Racks in an automated warehouse

Abstract

A rack (10) of an automated warehouse (1) includes a first horizontal beam member (13), a second horizontal beam member (15), and a shelf member (20). The first horizontal beam member (13) has a pair of beam holes (130). The pair of beam holes (130) penetrate a rear side surface (13D) so as to form protruding portions protruding in a direction of facing each other. The second horizontal beam member (15) has a fitted portion fitted into one of ends of the shelf member (20), and an insertion hole (15Af) penetrating a second top surface in a thickness direction. The shelf member (20) has a support plane (21), a first protruding piece (22), an insertion plane (23) having a fitting hole (23A) into which a protruding portion (133) is fitted when the insertion plane (23) is inserted into the beam holes (130), a rear fitting portion (29), and a click portion (29D) inserted into the insertion hole (15Af) in a state in which the second horizontal beam member (15) is fitted into the rear fitting portion (29).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to a rack of an automated warehouse that is used in an automated warehouse or the like and holds luggage.

Background Art

[0002] Racks that are used in automated warehouses or the like and hold luggage are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a rack of an automated warehouse including four columns erected at the four corners of a rectangle, two beam members arranged parallel to each other in the front-rear direction in the left-right direction with respect to the four columns, and a shelf member spanned across the two beam members. In the rack of the automated warehouse disclosed in Patent Document 1, one of the beam members and one end of the shelf member in the front-rear direction are fitted together to fix each other. Thereby, construction becomes easier compared to fixing each other using fastening members such as bolts.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the above-described conventional rack of an automated warehouse, although it becomes easy to fix one end of the shelf member in the front-rear direction to one of the beam members, if a fastening member such as a bolt is used as a means to fix the other end of the shelf member in the front-rear direction to the other of the beam members, its effect is halved. Further, when the shelf member is fitted and fixed to both beam members, it is necessary to be able to suppress movement in any of the three axial directions orthogonal to each other.

[0005] Therefore, an object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a rack of an automated warehouse that can suppress movement of the shelf member in any of the three axial directions orthogonal to each other with respect to the beam member while being a fitting and fixing structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An automated warehouse rack according to one aspect of the present invention is an automated warehouse rack that extends in a first direction and is capable of arranging a plurality of goods in the first direction, and is capable of transferring goods from one side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the horizontal direction, comprising: a first horizontal beam member extending in the first direction; a second horizontal beam member extending in the first direction and positioned opposite to the first horizontal beam member in the second direction and positioned on the other side in the second direction relative to the first horizontal beam member; and shelf members positioned to span the first horizontal beam member and the second horizontal beam member and to hold goods, wherein the first horizontal beam member has a first upper surface that slopes downward from one side to the other side, a rear side surface that extends downward from the other end of the first upper surface and is perpendicular to the second direction, and a pair of beam holes that penetrate in the thickness direction across the first upper surface and the rear side surface, the pair of beam holes are relative to The rear side surface is penetrated to form a protruding portion that protrudes in the direction facing the other, and the second horizontal beam member has a fitted portion that is fitted by one end of the shelf member, and an insertion hole that penetrates the second upper surface perpendicular to the vertical direction in the thickness direction, and the shelf member is formed by bending a plate-like member and has a support surface that supports loads from below, a first protruding piece that is provided so as to protrude from one end of the support surface to the other side and contacts the first upper surface of the first horizontal beam member, a pair of insertion surfaces that are formed to be inserted into a pair of beam holes in the first horizontal beam member, and each of the pair of beam holes has a fitted hole into which the protruding portion is fitted when inserted into the pair of beam holes, a rear fitted portion that fits the fitted portion of the second horizontal beam member, and a claw portion that is inserted into the insertion hole when the fitted portion of the second horizontal beam member is fitted by the rear fitted portion.

[0007] In this automated warehouse rack configuration, shelf members are fixed to the first and second horizontal beam members by the following four fixing structures: The first fixing structure fixes the shelf member to the first horizontal beam member in the first direction by inserting (fitting) the insertion surface of the shelf member into the beam hole of the first horizontal beam member. The second fixing structure fixes the shelf member to the first horizontal beam member in the second direction and the vertical direction (a direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions) by fitting the fitting hole formed on the insertion surface into the protrusion formed on the first horizontal beam member. The third fixing structure fixes the shelf member to the second horizontal beam member in the vertical direction by fitting the fitting part of the shelf member into the fitting part of the shelf member. The fourth fixing structure fixes the shelf member to the second horizontal beam member in the first and second directions by inserting (fitting) the claw formed on the shelf member into the insertion hole formed on the second horizontal beam member. In the automated warehouse rack according to one aspect of the present invention, the positioning action of the four fixing structures, from the first to the fourth fixing structure, works in conjunction to suppress the movement of the shelf members in any of the first, second, and vertical directions relative to both the first and second horizontal beam members. In other words, despite being a fixed interlocking structure, it is possible to suppress the movement of the shelf members in any of the three mutually orthogonal axial directions relative to the beam members without using fastening members such as bolts.

[0008] In an automated warehouse rack according to one aspect of the present invention, the first protruding piece has a first surface that slopes upward toward one side from one end of the support surface, and a second surface that slopes downward toward one side from one end of the first surface, and the second surface may be in contact with the first upper surface of the first horizontal beam member. In this configuration, it is possible to prevent the goods held on the shelf member from falling out to one side.

