U.S. patent number 3,648,241 [Application Number 04/808,930] was granted by the patent office on 1972-03-07 for stationary stack assembly with remotely controlled access.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Elecompack Company Limited. Invention is credited to Han-Ichiro Naito, Tsuneo Yamaguchi.
United States Patent |
3,648,241 |
Naito , et al. |
March 7, 1972 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
STATIONARY STACK ASSEMBLY WITH REMOTELY CONTROLLED ACCESS
Abstract
A stationary stack assembly comprising a plurality of suitably
spaced stacks, which is so designed that the storage position of an
article to be stored or taken out is indicated by operating keys on
a keyboard in accordance with a code number representative of the
storage position information or by means of a position card on
which the storage position is previously memorized and the range of
activity of an attendant in the stack assembly is restricted by the
qualification accorded to the attendant and further the date and
time when the article was stored or taken out, the attendant who
handled the article and the storage position the article are
recorded automatically.
Inventors: |
Naito; Han-Ichiro
(Akishima-shi, JA), Yamaguchi; Tsuneo (Tokyo,
JA) |
Assignee: |
Elecompack Company Limited
(Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, JA)
|
Family
ID: |
11975460 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/808,930 |
Filed: |
March 20, 1969 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 22, 1968 [JA] |
|
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43/18577 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
340/5.5;
340/5.73; 186/56 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
53/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
53/00 (20060101); A47B 53/02 (20060101); H04q
009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/147,147A,152,153
;186/1 ;214/16.4 ;221/6,7 ;235/61.7 ;194/4 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Yusko; Donald J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A stationary stack assembly having a plurality of equally spaced
stationary stacks, said stationary stack assembly being so designed
that the position of each aisle formed between adjacent stacks and
more specific article storage positions are indicated by making use
of signals of numerical codes representative of said aisle position
and said said storage positions respectively, and comprising (1) a
set of numerical keys from 0 to 9, (2) means for converting a
plurality of signals created by said keys into signals indicating
said aisle position and said more specific positions, (3) storage
position indicating means for indicating a desired storage position
in accordance with said signals indicating the aisle position and
the more specific position, (4) a lockable closure member for
covering each of said specific storage positions, (5) means for
unlocking the lock of said closure member at said specific storage
position in response to said specific position signal. (6) means
for receiving a qualification card having at least one
qualification information signal recorded thereon to limit the
operation of said stationary stack assembly, (7) means for reading
the information recorded on said qualification card and
transmitting the same as at least one qualification signal, and (8)
means for receiving said qualification signal and also said aisle
position signal and said more specific position signals and
comparing said qualification signal with said aisle position signal
and said more specific position signals and transmitting said
position signals to said storage position indicating means and said
unlocking means only upon coincidence of said position signals with
said qualification signal.
2. A stationary stack assembly as defined in claim 1, in which said
storage position indicating means is provided with automatic
restoring means by which it is actuated and the position signal
converting means is restored after the signals from said keys have
been converted into position signals by said position signal
converting means, thereby providing for introduction of the next
code signals.
3. A stationary stack assembly as defined in claim 1, which further
comprises means for recording an aisle position and more specific
positions corresponding to said aisle position signal and said more
specific position signals in response to said signals.
4. A stationary stack assembly as defined in claim 2, which further
comprises means for recording an aisle position and more specific
positions corresponding to said aisle position signal and said more
specific position signals in response to said signals.
5. A stationary stack assembly as defined in claim 1, which further
comprises means for recording an aisle position and more specific
positions corresponding to said aisle position signal and said more
specific position signals in response to said signals and for
recording said qualification signal or signals.
6. A stationary stack assembly as defined in claim 2, which further
comprises means for recording an aisle position and more specific
positions corresponding to said aisle position signal and said more
specific position signals in response to said signals and for
recording said qualification signal or signals.
7. A stationary stack assembly having a plurality of equally spaced
stationary stacks and comprising (1) means for receiving a position
card having position information signals such as an aisle position
and more specific positions recorded thereon, (2) means for reading
the information recorded on said position card and transmitting the
same as storage position signals, (3) means for receiving such
signals and indicating a desired storage position according to
them, (4) a lockable closure member for covering each of said
specific storage positions, (5) means for unlocking the lock of
said closure member at said specific storage position in response
to said specific position signal, (6) means for receiving a
qualification card having at least one qualification information
signal recorded thereon to limit the operation of said stationary
stack assembly, (7) means for reading the information recorded on
said qualification card and transmitting the same as at least one
qualification signal, and (8) means for receiving said
qualification signal and also said aisle position signal and said
more specific position signals and comparing said qualification
signal with said aisle position signal and said more specific
position signals and transmitting said position signals to said
storage indicating means and said unlocking means only upon
coincidence of said position signals with said qualification
signal.
8. A stationary stack assembly as defined in claim 7, in which said
storage position indicating means is provided with automatic
restoring means by which it is actuated and said position reading
means is restored after the signals from said position card have
been converted into position signals by said position reading
means, thereby providing for introduction of the next position
information.
9. A stationary stack assembly as defined in claim 7, which further
comprises means for recording an aisle position and more specific
positions corresponding to said aisle position signal and said more
specific position signals in response to said signals.
10. A stationary stack assembly as defined in claim 8, which
further comprises means for recording an aisle position and more
specific positions corresponding to said aisle position signal and
said more specific position signals in response to said
signals.
11. A stationary stack assembly as defined in claim 7, which
further comprises means for recording an aisle position and more
specific positions corresponding to said aisle position signal and
said more specific position signals in response to said signals and
for recording said qualification signal or signals.
12. A stationary stack assembly as defined in claim 8, which
further comprises means for recording an aisle position and more
specific positions corresponding to said aisle position signal and
said more specific position signals in response to said signals and
for recording said qualification signal or signals.
Description
The present invention relates to a so-called stationary stack
assembly comprising a plurality of stationary stacks arranged in a
suitably spaced relation.
In storing articles, such as products, books, etc., in a plurality
of stationary stacks arranged in a warehouse or library, not so
much trouble will be encountered where the articles are to be
stored randomly regardless of their storage positions or the number
of the stacks is relatively small or the number of kinds by which
the articles are to be sorted in the stacks is as small as fewer
than 10. However, where the kinds of the articles are diversified
and the articles are stored by respective kinds or the number of
stacks is large, considerable time is required to determine the
position in which a desired article is stored or in which an
article is desired to be stored, thus making it impossible to
accelerate the action of storing or taking out articles.
An object of the present invention is to provide a stationary stack
assembly which obviates the aforesaid drawbacks of the conventional
stationary stack assembly and which is so designed that the storage
position of each article stored or each kind of articles stored is
indicated by an indicator lamp or the like when a set of numerical
keys from 0 to 9 on a keyboard are depressed in sequence in
accordance with a code number representative of the storage
position.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a stationary
stack assembly of the character described above, in which the
storage position of a desired article or a desired kind of article
is indicated by the indicator lamp or the like when a position
card, e.g., a punch card, a magnetic card or a mark card, having a
signal representative of the storage position memorized thereon is
inserted in a control panel, instead of operating the keys.
Still other object of the present invention is to provide a
stationary stack assembly of the character described above, in
which the arrangement is made such that the storage position of a
desired article or a desired kind of article is indicated by the
indicator lamp or the like in accordance with the storage position
information signal supplied by the keyboard or the position card
and a locked closure member at the said storage position is
unlocked only when the said storage position information signal is
admitted by a qualification information signal supplied by a
qualification card, e.g., a punch card, a magnetic card or a mark
card having recorded thereon a signal representative of the
qualification given to each attendant, i.e., the section of the
stack assembly the articles in which the pertinent attendant is
authorized to handle articles, so that none of the attendants alone
has access to all the storage positions in the stack assembly.
Other object of the present invention is to provide a stationary
stack assembly of the character described above, in which is
provided means for recording the storage position of an article
stored or taken out in the manner described above along with the
date when the article was stored or taken out.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a
stationary stack assembly of the character described above, in
which is provided means for recording the identification number of
a qualification card where such qualification card was used.
According to the present invention, it is possible to supply a
large number of storage position informations in sequence, so that
a desired storage position is accessible to store or take out an
article independently of the order of the storage position
information.
According to the present invention, it is also possible to
illuminate only the necessary aisle as required by arranging such
that an illuminating lamp on the aisle is turned on concurrently
with the aisle indicator lamp, and, therefore, it is not necessary
to illuminate the entire warehouse or the like, main aisles only
being required to be illuminated.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGS. 1 and 2 are views showing the arrangement of stationary
stacks and the configuration of each stack which are common for all
embodiments of the present invention to be described and
illustrated herein, in which FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the
arrangement of stationary stacks and FIG. 2 is a front elevation
showing the manner in which each stack is sectioned;
FIGS. 3 to 12 inclusive are respectively views of the first
embodiment of the stationary stack assembly according to the
present invention, designed to be operated by a keyboard, in which
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a stack; FIG. 4 is a
cross-sectional view of a portion of the stack; FIG. 5 is a
perspective view of a control panel; FIG. 6 is a view showing the
arrangement of indicator lamps on the control panel shown in FIG.
5; FIG. 7 is a diagram of a circuit for receiving signals
representative of a unit, an aisle, the left or right side of the
aisle, a bay position and a stage position, which are supplied by
depressing keys on the keyboard; FIG. 8 is a diagram of a circuit
for instructing the unit, aisle, etc., received by the signal
receiving circuit of FIG. 7, an automatic restoring circuit and a
circuit of the indicator lamps on the control panel; FIG. 9 is a
diagram of a circuit for repeating the signals received by the
receiving circuit of FIG. 7 and representing the left or right side
of the aisle, the bay position and the stage position of a stack
assembly unit A; FIG. 10 is a storage position memorizing circuit
diagram, wherein FIG. 10a is a circuit diagram for the first aisle
of the unit A and FIG. 10b is a circuit diagram for the second
aisle of the unit A; FIG. 11 is a diagram of a storage position
indicator lamp circuit and an unlocking circuit for the unit A,
first aisle, left side for indicating a desired storage position
and unlocking a closure member of the said storage position; and
FIG. 12 is a diagram of a circuit for turning on the left and right
side of an aisle indicator lamp for the unit A on the control panel
and the left and right side of an aisle indicator lamp on the front
sidewall of each stack;
FIGS. 13 to 16 inclusive are respectively views showing the second
embodiment of the stationary stack assembly according to the
present invention designed to be operated by a keyboard and having
each bay of each stack provided with a closure member, in which
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a portion of a stack; FIG. 14
is a set of views showing a portion of closure member locking
means, in which FIG. 14a is a cross-sectional view of a locking
member and FIG. 14b is a side view of a handle and parts associated
therewith; FIG. 15 is a set of diagrams of a storage position
memorizing circuit in this embodiment, in which FIG. 15a is a
circuit diagram for the unit A, first aisle and FIG. 15b is a
circuit diagram for the unit A, second aisle, and FIG. 16 is a
diagram of a storage position indicator lamp circuit and an
unlocking circuit for the unit A, first aisle, left side, for
indicating a desired storage position and unlocking the closure
member provided for each bay of the stack;
FIGS. 17 and 18 show the third embodiment of the stationary stack
assembly according to the present invention desired to be operated
by a position card, in which FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a
control panel and FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram for receiving
signals representative of a unit, an aisle, the left or right side
of the aisle, a bay position and a stage position;
FIGS. 19 to 26 inclusive show the fourth embodiment of the
stationary stack assembly according to the present invention which
makes use of a qualification card in addition to the position card
used in the third embodiment so that none of the attendants alone
can have access to all the stacks in the assembly, in which FIG. 19
is a perspective view of a control panel; FIG. 20 of a diagram of a
circuit for separating the left and the right side of an aisle in
the unit A; FIG. 21 is a diagram of a circuit for reading a
starting signal and a qualification signal for the unit A; FIG. 22
is a diagram of a starting and unit A qualification signal
memorizing circuit for memorizing the information read by the
reading circuit of FIG. 21; FIG. 23 is a diagram of a qualification
signal instructing circuit for the unit A for supplying
instructions to the following circuits in accordance with the
qualification signal memorized; FIG. 24 is a set of diagrams of a
qualification setting circuit, in which FIG. 24a is a view showing
a matrix of the circuit for the unit A and FIG. 24b is a view
showing a qualification setting element; FIG. 25 is a set of
diagrams of a storage position memorizing circuit for memorizing a
storage position in accordance with a storage position information
and a qualification information, in which FIG. 25a is a circuit
diagram for the first aisle of the unit A and FIG. 25b is a circuit
diagram for the second aisle of the unit A; and FIG. 26 is a
diagram of a storage position selection verifying circuit;
FIGS. 27 to 40 inclusive show the fifth embodiment of the
stationary stack assembly according to the present invention which
is similar to the fourth embodiment but provided with recording
means, in which FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing a portion of
a stack provided with a control panel; FIG. 28 is a set of views
diagrammatically showing the recording means, in which FIG. 28a is
a view showing the arrangement of printing drums and FIG. 28b is a
view showing a printing mechanism; FIG. 29 is a diagram of a
circuit for receiving a starting signal and signals representative
of a unit and an aisle number; FIG. 30 is a diagram of a circuit
for receiving a signal representative of an article number; FIG. 31
is a diagram of a circuit for formulating an aisle signal from a
signal received by the aisle signal receiving circuit of FIG. 29;
FIG. 32 is a diagram of a number of actuated relays detecting
circuit for detecting an erroneous operation, such as dual
receiving of signals, of relays in the aforesaid respective signal
receiving circuits; FIG. 33 is a diagram of a circuit for receiving
a basic qualification signal for the unit A and a circuit for
receiving a signal representative of a qualification card number;
FIG. 34 is a diagram of a circuit for memorizing a basic
qualification signal for the unit A received by the circuit of FIG.
33; FIG. 35 is a diagram of a circuit for memorizing a
qualification card number received by the circuit of FIG. 33; FIG.
36 is a circuit diagram of magnets in the recording means for
operating pins corresponding to unit, left and right side of aisle,
bay position, stage position and article number; FIG. 37 is a
circuit diagram of magnets for operating pins and printing hammers
corresponding to qualification and qualification card number for
the unit A; FIG. 38 is a circuit diagram of operation indicator
lamps; FIG. 39 is a diagram of a circuit for verifying a
qualification signal; and FIG. 40 is a diagram of circuits of a
power source indicator lamp and a unit A indicator lamp and a
circuit for verifying the completion of selection of a storage
position; and
FIGS. 41 to 44 inclusive show the sixth embodiment of the
stationary stack assembly according to the present invention which
is similar to the first embodiment but provided with a system
operative with a qualification card and recording means, in which
FIG. 41 is a perspective view showing a portion of a stack provided
with a control panel; FIG. 42 is a view showing the arrangement of
operation indicator lamps on the control panel; FIG. 43 is a
diagram of a circuit for receiving signals representative of a
unit, an aisle, the left or right side of the aisle, a bay
position, a stage position and an article number supplied by keys
on a keyboard; and FIG. 44 is a circuit diagram of the operation
indicator lamps on the control panel.
As shown in FIG. 1, the stationary stack assembly in each of the
embodiments to be described herein comprises a plurality of
stationary stacks arranged on both sides of a central corridor 12
extending centrally of a warehouse 11. Namely, the stationary stack
assembly consists of a stack assembly unit A comprising stacks AB
... AJ which are each divided transversely by a longitudinal
partition wall and stacks AA and AK which are located adjacent to
the walls of the warehouse 11 and each have storage shelves on one
side thereof, and a stack assembly unit B comprising stacks BB ...
