JPH05178571A - Container moving-aside method for vertical conveying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve conveyance efficiency by performing processing of a carrier container without installing a particular station for waiting even when the container waiting part of a destination station is full of containers, in a vertical conveying device by which a typical substance (container) for document files. CONSTITUTION:A conveying device 3 for containing a container 2 in the direction of the height of a building is provided and a station 4 from which a container 2 is delivered to the conveying device 3 is provided. Each station 4 comprises container waiting shelves 10 in two stages in a vertical direction and elevator parts arranged on both sides of the container waiting shelf 10. When a pallet at a container conveying destination station and a container conveying initial station is full of waiting container, when a demand for conveyance from a third station to a conveying oinitial station is inputted, a conveyance container at the conveying initial station is moved aside to an empty container at a different station, and a container is conveyed from the third station to the conveying initial station.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for retracting a container in a vertical transfer device for transferring a container vertically by a carriage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, the applicant of the present invention has proposed a vertical transfer device installed in a building or the like for vertically transferring a standard object (so-called container) such as a document file.
Proposed earlier in 163300.

According to this vertical transfer device, two carts are moved up and down by a linear motor to receive and deliver containers to and from the departure buffer and arrival buffer (so-called container waiting section) of stations provided on each floor. It is supposed to be done.

Further, the container standby unit is constructed so that a plurality of containers can stand by.

When a transport request for transporting a container is input from a station on one floor to a station on another floor, the trolley receives the container loaded in the container standby section of the transport source station on the transport source floor. ,
After that, when the dolly is moved up and down and arrives at the destination station on the destination floor, the container is delivered from the trolley side to the container standby section of the destination station, and the container is controlled to be transported in response to the transport request.

[0006]

However, when the container waiting portion of the transfer destination station is full of containers waiting and there is no empty standby space for accommodating another container, the container requested to be transferred (hereinafter , Transport container) cannot be transported to the transport destination station, and the transport container is in a standby state at the transport source station. In this waiting state, the carrier station is also full of waiting containers as described above, and if a container transport request is input from the third station on the other floor to this carrier station, the third station The transport container is also in a standby state at the station.

Therefore, the transport system of the vertical transport device is in a stopped state, and the transport efficiency of the container is poor.

Therefore, a container evacuation station is separately provided, and when the container standby section of the transfer destination station is full of containers, the container of the transfer destination station is temporarily transferred to the container evacuation station and evacuated,
A method is conceivable in which a transport container is configured to be transported from the transport source station to the transport destination station after a vacant station is secured in the container standby part of the transport destination station to improve the transport efficiency of the container. If this is the case, it is necessary to install a special container evacuation station separately.

Therefore, the container evacuation station must be manufactured separately, which results in high cost and also requires a separate installation space for the container evacuation station.

In view of the above problems, the present invention does not require a separate container evacuation station,
An object of the present invention is to provide a container withdrawal method in a vertical transfer device which improves the transfer efficiency of containers.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A technical means for achieving the above-mentioned object is to equip a bogie that is reciprocally movable along an up-and-down orbit, and a plurality of bogies along a traveling path of the bogie. Stations are provided, and each station is equipped with a container standby unit that can hold a plurality of containers. Containers can be transferred between the container standby unit side and the trolley side, and from any station to another station. When a transport request for transporting a container is input, in the vertical transport device that controls to transport the container according to the transport request, the container standby unit of the container transport destination station is full of containers waiting, In addition, if the container waiting part of the container transfer source station is also full of waiting containers, the third step If a transfer request to the transfer source station is input from the transport station, the container requested to be transferred from the transfer source station is evacuated to an empty standby space in the container standby unit of another station other than the transfer destination. It is in.

[0012]

According to the present invention, when a transport request for transporting a container from one station to another station is input, if the container waiting section of the container transport destination station is full of the waiting containers, it is the same as before. , The transport container stands by at the container transport source station.

In this standby state, when the container standby section of the transfer source station is also full of containers waiting for it, and when a transfer request from the third station to this transfer source station is input, another station If there is an empty waiting space in the container waiting section,
The transport container standing by at the transport source station is transferred to a trolley and transported, carried into the empty standby space and evacuated, and waits until an empty standby space is created in the container standby portion of the transport destination station.

