KR-102962129-B1 - AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF

KR102962129B1KR 102962129 B1KR102962129 B1KR 102962129B1KR-102962129-B1

Abstract

A method of operation of an automated storage and retrieval system is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: scanning a barcode label attached to a pallet of goods at a reader to obtain loading location information for receiving or shipping the pallet of goods, and then transmitting the loading location information to a management computer; displaying the receiving or shipping location of the pallet of goods on a management screen at the management computer and transmitting the loading location information to a keypad control module; performing an automatic pressing operation on a keypad control panel of the keypad control module according to the loading location information at a keypad pressing device of the keypad control module; and generating a movement command according to the automatic pressing operation at the keypad control panel and transmitting the movement command to a stack crane.

Inventors

김찬규

Assignees

한국전자기술연구원

Dates

Publication Date: 20260511
Application Date: 20231109

Claims (8)

A step of scanning a barcode label attached to a goods pallet at a reader to obtain loading location information for receiving or shipping the goods pallet, and then transmitting the loading location information to a management computer; A step of displaying the receiving or shipping location of the item pallet through a management screen on the above-mentioned management computer and transmitting the loading location information to a keypad control module; A step of performing an automatic pressing operation of the keypad control panel of the keypad control module according to the loading position information in the keypad pressing device of the keypad control module; and The above keypad control panel includes the step of generating a movement command according to the automatic pressing action and transmitting the movement command to a stack crane. The step of performing the above automatic pressing operation is, A step in which the wireless communication module of the keypad control module receives movement control information of a stack crane including the loading position information from the management computer; The step of the wireless communication module transmitting movement control information of the stack crane to an RS-232 line driver and receiver via a D-SUB 9-pin connector; A step in which the RS-232 line driver and receiver transmit movement control information of the stack crane, transmitted from the D-SUB 9-pin connector, to the MCU in a serial data format; The above MCU controls the On/Off state of a relay corresponding to 32 channels by transmitting an MCU signal corresponding to a relay On signal or a relay Off signal to a power relay switch through a photocoupler and a Darlington array; and The micro solenoid includes the step of physically pressing the keypad control panel according to the on/off operation of the above relay, and The above photocoupler is composed of 32 photocouplers to support the 32 channels, converts the MCU signal +5V corresponding to the relay turn-on signal or relay turn-off signal into a +12 signal, and A method of operation of an automated storage recovery system in which the above-described Darlington array is composed of 4 chips and each chip is composed of 8 NPN Darlington pairs, supporting the above-described 32 channels and amplifying a +12V signal converted from an MCU signal +5V into a high current.
In paragraph 1, The step of transmitting the above loading location information to the keypad control module is, A method of operation of an automated storage and retrieval system comprising the step of visualizing a virtual item pallet modeled with the item pallet and a virtual stack crane object modeled with the stack crane in a virtual structure object, and displaying the receiving or shipping location of the item pallet through a management screen.
In paragraph 1, The step of performing the above automatic pressing operation is, A method of operation of an automated storage and retrieval system comprising the step of performing an automatic pressing operation of the keypad control panel by a push/pull operation using a micro solenoid electromagnet.
In paragraph 1, After the step of transmitting the above movement command to the stack crane, In the above-mentioned management computer, a step of displaying in real-time the movement of the virtual stack crane object loaded with the virtual item pallet, as a virtual item pallet modeled of the item pallet in a virtual structure object and a virtual stack crane object modeled of the stack crane. A method of operation of an automated storage and retrieval system including further
In paragraph 1, Prior to the step of transmitting the above loading location information to the management computer, A step of converting loading location information for receiving or shipping the above-mentioned item pallet into a barcode; and Step of printing the converted barcode and then attaching the printed barcode label to a product pallet A method of operation of an automated storage and retrieval system including further
A barcode reader that scans a barcode label attached to a goods pallet to obtain loading location information for receiving or shipping the goods pallet; and It includes a management computer that receives the above-mentioned loading location information and transmits the received loading location information to a keypad control module, The above keypad control module is, A keypad pressing device that performs an automatic pressing operation of the keypad control panel of the keypad control module according to the above loading position information; and It includes a keypad control panel that generates a movement command according to the above automatic pressing action and transmits the movement command to a stack crane, The above keypad pressing device is, It includes a D-SUB 9-pin connector, an RS-232 line driver and receiver, an MCU, a photocoupler, a Darlington array, and a power relay switch, The above RS-232 line driver and receiver transmit the movement control information of the stack crane transmitted from the D-SUB 9-pin connector to the MCU in a serial data format, and The above MCU controls the On/Off state of relays corresponding to 32 channels by transmitting an MCU signal corresponding to a relay On signal or a relay Off signal to a power relay switch through a photocoupler and a Darlington array, and Depending on the on/off operation of the above relay, the micro solenoid physically presses the keypad control panel, and The above photocoupler is composed of 32 photocouplers to support the 32 channels, converts the MCU signal +5V corresponding to the relay turn-on signal or relay turn-off signal into a +12 signal, and The above Darlington array is composed of 4 chips, each chip is composed of 8 NPN Darlington pairs, and the automated storage recovery system supports 32 channels and amplifies a +12V signal converted from an MCU signal +5V to a high current.
In paragraph 6, The above management computer is, An automated storage and retrieval system characterized by visualizing a virtual item pallet modeled with the item pallet and a virtual stack crane object modeled with the stack crane on a virtual structure object, and displaying the receiving or shipping location of the item pallet through a management screen.
In paragraph 6, The above keypad pressing device is, An automated storage and retrieval system characterized by performing an automatic pressing operation of the keypad control panel through a push/pull operation using a micro solenoid electromagnet.

Description

Automated Storage and Retrieval System and Method of Operation Thereof The present invention relates to an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) used in a wheel center, and more specifically, to a positioning technology for a stacker crane, which is one of the pieces of equipment used in the ASRS. An Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) is used to automate and streamline the processes of product storage and retrieval in large-scale warehouses or logistics centers. Figure 1 is a drawing illustrating a stacker crane used in a typical ASRS. Referring to Fig. 1, the stacker crane is one of the core components of the ASRS and is equipment primarily used to store and retrieve items located at high warehouse heights. This equipment generally takes the form of a crane capable of moving vertically and horizontally along rails, and typically lifts products using a slide, similar to a robotic arm. ASRS stacker cranes maximize warehouse height, allowing more products to be stored in a smaller space. As an automated system, they reduce human error and enable the rapid and precise location of products. Furthermore, ASRS stacker cranes facilitate fast operation speeds by quickly locating and retrieving products, while minimizing manpower and enhancing operational efficiency through their automated systems. Despite these advantages, the stack crane of the ASRS still has low work efficiency because a person manually operates the keypad control module (10) to perform the work. There is a difficulty in replacing the high-cost ASRS once it has been built, as it requires replacing all the system control parts. Figure 1 is a drawing illustrating a stacker crane used in a typical ASRS. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an automated storage and retrieval system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a management screen provided by the management computer of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the keypad pressing device and keypad control panel of Figure 3. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the entire process for receiving/shipping in an automated storage recovery system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a detailed configuration diagram of the actual manufacturing module of the keypad pressing device (320) shown in FIG. 4 (A). The present invention is capable of various modifications and may have various embodiments, and specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail. However, this is not intended to limit the invention to specific embodiments, and it should be understood that the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an automated storage and retrieval system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) (500) according to an embodiment of the present invention provides a function that can increase work efficiency by automatically operating the positional movement of a stacker crane instead of manually operating a keypad control module by a person. To this end, the ASRS (500) includes a reader (100), an administrator computer (200), and a keypad control module (300). Reader (100) A reader (100) is configured to read code information attached to a pallet of goods to obtain movement control information (e.g., loading position information of goods) for a stack crane for receiving and shipping goods (e.g., pharmaceuticals, etc.), and for this purpose includes an optical scanner (110), a decoder (120), a wireless communication interface (130), and a micro-controller unit (140). An optical scanner (110) is configured to scan a code attached to a pallet of goods, and examples include a laser scanner, an imaging scanner, or a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) scanner. The code information includes a barcode (20) or a QR code (Quick Response Code, 30). The optical scanner (110) obtains code data (barcode data or QR code data) by scanning the lines and spacing of the barcode (20) or QR code (30). The decoder (120) is a software and/or hardware configuration that decodes (interprets) code data obtained by the optical scanner (110) to obtain movement control information for the stack crane for receiving and shipping the goods. Here, the movement control information for the stack crane includes, for example, identification information for distinguishing the receiving and shipping of goods, product code information indicating the type of goods, manufacturer information indicating the manufacturer of the goods, time information indicating the receiving and shipping dates of the goods, validity period information indicating the validity period of the goods, and loading position information for receiving and shipping the goods. The wireless communication interface (130) transmits movement control information of the stack cran