BJ each having storage shelves on both sides thereof and stacks BA
and BK each having storage shelves on one side thereof. In FIG. 1,
the underlined reference numerals denoted between adjacent stacks
indicate aisle numbers respectively.
Each stack, as shown in FIG. 2, is composed of a ceiling plate 13,
a bottom plate 14, a front sideplate 15 and a rear sideplate 16,
and the interior of the stack is sectioned into four bays and six
stages by equally spaced three vertical partition members 17, 18,
19 and five shelf plates 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 to form a total of 24
storage compartments. The ceiling plate 13 and the shelf plates 20
... 24 are respectively provided with indicator lamps 25 to
indicate the respective stages, while the front side plate 15 and
the partition members 17, 18, 19 are respectively provided with
restoring buttons 26 for the respective stages. The front side wall
15 is also provided with aisle indicator lamps 27 on the left and
right sides of that face which is facing the central corridor 12,
as shown in FIG. 3, each of the aisle indicator lamps having the
corresponding aisle number marked thereon.
Referring to FIGS. 3 to 12 inclusive, there is shown, as the first
embodiment of the present invention, a stationary stack assembly
which is so designed to be operated by keys on a keyboard. As shown
in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the storage compartments is provided with
a closure member 29 which is connected at its bottom edge to each
shelf plate or the bottom plate by means of hinges 28. Each of the
closure members 29 is recessed inwardly along the upper edge
thereof to form a handle 30. The back side of the handle 30 is
provided with an inwardly projecting hook-shaped engaging member
31, while an L-shaped locking bar 32, adapted to disengageably
engage the engaging member 31 at one end, is provided in such a
manner as to surround a magnet 33 which is fitted to the underside
of each of the ceiling plates 13 and the shelf plates. The other
end of the L-shaped locking bar is vertically movably connected to
the magnet, so that the said locking bar may be released from
engagement with the engaging member 31 when the magnet 33 is
energized. Reference numeral 34 designates a longitudinal partition
plate by which each stack is divided transversely.
A control panel 36 located adjacent to an entrance 35 of the
warehouse 11, as shown in FIG. 5, is composed of a front panel 37
and a table 38 extending horizontally from the lower portion of the
front panel, and a keyboard 39 having a set of numerical keys from
0 to 9 and a clear key is provided across the front panel 37 and
the table 38. As shown in an enlarged scale in FIG. 6, the front
panel 37 and the keyboard 39 are provided with indicator lamps,
i.e., the left side position of aisle indicator lamps 1AL . . .
10AL for the unit A, the right side position of aisle indicator
lamps 1AR . . . 10AR for the unit A, the left side position of
aisle indicator lamps 1BL . . . 10BL for the unit B, the right side
position of aisle indicator lamps 1BR . . . 10BR for the unit B, a
unit A indicator lamp A to indicate the fact that the unit A has
been indicated, a unit B indicator lamp B to indicate the fact that
the unit B has been indicated, a power source indicator lamp PL, a
unit operation indicator lamp KL1 to indicate the fact that a
signal representative of a unit is being received incident to the
operation of the keys, aisle operation indicator lamps KL2 and KL3
to indicate that a signal representative of an aisle is being
received, left and right operation indicator lamp KL4 to indicate
that a signal representative of the left or right side of an aisle
is being received, a bay position operation indicator lamp KL5 to
indicate that a signal representative of a bay position is being
received and a stage position operation indicator lamp KL6 to
indicate that a signal representative of a stage position is being
received.
Next, an electrical mechanism to indicate a desired storage
position and to unlock the closure member at the said storage
position, upon operating the keys on the keyboard, will be
explained.
First of all, an arrangement is made such that the unit A and the
left side of an aisle are indicated by depressing the key 1; the
unit B and the right side of an aisle are indicated by depressing
the key 2; the aisle numbers which are numbers in two figures are
indicated by depressing two keys, i.e., the first aisle is
indicated by depressing the keys 0, 1, the second aisle is
indicated by depressing the keys 0, 2 and similarly the 10th aisle
is indicated by depressing the keys 1, 0; and bays and stages are
indicated by depressing the keys according to the numbers of a
specific bay and stage.
FIG. 7 is a diagram of a circuit for receiving signals
representative of a unit, an aisle, the left or right side of the
aisle, a bay position and a stage position; an operation memorizing
circuit for setting a unit, an aisle, etc., in accordance with the
signals being supplied continuously incident to operating the keys;
and an aisle signal formulating circuit for formulating a series of
aisle signals by combining two aisle signals.
The signal receiving circuit comprises the numerical keys 0 . . .
9; the clear key C; and unit signal receiving relays A0 and BO,
aisle first signal receiving relays FTO and FT1, aisle second
signals receiving relays F0 . . . F9, the left and right side of an
aisle signal receiving relays DL and DR, bay position signal
receiving relays N1 . . . N4 and stage position signal receiving
relays E1 . . . E6, all of which relays respectively have
make-before-break contacts on the positive and negative sides
thereof. The key 0 is connected between a conductor 51, which is
connected to the positive side of a DC power source through a break
contact hts' of a stage position operation verifying relay HTS to
be described later, and the break contact sides of the upper
make-before-break contacts ft.sub.0 and f.sub.0 of the aisle first
signal receiving relay FTO and the aisle second signal receiving
relay FO. The key 1 is connected between the conductor 51 and the
break contact sides of upper make-before-break contacts a.sub.0,
ft.sub.1, f.sub.1, dl, n.sub.1, e.sub.1 of the unit A signal
receiving relay A0, the aisle first signal relay FT1 for receiving
a signal indicating that the order of tens of an aisle number is
"1," the aisle second signal receiving relay Fl for receiving a
signal indicating that the order of ones of an aisle number is "1,"
the aisle left side signal receiving relay DL for receiving a
signal indicating the left side of an aisle, the bay position
signal receiving relay Nl for receiving a signal indicating the
first bay position and the stage position signal receiving relay El
for receiving a signal indicating the first stage position
respectively. Likewise, the key 2 is connected between the break
contact sides of the upper make-before-break contacts b.sub.0,
f.sub.2, dr, n.sub.2, e.sub.2 of the unit B signal receiving relay
BO, the aisle second signal receiving relay F2 for receiving a
signal indicating that the order of ones of an aisle number is "2,"
the aisle right side signal receiving relay DR for receiving a
signal indicating the right side of an aisle, the bay position
signal receiving relay N2 for receiving a signal indicating the
second bay position and the stage position signal receiving relay
E2 for receiving a signal indicating the second stage position
respectively, and the conductor 51. The keys 3 and 4 are
respectively connected between the break contact sides of the upper
make-before-break contacts f.sub.3, f.sub.4, n.sub.3, n.sub.4,
e.sub.3, e.sub.4 of the aisle second signal receiving relays F3, F4
for receiving signals indicating that the order of ones of an aisle
is "3" and "4" respectively, the bay position signal receiving
relays N3, N4 for receiving signals indicating the third and fourth
bay positions respectively, and the stage position signal receiving
relays E3, E4 for receiving signals indicating the third and fourth
stage positions respectively, and the conductor 51. The keys 5 and
6 are respectively connected between the break contact sides of the
upper make-before-break contacts f.sub.5, f.sub.6, e.sub.5, e.sub.6
of the aisle second signal receiving relays F5, F6 for receiving
signals indicating that the order of ones of an aisle number is "5"
and "6" respectively and the stage position signal receiving relays
E5, E6 for receiving signals indicating the fifth and sixth stage
positions respectively, and the conductor 51. The keys 7, 8 and 9
are respectively connected between the break contact sides of the
upper make-before-break contacts f.sub.7, f.sub.8, f.sub.9 of the
aisle second signal receiving relays F7, F8, F9 for receiving
signals indicating that the order of ones of an aisle number is
"7,""8" and "9" respectively, and the conductor 51. The make
contact sides of the aforesaid make-before-break contacts are
respectively connected to the positive side of the power source
through the break contact pr' of a restoring relay PR and the break
contact cl' of a signal receiving relay CL for receiving a signal
of the clear key C, which relays will be described later. The break
contact sides of the lower make-before-break contacts a.sub.0 and
b.sub.0 of the unit signal receiving relays A0 and B0 are connected
through the break contact fts' of a unit operation verifying relay
FTS to be described later, the break contact sides of the lower
make-before-break contacts ft.sub.0 and ft.sub.1 of the aisle first
signal receiving relays FT0 and FT1 are connected through the make
contact fts of the unit operation verifying relay FTS and the break
contact fs.sub.1 ' of an aisle first operation verifying relay FS1
to be described later, and the break contact sides of the lower
make-before-break contacts f.sub.0. . . f.sub.9 of the aisle second
signal receiving relays F0 . . . F9 are connected through the make
contact fs.sub.1 of the aisle first operation verifying relay FS1
and the break contact fs.sub.2 ' of an aisle second operation
verifying relay FS2 to be described later, to a conductor 52 which
is in turn connected to the negative side of the power source.
Likewise, the break contact sides of the lower make-before-break
contacts dl and dr of the left and right side of an aisle signal
receiving relays DL and DR are connected through the make contact
fs.sub.2 of the aisle second operation verifying relay FS2 and the
break contact ns' of the left and right side of an aisle operation
verifying relay NS to be described later, the break contact sides
of the lower make-before-break contacts n.sub.1 . . . n.sub.4 of
the bay position signal receiving relays N1 . . . N4 are connected
through the make contact ns of the left or right side of an aisle
operation verifying relay NS and the break contact es' of a bay
position operation verifying relay es to be described later, and
the break contact sides of the lower make-before-break contacts
e.sub.1 . . . e.sub.6 of the stage position signal receiving relays
E1 . . . E6 are connected through the make contact es of the bay
position operation verifying relay ES and the break contact hts' of
a stage position operation verifying relay HTS to be described
later, to the conductor 52 respectively. The make contact sides of
these lower make-before-break contacts are also connected to the
negative side of the power source. As will be understood from the
foregoing description on the circuit, the key 0 signifies two
things, i.e., that the order of tens of an aisle number is "0" and
that the order of ones of an aisle number is "0," and the key 1
signifies six things, i.e., the unit A, the order of tens of an
aisle number being "1," the order of ones of an aisle number being
"1," the left side of an aisle, the first bay and the first stage.
Similarly, the key 2 signifies five things, i.e., the unit B, the
order of ones of an aisle number being "2," the right side of an
aisle, the second bay position and the second stage position. The
keys 3 and 4 each signify three things, i.e., the order of ones of
an aisle number being "3" or "4," the third or fourth bay position
and the third or fourth stage position, and the keys 5 and 6 each
signify two things, i.e., the order of ones of an aisle number
being "5" or "6" and the fifth and sixth stage position. The
remaining keys 7, 8 and 9 signify the order of ones of an aisle
number being "7," "8" and "9" respectively.
The operation verifying circuit is a circuit which verifies
operations in sequence upon receipt of signals successively
supplied by the operation of the keys, i.e., it verifies a unit
upon receipt of the first signal, an aisle upon receipt of the
second and the third signals, the left or right side of an aisle
upon receipt of the fourth signal and so on. This circuit comprises
six relays consisting of the unit operation verifying relay FTS
adapted to verify that a unit has been operated by the operation of
the first key, the aisle first operation verifying relay FS1
adapted to verify that the order of tens of an aisle number has
been operated by the operation of the second key, the aisle second
operation verifying relay FS2 adapted to verify that the order of
ones of an aisle number has been operated by the operation of the
third key, the left or right side of an aisle operation verifying
relay NS adapted to verify that the left or right side of an aisle
has been operated by the operation of the fourth key, the bay
position operation verifying relay ES adapted to verify that a bay
position has been operated by the operation of the fifth key and
the stage position operation verifying relay HTS adapted to verify
that a stage position has been operated by the operation of the
sixth key. The positive side of the unit operation verifying relay
FTS is connected to a conductor 53 through the make contact a.sub.0
of the unit A signal receiving relay AO and the make contact
b.sub.0 of the unit B signal receiving relay BO, which are
connected with each other in parallel, and the brake contact sx' of
an erroneous operation preventing relay SX to be described later,
the conductor 53 being connected to the positive side of the power
source through the break contacts pr' and cl'. The make contact fts
of the relay FTS is connected across the conductor 53 and the
intermediary between the relay FTS and the break contact sx'. The
positive side of the aisle first operation verifying relay FS1 is
connected to the conductor 53 through the make contact ft.sub.0 of
the aisle first signal receiving relay FTO to indicate the order of
tens of an aisle number being "0" and the make contact ft.sub.1 of
the aisle first signal receiving relay FT1 to indicate the order of
tens of an aisle number being "1," which make contacts are
connected with each other in parallel, and the break contact sx' of
the erroneous operation preventing relay SX. The make contact
fs.sub.1 of the relay FS1 is connected across the conductor 53 and
intermediary between the relay FS1 and the break contact sx'. The
positive side of the aisle second operation verifying relay FS2 is
connected to the conductor 53 through the make contacts f.sub.0 . .
. f.sub.9 of the aisle second signal receiving relays F0 . . . F9
to indicate the order of ones of an aisle number, which make
contacts are connected with each other in parallel, and the break
contact sx' of the erroneous operation preventing relay SX. The
make contact fs.sub.2 of the relay FS2 is connected across the
conductor 53 and the intermediary of the relay FS2 and the break
contact sx'. The positive side of the left or right side of an
aisle operation verifying relay NS is connected to the conductor 53
through the make contact d1 of the left side of an aisle signal
receiving relay DL to indicate the left side of an aisle and the
make contact dr of the right side of an aisle signal receiving
relay DR, which make contacts are connected with each other in
parallel, and the break contact sx' of the erroneous operation
preventing relay SX. The make contact ns of the relay NS is
connected across the conductor 53 and the intermediary of the relay
NS and the break contact sx'. The positive side of the bay position
operation verifying relay ES is connected to the conductor 53
through the make contacts n.sub.1 . . . n.sub.4 of the bay position
signal receiving relays N1 . . . N4, which make contacts are
connected with each other in parallel, and the break contact sx' of
the erroneous operation preventing relay SX. The make contact es of
the relay ES is connected across the conductor 53 and the
intermediary between the relay ES and the break contact sx'. The
positive side of the stage position operation verifying relay HTS
is connected to the conductor 53 through the make contacts e.sub.1
. . . e.sub.6 of the stage position signal receiving relays E1 . .
. E6, which make contacts are connected with each other in
parallel, and the break contact sx' of the erroneous operation
preventing relay SX. The make contact hts of the relay HTS is
connected across the conductor 53 and the intermediary between said
relay HTS and the break contact sx'. The negative sides of these
relays are respectively connected to a conductor 54 which is
connected to the negative side of the power source.
The aisle signal formulating circuit comprises aisle signal
receiving relays P1 . . . P10 for 10 aisles. The positive side of
the aisle signal receiving relay P1 is connected to a conductor 55
through the make contact ft.sub.0 of the aisle first signal
receiving relay FTO and the make contact f.sub.1 of the aisle
second signal receiving relay F1, the conductor 55 being connected
to the positive side of the power source. The aisle signal
receiving relays P2 . . . P9 are connected to the intermediary
between the make contacts ft.sub.0 and f.sub.1 through the make
contacts f.sub.2 . . . f.sub.9 of the aisle second signal receiving
relays F2 . . . F9 respectively. The positive side of the aisle
signal receiving relay P10 is connected to the conductor 55 through
the make contact ft.sub.1 of the aisle first signal receiving relay
FT1 and the make contact f.sub.0 of the aisle second signal
receiving relay FO. The negative sides of these relays P1 . . . P10
are respectively connected to the conductor 52 which is connected
to the negative side of the power source. The erroneous operation
preventing relay SX is designed to be actuated throughout the
period when a key is depressed and prevents dual receiving of
signals. Reference character CL designates a relay for the clear
key C, which is adapted to be actuated upon hitting the clear key C
when the keys are operated erroneously, whereby all the relays
which have been actuated by operating the keys are restored.