Then, the transfer container on standby is transferred to the third station in the empty standby space secured in the container standby part of the transfer source station.

After that, when an empty standby space is generated in the container standby unit due to the removal of the container from the container standby unit of the transfer destination station or the transportation to another station, the container standby unit is evacuated to another station and stands by. The existing transfer container is transferred to the target transfer destination station.

As described above, even if the container standby parts of the transfer destination station and the transfer source station are full of containers, if there is an empty standby space in the container standby parts of the other stations, the transfer to the third station is performed. Containers can be transported, and efficient container transportation can be performed without separately providing a special container evacuation station.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a vertical transporting apparatus 1 provided on one corner of a building on one floor, and FIG. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are cross-sectional explanatory views showing a part of the vertical transport device 1, which is a perspective view of the container 2 as a standard item that is housed and transported.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the vertical transfer device 1 is installed on each floor of the building and a transfer device 3 for transferring the container 2 in the height direction of the building. Station 4 for receiving and delivering 2. Further, the transfer device 3 is partitioned by a fireproof wall 5 from the inside of the building, and the container passage 6 for receiving and delivering the station 4 and the container 2 on each floor is closed by a fire door 7, and opened and closed by driving a motor 8. It is said to be operable. 9 is a counter weight.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, each station 4 has two upper and lower container standby shelves 10 as a container standby portion, and elevator portions 11 provided on both left and right sides of each container standby shelf 10. I have it.

On each container standby shelf 10, a pair of front and rear rails 12 are laid in the left-right direction, and wheels 14 provided on the lower surface of the pallet 13 on the rails 12 are rollable in the left-right direction. It has been placed. Rail 12
A plurality of pallets 13 are continuously placed on the left and right. The pallets 13 form a standby space for the container 2 on the container standby shelf 10.

Further, each container standby shelf 10 is provided with a pallet horizontal moving mechanism 15, and each pallet horizontal moving mechanism 15 is driven by a motor 16 so that the pallet can be driven forward and backward by a drive pulley 17, a driven pulley 18, and a drive pulley 17.
And a timing belt 19 wound around the driven pulley 18. A plurality of latch bodies 20 are provided on the outer peripheral surface side of the timing belt 19 at regular intervals over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction so as to be swingable around the axis of the belt 19 in the circumferential direction. On the other hand, a locking hole 21 is provided on the front side of each pallet 13 facing the latch body 20.
A locking piece 21 having a is projectingly provided, and the locking pin 2 of the latch body 20 is provided in the upper container standby shelf 10.
0a is engaged with the engaging hole 21a of the engaging piece 21 from above, and in the lower container standby shelf 10, the engaging pin 20a of the latch body 20 engages with the engaging piece 21 from below. It is engaged with the stop hole 21a in a fitting manner. Further, each latch body 20 is elastically urged by a spring material in a direction in which the locking pin 20a is fitted into the locking hole 21a, and the fitted state is maintained.

The elevator section 11 includes a pair of guide shafts 24 supported by a housing 23 and having a vertical axis.
A screw shaft 25 positioned between both guide shafts 24 and rotatably supported around a vertical axis, a driven pulley 26 fixed to a lower end protruding end of the screw shaft 25, and a drive shaft of a motor 27. A timing belt 29 wound around the driven pulley 28, and a pallet receiving base 30 screwed into the screw shaft 25 and guided and supported by each guide shaft 24 are provided. By driving the motor 27 forward and backward, the pallet cradle 30 can be vertically moved up and down. When the pallet cradle 30 is vertically moved to the upper and lower container standby shelves 10, the rail 13 on the container standby shelf 10 side. Rails 31 that are continuous with the front and rear of the pallet pedestal 30
It is provided as a unit. Although FIG. 7 discloses the elevator section 11 on one side, the elevator section 11 on the other side is similarly configured.

The pallet horizontal movement mechanism 15 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 7, the pallet 13 is arranged in a range extending to the front of the elevator part 11, and the pallet 13 on the pallet pedestal 30 is locked at the elevated position and the lowered position of the pallet pedestal 30 of the elevator part 11. Piece 21
The engagement of the latch body 20 with respect to is released against the elastic force of the spring material, and the latch piece 20 is held against the locking piece 21 in the fitted posture against the elastic force of the spring material. Retractable solenoids 32 are provided at four positions, up, down, left and right.

