Article processing equipment and article storage equipment

Abstract

To provide an article processing apparatus which can easily execute treatment of immersing an article into a liquid.SOLUTION: In an article processing apparatus 1, a lifting device 12 is configured to allow a support part 11 to lift relative to a first height H1 as a height at which the support part 11 and a supported article Wt do not interfere with a liquid tank 13 moving back and forth by a moving device 7 each other, a second height H2 as a height which is lower than the first height H1 and at which the supported article Wt immerses into a liquid 9 in the liquid tank 13, and a third height H3 which is lower than the first height H1. The support part 11 and the liquid tank 13 are configured such that the support part 11, the supported article Wt and the liquid tank 13 do not interfere each other even when the support part 11 and the supported article Wt are lifted between the first height H1 and the second height H2 in a state where the liquid tank 13 is in a use position T1, and also, the support part 11, the supported article Wt and the liquid tank 13 do not interfere each other even when the support part 11 and the supported article Wt are lifted between the first height H1 and the third height H3 in a state where the liquid tank 13 is in a retreat position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Claims

1. An article processing apparatus provided adjacent to a conveying device for transporting articles, which performs an immersion treatment on the articles by immersing them in a liquid, The device comprises a support section that receives the article from the conveying device and supports the article, a lifting device that raises and lowers the support section, a liquid tank containing the liquid and opening upwards, and a moving device that moves the liquid tank back and forth horizontally between a usage position and a retracted position. The article supported by the support portion is used as the supporting article. The lifting device is configured to raise and lower the support portion to a first height, which is a height at which the support portion and the supported article do not interfere with the liquid tank in which the moving device reciprocates; a second height, which is lower than the first height and is a height at which the supported article is immersed in the liquid in the liquid tank; and a third height, which is lower than the first height and is a height at which the article is received from the conveying device to the support portion. An article processing apparatus wherein the support portion and the liquid tank are configured such that, when the liquid tank is in the usage position, the support portion and the supported article move up and down between the first height and the second height without interfering with the support portion and the supported article and the liquid tank, and when the liquid tank is in the retracted position, the support portion and the supported article move up and down between the first height and the third height without interfering with the support portion and the supported article and the liquid tank.

2. The system further comprises a control system for controlling the lifting device and the moving device, The control system is When receiving the article from the conveying device to the support unit, the moving device is controlled to position the liquid tank in the retracted position, and the lifting device is controlled to position the support unit at the third height. After receiving the article from the conveying device to the support unit, the lifting device raises the support unit from the third height to the first height. With the support portion at the first height, the liquid tank is moved from the retracted position to the usage position by the moving device. The article processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, with the liquid tank in the usage position, the support portion is lowered to the second height by the lifting device, thereby immersing the supported article in the liquid in the liquid tank.

3. The aforementioned immersion treatment is a process in which, when the article generates heat, the article is immersed in the liquid to cool it. The lifting device comprises a lifting drive mechanism that generates and transmits driving force to raise and lower the support portion, and a heat shielding member. The article processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat shielding member is positioned opposite the side surface of the support article and between the lifting drive mechanism and the support article, and is configured to limit heat transfer from the side of the support article to the side of the lifting drive mechanism.

4. The system further comprises a float-restricting member for restricting the floating of the support article immersed in the liquid in the liquid tank, The support portion includes a support surface that supports the support article from below, The article processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the floating restricting member is positioned above the support surface at a distance greater than or equal to the vertical dimension of the supported article, and is configured to move up and down together with the support portion by the lifting device.

5. The moving device comprises a liquid tank support section that supports the liquid tank, and a drive device for reciprocating the liquid tank support section. The article processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid tank support portion is configured to allow the liquid tank to be detachably attached.

6. An article storage facility comprising an article processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and an automated warehouse, The automated warehouse comprises a storage rack having multiple storage compartments, and a transport device equipped with a transfer device. The transfer device is configured to move along the front of the storage shelf to transfer the items between it and the storage section. Each of the multiple storage compartments is configured to accommodate N items (where N is an integer of 2 or more) of the items in an arranged state. The transfer device is equipped with a fork that extends and retracts relative to the storage section, and is configured to allow the N items stored in each of the storage sections to be removed while maintaining their arrangement. The support portion of the article processing device is configured to support N articles in the arrangement state, and is an article storage device.

7. An article storage facility comprising an article processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and an automated warehouse, The automated warehouse comprises a storage rack having multiple storage compartments, and a transport device equipped with a transfer device. The transfer device is configured to move along the front of the storage shelf to transfer the items between it and the storage section, and is equipped with a fork that moves in the forward and backward direction during the transfer. When the support portion receives the article from the conveying device, the direction perpendicular to the direction of entry and exit when viewed from the vertical direction is defined as the width direction. The support portion comprises a fork insertion space which is a space in which the fork portion moves in the forward and backward direction when receiving the article from the conveying device, and support members which are arranged on both sides in the width direction relative to the fork insertion space and support the supported article from below, wherein the support portion is an article storage facility.

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