The circuit diagram shown in FIG. 8 consists of a unit instructing
circuit, an aisle of the unit A instructing circuit, an automatic
restoring circuit and a circuit of the power source, unit and key
operation indicator lamps on the control panel.
The unit instructing circuit consists of a unit A instructing relay
A1 and a unit B instructing relay B1. The positive side of the unit
A instructing relay A1 is connected to the conductor 55, connected
to the positive side of the power source, through the make contact
hts of the stage position operation verifying relay HTS and the
make contact a.sub.0 of the unit A signal receiving relay A0, while
the positive side of the unit B instructing relay B1 is connected
to the intermediary between the make contacts hts and a.sub.0
through the make contact b.sub.0 of the unit B signal receiving
relay BO. The negative sides of these relays A1 and B1 are
respectively connected to a conductor 56 which in turn is connected
to the negative side of the power source.
The aisle of the unit A instructing circuit comprises 10 aisle
instructing relays CA1 . . . CA10. The positive side of the aisle
instructing relay CA1 is connected to the conductor 55 through the
make contact a.sub.1 of the unit A instructing relay A1 and the
make contact p.sub.1 of the aisle signal receiving relay P1. The
positive sides of the aisle instructing relays CA2 . . . CA10 are
respectively connected to the intermediary between the make
contacts a.sub.1 and p.sub.1 through the make contacts p.sub.2 . .
. p.sub.10 of the aisle signal receiving relays P2 . . . P10, while
the negative sides thereof are respectively connected to a
conductor 56.
An aisle instructing circuit for the unit B is exactly identical
with that for the unit A, except that the make contact a.sub.1 is
replaced by the make contact b.sub.1 of the unit B instructing
relay B1, and, therefore, will not be described and illustrated
herein. This aisle instructing circuit for the unit B is connected
in parallel to the aisle instructing circuit for the unit A. The
circuits to be described hereunder with respect to the unit A are
also required for the unit B unless the circuits for the unit B are
specifically illustrated or described. However, illustrations and
descriptions of the circuits for the unit B are omitted as the
circuits for the unit B are identical in construction with those
for the unit A, with the only exception that the constitutional
elements of the former are indicated by symbols with a character B
or b added as a suffix.
The automatic restoring circuit comprises an automatic restoration
effecting relay DS and a restoring relay PR. The positive side of
the automatic restoration effecting relay DS is connected to the
conductor 55 through the break contact pr' of the restoring relay
PR and the make contacts a.sub.1 and b.sub.1 of the unit
instructing relays A1 and B1 which make contacts a.sub.1 and
b.sub.1 are connected with each other in parallel. The positive
side of the restoring relay PR is connected to the conductor 55
through the make contact ds of the automatic restoration effecting
relay DS and a variable resistor VR1. The negative sides of these
relays DS and PR are connected to the conductor 56. A capacitor
C.sub.1 is connected across the conductor 56 and the intermediary
between the restoring relay PR and the variable resistor VR1.
The circuit of the power source, unit and key operation indicator
lamps on the control panel 36 comprises the unit A indicator lamp
A, the unit B indicator lamp B, the power source indicator lamp PL,
the unit operation indicator lamp KL1, the aisle operation
indicator lamps KL2 and KL3, the left or right operation indicator
lamp KL4, the bay position operation indicator lamp KL5 and the
stage position operation indicator lamp KL6. The unit A indicator
lamp A is connected across the conductors 55 and 56 through the
make contact a.sub.1 of the unit A instructing relay A1. The unit B
indicator lamp B is connected across the conductors 55 and 56
through the make contact b.sub.1 of the unit B instructing relay
B1. The power source indicator lamp PL is connected across the
conductors 55 and 56. The operation indicator lamps KL1 . . . KL6
are also connected across the conductors 55 and 56 through the make
contact fts of the unit operation verifying relay FTS, the make
contact fs.sub.1 of the aisle first operation verifying relay FS1,
the make contact fs.sub.2 of the aisle second operation verifying
relay FS2, the make contact ns of the left or right side of an
aisle operation verifying relay NS, the make contact es of the bay
position operation verifying relay ES and the make contact hts of
the stage position operation verifying relay HTS respectively. is
connected across a conductor 57, connected to the positive side of
the power source through the make contact a.sub.1 of the unit
In FIG. 9 there is shown a diagram of the left or right side of an
aisle, a bay position and a stage position instructing circuits for
the unit A. The left or right side of an aisle instructing circuit
comprises the left side of an aisle instructing relay LA and the
right side of an aisle instructing relay RA. The left side of an
aisle instructing relay LA IS CONNECTED ACROSS A CONDUCTOR %&,
CONNECTED TO THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE POWER SOURCE THROUGH THE MAKE
CONTACT A.sub.- OF THE UNIT A instructing relay A1, and a conductor
58, connected to the negative side of the power source, through the
make contact dl of the left side of an aisle signal receiving relay
DL. The right side of an aisle instructing relay RA is also
connected across the conductors 57 and 58 through the make contact
dr of the right side of an aisle signal receiving relay DR. The bay
position instructing circuit comprises bay position instructing
relays NA1 . . . NA4 which are also connected across the conductors
57 and 58 through the make contacts n.sub.1 . . . n.sub.4 of the
bay position signal receiving relays N1 . . . N4 respectively. The
stage position instructing circuit comprises stage position
instructing relays EA1 . . . EA6 which are also connected across
the conductors 57 and 58 through the make contacts e.sub. 1 . . .
e.sub.6 of the stage position signal receiving relays El . . . E6
respectively.
FIG. 10 is a set of diagrams of circuits for memorizing a desired
storage position. Namely, FIG. 10a is a diagram of a circuit for
memorizing the first aisle of the unit A and FIG. 10b is a diagram
of a circuit for memorizing the second aisle of the unit A. The
memorizing circuits for the third to the tenth aisles are identical
in construction with the circuit shown in FIG. 10b, with the
constitutional elements connected across conductors 63 and 64, the
reference numerals of the constitutional elements indicating the
aisle numbers only being different.
Referring now to FIG. 10a, the circuit for memorizing the stage
position of the unit A, the first aisle, the first bay comprises 12
stage position memorizing relays L111, R111, . . . , L116, R116
adapted to memorize the respective stage positions on the left and
right sides of the aisle. The relay L111 to memorize a storage
position of the first aisle, the left side of the aisle, the first
bay, the first stage has one terminal connected to a conductor 61,
connected to the positive side of the power source, through the
make contact side of its upper make-before-break contact l.sub.111
and the break contact 26-l.sub.111 of the restoring button 26 for
the first aisle, the left side, the first bay, the first stage and
another terminal connected to a conductor 62, connected to the
negative side of the power source, through the make contact side of
the lower make-before-break contact l.sub.111. The break contact
side of the upper make-before-break contact l.sub.111 is connected
to the conductor 61 through the make contact la of the left side of
an aisle instructing relay LA and the make contact ca.sub.1 of the
aisle instructing relay CAl. The break contact side of the lower
make-before-break contact l.sub.111 is connected to the conductor
62 through the make contact ea.sub.1 of the stage position
instructing relay EA1 and the make contact na.sub.1 of the bay
position instructing relay NA1. The relay R111 to memorize a
storage position of the first aisle, the right side, the first bay,
the first stage has one terminal connected to the conductor 61
through the make contact side of the upper make-before-break
contact r.sub. 111 of the relay and the break contact 26-r.sub. 111
of the restoring button 26, and another terminal connected to the
conductor 62 through the make contact side of the lower
make-before-break contact r.sub. 111. The break contact side of the
upper make-before-break contact r.sub.111 is connected to the make
contact ca.sub. 1 through the make contact ra of the right side of
an aisle instructing relay RA. The lower make-before-break contact
r.sub. 111 is connected to the intermediary between the break
contact side of the contact 1.sub. 111 and the make contact ea.sub.
1. The relays to memorize storage positions of the second to the
sixth stage and each bay are connected in a similar manner. In the
subsequent drawings, the reference numerals suffixed to a letter
each indicate an aisle by the first numeral, a bay position by the
second numeral and a stage position by the third numeral. For
instance, symbol L146 signifies the first aisle, the fourth bay,
the sixth stage.
FIG. 11 shows the circuit of the indicator lamp for indicating a
desired storage position on the left side of the first aisle of the
unit A and a circuit for unlocking the closure member at said
storage position. The circuits for the right side and for the
second to the tenth aisles will not be illustrated because they are
constructed in the same way and only the reference numerals to
indicate the respective storage positions are different. An
indicator lamp 25-L111 to indicate the first aisle, the left side,
the first bay, the first stage and a magnet 33-L111 connected in
parallel thereto are connected across conductors 65 and 66 through
the make contact 1.sub.111 of the storage position memorizing relay
L111. An indicator lamp 25-L112 to indicate the first bay, the
second stage and a magnet 33-L112 connected in parallel thereto are
connected across the conductors 65 and 66 through the make contact
1.sub. 112 of a corresponding storage position memorizing relay
L112. Likewise, the remaining indicator lamps and magnets are
connected across the conductors 65 a 66 through the make contacts
of corresponding storage position memorizing relays
respectively.
FIG. 12 shows a diagram of a circuit for turning on the indicator
lamps 1AL . . . 10AL and 1AR . . . 10AR on the control panel 36 for
indicating the aisles of the unit A and the indicator lamps 27
provided on the front sideplates 15 for indicating the respective
aisles. Across a terminal and a conductor 69 are connected the
indicator lamp 1AL to indicate the unit A, the first aisle, the
left side and the aisle indicator lamp 27-AL1 provided on the front
sideplate of the stack AA on the left side of the first aisle and
connected to the lamp 1AL in parallel. Similarly, the aisle left
and right position indicator lamps on the control panel and the
aisle indicator lamps on the respective stacks connected in
parallel to the respective left and right position indicator lamps
are connected across terminals , ,
, . . . , , of the position indicator lamp and unlocking circuit
and the conductor 69.
In the circuit diagram illustrated, the numeral of each of the
encircled reference symbols indicating the terminals means that the
terminal is connected to the terminal of the same numeral in other
circuits.
The manner in which the stationary stack assembly described above
is operated will be explained with reference to a case of
indicating the storage position of the unit A, the first aisle, the
left side, the first bay, the first stage. In this case, the keys
are operated six times in the following order "1," "0," "1," "1,"
"1" and "1." Namely, the key "1" is hit first to indicate the unit
A, whereupon a current flows from the power source to the erroneous
operation preventing relay SX through the break contact hts', the
conductor 51, the key 1 and the diode. Simultaneously, the power
source is electrically connected with the unit signal receiving
relay AO, the aisle first signal receiving relay FT1, the aisle
second signal receiving relay F1, the left and right side of an
aisle signal receiving relay DL, the bay position signal receiving
relay N1 and the stage position signal receiving relay E1 through
the break contact sides of the upper make-before-break contacts of
said respective relays but the relays other than the unit signal
receiving relay AO do not form a closed circuit as they are not
electrically connected to the negative side of the power source at
the break contact sides of their lower make-before-break contacts.
The unit signal receiving relay AO forms a closed circuit through
the break contact side of its lower make-before-break contact
a.sub.O and the break contact fts'and thus is actuated. By the
actuation of this relay AO, the make contacts of both of its upper
and lower make-before-break contacts a.sub.O are closed and the
break contacts thereof are opened, so that the relay AO is
self-held. The erroneous operation preventing relay SX is held in
an operative position while the key is depressed, with its break
contact sx'opened. When the hand is removed from the key, the key
returns to its original position and accordingly the relay SX is
restored closing the break contact sx'. The unit operation
verifying relay FTS is actuated and self-held with its make contact
fts closed. Thus, the unit is memorized by the first operation of
the key. Then, the keys O and 1 are depressed to indicate the first
aisle. In this case, when the key 0 is depressed, the aisle first
signal receiving relay FTO and the aisle second signal receiving
relay FO are electrically connected with the power source through
the break contact sides of the upper make-before-break contacts
ft.sub. O and f.sub. O of the respective relays and the conductor
51. However, the relay FO is not actuated as O break contact side
of the lower make-before-break contact f.sub.O is not connected to
the negative side of the power source since the make contact
fs.sub. 1 is open and a closed circuit is not formed. On the other
hand, the break contact side of the make-before-break contact
ft.sub. 0 is electrically connected to the negative side of the
power source through the make contact fts of the unit operation
verifying relay FTS and the break contact fs.sub. 1 ' to form a
closed circuit, since the make contact fts is closed by the
self-holding of the relay, and thus the relay FTO is actuated and
self-holds with the make contacts of the upper and lower
make-before-contacts thereof closed and the break contacts of the
same opened. Upon closure of the make contact ft.sub. O, the aisle
first operation verifying relay FS1 is actuated and self-holds with
the make contact fs.sub. 1 closed. Then, the key 1 is depressed,
whereupon the aisle first signal receiving relay FT1, the aisle
second signal receiving relay F1, the left and right side of an
aisle signal receiving relay DL, the bay position signal receiving
relay N1 and the stage position signal receiving relay E1 are
electrically connected to the power source through the conductor
51. In this case, the unit signal receiving relay AO is already
self-held with the break contact side of the make-before-break
contact a.sub. O open, and also the aisle first operation verifying
relay FS1 is self-held with its break contact fs.sub. 1 ' open and
further the make contacts fs.sub. 2, ns and es are also open.
Therefore, the aisle second signal receiving relay F1 only is
actuated through the make contact fs.sub. 1 of the self-holding
relay FS1 and self-holds. By the actuation of this relay, the aisle
second operation verifying relay FS2 is actuated and self-holds.
Thereafter, the key 1 is depressed to indicate the left side of the
aisle. In this case, the unit signal receiving relay AO and the
aisle second signal receiving relay F1 are already actuated and
self-held. Further, the aisle first signal receiving relay FT1, the
bay position signal receiving relay N1 and the stage position
signal receiving relay E1 cannot be actuated because the break
contact fts of the relay FTS and the make contacts ns and es of the
relays N1 and E1 are respectively open. Consequently, the left and
right side of an aisle signal receiving relay DL only is actuated
and self-holds. The left and right side of an aisle operation
verifying relay NS is also actuated and self-holds. Now, the key 1
is depressed again to indicate the first bay. In this case, the
unit signal receiving relay AO, the aisle second signal receiving
relay F1 and the left and right side of an aisle signal receiving
relay DL are not actuated because the break contacts of their upper
make-before-break contacts a.sub. o, f.sub. 1 and dl are open due
to self-holding of the relays; the aisle first signal receiving
relay FT1 is not actuated because the break contact fs.sub.1 ' is
open; and the stage position signal receiving relay E1 is not
actuated because the make contact es is open. The bay position
signal receiving relay N1 only is actuated and self-holds. As a
result, the make contact n.sub.1 of the relay N1 is closed and thus
the bay position operation verifying relay ES is actuated and
self-holds. Finally, the key 1 is depressed to indicate the first
stage, whereupon the stage position signal receiving relay E1 only
is actuated and self-holds under the same conditions as described
above and the stage position operation verifying relay HTS is also
actuated and self-holds. Upon actuation of the stage position
operation verifying relay HTS, the break contact hts' is opened
which is connected across the positive side of the power source and
the conductor 51. Therefore, this circuit will not perform a new
function even when the keys are operated thereafter. On the other
hand, the make contacts ft.sub.0 and f.sub.1 of the aisle first
signal receiving relay FTO and the aisle second signal receiving
relay F1 are closed by the actuation of the relays, whereby the
aisle signal receiving relay P1 is actuated.