The pallet 13 is provided with a recess 34 at the center thereof, in which the container 2 is mounted and held in a fitting shape, and the rear side of the recess 34 is formed into a rear open notch by a notch 35. .. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a first carry-in / carry-out conveyor 37 and a second carry-in / carry-out conveyor 38 are provided between the front and rear rails 12 and between the pallet 13 and the container passage 6 so that the forward and reverse carrying operations can be freely performed. The first carry-in / carry-out conveyor 37 is provided above the cutout portion 35 of the pallet 13 so as to be retractable.

Further, the container standby shelf 10 and the elevator section 1
1 and the like are housed in a station housing 39 shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, and an opening / closing door 40 that can be opened and closed is provided on the front side of each container standby shelf 10 and an operation is provided on one side of the opening / closing door 40. A board 41 is arranged, and an input key for requesting the destination of the container 2 is provided. Further, a display unit 42 is provided at a lower position corresponding to each pallet 13 of each container standby shelf 10, and the destination (number of floors) of the container 2 to be transported is lit and displayed, and the container 2 being transported is displayed. The transfer source (floor number) is displayed by blinking so that the standby state of the container 2 can be easily visually recognized.

Next, pallet 1 at station 4
3, that is, the circulation procedure of the container 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the state of FIG. 8, the pallet cradle 30 of the left elevator part 11 is located at the raised position corresponding to the upper container standby shelf 10, and the pallet cradle 30 of the right elevator part 11 is the lower container standby shelf 1.
It is located in the lowered position corresponding to zero. When each pallet horizontal moving mechanism 15 is driven in a predetermined direction, the latch body 20 and the locking piece 21 are locked, so that each pallet 13 is horizontally moved in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. A state in which the pallet 13 at the front end in the moving direction is transferred onto the pallet receiving table 30 of the elevator unit 11 is obtained.

Next, each solenoid 32 is actuated to release the fitting state of the latch piece 20 and the locking piece 21 of the pallet 13 on each pallet receiving base 30. After that, the pallet pedestal 30 of the left elevator section 11 is lowered, and the pallet pedestal 30 of the right elevator section 11 is raised. At this time, each pallet horizontal moving mechanism 15 is driven in the opposite direction to return to the initial position, and at the same time, the solenoids 32 are actuated to engage the latch bodies 20 facing the ascending and descending directions of both pallet receiving bases 30, respectively. Hold in a posture. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10, the left pallet pedestal 30 reaches the lowered position, and the latch body 20 and the locking piece 21
And the right side pallet cradle 30 reaches the raised position, and the latch body 20 and the locking piece 21 are locked.

Next, when each pallet horizontal moving mechanism 15 is driven in the predetermined direction, the pallet 13 is transferred from the pallet receiving base 30 to the container standby shelf 10 side, and the state shown in FIG. 11 is obtained. At this time, each elevator unit 11
Each pallet receiving base 30 returns to the initial position. The container 2 can be circularly moved by sequentially repeating the above operation.

The respective solenoids 32 are also restored appropriately.

In the present embodiment, a method is adopted in which the transfer device 3 side and the container 2 are received and delivered at the two positions of the P portion and the Q portion in FIG.

The carrying device 3 is shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a rail plate 45 which is vertically erected,
2 traveling on the front surface side and the rear surface side of the rail plate 45, respectively
A trolley 46 of a pedestal and a pair of wire ropes 43, 44 to which each trolley 46 is connected and supported are provided.

Each carriage 46 contains a primary winding (not shown) of a linear motor. Further, the rail plate 45 has a parallel plate-shaped substrate, and the secondary conductor of the linear motor and the power feed line are arranged in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction of the substrate) on each of the front surface and the back surface of the substrate. There is. Further, rail surfaces 48 on which the wheels 47 of the carriage 46 travel are provided at both ends of the surface of the substrate. The same applies to the back surface of the substrate.

