; the fire detector and the fire extinguishing device are provided on the upper end of the wall material; A disaster prevention system for transport robot operating equipment, characterized in that the wall material has a height sufficient to form an enclosed space above the storage space and the charger to confine the extinguishing agent sprayed from the fire extinguishing device.

2. 2. A disaster prevention system for transport robot operating equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that the control unit includes a slave unit to which the fire detector and the fire extinguishing device are hardwired, and a master unit connected to the slave unit via wireless communication.

Images