As a result, the make contact hts of the stage position operation
verifying relay HTS, the make contact a.sub.0 of the unit signal
receiving relay AO and the make contact p.sub.1 of the aisle signal
receiving relay P1, shown in FIG. 8, are closed. With the make
contacts hts and a.sub.0 closed, a circuit is formed extending from
the conductor 55 to the unit A instructing relay A1 through the
make contacts hts and a.sub.0, to actuate the relay A1. The make
contact a.sub.1 of the relay A1 is closed, whereby the unit A
indicator lamp A on the control panel 36 is turned on and the
automatic restoration effecting relay DS in the automatic restoring
circuit is actuated with its make contact ds closed. A current
flows from the conductor 55 to the conductor 56 through the
variable resistor VR1 and the capacitor C.sub.1, charging the
condenser. The restoring relay PR is actuated upon completion of
the charging. Namely, the relay PR is actuated with a certain time
delay. On the other hand, with the contacts a.sub. 1 and p.sub. 1
closed, a circuit is formed comprising the conductor 55, the
contacts 2.sub. 1 and p.sub. 1 and the aisle instructing relay CA1
and thus the aisle instructing relay CA1 is actuated and its make
contact ca.sub. 1 (FIG. 10a) is closed. Upon actuation of the
restoring relay PR, its break contact pr', shown in FIG. 7, is
opened, whereby the signal receiving relays and the operation
verifying relays are released from their self-holding positions and
restore the original positions preparing for receiving the next
information. The indicator lamps KL1 . . . KL6 on the control panel
are turned on when the make contacts fts, fs.sub. 1, fs.sub. 2, ns,
es and hits of the respective operation verifying relays are closed
upon actuation of the relays, but are turned off when the
respective operation verifying relays are restored by the function
of the automatic restoring circuit.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that the
restoring relay PR is actuated with a certain time delay, and the
lamp indication of a desired storage position and the unlocking
operation of the closure member are effected within this time
delay. Namely, the make contact a.sub. 1 of the relay A1, shown in
FIG. 8, is closed on actuation of said relay, and the make contacts
dl, n.sub. 1 and e.sub. 1 of the relays DL, N1 and EL, shown in
FIG. 7, are held closed due to actuation of the relays. Therefore,
the left side of an aisle instructing relay LA, the bay position
instructing relay NA1 and the stage position instructing relay EA1,
shown in FIG. 9, are actuated, with their make contacts la, na.sub.
1 and ea.sub. 1, shown in FIG. 10a, closed. Since, in this case,
the make contact ca.sub. 1 of the relay CA1, shown in FIG. 8, is
closed due to actuation of the relay, a closed circuit is formed
extending from the positive side of the power source to the
conductor 62 through the contacts ca.sub. 1 and la, a
reverse-current preventing diode, the break contact side of the
upper make-before-break contact l.sub. 111 of the corresponding
position memorizing relay L111, the break contact side of the lower
make-before-contact l.sub. 111 of said relay L111 and the contacts
ea.sub. 1 and na.sub. 1. Thus, the relay L111 is actuated with the
make contacts of the upper and lower make-before-break contacts
l.sub. 111 closed and the break contacts of the same opened.
Consequently, a closed circuit is formed extending from the
conductor 61 to the relay L111 through the break contact 26-l.sub.
111 ' of a restoring button, the make contact 62 and the make
contact of the lower make-before-break contact l.sub. 111, and thus
the relay L111 is actuated and self-holds. Namely, the relay L111
will not be released from the actuated position unless the contact
26-l.sub. 111 ' thereof is opened by the restoring button 26. With
the contacts l.sub. 111 of the relay L111 closed, a closed circuit
is formed extending from the conductor 65 to the conductor 66
through the make contact l.sub. 111. As a result, the indicator
lamp 25-L111 at the storage position of the unit A, the first
aisle, the left side, the first bay, the first stage is turned on
and the magnet 33-L111 is energized to attract the locking bar 32
to release it from engagement with the engaging member 31. Thus,
the closure member 29 at the storage position is openable. Upon
completion of the operation, the storage position is closed by the
closing member and the storing button 26-l.sub. 111 ' adjacent the
closure member is depressed, whereupon the magnet is deenergized
and the closure member is locked.
On the other hand, the contacts l.sub. 111 are closed, so that the
aisle indicator lamp 27-AL1 on the front side plate 15 of the
stationary stack AA on the left side of the first aisle is turned
on and the aisle indicator lamp 1AL on the control panel 36 is also
turned on.
Where articles are stored in or taken out from many storage
positions, the storage position information may be fed into the
operating system by operating the keys after the unit indicator
lamp on the control panel 36 has been turned off subsequent to
feeding of the preceding storage position information. Namely, the
storage position information can be fed into the system one after
another successively and there is no necessity for the attendant to
go to a desired storage position, open the closure member, store or
take out an article, close the closure member, push the restoring
button and return to the control panel for feeding the next storage
position information each time a single storage position
information is fed into the system. Once a plurality of storage
position informations have been fed into the system one after
another continuously, the attendant can go to the aisles, indicated
by the indicator lamps, from one to another to perform the intended
services. Therefore, the storing or taking out operation can be
carried out with high efficiency.
FIGS. 13 to 16 inclusive show the second embodiment of the present
invention. In this embodiment of the stack assembly, each bay of
the individual stacks is provided with a double door 201 and the
interior of the bay is divided into six stages by five shelf plates
202 . . . 206. A locking mechanism 207 for the doors is shown in
FIGS. 14a and 14b. Namely, the door 201 is locked by a locking bar
208 which is vertically movably fitted to the door and adapted to
be received in a hole 209 formed in a bottom plate 14. A handle 210
is provided on the door 201 and a vertically extending slot 211 is
formed in the door at the upper portion of the length of the handle
210. A lever 212 is extending through the slot 211 for vertical
movement therein and connected at its inner end to the locking bar
208 by way of an engaging member 213, for releasing the engagement
between the locking bar and the hole 209. The top edge of the other
end of the engaging member 213 is in engagement with an L-shaped
locking arm 214 which is pivotally mounted on a pivot 215. The
other end of the locking arm 214 is biased by a spring 216 so that
the engaging end of the arm is always urged outwardly. A magnet 217
is suitably spaced from the central portion of the locking arm 214,
the arrangement being such that when the magnet 217 is energized,
the locking arm 214 is attracted by the magnet and thereby the
engagement between the locking arm 214 and the engaging member 213
is released. Indicator lamp 25 to indicate the respective storage
positions are all provided on a ceiling plate 13. A restoring
button 218 is provided above the handle 210 of the door.
In a storage position memorizing circuit shown in FIG. 15, which
corresponds to the circuit of FIG. 10 of the first embodiment, the
make contact sides of the upper make-before-break contacts l
.sub.111 . . . l.sub. 116 of respective storage position memorizing
relays L111 . . . L116 to memorize the first aisle, the first bay,
the left side are connected across conductors 220 and 221 through
the break contact 218-RL11 of the restoring button 218 to restore
the left side of the first bay. The make contact sides of the upper
make-before-break contacts r.sub. 111 . . . r.sub. 116 of
respective storage position memorizing relays R111 . . . R116 to
memorize the first aisle, the first bay, the right side are
connected across the conductors 220 and 221 through the break
contact 218-RR11 of the restoring button 218 to restore the right
side of the first bay. The other construction of the circuit is
exactly the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 10.
The relays for the second aisle are similarly connected across
conductors 222 and 223.
FIG. 16 shows a circuit which is the circuit of FIG. 11 modified to
be applied to the second embodiment. As seen, indicator lamps
25-L111 . . . 25-L116 and 25-R111 . . . 25-R116 provided on the
ceiling plate 13 of each stack to indicate the respective storage
positions are connected across conductors 224 and 225 through the
make contacts l.sub.111 . . . l.sub. 116 and r.sub. 111 . . .
r.sub. 116 of the relays L111 . . . L116 and R111 . . . R116. The
magnets 217 for unlocking the respective doors are connected to the
make contacts l.sub. 111 . . . l.sub. 116 through a reverse-current
preventing diode respectively, so that these magnets may be
energized when the indicator lamp for any one stage of the bay is
turned on.
Namely, while in the storage position indicating and unlocking
circuit of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 11 the magnets are
provided for every storage position and connected in parallel, in
the second embodiment the doors for the bay to which a desired
storage position belongs can be opened and the storage position
belongs can be opened and the storage position is indicated by the
indicator lamp on the ceiling plate when the storage position
information is decoded by the circuit.
It will be appreciated that where the doors are provided for each
bay as in the second embodiment described above, it is readily
possible according to the present invention to arrange the
operating system such that a desired storage position may be
indicated by feeding into the system the information of unit,
aisle, left or ring side and bay only and the system may be
restored by closing the closure member or the doors in each
embodiment.
FIGS. 17 and 18 show the third embodiment of the stationary stack
assembly according to this invention which is so designed that the
article storing or taking out operation is effected by the
insertion of a position card, such as a punch card, a magnetic card
or a mark card, instead of the key operation as in the first
embodiment, the position card having a storage position of each
article or each kind of article recorded thereon.
In this embodiment, therefore, the control panel 36 is formed with
a card receiving slot 301 as shown in FIG. 17 for receiving a
position card 302 with the position information of a specific
article to be stored recorded thereon.
Each position card has recorded thereon five informations, i.e.,
the unit, the aisle number, the left or right side of the aisle,
the bay number and the stage number of a desired article stored or
to be stored.
Indicator lamps on the control panel 36 are exactly the same as
those in the first embodiment and will not be described in detail
herein.
FIG. 18 shows a circuit, corresponding to the circuit of the first
embodiment shown in FIG. 7, for receiving signals representative of
the position information recorded on the position card. A unit
signal receiving circuit for reading the first information recorded
on the position card 302, that is, the information as to whether
the unit is A or B, comprises unit reading means UD consisting of a
unit A reading element UDA and a unit B reading element UDB, and
unit signal receiving relays AO and BO, all of which are connected
across a conductor 303, connected to the positive side of the power
source, and a conductor 304 connected to the negative side of the
power source. The unit reading elements UDA and UDB each consists
of a contact, a photoelectric tube or magnetic head and connected
with each other in parallel. The unit signal receiving relays AO
and BO are connected in series to the unit reading elements UDA and
UDB respectively so as to be actuated upon energization of the
respective elements. An aisle signal receiving circuit for reading
the second information, i.e., an aisle information, comprises aisle
reading means consisting of 10 aisle reading elements PD1 . . .
PD10 and aisle signal receiving relays P1 . . . P10 connected in
series to the respective aisle reading elements to be actuated upon
energization of the latter, all of which are connected across the
conductors 303 and 304. A left or right signal receiving circuit
for reading the third information, i.e., the information as to
whether a desired storage position is located on the left or right
side of the aisle, comprises the left or right side of an aisle
reading means YD having two left and right elements YDL and YDR
connected with each other in parallel and the left and right side
of an aisle signal receiving relays DL and DR connected in series
to the respective elements, all of which are connected across the
conductors 303 and 304. A bay position signal receiving circuit for
reading the fourth information, that is, a bay position
information, similarly comprises bay position reading means ND
having four bay position reading elements ND1 . . . ND 4 and bay
position signal receiving relays N1 . . . N4 connected in series to
the respective elements, all of which are connected across the
conductors 303 and 304. Further, a stage position signal receiving
circuit for reading the fifth information, i.e., a stage position
information, similarly comprises stage position reading means ED
having six stage position reading elements ED1 . . . ED6 and stage
position signal receiving relays E1 . . . E6 connected in series to
the respective elements, all of which are connected across the
conductors 303 and 304.
Now, suppose that a position card 302 having as storage position
information the unit A, the first aisle, the left side, the first
bay and the first stage, as in the case of the example used in the
first embodiment, recorded thereon is inserted into the position
card receiving slot 301 in the control panel 36. In this case, the
unit A reading element UDA in the unit signal receiving circuit is
energized at first to actuate the unit A signal receiving relay AO.
At the same time, the first aisle reading element PD1 in the aisle
signal receiving circuit is energized to actuate the aisle signal
receiving relay P1. Likewise, the left side signal receiving relay
DL, the bay position signal receiving relay N1 and the stage
position signal receiving relay E1 are also energized.
Thereafter, the desired storage position is indicated by the
circuits, shown in FIGS. 8 to 12, of the first embodiment. It
should be noted, however, that since according to this embodiment
the storage position information is fed by the position card
inserted as described above, the automatic restoring circuit and
the key operation indicator lamp circuit in FIG. 8 are not needed.
The make contact hts in the unit instructing circuit is not needed
either in the present embodiment. Except for the points mentioned
above, the circuits of FIGS. 8 to to 12 in the first embodiment can
be applied as such, and will not be reiterated herein.
It will, therefore, be understood that according to the third
embodiment the storage position of a desired article will not be
made known and the closure member at the storage position will not
be opened unless the pertinent position card is inserted into the
control panel. In other words, the position card serves the
function of the keys.
However, since according to the third embodiment any storage
position can be indicated upon insertion of the pertinent position
card into the control panel, providing for the access thereto of
any attendant, another form of the stationary stack assembly is
shown in FIGS. 19 to 26 inclusive as a fourth embodiment of the
present invention, which is so designed that a desired storage
position is indicated only when the operation of the system to
indicate the storage position according to the information recorded
on the position card is allowed by the qualification information
recorded on a qualification card used simultaneously with the
position card, qualification information designating the section of
the stack assembly which has previously been assigned to each
attendant as the section he is authorized to have access to for
storing or taking out action.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, the control panel 36 is
provided with a qualification card receiving slot 403 and a
qualification card discharge opening 401, in addition to the
position card receiving slot 301, through which a qualification
card 402 is inserted and discharged automatically.
A signal receiving circuit in this embodiment for receiving the
position information recorded on a position card 302 is exactly the
same as the circuit, shown in FIG. 18, of the above-described third
embodiment, except that the make contact s.sub. 1 of a starting
signal memorizing relay S1 to be described later is connected to
the terminal which is connected to the positive side of the power
source, and, therefore, will not be described nor illustrated
herein.
FIG. 20 shows a left and right separating circuit for the unit A,
which is adapted to be operated in response to the position
information received by the circuit of FIG. 18. The circuit
comprises a unit signal repeating relay AU which is connected
across a conductor 404, connected to the positive side of the power
source, and a conductor 405 connected to the negative side of the
power source, through the make contact a.sub. O of a unit signal
receiving relay AO; the left side of an aisle separating relays LA1
. . . LA10 which are connected in parallel with each other across a
conductor 406, connected to the conductor 404 through the make
contact au of the relay AU and the make contact dl of the left side
of an aisle signal receiving relay DL, and the conductor 405
through the make contacts p.sub. 1 . . . p.sub. 10 of aisle signal
receiving relays P1 . . . P10 respectively; and the right side of
an aisle separating relays RA1 . . . RA10 which are connected in
parallel with each other across a conductor 406', connected to the
intermediary between the make contacts au and dl through the make
contact dr of the right side of an aisle signal receiving relay DR,
and the conductor 405 through the make contacts p.sub. 1 . . .
p.sub. 10 of the aisle signal receiving relays P1 . . . P10
respectively.
For repeating the signals representative of bay and stage
positions, the circuit, shown in FIG. 9, of the first embodiment
can be used as it is by only removing the left or right side of an
aisle signal receiving and repeating circuit therefrom and
replacing the make contact a.sub. 1 by the make contact au, and,
therefore, description and illustration of the circuit are
omitted.