Since the driving direction of the linear motor can be changed, the two carriages 46 can be raised or lowered as required. For example, in a three-phase induction type linear motor, the drive direction can be changed by replacing any two wires of the three wires of the primary winding with the power supply. The control of the carriage 46 including the change of the driving direction is performed by a drive control device (not shown).

The carriage 46 is provided with a container transfer device 50. The container transfer device 50 is, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a pair of upper and lower support blocks 51, 52 fixed to the side of the carriage 46. And both support blocks 51,
A movable frame 53 supported by 52 and a pair of upper and lower transfer conveyors 54, 55 supported on the movable frame 53 side.

A screw shaft 57 having a shaft center in the traveling direction of the carriage 46, that is, a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction, is screwed into the upper support block 51 so as to be movable back and forth, and both ends of the screw shaft 57 are movable frame members. It is pivotally supported on the 53 side. A guide shaft 58 having an axis parallel to the screw shaft 57 is fitted into the lower support block 52, and both ends of the guide shaft 58 are supported by the movable frame 53 side. Further, a driven pulley 59 is fixed to one end of the screw shaft 57, and the movable frame 53
The timing belt 62 is wound around the drive pulley 61 fixed to the drive shaft of the first motor 60 attached to the. Here, the movable frame 53 is supported on both support blocks 51, 52 side via a screw shaft 57 and a guide shaft 58, and is driven in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the carriage 46 by the forward and reverse driving of the first motor 60. It is structured so that it can be operated to move in and out freely.

Further, an intermediate screw shaft 63 having an axial center parallel to the screw shaft 57 is arranged at an intermediate portion between the screw shaft 57 and the guide shaft 58, and both ends of the intermediate screw shaft 63 are provided at the movable frame body 5.
It is pivotally supported on the 3 side. Further, the intermediate screw shaft 63 has a right-hand threaded portion 63a formed on one side and a left-handed threaded portion 63b on the other side of the intermediate position in the longitudinal direction.
Further, screw blocks 64 and 65 having female screw holes corresponding to the left screw portion 63b and the left screw portion 63b are screwed so as to be able to move back and forth. A driven pulley 66 is fixed to one end of the intermediate screw shaft 63, and a timing belt 69 is wound around a drive pulley 68 fixed to a drive shaft of a second motor 67 attached to the movable frame 53. ..

Each transfer conveyor 54, 55 is supported by a roller support frame 71 and a roller support frame 71 so as to be rollable, and a plurality of rolling rollers 73 arranged in the axial direction of the screw shaft 57. And a transfer belt 74 having flexibility wrapped around each rolling roller 73,
In the lower transfer conveyor 55, a third motor 75 is further attached to the roller support frame 71, and the transfer belt 74 is wound around the drive roller 76 that is driven in the reverse direction by the third motor 75. The transfer belt 74 on the lower side is rotatably circulated and the transfer belt 74 on the upper side is rotatably driven by the forward and reverse driving of the third motor 75.

Further, the roller support frames 71 of the transfer conveyors 54 and 55 and the screw blocks 64 and 65 are pivotally connected by a pair of link rods 77 and 78, respectively.
Here, the transfer conveyors 54 and 55 are linked rods 77 and 7.
8, the intermediate screw shaft 63 and the like are supported on the movable frame 53 side so as to be parallel to each other while being separated from each other with respect to the traveling direction of the carriage 46, and both screw blocks are driven by the forward and reverse drive of the second motor 67. 64 and 65 can be separated and approached freely. By the separation and approaching operations of the screw blocks 64 and 65, the link rods 77 and 78 are expanded and contracted, and both transfer conveyors 5 are moved.
4, 55 are configured to approach and separate from each other in the traveling direction of the carriage 46, that is, in the vertical direction.

