JPS6216902A - Handling method for article and device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make improvements in space capacity and operation efficiency, by installing plural stages of a conveyor device, a storing and delivery device and a transfer device, absorbing a difference between conveying height and storing height and transferring an article between both these devices, along a frontage of a storage equipment. CONSTITUTION:Plural stages of belt conveyors at both storing and delivery sides and storing and delivery stacker cranes are all set up along a frontage of a storage equipment. And, at the time of delivery, with a command of a control part 36, the stacker crane B is traveled to both directions, making a lifting part 31 of a crane body 3 go up and down and a delivery device 32 is positioned in the desired frontage, and a lifting part 41 of a truck 4 is made to go up and down, whereby a conveyor 43 is adjusted to each height of desired delivery conveyors C1, C2 and C3. Next, an article F is delivered from a warehouse via the delivery device 32, a conveyor 34, a transfer conveyor 5 and conveyors 42 and 43. Warehousing is carried out via a flow of warehousing system. Thus, space capacity and operation efficiency are improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention provides an article handling method and article that enables efficient (quick and continuous) loading and unloading of articles into and out of article storage equipment. It is related to the device.

[Conventional technology]

As a prior art related to an article handling method and device that can take articles into or out of a storage facility, there is
9-12005, JP-A-59-118603, JP-A-59-182104, Utility Model Publication 47-3
Those described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3170, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-4650, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 50-113178, and Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 59-37206 are known.

To briefly describe the description in the above publication, JP-A-59-t
2oo5q publication describes that case bodies stored on an accumulation conveyor are transferred to a supply conveyor in units of lofts.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-118603 describes the combination of a lift device and a single general conveyor for multiple, multi-stage lattice-like shelves.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-182104 describes that a picking warehouse facility is constructed using a vertical circulation conveyor.

Further, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 47-33170 describes that an apparatus for distributing loads in the vertical direction is constructed using a conveyor whose inclination angle in the vertical direction can be freely changed.

Further, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-4650 describes the combination of a stacker crane that travels and moves up and down, and a telescoping frame that expands, contracts, and swings as the stacker crane moves and moves up and down.

Further, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 50-113178 describes that an elevator capable of vertically movable pitch is tilted I'Jl.

Further, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 59-37206 describes that an elevating conveyor is swung integrally with the lifting and lowering of a cargo delivery tool.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, the conventional article handling methods and devices described above have the following problems.

That is, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-12005, the case body can be supplied quickly and efficiently, but an extremely large lane body is required.

Furthermore, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-118603, the conveyor is composed of a swinging frame and a horizontal fixed frame, and a single belt is wound around both frames, so that these are integrally constructed. In particular, when dealing with high-rise storage facilities, it is necessary to determine the slope of the swing frame within the slope at which the articles will be rolled in accordance with the height of the top shelf.

Therefore, the length of the swinging frame has to be extremely long, and as a result, the installation space for the storage equipment requires the width of the storage equipment's frontage plus the length of the swinging frame, which is extremely large. This will create a put space.

In addition, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 59-182104, the size of the crane body can be reduced, and the punt space can be reduced; Although it requires complicated control, there is a limit to conveyance capacity.

Further, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 47-33170, there is no description of automatically loading or unloading articles into or out of an article storage facility.

Furthermore, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-4650, especially when adapting to high-rise storage facilities, it is necessary to determine the slope of the telescopic frame within a slope that does not cause objects to fall over, in accordance with the height of the top shelf. Therefore, the length of the telescopic frame must be extremely long, and as a result, the dispensing base must be located extremely far from the end of the storage equipment.
This will result in an extremely large dead space.

Further, in the method disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 50-113178, articles cannot be handled continuously.

Further, in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 59-37206, the structure of the storage facility is limited because the transfer device is not provided with a traveling function.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable efficient, rapid, and continuous loading and unloading of goods into and out of storage equipment from multiple lines without creating dead space around the storage equipment. The object of the present invention is to provide a method and device for handling such articles.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides an article handling method for loading or unloading articles into or out of a storage facility having multiple rows and multiple levels of frontage.
An article warehousing or unloading step in which an article warehousing or unloading device is run vertically and horizontally along the frontage of the storage facility to store or unload articles from the article warehousing or unloading device; A multi-stage article conveyance process in which articles are conveyed in parallel planes, the loading or unloading height of articles in the article loading or unloading process, and the conveying height of articles in each article conveying process in a plane parallel to the plurality of traveling planes. absorb the difference between the two, and transfer the article from the article conveyance process to the article warehousing process in a plane parallel to the desired running plane, or from the article unloading process to the article conveyance process in a plane parallel to the desired running plane. The above object has been achieved by providing an article handling method characterized by comprising a multi-stage article conveyance process.