A starting and unit A qualification signal reading circuit shown in
FIG. 21 is actuated when a qualification card 402 is inserted into
the qualification card receiving slot 403 shown in FIG. 19. Namely,
this circuit comprises a starting signal reading circuit and a unit
A qualification signal reading circuit, which are connected across
conductors 407 and 408 which are connected to the positive side and
the negative side of the power source respectively. The starting
signal reading circuit comprises starting signal reading means KD
consisting of a starting signal reading element KD1 and a
completion signal reading element KD2 which are adapted to be
operated by contact, photoelectric tube or magnetic head and
connected with each other in parallel, and a starting signal
receiving relay KS1 and a completion signal receiving relay KS2
which are connected to the respective elements in series to be
actuated upon energization of the elements. The unit A
qualification signal reading circuit comprises unit A qualification
signal reading means AD having four unit A qualification signal
reading elements AD1, AD2, AD3 and AD4 which are connected with
each other in parallel, and the unit A qualification signal
receiving relays AK1, AK2, AK3 and AK4 which are connected to said
respective elements in series.
FIG. 22 shows a starting signal memorizing circuit and a unit A
qualification signal memorizing circuit. The starting signal
memorizing circuit has a starting signal memorizing relay S1 and a
completion signal memorizing relay S2. The starting signal
memorizing relay S1 is connected across conductors 409 and 410
through the make contact ks.sub. 1 of the starting signal receiving
relay KS1, which conductors 409 and 410 are connected to the
positive side and the negative side of the power source
respectively. The make contact s.sub.1 of the relay S1 is connected
across the intermediary between the relay S1 and the make contact
ks.sub. 1 and a conductor 409' which is branched from the conductor
409 through the break contact s.sub. 2 ' of the completion signal
memorizing relay S2. The completion signal memorizing relay S2 is
connected across the conductors 409 and 410 through the make
contact ks.sub. 2 of the completion signal receiving relay KS2. The
unit A qualification signal memorizing circuit comprises four unit
A basic qualification signal memorizing relays AS1, AS2, AS3 and
AS4 which are respectively connected across the conductors 409 and
409', and the conductor 410 through the make contacts ak.sub. 1 and
as.sub. 1, ak.sub. 2 and as.sub. 2, ak.sub.3 and as.sub.3, and
ak.sub.4 and as.sub.4, in such a manner, for example, as the
positive side of the unit A first basic signal memorizing relay AS1
is connected to the conductor 409 through the make contact of the
unit A qualification signal receiving relay AK1, the make contact
as.sub. 1 of the relay ASL is connected across the conductor 409'
and the intermediary between the make contact ak.sub.1 and the
relay AS1, and the negative side of the relay AS1 is connected to
the conductor 410.
FIG. 23 shows a qualification signal instructing circuit for the
unit A. This circuit has six qualification signal instructing
relays KA1 . . . KA6. The positive side of the first qualification
signal instructing relay KA1 is connected to a conductor 411,
connected to the positive side of the power source, through the
make contact as.sub. 1 of the unit A first basic qualification
signal memorizing the relay AS1, the make contact as.sub.2 of the
unit A second basic qualification signal memorizing relay AS2, the
break contact as.sub.3 ' of the unit A third basic qualification
signal memorizing relay AS3 and the break contact as.sub.4 ' of the
unit A fourth basic qualification signal memorizing relay AS4,
while the negative side thereof is connected to a conductor 412
which is connected to the negative side of the power source. The
positive side of the second qualification signal instructing relay
KA2 is connected to the make contact as.sub.1 through the break
contact as.sub.2 ' of the unit A second basic qualification signal
memorizing relay AS2, the make contact as.sub.3 of the relay AS3
and the break contact as.sub.4 ' of the relay AS4, while the
negative side thereof is connected to the conductor 412. The
positive side of the third qualification signal instructing relay
KA3 is connected to the break contact as.sub.2 ' through the break
contact as.sub.3 ' of the relay AS3 and the make contact as.sub.4
of the relay AS4, while the negative side thereof is connected to
the conductor 412. The positive side of the fourth qualification
signal instructing relay KA4 is connected to the conductor 411
through the break contact as.sub.1 ' of the relay AS1, the make
contact as.sub.2 of the relay AS2, the make contact as.sub.3 of the
relay AS3 and the break contact as.sub.4 ' of the relay AS4, while
the negative side thereof is connected to the conductor 412.
Similarly, the positive side of the fifth qualification signal
instructing relay KA5 is connected to the make contact as.sub.2 of
the relay AS2 through the break contact as.sub.3 ' of the relay AS3
and the make contact as.sub.4 of the relay AS4, while the negative
side thereof is connected to the conductor 412. The positive side
of the sixth qualification signal instructing relay KA6 is
connected to the break contact as.sub.1 ' of the relay AS1 through
the break contact as.sub.2 ' of the relay AS2, the make contact
as.sub.3 of the relay AS3 and the make contact as.sub.4 of the
relay AS4 and thence to the conductor 411, while the negative side
thereof is connected to the conductor 412.
In FIG. 24, there is shown a qualification setting circuit for the
unit A. In describing the present embodiment, reference is given to
the case wherein the four basic qualification signals shown in FIG.
23 are combined to form six kinds of qualifications. A conductor
413, connected to the positive side of the power source, has six
input lines or six conductors 414 . . . 419 connected thereto
through the make contact au of the unit A signal repeating relay AU
for setting six kinds of qualifications, the input lines or
conductors being connected to the make contact au through the make
contacts ka.sub.1, ka.sub.2 . . . ka6 of the unit A qualification
signal instructing relays KA1, KA2 . . . KA6 respectively.
Extending transversely of these vertical input lines are output
lines in a number corresponding to the number of the storage
positions, which are electrically insulated from the input lines.
Namely, in this embodiment the output lines are provided for one
unit in a number corresponding to the 480 storage positions along
10 aisles, and between each of the vertical input lines and each of
the transverse output lines is provided a connecting pin insertion
terminal C.sub.p through a diode Di as shown in FIG. 24b. This
terminal, when a conductive pin (not shown) is inserted therein,
permits a current to flow from the vertical input line to the
associated transverse output line. The encircled terminal number
denoted at the right side end of each transverse output line
indicates a stage position by the numeral of the order of ones, a
bay position by the numeral of the order to tens and an aisle
position by the numerals of the orders of hundreds and thousands,
and letters L and R indicate the left side and the right side of an
aisle respectively. For instance, the terminal number indicates the
storage position of the first aisle, the left side, the first bay
and the first stage. These terminals are respectively connected to
the terminals of the same number in FIG. 25.
FIG. 25 shows a storage position memorizing circuit for memorizing
a storage position in the stationary stack assembly designated by
the storage position information and the qualification information
read by the circuits described hereinabove. FIG. 25a is a circuit
diagram for the first aisle of the unit A and FIG. 25b is a circuit
for the second aisle of the unit A. The circuits for the third to
the 10th aisles are exactly the same as the circuit of FIG. 25b,
the reference numeral attached to each constitutional element to
indicate a position being the only difference. Referring first to
FIG. 25a, the circuit for memorizing the storage positions of the
unit A, the first aisle, the first bay has 12 stage position
memorizing relays L111, R111, . . . L116, R116 for memorizing the
respective stage positions on the left and right sides of the
aisle. The positive side of the stage position memorizing relay
L111 for memorizing the first bay, the first stage on the left side
of the first aisle is connected to a conductor 420 through the make
contact of its make-before-break contact l.sub.111, which conductor
is connected to the positive side of the power source, while the
negative side thereof is connected to a conductor 421, connected to
the negative side of the power source, through the make contact
side of another make-before-break contact l.sub.111 ' and a
restoring contact 26-l.sub.111 which is adapted to be opened when a
restoring button 26 provided at a desired storage position is
depressed. The break contact of the upper make-before-break contact
l.sub. 111 is connected to the corresponding terminal of the output
line shown in FIG. 24, while the break contact of the lower
make-before-break contact l.sub.111 ' is connected to a conductor
422 through the make contact la.sub.1 of the left side of first
aisle separating relay LA1, the make contact ea.sub.1 of the first
stage position signal repeating relay EA1 and the make contact
na.sub.1 of the first bay position signal repeating relay NA1. The
positive side of the stage position memorizing relay R111 is
connected to the conductor 420 through the make contact of the
upper make-before-break contact r.sub.111, while the negative side
thereof is connected to the conductor 421 from the make contact
side of the lower make-before-break contact r.sub.111 ' through the
restoring contact 26-r.sub.111. The break contact of the upper
make-before-break contact r.sub.111 connected to the corresponding
terminal of the output line, i.e., the terminal shown in FIG. 24,
while the break contact of the lower make-before-break contact
r.sub.111 ' is connected to the terminal through the make contact
ra.sub.1 of the right side of the first aisle separating relay RA1.
The conductor 422 is connected to the conductor 421 through a relay
ASD which serves to verify that a storage position has been
selected. The conductor 421 is in turn connected to the negative
side of the power source. The circuits for the remaining five
stages and the respective bays of the stages are constructed
similarly. In the drawings to be described hereunder, the numerals
suffixed to the letter L or R signifying the left or the right side
each indicate a stage position by the numeral of the order of ones,
a bay position by the numeral of the order of tens and aisle
position by the numerals of the orders of hundreds and thousands.
For instance, symbol L146 indicates the first aisle, the left side,
the fourth bay, the sixth stage. The terminal indicates that the
terminal is connected to the terminal of the same symbol in FIG.
25b.
A circuit of the indicator lamps to indicate the respective storage
position is exactly the same as the circuit, shown in FIG. 11, of
the first embodiment and will not be described nor illustrated
herein.
A circuit of the aisle indicator lamps and the left and right side
indicator lamps provided on the control panel and of the aisle
indicator lamps provided on the front sideplates of the respective
stacks is also the same as that shown in FIG. 12 of the first
embodiment and will not be described nor illustrated herein.
FIG. 26 shows a storage position selection verifying circuit which
has a storage position indication verifying relay ASP. The positive
side of this relay is connected to a conductor 423 through the make
contact side of its make-before-break contact asp and the break
contact asd' of a storage position selection verifying relay ASD,
the conductor 423 being connected to the positive side of the power
source. The break contact side of the make-before-break contact asp
is connected across a movable contact of a switch contact asp" and
the positive side of a capacitor C.sub.2, one of the fixed contacts
of the switch contact asp" being connected to the conductor 423
through a resistor R and the negative side of said capacitor
C.sub.2 being connected to a conductor 424 which in turn is
connected to the negative side of the power source. The negative
side of the relay ASP is connected to the conductor 424. The
corresponding circuits for the unit B are exactly the same as the
circuits for the unit A described above, except that the former is
not provided with common power source lamp PL.
Now, the operation of the fourth embodiment will be described
hereunder. Suppose that the position card 302 has the same position
information as in the third embodiment recorded thereon, while the
qualification card 402 has magnetically recorded thereon signals to
effect reading of the qualification card and start the operation of
the system, a completion signal and two conditional signals, i.e.,
signals to actuate the unit A basic qualification signal reading
elements AD1 and AD2. Therefore, if it be desired to arrange such
that the storage position designated by the information on the
position card should be opened upon insertion of the qualification
card, all that is required is to insert a connecting pin into the
connecting pin insertion terminal cp at the intersection of the
input line 414 and the output line connected to the terminal (the
reason for this will be explained later).
First of all, the position card 302 is inserted into the position
card receiving slot 301. The operating system of the stack
assembly, however, does not start the position reading operation at
this point. Then, the qualification card 402 is inserted into the
qualification card receiving slot 403 and it is at this point that
the system starts the position reading operation. Namely, the
starting signal reading element KD1 shown in FIG. 21 is energized
and the starting signal receiving relay KS1 is actuated. Upon
actuation of the relay KS1, the starting signal memorizing relay S1
shown in FIG. 22 is actuated and self-holds, with its make contact
s.sub.1 closed, and thus the system is placed in a condition for
reading the position card.
Reading of the position card 302 is carried out by the circuit,
shown in FIG. 18, of the third embodiment in the manner described
previously. The relays AO, P1, DL, N1 and E1 are actuated and the
relays NA1 and EA1 are actuated by the circuit, shown in FIG. 9, of
the first embodiment, and further the relays AU and LA1 shown in
FIG. 20 are actuated. Therefore, the make contacts la.sub.1,
na.sub.1 and ea.sub.1 shown in FIG. 25a are closed, forming a
closed circuit on the negative side for selecting the relay
L111.
On the other hand, for reading the qualification card the unit A
qualification signal reading elements AD1 and AD2 are energized
successively after the starting signals have been read in the
manner described above and the qualification signal receiving
relays AK1 and AK2, connected in series to the elements are
actuated, with their make contacts ak.sub.1 and ak.sub.2, shown in
FIG. 22, closed. Therefore, the unit basic qualification signal
memorizing relays AS1 and AS2 are actuated and self-hold. The make
contacts as.sub.1 and as.sub.2 in the circuit shown in FIG. 23 are
actuated and, therefore, the unit A qualification signal
instructing relay KA1 is actuated.
As a result of reading the qualification card, the relay KA1 is
held in the actuated condition and the make contact au in FIG. 24a
is closed by reason of the fact that the unit A has been selected
by the position card. The input of the qualification signal is
effected by inserting a connecting pin into the connecting pin
insertion terminal cp to connect the input line 414 to the position
memorizing relay L111, since the make contact ka.sub.1 is closed.
By so doing, an output appears at the terminal . Thus, an operating
circuit for the relay L111 is formed and the relay L111 self-holds.
Therefore, the make contact l.sub.111 shown in FIG. 25a is closed,
the indicator lamp 25-L111 is turned on and the magnet 33-L111 is
energized to unlock the closure member 29 at the storage position
of the unit A, the first aisle, the left side, the first bay and
the first stage, enabling said closure member to be opened.
When the storage position has been selected by the position card
and the qualification card in the manner described above, the
storage position selection verifying relay ASD in the storage
position memorizing circuit (FIG. 25a) is actuated. On the other
hand, however, the capacitor C.sub.2 in the storage position
selection verifying circuit of FIG. 26 is charged through the
transfer contact asp", concurrently with connecting the circuit to
the power source. Upon completion of the charging of the capacitor
C.sub.2, a current flows through the storage position indication
verifying relay ASP from the break contact side of the
make-before-break contact asp to actuate the relay ASP. The
transfer contact asp" is switched to the side opposite to the side
illustrated and the discharge current of the capacitor C.sub.2
flows through the resistor R. The make contact side of the
make-before-break contact asp is closed and the relay ASP
self-holds. The unit A indicator lamp A is not turned on as the
break contact asp' is open. However, where the position card and
the qualification card are matched and the system is allowed to
indicate the storage position as described above, the storage
position selection verifying relay ASD is actuated with the break
contact asd' opened, so that the relay ASP is released from the
self-holding position closing its break contact asp' and the unit A
indicator lamp A is turned on. The indicator lamp A is held on for
a while because, although the relay ASD is restored quickly, the
relay ASP is actuated by the capacitor C.sub.2 with a certain time
delay. The next new operation can be effected soon after the lamp
is turned off.
Where the position card and the qualification card do not match
each other, the unit indicator lamps and the aisle indicator lamps
on the control panel are of course not turned on and the closure
member is not unlocked.
The fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 27
to 40 inclusive. This embodiment is similar to the fourth
embodiment but provided with means for automatically recording the
storage position in or from which an article was stored or taken
out, the article number, the qualification card number, etc., along
with the date when the article was handled.
