JPH0446846B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention is provided with a storage shelf having a large number of shelf booths vertically and horizontally, and in a shelf passage formed along the storage shelf, there is no access to the storage shelf. The present invention relates to an article storage device that allows stored articles to be taken in and taken out.

Prior Art Such article storage devices have been widely known in the past. In such conventional article storage devices, each storage shelf has one side as a frontage, that is, the side where stored articles are taken in and taken out, and this frontage surface is connected to a shelf passage. They were arranged facing each other. Therefore, when a large number of storage shelves are arranged in parallel, the middle storage shelves, excluding the outermost storage shelf, are arranged in pairs with their backs to each other.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing such a conventional article storage device, in which shelves A1 and A2, A3 and A4, and A5 and A6 are arranged in pairs and in contact with each other back to back. Frontage surface B2 of shelf A2 and frontage surface B3 of shelf A3 face shelf passage C1, frontage surface B4 of shelf A4 and frontage surface B of shelf A5.
5 faces the shelf passage C2, and article loading/unloading machines D1 and D2 are respectively installed in the shelf passages C1 and C2 so as to be movable parallel to the frontage surface, and the shelves A2 and A
3 is loaded/unloaded by a loading/unloading machine D1, and the shelves A4 and A5 are loaded/unloaded by a loading/unloading machine D2.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in such conventional article storage devices, articles can usually be taken in and out of storage shelves facing one shelf passage only by the loading/unloading machine of that shelf passage. For example, in FIG. 11, the storage shelf A3 can be loaded and unloaded only by the loading/unloading machine D1. Therefore, when a large number of articles are taken out from the shelf A3, only the loading/unloading machine D1 is operated, and the other loading/unloading machines D2, etc. are on standby, making it impossible to carry out efficient loading/unloading.

Incidentally, in recent years, there has been a demand for article storage devices that have a particularly high capacity for loading and unloading stored articles.

In order to increase the unloading capacity of an article storage facility in which loading/unloading machines are installed in the aisles between storage shelves, it is necessary to install a large number of loading/unloading machines relative to the storage quantity and to perform unwasteful unloading operations. It won't happen.

Means and Effects for Solving the Problems Therefore, the present invention provides a storage shelf in which a large number of shelf booths are arranged vertically and horizontally, and a container that stores stored articles and is stored in the shelf booths;
In an article storage device comprising a loading/unloading machine for loading/unloading the container into/out of the shelf booth, the storage shelf is configured to:
A single storage shelf has a depth approximately equal to the length of the container, and both front and rear end surfaces of the shelf booth serve as frontage surfaces for loading and unloading the container, and when the container is stored in the shelf booth, the frontage surface is Handles are provided on both end faces facing the single storage shelf, and hooks movable back and forth are provided on both front and rear sides of the single storage shelf and are movable parallel to the storage shelf and engageable with the handles. Place each machine.

According to the present invention, since loading/unloading machines are provided on both sides of a single storage shelf, a large number of loading/unloading machines can be installed for stored items, and they can be operated evenly without having separate loading/unloading machines. The article can be carried in and out of the storage shelf, and the article storage device has a high carrying capacity.

In addition, when the container is stored, the container can be moved from the bottom of the shelf by engaging the hook on the carry-in/out machine side with the handle that is exposed at the frontage of the shelf booth and moving the hook back and forth. It is moved in and out of the storage shelf by sliding the top of the container, and there is no need for operations such as extending the fork member to the bottom of the container and scooping up the container as in the conventional case, so the transfer time between the storage shelf and the loading/unloading machine is reduced. The loading/unloading capacity is greatly improved by shortening the loading/unloading capacity, and there is no need for a space for inserting a fork below the stored items in the shelf booth, so the shelf space can be used effectively.

Note that even when the present invention is applied to an article storage device having one row of storage shelves, the same effects and effects as described above can be obtained.

Embodiments Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to illustrated embodiments. The present invention is particularly effective when the stored item is a recorded magnetic tape for a computer, a video or audio tape or disk for a broadcast station, or a medical chart file for a hospital. This is also an article storage device intended for such stored articles. Stored items similar to those mentioned above are taken out individually each time the need arises, and once taken out, they are always returned to their original location. The quantity of articles to be taken out and the order in which they are taken out change every day, and the amount of work for loading and unloading varies depending on the time of day.