Further, the present invention provides an article handling apparatus for carrying out the above-mentioned method, in which articles are loaded into or taken out of a storage facility having a frontage of multiple rows and multiple stages. An article warehousing or unloading device that runs vertically and horizontally to store or unload articles; a multi-stage article transport conveyor that conveys articles in a plane parallel to the running surface of the article warehousing or unloading device; and the above warehousing or unloading device. A multi-stage article conveyor that connects the device and the article conveyor in a plane parallel to a desired running surface, and the above-mentioned warehousing or unloading device,
It is placed on the elevating section of a stanker crane that runs left and right along the frontage of the storage facility, and the multi-stage article conveyor has one end supported by the elevating section and the other end supporting the topmost articles. The stanker crane is supported by another elevating section that can move up and down between the transport conveyor and the lowest article transport conveyor, and is swingable so as to absorb the difference in height caused by the elevation of both the elevating sections. The present invention provides an article handling device characterized in that it is provided in an article handling device.

〔Example〕

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, an embodiment of the article handling apparatus of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of the article handling device of the present invention. In the figure, A is a storage facility, and B is an exit side that runs left and right along the exit side frontage of storage facility A. The stunker cranes C-1, C-2, and C-3 are installed on the outside of the running surface of the stunker crane B to pick up multiple stages of goods Il! on the delivery side. A transport conveyor (hereinafter referred to as an article unloading conveyor), D is a stanker crane on the warehousing side that runs left and right along the entrance on the warehousing side of storage facility A, E-1, E-2
, E-3 is a multi-stage article transport conveyor (hereinafter referred to as article carry-in conveyor) on the warehousing side, which is disposed outside the running surface of the stunker crane D. The article handling device of this embodiment is roughly as follows. Articles F, F, . From the conveyors E-1, E-2, E-3, the desired types of articles F, F, ... are entered into the storage facility A via the waiting stanker crane D on the receiving side, and at the same time, the products are stored in the storage facility A. Articles F, F, of the desired type within
... is taken out of the warehouse by the stacker crane B on the outgoing side, and can be delivered to the desired outgoing line (not shown) by the goods carrying out conveyors C-1, C-2, and C-3 of the desired stage. It is composed.

To explain each part in the embodiment in detail, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the storage equipment A is formed of a fluidized shelf having a frontage in multiple rows and multiple stages, and a pair of rails each having a large number of rollers. Articles F, F, ... placed on rollers with frames 1゜1 arranged at an angle for each frontage.
The structure is such that it can be moved from the storage side to the storage side by gravity. Note that the rail frame 1 can be provided with wheels instead of rollers.

In addition, the article carrying-out conveyors C-1, C-2, and C-3 and the article carrying-in conveyors E-1, E-2, and E-3 are shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 6, respectively. As shown, three stages are arranged approximately horizontally at a height near the frontage of the center stage of storage equipment A, located outside the running surface of the stacker crane B on the outgoing side of storage equipment A and the stunker crane D on the input side. It is. Then, Article 1 General Conveyor I-1. E-2,
E-3 is configured to be able to rotate forward and reverse as appropriate.
In addition, the goods F supplied from the warehousing side line (not shown)
, F, ... to an appropriate position.

In addition, the above-mentioned stacker crane B on the delivery side is shown in Fig. 2.
As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the upper and lower rails 21 and 22
The crane main body 3 is supported by and runs left and right along the exit side frontage of the storage facility A, and the crane body 3 follows the crane main body 3 and is also supported by the upper and lower rails 21 and 22 and runs along the exit side frontage to the storage facility. It mainly consists of a truck 4 that runs left and right along the crane, and a multi-stage article transport conveyor 5 that connects the crane body 3 and the truck 4, and a shipping device 32 is mounted on an elevating section 31 provided on the crane body 3. The unloading device 32
By traveling the crane main body 3 and moving the elevating part 31 in the vertical direction, it is possible to travel vertically and horizontally along the frontage of the storage facility [A], and articles F, F,
. None.

To explain in more detail the stunker crane B on the delivery side based on FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the elevating section 31 of the crane main body 3 is movable up and down by the elevating section drive device 33. On the elevating part 31, in addition to the unloading device 32, there is also a roller conveyor that transfers the articles F, F, etc. taken out from the storage facility A by the unloading device 32 to the multiple-stage article conveyor 5. 3
4 is installed. As the unloading device 32, storage equipment A is used.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-1982 is provided with a pair of extendable swinging conveyors 32a, 32a that can enter between the tips of a pair of rail frames 1, 1 and take out articles F, F, . . . from a storage facility A. A picking device as described in Japanese Patent No. 207304 is used. Further, the rollers of the roller conveyor 34 may be arranged perpendicularly to the conveyance direction of the articles, but in this embodiment, they are arranged diagonally.
As a result, the article F transferred from the unloading device 32 is generally transported (as indicated by the arrow in FIG. None so that it can be located in the center. In addition, the crane main body 3 is equipped with a travel drive device 35 for self-propelling the crane main body, a lifting section drive device 33, 40, a control device 36 for controlling the travel drive device 35, and the like.

Also, the trolley 4 in the stunker crane B on the delivery side
The uppermost article carrying-out conveyor C-1 and the lowermost article carrying-out conveyor C- are driven by the lifting unit drive device 40.
An elevating section 41 that ascends and descends between the
A conveyor 42 and a curved conveyor 43 are sequentially installed above to deliver the article F from the article conveyor 5 of multiple stages to the article conveyor C-1, C-2, C-3 of a desired stage. It is. The tip of the conveyor 43 is located close to the side edges of the article delivery conveyors C-1, C-2, and C-3.
The conveyors C-1, C-2,
A free guide roller 44 for discharging to C-3 is installed upright.

Furthermore, the multi-stage article transport conveyor 5 in the stacker crane B on the exit side has one end connected to the elevating section 31 of the crane main body 3 so as to connect the roller conveyor 34 of the crane main body 3 and the conveyor 42 of the trolley 4. fulcrum 3
1a to be rotatably supported, and the other end is rotatably supported to the fulcrum 41a of the lifting section 41 of the truck 4. Therefore, the multi-stage article conveyor 5 swings as the elevating section 31 of the crane main body 3 and the elevating section 41 of the trolley 4 rise and fall, and the unloading device 3 moves on a downward slope, a horizontal slope, or an upward slope.
Articles F, F, ・ absorb the difference in height from 2.
... to the desired stage of article delivery conveyor C-1, C-2, C
- 3 and also has the function of towing the trolley 4 following the self-propulsion of the crane main body 3. Note that the multi-stage article conveyor 5 can be short because it can swing as described above.

In addition, the stacker crane D on the warehousing side is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the unloading device of the stunker crane B on the unloading side is placed in the warehousing device, and with some minor changes made to the details, the goods carrying conveyor E-1, The unloading side has substantially the same structure as the above-mentioned stacker crane B, except that it is suitable for warehousing articles from 2-2 and E-3 to the storage facility A.

That is, the stanker crane D on the warehousing side has a crane main body 3' supported by upper and lower rails 21', 22' and running left and right along the entrance on the warehousing side to the storage facility, and a crane main body 3' that is supported by upper and lower rails 21' and 22', and a plurality of stages of article conveyance attached to the crane body 3'. Cart 4 following through conveyor 5°
′ as the main body, and the article carrying conveyors E-1 and E-1 of the desired stage
~2. The articles F, F, etc. of E-3 are transferred to the multi-stage article conveyor 5' and the lifting section 31 of the crane main body 3'.
The warehousing device 32' mounted on the warehousing device 32' allows the storage equipment A to be supplied to any desired opening.

To explain in more detail about the stacker crane D on the warehousing side, in addition to the warehousing device 32°, on the lifting part 31' which can be raised and lowered by the drive device 33'' in the crane main body 3'', there are
Roller conveyors 34', 34', 34' are placed in series to transfer articles F, F; .

As the warehousing device 32'', a feeding device consisting of a roller conveyor with a centering guide 32'' is used.

The rollers of the warehousing device 32'' are arranged diagonally, and the centering guide 32'' moves the articles F to be fed to the storage facility A into the warehousing device using a computer-controlled power cylinder according to their size. There is a roller conveyor 34' that is centered at the center of the roller conveyor.A roller conveyor 34' transfers articles from a plurality of article conveyors to the storage device 32°.