Next, the container standby shelf 1 of the station 4
A case where the container 2 is transferred from the 0 side to the trolley 46 side of the transfer device 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 13 to 20.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the truck 46 arrives at the predetermined container passage 6 position, as shown in FIG.
The motor 8 is actuated to open the fire door 7, the first carry-in / carry-out conveyor 37 is lifted above the notch 35 of the pallet 13, and the first carry-in / carry-out conveyor 37 and the second carry-in / carry-out conveyor 38 are carried out. Driven in the direction.
When the container 2 is conveyed from the pallet 13 to a predetermined position as shown in FIG. 15, the second motor 67 of the container transfer mechanism 50 is driven to drive both screw blocks 6 together.
4, 65 are approached, and both transfer conveyors 54,
When 55 is separated in the vertical direction and the open posture of both transfer conveyors 54 and 55 is detected by the sensor S2 as shown in FIG. 16, the second motor 67 stops. In the open posture of both transfer conveyors 54, 55, the interval is wider than the height of the container 2 in the vertical direction.

Next, when the first motor 60 is driven and the movable frame 53 is advanced to the container stand-by shelf 10, the sensor S3 detects the advanced position of the movable frame 53 as shown in FIG. The first motor 60 stops.

Next, the second motor 67 is driven in the opposite direction to the above, the transfer conveyors 54, 55 approach each other in the vertical direction, and as shown in FIG. 18, the sensor S1 is used to transfer the transfer conveyors 54, 55. The second motor 6 when the closed posture of the
7 stops. In the closed posture of both the transfer conveyors 54 and 55, the height of the container 2 in the up-down direction is substantially the same as or slightly narrower than the height of the container 2, and one end side of the container 2 is held in a clamped state.

Next, the third motor 75 is driven, and the lower transfer conveyor 55 is driven. At this time, the upper transfer conveyor 55 is driven to rotate, and the container 2 is taken in between both transfer conveyors 54, 55. Then, as shown in FIG. 19, when the sensor S4 detects the take-in position of the container 2, the third motor 75 stops. Container 2 here
It is possible to obtain a state of being held in a sandwiched state between the transfer conveyors 54 and 55.

Next, the first motor 60 is driven in the opposite direction to the above, the movable frame 53 is retracted to the side of the carriage 46, and the retracted position of the movable frame 53 is detected by the sensor S5 as shown in FIG. Then, the first motor 60 stops. Here, the transfer process of the container 2 from the container standby shelf 10 side to the trolley 46 side is completed. At this time, the fire door 7 is returned to the closed position, and the first carry-in / carry-out conveyors 37, 38 are stopped. Then, thereafter, the carriage 46 is moved up and down along the rail plate 45 and is transported to the station 4 on the request floor.

Next, in the case where the container 2 is transferred from the carriage 46 side of the transfer device 3 to the container standby shelf 10 side of the station 4, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 13, FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

As described above, when the truck 46 arrives at the position of the container passage 6 on the request floor, the fire door 7 is opened and the first loading / unloading conveyor 37 is lifted above the notch portion 35 of the pallet 13 to move the first loading / unloading conveyor. Carry-in / carry-out conveyor 37
The second carry-in / carry-out conveyor 38 is driven in the carry-in direction. Then, from the state shown in FIG. 21, the first motor 60 is driven to move the movable frame body 53 to the container standby shelf 10 side, and as shown in FIG. 22, the sensor S3 detects the advanced position of the movable frame body 53. Then the first motor 60
Stops.

Next, the third motor 75 is driven, and the container 2 held in a sandwiched state between the transfer conveyors 54 and 55 is carried out to the side of the second carry-in / carry-out conveyor 38, and the container 2 is moved to a predetermined position. When carried out, as shown in FIG. 23, the carrying-out position of the container 2 is detected by the sensor S6,
The third motor 75 stops.

Next, the second motor 67 is driven, the transfer conveyors 54, 55 are separated from each other in the vertical direction, and as shown in FIG. 24, the sensor S2 detects the open posture of the transfer conveyors 54, 55. Then, the second motor 67 stops and the container 2 is opened there. On the other hand, the container 2 transferred to the second loading / unloading conveyor 38 side is transferred onto the empty pallet 13 of the container standby shelf 10 by the second loading / unloading conveyor 38 and the first loading / unloading conveyor 37.

Next, the first motor 60 is driven in the opposite direction to the above, the movable frame 53 is retracted to the trolley 46 side, and the retracted position of the movable frame 53 is detected by the sensor S5 as shown in FIG. Then, the first motor 60 stops.

