US 12,312,167 B2
Stocker system
Jun Sai, Ise (JP); and Nobuhiko Baba, Ise (JP)
Assigned to MURATA MACHINERY, LTD., Kyoto (JP)
Appl. No. 17/605,597
Filed by MURATA MACHINERY, LTD., Kyoto (JP)
PCT Filed Mar. 26, 2020, PCT No. PCT/JP2020/013802
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 22, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/230463, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 19, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-091618 (JP), filed on May 14, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0258970 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
Int. Cl. B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B66F 9/07 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/0421 (2013.01) [B66F 9/072 (2013.01); B65G 2201/02 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A stocker system comprising:
a plurality of stockers including a first stocker and a second stocker that are adjacent stockers,
the first stocker including:
a first shelf to accommodate an article;
a first stacker crane to transfer the article;
a first body accommodating the first shelf and the first stacker crane; and
a first cable including a proximal end portion in the first stocker and a distal end portion connected to the first stacker crane; and
the second stocker including:
a second shelf to accommodate the article;
a second stacker crane to transfer the article;
a second body accommodating the second shelf and the second stacker crane; and
a second cable including a proximal end portion in the second stocker and a distal end portion connected to the second stacker crane;
an operation controller configured or programmed to control operation of the first stacker crane and the second stacker crane;
a maintenance room between the first stocker and the second stocker to allow entry of both of the first stacker crane and the second stacker crane, and capable of accommodating at least one of the first stacker crane and the second stacker crane; and
a first partitioning plate at a first boundary between the first stocker and the maintenance room, the first partitioning plate including a first opening portion to allow the first cable to pass through and a door to switch between an open state in which the first opening portion is open and a closed state in which the first opening portion is closed;
a second partitioning plate at a second boundary between the second stocker and the maintenance room, the second partitioning plate including a second opening portion to allow the second cable to pass through and a door to switch between an open state in which the second opening portion is open and a closed state in which the second opening portion is closed;
a first detector to detect whether the first opening portion is open or closed;
a second detector to detect whether the second opening portion is open or closed;
an identifier configured or programmed to identify the at least one of the first stacker crane and the second stacker crane accommodated in the maintenance room based on detection results of the first detector and the second detector; wherein
the operation controller is configured or programmed to restrict operation of the at least one of the first stacker crane and the second stacker crane identified by the identifier.