阅读说明：本技术 自动仓库用货架 (Goods shelf for automatic warehouse ) 是由 垣贯刚 福田修 于 2019-07-09 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及自动仓库用货架。自动仓库用货架具备：沿着第一水平方向排列在设置面的多个第一支柱；沿着第一水平方向排列在设置面的多个第二支柱；架设在多个第一支柱与多个第二支柱之间的多个梁部件；配置于多个梁部件的上侧,与多个梁部件连接的多个上部中间柱；以及配置于设置面与多个梁部件之间,与多个梁部件连接的多个下部中间柱。多个下部中间柱具有沿着第一水平方向连续地配置的多个第一下部中间柱。多个第一下部中间柱配置为其与第二水平方向的多个第一支柱的距离大于其与第二水平方向的多个第二支柱的距离。(The present invention relates to a shelf for an automated warehouse. The shelf for the automatic warehouse is provided with: a plurality of first pillars arranged on the installation surface along a first horizontal direction; a plurality of second support columns arranged on the setting surface along the first horizontal direction; a plurality of beam members spanned between the plurality of first struts and the plurality of second struts; a plurality of upper intermediate columns disposed on upper sides of the plurality of beam members and connected to the plurality of beam members; and a plurality of lower intermediate pillars arranged between the installation surface and the plurality of beam members and connected to the plurality of beam members. The plurality of lower intermediate pillars have a plurality of first lower intermediate pillars arranged continuously along the first horizontal direction. The plurality of first lower intermediate pillars are arranged at distances from the plurality of first pillars in the second horizontal direction greater than distances from the plurality of second pillars in the second horizontal direction.)

1. A shelf for an automated warehouse, comprising:

a plurality of first pillars arranged on the installation surface along a first horizontal direction;

a plurality of second support columns arranged on the installation surface along the first horizontal direction, the plurality of second support columns being arranged to face the plurality of first support columns in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction;

a plurality of beam members that span between the plurality of first support columns and the plurality of second support columns;

a plurality of upper intermediate columns disposed above the plurality of beam members and connected to the plurality of beam members; and

a plurality of lower intermediate pillars arranged between the installation surface and the plurality of beam members and connected to the plurality of beam members,

the plurality of lower intermediate pillars have a plurality of first lower intermediate pillars arranged continuously along the first horizontal direction,

the plurality of first lower intermediate pillars are arranged so that a distance between the plurality of first pillars in the second horizontal direction is larger than a distance between the plurality of first pillars in the second horizontal direction.

2. The automated warehouse rack according to claim 1, wherein,

the plurality of lower intermediate pillars further include a plurality of second lower intermediate pillars arranged continuously along the first horizontal direction,

the plurality of second lower intermediate pillars are arranged so that a distance between the plurality of second lower intermediate pillars and the plurality of second support pillars in the second horizontal direction is larger than a distance between the plurality of second lower intermediate pillars and the plurality of first support pillars in the second horizontal direction.

3. The automated warehouse rack according to claim 2, wherein,

the plurality of first lower intermediate pillars are disposed continuously between the first horizontal one end portion and the intermediate portion,

the plurality of second lower middle columns are disposed continuously between the middle portion and the other end portion in the first horizontal direction.

4. The automated warehouse rack according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising:

a first support member provided at a portion below the beam members, among the first support columns facing the first lower middle columns in the second horizontal direction; and

and a second brace provided at a portion of the second support columns facing the second lower intermediate columns in the second horizontal direction, the portion being located below the beam members.

5. The automated warehouse rack according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein,

each of the plurality of first lower intermediate pillars and each of the plurality of second lower intermediate pillars have a shape in which a width in the second horizontal direction is larger than a width in the first horizontal direction.

6. The shelf for an automated warehouse according to any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising:

a first plate receiver provided to a pair of first lower intermediate pillars adjacent to each other among the plurality of first lower intermediate pillars and a pair of second support pillars opposed to the pair of first lower intermediate pillars in the second horizontal direction among the plurality of second support pillars; and

and a second plate receiver provided on a pair of second lower middle columns adjacent to each other among the plurality of second lower middle columns and a pair of first support columns facing the pair of second lower middle columns in the second horizontal direction among the plurality of first support columns.