Next, the second motor 67 is driven in the opposite direction to the above, the transfer conveyors 54, 55 approach each other in the vertical direction, and as shown in FIG. 26, the transfer conveyors 54, 55 are transferred by the sensor S1. The second motor 6 when the closed posture of the
7 stops. From here to the cart 46 side, the container standby shelf 1
The transfer process of the container 2 to the 0 side is completed. At this time, the fire door 7 is returned to the closed position, and the first loading / unloading conveyor 37
Is returned to the lowered position, after which the conveyors 37, 38 are stopped.

The vertical transfer device 1 is constructed as described above. Next, a transfer control method for the container 2 will be described.

First, a normal transfer control method will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 27 to 29 when the transfer destination station 4 has an empty pallet 13 as a standby space for accommodating the container 2. To do.

Station 4 on the A floor (source station) to station 4 on the B floor (transport station)
When a transport request for transporting the container 2 is input by the operation panel 41 (step ST1), it is determined whether the opening / closing door 40 of the B floor station 4 is closed (step ST2).

When the open / close door 40 is open, it is determined that the operator is in the process of setting the transport container 2 on the pallet 13 or taking out the arrival container 2 from the pallet 13 at the B floor station 4. Then, the container 2 is not transported from the A-floor station 4 and stands by (step ST3). Open / close door 4
When 0 is in the closed state, the process proceeds to the next step ST4. That is, the transfer process is controlled so that the transfer process is performed only when the opening / closing door 40 of the transfer destination station 4 is closed.

At step ST4, it is judged whether or not there is an empty pallet 13 at the B floor station 4,
If there is an empty pallet 13, the process proceeds to step ST5, and the container 2 is transported.

In this carrying process, the carriage 46 side is shown in FIG.
8 is operated, and the B floor station 4 side is operated according to the flowchart of FIG.

That is, the trolley 46 receives the container 2 at the station 4 position on the A floor (step ST51), and then the B
The container 2 is conveyed to the position of the station 4 on the floor (step ST52). When it arrives at the B floor station 4 position (step ST53), the process proceeds to step ST54, and a delivery request signal of the container 2 is output to the B floor station 4 side.

Next, in step ST55, it is determined whether or not there is an OK signal received from the B floor station 4 side. And if there is no reception OK signal,
It returns to step ST54. If there is a reception OK signal, the process proceeds to step ST56 and B
The container 2 is transferred onto the empty pallet 13 of the container waiting shelf 10 of the floor station 4.

On the other hand, on the B floor station 4 side,
When the empty pallet 13 is received by the trolley 46, it is determined whether or not it is at the delivery position (transfer position) (P section or Q section position) (step ST501), and if it is not at the transfer position, each pallet 13 is circularly moved. Empty pallet 13
Is moved to a transfer position corresponding to the carriage 46 to which the container 2 is transported (step ST502). Empty pallet 1
3 is in the transfer position, the process proceeds to step ST503, it is determined whether the container 2 is ready for receiving, and the first loading / unloading conveyor 37, the second loading / unloading conveyor 38, etc. are ready for receiving. If not, the process waits (step ST504).

If the container 2 is ready to be received, the process proceeds to step ST505, it is determined whether or not the signal of the delivery request from the trolley 46 side is received, and if there is no signal of the delivery request, the process waits. (Step ST506). When the delivery request signal is received, the delivery OK signal is output to the truck 46 side (step ST507).

Then, the carrying process of the container 2 is performed according to the flowcharts of FIGS. 28 and 29.

27 and 3 show a method of carrying control in the case where there is no empty pallet 13 for accommodating the container 2 in the destination station 4 and the waiting container 2 is full.
0 and the flowchart shown in FIG. 31.

That is, the process proceeds to step ST4 in the same manner as described above, and if it is determined in step ST4 that there is no empty pallet 13, the process proceeds to step ST6, and the container 2 is waited at the A-floor station 4 which is the transport source. It Then, it is determined whether or not there is a transport request capable of transporting the container 2 of the B-floor station 4 to the station 4 on another floor (step ST). If there is a transport request that can be transported, the process proceeds to step ST8, First, the container 2 is transported from the B floor station 4 to the vacant pallet 13 of the station 4 on another floor. An empty pallet 13 is generated at the station 4 on the B floor, and step ST
In step 5, the transfer container 2 is transferred from the A floor station 4 to the B floor station 4.