[0009] In a rack for an automated warehouse according to one aspect of the present invention, the second surface and the first top surface may be in contact such that the inclination direction of the second surface and the inclination direction of the first top surface intersect with each other. In other words, the second surface and the first top surface will not be in contact if the inclination direction of the second surface and the inclination direction of the first top surface are parallel to each other. With this configuration, the movement of the shelf members in the second direction when transferring goods can be effectively suppressed.

[0010] In a rack for an automated warehouse according to one aspect of the present invention, the rear fitting portion has a first fitting surface extending in a second direction, a second fitting surface extending vertically downward from the other end of the first fitting surface, and a third fitting surface extending vertically downward from the lower end of the second fitting surface toward one side in the second direction, wherein the third fitting surface may be inclined downward from the other side toward one side. In this configuration, the elastic force of a flat plate member made of metal is used to suppress the movement of the shelf member in the first direction, while making it easy to attach the shelf member to the second horizontal beam member.

[0011] In an automated warehouse rack according to one aspect of the present invention, a plurality of shelf members are arranged at intervals in the first direction. Each shelf member has a pair of support surfaces, a first support surface and a second support surface, which face each other in the first direction, and a guide surface formed between the first support surface and the second support surface in the first direction, projecting upward from the first support surface and the second support surface and extending in the second direction. The guide surface may be formed by bending a plate-like member between the first support surface and the second support surface in the first direction. In this configuration, the shelf members support one end of the cargo in the first direction from below with the first support surface of one adjacent shelf member, and support the other end of the cargo in the first direction from below with the second support surface of the other adjacent shelf member, thereby holding the cargo. Furthermore, in this configuration, the guide surface can prevent the cargo from shifting in the first direction.

[0012] In an automated warehouse rack according to one aspect of the present invention, the shelf member may have a second projection that protrudes from the other end in the second direction on the guide surface to both the one side and the other side in the first direction. This configuration prevents cargo from falling out from the other side in the second direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, while it is a fixed interlocking structure, it is possible to suppress movement of the shelf members in any of the three axial directions that are perpendicular to each other with respect to the beam members. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a rack used in an automated warehouse according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a side view of a part of an automated warehouse according to one embodiment, viewed from the X direction. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the shelf components included in the rack shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the rack shown in Figure 1, taken from the X direction. [Figure 5] Figure 5(A) is a perspective view of the connection between the first horizontal beam member and the shelf member, viewed from diagonally above. Figure 5(B) is a perspective view of the connection between the first horizontal beam member and the shelf member, viewed from diagonally below. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a plan view of the beam hole formed in the first horizontal beam member. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the connection between the second horizontal beam member and the shelf member, seen from diagonally above. [Figure 8] Figures 8(A) and 8(B) illustrate the procedure for attaching shelf members to the second horizontal beam member. [Figure 9] Figures 9(A) and 9(B) illustrate the procedure for attaching shelf members to the first horizontal beam member. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Hereinafter, a rack 10 (rack of an automated warehouse) according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same elements, and redundant descriptions are omitted. In the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the extending direction of the rack 10 is defined as the X direction (first direction), the direction orthogonal to the X direction in the horizontal plane is defined as the Y direction (second direction), and the direction orthogonal to both the X direction and the Y direction is defined as the Z direction (vertical direction).

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the automated warehouse 1 uses a first transfer device 50 capable of horizontally transferring a load T and a second transfer device (not shown) capable of vertically transferring the load T to automatically transfer the load T from the outside of the automated warehouse 1 to the rack 10 and automatically transfer the load T held in the rack 10 to the outside of the automated warehouse 1.

[0017] The automated warehouse 1 includes a pair of racks 10, 10, a first transfer device 50, and a second transfer device (not shown). Each of the pair of racks 10, 10 can hold a plurality of loads T arranged in the X direction, which is one horizontal direction, and can also hold a plurality of loads T arranged in the Z direction, which is the vertical direction. Hereinafter, the arrangement in the Z direction may be referred to as a "tier". The details of the configuration of the pair of racks 10, 10 will be described later.

[0018] The first transfer device 50 is arranged step by step along the X direction between the pair of racks 10, 10 arranged to face each other in the Y direction. The first transfer device 50 is not particularly limited as long as it can transfer the held load T and transfer the load T between the rack 10. The first transfer device 50 of the present embodiment has a pair of rails 51, 51 and a traveling carriage 53 that travels on the pair of rails 51, 51.

[0019] A pair of rails 51, 51 are arranged to face each other in the Y direction and extend in the X direction. The pair of rails 51, 51 are constituted by the first horizontal beam members 13 of the rack 10, which will be described in detail later. The traveling carriage 53 includes a pair of traveling rollers 55, 55 that roll on the first guide surfaces 13A of the pair of first horizontal beam members 13, 13 (the pair of rails 51, 51), a pair of side rollers 57, 57 that roll on the second guide surfaces 13B of the pair of first horizontal beam members 13, 13 (the pair of rails 51, 51), and a transfer device 59 that transfers the load T while sliding it from the traveling carriage 53 to the rack 10 and from the rack 10 to the traveling carriage 53. The pair of traveling rollers 55, 55 are driven by a driving unit such as a motor (not shown). The transfer device 59 is constituted by, for example, an arm portion (not shown) that can push out the load T to the rack 10 side or pull in the load T from the rack 10 side.

[0020] The second transfer device is arranged along the Z direction at each end of the pair of racks 10, 10 in the X direction. The second transfer device is not particularly limited as long as it can transfer the held load T and transfer the load T between each stage of the rack 10 and a transfer device (not shown) outside the automatic warehouse 1. The second transfer device is, for example, a vertical conveyor that transfers the load T in the Z direction.