7. The automated warehouse rack according to claim 1, wherein,

the plurality of first lower intermediate pillars are arranged continuously from one end portion to the other end portion in the first horizontal direction.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a shelf for an automated warehouse.

Background

In an automatic warehouse system, a pair of racks provided at a lower portion in a space where a transport vehicle can travel and an article can be delivered between a stacker crane and the transport vehicle is often provided in a back-aligned manner as a so-called double-row rack (for example, see patent document 1). According to such an automated warehouse system, for example, since it is not necessary to provide an article loading and unloading station separately from the racks, it is possible to reduce the size of the system area and improve the efficiency of loading and unloading articles.

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 11-116006

In the pair of racks as described above, for example, in order to enable a transport vehicle on which large-sized articles are loaded to travel, the depth of each rack needs to be increased.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a goods shelf for an automatic warehouse, which can restrain the increase of depth dimension and can enable a transport vehicle to smoothly pass through the lower part.

The shelf for an automated warehouse according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a plurality of first pillars arranged on the installation surface along a first horizontal direction; a plurality of second pillars arranged so as to face the plurality of first pillars in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, and arranged on the installation surface along the first horizontal direction; a plurality of beam members that span between the plurality of first struts and the plurality of second struts; a plurality of upper intermediate columns disposed above the plurality of beam members and connected to the plurality of beam members; and a plurality of lower intermediate pillars arranged between the installation surface and the plurality of beam members and connected to the plurality of beam members, the plurality of lower intermediate pillars having a plurality of first lower intermediate pillars arranged continuously along the first horizontal direction, the plurality of first lower intermediate pillars being arranged at a distance from the plurality of first pillars in the second horizontal direction greater than a distance from the plurality of second pillars in the second horizontal direction.

In this rack for an automatic warehouse, a region below the plurality of beam members, that is, a region between the plurality of first lower intermediate pillars and the plurality of first support pillars facing each other in the second horizontal direction can be used as a travel path through which a transport vehicle on which an article is placed can travel. Here, the plurality of first lower intermediate pillars are arranged so that the distance from the plurality of first pillars in the second horizontal direction is larger than the distance from the plurality of second pillars in the second horizontal direction. Therefore, according to the rack for an automatic warehouse, the conveyor car can smoothly pass through the lower portion while suppressing an increase in the depth dimension (the width dimension in the second horizontal direction).

In the shelf for an automated warehouse according to the aspect of the present invention, the plurality of lower intermediate pillars may further include a plurality of second lower intermediate pillars arranged in series along the first horizontal direction, and the plurality of second lower intermediate pillars may be arranged such that a distance from the plurality of second pillars in the second horizontal direction is greater than a distance from the plurality of first pillars in the second horizontal direction. In this configuration, the lower regions of the plurality of beam members, that is, the regions between the plurality of second lower intermediate pillars and the plurality of second support pillars facing each other in the second horizontal direction can be used as the travel path through which the transport vehicle on which the article is placed can travel. Here, the plurality of second lower intermediate pillars are arranged such that the distance from the plurality of second pillars in the second horizontal direction is larger than the distance from the plurality of first pillars in the second horizontal direction. Therefore, not only the travel path through which the transport vehicle can smoothly pass can be provided on the plurality of first support columns, but also the travel path can be provided on the plurality of second support columns while suppressing an increase in depth.

In the shelf for an automated warehouse according to the aspect of the present invention, the plurality of first lower intermediate pillars may be continuously disposed between the one end portion and the middle portion in the first horizontal direction, and the plurality of second lower intermediate pillars may be continuously disposed between the middle portion and the other end portion in the first horizontal direction. Thus, the travel path of the transport vehicle can be switched from the plurality of first support columns to the plurality of second support columns in the intermediate portion of the rack in the first horizontal direction.