FIG. 1 is a partial side view of the article storage device according to this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a front view along the frontage of the storage shelf. This article storage device is constructed by arranging a plurality of storage shelves 1 parallel to each other at intervals, two of which are shown in FIG.
a, 1b are shown, and FIG. 2 shows three storage shelves 1.
a, 1b, 1c are shown. A large number of shelf booths 2 are provided in the storage shelf 1 in the vertical and horizontal directions. Each of these shelf booths 2 has openings 3 on both front and rear end surfaces, and articles can be taken in and out from either side through these openings 3, 3. Such shelf booths 2 are arranged in one row in the longitudinal direction of the storage shelves 1, and each storage shelf 1 is a single-row, single-type storage shelf.

A shelf passage 4 is formed between each storage shelf 1, and running rails 5 and guide rails 6 are installed at the bottom and top of the shelf passage 4, oriented in the longitudinal direction. An article loading/unloading machine 7 that travels within the shelf passage 4 along the traveling rail 5 is placed on the traveling rail 5 and is engaged with a guide rail 6. This loading/unloading machine 7 has a main frame 8 that extends until it approaches the upper and lower rails 5 and 6 and has a built-in drive device, and an elevator platform 9 that can be raised and lowered up and down along the main frame 8, The lifting platform 9 is provided with a loading platform 11 equipped with a hook 10 that performs reciprocating motion.

Each shelf booth 2 of the storage shelf 1 stores one container 13 containing a plurality of articles 12, as shown in FIG. 1 and as will be described in more detail later. The length of these containers 13 is approximately equal to the depth of the storage shelf 1, and handles 14 are provided protruding from both end faces corresponding to the frontages 3 of the shelf booths 2, and these handles 14, 14 are connected to the storage shelves 1, respectively. 1
It is exposed to the shelf aisles 4, 4 on both sides of the shelf. Therefore,
By moving the main frame 8 of the loading/unloading machine 7 and moving the lifting platform 9 up and down, the loading platform 11 is positioned in front of the desired shelf space 2, and the handle 14 of the container 13 stored in the shelf space 2 is attached to the handle 14 of the container 13 stored in the shelf space 2. Engage hook 10 and
By retracting 0, the desired container 13
can be taken out onto the loading platform 11, and the container 13 on the loading platform 11 can also be pushed with the hook 10 and stored in the shelf booth 2. At this time, the hook 10 only needs to move back and forth within the range above the loading platform 11, so the time for transferring the container 13 is shortened, and since there is no need to lift the container 13, space can be effectively used as storage space for goods. Therefore, this loading/unloading can be performed by using any of the loading/unloading machines 7 located in the front and rear shelf passages 4 sandwiching the storage shelf 1. For example, in FIG. 1, the container 13 stored in the storage shelf 1a can be taken in and out by the loading/unloading machine 7a or by using the loading/unloading machine 7b. Further, for example, the loading/unloading machine 7b can take in and out containers from the storage shelf 1a, and can also take out and take out containers from the storage shelf 1b.

The shelf booth 2 may have a wide frontage so that a plurality of containers 13 can be stored in one shelf booth.
However, even in this case, one container 13 is stored in the depth direction of the shelf booth, and both end surfaces of the container 13 provided with the handles 14 are arranged to face both front and rear frontages, respectively.

Container 13 pulled out in this way from shelf booth 2 of storage shelf 1 onto loading platform 11 of loading/unloading machine 7
are transported to the end of the shelf passage 4 by the loading/unloading machine 7. A first transfer table 15 is provided at the end of the shelf passage 4 in the same row as each storage shelf 1, and the containers 13 on the loading platform 11 are transferred onto the first transfer table 15 here.

This transfer is performed by moving the hook 10 in the same way as loading and unloading from the shelf booth 2. A transfer device 16 is arranged opposite to the first transfer table 15, and a second transfer table 17 is installed on the side of the transfer device 16 opposite to the first transfer table 15. Transfer device 1
6 is a rotary table 18, as will be described in more detail later.
The container 13 on the first transfer table 15 is moved by the loading/unloading device provided on the rotating table 18.
Pull out the specified article 12 from the guide member 19
Store it inside. Next, the rotary table 18 rotates 180 degrees, and the article 12 stored in the guide member 19 is transferred to the container 20 for carrying out on the second transfer table 17. The carrying out container 20 has a similar structure to the container 13, and the structure of the container 13 will be described in more detail later. The transfer device 16 is movably provided on the rail 21, and therefore cannot pull out a predetermined article 12 on any transfer table 15 other than the first transfer table 15 facing the second transfer table 17. It is also possible, in which case the transfer device 16 is
While returning to the position of the transfer table 17, the rotation table 18 is rotated. A transfer device 16 and a second transfer device 17 may be provided corresponding to each first transfer table 15, respectively.