[0021] The rack 10 includes a column member 11, a first horizontal beam member 13, a second horizontal beam member 15, and a shelf member 20.

[0022] The column member 11 is a columnar member erected on the floor surface or foundation of the building where the automatic warehouse 1 is installed. The column member 11 extends in the Z direction and is arranged in the X direction at a predetermined interval. The column member 11 includes a first column member 11A arranged on one side in the Y direction and a second column member 11B arranged on the other side in the Y direction.

[0023] The first horizontal beam member 13 is a beam member that extends in the X direction along the arrangement direction of the first column member 11A. Multiple first horizontal beam members 13 are arranged in the Z direction. The first horizontal beam members 13 are provided corresponding to each of the above-described stages. The first horizontal beam members 13 are fixed to the first column member 11A via brackets 11Aa provided on the first column member 11A.

[0024] The second horizontal beam member 15 is a beam member that extends in the X direction along the arrangement direction of the second column member 11B. The second horizontal beam member 15 is positioned opposite the first horizontal beam member 13 in the Y direction. Multiple second horizontal beam members 15 are arranged in the Z direction. The second horizontal beam members 15 are provided corresponding to each of the above-mentioned stages. The second horizontal beam member 15 is fixed to the second column member 11B via a bracket (not shown) provided on the second column member 11B.

[0025] Hereinafter, when the rack 10 is viewed such that the second horizontal beam member 15 is visible behind the first horizontal beam member 13, a front view is defined. In this front view, one side in the Y direction (i.e., the side where the first horizontal beam member 13 is located) may be referred to as the front side, and the other side in the Y direction (i.e., the side where the second horizontal beam member 15 is located) may be referred to as the rear side.

[0026] The first horizontal beam member 13 will be described in more detail. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the first horizontal beam member 13 has a first guide surface 13A, a second guide surface 13B, an upper surface (first upper surface) 13C, a rear side surface 13D, a first connecting surface 13E, a second connecting surface 13F, a third connecting surface 13G, and a lower surface 13H. The first horizontal beam member 13 is formed by bending a plate-shaped member made from a material such as steel, aluminum, or stainless steel through press working or the like, thereby forming the first guide surface 13A, the second guide surface 13B, the upper surface 13C, the rear side surface 13D, the first connecting surface 13E, the second connecting surface 13F, the third connecting surface 13G, and the lower surface 13H.

[0027] As described above, the first horizontal beam member 13, together with the first horizontal beam member 13 of the rack 10 which is arranged opposite to it in the Y direction, constitutes a pair of rails 51, 51 of the first conveying device 50. The first guide surface 13A constitutes the surface on which the traveling rollers 55 of the first conveying device 50 can roll. The first guide surface 13A is a surface perpendicular to the Z direction and parallel to the horizontal plane. The second guide surface 13B constitutes the surface on which the side rollers 57 of the first conveying device 50 can roll. The second guide surface 13B is a surface perpendicular to the Y direction and parallel to the vertical plane.

[0028] The top surface 13C is on which one end (front end) of the shelf member 20 in the Y direction rests. The top surface 13C slopes downward from the front (one side) to the rear (the other side) in the Y direction. The rear side surface 13D is a surface that extends downward from the rear end of the top surface 13C and is perpendicular to the Y direction. The first connecting surface 13E and the second connecting surface 13F are surfaces that connect the first guide surface 13A and the second guide surface 13B. The third connecting surface 13G is a surface that connects the second guide surface 13B and the top surface 13C. The first horizontal beam member 13 has a beam hole 130 formed from a part of the top surface 13C to a part of the rear side surface 13D. The beam hole 130 is the part into which the insertion surface 23 of the shelf member 20, which will be described in detail later, is inserted. The beam hole 130 will be described in detail later.

[0029] Next, the second horizontal beam member 15 will be described in more detail. As shown in Figures 3 to 7, the second horizontal beam member 15 is composed of a first lip steel 15A and a second lip steel 15B. The first lip steel 15A has an upper lip (fitting portion) 15Aa, an upper flange (fitting portion / second upper surface) 15Ab, a web 15Ac, a lower flange 15Ad, and a lower lip 15Ae. The first lip steel 15A is formed by bending a plate-shaped member made from a material such as steel, aluminum, or stainless steel through press working or the like, thereby forming the upper lip 15Aa, upper flange 15Ab, web 15Ac, lower flange 15Ad, and lower lip 15Ae.

[0030] The upper flange 15Ab is the upper surface (second upper surface) of the second horizontal beam member 15. The upper flange 15Ab has an insertion hole 15Af into which the claw portion 29D formed on the shelf member 20, which will be described in detail later, can be inserted. The upper lip 15Aa is the portion that hangs down from the rear end of the upper flange 15Ab. The lower flange 15Ad is the lower surface of the second horizontal beam member 15. The web 15Ac is the portion that connects the upper flange 15Ab and the lower flange 15Ad and extends in the Z direction. The lower lip 15Ae is the portion that rises upward from the rear end of the lower flange 15Ad.

[0031] The second lip steel 15B has an upper lip 15Ba, an upper flange 15Bb, a web 15Bc, a lower flange 15Bd, and a lower lip 15Be. The upper lip 15Ba, upper flange 15Bb, web 15Bc, lower flange 15Bd, and lower lip 15Be are formed by bending a plate-shaped member made from a material such as steel, aluminum, or stainless steel through press working or the like.