On the other hand, if there is no transport request that can be transported in step ST7, the process proceeds to step ST9 and the container 2 is transported from another arbitrary station 4 on the C floor (third station) to the station 4 on the A floor. It is determined whether or not a transport request to perform is input. When there is no transport request, the process returns to step ST4. If there is a transport request, step ST1
After shifting to 0, it is determined whether the opening / closing door 40 of the A-floor station 4 is in the closed state, and if the opening / closing door 40 is in the open state, the process waits as described above (step ST11).

If the opening / closing door 40 is closed, the process proceeds to step ST12 and it is determined whether or not there is an empty pallet 13 at the A floor station 4. If there is an empty pallet 13, the process proceeds to step ST13, and the container transfer process is performed from the C floor station 4 to the A floor station 4 in the same manner as step ST5. If there is no empty pallet 13, the process proceeds to step ST14.

In step ST14, an empty pallet 13 is placed in the station 4 on a floor other than the A and B floors.
If it is determined that there is no vacant station 13 in the station 4 on the other floor, step ST4
Return to. On the other hand, when there is an empty pallet 13 in the station 4 on another floor, the process proceeds to step ST15, and another empty D pallet 13 having an empty pallet 13 which is as close as possible to the B floor in the empty pallet 13 according to a predetermined search process. Station 4 is searched, and the transport container 2 of the A-floor station is transported to the empty pallet 13 and evacuated. This A
By evacuating the transport container 2 of the floor station 4 to the D floor station 4, an empty pallet 13 is generated in the A floor station 4.

Next, in step ST16, the transfer container 2 is transferred from the C floor station 4 to the A floor station 4. After that, it is determined whether or not there is an empty pallet 13 at the B floor station 4 (step ST1
7) If there is no vacant pallet 13, the transport container 2 evacuated to the D floor station 4 is the D floor station 4 and the pallet 1 is emptied to the B floor station 4.
It waits until 3 occurs (step ST18). When an empty pallet 13 is generated in the B-floor station 4, the process proceeds to step ST19, and the transfer container 2 retracted to the D-floor station 4 is transferred to the empty pallet 13 of the B-floor station 4, where it is first processed. Transfer request from A station on the 4th floor to Station 4 on the B floor
The transportation of the container 2 to the container is completed.

For example, when there is a transfer request from the third-floor station 4 to the seventh-floor station 4 and there is no empty pallet 13 at the third-floor station 4 and the seventh-floor station 4, the transfer is further performed from the first-floor station 4 to the third-floor station 4. The processing when there is a request will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 32. In the state of FIG. 32A, the empty pallet 13 near the seventh floor station 4 is searched based on step ST15. For example, when the container 2 is transported to the station 4 on the upper floor than the station 4 on the lower floor,
The floors lower than the destination floor are preferentially searched in ascending order, and when there is no empty pallet 13 on the floors lower than the destination floor, the floors above the destination floor are searched in closer order. Further, when the container 2 is transported to the station 4 on the lower floor than the station 4 on the upper floor, each floor of the transport destination floor and the transport source floor is preferentially searched in the order closer to the transport destination floor, and If there is no vacant pallet 13 on the floor from the transfer source floor, the floors below the transfer destination floor are searched in ascending order. If there is still no empty pallet 13, the method is to search the floors above the transfer floor in order from the transfer floor. It should be noted that a search processing program for searching for an empty pallet on a floor near the transfer destination floor may be appropriately determined and installed in the control device of the vertical transfer device 1.

Therefore, in this example, since the empty pallet 13 is in the station 4 on the 6th floor, the transfer container 2 on the station 4 on the 3rd floor is transferred to the station 4 on the 6th floor as shown in FIG. 32 (b). evacuate. Then, the transport container 2 of the first floor station 4 is transported to the intended third floor station 4 (FIG. 32 (c)).

