JP2022051330A - Automatic warehouse system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an automatic warehouse system that can be easily utilized.SOLUTION: An automatic warehouse system 100 in a certain mode has a warehouse facility 10 that includes: a shelf part 22 formed by arranging multiple storage parts 24 that can store loads 12 along a row direction, a column direction, and a step direction; and moving means 14, 16, 20 for moving the loads 12 at least in one of the row direction, the column direction, and the step direction. This system includes display means 50 that displays: a first display image containing an information display part for displaying management information related to the warehouse facility 10; and a second display image containing multiple optional images corresponding to the management information. This system changes the first display image by choosing at least one of the multiple optional images of the second display image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an automated warehouse system.

An automated warehouse system that can efficiently store and retrieve a large number of loads in a small space is known. The applicant discloses an automated warehouse system provided with a storage shelf capable of accommodating a plurality of articles according to Patent Document 1. This automated warehouse system is configured to carry in and out goods using a transport trolley that can move in the row direction and a trolley that can move in the row direction between storage shelves.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-160040

With the sophistication of the system, the types and amounts of information to be monitored increase and the work becomes complicated, and a large amount of man-hours and high skills are required to operate the system. This can be an obstacle to controlling operating costs. The conventional automated warehouse system has room for improvement from these points of view.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an automated warehouse system that can be easily operated.

In order to solve the above problems, the automated warehouse system according to an embodiment of the present invention has a shelf section in which a plurality of storage sections capable of storing a load are arranged along a row direction, a column direction, and a step direction, and a load. A first display image including an information display part for displaying management information about a warehouse facility, which is an automated warehouse system including a transportation means for moving in at least one of a row direction, a column direction, and a step direction. A second display image including images of a plurality of options corresponding to the management information, and a display means for displaying the second display image. The first display image is changed by selecting at least one of the plurality of alternative images of the second display image.

It should be noted that any combination of the above components and those in which the components and expressions of the present invention are mutually replaced between methods, systems and the like are also effective as aspects of the present invention.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an automated warehouse system that can be easily operated.

It is a top view which shows the example of the automated warehouse system which concerns on embodiment. It is a side view which shows the automated warehouse system of FIG. It is a side view schematically showing an example of the 1st transport means of FIG. It is a front view schematically showing an example of the 2nd transport means of FIG. It is a screen view schematically showing an example of the first display image of the display means of FIG. 1. It is a screen view schematically showing another example of the 1st display image of the display means of FIG. It is a screen view schematically showing an example of the second display image of the display means of FIG. 1. It is a screen view schematically showing another example of the 2nd display image of the display means of FIG.

The present inventors considered the automated warehouse system and obtained the following recognition. It is conceivable that the automated warehouse system is composed of a large number of elements such as storage shelves, transport carts, and warehousing / delivery units. In this case, if there is an abnormality in even a part of the system components, it is possible that the operating efficiency of the entire warehouse will decrease. From these, in order to operate the system efficiently, it is desirable to monitor various information about the system and detect and recover the abnormality or the sign of the occurrence of the abnormality at an early stage. From these, the present inventors came up with a technique capable of facilitating the operation of the automated warehouse system. Hereinafter, it will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to each drawing based on a preferred embodiment. In the embodiments and modifications, the same or equivalent components and members are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Further, the dimensions of the members in each drawing are shown in an appropriately enlarged or reduced size for easy understanding. In addition, some of the members that are not important for explaining the embodiment in each drawing are omitted and displayed.

Also, terms including ordinal numbers such as 1st and 2nd are used to describe various components, but this term is used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from other components, and this term is used. The components are not limited by.

[Embodiment]
The overall configuration of the automated warehouse system 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The automated warehouse system of the present disclosure is an automated warehouse system having shelves capable of storing loads (including those handled integrally with pallets). FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing an example of the automated warehouse system 100 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the automated warehouse system 100. In FIG. 2, the description of the area 22-B described later is omitted.

For convenience of explanation, as shown in the figure, an XYZ Cartesian coordinate system in which a certain horizontal direction is the X-axis direction, a horizontal direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction is the Y-axis direction, and a direction orthogonal to both, that is, a vertical direction is the Z-axis direction. To determine. The positive direction of each of the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis is defined in the direction of the arrow in each figure, and the negative direction is defined in the direction opposite to the arrow. The X-axis direction may be referred to as "row direction", the Y-axis direction may be referred to as "column direction", and the Z-axis direction may be referred to as "vertical direction". The traveling direction of the first transport means, which will be described later, may be referred to as "forward" or "front", and the opposite may be referred to as "rear" or "rear". The notation in such a direction does not limit the configuration of the automated warehouse system 100, and the automated warehouse system 100 can be used in any configuration depending on the application.