34° and 34゛ are provided to be perpendicular to the storage device 32', and a roller conveyor 34° in the center is provided with a conveyor for guiding the articles supplied from the multi-stage article conveyor 5°. In addition, the crane body 3'' is equipped with a traveling drive device 35'' for self-propelling the crane body, and an elevating section drive device 33', 4''.
0 and a control device 36° for controlling the traveling drive device 35′.

Also, the trolley 4 of the stunker crane D on the warehousing side
An elevating section 41' that is driven by an elevating section drive device 40'' to move up and down between the uppermost article carrying-in conveyor E-1 and the lowermost article carrying-in conveyor E-3 is provided. A desired stage of article carrying conveyor E-1 is placed on section 41'.
A multi-stage article conveyor 5 transports articles from E-2 and E-3.
The curved conveyor 43° and the conveyor 42', which are to be transferred and loaded at the same time, are sequentially coated. The tip of the conveyor 43' is connected to the article carry-in conveyors E-1, E-2, E-
An example of such a tip end section includes a guide conveyor 43'' that smoothly introduces articles to the conveyor 43°, and a guide conveyor 43'' that smoothly introduces articles to the conveyor 43°.
It is provided on E-2 and E-3 so that it can be protruded in and out by appropriate means.

Furthermore, the multi-stage article transport conveyor 5'' in the stacker crane D on the warehousing side has one end attached to the crane body so as to connect the roller conveyor 34'' of the crane body 3'' and the conveyor 42'' of the truck 4''. It is rotatably supported at the fulcrum 31a' of the 3° elevating section 31', and the other end is rotatably supported at the fulcrum 41a' of the elevating section 41' of the truck 4'.

Next, the article handling method of the present invention will be explained based on an embodiment using the article handling apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 7.

Articles F and F from the warehousing side line (not shown).

. . . on the goods carrying conveyor E- to be stored in the storage facility A.
1, E-2, and E-3, goods F and F.

... are conveyed to the front side of the entrance on the warehousing side to the storage facility by the article carry-in conveyors E-1, E-2, and E-3 (article conveyance process for warehousing). In front of the entrance of the storage facility A on the storage side, there is a stanker crane D on the storage side.
The warehousing device 32°, which can move vertically and horizontally, is positioned at an arbitrary frontage of the storage facility A based on a command from the control device 36°, and goods F, F of the type to be supplied to the storage facility.

A conveyor 34° with a 4° trolley is positioned at the same height as the 1ul 1 person conveyor E-1, E-2, E-3 of the desired stage to be supplied, and the guide conveyor 43' at the tip thereof is
The articles F, F, . The products are sequentially introduced from the guide conveyor 43'' in the stacker crane D to the conveyors 43' and 42', and transferred to the warehousing device 32' via the roller conveyor 34' of the elevating section 31' by the multi-stage article transport conveyor 5'. (Multi-stage article transport process for warehousing) Articles F and F transferred to the warehousing device 32°.

... is placed in the storage bag r! centered by the centering guide 32' in the corresponding frontage of the storage facility A!
132' (goods warehousing process).

In addition, the article carrying conveyor E-1゜E- of the first desired stage
When the final article F in articles F, F, ... from 2, E-3 is carried into the stuff car crane D on the warehousing side, a detector that confirms this causes the guide conveyor 43'' to move to the first desired stage. Articles 1 General conveyor E-1, 8-2, E
-3, the elevating section 41' of the cart 4'' moves up and down to the height of the next desired stage of the article carrying conveyors E-1, E-2, and E-3, and the guide conveyor 43'' again moves to the next stage. The article carrying-in conveyors E-1, E-2, E-3 of the first desired stage protrude above the article carrying-in conveyors E-1, E-2, E-3 of the desired stage.
Following the articles F, F, ... from the article F on the article carrying conveyor E-1, E-2, E-3 of the next desired stage
, F, ... are supplied to the stacker crane D on the warehousing side in preparation for warehousing into the storage facility A.

Also, the article carrying conveyor E-1 of the first desired stage
, E-2, E-3 to the storage facility A, the stacker crane D on the warehousing side transfers the goods to the next desired tier conveyor E-1, E.
In the state where the articles F, F, ... from -2, 2-3 are loaded, the warehousing device 32° moves the stanker crane D itself on the warehousing side in the left-right direction or its elevating section 3
1', the goods F, from the goods carrying conveyors E-1, E-2, E-3 of the next desired stage are moved to the next doorway to be stored in the storage facility.
F, . . . are supplied.