The shelf for an automated warehouse according to an aspect of the present invention may further include: a first support member provided at a portion below the beam members, among the first support columns facing the first lower middle columns in the second horizontal direction; and a second support member provided at a portion below the beam members, of the second support columns facing the second lower intermediate columns in the second horizontal direction. This can suppress an increase in the dead space and improve the strength of the lower portion of the rack. Further, the first support member and the second support member can be arranged in a balanced manner, and the shock resistance of the rack can be improved.

In the shelf for an automated warehouse according to the aspect of the present invention, each of the plurality of first lower intermediate pillars and each of the plurality of second lower intermediate pillars may have a shape in which a width in the second horizontal direction is larger than a width in the first horizontal direction. This can suppress an increase in dead space and improve the strength of the lower intermediate pillar.

The shelf for an automated warehouse according to an aspect of the present invention may further include: a first plate receiver provided to a pair of first lower intermediate pillars adjacent to each other among the plurality of first lower intermediate pillars, and a pair of second pillars opposed to the pair of first lower intermediate pillars in the second horizontal direction among the plurality of second pillars; and a second plate receiver provided on a pair of second lower middle columns adjacent to each other among the plurality of second lower middle columns, and a pair of first support columns opposed to the pair of second lower middle columns in the second horizontal direction among the plurality of first support columns. In this way, if the lower middle column is used as a column for installing the plate support, the structure of the rack can be simplified.

In the rack for an automated warehouse according to the aspect of the present invention, the plurality of first lower intermediate pillars may be arranged continuously from one end portion to the other end portion in the first horizontal direction. This makes it possible to provide a straight running path through which the transport vehicle can smoothly pass while suppressing an increase in depth.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a rack for an automatic warehouse capable of suppressing an increase in depth dimension and allowing a transport vehicle to smoothly pass through the rack at a lower portion.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a layout diagram of an automated warehouse system including racks according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the pallet shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the shelf along line III-III shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the shelf along line IV-IV shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the storage entrance of the shelf shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the outlet of the shelf shown in fig. 1.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

[ Structure of automated warehouse System ]

As shown in fig. 1, the automated warehouse system 1 includes a plurality of automated warehouses 2, a plurality of transport vehicles 3, and a controller 4. Hereinafter, the first horizontal direction is referred to as "X direction", the second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction is referred to as "Y direction", and the vertical direction is referred to as "Z direction".

The plurality of automated warehouses 2 are arranged in a row along the Y direction. Each of the automated warehouses 2 has a rack (rack for automated warehouse) 10, a rack 5 disposed on one side of the rack 10 in the Y direction, and a rack 6 disposed on the other side of the rack 10 in the Y direction. The shelves 10, 5, and 6 are installed on a floor surface (installation surface) F.

The shelf 10 is provided with a plurality of article placement units 11 and a plurality of article placement units 12. The plurality of article placement units 11 are arranged in a matrix on the shelf 5 side, for example, in the X direction and the Z direction, and can transfer articles from one side in the Y direction. The plurality of article placement units 12 are arranged in a matrix on the shelf 6 side, for example, in the X direction and the Z direction, and can transfer articles from the other side in the Y direction.

The shelf 10 is provided with a plurality of storage ports 13A and a plurality of exit ports 13B, and a plurality of storage ports 14A and a plurality of exit ports 14B. The plurality of storage ports 13A and the plurality of delivery ports 13B are arranged below the plurality of article placement units 11 (the lowermost layer of the racks 10) in the X direction, and articles can be transferred from both sides in the Y direction. More specifically, the stacker crane 7 can transfer articles from one side in the Y direction and the transport vehicle 3 can transfer articles from the other side in the Y direction for each of the plurality of loading ports 13A and the plurality of unloading ports 13B. The plurality of storage ports 14A and the plurality of delivery ports 14B are arranged below the plurality of article placement units 12 (the lowermost layer of the racks 10) in the X direction, and articles can be transferred from both sides in the Y direction. More specifically, the transport vehicle 3 can transfer articles from one side in the Y direction and the stacker crane 7 can transfer articles from the other side in the Y direction for each of the plurality of loading ports 14A and the plurality of unloading ports 14B.

