METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING STORED ARTICLE PACKING TYPE AND MULTI-STORIED AUTOMATED WAREHOUSE UTILIZING THE SAME

摘要

PURPOSE: To simplify the article handling operation in the case where the article packing type is abnormal and enhance the carry-in processing efficiency, by detecting three-dimensional dimensions of a storage article by using ultrasonic sensors. ;CONSTITUTION: A plurality of ultrasonic distance sensors 3a, 3b of different detection regions are mounted in parallel on a moving mechanism 5 freely movable in the back- and-forth direction of a carry-in station 1, at a position higher than the position of a carried in storage article 2. The distances from the ultrasonic distance sensors 3a, 3b to an upper surface of the storage article 2 or an upper surface of the carry-in station 1 is sensed by means of ultrasonic waves. On the other hand, the article 2 is moved by the moving mechanism 5 in the back-and-forth direction to thereby detect the article packing type as viewed in all the directions of length, width, and height. Subsequently, the resultant detection values are compared with data stored in a storage device of a controller 7, thereby determining whether the packing type of article 2 is normal or abnormal. This makes it possible to prevent abnormal-dimension article from being carried into the warehouse.;COPYRIGHT: (C)1995,JPO