In addition, in the above-mentioned warehousing mode, the stanker crane D on the warehousing side is connected to the article carrying conveyors E-1 and E of the next desired stage.
With the articles F, F, ... from -2, E-3 loaded, the warehousing device 32' is run, and the article carrying conveyor E-1, E-2 of the next desired stage is carried out after this run.
, E-3 are being supplied, but the next desired stage of the article carrying conveyor E-1, E-2,
The articles F, F, ... from 8-3 are not loaded onto the stanker crane D on the warehousing side, but are kept waiting on the article carrying conveyors E-1, E-2, E-3 of the next desired stage. After the warehousing device completes its 32° travel or elevation, the articles F on the article carrying conveyors E-1, E-2, E-3 of the next desired stage
It is also possible to supply F, . . . to the stacker crane D on the warehousing side by changing the control design. In this case, when the stanker crane D on the warehousing side travels upstream of the article carry-in conveyors E-1, E-2, E-3, the article carry-in conveyors E-1, E-3 of the next desired stage are ,E
-3 is reversed, and in accordance with the movement of the stacker crane D on the storage side, the goods carrying conveyor E-1°E- of the next desired stage is moved.
2. Move articles F, F, ... of E-3 to the upstream side.

It is preferable to let

On the other hand, when unloading the articles F, F, ... from the storage facility A, the stunker crane B on the unloading side runs in the left and right direction based on the command from the control device 36, and the elevating section of the crane main body 3 31 goes up and down and the delivery device 32
is located at an arbitrary frontage of the storage facility A, and the conveyor 43 at the tip is moved up and down by the lifting section 41 of the cart 4 to the article carrying out conveyor C-1, C-2, C- of the first desired stage.
After being located at a height of 3, an arbitrary number of articles F, F, . Goods F, F,...
- are sequentially carried out by the multi-stage article transport conveyor 5 via the conveyor 42 and conveyor 43 of the trolley 4 to carry out the article on the first desired stage of the article conveyor C-1, C-2. Transferred to C-3 (
The transferred articles F, F, . goods conveyance process), and are sent to the desired line on the exit side.

Then, the article F from a predetermined opening in the storage facility A,
When the unloading of F, . . . is completed, the retrieved articles F, F, .
While unloading to C-2 and C-3, the unloading device 32 moves to the next frontage, and the unloading conveyor C-
After the articles F, F, .
-1, C-2, C-3, and from the next frontage, an arbitrary number of articles F, F, . , C-3.

In the above-mentioned unloading mode, while the unloading device 32 is moving to the next frontage in the storage facility A, the articles F, F, etc. that have already been taken out from the storage facility A are transferred to the articles in the first desired stage. Although the items are transferred to the unloading conveyors C-1, C-2 and C-3, this transfer may be stopped until the unloading device 32 arrives at the next frontage. Also, the shipping device 32
Before the goods arrive at the next frontage, the stanker crane B on the outgoing side is driven to a predetermined position (the receiving position is the delivery position), and at this predetermined position, the blown out goods F, F, ... are transferred to the first desired stage. Article unloading conveyor C-1, C-2, C
-3, and after completion of the transfer, the unloading bag W32 can be moved to the next frontage to perform the next unloading.

FIG. 8 shows another example of the stacker crane B on the delivery side.
is not supported by the upper rail 21 and travels only on the lower rail 22, and between the crane main body 3 and the trolley 4, there is a connection that forms a link mechanism together with the multi-stage article conveyor 5. By rotatably supporting the rods 51 at both ends and connecting them, it is possible to prevent the trolley 4 from falling in the running direction. Fig. 2 except that a guide conveyor 44 is provided in place of the free guide roller.
Stank crane B on the exit side shown in Figures 3 and 4
It is configured in the same way as .