In the present embodiment, the plurality of storage ports 14A and the plurality of delivery ports 14B are disposed between the one end portion 10a and the intermediate portion 10B of the rack 10 in the X direction. The plurality of storage ports 13A and the plurality of delivery ports 13B are disposed between the intermediate portion 10B and the other end portion 10c of the rack 10 in the X direction.

The shelf 5 is provided with a plurality of article placement units 51. The plurality of article placement units 51 are arranged in a matrix shape in the X direction and the Z direction, for example, and can transfer articles from the other side in the Y direction. The shelf 6 is provided with a plurality of article placement units 61. The plurality of article placement units 61 are arranged in a matrix shape in the X direction and the Z direction, for example, and articles can be transferred from one side in the Y direction.

Each mobile warehouse 2 has a plurality of stacker cranes 7, 8. The stacker crane 7 travels between the racks 10 and the racks 5 along a travel rail 71 provided on the floor surface F so as to extend in the X direction. The stacker crane 7 can transfer articles to and from the racks 10 and 5, and convey the articles between the article placement units 11 and 51 and the ports 13A and 13B. The stacker crane 8 travels between the racks 10 and 6 along a travel rail 81 provided on the floor surface F so as to extend in the X direction. The stacker crane 8 can transfer articles to and from the racks 10 and 6, and convey the articles between the article placement units 12 and 61 and the ports 14A and 14B.

In the present embodiment, each stacker crane 7, 8 includes a traveling carriage capable of traveling along each traveling rail 71, 81, a mast provided upright on the traveling carriage, a lifting platform capable of lifting along the mast, and a transfer device provided on the lifting platform. As each of the stacker cranes 7 and 8, a known stacker crane having a transfer device including a slide fork, for example, can be applied.

The conveyance vehicle 3 travels along a path R provided on the floor surface F. The transport vehicle 3 can transfer articles to the ports 13A, 13B, 14A, and 14B of the racks 10. In the present embodiment, the transport Vehicle 3 is an AGV (Automatic Guided Vehicle) using a magnetic induction system. In this case, the path R is constituted by a magnetic tape, for example. As the transport vehicle 3, a known transport vehicle such as an AGV or a track-guided carriage using another induction system can be used.

The route R includes a first route R1, a second route R2, and a third route R3 provided in each shelf 10; and a circulating path R4 provided outside each shelf 10. The first route R1, the second route R2, and the third route R3 are provided below the plurality of article placement units 11 and the plurality of article placement units 12 of each shelf 10 (the lowermost layer of the shelf 10).

In the present embodiment, the first path R1 extends in the X direction between the one end portion 10a and the middle portion 10b of the shelf 10. The second path R2 extends in the X direction between the middle portion 10b and the other end portion 10c of the shelf 10. The third path R3 connects the first path R1 and the second path R2 in the middle portion 10b of the shelf 10. The first path R1, the second path R2, and the third path R3 are paths of one-way paths in which the transport vehicle 3 travels from the one end portion 10a side to the other end portion 10c side of the rack 10, for example. In this case, the looped path R4 connects the upstream-side end portion of the first path R1 and the downstream-side end portion of the second path R2.

The controller 4 is a device that manages the automated warehouse system 1. The controller 4 is connected to the stacker cranes 7 and 8 by wireless or wired connection, and controls the operations of the stacker cranes 7 and 8. The controller 4 is connected to each of the transport vehicles 3 wirelessly or by wire, and controls the operation of each of the transport vehicles 3.

The controller 4 is a computer device including a processor, a memory bank, a memory, a communication device, and the like. The controller 4 executes predetermined software (program) read into the memory bank, and controls reading and writing of data from and to the memory bank and the memory, and communication between the control devices by the communication device, thereby realizing various functions.

[ Structure of shelf for automatic warehouse ]

As shown in fig. 2, 3, and 4, the shelf 10 includes a plurality of first support columns 21, a plurality of second support columns 22, a plurality of beam members 23, a plurality of horizontal connecting members 24, a plurality of upper intermediate columns 25, and a plurality of lower intermediate columns 26.