[0032] The upper flange 15Bb is the upper surface portion of the second horizontal beam member 15. The upper lip 15Ba is the portion that hangs down from the front end of the upper flange 15Bb. The lower flange 15Bd is the lower surface portion of the second horizontal beam member 15. The web 15Bc is the portion that connects the upper flange 15Bb and the lower flange 15Bd and extends in the Z direction. The lower lip 15Be is the portion that rises upward from the front end of the lower flange 15Bd.

[0033] The first lip steel 15A and the second lip steel 15B are arranged back-to-back (facing each other) so that their webs 15Ac and 15Bc are in contact with each other. The first lip steel 15A and the second lip steel 15B are connected to each other by means of bolts, rivets, or welding. The first lip steel 15A has a portion into which the rear fitting portion 29 of the shelf member 20, which will be described in detail later, is fitted.

[0034] The shelf members 20 are members for holding (placing) the luggage T. The shelf members 20 are stretched across the first horizontal beam member 13 and the second horizontal beam member 15. The shelf members 20 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the X direction. The luggage T is placed so as to straddle one shelf member 20 and the other shelf member 20 that are adjacent to each other in the X direction.

[0035] The shelf member 20 has a support surface 21, a first protruding piece 22, an insertion surface 23, a guide surface 25, a second protruding piece 26, and a rear fitting portion 29. The shelf member 20 is formed by bending a plate-shaped member made from a material such as steel, aluminum, or stainless steel through press working or the like, thereby forming the support surface 21, the first protruding piece 22, the insertion surface 23, the second protruding piece 26, the guide surface 25, and the rear fitting portion 29.

[0036] The support surface 21 is the part that supports the load T from below. That is, the support surface 21 is the surface on which the load T is placed. The support surface 21 has a pair of first support surfaces 21A and second support surfaces 21B that sandwich the guide surface 25 in the X direction (see Figure 5(A)). That is, it has a first support surface 21A located on one side (left side) of the guide surface 25 in the X direction, and a second support surface 21B located on the other side (right side) of the guide surface 25 in the X direction. Each of the pair of support surfaces 21, 21 (first support surface 21A and second support surface 21B) is a surface perpendicular to the Z direction and is a flat surface formed along the guide surface 25 that extends in the Y direction.

[0037] The first projection piece 22 is a portion that protrudes forward from the front end of the support surface 21 in the Y direction. The first projection piece 22 has a first surface 22A that slopes upward toward the front from the front end of the support surface 21, and a second surface 22B that slopes downward toward the front from the front end of the first surface 22A. The direction of inclination of the second surface 22B and the direction of inclination of the upper surface 13C are different from each other. That is, the extension direction of the second surface 22B in the Y direction and the extension direction of the upper surface 13C in the Y direction intersect each other and are never parallel.

[0038] The insertion surface 23 is a surface that hangs down from the ends of the pair of support surfaces 21, 21 in the X direction, and is a surface perpendicular to the X direction. Each of the pair of insertion surfaces 23, 23 is inserted into the beam hole 130 of the first horizontal beam member 13, which will be described in detail later. Each of the pair of insertion surfaces 23, 23 has a fitting hole 23A into which a projection 133 formed in the beam hole 130 is inserted when the insertion surface 23 is inserted into the beam hole 130. The fitting hole 23A is a portion that penetrates in the thickness direction. The fitting hole 23A is located below the center in the Z direction of the insertion surface 23. The opening shape of the fitting hole 23A is not particularly limited, and is, for example, rectangular.

[0039] The pair of insertion surfaces 23, 23, in the state before the shelf member 20 is attached to the first horizontal beam member 13 (the state of the parts), are spread out so that they gradually move away from each other as they extend downward from each of the pair of support surfaces 21, 21. When a force is applied to bring the pair of insertion surfaces 23, 23 closer together, they deform so that the distance between the lower ends of the pair of insertion surfaces 23, 23 narrows.

[0040] The guide surface 25 is a member that restricts the movement of the load T placed on the shelf member 20 in the X direction, and also guides the load T in the Y direction while restricting its movement in the X direction when the load T is transferred to the shelf member 20. The guide surface 25 has a pair of side surfaces 25A, 25A that come into contact with a portion of the side surface of the load T, and an upper surface 25B that connects the pair of side surfaces 25A, 25A. Each of the pair of side surfaces 25A, 25A further has a front guide surface 25C. The pair of front guide surfaces 25C, 25C guide the load T from the upper surface 13C of the first horizontal beam member 13 to the support surface 21.

[0041] The pair of second protruding pieces 26, 26 have surfaces perpendicular to the Y direction and protrude from the rear end in the Y direction of the guide surface 25 to both one side (right) and the other side (left) in the X direction. The pair of second protruding pieces 26, 26 restrict the load T from flying out to the rear in the Y direction from the support surface 21.

[0042] The rear fitting portion 29 is the part that fits the shelf member 20 onto the second horizontal beam member 15. The shelf member 20 is fixed vertically to the second horizontal beam member 15 by the fitting of the first lip steel 15A (fitted portion) of the second horizontal beam member 15 with the rear fitting portion 29 (third fixing structure). The rear fitting portion 29 is formed at the rear end in the Y direction. The rear fitting portion 29 has a first fitting surface 29A, a second fitting surface 29B, a third fitting surface 29C, and a claw portion 29D. The first fitting surface 29A is the part that is parallel to the upper flange 15Ab of the first lip steel 15A when the shelf member 20 is attached to the second horizontal beam member 15. The second fitting surface 29B is the part that is parallel to the upper lip 15Aa of the first lip steel 15A when the shelf member 20 is attached to the second horizontal beam member 15. The third mating surface 29C is the portion that extends from the lower end of the second mating surface 29B toward the front. The third mating surface 29C is inclined downward toward the front from the lower end of the second mating surface 29B. In other words, the third mating surface 29C is formed such that the distance from the first mating surface 29A increases toward the front.

[0043] The claw portion 29D is a part that protrudes downward from the first fitting surface 29A and is formed to be insertable into an insertion hole 15Af formed in the upper flange 15Ab of the first lip steel 15A of the second horizontal beam member 15 when the shelf member 20 is attached to the second horizontal beam member 15. When the claw portion 29D is inserted into the insertion hole 15Af, the rear portion of the shelf member 20 is fixed in the X and Y directions (fourth fixing structure).

[0044] Next, the beam holes 130 formed in the first horizontal beam member 13 for connecting the shelf member 20 to the first horizontal beam member 13 will be described. The beam holes 130 are paired in the X direction, as shown in Figure 6. Each of the pair of beam holes 130, 130 is formed to allow insertion of each of the pair of insertion surfaces 23, 23 of the shelf member 20.

[0045] Each of the pair of beam holes 130, 130 is a portion that penetrates in the thickness direction from a part of the upper surface 13C to a part of the rear side surface 13D. When the first horizontal beam member 13 is viewed from above in the Z direction, each of the pair of beam holes 130, 130 is open upward from a part of the upper surface 13C to a part of the rear side surface 13D. Each of the pair of beam holes 130, 130 (hereinafter simply referred to as beam hole 130) has a lower end portion 131 that forms the inner edge of the beam hole 130, a first side edge portion 132, a protruding portion 133, a second side edge portion 134, an upper end portion 135, a third side edge portion 136, a fourth side edge portion 137, and a fifth side edge portion 138.

[0046] The lower end portion 131 is formed on the rear side surface 13D and is the portion that extends in the X direction at the lower end of the inner edge forming the beam hole 130. The first side edge portion 132 is formed on the rear side surface 13D and is the portion that extends in the Z direction. The projection portion 133 is formed on the rear side surface 13D and is the portion that protrudes from the first side edge portion 132 toward the inside of the beam hole 130 at a position above the lower end portion 131. The most protruding part of the projection portion 133, the outermost projection portion 133A, is located below the center of the beam hole 130 in the Z direction. The projection portion 133 has a lower edge 133B that rises as it approaches the outermost projection portion 133A, and an upper edge 133C that descends as it approaches the outermost projection portion 133A.

[0047] The second side edge 134 is formed on the upper surface 13C and extends in the Y direction at the upper end of the inner edge that forms the beam hole 130. The upper end 135 is formed on the upper surface 13C and extends in the X direction at the upper end of the inner edge that forms the beam hole 130. The third side edge 136 is formed on the upper surface 13C and extends in the Y direction at the upper end of the inner edge that forms the beam hole 130. The third side edge 136 faces the second side edge 134 in the X direction. The fourth side edge 137 is formed on the rear side surface 13D and faces the upper end edge 133C in the X direction. The fifth side edge 138 is formed on the rear side surface 13D and extends in the Z direction. The fifth side edge 138 connects the fourth side edge 137 and the lower end 131.

[0048] The pair of beam holes 130, 130 are arranged such that their respective protrusions 133 project inward from the first side edge 132 located on the outside. In other words, the pair of beam holes 130, 130 are arranged symmetrically to each other.

[0049] Next, we will describe the state in which the insertion surface 23 of the shelf member 20 is inserted into the beam hole 130, that is, the state in which the front end (front fitting portion 27) of the shelf member 20 is fitted into the first horizontal beam member 13. With the insertion surface 23 inserted into the beam hole 130, the shelf member 20 is fixed to the first horizontal beam member 13 in the X direction (first fixing structure). Also, with the insertion surface 23 inserted into the beam hole 130, the fitting hole 23A has the protruding portion 133 inserted into it, and the fitting hole 23A and the protruding portion 133 fit together, fixing the shelf member 20 to the first horizontal beam member 13 in the Y and Z directions (second fixing structure). In addition, the lower end portion 131 of the beam hole 130 and the lower end edge 23C of the insertion surface 23 come into contact. As a result, the position of the shelf member 20 relative to the first horizontal beam member 13 in the Z direction is determined, and the shelf member 20 is stably held by the first horizontal beam member 13. Furthermore, the lower end of the fitting hole 23A and the lower end edge 133B of the protruding portion 133 come into contact. This establishes two points, upper and lower, and suppresses movement of the insertion surface 23 in the Z direction.

[0050] Furthermore, a portion of the insertion surface 23 above the fitting hole 23A abuts against the third side edge 136 located on the opposite side of the first side edge 132 in the beam hole 130. In addition, a portion of the insertion surface 23 below the fitting hole 23A abuts against the first side edge 132 below the protruding portion 133. On a single insertion surface 23, both sides in the X direction abut against the inner edge of the beam hole 130, thereby suppressing movement of the insertion surface 23 in the X direction. More specifically, the distance between the first side edge 132 and the third side edge 136 in the X direction matches the thickness of the insertion surface 23 of the shelf member 20, the outer surface of the insertion surface 23 below the fitting hole 23A is in close contact with the first side edge 132 extending in the vertical direction, and the inner surface of the insertion surface 23 above the fitting hole 23A is in close contact with the third side edge 136. This condition is also true for the insertion surface 23 located on the opposite side in the X direction. This suppresses the movement of the shelf member 20 relative to the first horizontal beam member 13 in the X direction.