Although not shown, the stanker crane D on the warehousing side
The structure can also be made similar to that shown in FIG. Also, the 8th
In relation to the figure, the crane bodies 3゜3゛ of the stacker cranes D and B on the loading and unloading sides also run on the lower rails 22, unlike those in Figures 2, 3 and 4. It can also be configured with a cart with a lift, or with a hanging crane that runs on the rails 21 above.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the article handling device of the present invention, and in this embodiment, the stunker crane is configured as a type that can be used for both loading and unloading. That is, the stanker crane G, which can be used both for storage and retrieval, is capable of traveling between a pair of storage facilities A and A, and the storage and retrieval bag Wt37 is placed on the lifting section 31 of the crane body 3, and The dual-purpose device 37 transports the articles F, F,
... are connected to the article transport conveyors H-1, H-2, H-3. The warehousing/unloading device 37 includes a picking device 37a facing the storage equipment A, and A, respectively.
37b as the main body, and a roller conveyor 38 between them.
At the same time, a pusher 3 is placed at a position facing the multi-stage article conveyor 5 with the roller conveyor 38 in between.
9, and a stopper 38b for the article taken out by the other picking device 37b in close proximity to one picking device 37a, and a stopper 38b for the article taken out by the other picking device 37b, and
A stopper 383 for the article taken out by one of the peering devices 37a is provided between the rollers of the roller conveyor 38 so as to be retractable. Therefore, according to the article handling device of FIG. 9 configured as described above, the stored articles can be taken out from either of the storage facilities A, A, using the pinking devices 37a, 37b, and the taken out articles can be After being stopped by the stopper 383 or 38b, the product can be pushed out onto the plurality of article transport conveyors 5 by the pusher 39 and carried out by the article transport conveyors H-1, H-2, and H-3 of the desired stage. In addition, when entering the warehouse, the bushier 39 can function as a centering guide for the articles, and the article conveyor 5 of multiple stages moves from the article conveyor I (-1, H-2, H-3) to the desired stage. The articles transferred onto the conveyor 38 can be supplied to any of the storage facilities A, A by reversing the pair of extendable swinging conveyors 37a', 37b' of the picking devices 37a, 37b. Also, one picking device 37a
If the pinking device 37b is reversed to function as a supply device, and the other pinking device 37b is rotated forward to function as a take-out device, articles can be transferred from one storage facility to the other storage facility A. can. Note that the storage facilities A and A in this embodiment are not formed of fluidized shelves but are formed of ordinary fixed shelves. In addition, a multi-stage article conveyor H
-1, H-2゜H-3 does not have to reach the ends of the storage facilities A and A as shown in the figure.Furthermore, the structure of the truck 4 of the stunker crane G, which can be used for both loading and unloading, is Figure 5, 6th
Dolly 4 of stacker crane D on the storage side in Figures and Figure 7
It is preferable to have a structure similar to ゛.

FIG. 10 shows still another embodiment of the article handling device of the present invention. The article handling device of this embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. and the stunker crane B on the exit side run outside of the multi-stage article carry-in conveyors E-1, E-2, E-3 and the multi-stage article carry-out conveyors C-1, C-2, C-3, respectively. There is nothing like that. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of article delivery conveyors C-1,
C-2, C-3 and multi-stage article carrying conveyor E-1,
The steps to the storage equipment corresponding to the heights of E-2 and E-3 (not shown in FIG. 11) are equipped with an article retrieval device 32 and a storage device (also shown in FIG. 1θ and FIG. 11). (not shown)
Since it is difficult to supply goods by
It is preferable that the storage device 32 is configured to be expandable and retractable like the pinking device that constitutes the storage device 32.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a section for transferring articles from a multi-stage article transport conveyor 5 of a stunker crane B on the delivery side to article carrying conveyors C-1, C-2, and C-3 of a desired stage. The illustrated transfer unit has a chute 45 at the tip of the conveyor 42 of the cart 4 in place of the conveyor 43 in FIGS. -2
, C-3 so that it can be accessed and retracted by appropriate means.

In addition, this transfer section can also be constructed by, for example, disposing the conveyor 42 of the trolley 4 so as to be movable in and out of the article carrying-out conveyors C-1, C-2, and C-3.

14 and 15 show another centering mechanism in the warehousing device 32', and the illustrated centering mechanism is an alternative to the centering guide 32'' that centers the articles from one side as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In other words, the pair of conveyors 6.6 are arranged so that the articles are centered by a pair of conveyors 6.6 from both sides. In other words, the pair of conveyors 6. The control cylinder 7.7, which operates based on control information commands sent from a computer on the ground, such as the frontage) and the width of the article, changes the spacing and centers the article from both sides. be.