The plurality of first support columns 21 are arranged on the floor surface F along the X direction on the side of the rack 5 (see fig. 1). Each first strut 21 extends in the Z direction. A space is provided between the mutually adjacent first pillars 21. The plurality of second support columns 22 are arranged on the floor surface F along the X direction on the side of the rack 6 (see fig. 1). Each second strut 22 extends in the Z direction. A space is provided between the mutually adjacent second pillars 22. The plurality of first support columns 21 and the plurality of second support columns 22 are arranged to face each other in the Y direction. Each of the support columns 21 and 22 is, for example, a square tube having a rectangular cross-sectional shape with the Y direction as the longitudinal direction.

The plurality of beam members 23 are bridged between the plurality of first struts 21 and the plurality of second struts 22. Each beam member 23 extends in the Y direction and is bridged between the first strut 21 and the second strut 22 that face each other in the Y direction. Each beam member 23 is fixed to the first support column 21 and the second support column 22 that face each other in the Y direction. In the present embodiment, the beam member 23 is an H-shaped steel in which a pair of flange portions are opposed to each other in the Z direction and a web portion extends in the Y direction.

The plurality of horizontal connecting members 24 are arranged between the adjacent beam members 23, and extend between one end portions, the other end portions, and the central portion. In the present embodiment, each horizontal connecting member 24 is fixed to the lower flange portion of each beam member 23 that is H-shaped steel. In the present embodiment, each horizontal connecting member 24 is fixed to the upper surface of the lower flange portion of each beam member 23 of the H-beam, but may be fixed to the lower surface of the lower flange portion, for example.

The upper intermediate pillars 25 are disposed above the beam members 23 and connected to the beam members 23. Each upper center pillar 25 extends in the Z direction. In the present embodiment, a pair of upper intermediate pillars 25 facing each other in the Y direction are provided upright on each beam member 23. More specifically, the lower end portions of the pair of upper center pillars 25 are fixed to the upper surfaces of the upper flange portions of the beam members 23 of the H-section steel. A space is provided between the pair of upper center pillars 25. The center position between the pair of upper center posts 25 coincides with the center position between the first support post 21 and the second support post 22 facing each other in the Y direction.

In the present embodiment, the plurality of article placement units 11 (see fig. 1) are configured by a plurality of upper intermediate columns 25 arranged in the X direction on the plurality of beam members 23 on the shelf 5 side (see fig. 1) and portions of the plurality of first support columns 21 above the plurality of beam members 23. Further, on the side of the rack 6 (see fig. 1), the plurality of article placement units 12 are constituted by a plurality of upper intermediate columns 25 arranged in the X direction on the plurality of beam members 23 and portions of the plurality of second support columns 22 above the plurality of beam members 23 (see fig. 1). Further, a rear pillar may be attached to the upper intermediate pillars 25 adjacent to each other in the X direction.

The plurality of lower intermediate pillars 26 are disposed between the floor surface F and the plurality of beam members 23, and are connected to the plurality of beam members 23. The plurality of lower intermediate pillars 26 are arranged on the ground F along the X direction. Each lower center pillar 26 extends in the Z direction. In the present embodiment, the upper end portions of the lower center pillars 26 are fixed to the lower surfaces of the lower flange portions of the beam members 23 of the H-beam.

Among the plurality of lower intermediate pillars 26, a plurality of first lower intermediate pillars 26A are arranged continuously along the X direction between the one end portion 10a and the middle portion 10b of the rack 10 in the X direction. The plurality of first lower intermediate pillars 26A are arranged so that the distance from the plurality of first pillars 21 in the Y direction is larger than the distance from the plurality of second pillars 22 in the Y direction. That is, each of the first lower intermediate pillars 26A is disposed at a position offset toward the second pillar 22 with respect to the center position between the first pillar 21 and the second pillar 22 facing each other in the Y direction.