[0051] Next, the procedure for attaching the shelf member 20 to the first horizontal beam member 13 and the second horizontal beam member 15 will be described. First, the procedure for attaching the rear end of the shelf member 20 to the second horizontal beam member 15 will be described. As shown in Figure 8(A), the rear fitting portion 29 formed on the rear end of the shelf member 20 is hooked onto the second horizontal beam member 15. More specifically, the shelf member 20 is tilted so that the rear end of the shelf member 20 is facing downwards, and the third fitting surface 29C of the rear fitting portion 29 is moved below the lower lip 15Ae of the first lip steel 15A.

[0052] Next, with the rear fitting portion 29 hooked onto the second horizontal beam member 15, the shelf member 20 is pulled forward in the Y direction and tilted down so that the shelf member 20 is in a horizontal position. At this time, by tilting the shelf member 20 to a horizontal position while bringing the rear end portion 23B of the insertion surface 23 into contact with the upper lip 15Ba of the second lip steel 15B, the approximate positioning of the shelf member 20 in the Y direction relative to the second horizontal beam member 15 can be achieved.

[0053] Then, as shown in Figure 8(B), when the shelf member 20 is tilted to a horizontal position, the claw portion 29D of the rear fitting portion 29 is inserted into the insertion hole 15Af formed in the upper flange 15Ab of the first lip steel 15A of the second horizontal beam member 15. As a result, the rear end of the shelf member 20 (rear fitting portion 29) is positioned in the Z direction by the first fitting surface 29A, the second fitting surface 29B, the third fitting surface 29C and the first lip steel 15A, and positioned in the X and Y directions by the claw portion 29D and the insertion hole 15Af.

[0054] Next, the procedure for attaching the front end of the shelf member 20 to the first horizontal beam member 13 will be described. As described above, when the shelf member 20 is tilted to a horizontal position, the front end of the insertion surface 23 of the shelf member 20 is inserted into the beam hole 130 formed in the first horizontal beam member 13, as shown in Figure 9(A). In this state, by applying a downward force to the front end of the shelf member 20, the lower edge 23C of the insertion surface 23 comes into contact with the upper edge 133C of the protrusion 133 in the beam hole 130. Then, as the insertion surface 23 is guided downward by the downward force, it deforms in the direction of the pair of insertion surfaces 23 (inward) along the X direction.

[0055] Furthermore, when a downward force is applied to the front end of the shelf member 20, the lower edge of the fitting hole 23A of the insertion surface 23 extends beyond the most protruding part 133A of the protruding part 133 and comes into contact with the first side edge 132. At this time, a part of the protruding part 133 is inserted into the fitting hole 23A of the insertion surface 23, resulting in the state shown in Figure 9(B). The movement of the insertion surface 23 described above is the same for the other corresponding insertion surface 23. As a result, the front end of the shelf member 20 (front fitting part 27) is positioned in the X direction by the first side edge 132 of the beam hole 130 and the insertion surface 23, and is positioned in the Y and Z directions by the protruding part 133 of the beam hole 130 and the fitting hole 23A of the insertion surface 23. With this, the shelf member 20 can be attached to the first horizontal beam member 13 and the second horizontal beam member 15.

[0056] The procedure for removing the shelf member 20 from the first horizontal beam member 13 and the second horizontal beam member 15 is the reverse of the installation procedure described above. First, by applying force to the pair of insertion surfaces 23, 23 on the shelf member 20 in a direction that brings them closer together (inward), the protruding portion 133 is removed from the state in which it is inserted into the fitting hole 23A, and the front end of the shelf member 20 is lifted upward. This releases the fitting between the front end (front fitting portion 27) of the shelf member 20 and the first horizontal beam member 13. Next, with the shelf member 20 tilted so that its rear end is facing downwards, the shelf member 20 is moved backward. This releases the fitting between the rear end (rear fitting portion 29) of the shelf member 20 and the second horizontal beam member 15. With this, the shelf member 20 can be removed from the first horizontal beam member 13 and the second horizontal beam member 15.

[0057] The effects and advantages of the rack 10 in the above embodiment will now be explained. In the rack 10 in the above embodiment, the shelf members 20 are fixed to the first horizontal beam member 13 and the second horizontal beam member 15 by the first to fourth fixing structures described above. The first fixing structure is a structure that fixes the shelf member 20 to the first horizontal beam member 13 in the X direction by inserting (fitting) the insertion surface 23 of the shelf member 20 into the beam hole 130 of the first horizontal beam member 13. The second fixing structure is a structure that fixes the shelf member 20 to the first horizontal beam member 13 in the Y and Z directions by fitting the beam hole 130 formed in the insertion surface 23 into the protrusion 133 formed in the first horizontal beam member 13. The third fixing structure is a structure that fixes the shelf member 20 to the second horizontal beam member 15 in the Z direction by fitting the fitted portion, which is part of the first lip steel 15A of the second horizontal beam member 15, with the rear fitting portion 29 of the shelf member 20. The fourth fixing structure is a structure that fixes the shelf member 20 to the second horizontal beam member 15 in the Y direction and X direction by inserting (fitting) the claw portion 29D formed on the shelf member 20 into the insertion hole 15Af formed on the second horizontal beam member 15.

[0058] In the rack 10 of the above embodiment, the positioning action of the four fixing structures described above works together to prevent the shelf member 20 from moving in any of the X, Y, and Z directions relative to both the first horizontal beam member 13 and the second horizontal beam member 15. In other words, despite being a fixed interlocking structure, it is possible to prevent the shelf member 20 from moving in any of the three mutually orthogonal axial directions relative to the first horizontal beam member 13 and the second horizontal beam member 15 without using fastening members such as bolts.