According to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 27, a control panel
36 is provided on a stack AA which has shelves on only one side
thereof. The control panel is provided, in addition to the position
card receiving slot 301, the qualification card receiving slot 403
and the qualification card discharge opening 401 as described with
reference to the third and the fourth embodiments, with manually
operative set dials 529 . . . 533 for recording a date and a clear
key C. Furthermore, a printing operation indicator lamp KL21, a
position card operation indicator lamp KL22 and a qualification
card operation indicator lamp KL23 are arranged below the indicator
lamps described previously. The arrangement of aisle indicator
lamps and the structure of each stack are identical with those in
the preceding embodiments and will not be described herein.
FIG. 28 shows a recording mechanism. As shown in FIG. 28a, the
mechanism comprises day-printing drums 540 and 541, a
month-printing drum 542, year-printing drums 543 and 544, and a
fixed hyphen printing drum 545 for printing a hyphen to distinguish
date numerals from other recorded numerals, all of which are
operatively connected to the manually operative set dials 529 . . .
533 on the control panel 36; and a unit-printing drum 546,
aisle-printing drums 547 and 548, the left and right side of an
aisle-printing drum 549, a bay position printing drum 550, a stage
position printing drum 551, article number printing drums 552 and
553, qualification number printing drums 555 and 556, qualification
card number printing drums 557 and 558 and a hyphen printing drum
554 fixed between the article number printing drum 553 and the
qualification number printing drum 555, each one of which is
provided with mechanism shown in detail in FIG. 28b. These printing
drums 540 . . . 544, 546 . . . 553 and 555 . . . 558 are rotatably
mounted on a fixed shaft 559. The manually operative set dials 529
. . . 533 are also rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft 560 and
operatively connected to the respective printing drums through
gears 561 or the like. Each of the printing drums other than the
month printing drum 542, carrying thereon the 12 types of letters
indicating months, and the hyphen-printing drums 545 and 554,
carries numerical types of 1, 2, 3 . . . 9, 0 and a hyphen type on
the peripheral surface thereof.
The mechanism for printing a storage position, such as unit, aisle,
etc., an article number, a qualification number and its card
number, will be described with reference to FIG. 28b. The printing
mechanism shown in FIG. 28b is one for printing, e.g., a numeral
for the order of tens, of those shown in FIG. 28a. The first
qualification number printing drum 555 has ten vertically
juxtaposed magnets 562 each for attracting an attraction member 564
fixed to one end of a pin 563 which is slidably extending through
the magnet. The attraction member 564 is constantly biased by a
spring 565 in the direction opposite to the attracting direction.
The other end of each pin 563 is supported by a supporting frame
566 which also supports the pins of the other printing drums. The
mechanism also includes a vertically movable plate 569 having a
projection 567 and being biased upwardly by a spring 568, the
projection 567 being adapted to engage the other end of each pin
563 when the latter is projected from the supporting frame 566 as a
result of the attraction member 564 being attracted by the magnet
562 upon energization of the magnet. At the upper portion of that
side of the vertically movable plate remote from the projection 567
is formed with a rack 571 which is meshing with a gear 570, fixed
to one face of the printing drum 555, such that, for example, the
type of numeral "1" is located in the printing position when the
projection 567 is in engagement with the lowermost pin 563-1. The
vertically movable plate 567 is guided, in its vertical movement,
and supported by guide pins 573 which are respectively loosely
received in vertically elongate slots 572 formed in the plate.
Reference numeral 574 designates a retainer pin by which the
vertically movable plate 569 is held in the position shown. The
other printing mechanisms are identical with that for the first
qualification number described above and, therefore, will not be
illustrated herein.
On the opposite side of the printing drums is provided a printing
hammer 577 which is pivotably mounted on a pivot 576 and connected
at one end to a movable iron core 575' extending through a
solenoid-type magnet 575, so that when said magnet is energized,
the printing hammer will make a pivotal movement about the pivot
576 and effect printing in cooperation with the printing drum.
Reference numeral 578 designates a spring by which the printing
hammer 577 is returned to its original position upon completion of
the printing operation. A recording sheet 579 is supplied from a
reel 584 and taken up on a takeup reel 580 after passing through
the interspace between two sheet guides 582 while being guided by
guide rollers 581 and 583. Reference numeral 585 designates a
spot-preventing plate. A mechanism for forwarding the recording
sheet 579 intermittently upon completion of each printing operation
is well known in the art from a typewriter or the like and will not
be illustrated herein. A carbon tape is also forwarded along with
the recording sheet 579, though not apparent in the drawing.
FIG. 29 shows circuits for starting the system and for receiving
signals representative of the unit and the aisle number recorded on
a position card. The starting circuit comprises a clear signal
receiving relay CL and a signal receiving starting relay SO. The
clear signal receiving relay CL is connected across conductors 501
and 502 through the clear key C, which conductors 501 and 502 are
connected to the positive side and the negative side of the power
source respectively. The signal receiving starting relay SO is also
connected across the conductors 501 and 502 through the make
contact kmt of a qualification signal memorization verifying relay
KMT shown in FIG. 39, the break contact cl' of the clear key signal
receiving relay CL, the break contact sa.sub.1 ' of a restoring
relay SA1 shown in FIG. 40 and the break contact sb.sub.1 ' of a
unit B restoring relay (not shown).
The unit signal receiving circuit comprises unit reading means UD
including a reading element UDA for the unit A and a reading
element UDB connected in parallel to the reading element UDA, and
unit signal receiving relays AO and BO connected to the respective
elements in series, all of which are connected across a conductor
501', which is connected to the conductor 601 through the make
contact s.sub.0 of the signal receiving starting relay SO, and the
conductor 502.
The aisle signal receiving circuit consists of an aisle first
signal receiving circuit for receiving the order of tens of an
aisle number and an aisle second signal receiving circuit for
receiving the order of ones of an aisle number. The aisle first
signal receiving circuit comprises aisle first reading means FTD
including an aisle first reading element FTDO adapted to read the
order of tens of an aisle number being "0" and an aisle first
reading element FTD1 adapted to read the order of tens of an aisle
number being "1" and connected to the element FTDO in parallel, and
aisle first signal receiving relays FTO and FT1 connected to the
respective elements in series, all of which are connected across
the conductors 501' and 502. Likewise, the aisle second signal
receiving circuit for receiving a signal representative of the
order of ones of an aisle number comprises aisle second reading
means FD including ten aisle second reading elements FDO, FD1, . .
. FD9 and aisle second signal receiving relays FO, F1, . . . F9
connected to the respective elements in series.
The information of the left or right side of an aisle, bay position
and stage position, recorded on the position card, are read by the
left or right side, bay position and stage position signal
receiving circuit, shown in FIG. 18, of the third embodiment and
will not be illustrated herein.
FIG. 30 shows a circuit for receiving a signal representative of
the article number, which is the last information recorded on the
position card. The article number is given to the article stored in
each storage position and is a serial number. This circuit consists
of an article number first signal receiving circuit for receiving a
signal representative of the order of tens of an article number and
an article number second signal receiving circuit for receiving a
signal representative of the order of ones of an article number.
The article number first signal receiving circuit comprises article
number first reading means HTD including four article number first
reading elements HTDO, HTD1, HTD2 and HTD3 for reading the order of
tens of an article number being "0", "1", "2" and "3" respectively
and article number first signal receiving relays HT0, HT1, HT2 and
HT3 connected to the respective elements in series, all of which
are connected across conductors 503 and 504 in parallel which
conductors are in turn connected to the conductors 501' and 502
respectively. Similarly, the article number second signal receiving
circuit comprises article number second reading means HD including
10 article number second reading elements HDO . . . HD9 connected
with each other in parallel and article number second signal
receiving relays H0, H1, . . . H9 connected to the respective
elements in series, all of which are connected across the
conductors 503 and 504.
FIG. 31 shows a circuit for formulating a series of signals from
zero to 10 in accordance with the signals received by the second
signal receiving circuit of FIG. 29. This circuit comprises aisle
signal receiving relays P1 . . . P10 for 10 aisles. The positive
side of the aisle signal receiving relay P1 is connected to a
conductor 505 through the make contact ft.sub.0 of the aisle first
signal receiving relay FTO and the make contact f.sub.1 of the
aisle second signal receiving relay F1, the conductor 505 being
connected to the positive side of the power source. The positive
sides of the aisle signal receiving relays P2 . . . P9 are
connected between the make contacts ft.sub.0 and f.sub.1 through
the make contacts f.sub.2 . . . f.sub.9 of the aisle second signal
receiving relays F2 . . . F9. The positive side of the aisle signal
receiving relay P10 is connected to the conductor 505 through the
make contact ft.sub.1 of the aisle first signal receiving relay FT1
and the make contact f.sub.0 of the aisle second signal receiving
relay FO. The negative sides of these relays are connected to a
conductor 506 which is connected to the negative side of the power
source.
FIG. 32 shows a circuit for detecting the operations of the relays
in the circuits described above. Namely, this circuit is provided
to detect ascertain that one relay in each of the unit, the aisle,
the left or right side of an aisle, the bay position and stage
position signal receiving circuits is in operation and thereby to
avoid erroneous operation. The circuit comprises a unit signal
detecting relay SY1, an aisle first signal detecting relay SY2, an
aisle second signal detecting relay SY3, a left or right side of an
aisle signal detecting relay SY4, a bay position signal detecting
relay SY5, a stage position signal detecting relay SY6 and a signal
detection verifying relay ABS. The positive side of the unit signal
detecting relay SY1 is connected to a conductor 507 through a
circuit comprising the make contact a.sub.0 of the unit signal
receiving relay AO and the break contact b.sub.0 ' of the unit
signal receiving relay BO, which are connected with each other in
series, and the break contact a.sub.0 ' and the make contact
b.sub.0 which are connected with each other in series and connected
to the make contact a.sub.0 and the break contact b.sub.0 ' in
parallel, the conductor 507 being connected to the positive side of
the power source. The positive side of the aisle first signal
detecting relay SY2 is connected to the conductor 507 through a
circuit comprising the make contact ft.sub.0 of the aisle first
signal receiving relay FTO and the break contact ft.sub.1 ' of the
aisle first signal receiving relay FT1 which are connected with
each other in series, and the break contact ft.sub.0 ' and the make
contact ft.sub.1 which are connected with each other in series and
connected to the make contact ft.sub.0 and the break contact
ft.sub.1 ' in parallel. The positive side of the aisle second
signal detecting relay SY3 is connected to the conductor 507
through a ladder-type circuit comprising the make contact f.sub.0
of the aisle second signal receiving relay FO and the break
contacts f.sub.1 ' . . . f.sub.9 ' of the aisle second signal
receiving relays F1 . . . F9, which are connected with each other
in series; the break contacts f.sub.0 ' . . . f.sub.8 ' and the
make contact f.sub.9 which are connected with each other in series
and connected to the make contact f.sub.0 and the break contacts
f.sub.1 ' . . . f.sub.9 ' in parallel; and the make contacts
f.sub.1 . . . f.sub.8 respectively connected across the
intermediary between the break contacts f.sub.1 ' and f.sub.2 ' and
intermediary between break contacts f.sub.0 ' and f.sub.1 ', . . .
and across the intermediary between the break contacts f.sub.7 '
and f.sub.8 ' and intermediary between the break contacts f.sub.8 '
and f.sub.9 '. The positive side of the left or right signal
detecting relay SY4 is connected to the conductor 507 through a
circuit comprising the make contact dl of the left side of an aisle
signal receiving relay DL and the break contact dr' of the right
side of an aisle signal receiving relay DR which are connected with
each other in series, and the break contact dl' and the make
contact dr which are connected with each other in series and
connected to the make contact dl and the break contact dr' in
parallel. The positive side of the bay position signal detecting
relay SY5 is connected to the conductor 507 through a ladder-type
circuit comprising the make contact n.sub.1 of the bay position
signal receiving relay N1 and the break contacts n.sub.2 ', n.sub.3
' and n.sub.4 ' of the bay position signal receiving relays N2, N3
and N4, which are connected with each other in series; the break
contacts n.sub.1 ', n.sub.2 ' and n.sub.3 ' and the make contact
n.sub.4 which are connected with each other in series and connected
to the make contact n.sub.1 and the break contacts n.sub.2 ',
n.sub.3 ' and n.sub.4 ' in parallel; the make contact n.sub.2
connected across the intermediary between the break contacts
n.sub.1 ' and n.sub.2 ' and intermediary between the break contacts
n.sub.2 ' and n.sub.3 '; and the make contact n .sub.3 connected
across the intermediary between the break contacts n.sub.2 ' and
n.sub.3 ' and the intermediary between the break contacts n.sub.3 '
and n.sub.4 '. The positive side of the stage position signal
detecting relay SY6 is connected to the conductor 507 through a
ladder-type circuit comprising the make contact e.sub.1 of the
stage position signal receiving relay E1 and the break contacts
e.sub.2 ' . . . e.sub.6 ' of the stage position signal receiving
relays E2 . . . E6, which are connected with each in series; the
break contact e.sub.1 ' . . . e.sub.5 ' and the make contact
e.sub.6 which are connected with each other in series and connected
to the make contact e.sub.1 and the break contacts e.sub.2 ' . . .
e.sub.6 ' in parallel; and the make contacts e.sub.2 . . . e.sub.5
respectively connected across the intermediary between the break
contacts e.sub.1 ' and e.sub.2 ' and the intermediary between the
break contacts e.sub.2 ' and e.sub.3 ', . . . and across the
intermediary between the break contacts e.sub.4 ' and e.sub.5 ' and
the intermediary between the break contacts e.sub.5 ' . . . e.sub.6
'. The signal detection verifying relay ABS is connected on its
positive side to the conductor 507 through the make contacts
sy.sub.1 . . . sy.sub.6 of the detecting relays SY1 . . . SY6,
which are connected with each other in series. The negative sides
of these detecting relays SY1 . . . SY6 and the signal detection
verifying relay ABS are connected to a conductor 508 which is
connected to the negative side of the power source.
A circuit for separating the left and right sides of an aisle used
in this embodiment is exactly identical with the circuit, shown in
FIG. 20, of the fourth embodiment, except that the make contact abs
of the signal detection verifying relay ABS shown in FIG. 32 is
connected to the intermediary between the conductor 404 and the
make contact a.sub.0, and will not be illustrated herein.
Further, a bay position and a stage position signal repeating
circuits used in this embodiment are also identical with the
circuit, shown in FIG. 9, of the first embodiment and illustration
and description thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 33 shows a qualification signal receiving circuit and a
qualification card number signal receiving circuit for the unit A,
which are operated upon insertion of a qualification card 402 into
the qualification card receiving slot 403 shown in FIG. 27. The
qualification signal receiving circuit comprises unit A
qualification signal reading means AD including four unit A
qualification signal reading elements AD1 . . . AD4, and unit A
qualification signal receiving relays AK1 . . . AK4 connected to
the respective reading elements in series, all of which are
connected in parallel across a conductor 509 which is connected to
the positive side of the power source through the break contact
kmt' of the qualification signal memorization verifying relay KMT
shown in FIG. 39, and a conductor 510 which is connected to the
negative side of the power source.
The qualification card number signal receiving circuit consists of
a first signal receiving circuit for receiving a signal
representative of the order of tens of a qualification card number
and a second signal receiving circuit for receiving a signal
representative of the order of ones of the same. The first signal
receiving circuit comprises qualification card number first reading
means MD including 10 qualification card number first reading
elements MDO . . . MD9, and qualification card number first signal
receiving relays MKO . . . MK9 connected to the respective reading
elements in series, all of which are connected in parallel across
the conductors 509 and 510. Similarly, the second signal receiving
circuit comprises qualification card number second reading means TD
including 10 qualification card number second reading elements TDO
. . . TD9, and qualification card number second signal receiving
relays TKO . . . TK9 connected to the respective reading elements
in series, all of which are connected in parallel across the
conductors 509 and 510.