The second lower middle columns 26B of the lower middle columns 26 are arranged continuously in the X direction between the middle portion 10B and the other end portion 10c of the shelf 10 in the X direction. The second lower middle pillars 26B are arranged to be farther from the second pillars 22 in the Y direction than from the first pillars 21 in the Y direction. That is, each of the second lower intermediate pillars 26B is disposed at a position offset toward the first pillar 21 with respect to the center position between the first pillar 21 and the second pillar 22 facing each other in the Y direction.

The lower intermediate pillars 26A and 26B have a shape in which the width in the Y direction is larger than the width in the X direction. In the present embodiment, the width of each lower middle column 26A, 26B in the X direction is the same as the width of each support column 21, 22 in the X direction. The width of the lower middle columns 26A, 26B in the Y direction is larger than the width of the support columns 21, 22 in the Y direction. Each of the lower middle columns 26A and 26B is, for example, a square tube having a rectangular cross-sectional shape with the Y direction as the longitudinal direction.

The height of the lower surface of each beam member 23 and the height of the lower surface of each horizontal connecting member 24 are higher than the height of the upper surface of the article a placed on the transport vehicle 3. The distance between the first lower intermediate pillar 26A and the first support pillar 21 facing each other in the Y direction and the distance between the second lower intermediate pillar 26B and the second support pillar 22 facing each other in the Y direction are larger than the width of the transport vehicle 3 and the article a in the Y direction. The interval (distance in the X direction) between the first lower middle column 26A and the second lower middle column 26B in the middle portion 10B of the rack 10 is larger than the width of the transport vehicle 3 and the article a in the X direction.

Thus, the first path R1 is provided in a region below the beam members 23 and between the first lower center pillars 26A and the first support pillars 21 facing each other in the Y direction, and this region serves as a travel path through which the transport vehicle 3 on which the article a is mounted can travel. Further, a second path R2 is provided in a region below the plurality of beam members 23 and between the plurality of second lower intermediate pillars 26B and the plurality of second support pillars 22 facing each other in the Y direction, and this region serves as a travel path through which the transport vehicle 3 on which the article a is mounted can travel. Further, a third path R3 is provided in a region below the horizontal connecting member 24 in the middle portion 10B of the rack 10 and between the first lower middle pillar 26A and the second lower middle pillar 26B, and this region serves as a travel path through which the transport vehicle 3 on which the article a is mounted can travel.

A pair of first lower intermediate pillars 26A adjacent to each other and a pair of second support columns 22 facing the pair of first lower intermediate pillars 26A in the Y direction are provided with first plate holders 27. The first board receiver 27 has: a plate bracket member 27a spanning between one of the first lower intermediate pillars 26A and one of the second support columns 22, and a plate bracket member 27b spanning between the other of the first lower intermediate pillars 26A and the other of the second support columns 22. In this way, the plurality of first board trays 27 are provided along the first path R1, thereby configuring the plurality of loading ports 14A and the plurality of unloading ports 14B (see fig. 1).

A second plate receiver 28 is provided on a pair of second lower middle columns 26B adjacent to each other and a pair of first support columns 21 facing the pair of second lower middle columns 26B in the Y direction. The second plate holder 28 has: a plate support member 28a bridging between one of the second lower intermediate pillars 26B and one of the first pillars 21, and a plate support member 28B bridging between the other of the second lower intermediate pillars 26B and the other of the first pillars 21. In this way, the plurality of second plate holders 28 are provided along the second path R2, thereby configuring the plurality of loading ports 13A and the plurality of unloading ports 13B (see fig. 1).

Further, in the shelf 10, third plate holders 29 are provided at portions above the plurality of beam members 23 and the plurality of horizontal connecting members 24 so as to correspond to the respective article placement units 11 and 12 (see fig. 1). The third plate receiver 29 provided so as to correspond to the article placement unit 11 includes a plate receiver member that is interposed between the first support column 21 and the upper intermediate column 25 that face each other in the Y direction. The third plate receiver 29 provided so as to correspond to the article placement unit 12 includes a plate receiver member that is interposed between the second support column 22 and the upper intermediate column 25 that face each other in the Y direction.