The manner of implementing the article handling method and apparatus of the present invention and the features of the embodiments described above are listed as follows.

- The stunker cranes such as stunker crane D on the storage side and stacker crane B on the exit side have elevating parts on both the crane body and the trolley, and these are connected by a multi-stage goods transport conveyor, making it easier to carry goods. Conveyor E-1
, E-2, E-3, article delivery conveyor C-1, C-2,
It is possible to store goods from any of the multi-stage goods transport conveyors such as C-3 to any frontage of the storage facility, and to unload goods from any frontage of the storage facility to any goods conveyor. .

・Since multiple stages of goods transport conveyors are provided, there is no need for gates from multiple lines, and goods can be directly transported from multiple lines to the storage facility via multiple stages of goods transport conveyor, and from storage equipment A to multiple stages. The goods can be delivered to multiple lines via the goods transport conveyor.

・Since there are no multi-stage article transport conveyors and the desired article can be delivered to the desired article conveyor on the desired stage, unlike when there is only one article conveyor, it is not possible to transfer the desired article from the article conveyor to multiple lines. There is no need to sort the goods when leaving the warehouse.

・Multi-stage article transport conveyors can be installed in parallel on the stunker crane travel path without being installed on the stacker crane travel path, and the article transport conveyor can be installed at an intermediate level of the storage facility. A multi-stage article transport conveyor can be used with an upward slope, a horizontal slope, a downward slope, etc., and the total length of the stanker crane can be shortened to reduce the dead space.

・Since the multi-stage goods transport conveyor and the multi-stage goods transport conveyor are separate bodies, they must be started, stopped, and controlled separately.
Alternatively, the speed can be controlled, and the loading and unloading of goods can be controlled over a wide range.

- After taking out the goods from any opening of the storage facility, the goods are simply sent to the multi-stage goods transport conveyor via the multi-stage goods transport conveyor, so that simple and highly efficient unloading is possible. Further, even when the stacker crane is running, the articles on the article conveyors of multiple stages that have already been taken out from the storage equipment can be carried out to the article conveyor of the desired stage, resulting in good unloading efficiency.

- Items can be stored in the storage facility by simply receiving the items sent from the desired stage of the goods transport conveyor on the multi-stage goods transport conveyor and transferring them to the warehousing device.

・In the past, the stunker crane was normally loaded and unloaded by moving it back and forth between the loading station (where cargo was delivered) and the frontage of the storage facility, so the stunker crane was always empty during one trip. Therefore, in addition to being inefficient, the reciprocating distance of the stacker crane is long, further wasting time. However, in the present invention, multiple stages of articles are always placed on the side of the running surface of the stacker crane. Since there is a transport conveyor and a multi-stage article transport conveyor can be used in place of the loading station, there is no need to move the stunker crane back and forth between the loading station and the frontage of the storage facility.In other words, in the present invention uses a multi-stage goods conveyor like a moving loading station, and despite the movement of a stunker crane,
For example, articles can be delivered to the nearest loading station by type.