Specified items 12 are placed in the shipping container 20.
When all have been transferred, this unloading container 20
are transferred onto a conveyor 22 as shown by the broken line in FIG. 2, and carried out from the main storage device by the conveyor 22. The original shelf booth 2 of the transported goods 12
The return to is performed in the reverse order of operation as above. A barcode reader 23 is provided at the end of the conveyor 22 on the loading/unloading side, and the barcode reader 23 reads the barcode displayed on each article 12 and reads the loaded article 1.
Send information regarding item 12 to the computer and
is returned to its original designated position in shelf booth 2.

In this embodiment, as described above, each storage shelf 1 is in a single row, and both end faces in the depth direction are openings, and containers 13 can be taken in and out from either side. In this case, when the containers 13 are taken out from the storage shelf 1a, the two loading/unloading machines 7a and 7b can be operated to take out the containers 13 from the storage shelf 1a. Enables efficient loading and unloading.

Also, for example, even if either the loading/unloading machine 7a or 7b stops due to a failure or maintenance,
The remaining loading/unloading machine 7b or 7a can be used to load/unload the storage shelf 1a. Therefore, since the loading/unloading machine 7a or 7b has stopped, the storage shelf 1
It does not occur that it becomes impossible to take in or take out the storage device, thereby causing the organic function of the storage device as a whole to be lost and the entire device to be forced to stop.

The number of rows of storage shelves 1 installed in one article storage device is selected by taking into consideration the total required storage amount of articles and the capacity of the loading/unloading machine, and by appropriately setting the length of the container, that is, the depth of the storage shelves. can. One loading/unloading machine 7 is installed on the outermost side of the parallel storage shelves 1.
In other words, if there are 2 rows of shelves, there will be 3 units, and if there are 3 rows of shelves, there will be 4 units.
If installed as a stand, the above effect can be fully obtained, but depending on the case, the outermost loading/unloading machine may be omitted. In this case, it is preferable to store items that are carried in and out less frequently on the outermost storage shelves.

FIG. 4 shows a modification of FIG. 3. In this modification, the first transfer table 15, the transfer device 16, the second transfer table 17, and the conveyor 22 are provided in two stages, upper and lower, so that articles can be taken in and out more efficiently. Furthermore, it is also possible to carry out loading and unloading at the same time, for example, by using the upper tier for carrying out articles and the lower tier for carrying in articles. These loading/unloading operations are automatically performed under computer control.

The detailed structure of each part of this embodiment will be described below. FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing an example of the container 13. The container 13 is open at the top and one side in the depth direction, and has a number of partition plates 25 erected at predetermined intervals on the bottom plate 24 at right angles to the depth direction. One storage article is stored between each partition plate 25. The stored item may be a rectangular item such as a rectangular case containing various tapes, a medical chart file, or a disc-shaped item containing a film, a disk, etc.
FIG. 1 shows a container 13 containing a rectangular article 12, and FIGS. 3 and 4 show a container 13 containing a disc-shaped article 12.

In addition, as shown in FIG.
It may also be stored inside. Each small box 2
6 has a handle 27 similar to the handle 14 of the container 13
is provided, and when transferring the article 12 from the first transfer table 15 to the second transfer table 17, the transfer device 1
The loading/unloading device on 6 is engaged with this handle 27 and moved together with the small box 26. Magnetic tapes, video tapes, audio tapes, etc. come in different sizes, but by placing them in the small standard box 26 and storing them in the container 13, the goods 1
Since each article 12 is stored at a predetermined interval in the container 13 regardless of its size (thickness or thinness),
This is extremely useful in determining the position of a designated article 12 in the transfer device 16 and taking out the article 12 appropriately. A barcode 28 is displayed on the upper surface of the article 12, and the barcode 28 is read by the barcode reader 23 as described above.