As shown in FIG. 1, the automated warehouse system 100 includes a warehouse facility 10 including a shelf unit 22, moving means 14, 16, 20, a warehousing / delivery unit 40, a control unit 48, and a display unit 50. The shelf unit 22 is a storage shelf having a plurality of storage units 24 capable of storing loads 12 arranged along the row direction and the column direction. The load 12 may be the smallest unit for warehousing, storage, distribution, and delivery in the automated warehouse system 100.

The shelf unit 22 is a storage shelf having a plurality of storage units 24 arranged in the row direction and the column direction. Each storage unit 24 can store the load 12. The moving means 14, 16 and 20 move the load 12 in at least one of the row direction, the column direction and the step direction. The moving means 14, 16 and 20 include a first transporting means 14, a second transporting means 16, and an elevating mechanism 20. The first transport means 14 is a self-propelled trolley that holds the load 12 and can move the shelf portion 22 along the row direction. The second transport means 16 is a self-propelled trolley on which the first transport means 14 holding the load 12 is mounted and can move along the side portion of the shelf portion 22 along the row direction. The elevating mechanism 20 is a lifter capable of elevating and lowering the load 12. The warehousing / delivery section 40 is a means for warehousing the load 12 into the shelf section 22 or unloading the load 12 from the shelf section 22. The warehousing / delivery unit 40 of this example includes a conveyor device 44. The conveyor device 44 moves the load 12 carried in by the external transport means 46 such as a forklift to the elevating mechanism 20.

The control unit 48 includes an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) and the like. The control unit 48 controls the operations of the first transport means 14, the second transport means 16, and the elevating mechanism 20 in order to transport the load 12 based on the operation result from the operator.

The shelf portion 22 will be described. The configuration of the shelf portion 22 is not particularly limited as long as a plurality of loads 12 can be stored. The shelf portion 22 of the present embodiment has two areas 22-A and 22-B provided apart from each other in the Y-axis direction with the second rail 28 interposed therebetween. The two areas 22-A and 22-B can store the load 12 in each storage unit 24.

In this embodiment, a plurality of storage units 24 are continuously provided in the Y-axis direction. Specifically, the storage unit 24 is continuously provided on the first rail 26, which will be described later, extending in the Y-axis direction, and the storage unit 24 is a place where the load 12 of the first rail 26 is stored. A plurality of storage units 24 connected in the Y-axis direction are referred to as storage rows 23. On the side of each storage row 23 facing the travel path (second rail 28) of the second transport means 16, a frontage 23a is provided for the first transport means 14 to enter and exit to load and unload the load 12. The frontage 23a functions as an entrance / exit of the load 12.

In the present embodiment, N-stage (N is an integer of 1 or more, for example, 3) shelf portions 22 arranged in layers on the upper and lower sides are provided. FIG. 1 shows the shelf portion 22 of the first stage closest to the floor Fr. In the second and higher stages, the Nth stage shelf portion 22 is arranged on the N-1th stage shelf portion 22. The shelves 22 of each stage may have the same configuration as each other. In particular, one or more sets of the first transport means 14 and the second transport means 16 are provided on the shelf portion 22 of each stage. The shelf portion 22 of each stage may be referred to as a “shelf stage”.

The shelf portion 22 is provided with a first rail 26 as a traveling path for the first transport means 14. The first rail 26 extends in the Y-axis direction at the shelf portion 22. The first transport means 14 is a transport means capable of traveling under each storage unit 24. A second rail 28 as a traveling path of the second transport means 16 is provided on the side portion of the shelf portion 22. The second rail 28 extends in the X-axis direction adjacent to the shelf portion 22 and the elevating mechanism 20.

The first transport means 14 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing an example of the first transport means 14. The first transport means 14 includes a vehicle body 14b, a motor (not shown), a plurality of wheels 14f, a mounting base portion 14c, and a lift mechanism 14d. The first transport means 14 drives a plurality of wheels 14f by a motor and travels on the first rail 26 in the Y-axis direction with the load 12 mounted. The first transport means 14 raises and lowers the load 12 on the mounting table portion 14c and the mounting table portion 14c by the lift mechanism 14d. In FIG. 3, the mounting table portion 14c in the ascending state is shown by a broken line, and the mounting table portion 14c in the descending state is shown by a solid line.

The first transport means 14 can enter the storage unit 24. The first transport means 14 can get on and off the second transport means 16 and the elevating mechanism 20. The first transport means 14 can unload the load 12 onto the storage unit 24 and the second transport means 16. The first transport means 14 can lift and hold the load 12 from the storage unit 24 and the second transport means 16.

