Storage warehouse

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9991144-B2
Application number	US-201415025727-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2014
Priority date	Sep 30, 2013
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

A storage warehouse includes shelves, wherein first and second containers capable of being transported while placed on an attachment are stored; a warehouse-in port and a warehouse-out port whereon the first and second containers placed on the attachment are placed; a warehouse-in conveyor and a warehouse-out conveyor that convey the first and second containers placed on the attachment between the shelves, and the warehouse-in port and between the shelves, and the warehouse-out port; an attachment-use warehouse-in/out port that temporarily stores the attachment; and a transfer machine that is capable of transferring the attachment between the attachment-use warehouse-in/out port and the warehouse-in port and between the attachment-use warehouse-in/out port and the warehouse-out port.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A storage warehouse that stores a first article and a second article, the second article having a shape or size different from that of the first article and being transported while placed on an attachment, the storage warehouse comprising:
a storage including a shelf whereon the first article, or the second article placed on the attachment, is capable of being placed;
a port whereon the first article, or the second article placed on the attachment, is placed in order to enter the first article, or the second article placed on the attachment, into the storage and/or in order to remove the first article, or the second article placed on the attachment, from the storage;
a transport apparatus that transports the first article, or the second article placed on the attachment, between the storage and the port;
a buffer that temporarily stores the attachment without the second article being placed on the attachment; and
a transfer apparatus that transfers the attachment, without the second article being placed on the attachment, between the buffer and the port; wherein
the transfer apparatus transfers the attachment, without the second article being placed on the attachment, from the buffer to the port prior to the second article being placed on the attachment and entered into the storage; and
the transfer apparatus transfers the attachment, without the second article being placed on the attachment, from the port to the buffer after the second article is removed from the storage and not placed on the attachment.

2. The storage warehouse according to claim 1 , further comprising:
control circuitry that controls the transport apparatus; wherein
the control circuitry causes the transport apparatus to transport the second article placed on the attachment from the port to the storage.

3. The storage warehouse according to claim 2 , wherein the control circuitry causes the transport apparatus to transport the second article placed on the attachment from the storage to the port.

4. The storage warehouse according to claim 1 , further comprising control circuitry that controls the transport apparatus; wherein
the control circuitry causes the transport apparatus to transport the second article placed on the attachment from the storage to the port.

5. The storage warehouse according to claim 1 , further comprising a second transport apparatus that transports the attachment between the storage and the buffer.

6. The storage warehouse according to claim 2 , further comprising a second transport apparatus that transports the attachment between the storage and the buffer.

7. The storage warehouse according to claim 3 , further comprising a second transport apparatus that transports the attachment between the storage and the buffer.

8. The storage warehouse according to claim 4 , further comprising a second transport apparatus that transports the attachment between the storage and the buffer.

9. The storage warehouse according to claim 1 , wherein
attachments, including the attachment, are stacked; and
the attachments stored in the buffer are stacked to a plurality of levels, or below, not exceeding a height of the first article.

10. The storage warehouse according to claim 2 , wherein
attachments, including the attachment, are stacked; and
the attachments stored in the buffer are stacked to a plurality of levels, or below, not exceeding a height of the first article.

11. The storage warehouse according to claim 3 , wherein
attachments, including the attachment, are stacked; and
the attachments stored in the buffer are stacked to a plurality of levels, or below, not exceeding a height of the first article.

12. The storage warehouse according to claim 4 , wherein
attachments, including the attachment, are stacked; and
the attachments stored in the buffer are stacked to a plurality of levels, or below, not exceeding a height of the first article.

Assignees

• Murata Machinery Ltd

Inventors

• Adachi Naruto
• Ito Yasuhisa

Classifications

• H10P72/3408

  Docking arrangements · CPC title

• H10P72/3402

  Mechanical parts of transfer devices · CPC title

• H10P72/1924

  characterised by atmosphere control · CPC title

• H10P72/3404 Primary

  Storage means · CPC title

• H01L21/67769 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic