JPH1053308A - System for storing, taking-out and conveying article on plate - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and method for storing, taking-out and conveying articles of various shapes, dimensions and constitution in a warehouse, ship, airplane, and train without passage. SOLUTION: The compressed air controlled by a computer is sent to an air cushion 30 and into a support floor. The support floor is provided with an exit port 34 for compressed air, allowing the movement of a pallet 3 without friction because of compressed air. A means 40, which moves the pallet 3 horizontally or vertically is provided so as to be positioned in storing areas divided into rectangular units 1, and each unit is individually connected to a main control computer, which controls the whole of a device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the automatic storage, retrieval, and retrieval of articles of any shape, size, and configuration in warehouses, vessels, aircraft, trains, trucks or other article storage and transportation means without aisles. It relates to a system for transport. The system also allows the construction of aisle-free warehouses, aisle-free parking buildings, aisle-free parking lots, and aisle-free storage locations to maximize the use of available space.

[0002] The present invention is directed, in particular, to the automatic storage, retrieval and transport of articles stacked on pallets;
Regarding, but not limited to, any kind of container.

[0003]

The invention also relates to the automatic storage and retrieval of cars in a parking building or parking lot. The invention enables fully automatic computerized handling of stored items from a warehouse to a transport vehicle, from a transport vehicle to another transport vehicle, and a means of transport from the vehicle to the warehouse inside a warehouse without aisles. The invention also enables automatic loading and unloading of containers and automatic loading and unloading of containers on transport vehicles or storage locations. The new means can be mounted or mounted on vehicles such as ships, aircraft, trains, trucks and containers. This novel means can be mounted as a single level structure or as a multi-level structure in any conceivable configuration of rectangular units.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, storage of an article placed on a plate or pallet having a plurality of air cushions and a plurality of short legs on a lower side,
A system for unloading and transporting, wherein a computer-controlled flow of compressed air is directed into said air cushion and a support floor, said support floor being provided with an outlet for compressed air, said compressed air allowing frictionless movement of said pallet. Wherein the means for moving the pallet horizontally or vertically is provided so as to be located in a storage area divided into rectangular units including a pneumatic on / off control valve, a horizontal moving means and a vertical moving means, respectively, However, a system is obtained which is individually connected to the main control computer which controls the system as a whole. In practice, the means of movement are mechanical,
Any of pneumatic means, electric means and hydraulic means may be used.

[0005] A vehicle, load or any other item can be divided into units and placed on pallets as described above. Each of the above units is individually connected to a mounted control computer.

[0006] A standard computer interface is provided to link the computer with the warehouse computer.

All pallets are adapted to the size of a rectangular unit and allow free vertical or horizontal movement from one unit to another. Items to be stored are placed on a transport plate at a designated location outside the storage location. Thereafter, the pallet carrying the articles is placed on an air cushion, moved by means provided and controlled by a control computer. Each individual unit through which the pallet passes is activated before the pallet enters, allowing the pallet to move smoothly. Each unit whose pallet has already passed is immediately released from the activated state. The control computer places the pallets randomly in a storage location or according to software-defined criteria. In order to be able to move the pallets inside the storage area where many other pallets are stored, the computer dynamically moves all the required plates sideways so that the desired pallets can be moved from one point to another. Provide a passage to the point. For loading and unloading of vehicles or containers, the vehicle or container is placed near the storage location so that its floor height is the same as that of the storage location, forming a level-free surface. The computer onboard the vehicle is connected to the computer at the storage location to allow the pallet to move between the vehicle and the container.

To build a multi-level warehouse, an elevator must be installed. The elevator includes one or more such rectangular units. The dimensions of these units are the same as the rectangular units of the entire warehouse. Each of the rectangular units includes a pneumatic on / off control valve, a lateral motion actuator and a vertical motion actuator.

The controller of the unit and the controller of the elevator are each connected to a main control computer. Since the elevator is located near the warehouse, a smooth, continuous surface is formed at each level at which the elevator stops to allow frictionless movement of the pallet to and from the elevator. A control computer with appropriate software handles all movements of the pallet and records the position of each item in the storage location for each movement. The control computer handles the pallets for storage and retrieval of articles, calculates the path of each pallet's movement, and simultaneously ensures smooth movement with the storage location exit.

The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1, which schematically shows a storage facility having three storage surfaces. Each storage surface is divided into a number of rectangular units 1. The articles 2 to be stored are placed on a transport plate or pallet 3 (FIG. 2). If necessary, the pallet is placed on the elevator 4. Elevator 4 raises the pallet to the desired storage level.

When the elevator 4 stops, it forms a continuous surface with respect to the storage surface. As described above, the storage surface is constituted by a number of rectangular units 1.

The compressed air valve 5 (FIG. 3) is opened to send compressed air to the lower side of the transport pallet 3. At the same time, compressed air is sent underneath the nearby rectangular unit to form a frictionless motion surface. Compressed air is obtained from pump 6 and tubes 7, 8
Through the rectangular unit 1 and discharged through a plurality of holes 9. The pallet 3 is moved by various means 10 described later. The rectangular unit 1 is further provided with a sensor 13. The sensor of the rectangular unit of the elevator and the sensor of the rectangular unit 1 at the storage location detect that the transport pallet 3 has been completely moved to the first rectangular unit at the adjacent storage location, and the pneumatic valve of the elevator is closed. At the same time, with respect to the desired direction of movement,
The pneumatic valve of the next adjacent rectangular unit is opened to allow continuous movement of the transport pallet 3. Movement is provided by means 10 that allow movement to carry the pallet in any of four possible orientations. When the pallet containing the goods finally reaches its designated storage location, the pneumatic valve at that location is closed, stopping the air film effect below the transport pallet, so that the pallet is placed above the storage surface. Can be listed on

All of the above functions are controlled by a computer 12 connected to every single component in the system. The computer manages the movement of all transport pallets in the storage area so that the path of the transport pallets where the articles are placed and traversed is not blocked.

Similarly, any goods can be delivered and transported from warehouse to warehouse by using trucks equipped with the same equipment. Similarly, articles can be transported to ships, cargo aircraft, and the like.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the transport pallet 3 having four air cushions 30 and four short leg-like members 32. When the pallet 3 does not move, the pallet can be placed on those members.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a part of the floor (rectangular unit 1) on which the pallet 3 moves. This floor section has a plurality of holes or air outlets 34. The air outlets are precisely located in the planned path of the air cushion 30 in the transverse or longitudinal direction. The distance between the air outlets 34 is smaller than the diameter of the air cushion 30 so that the air cushion 30 can simultaneously cover two air outlets 34 (thus compressing from one air outlet until the air cushion meets the next air outlet). Receive air).
Further, there is provided a propulsion means 40 adapted to move the pallet 3 in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction.

FIG. 6 shows the floor and the propulsion means 40 provided.
FIG.

The transport pallet 3 has an elastic air cushion 30
And a short leg member 32. The transport pallet 3 floats on the floor 1 which is a part of the warehouse floor. 3 air outlets on the floor
4 are provided. These air outlets are connected to computer 1
Compressed air is received from an air valve 5 (FIG. 3) controlled by the air valve 2.

Two propulsion means 40 are further provided. One propulsion means is for lateral propulsion and the other propulsion means is for vertical propulsion and is fixed to the frame 38. The wheels are connected via a three-way valve 36 and a pipe 37 to a source of compressed air.

FIG. 7 is a top sectional view of the propulsion means 40. The propulsion means has a tire 41. The tire is axle 44
Is fitted on the wheel 42 attached to the vehicle. An air passage 43 connects the tire 41 to a hole 46 provided in the axle 44. A swiveling air connector 45 is connected to the hole 46. Compressed air is supplied through the air coupler to inflate the tire 41 freely. The axle is supported by bearings 47. These bearings are connected to a swing arm 48. As can be seen from FIG. 8 and FIG.
Is fixed to the pin 50 with the pin as a fulcrum. The pin allows the arm to swing up and down. The pin 50 is supported by the base structure 51. The base structure is fixed to the base of the floor frame 38. A spring 52 is mounted between the swing arm 48 and the base structure 51. When the tire 41 inflates through the pipe 37, the tire 41
And the pallet 3 contact (FIG. 9). When the air valve 36 is opened, air escapes from the tire 41, so that the tire
2 and separated from the pallet 3. The spring also resists the forces generated by the motor 54 and the belt 55 wrapped around the axle 44.

As can be seen from FIG. 9, the propulsion means contacts the pallet 23 when the tire 41 is inflated. Motor 54
Is activated, the rotation is transmitted to the wheels 4 by the belt 55.
2 and transmitted to the pallet 3 by the tire 41.

When the air is released through the valve 37, the contact between the tire 41 and the pallet 3 is broken, and the spring pulls the wheel down against the support arm 48.

It is supplied through a pipe 37 and has holes 3 in the floor 1
The compressed air released through 4 into the air cushion 30 inflates the air cushion. The inflated air cushion lifts the transport pallet 3 and keeps the legs 32 from contacting the floor. The compressed air is supplied to the tire 41 of the propulsion means 4, and the tire expands and comes into contact with the transport pallet 3.
When the motor is started, the wheels rotate and move the pallet in the desired direction. At the end of the movement, the motor is stopped and air is evacuated from the tire, allowing the spring to pull the tire down. The air supply is then turned off and the pallet rests on its feet at that point.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a multi-level storage facility.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a storage pallet and an article placed thereon.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a storage unit.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the transport pallet.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the floor unit.

6 is a side sectional view of FIG. 5 and the propulsion means.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the propulsion means.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing one mode of the propulsion means.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another mode of the propulsion means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rectangular unit 5, 36 Air valve 7, 8 Tube 9 hole 12 Computer 13 Sensor 30 Air cushion 32 Leg-like member 34 Air outlet 40 Propulsion means 41 Tire 42 Wheel 45 Linker 48 Swing arm 52 Spring 54 Motor

Claims (5)

[Claims] A computer controlled compressed air system for storing, retrieving and transporting articles placed on a plate or pallet having a plurality of air cushions and a plurality of short legs on an underside. Flow into the air cushion and the support floor, the support floor being provided with an outlet for compressed air, which allows frictionless movement of the pallet and means for moving the pallet laterally or vertically. , A system for storing, retrieving and transporting articles provided in a storage area divided into rectangular units, each of said units being individually connected to a main control computer controlling the system as a whole. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said rectangular unit comprises a pneumatic on / off regulating valve, said regulating valve being connected to an air pump, wherein said regulating valve and said air pump are controlled by said main computer. . 3. The rectangular unit according to claim 1, comprising two propulsion means for moving the plate placed thereon laterally or vertically, said means being connected to a source of compressed air. System. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein said unit comprises propulsion means adapted to expand to contact said pallet. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said unit comprises an inflatable air cushion.