In principle, the transport process of each container 2 is performed in the transport request order. Then, when the transfer destination station 4 is full of containers 2 and cannot be transferred and is waiting, if a transfer request capable of transfer processing is input, it is controlled to transfer the transfer request that can be transferred first. ing. Further, since the two trolleys 46 are provided, control is performed to preferentially use the trolley 46 near the transfer source floor, or one of the trolleys 46 carries out the container 2 from the station 4 and the other trolley 46 performs the control. Efficient transport processing can be performed, such as the work of loading another container 2 into the station 4 can be performed in parallel.

In the above embodiment, the container 2 has a separate structure in which the lower case body 2a and the upper lid 2b are detachable as shown in FIG. 2, but FIGS.
Alternatively, the lid 2b may be openably / closably connected as shown in FIG. Further, the method of raising and lowering the pallet receiving table 30 of the elevator section 11 may also be a method of driving with a solenoid or an air cylinder. Further, the method of locking the latch body 20 and the locking piece 21 is not limited to the vertical direction, and may be a method of locking and disengaging from the side surface side. Also the first
A method is shown in which the carry-in / carry-out conveyor 37 is operated to retract above the cutout portion 35 to take in the container 2 on the pallet 13 or send out the container 2 on the pallet 13, but the outer peripheral surface of the first carry-in / carry-out conveyor 37 is shown. A conveyance protrusion is provided on the first loading / unloading conveyor 37, and during the forward / reverse transportation operation of the first loading / unloading conveyor 37, the transportation protrusion protrudes upward and downward from the cutout portion 35 of the pallet 13 and engages with the container 2 so that the container 2 is taken in and sent out. Good.

[0072]

According to the present invention, in the vertical transfer device, the container standby part of the container transfer destination station is full of the waiting container, and the container transfer source station of the container standby part is also full of the waiting container. If a transfer request from the third station to the transfer source station is input, the container requested by the transfer source station is transferred to the container standby unit of another station other than the transfer destination. This is a container evacuation method to evacuate to the empty standby space of the destination station, even if each container standby part of the transfer destination station and the transfer source station is full of containers, if there is an empty standby space in the container standby part of the other station, It is possible to transport the transport container of the station of 3 Without separately providing a station of special containers for saving, the can conveyance of efficient container, there is an advantage that attained transport efficiency of the container.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a vertical transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a container.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a part of a vertical transport device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a part of a vertical transport device.

FIG. 5 is an external front view of the station.

FIG. 6 is an overall schematic explanatory diagram of the inside of a station.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the inside of the station.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of circulating a container.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of circulating a container.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of circulating a container.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of circulating a container.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the arrangement of a carriage of the transfer device.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a container transfer mechanism.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the same.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for transferring a container to the dolly side.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of transferring a container to the dolly side.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of transferring a container to the dolly side.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of transferring a container to the dolly side.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of transferring a container to the dolly side.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of transferring a container to the dolly side.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of transferring a container to the container standby shelf side.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of transferring a container to the container standby shelf side.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of transferring a container to the container standby shelf side.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of transferring a container to the container standby shelf side.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of transferring a container to the container standby shelf side.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of transferring a container to the container standby shelf side.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a part of a container carrying procedure.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart on the dolly side during a container carrying process.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart on the station side at the time of container transfer processing.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a part of a procedure of transporting a container.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a part of a procedure of transporting a container.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of container evacuation.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing another example of the container in a closed state and an open state of the lid body.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of a lid body showing another example of the container in a closed state and an open state.

FIG. 35 is a perspective view showing another example of the container in a closed state and an open state of the lid body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Vertical Transfer Device 2 Container 4 Station 10 Container Standby Shelf 13 Pallet 45 Rail Plate 46 Cart

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A trolley that is reciprocally movable along a vertical path is provided, and a plurality of stations are arranged along a traveling route of the trolley, and a plurality of containers stand by at each station. If there is a container standby unit, each container can be transferred between the container standby unit side and the trolley side, and a transport request for transporting a container from any station to another station is input, the transport request In the vertical transport device that controls the container transport according to the above, the container standby part of the container transport destination station is full of standby containers, and the container standby part of the container transport source station is also full of standby containers. Transport request from the third station to the transport source station, If There inputted, the container being transported requests transport origin station,
A method of retracting a container in a vertical transport device, characterized in that the container is retracted to an empty standby space of a container standby section of a station other than the transport destination.