The first support 31 is provided at a portion of the plurality of first support columns 21 (i.e., the plurality of first support columns 21 arranged along the first path R1) facing the plurality of first lower middle columns 26A in the Y direction, which is located below the plurality of beam members 23. The first support 31 is obliquely arranged between the mutually adjacent first struts 21 and attached to the mutually adjacent first struts 21. The second brace 32 is provided at a portion of the plurality of second struts 22 (i.e., the plurality of second struts 22 arranged along the second path R2) facing the plurality of second lower intermediate pillars 26B in the Y direction, which is located below the plurality of beam members 23. The second support member 32 is disposed between the mutually adjacent second support columns 22 in an inclined manner, and is attached to the mutually adjacent second support columns 22. Third support members 33 are provided between the first lower intermediate pillar 26A and the second pillar 22 that are opposed to each other in the Y direction, and between the second lower intermediate pillar 26B and the first pillar 21 that are opposed to each other in the Y direction. In addition, in the region between the mutually adjacent first lower intermediate pillars 26A in the X direction, in the region where no article is transferred to each of the plurality of loading ports 14A and the plurality of unloading ports 14B, a brace may be attached to the mutually adjacent first lower intermediate pillars 26A. In addition, in the region between the second lower intermediate pillars 26B adjacent to each other in the X direction, in the region where no article is transferred to each of the plurality of loading ports 13A and the plurality of unloading ports 13B, a support member may be attached to the second lower intermediate pillars 26B adjacent to each other.

[ transfer operation of transport vehicle ]

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the conveyance vehicle 3 includes a vehicle body 3a that travels along the path R, and a lifter 3b provided on the vehicle body 3 a. The article a is placed on the lifter 3 b. The lifter 3b is capable of being lifted and lowered with respect to the vehicle body 3 a. The article a is, for example, a box article placed on a tray.

When the article a is stored in the storage port 13A, as shown in fig. 5 (a), the transport vehicle 3 enters the storage port 13A from the second path R2 in a state where the lifter 3b on which the article a is placed is lifted. As shown in fig. 5 (b), the transport vehicle 3 is stopped in the loading port 13A, and the lifter 3b is lowered to place the article a on the second pallet 28. Then, the transport vehicle 3 returns from the inside of the storage opening 13A to the second path R2 in a state where the empty lifter 3b is lowered. The transport vehicle 3 operates in the same manner between the first path R1 and the storage opening 14A, and can store the article a in the storage opening 14A.

When the article B is delivered from the delivery port 13B, as shown in fig. 6 (a), the transport vehicle 3 enters the delivery port 13B from the second path R2 in a state where the empty lifter 3B is lowered. As shown in fig. 6 (B), the transport vehicle 3 moves up the lifter 3B while being stopped in the delivery port 13B, and places the article B on the lifter 3B. Then, the transport vehicle 3 returns from the delivery port 13B to the second path R2 in a state where the lifter 3B on which the article a is placed is lifted. The transport vehicle 3 operates in the same manner between the first path R1 and the inside of the delivery port 14B, and can deliver the article B from the delivery port 14B.

[ Effect and Effect ]

In the rack 10, the area below the plurality of beam members 23, that is, the area between the plurality of first lower intermediate pillars 26A and the plurality of first support pillars 21 facing each other in the Y direction can be used as a travel path through which the transport vehicle 3 on which the article a is placed can travel. Here, the plurality of first lower intermediate pillars 26A are arranged so that the distance from the plurality of first pillars 21 in the Y direction is larger than the distance from the plurality of second pillars 22 in the Y direction. Further, the lower regions of the beam members 23, that is, the regions between the second lower intermediate pillars 26B and the second pillars 22 facing each other in the Y direction can be used as a travel path through which the transport vehicle 3 on which the article a is placed can travel. Here, the plurality of second lower middle pillars 26B are arranged at a distance from the plurality of second pillars 22 in the Y direction larger than a distance from the plurality of first pillars 21 in the Y direction. Therefore, according to the pallet 10, the conveyor car 3 can be smoothly passed through both sides of the plurality of first support columns 21 and the plurality of second support columns 22 at the lower portion while suppressing an increase in the depth dimension (width dimension in the Y direction).