The second transport means 16 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view schematically showing an example of the second transport means 16, and shows a state in which the first transport means 14 is mounted. The second transport means 16 includes a mounting portion 16c, a guide portion 16j, a motor (not shown), and a plurality of wheels 16f. The second transport means 16 drives a plurality of wheels 16f by a motor and travels on the second rail 28 in the X-axis direction. The second transport means 16 can mount the first transport means 14 on the mounting portion 16c. The second transport means 16 can transport the first transport means 14 with the load 12 mounted or empty. The mounting portion 16c is provided with two guide portions 16j arranged apart from each other in the X-axis direction. The two guide units 16j guide the first transport means 14 when the first transport means 14 is on board. A load 12 can be placed on the two guide portions 16j.

The elevating mechanism 20 and the conveyor device 44 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The elevating mechanism 20 elevates and elevates the load 12 between the shelves 22 of each stage. In the elevating mechanism 20, one frontage faces the conveyor device 44, and the other frontage faces the transport path (second rail 28) of the second transport means. At the time of warehousing, the elevating mechanism 20 conveys the load 12 delivered from the conveyor device 44 to the target stage. At the time of delivery, the elevating mechanism 20 conveys the target load 12 to the first stage and delivers it to the conveyor device 44. The elevating mechanism 20 may raise and lower the load 12 held by the first transport means 14, but in the present embodiment, the load 12 in a stand-alone state held by the first transport means 14 is lifted and lowered.

The conveyor device 44 of the present embodiment is a belt conveyor. At the time of warehousing, the conveyor device 44 transfers the load 12 delivered from the external transport means 46 to the elevating mechanism 20. At the time of delivery, the conveyor device 44 transfers the load 12 delivered from the elevating mechanism 20 to a position where the external transport means 46 can pick up. That is, the conveyor device 44 transfers the load 12 in the opposite directions at the time of warehousing and at the time of warehousing.

The warehousing operation and the warehousing operation of the automated warehouse system 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. These operations are controlled by the control unit 48. In the warehousing operation, the external transport means 46 puts the warehousing load 12 on the conveyor device 44. The conveyor device 44 transfers the load 12 to the elevating mechanism 20. The elevating mechanism 20 transfers the load 12 to the storage shelf. On the shelf stage of the storage destination, the first transport means 14 and the second transport means 16 receive the load 12 from the elevating mechanism 20 and move the load 12 to the storage section 24 of the storage destination. Goods are received by these operations.

In the warehousing operation, the first transport means 14 and the second transport means 16 move the load 12 from the storage unit 24 of the transport source to the front of the elevating mechanism 20. The elevating mechanism 20 lowers the load 12 and puts it on the conveyor device 44. The conveyor device 44 transfers the load 12 in front of the external transport means 46. The external transport means 46 loads the load 12 into a truck (not shown) or the like. By these operations, the load 12 is delivered.

Other configurations of the automated warehouse system 100 will be described. The automated warehouse system 100 further includes an image pickup means 32, a sensor 34 for information acquisition, a computer 36 for an information system, and a network 38 for information communication.

The image pickup means 32 is installed in the traveling paths of the moving means 14 and 16, the moving passage of the elevating mechanism 20, the warehousing / delivery section 40, the storage section 24, and the like. As an example, the image pickup means 32 provides an image or the like as a diagram showing the distribution of electromagnetic waves of a predetermined component radiated from an object such as a still image, a moving image, or a thermography relating to an image pickup target. The image pickup result of the image pickup means 32 is transmitted to the computer 36 via the network 38 or another communication means.

The sensor 34 is installed in the traveling path of the moving means 14 and 16, the moving passage of the elevating mechanism 20, the warehousing / delivery section 40, the storage section 24, and the like. As an example, the sensor 34 provides the result of detecting the presence / absence of the load 12 at the installation location, the inclination of the moving means 14, 16 and 20, the speed, and the like. The detection result of the sensor 34 is transmitted to the computer 36 via the network 38 or another communication means.

The computer 36 is a computer for controlling the information system of the automated warehouse system 100. The computer 36 changes the display of the display means 50 in response to a mouse operation (not shown), a keyboard operation, a touch operation, or the like.

The network 38 is an information communication means for transmitting information inside or outside the automated warehouse system 100. The network 38 can communicate using a known communication protocol.

The display means 50 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the display means 50 of the present embodiment is a display terminal connected to a computer 36 and displaying a predetermined screen under the control of the computer 36. The display means 50 may be a display terminal of a computer other than the computer 36. The display means 50 may be a liquid crystal display, a tablet terminal, or a small information terminal such as a smart phone.