[0059] In the rack 10 of the above embodiment, the first protruding piece 22 has a first surface 22A that slopes upward toward one side from one end of the support surface 21, and a second surface 22B that slopes downward toward one side from one end of the first surface 22A, with the second surface 22B in contact with the upper surface 13C of the first horizontal beam member 13. This prevents the load T held by the shelf member 20 from flying forward.

[0060] In the rack 10 of the above embodiment, the second surface 22B and the upper surface 13C are in contact such that the inclination direction of the second surface 22B and the inclination direction of the upper surface 13C intersect with each other. In other words, in the above embodiment, the second surface 22B and the upper surface 13C do not come into contact when the inclination direction of the second surface 22B and the inclination direction of the upper surface 13C are parallel to each other. This effectively suppresses the forward movement of the shelf member 20 in the Y direction when transferring luggage T.

[0061] In the rack 10 of the above embodiment, the third fitting surface 29C of the rear fitting portion 29 is inclined downward from the rear to the front. This makes it easier to attach the shelf member 20 to the second horizontal beam member 15 while suppressing the movement of the shelf member 20 in the Z direction by utilizing the elastic force of the flat plate member made of metal.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the shelf members 20 of the rack 10 are arranged in a plurality at intervals in the X direction. Each shelf member 20 has a support surface 21 with a pair of first support surfaces 21A and second support surfaces 21B in the X direction, and a guide surface formed between the first support surface 21A and the second support surface 21B in the X direction, projecting upward from the first support surface 21A and the second support surface 21B and extending in the Y direction. In this embodiment, the shelf members 20 hold the luggage T by supporting the right end of the luggage T in the X direction from below with the first support surface 21A of one adjacent shelf member 20, and by supporting the left end of the luggage T in the X direction from below with the second support surface 21B of the other adjacent shelf member 20. In addition, in this embodiment, the guide surface 25 can prevent the luggage T from shifting in the X direction.

[0063] In the rack 10 of the above embodiment, the shelf member 20 has a second protruding piece 26 that protrudes in both directions from the rear end in the Y direction on the guide surface 25. This prevents the load T from falling out from the rear in the Y direction.

[0064] Although one embodiment has been described above, one aspect of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of one aspect of the invention.

[0065] The conveying device deployed in the automated warehouse 1 for transporting cargo T may be of any type, for example, it may include a conveying device such as a stacker crane that is capable of traveling in the X direction and has a transfer device that is capable of moving in the Z direction.

[0066] In the above embodiments and modifications, an example was given in which the first horizontal beam member 13 also serves as the rail 51 of the traveling carriage 53. However, the first horizontal beam member 13 and the rail 51 may be provided separately. In this case, the rail 51 is provided along the first horizontal beam member 13 on the front side of the first horizontal beam member 13 in the Y direction. Furthermore, if a conveying device such as a stacker crane is provided as described above, the rail 51 is provided on the floor surface or the like where the rack 10 is installed.

[0067] In the above embodiments and modifications, a second horizontal beam member having a configuration in which two lip steels are arranged side by side was described as an example. However, the second horizontal beam member may be made of a single lip steel, or it may be made of channel steel or the like with different cross-sectional shapes.

[0068] Although the shelf member 20 of the above embodiment and its modified form has been described using an example in which a guide surface 25 is formed, the guide surface 25 may not be formed, and the shelf member may be formed only from a flat support surface 21. In this case, the size of the support surface 21 is formed so that one or more packages T can be placed on it, so that one or more packages T can be held on one shelf member 20.

[0069] In the above embodiment and the above modified example, the first protruding piece 22 of the shelf member 20 was described as being bent so as to be convex in the center in the Y direction, but it may also be formed in a straight line without being bent.

[0070] In the above embodiment and the above modified example, the third fitting surface 29C of the rear fitting portion 29 of the shelf member 20 was described as being inclined downward from the rear to the front in the Y direction, but it may also extend horizontally from the rear to the front. That is, when the first fitting surface 29A, the second fitting surface 29B, and the third fitting surface 29C are viewed from the X direction, they may be formed in a U shape.

