Automated warehouse and method for controlling automated warehouse
AssigneeMurata Machinery, Ltd.
InventorsNaruto Adachi, Nobuhiko Baba
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an automated warehouse, if a controller receives an instruction to retreat a first carrier and if the first carrier is holding an article or if an article is housed in a housing shelf corresponding to an isolation region that is a retreat destination, the controller causes the first carrier to carry the article to a housing shelf to and from which a second carrier is able to transfer an article, then causes the first carrier to retreat, and then drives the second carrier within a range of a track except for the isolation region. When it is detected that one of first doors corresponding to the isolation region has been opened, the controller continues driving the second carrier.
Claims6
An automated warehouse comprising:
- an outside panel that defines an internal space and includes a plurality of openable/closable doors that are able to open the internal space;
- a plurality of carriers that each carry an article to a housing shelf in the internal space and travel on a single track;
- and
- a controller that controls the plurality of carriers;
- wherein
- if the controller receives an instruction to retreat one of the plurality of carriers holding an article or if an article is housed in a housing shelf corresponding to an isolation region that is a retreat destination, the controller causes the one of the plurality of carriers to carry the article to a housing shelf to and from which another of the plurality of carriers is able to transfer an article and then causes the one of the plurality of carriers to retreat;
- after retreating the one of the plurality of carriers, the controller drives the another of the plurality of carriers within a range of the track except for the isolation region;
- and
- when it is detected that one of the plurality of openable/closable doors corresponding to the isolation region has been opened, the controller continues to drive the another of the plurality of carriers.
A method for controlling an automated warehouse, the automated warehouse including an outside panel that defines an internal space and includes a plurality of openable/closable doors that are able to open the internal space and a plurality of carriers that each carry an article to a housing shelf in the internal space and travel on a single track, the method comprising:
- if an instruction to retreat one of the plurality of carriers holding an article is received or if an article is housed in a housing shelf corresponding to an isolation region that is a retreat destination, causing the one of the plurality of carriers to carry the article to a housing shelf to and from which another of the plurality of carriers is able to transfer an article and then causing the one of the plurality of carriers to retreat;
- after retreating the one of the plurality of carriers, driving the another of the plurality of carriers within a range of the track except for the isolation region;
- and
- when it is detected that one of the plurality of openable/closable doors corresponding to the isolation region has been opened, continuing to drive the another of the plurality of carriers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.