JPH04341402A - Cartridge tape automatic management warehouse - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the time necessary to store/take out cartridge tapes to be stored on shelves. CONSTITUTION:In an automatic management warehouse for cartridge tapes which comprises horizontal cases 2 to store cartridge tapes 1 in a plurality of columns and in a plurality of rows, shelves 4 to support in a cantilever manner a plurality of stages of shelf plates 3 where a plurality of horizontal cases are loaded laterally, a robot 6 which travels in front of the shelves 4, there is provided to the shelf plates 3 robot arm shifting space parts 9 in the vertical direction common to the respective shelf stages.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic warehouse for storing magnetic or optical cartridge tapes containing microfilm used in large-scale computers and the like.

0002

[Prior Art] A robot running on rails takes out cartridge tapes placed on a shelf, and a cartridge tape reader uses the information retrieved by a computer to store the information in cylindrical, box-shaped, etc. Shaped warehouses are traditionally used. Each shape has its own characteristics, but for cartridge tapes with a large storage capacity, box-shaped ones seem to be more adaptable, including ease of expandability.

[0003] Regarding this box-shaped automated warehouse, patent application No.
-288643 proposes a shelf structure for effective robot operation. 4 to 6 show the structure. A robot arm 6a attached to a robot 6 grasps the cartridge tape 1 stored in the horizontal ground 2 and attaches it to the reading device 7, and the cartridge tape after the reading process is returned to its original position by the reverse operation. The series of processing is completed.

[0004] In the figure, 3 is a shelf plate attached to the shelf 4, 5 is a rail for moving the robot 6, and 8 is a shelf board connected to the shelf 4.
is a control device for controlling the movement of the robot 6.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In this structure, the shelf boards 3 are completely cantilevered, and there are no pillars installed between the shelf boards in the height direction, so the robot arm 6a can move the shelf boards 3 Rotational movement is possible while freely moving between the two. However, due to a restriction condition, in order to move from one shelf to another, the robot arm 6a must be pulled out once and set parallel to the rail, as shown in Figure 4, before it can move between shelves. Can not.

The use of cartridge tapes in computers requires high-speed operation with a storage capacity of 6,000 tapes requiring an average conveyance processing time of 11 seconds, and the reading device 7
Improvements are desired in this method of temporarily retracting the robot arm 6a to a central passageway far from the center.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention was developed in order to deal with such problems, and provides a horizontal case for storing cartridge tapes in multiple columns and multiple rows, and a horizontal case for storing cartridge tapes in multiple rows. In an automatic cartridge tape management warehouse consisting of a shelf that cantilever-supports a plurality of shelf boards placed in a horizontal row and a robot that runs in front of the shelf, the shelf board is provided with a vertical direction common to each shelf board. The robot arm is characterized by having a moving space for the robot arm.

[0008]

[Operation] With the above means, the robot arm can freely move between shelves within the movement space by turning to a position perpendicular to the robot's travel rail, and the reading device can be placed on the wall of the warehouse. That is, since it is perpendicular to the rail, it has the effect of shortening the time it takes for the tip of the robot arm that grips the cartridge tape to move to the reading device, thereby reducing the operational processing time overall.

[0009]

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Reference numerals 1 to 8 in the figures refer to FIGS.
The same parts as those in the conventional example shown in FIG. In the present invention, the shelf board 3 is provided with a vertical robot arm movement space 9 that is common to each shelf.

In this moving space 9, the robot arm 6
If a is turned to a position perpendicular to the rail 5, it can be freely moved between the shelves. In addition, since the reading device 7 is mounted on the wall side of the warehouse, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the rail 5, it has the effect of shortening the time it takes for the tip of the robot arm 6a, which grips the cartridge tape 1, to move to the reading device 7. It is effective in reducing time.

[0011] The number of moving spaces 9 is one or more, and an appropriate number is selected depending on the size of the warehouse.

0012

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the shelf board that is cantilever-supported on the shelf in multiple stages is provided with a space for moving the robot arm in the vertical direction common to each shelf stage. Since the arm can move between the shelves in the moving space, it has the effect of reducing the time required to handle cartridge tapes placed on the shelves, thereby enabling high-speed operational processing.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line AA in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line BB in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line A-A in FIG. 4;

6 is a view taken along arrow B in FIG. 4. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Cartridge tape 2 Horizontal case 3 Shelf board 4 Shelf 6 Robot 6a Robot arm 9 Robot arm movement space

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A horizontal case that stores cartridge tapes in a plurality of columns and rows, a shelf that cantilever-supports a plurality of shelf boards on which a plurality of the horizontal cases are placed in a horizontal row, and a front surface of the shelf. 1. An automatic cartridge tape management warehouse comprising a running robot, characterized in that the shelf board is provided with a vertical robot arm movement space common to each shelf.