See FIGS. 5-8. The display means 50 displays the first display image 52 and the second display image 60. The first display image 52 includes an information display part 54 that displays management information Jm regarding the warehouse equipment 10. The second display image 60 includes images Gs of a plurality of options corresponding to the management information Jm. The display means 50 changes the first display image 52 by selecting at least one of the plurality of alternative image Gs of the second display image 60. That is, the second display image 60 is a setup screen diagram for setting the display contents of the first display image 52.

5 and 6 are screen views showing an example of the first display image 52 of the display means 50. FIG. 5 is a display example of the first mode including the operation display part 56 for operating the warehouse equipment 10 in addition to the information display part 54. FIG. 6 is a display example of the second mode including the information display part 54 and not the operation display part 56. The first display image 52 of this example includes only the information display part 54.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the area of the operation display part 56 in the first mode is larger than the area of the information display part 54. In this case, the operator can easily perform an input operation and a specification. Further, the amount of information of the information display part 54 in the second mode is larger than the amount of information of the information display part 54 in the first mode. A plurality of management information Jm can be displayed in the information display part 54, and in these figures, a number in parentheses is added to the end of the code "Jm" of the plurality of management information Jm to distinguish them.

In the present embodiment, the display update of the information display part 54 is performed independently of the display update of the operation display part 56. For example, the display update of the operation display part 56 is updated by causing an event such as an input by the operator. By updating the display of each display part independently, the operator can obtain various information of the automated warehouse system in a timely manner. The display update of the information display part 54 may be updated independently of the display update of the operation display part 56, for example, at a predetermined time, may be updated at predetermined intervals, or may be updated at predetermined intervals. It may be updated according to the information.

In the first mode shown in FIG. 5, the information display part 54 may be referred to as a sub screen, and the operation display part 56 may be referred to as an automated warehouse operation screen. Two types of management information Jm (1) and Jm (2) are displayed in the information display part 54 of the first mode of FIG.

In the information display part 54 of the second mode of FIG. 6, six types of management information Jm (1) to Jm (6) are displayed. The first display image 52 of the second mode shown in FIG. 6 functions as a dashboard that collectively displays an outline of various types of management information Jm.

An example of the management information Jm will be described with these figures. Jm (1) shows information about system alerts in list format. Jm (2) shows information about the equipment monitor on the layout drawing of the shelf portion 22. Jm (3) indicates information about the shortcut with an icon. Jm (4) shows information about the process monitor in a list format. Jm (5) shows information about the work monitor as a vertical bar graph. Jm (6) shows information about the system monitor in a pie chart and a horizontal bar chart.

7 and 8 are screen views showing an example of the second display image 60 of the display means 50. FIG. 7 is a setup screen diagram for setting the display contents of the information display part 54 (sub screen) of the first mode, and FIG. 8 is a setup screen diagram for setting the display contents of the information display part 54 (dashboard) of the second mode. It is a setup screen diagram.

The display means 50 may display both the first display image 52 and the second display image 60 at the same time, but the display means 50 of the present embodiment has one of the first display image 52 and the second display image 60. When displaying, do not display the other. That is, when setting up the first display image 52, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the second display image 60 is displayed without displaying the first display image 52. When the setup is completed, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first display image 52 is displayed without displaying the second display image 60.

The setup of the information display part 54 will be described. As described above, the display means 50 changes the first display image 52 by selecting at least one of the plurality of alternative image Gs of the second display image 60. The image Gs is not limited, and may be an image including characters, symbols, figures, and the like. The image Gs of the present embodiment are a plurality of symbol images Sj corresponding to the management information Jm. The symbol image Sj may be an icon symbolized with a simple pattern related to the management information Jm. In the present embodiment, by selecting at least one of the plurality of symbol images Sj, the first display image 52 is modified to include information corresponding to the symbol image Sj.

There is no limitation on the method of selecting the symbol image Sj (choice image Gs). For example, the method may be a method of selecting by placing the cursor on the symbol image Sj to be selected and clicking a predetermined number of times, or in the case of a touch panel, a method of selecting by touching the symbol image Sj to be selected with a fingertip. It may be. In the present embodiment, the symbol image Sj of the target is selected by dragging and dropping the symbol image Sj.

An example of the symbol image Sj of FIG. 7 will be described. The symbol image Sj (a) shows system alert information. The symbol image Sj (b) shows information about the work monitor. The symbol image Sj (c) shows information about the equipment monitor. The symbol image Sj (d) shows information about the maintenance data. The symbol image Sj (e) shows information about the process monitor. The symbol image Sj (f) shows information about the shortcut. The symbol image Sj (g) shows information about the system monitor.

There is no limitation on the method of changing the first display image 52 when the symbol image Sj is selected. In the present embodiment, the second display image 60 includes a first area 62 for displaying a plurality of symbol images Sj, and a second area 64 for displaying a selected symbol image Sj among the plurality of symbol images Sj. The first display image 52 is changed by the operation of moving each other's symbol images Sj between the first and second areas 62 and 64. As an example, in the present embodiment, the operation of moving each other's symbol images Sj between the first and second areas 62 and 64 is a movement destination from the moving source area between the first and second areas 62 and 64. This is an operation of dragging and dropping the symbol image Sj into the area of.

In the example shown by the arrow A in FIG. 7, the symbol image Sj (c) of the first area 62 is moved to the second area 64 by dragging and dropping the symbol image Sj (c) to the second area 64. By this operation, the management information Jm (information about the equipment monitor) corresponding to the symbol image Sj (c) is displayed in the information display part 54 of the first display image 52 in the first mode. After moving the symbol image Sj (c), the symbol image Sj (c) in the first area 62 may be erased or may be left without being erased.

In the example shown by the arrow B in FIG. 7, the symbol image Sj (a) of the second area 64 is moved to the first area 62 by dragging and dropping the symbol image Sj (a) to the first area 62. By this operation, the management information Jm (system alert information) corresponding to the symbol image Sj (a) is deleted from the information display part 54 of the first display image 52 in the second mode.

In the example shown by the arrow C in FIG. 8, the symbol image Sj (c) of the first area 62 is moved to the second area 64 by dragging and dropping the symbol image Sj (c) to the second area 64. By this operation, the management information Jm (information about the equipment monitor) corresponding to the symbol image Sj (c) is displayed in the information display part 54 of the first display image 52 in the second mode. After moving the symbol image Sj (c), the symbol image Sj (c) in the first area 62 may be erased or may be left without being erased.

In the example shown by the arrow D in FIG. 8, the symbol image Sj (b) of the second area 64 is moved to the first area 62 by dragging and dropping the symbol image Sj (b) to the first area 62. By this operation, the management information Jm (information about the work monitor) corresponding to the symbol image Sj (b) is deleted from the information display part 54 of the first display image 52 in the first mode.

The information display part 54 of the first display image 52 will be described. There is no limit to the management information Jm displayed in the information display part 54. The information display part 54 includes the data collected by the information collecting means 42 and the visualization information image Vi corresponding to the information. The information collecting means 42 collects data obtained from at least one of the shelf section 22, the warehousing / delivery section 40 for entering or leaving the load 12, the traveling route of the moving means 14, 16 and 20, and the control section 48. The information collecting means 42 may be a device provided separately from the computer 36, but in the present embodiment, it is integrated as a part of the computer 36.

The visualization information image Vi may be, for example, a graph image in which numerical data corresponding to the detection result of the sensor is visualized by a line graph, a bar graph, a pie chart, or the like. The visualization information image Vi may be an illustration, a still image, a moving image, an animation, or the like based on image data. The visualization information image Vi may be an image obtained by superimposing the detection result of the abnormality detecting means on a warehouse configuration diagram, a layout diagram, a bird's-eye view, or the like. The visualization information image Vi may be an image in which the work situation is represented by a time-series stacked bar graph. The visualization information image Vi may be displayed by changing the color of a place or an area where an abnormality has occurred.

The information collecting means 42 of the present embodiment collects one or more of the following information as an example.
(1) Sensor information obtained from a sensor 34 installed at a predetermined location in the warehouse facility 10. The information collecting means 42 includes a traveling path of the moving means 14 and 16, a moving passage of the elevating mechanism 20, a warehousing / delivery section 40, and a storage section 24. The detection result of the sensor 34 installed in the like can be collected as data. The information collecting means 42 can collect the detection result of the sensor 34 via the network 38 or another communication means.

(2) Image information of a predetermined location of the warehouse equipment The information collecting means 42 is an image pickup means 32 installed in the traveling paths of the moving means 14 and 16, the moving passage of the elevating mechanism 20, the warehousing / delivery section 40, the storage section 24, and the like. The image quality of the image can be collected as data. The information collecting means 42 can collect the image pickup result of the image pickup means 32 via the network 38 or another communication means.

(3) Progress information of predetermined work of warehouse equipment 10 The information collecting means 42 can collect progress information of predetermined work as data. Examples of this progress information include the work of rearranging the load 12 at the shelf portion 22, the work of unloading the load 12, the work of warehousing the load 12, and the like.

(4) Monitoring information for monitoring the predetermined process of the warehouse equipment 10. The information collecting means 42 can collect monitoring information for monitoring the predetermined process of the warehouse equipment 10 as data. Examples of this predetermined process include a carry-in process, a carry-out process, a transfer process, and the like.