[0071] One aspect of the present invention can be described as follows: [1] A rack for an automated warehouse that extends in a first direction and is capable of arranging a plurality of loads in the first direction, and is capable of transferring the loads from one side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the horizontal direction, The first horizontal beam member extending in the first direction, A second horizontal beam member extends in the first direction, is positioned opposite the first horizontal beam member in the second direction, and is positioned on the other side of the second direction relative to the first horizontal beam member, The system comprises a shelf member that is positioned to span across the first horizontal beam member and the second horizontal beam member, and which holds the luggage, The first horizontal beam member has a first upper surface that slopes downward from one side to the other side, a rear side surface that extends downward from the other end of the first upper surface and is perpendicular to the second direction, and a pair of beam holes that penetrate through the first upper surface and the rear side surface in the thickness direction, the pair of beam holes penetrating the rear side surface to form protrusions that project in directions facing each other. The second horizontal beam member has a fitting portion that is fitted to one end of the shelf member, and an insertion hole that penetrates the second upper surface perpendicular to the vertical direction in the thickness direction, The shelf member is formed by bending a plate-shaped member. A support surface that supports the aforementioned load from below, The first protruding piece is provided so as to protrude from one end of the support surface toward the one side, and contacts the first upper surface of the first horizontal beam member, The first horizontal beam member has a pair of insertion surfaces, each of which is formed to be insertable into the pair of beam holes, and each of which has a fitting hole into which the protruding portion is fitted when inserted into the pair of beam holes, The rear fitting portion that fits the fitting portion of the second horizontal beam member, A rack for an automated warehouse, having a claw portion that is inserted into the insertion hole when the fitted portion of the second horizontal beam member is fitted by the rear fitted portion. [2] The first protruding piece has a first surface that slopes upward toward the one side from one end of the support surface, and a second surface that slopes downward toward the one side from one end of the first surface. The rack for the automated warehouse according to [1], wherein the second surface is in contact with the first upper surface of the first horizontal beam member. [3] The rack for the automated warehouse according to [2], wherein the second surface and the first upper surface are in contact such that the inclination direction of the second surface and the inclination direction of the first upper surface intersect with each other. [4] The rear fitting portion has a first fitting surface extending in the second direction, a second fitting surface extending vertically downward from the other end of the first fitting surface, and a third fitting surface extending vertically downward from the lower end of the second fitting surface toward the one side in the second direction. The rack for an automated warehouse according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the third fitting surface is inclined downward from the other side toward the one side. [5] The shelf members are arranged in multiples with spacing in the first direction, The shelf member has a support surface provided with a first support surface and a second support surface in a pair in the first direction, and a guide surface formed between the first support surface and the second support surface in the first direction, projecting upward from the first support surface and the second support surface and extending in the second direction. The rack for an automated warehouse according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the guide surface is formed by bending a plate-like member between the first support surface and the second support surface in the first direction. [6] The rack for an automated warehouse according to [5], wherein the shelf member has a second projection that protrudes in both directions from the other end of the second direction on the guide surface. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1...Automated warehouse, 10...Rack (rack of automated warehouse), 11...Column member, 13...First horizontal beam member, 13C...Top surface (first top surface), 13D...Rear side, 15...Second horizontal beam member, 15A...First lip steel, 15B...Second lip steel, 20...Shelf member, 21...Support surface, 21A...First support surface, 21B...Second support surface, 22...First protruding piece, 22A...First surface, 22B...Second surface, 23...Insertion surface, 23A...Fitting hole, 25...Guide surface, 26...Second protruding piece, 27...Front fitting part, 29...Rear fitting part, 29D...Claw part, 50...First conveying device, 51...Rail, 53...Traveling trolley, 130...Beam hole, 133...Protruding part.

Claims

1. A rack for an automated warehouse, which extends in a first direction and is capable of arranging a plurality of loads in the first direction, and is capable of transferring the loads from one side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the horizontal direction, The first horizontal beam member extending in the first direction, A second horizontal beam member extends in the first direction, is positioned opposite the first horizontal beam member in the second direction, and is positioned on the other side of the second direction relative to the first horizontal beam member, The system comprises a shelf member that is positioned to span across the first horizontal beam member and the second horizontal beam member, and which holds the luggage, The first horizontal beam member has a first upper surface that slopes downward from one side to the other side, a rear side surface that extends downward from the other end of the first upper surface and is perpendicular to the second direction, and a pair of beam holes that penetrate through the first upper surface and the rear side surface in the thickness direction, the pair of beam holes penetrating the rear side surface to form protrusions that project in directions facing each other. The second horizontal beam member has a fitting portion that is fitted to one end of the shelf member, and an insertion hole that penetrates the second upper surface perpendicular to the vertical direction in the thickness direction, The shelf member is It is formed by bending a plate-like member. A support surface that supports the aforementioned load from below, The first protruding piece is provided so as to protrude from one end of the support surface toward the one side, and contacts the first upper surface of the first horizontal beam member, The first horizontal beam member has a pair of insertion surfaces, each of which is formed to be insertable into the pair of beam holes, and each of which has a fitting hole into which the protruding portion is fitted when inserted into the pair of beam holes, The rear fitting portion that fits the fitting portion of the second horizontal beam member, A rack for an automated warehouse, having a claw portion that is inserted into the insertion hole when the fitted portion of the second horizontal beam member is fitted by the rear fitted portion.

2. The first protruding piece has a first surface that slopes upward toward the one side from one end of the support surface, and a second surface that slopes downward toward the one side from one end of the first surface. The rack for an automated warehouse according to claim 1, wherein the second surface is in contact with the first upper surface of the first horizontal beam member.

3. The rack for an automated warehouse according to claim 2, wherein the second surface and the first upper surface are in contact such that the inclination direction of the second surface and the inclination direction of the first upper surface intersect with each other.

4. The rear fitting portion has a first fitting surface extending in the second direction, a second fitting surface extending vertically downward from the other end of the first fitting surface, and a third fitting surface extending vertically downward from the lower end of the second fitting surface toward the one side in the second direction. The rack for an automated warehouse according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the third fitting surface is inclined downward from the other side toward the one side.

5. The shelf members are arranged in multiples with spacing in the first direction, The shelf member has a pair of support surfaces, a first support surface and a second support surface, which face each other in the first direction, and a guide surface formed between the first support surface and the second support surface in the first direction, which protrudes upward from the first support surface and the second support surface and extends in the second direction. The rack for an automated warehouse according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guide surface is formed by bending a plate-like member between the first support surface and the second support surface in the first direction.

6. The rack for an automated warehouse according to claim 5, wherein the shelf member has a second protruding piece that protrudes from the other end of the second direction on the guide surface to one side and the other side in the first direction.

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