The container 13 shown in FIG.
5, a guide member 29 is provided to protrude from the bottom plate 24. These guide members 29 are arranged approximately along the center line of the small box 26 placed on the bottom plate 24, and a groove 30 into which the guide members 29 fit is provided at the bottom of the small box 26 along the center line. It is located along the Therefore, the small box 26 is guided by the guide member 29 by the engagement between the guide member 29 and the groove 30, and is pushed into the container 13 or pulled out from the container 13 at right angles to the depth direction of the container 13. A fall stopper 32 is vertically provided at the rear end of the guide member 29 along the side wall 31, and a handle 27 of the small box 26 is provided vertically along the side wall 31.
is provided with a notch 33, and this notch 3
3 and the falling stopper 32 engage, the article 1
This prevents a small box 26 storing 2 from falling down on a container 13. Therefore, even if there are no other small boxes 26 on either side of the small box 26, the small box 26 can independently maintain an upright state together with the article 12, and even if the width of the small box 26 is within a certain range, For example, small boxes 26 with slightly different dimensions.
However, they can be placed in the container 13 with their centers aligned at predetermined positions. FIG. 8 is a drawing of the small box 26 seen from the bottom side, and as mentioned above, there is a groove 30 along the center line, but both ends 30a and 30b of this groove 30 are widened. This makes it easy for the guide member 29 to fit into the groove 30 when the small box 26 is pushed into the container 13.

FIG. 9 shows the container 13 on the first transfer table 15,
Although it is a perspective view showing the transfer container 20 on the transfer device 16 and the second transfer table 17, the second transfer table 1
7. The carrying out container 20 is shown shifted in position to make the drawing clearer, and is actually located at the position indicated by the two-dot chain line 17a. Note that the articles 12 in each small box 26 are not shown. The transfer device 16 consists of a carriage 34 that can reciprocate left and right along the rail 21, and a turntable 18 rotatably provided on the carriage 34. A guide rod 35 is further mounted on the turntable 18. is fixed, and a sliding member 36 is provided which slides back and forth guided by the guide rod 35. This sliding member 36 has a hook 37.
is attached, and this hook 37 is engaged with the handle 27 of the small box 26 to release the sliding member 36.
By retreating along the guide rod 35, the small box 26 on the container 13 is drawn onto the rotating table 18. There is also a guide member 38 on the rotating table 18.
is fixedly installed, this guide member 38 is aligned with the guide member 29 of the container 13 when the small box 26 is drawn in, and the groove 30 that was fitted with the guide member 29 continues to be fitted with the guide member 38, It is guided by the guide member 38. The rotating table 18 is further provided with a pair of left and right side guides 19 that guide both sides of the small box 26, and the small box 26 is guided to a predetermined position on the transfer device 16 by these guide members 38 and side guides 19. It is placed correctly in the specified position.

In this way, the small box 2 inside the container 13
6 is pulled out and placed on the transfer device 16,
The rotating table 18 horizontally rotates 180 degrees, and the pulled out small box 26 directly faces the carrying out container 20 on the second transfer table 17 behind, so that the sliding member 3
6 and press the hook 37 to open the small box 26.
is pushed out and stored in a predetermined position within the carrying-out container 20. In this case, the position of the carriage 34 is adjusted by moving it left and right along the rail 21 as necessary. The structure of the carrying out container 20 is exactly the same as that of the container 13, and it is equipped with a guide member similar to the guide member 29, so the small box 26 is guided by this guide member and the guide member 38 and smoothly moves into the carrying out container. It fits into a predetermined position within 20.

Although not shown, the transfer device 16 includes:
Reciprocating movement of the carriage 34, sliding movement of the sliding member 36, rotational movement of the rotating table, and the handle 27 and the hook 3
The hook 37 has a built-in drive device for vertically moving the hook 37 necessary for the engagement of the hook 7, and this drive device is controlled by a computer.