(5) The state information information collecting means 42 of the computer 36 related to the warehouse equipment 10 can collect the state information such as the operating rate of the computer 36 as data. Examples of this state information include resource information such as CPU usage rate, memory usage amount, and storage (drive) usage rate.

(6) System Alert Information for Warehouse Equipment 10 In the present embodiment, information regarding the occurrence status of system alerts for warehouse equipment 10 is stored in, for example, a memory of a computer 36, a storage (not shown), or the like. The information collecting means 42 can collect the stored information as data.

(7) Blocking information of the network 38 In the present embodiment, the blocking information of the network 38 is stored in, for example, the memory, storage, or the like of the computer 36. The information collecting means 42 can collect the stored information as data.
(8) Status information of the sensor 34 In the present embodiment, status information such as the presence / absence of an abnormality in the sensor 34 is stored in, for example, the memory, storage, or the like of the computer 36. The information collecting means 42 can collect the stored information as data.

(9) State information of the moving means 14, 16 and 20 In the present embodiment, the state information of the moving means 14, 16 and 20 such as the mileage and the presence or absence of an abnormality is stored in, for example, the memory, storage or the like of the computer 36. ing. The information collecting means 42 can collect the stored information as data.
(10) Monitoring information regarding any of the tasks of rearranging the load 12 at the shelf 22, unloading the load 12, and warehousing the load 12. In the present embodiment, the progress of these tasks, the presence or absence of abnormalities in the task, etc. The monitoring information is stored in, for example, the memory, storage, or the like of the computer 36. The information collecting means 42 can collect the stored information as data.

(11) Information regarding the alert status of the conveyor device 44 and the moving means 14, 16 and 20 installed in the warehouse facility 10. In the present embodiment, the conveyor device 44 and the moving means 14, 16 and 20 alert information about their own status. Provided as. The information is stored in the memory, storage, etc. of the computer 36. The information collecting means 42 can collect information on the alert state of the device and the means as data.

(12) Information on the Shortcut of the First Mode In the present embodiment, the shortcut of the first mode for selecting the display of the frequently used operation display part 56 can be registered in advance in the memory, storage, or the like of the computer 36. The images that can be displayed in the operation display part 56 are, for example, an image that inquires about the inventory information of the product and gives an instruction to issue the goods, an image that confirms the inventory information of the product and gives an instruction to receive the goods, an image that instructs the operation of the equipment, and the like. The information collecting means 42 can collect information about the shortcut as data.

(13) Information on the Shortcut of the Second Mode In the present embodiment, the shortcut of the second mode for selecting the screen display of the frequently used management information Jm can be registered in advance in the memory, storage, or the like of the computer 36. The information collecting means 42 can collect information about the shortcut as data.

(14) Information on a previously created moving image In the present embodiment, a previously created moving image such as an operation moving image such as an operation explanation of an automated warehouse screen is stored in, for example, a memory, a storage, or the like of a computer 36. The information collecting means 42 can collect the stored information as data.

(15) Information on maintenance history of warehouse equipment 10 In the present embodiment, information on maintenance history such as maintenance and inspection records of warehouse equipment 10 is stored in, for example, a memory, storage, or the like of a computer 36. The information collecting means 42 can collect the stored information as data.

The features of the automated warehouse system 100 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

In the automated warehouse system 100 of the present embodiment, a shelf unit 22 in which a plurality of storage units 24 capable of storing the load 12 are arranged along the row direction, the column direction, and the step direction, and the load 12 in the row direction and the column direction. An automated warehouse system including warehouse equipment 10, including moving means 14, 16, 20 for moving in at least one of the step directions. This system displays a first display image 52 including an information display part 54 for displaying management information Jm related to the warehouse equipment 10, and a second display image 60 including image Gs of a plurality of options corresponding to the management information Jm. The display means 50 is provided. The system modifies the first display image 52 by selecting at least one of the plurality of alternative image Gs of the second display image 60.

According to this configuration, since the display means 50 displays the management information Jm, the user can easily read the management information Jm from the display means 50. The man-hours for system operation can be reduced. The operation of the system becomes easy. Further, since the image Gs of the plurality of options of the second display image 60 corresponding to the display is determined as to what is displayed on the first display image 52, the image can be changed quickly.

The present embodiment includes a control unit 48 that controls the operation of the warehouse equipment 10, and also has a travel route and a control unit for the shelf unit 22, the warehousing / delivery unit 40 for warehousing or unloading the load 12, and the moving means 14, 16 and 20. Further provided is an information gathering means 42 that collects data obtained from at least one of the 48. The first display image 52 includes a visualization information image Vi corresponding to the data collected by the information collecting means 42. In this case, since the first display image 52 includes the visualization information image Vi, the user can easily read the data collected from the display means 50. Further, since a wide range of information is obtained in each part constituting the automated warehouse system 100 and can be visually recognized together with the first display image 52, it can be operated by the pipe first display image 52 according to the situation of each part. It is easy to reflect the response when there is an abnormality in the management.