FIG. 34 shows a qualification signal memorizing circuit for the
unit A which comprises four unit A basic qualification signal
memorizing relays AS1 . . . AS4. The positive side of the unit A
qualification signal memorizing relay AS1 is connected to a
conductor 511 through the make contact ak.sub.1 of the unit A
qualification signal receiving relay AK1, and the make contact
as.sub.1 of the relay AS1 is connected across a conductor 511' and
the intermediary between the relay AS1 and the make contact
ak.sub.1, which conductor 511' is connected to the conductor 511.
Similarly, the unit A basic qualification signal memorizing relays
AS2, AS3 and AS4 are connected to the conductor 511 through the
make contacts ak.sub.2, ak.sub.3 and ak.sub.4 and connected to the
conductor 511' through the make contacts as.sub.2, as.sub.3 and
as.sub.4 respectively. The negative sides of these relays are
connected to a conductor 512. The conductor 511 is connected to the
positive side of the power source through the break contact cl' of
the clear key signal receiving relay CL (FIG. 29) and the break
contact sa.sub.1 ' of the unit A restoring relay SA1 (FIG. 40),
while the conductor 512 is connected to the negative side of the
power source.
FIG. 35 shows a qualification card number memorizing circuit for
memorizing signals representative of a qualification card number
and consisting of a qualification card number first memorizing
circuit for memorizing the order of tens of the qualification card
number and a qualification card number second memorizing circuit
for memorizing the order of ones of the same. The qualification
card number first memorizing circuit comprises ten qualification
card number first memorizing relays MO . . . M9. The positive side
of the qualification card number first memorizing relay is
connected to a conductor 513 through the make contact mk.sub.0 of
the qualification card number first signal receiving relay MKO and
the make contact m.sub.0 of the relay is connected across a
conductor 513', branched from the conductor 513, and the
intermediary between the relay MO and the make contact mk.sub.0.
The negative side of the relay MO is connected to a conductor 514
which is connected to the negative side of the power source.
Similarly, the positive sides of the qualification card number
first memorizing relays M1 . . . M9 are connected to the conductor
513 through the make contacts mk.sub.1 . . . mk.sub.9 and to the
conductor 513' through the make contact m.sub.1 . . . m.sub.9
respectively. The negative sides of these relays are connected to
the conductor 514. Likewise, the qualification card number second
memorizing circuit comprises ten qualification card number second
memorizing relays TO . . . T9 which are across the conductors 513,
513' and the conductor 514. The conductor 513 is connected to the
positive side of the power source through the break contacts cl'
and sa.sub.1 ' and the break contact sb.sub.1 ' of a unit B
restoring relay (not shown).
FIG. 36 shows an operating circuit for the magnet 562 which
operates the associated pin 563 as explained previously with
reference to FIG. 28b by taking, as an example, the case of
recording the order of tens of a qualification number. The symbols
suffixed to each of the reference numerals indicating the
respective magnets signify specific unit, aisle, etc., though not
apparent in FIG. 28b. A unit printing magnet circuit has magnets
562-1-a.sub.0 and 562-2-b.sub.0 for printing the unit A and the
unit B respectively. These magnets are connected in parallel across
conductors 515 and 516 through the make contacts a.sub.0 and
b.sub.0 of the unit signal receiving relays A0 and B0 respectively.
The conductors 515 and 516 are connected to the positive side and
the negative side of the power source respectively. An aisle
printing magnet circuit for printing an aisle number comprises two
magnets 562-0-ft.sub.0 and 562-1-ft.sub.1 for printing the order of
tens of an aisle number and ten magnets 562-0-f.sub.0 . . .
562-9-f.sub.9 for printing the order of ones of an aisle number,
all of which are connected in parallel across the conductors 515
and 516 through the make contacts ft.sub.0 and ft.sub.1 of the
aisle first signal receiving relays FT0 and FT1 and the make
contact f.sub.0 . . . f.sub.9 of the aisle second signal receiving
relays FO . . . F9 respectively. A left or right side of an aisle
printing magnet circuit, a bay position and a stage position
printing magnet circuits and an article number printing magnet
circuit are composed in the same manner.
FIG. 37 shows a circuit consisting of a unit A qualification number
printing circuit, a qualification card number printing circuit and
a magnet circuit for the retainer pin 574 and the printing hammer
577, shown in FIG. 28, which are composed similarly. The unit A
qualification number printing circuit has six magnets
562-1-ka.sub.1 . . . 562-6-ka.sub.6 which are connected in parallel
across conductors 517 and 518 through the make contacts ka.sub.1 .
. . ka.sub.6 of unit A qualification signal instructing relays KA1
. . . KA6 to be described later with reference to FIG. 39,
respectively, the conductors 517 and 518 being connected to the
positive side and the negative side of the power source
respectively.
The qualification card number printing magnet circuit comprises ten
magnets 562-0-m.sub.0 . . . 562-9-m.sub.9 for printing the order of
tens of a qualification card number and ten magnets 562-0-t.sub.0 .
. . 562-9-t.sub.9 for printing the order of ones of a qualification
card number. These magnets are connected in parallel across the
conductors 517 and 518 through the make contacts m.sub.0 . . .
m.sub.9 of the qualification card number first memorizing relays MO
. . . M9 and the make contacts t.sub.0 . . . t.sub.9 of the
qualification card number second memorizing relays TO . . . T9
respectively.
The magnet circuit for the retainer pin and the printing hammer
similarly comprises a retainer pin operating magnet 574a and a
printing hammer operating magnet 575 which are connected in
parallel across the conductors 517 and 518 through the make contact
sa.sub.5 of a retainer pin operating relay SA5, shown in FIG. 40,
and the make contact sa.sub.3 of a printing hammer operating relay
SA3, shown in FIG. 40, respectively.
FIG. 38 shows a circuit of the operation indicator lamps shown in
FIG. 27. The circuit comprises a lamp KL21 for indicating the
printing operation, a lamp KL22 for indicating the position card
operation and a lamp KL23 for indicating the qualification card
operation. These lamps are connected in parallel across a conductor
519, connected to the positive side of the power source, and a
conductor 520 connected to the negative side of the power source,
through the make contact sa.sub.3 of the printing hammer operating
relay SA3 shown in FIG. 40, the make contact abs of the signal
detection verifying relay ABS and the make contact kmt of the
qualification signal memorization verifying relay KMT shown in FIG.
29, respectively.
FIG. 39 is a diagram of a qualification signal memorization
verifying circuit for the unit A qualification signal instructing
circuit having a construction similar to that of the fourth
embodiment and also for the unit B qualification signal instructing
circuit of a similar construction (not shown). This circuit has the
qualification signal memorization verifying relay KMT. The positive
side of the relay KMT is connected to a conductor 521 through the
make contacts ka.sub.1 . . . ka.sub.6 of the unit A qualification
signal instructing relays KA1 . . . KA6 and the make contacts
kb.sub.1 . . . kb.sub.6 of the unit B qualification signal
instructing relays (not shown), which are connected with each other
in parallel; the make contacts m.sub.0 . . . m.sub.9 of the
qualification card number first memorizing relay MO . . . M9, which
are connected with each other in parallel and connected to the make
contacts ka.sub.1 . . . ka.sub.6 and kb.sub.1 . . . kb.sub.6 in
series; the make contacts t.sub.0 . . . t.sub.9 of the
qualification card number second memorizing relays TO . . . T9,
which are connected with each other in parallel and connected to
the make contacts m.sub.0 . . . m.sub.9 in series; and a variable
resistor VR2. The negative side of the relay is connected to a
conductor 522. The relay KMT has a capacitor C3 connected in
parallel thereto, so that it is operated with a certain time
delay.
A qualification setting circuit and a storage position memorizing
circuit used in this embodiment are identical with those, shown in
FIGS. 24 and 25, of the fourth embodiment, and a closure member
unlocking circuit with that, shown in FIG. 11, of the first
embodiment, and, therefore, will not be described nor illustrated
herein.
FIG. 40 shows a storage position selection verifying circuit which
comprises seven relays consisting of a double winding-type starting
relay ASO, a restoring relay SA1 for the overall system, a printing
verifying relay SA2, a printing hammer operating relay SA3, a
retainer pin operation verifying relay SA4, a retainer pin
operating relay SA5 and a storage position indication verifying
relay ASP. The positive side of the starting relay ASO is connected
at a point to a conductor 523, which is connected to the positive
side of the power source, through the make contact aso of the relay
and the break contact sa.sub.1 ' of the relay SA1 and at another
point to a capacitor C4 through the transfer contact asp" of the
relay ASP, while the negative side thereof is connected to a
conductor 524 which is connected to the negative side of the power
source. The transfer contact asp" is connected in such a manner
that when the relay ASP is actuated, the capacitor C4 connected to
the movable contact side is charged through the said contact, while
when the relay ASP is restored, the discharge current of the
capacitor C4 flows to the relay ASO therethrough. The positive side
of the restoring relay SA1 is connected to the conductor 523
through the make contact sa.sub.2 of the relay SA2 and a variable
resistor VR3, while the negative side thereof is connected to the
conductor 524 together with the negative side of a capacitor C5
which is connected to the relay SA1 in parallel. The positive side
of the printing verifying relay SA2 is connected to the conductor
523 through a printing detecting switch SC1 which is engaged by one
end of the movable iron core 575' shown in FIG. 28 when the latter
is projected from the solenoid-type magnet 575 upon energization of
the magnet. The positive side of the relay SA2 is also connected to
the conductor 523 through the make contacts as.sub.0 and sa.sub.2
of the relays ASO and SA2 from the intermediary between the switch
SC1 and the relay SA2. The negative side of the relay SA2 is
connected to the conductor 524. The positive side of the printing
hammer operating relay SA3 is connected to a capacitor C6 through
the transfer contact sa.sub.4 " of the relay SA4, while the
negative side thereof is connected to the conductor 524. The
transfer contact sa.sub.4 " is connected to the conductor 524
through the capacitor C6, similar to the transfer contact asp". The
positive side of the retainer pin operation verifying relay SA4 is
also connected to the conductor 523 through the make contact
sa.sub.5 of the relay SA5 and a retainer pin operation detecting
switch SC2 which is engaged by the retainer pin 574 shown in FIG.
28 when the latter is in its highest position. The positive side of
the retainer pin operating relay SA5 is connected to the conductor
523 through the make contact as.sub.0 of the relay ASO and the
break contact sa.sub.2 ' of the relay SA2. The negative sides of
the relays SA4 and SA5 are connected to the conductor 524
respectively. Finally, the positive side of the storage position
indication verifying relay ASP is connected to the conductor 523
from the make contact side of its make-before-break contact asp
through the break contact asd' of the storage position selection
verifying relay ASD. The break contact side of the
make-before-break contact asp is connected to the intermediary
between the movable contact of the transfer contact asp" of the
relay ASP and a capacitor C7 one of the fixed contacts of the
transfer contact asp" being connected to the conductor 523 through
a variable resistor VR4 and the other fixed contact thereof being
connected to the conductor 524 through a resistor. The negative
side of the relay ASP is connected to the conductor 524. The
negative side of the capacitor C7 is also connected to the
conductor 524. Also connected across the conductors 523 and 524 are
a power source indicator lamp PL and a unit A signal indicator lamp
A, the latter being connected through the make contact
as.sub.0.
The operation of the fifth embodiment described above will be
explained on the assumption that the position card 302 used has
recorded thereon a storage position information of the unit A, the
first aisle, the left side, the first bay, the first stage, as in
the fourth embodiment, plus an article number information
designating the first article, which is added in this embodiment.
All of these informations are represented by code numbers, i.e.,
the unit A is represented by numeral "1," the unit B by numeral
"2," the 10 aisles by numerals "01" to "10" respectively, the left
side of an aisle by numeral "1," the right of an aisle by numeral
"2," the four bay positions by numerals "1" to "4" respectively,
the six stage positions by numerals "1" to "6" respectively and
articles by numerals "01" to "30" respectively when 30 articles are
stored. Accordingly, the position card 302 has a code number
"10111101" recorded thereon. On the other hand, the qualification
card 402 used has any one of the six qualification signals,
formulated by combining two basic qualification signals, and two
numerals indicating the owner of the qualification card, recorded
thereon. In the following description, it is assumed that the
qualification card has recorded thereon signals to actuate the unit
A qualification signal reading elements AD1 and AD2, as in the
fourth embodiment, plus numeral "11" indicating the card number. If
it is desired to arrange the system such that the aforesaid storage
position can be opened with the specific qualification card
described above, this can be attained by previously inserting a
connecting pin into the connecting pin insertion terminal C.sub.p
at the intersection of the input line 414 and the output line
connected to the terminal shown in FIG. 24a. The reason for this
will be apparent from the description on the fourth embodiment.
First of all, the position card 302 is inserted into the position
card receiving slot 301 and the qualification card 402 into the
qualification card receiving slot 403, whereby the system is set in
operation. The information on the qualification card 402 is first
read by the circuit of FIG. 33. Namely, the unit A qualification
signal reading elements AD1 and AD2 are energized and, therefore,
the basic qualification signal receiving relays AK1 and AK2,
connected to the respective reading elements in series, are
actuated. At about the same time, the qualification card number
first and second reading elements MD1 and TD1 are energized to read
the qualification card number and thus the qualification card first
and second signal receiving relays MK1 and TK1, connected to the
card number reading elements in series respectively, are actuated.
The signals received are memorized by the memorizing circuits of
FIGS. 34 and 35. Namely, the make contacts ak.sub.1 and ak.sub.2,
shown in FIG. 34, are closed and thereby the unit A basic
qualification signal memorizing relays AS1 and AS2 are actuated and
self-hold with their make contacts as.sub.1 and as.sub.2 closed.
Similarly, the make contacts m.sub.1 and t.sub.1 closed. Thus, the
make contacts as.sub.1 and as.sub.2 in the circuit of FIG. 23 are
closed, actuating the unit A qualification signal instructing relay
KA1. Further, as shown in FIG. 23, the qualification signal
memorization verifying relay KMT to verify that the qualification
signal formulated by the basic qualification signals and the
qualification card number, which are recorded on the qualification
card, have been memorized accurately, is actuated through the
variable resistor VR2 upon closure of the make contacts ka.sub.1,
m.sub.1 and t.sub.1. It will be seen, however, that the relay KMT
is actuated with a certain time delay because of the capacitor
C3.
Upon actuation of the relay KMT, the position card signal receiving
circuit of FIG. 29 starts to operate. Namely, with the make contact
kmt of the relay KMT closed, the signal receiving starting relay SO
is actuated with its make contact s.sub.0 closed, to start reading
of the position card.
The position card 302 energizes the unit reading element UDA for
reading the unit A, the aisle first reading element FTDO for
reading the order of tens of the aisle number "0" and the aisle
second reading element FD1 for reading the order of ones of the
aisle number being "1", in the circuit of FIG. 29; the left
position reading element YDL for reading the left side of the
aisle, the bay position reading element ND1 for reading the first
bay and the stage position reading element ED1 for reading the
first stage, in the circuit, shown in FIG. 18, of the third
embodiment; and the article number first reading element HTD1 for
reading the order of tens of the article number being "1" and the
article number second reading element HD1 for reading the order of
ones of the article number being "1", in the circuit of FIG. 30.