Since each storage shelf 1 has the frontage 3 on both sides as described above, when the container 13 is pushed into the shelf booth 2 by the loading/unloading machine 7, there is a risk that the container 13 will protrude from the frontage 3 on the opposite side. Therefore, each shelf booth 2
A container slip-out prevention device 39 as shown in FIG. 10 is provided at both frontages 3, 3, respectively. This anti-slip device 39 also prevents the container 13 from slipping out of the shelf booth 2 and falling during an earthquake or the like. The slip-out prevention device 39 includes a hinge 41 attached to the lower surface of a support member 40 that partitions each shelf space 2 and supports the container 13, and a locking member 42 fixed to one arm piece 41a of this hinge 41. A locking piece 42c is provided at the outer end of the locking member 42 via a connecting piece 42b. The locking piece 42c is usually the spring 4 of the hinge 41.
3, the support member 40 protrudes to the center of the entire surface of the support member 40 as shown by the chain line in the figure.
This prevents the container 13 stored above from slipping out.

At the front end of the loading/unloading machine 7, an arm member is provided that can swing up and down around an axis parallel to the front edge of the loading/unloading machine 7. can move freely along the storage shelf 1, but when the container 13 on the support member 40 is pulled out, the hook 10 (FIG. 1) moves forward and pushes down this arm member, so the arm The connecting piece 42b is held down from above by the member, and the locking piece 42c is lowered to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 10, allowing the container 13 to be pulled out. When pushing the container 13 from the loading platform 11 onto the support member 40, the container 1
3 itself pushes down the arm member, and the locking piece 42c descends to the solid line position in the figure.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a storage shelf in which a large number of shelf booths are arranged vertically and horizontally, a container that stores stored articles and is stored in the shelf booth, and a container that stores the stored articles in the shelf booth. An article storage device comprising a loading/unloading machine for loading/unloading the container, wherein the storage shelf has a depth approximately equal to the length of the container, and both front and rear end surfaces of the shelf booth serve as frontage surfaces for loading/unloading the container. A storage shelf, and handles are provided on both end surfaces of the container facing the frontage surface when the container is stored in the shelf booth, and the container can be moved parallel to the front and rear sides of the single storage shelf along the storage shelf. Since each loading/unloading machine is equipped with a hook that can be moved back and forth and can be engaged with the handle, multiple article loading/unloading machines can be operated equally for each storage shelf, increasing the loading/unloading capacity. increases significantly.

Moreover, the time required to transfer the container between the storage shelf and the loading/unloading machine is shortened, further improving loading/unloading capacity, and no extra space is required below the stored items for loading/unloading. Therefore, the shelf space can be effectively used as storage space.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a partial side view of the article storage device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, Fig. 3 is a front view of the storage shelf as seen from the shelf aisle side, and Fig. 4 is a modification of Fig. 3. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the container, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing articles stored in the container, and FIG. 7 is a partial view showing another example of the container and a small box stored therein. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the small box seen from the bottom side, FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the transfer device, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the slip-out prevention device, and FIG. 11 is a conventional article storage. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the device. 1... Storage shelf, 2... Shelf booth, 3... Frontage, 4
... Shelf aisle, 5 ... Traveling rail, 6 ... Guide rail, 7 ... Loading/unloading machine, 8 ... Main frame, 9 ... Lifting platform, 10 ... Hook, 11 ... Loading platform, 12 ... Article , 13...container, 14...handle, 15...
First transfer table, 16... Transfer device, 17... Second transfer table, 18... Turning table, 19... Side guide, 2
0...Export container, 21...Rail, 22...
...Conveyor, 23...Barcode reader, 24...
...Bottom plate, 25...Partition plate, 26...Small box, 27...Handle, 28...Barcode, 29...
... Guide member, 30 ... Groove, 31 ... Side wall, 33
... cut, 34 ... carriage, 35 ... guide rod,
36...Sliding member, 37...Hook, 38...Guide member, 39...Slip prevention device, 40...
Support member, 41... Hinge, 42... Locking member, 4
3...Spring.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An article consisting of a storage shelf with a large number of shelf booths arranged vertically and horizontally, a container that stores stored goods and is stored in the shelf booth, and a loading/unloading machine that carries the container into and out of the shelf booth. In the storage device, the storage shelf is a single storage shelf having a depth approximately equal to the length of the container, and both front and rear end surfaces of the shelf booth serve as frontage surfaces for loading and unloading the container; Handles are provided on both end faces facing the frontage surface when stored in the shelf booth, and handles are provided on both front and rear sides of the single storage shelf,
What is claimed is: 1. An article storage device characterized in that a loading/unloading machine is provided, each of which is movable in parallel along the storage shelf and has a hook that can be moved back and forth and which can be engaged with the handle.