In the present embodiment, the images Gs of the plurality of options are the plurality of symbol images Sj corresponding to the management information Jm, and by selecting at least one of the plurality of symbol images Sj, the first display image 52 is the said. It is changed to include the information corresponding to the symbol image Sj. In this case, by selecting the symbol image Sj, the first display image 52 is changed to include the corresponding information, so that the user can read the corresponding information by a simple operation. Further, by associating the candidate management information Jm to be displayed with respect to the symbol image Sj in advance, many options can be displayed even in the second display image 60 in a small space, and even if there are many options, it can be quickly performed. You can decide what to display.

In the present embodiment, the first display image 52 includes, in addition to the information display part 54, a first mode including an operation display part 56 for operating the warehouse equipment 10, and a second mode not including the operation display part 56. Has. In this case, the user can easily switch between the display including the operation display part 56 and the display not including the operation display part 56. Further, the second mode, which does not include the operation display part 56, corresponds to a screen when the operation is not performed, such as during standby, or when a person who is not the operator checks the screen. In this case, it is possible not to display items that are unnecessary for the person.

In the present embodiment, the area of the operation display part 56 in the first mode is larger than the area of the information display part 54, and the amount of information of the information display part 54 in the second mode is the area of the information display part 54 in the first mode. More than the amount of information. In this case, the user can easily switch the amount of information in the information display part 54. Further, since the amount of information of the information display part 54 in the second mode is large, some people can simultaneously display a large amount of other information instead of the operation display part 56.

In the present embodiment, the display update of the information display part 54 is performed independently of the display update of the operation display part 56. For example, the display update of the operation display part 56 is updated by causing an event such as an input by the operator. By updating the display of each display part independently, the operator can obtain various information of the automated warehouse system in a timely manner.

In the present embodiment, the information collecting means 42 includes sensor information obtained from a sensor installed at a predetermined location of the warehouse facility 10, image information of the predetermined location of the warehouse facility 10, progress information of predetermined operations of the warehouse facility 10, and warehouse facility. Monitoring information for monitoring a predetermined process of 10, predetermined computer status information related to the warehouse equipment 10, alarm information for the warehouse equipment 10, network cutoff information, status information for sensors provided in the warehouse equipment 10, transportation means 14, 16 , 20 status information, monitoring information on any task of sorting the load 12 on the shelf 22, unloading the load 12 and warehousing the load 12, the conveyor device 44 installed in the warehouse facility 10, the transportation means 14, It collects one or more pieces of information about abnormal states 16 and 20, information about shortcuts, information about pre-made videos, and information about maintenance history of warehouse equipment 10. In this case, the user can touch various management information Jm via the information collecting means 42 and the display means 50.

In the present embodiment, when the display means 50 displays one of the first display image 52 and the second display image 60, the display means 50 does not display the other. In this case, the user can read the information from a large and easy-to-see image. In addition, since it is specialized for work on each screen, the display space is large, and unless you want to change the display contents frequently, the amount of information that can be visually recognized at the same time is large both during management and when changing the display screen. Will increase.

The display means 50 may display the first display image 52 and the second display image 60 at the same time. This is advantageous when you want to change the screen frequently.

In the present embodiment, the image Gs of the plurality of options is a plurality of symbol images Sj corresponding to the management information Jm, and the second display image 60 is a first area 62 displaying the plurality of symbol images Sj and a plurality of symbols images Sj. The first display image 52 by the operation of moving each other's symbol images Sj between the first area 62 and the second area 64, including the second area 64 for displaying the selected symbol image Sj among the symbol images Sj. Is changed. In this case, the user can change the first display image 52 by a sensory operation. Further, since the display option and the selected option can be visually recognized on the second display image 60, the user can grasp what is displayed before moving the symbol image Sj.

In the present embodiment, the operation of moving the symbol image Sj between the first area 62 and the second area 64 drags and drops the symbol image Sj from one of the first area 62 and the second area 64 to the other. It is an operation. In this case, the user can move the symbol image Sj by a sensory operation. Further, since the symbol image Sj of the movement source is dragged to move to the movement destination, the user can work while visually recognizing what to move to where.

The examples of the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. All of the above-described embodiments are merely specific examples for carrying out the present invention. The content of the embodiment does not limit the technical scope of the present invention, and many design changes such as changes, additions, and deletions of components are made within the range not deviating from the idea of the invention defined in the claims. It is possible. In the above-described embodiment, the contents that can be changed in such a design are described with the notations such as "in the embodiment" and "in the embodiment", but the contents are designed without such notations. It's not that changes aren't tolerated.