The article handling method and device of the present invention may be used for either warehousing or unloading from a storage facility, and can also be used for warehousing or unloading a single type of article. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the embodiments and examples described above, such as that there is no limit to the number of stages of the article conveyor.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the method and device for handling articles of the present invention, the article handling method and device of the present invention can be used to input goods from multiple lines to or from multiple lines to storage equipment without creating a put space around the storage equipment. Great effects such as being able to handle articles efficiently, quickly, and continuously during unloading can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing an embodiment of the article handling device of the present invention, and FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are a plan view, a front view, and a side view of the device on the exit side, respectively. Figures 5, 6, and 7 are plan views of the equipment on the storage side, respectively;
A rear view and a side view, FIG. 8 is a rear view of another exit-side device, FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is still another embodiment of the present invention. A plan view schematically showing the
Fig. 11 is a front view of the device on the exit side, Figs. 12 and 13 are a plan view and a front view of the transfer section from another transfer conveyor to the article delivery conveyor, respectively, and Figs. 14 and 15.
The figures are a plan view and a front view of the centering mechanism of different warehousing devices, respectively. A...Storage equipment B...Stunker crane on the outgoing side C-1, C-2, C-3...Goods transport conveyor (goods unloading conveyor) on the outgoing side D...Stuff car on the incoming side Cranes E-1, E-2, E-3...Goods conveyor on the warehousing side (goods loading conveyor) F...Goods G...Stunker crane H-1, H for both loading and unloading
-2, H-3...Article IM conveyor 31.31°
... Lifting section 32 ... Unloading device (picking device) 32' ...
Storage bag "B" (supply device) 37...Input/output device 41.41°...Elevating part 5.5°...Multi-stage article conveyor Agent Patent attorney Hatori Shu 1 Fig. 4 2a C- LC-2, C-3 Figure 15 Procedural Amendment August 8, 1985 Director General of the Patent Office Michibu Uga Tokoku 1, Indication of Case Patent Application No. 156355 No. 1988 2, Title of Invention How to Handle Articles and its device 3, relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant (091) Kao Soap Co., Ltd. 4, agent 5-6-29-9 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, voluntary amendment of the date of the Nedi formal order (Amendment made within 1 year and 3 months from the filing date) 6. Column 7 of the detailed description of the invention in the specification subject to the amendment, Contents of the amendment (1) On page 7, line 13, change "In the gazette" to "In the gazette"
I corrected myself. Procedural amendment document March 18, 1988 Japanese Patent Application No. 156355/1986 2 Title of invention Handling method of article and its device 3 Relationship with the person making the amendment Case Patent applicant (091) Kao Corporation 4 , Agent No. 601 Nogizaka, 9-6-29 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 6, Drawing subject to amendment 7, Contents of amendment (1) Figure 4 has been amended as attached (symbol "41" has been changed to r
3+, J, and the code ``43'' was corrected to ``34''). Flute 7. Figure 4 Procedural Amendment Sivexr To-1 Indication of the March 19, 1986 Case Patent Application No. 156355/1988 Name of the invention Method of handling articles and its device Relationship with the case of the person who amends the device Patent Applicant (091) Kao Co., Ltd.

Claims (7)

[Claims] (1) In an article handling method in which articles are loaded into or taken out of a storage facility having a frontage of multiple rows and multiple stages, the article storage or unloading device is run vertically and horizontally along the frontage of the storage facility, and the articles are an article warehousing or unloading process of warehousing or unloading articles from the warehousing or warehousing device; a multi-stage article transporting process of transporting the articles in a plane parallel to the traveling surface of the article warehousing or warehousing device; and a warehousing or unloading of the article. It absorbs the difference between the height of goods entering or leaving the warehouse in the process and the height of transporting the goods in each of the plurality of stages of the goods conveying process, and transports the goods from the goods conveying process of the desired stage to the goods warehousing process or the goods unloading process. A method for handling an article, comprising the step of transferring the article from the article to the article conveying step of a desired stage. (2) In an article handling device that enters or takes out articles from a storage facility that has a frontage of multiple rows and multiple levels, the article handling device runs vertically and horizontally along the frontage of the storage facility to enter or take out the articles. or a warehousing device, a multi-stage article conveyor that conveys articles in a plane parallel to the running surface of the article warehousing or warehousing device, and a link between the warehousing or warehousing device and the article conveyor of a desired stage. The loading/unloading device is placed on the elevating section of a stacker crane that runs left and right along the frontage of the storage facility, and the article transferring conveyor has one end connected to the The difference in height caused by the lifting and lowering of both lifting parts when the other end is supported by a lifting part and the other end is supported by another lifting part that can move up and down between the uppermost article conveyor and the lowermost article conveyor. An article handling device, characterized in that the article handling device is installed on the stacker crane so as to be swingable so as to absorb the vibration. (3) The article handling device according to claim (2), wherein a plurality of article conveyors are disposed substantially horizontally at a height near the frontage of the central stage of the storage facility. (4) A patent claim in which the storage equipment is a fluidized shelf in which a plurality of rail frames equipped with a large number of rollers or wheels are arranged at an angle so that articles placed on the rollers or wheels can be moved by gravity. A device for handling the article described in item (2) or item (3) of the scope. (5) The article handling device according to any one of claims (2) to (4), wherein the article warehousing or unloading device is a picking device that takes out articles stored in a storage facility. (6) The article handling device according to any one of claims (2) to (4), wherein the article warehousing or unloading device is a supply device that supplies articles to storage equipment. (7) Claims (2) to (4), wherein the article storage/retrieval device is a warehousing/retrieval device capable of taking out articles stored in the storage facility and supplying the articles to the storage facility. ) Equipment for handling the articles described in any of the above.