In the shelf 10, the plurality of first lower intermediate pillars 26A are continuously disposed between the one end portions 10a and the intermediate portions 10B in the X direction, and the plurality of second lower intermediate pillars 26B are continuously disposed between the intermediate portions 10B and the other end portions 10c in the X direction. This allows the travel path of the conveyor car 3 to be switched from the plurality of first support columns 21 to the plurality of second support columns 22 in the intermediate portion 10b of the rack 10 in the X direction.

In the rack 10, the first brace 31 is provided at a portion below the beam members 23 in the first support columns 21 facing the first lower center columns 26A in the Y direction, and the second brace 32 is provided at a portion below the beam members 23 in the second support columns 22 facing the second lower center columns 26B in the Y direction. This can increase the strength of the lower portion of the shelf 10 while suppressing an increase in the dead space. Further, the first brace 31 and the second brace 32 can be arranged in a balanced manner, and the shock resistance of the rack 10 can be improved.

In the shelf 10, the lower center posts 26A and 26B have a shape in which the width in the Y direction is larger than the width in the X direction. This can suppress an increase in dead space and improve the strength of the lower center pillar 26.

In the pallet 10, the first plate receiver 27 is provided on a pair of first lower intermediate pillars 26A adjacent to each other and a pair of second support pillars 22 facing the pair of first lower intermediate pillars 26A in the Y direction, and the second plate receiver 28 is provided on a pair of second lower intermediate pillars 26B adjacent to each other and a pair of first support pillars 21 facing the pair of second lower intermediate pillars 26B in the Y direction. If the lower middle column 26 is used as a column for installing a pallet, the structure of the shelf 10 can be simplified.

In the cargo rack 10, the upper end portion of the lower center pillar 26 is fixed to the beam member 23. Thus, when the rack 10 is installed, the position of the lower center pillar 26 in the Y direction can be adjusted in accordance with the width (whichever is larger) of the transport vehicle 3 and the article a in the Y direction. That is, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of types of lower intermediate pillars 26 in accordance with the widths of the transport vehicle 3 and the article a in the Y direction, and a travel path having an appropriate width can be formed using the common lower intermediate pillar 26.

In the pallet 10, the horizontal connecting member 24 is fixed to the lower flange portion of each beam member 23 which is H-shaped steel. Thus, even when a space for inserting the slide fork of each stacker crane 7, 8 is required between the horizontal connecting member 24 and the third plate receiver 29 directly above the horizontal connecting member, the height of the third plate receiver 29 can be maintained constant regardless of the size of the H-shaped steel (the space between the lower flange portion and the upper flange portion).

[ modified examples ]

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, in the shelf 10, the plurality of first lower intermediate pillars 26A may be arranged continuously from one end portion 10a to the other end portion 10c of the shelf 10 in the X direction. Or the plurality of second lower middle pillars 26B may be arranged continuously from one end portion 10a to the other end portion 10c of the shelf 10 in the X direction. This makes it possible to provide a straight running path through which the conveyance vehicle 3 can smoothly pass while suppressing an increase in depth. The intermediate portion 10b may not be located at the center between the one end portion 10a and the other end portion 10 c.

The transport vehicle 3 may also include a transfer device other than the lifter 3 b. Examples of the transfer device other than the lifter 3b include a hook-type or clamp-type arm, a fork, and the like. In this case, the transport vehicle 3 stops on the first path R1, and can extend and contract the arm or the fork with respect to each port 14A, 14B to transfer the article a. The transport vehicle 3 is stopped on the second path R2, and can extend and contract the arm or the fork with respect to each port 13A, 13B to transfer the article a.

Description of reference numerals

10 … shelf (shelf for automatic warehouse), 10a … one end, 10B … middle part, 10c … other end, 21 … first pillar, 22 … second pillar, 23 … beam component, 25 … upper middle pillar, 26 … lower middle pillar, 26a … first lower middle pillar, 26B … second lower middle pillar, 27 … first plate holder, 28 … second plate holder, 31 … first support, 32 … second support, F … ground (setting surface).