(Modification example)
Hereinafter, a modified example will be described. In the drawings and description of the modified examples, the same components and members as those in the embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals. The description that overlaps with the embodiment will be omitted as appropriate, and the configuration different from the embodiment will be mainly described.

In the description of the embodiment, an example including the conveyor device 44 is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the external transport means 46 may directly place the load 12 to be stored in the elevating mechanism 20 without the conveyor device 44.

In the description of the embodiment, an example including the elevating mechanism 20 is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
For example, the load 12 may be taken in and out by directly inserting a fork into each shelf with the load 12 lifted by the external transport means 46.

In the description of the embodiment, an example in which the second transport means 16 does not have an elevating mechanism is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the second transport means 16 may have an elevating mechanism for raising and lowering the first transport means 14. The second transport means 16 may be a stacker crane.

In the description of the embodiment, an example in which the second rail 28 is provided on the traveling path of the second transport means 16 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the second transport means 16 may travel on a travel path without rails.

Each of these modifications has the same effect as that of the embodiment.

Any combination of each of the above-described embodiments and modifications is also useful as an embodiment of the present invention. The new embodiments resulting from the combination have the effects of the combined embodiments and variants.

10 Warehouse equipment, 12 Loads, 22 Shelf, 24 Storage, 34 Sensors, 36 Computers, 38 Networks, 40 Entry / exit, 42 Information gathering means, 44 Conveyor equipment, 48 Controls, 50 Display means, 52 First display Image, 54 Information display part, 56 Operation display part, 60 Second display image, 62 First area, 64 Second area, 100 Automated warehouse system.

Claims (11)

A shelf section in which a plurality of storage sections capable of storing a load are arranged along a row direction, a column direction, and a step direction, and a moving means for moving the load in at least one of the row direction, the column direction, and the step direction. It is an automated warehouse system equipped with warehouse equipment including
A display means for displaying a first display image including an information display part for displaying management information related to the warehouse equipment, and a second display image including images of a plurality of options corresponding to the management information.
Equipped with
An automated warehouse system in which the first display image is modified by selecting at least one of the plurality of alternative images of the second display image. A control unit that controls the operation of the warehouse equipment is provided.
Further provided with an information collecting means for collecting data obtained from at least one of the shelf unit, the loading / unloading unit for loading / unloading the load, the traveling path of the moving means, and the control unit.
The automated warehouse system according to claim 1, wherein the first display image includes a visualization information image according to the data collected by the information collecting means. The image of the plurality of options is a plurality of symbol images corresponding to the management information.
The automated warehouse system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein by selecting at least one of the plurality of symbol images, the first display image is modified to include the management information corresponding to the symbol image. .. From claim 1, the first display image has, in addition to the information display part, a first mode including an operation display part for operating the warehouse equipment, and a second mode not including the operation display part. The automated warehouse system according to any one of 3. The area of the operation display part in the first mode is larger than the area of the information display part, and the amount of information of the information display part in the second mode is the amount of information of the information display part in the first mode. The automated warehouse system according to claim 4, which is more than the above. The automated warehouse system according to claim 4, wherein the display update of the information display part is performed independently of the display update of the operation display part. The information collecting means is
Sensor information obtained from sensors installed at predetermined locations in the warehouse equipment,
Image information of a predetermined location of the warehouse equipment,
Progress information on the prescribed work of the warehouse equipment,
Monitoring information that monitors a predetermined process of the warehouse equipment,
Status information of a predetermined computer related to the warehouse equipment,
Warning information for warehouse equipment, network interruption information,
Status information of sensors installed in the warehouse equipment,
State information of the means of transportation,
Monitoring information regarding any of the tasks of rearranging the load on the shelf, delivering the load and receiving the load,
Information on the conveyor device installed in the warehouse equipment, the abnormal state of the transportation means,
Information about shortcuts,
Information about pre-made videos and
The automated warehouse system according to claim 2, which collects one or more pieces of information regarding the maintenance history of the warehouse equipment. The automated warehouse system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the display means displays one of the first display image and the second display image, but does not display the other. The automated warehouse system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the display means simultaneously displays the first display image and the second display image. The image of the plurality of options is a plurality of symbol images corresponding to the management information.
The second display image includes a first area for displaying the plurality of symbol images and a second area for displaying a selected symbol image among the plurality of symbol images.
The automated warehouse system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first display image is changed by an operation of moving each other's symbol images between the first area and the second area. The operation of moving the symbol image of each other between the first area and the second area is an operation of dragging and dropping the symbol image from one of the first area and the second area to the other. Item 10. The automated warehouse system according to item 10.

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