Therefore, the unit A signal receiving relay A0, the aisle first
signal receiving relay FTO, the aisle second signal receiving relay
F1, the left side signal receiving relay DL, the bay position
signal receiving relay N1, the stage position signal reading relay
E1, the article number first signal receiving relay HT1 and the
article number second signal receiving relay H1, which are
connected to the reading elements respectively, are actuated with
their make contacts closed and break contacts open. As a result,
the make contacts ft.sub.0 and f.sub.1 in the aisle signal
formulating circuit of FIG. 31 are closed to actuate the aisle
signal formulating relay P1.
On the other hand, in the circuit of FIG. 32 for detecting the
number of actuated relays to assure that the information recorded
on the position card 302 have been read completely, the unit signal
detecting relay SY1 is actuated by the closure of the make contact
a.sub.0, so that the make contact sy.sub.1 is closed and the make
contact ft.sub.0 is also closed. The aisle first signal detecting
relay SY2 is actuated, with its make contact sy.sub.2 closed.
Similarly, the aisle second signal detecting relay SY3 is actuated
through the make contact f.sub.1, the left or right signal
detecting relay SY4 through the make contact dl, the bay position
signal detecting really SY5 through the make contact n.sub.1 and
the stage position signal detecting relay SY6 through the make
contact e.sub.1, with their make contacts sy.sub.3, sy.sub.4,
sy.sub.5 and sy.sub.6 closed. Upon actuation of these relays, the
signal detection verifying relay ABS is actuated. In the manner
described above, the number of the actuated relay detecting circuit
verifies that the informations recorded on the position card have
been completely read for the subsequent operation of the system and
prevents an erroneous operation possibly caused, for example, by
dual recording of an aisle number on the position card.
With the make contact abs of the signal detection verifying relay
ABS upon actuation of the relay, a closed circuit is formed in FIG.
20 extending from the positive side to the negative side of the
power source through the make contact (not shown), the make contact
a.sub. 0 and the relay AU, actuating the relay AU. The left side of
an aisle separating relay LA1 is actuated and its make contact
la.sub.1 is closed. On the other hand, the bay position signal
repeating relay NA1 and the stage position signal repeating relay
EA1 are also actuated through the unit A bay position and stage
position signal repeating circuits of FIG. 9 and their make
contacts na.sub.1 and ea.sub.1 are closed.
With the respective relays actuated, the aisle indicator lamp
27-AL1 on the left side of the first aisle is turned on by virtue
of the circuits, shown in FIGS. 23 to 25 inclusive, of the fourth
embodiment. Also, as shown in FIG. 11, the indicator lamp 25-L111
to indicate the first stage of the first bay is turned on and the
magnet 33-L111 is energized to unlock the closure member 29 at said
storage position.
The information on the position card and the qualification card are
recorded on the recording tape in the manner described
hereunder:
The date dials 529 . . . 533 on the control pane 36 shown in FIG.
27 are manually set for the date of operation of the system. More
practically, the day is set by revolving the dials 529 and 530, the
month by revolving the dial 531 and the year by revolving the dials
532 and 533. The revolution of these dials is transmitted to the
respective printing drums 540 . . . 544 through the gears 561 to
drive the printing drums and thereby the types representing the
desired date are set in the printing positions.
Recording of the position information and the article number on the
position card, and the qualification information and the
qualification card number on the qualification card, is effected by
the circuits of FIG. 36 and 37. In the circuit of FIG. 36, the make
contacts 1.sub.0, ft.sub.0, f.sub.1, dl, e.sub.1, ht.sub.0, and
h.sub.1 are closed in accordance with the storage position
information and the magnets 562, shown in FIG. 28b and connected to
said respective contacts in series, are energized. Namely, in the
printing mechanism for recording the unit A, the magnet 562-1 is
energized to record numeral "1", whereby the attraction member
564-1 is attracted by the magnet causing the pin 563-1 to project
for engagement with the projection 567 of the vertically movable
plate 569 to record numeral "1" on the recording sheet 579.
Likewise, the pins for printing numerals "0" and "1" to indicate
the first aisle, the pins for printing numeral "1" to indicate the
left side of the aisle, the pins for printing numerals "1" and "1"
to indicate the first bay and the first stage respectively and the
pins for printing numerals "0" and "1" to indicate the article
number "01" are projected to the engaging position with the
associated vertically movable plates respectively. On the other
hand, in the circuit of FIG. 37 the make contacts ka.sub.1, m.sub.1
and t.sub.1 are closed in accordance with the qualification
information to energize the magnets 562 which are connected in
series to said respective contacts, and thereby the pin for
printing numeral "1" representing the qualification for the unit A
and the pin for printing numeral "11" representing the
qualification card number are projected.
While the recording operation is being carried out in the manner
described, the capacitor C7 shown in the storage position selection
verifying circuit of FIG. 40 is charged through the transfer
contact asp." Upon completion of the charging, the circuit for
operating the relay ASP, extending from the break contact side of
the make-before-break contact to the conductor 524, is closed. The
relay ASP is actuated with a certain time delay and self-holds with
the make contact of the make-before-break contact asp closed and
the break contact thereof open. Simultaneously, the transfer
contact asp" is shifted allowing the discharge current of the
capacitor C7 to flow through the resistor. On the other hand, the
transfer contact asp" on the side of the relay ASO is also shifted
to the resistor side, whereby the capacitor C4 is charged. When the
storage position has been selected and the storage position
selection verifying relay ASD shown in FIG. 25a has been actuated,
the break contact asd' in the self-holding circuit of the relay ASP
is opened and the relay ASP is restored, so that the transfer
contact asp" thereof is shifted and the capacitor C7 is again
charged on the relay ASP side, while on the relay ASO side the
relay ASO is actuated by the discharge current of the capacitor C4
and self-holds with its make contact as.sub.0 closed. Consequently,
the retainer pin operating relay SA5 is actuated to energize the
magnet 574a shown in FIG. 37. The retainer pins 574 are moved
upwardly permitting the respective vertically movable plates 569 to
move upwardly while rotating the associated printing drums by the
racks 571. However, the upwardly movable plates in all of the
printing mechanisms, except for one in the unit B qualification
number printing mechanism, are stopped by the respective projecting
pins. When each of the retainer pins 574 has reached its highest
position, it engages the retainer pin operation detecting switch
SC2 to actuate the same, so that the retainer pin operation
verifying relay SA4 in the circuit of FIG. 40 is actuated and its
transfer contact sa.sub.4 " is shifted. The printing hammer
operating relay SA3 is actuated by the discharge current of the
capacitor C5. The make contact sa.sub.3 of the relay SA3, in the
circuit of FIG. 37, is closed to energize the magnets 575. Thus,
the printing hammers 577 are operated to print the date, the
storage position, the article number, the qualification number of
the attendant and the qualification card number are recorded on the
recording sheet 579. By the operation of the magnets 575, the
printing detection switch SC1 is closed and the printing verifying
relay SA2 in the circuit of FIG. 40 is actuated and self-holds. The
restoring relay SA1 is actuated with a certain time delay by the
discharge current of the capacitor C5, whereby the starting circuit
of FIG. 29, the qualification signal memorizing circuit of FIG. 34,
the qualification card number memorizing circuit of FIG. 35 and the
relay ASO in the circuit of FIG. 40 are restored. It will be
understood, therefore, that another cycle of operation is possible
after turning on the unit A indicator lamp A has been confirmed and
the said lamp has been turned off.
On the other hand, the make contacts sa.sub.3, abs and kmt of the
relays SA3, ABS and KMT are closed upon actuation of said
respective relays, and the printing operation indicator lamp KL21,
the position card operation indicator lamp KL22 and the
qualification card operation indicator lamp KL23, shown in FIG. 38
and located on the control panel, are turned on one after
another.
Upon completion of storage or taking out of an article, the
restoring button 26 is depressed, whereupon the break contact
26-l.sub.111 in the unit A, the first aisle storage position
memorizing circuit (FIG. 25a) is closed and the relay L111 is
restored from the self-holding position. Thereafter, the closure
member of the storage position is closed, whereby the closure
member is locked automatically. The unit signal receiving indicator
lamp and the aisle indicator lamp on the control panel will of
course not be turned on and the closure member of the desired
storage position will not be unlocked where the position card ad
the qualification card do not match each other.
On the recording sheet 579 are recorded the date of operation, the
storage position, the article number, the qualification number and
the qualification card umber, for example, as follows
"10DEC68-10111101-3-11" signifying that an article No. 1 was stored
in or taken out from a storage position of the unit A, the first
aisle, the left side of the aisle, the first bay and the first
stage on Dec. 10, 1968 by a qualified person No. 3 to whom is
assigned a basic qualification signal adapted to actuate the unit A
qualification signal reading elements AD1 and AD4, and whose
qualification card number is 11. In the marking, the first hyphen
separates the date and the storage position from each other; the
second hyphen separates the storage position and the qualification
number from each other; and the third hyphen signifies that the
person is not qualified to have access to the unit B. If the person
is qualified to have access to the unit B as well as the unit A, a
numeral from 1 to 6 is to appear in the place of the third
hyphen.
In the fifth embodiment described above, the stationary stack
assembly is so designed as to be operated with position cards each
having each of the individual storage positions recorded thereon.
Still another form of the stationary stack assembly is shown in
FIGS. 41 to 44 inclusive as the sixth embodiment of the present
invention, which is designed such that it is operated by means of a
keyboard, like the stack assembly of the first embodiment, and in
addition a qualification card and recording means are incorporated
in the assembly, like the stack assembly of the fifth embodiment
described above.
Referring to FIG. 41, there is shown a control panel 36 which is
provided on the stack AA as in the fifth embodiment. According to
this embodiment, however, the control panel 36 is provided with a
set of numerical keys from 0 to 9, instead of the position card 302
and the position card receiving slot 301 provided in the fifth
embodiment. Furthermore, the control panel is provided, instead of
the position card operation indicator lamp KL22 shown in the fifth
embodiment, a unit operation indicator lamp KL31, aisle operation
indicator lamps KL32 and KL33, a left or right side of an aisle
operation indicator lamp KL34, a bay position operation indicator
lamp KL35, a stage position operation indicator lamp KL36 and
article number operation indicator lamps KL37 and KL38, as shown in
detail in FIG. 42, which are operated by the keys to indicate the
operator of the key operations.
FIG. 43 shows a circuit which consists of a circuit for receiving
signals representing a unit, an aisle, the left or right side of
the aisle, a bay position, a stage position and an article number,
and being supplied successively by the key operation, an operation
verifying circuit for setting the unit, the aisle, etc., in
accordance with said signals and an aisle signal formulating
circuit for formulating a series of aisle signals by combining two
aisle signals.
As will be understood from the circuit diagram, the aforesaid
constituent circuits are exactly the same as those in the first
embodiment, except for the article number signal receiving circuit,
and will not be described herein.
The article number signal receiving circuit comprises fur article
number first signal receiving relays HTO, HT1, HT2 and HT3, and ten
article number second signal receiving relays HO, H1, . . . H9. As
in the first embodiment, to the key O are connected the break
contact side of the upper make-before-break contact ht.sub.0 of the
article number first signal receiving relay HT0 for receiving a
signal signifying that the order of tens of an article number is
"0," and the break contact side of the upper make-before-break
contact of the article number first signal receiving relay H0 for
receiving a signal signifying that the order of ones of an article
number is "0." The negative side of the relay HTO is connected to a
conductor 601 through the break contact side of the lower
make-before-break contact ht.sub.0, the make contact hts of the
stage position operation verifying relay HTS and the break contact
hs' of an article number first operating verifying relay HS to be
described later. The negative side of the relay HO is connected to
the conductor 601 through the break contact side of the lower
make-before-break contact h.sub.0, the make contact hs of the
article first operation verifying relay HS and the break contact
abs' of an article number second operation verifying relay ABS to
be described later. Likewise, the article number first signal
receiving relay HT1 and the article number second signal receiving
relay H1 are connected to the key 1, the article number first
signal receiving relay HT2 and the article number second signal
receiving relay H2 are connected to the key 2; and so on, in such a
manner that said respective relays are actuated by the operation of
the keys representing the orders of tens and ones of an article
number.
The article number operation verifying circuit comprises the
aforesaid article number first operation verifying relay HS to
verify that the order of tens of an article number has been
operated by the operation of the seventh key and signal detection
verifying relay ABS adapted to be actuated by the operation of the
eighth key.
The positive side of the article number first operation verifying
relay HS is connected to a conductor 602 through the make contacts
ht.sub.0 . . . ht.sub.3 of the article number first signal
receiving relays HT0 . . . HT3, which are connected with each other
in parallel, and the break contact sx' which is connected to the
said make contacts in series, and the make contact hs of the relay
HS is connected across the conductor 602 and the intermediary
between the relay and the break contact sx'. The positive side of
the signal detection verifying relay ABS is connected to the
conductor 602 through the make contacts H.sub.0 . . . h.sub.9 of
the article number second signal receiving relays H0 . . . H9,
which are connected with each other in parallel, and the break
contact sx' which is connected to the make contacts in series, and
the make contact abs of the relay ABS is connected across the
conductor 602 and the intermediary between the relay and the break
contact sx'. The negative sides of these operation verifying relays
are connected to a conductor 603 which is connected to the negative
side of the power source.
The operation of the circuit described above will be explained
hereunder with reference to the case wherein the storage position
of the unit A, the first aisle, the left side, the first bay, the
first stage is operated in the same manner as in the first
embodiment to handle article No. 1 of the storage position. In the
preceding embodiment, the information relative to a storage
position and article are recorded on the position card in the form
of numerical codes, but in the present embodiment the information
is fed into the system by operating the keys according to the
respective numerals. Namely, the keys are depressed eight times in
the order of numeral "1" signifying the unit A, numerals "0" and
"1" signifying the first aisle, numeral "1" signifying the left
side of the aisle, numeral "1" signifying the first bay, numeral
"1" signifying the first stage and numerals "0" and "1" signifying
an article number No. 1.
By operating the keys, the relays A0, FT0, F1, DL, N1 and E1 are
actuated and self-hold as previously described with reference to
the first embodiment. A signal representative of the order of tens
of an article number is received by the operation of the seventh
key. Namely, by depressing the key O the relay HT0 is actuated and
self-holds. With the relay HT0 actuated, the article number first
operation verifying relay HS is actuated and self-holds The article
number second signal receiving relay H1 and the signal detection
verifying relay ABS, simultaneously serving as the article number
second operation verifying relay, are actuated and self-held
respectively by the last key operation, i.e., operation of the key
1.
Thereafter, the left and right side of an aisle separating relay
and the bay and stage position instructing relays are actuated by
the functions of the circuits shown in FIGS. 9 and 20.
On the other hand, the qualification card used in this embodiment
is constituted in the same way as that used in the fifth
embodiment, and signals representative of the qualification number
and qualification card number recorded on the qualification car are
respectively received by the circuit of FIG. 33 during passage of
the qualification card from the qualification card receiving slot
403 to the discharge opening 401.
After the signal representative of the qualification number and the
qualification card number have been received by the circuit of FIG.
33, the pertinent storage position is indicated, the closure member
at said storage position unlocked and the recording effected in the
way described with reference to the fifth embodiment.
A circuit of the operation indicator lamps, shown in FIG. 42, is
shown in FIG. 44. As shown, the circuit comprises the printing
operation indicator lamp KL21, the unit operation indicator lamp
KL31, the aisle operation indicator lamps KL32 and KL33, the left
and right side of an aisle operation indicator lamp KL34, the bay
position operation indicator lamp KL35, the article number
operation indicator lamps KL37 and KL38, and the qualification
operation indicator lamp KL23, all of which are connected in
parallel across 604 and 605, which are respectively connected to
the positive side and the negative side of the power source,
through the make contacts sa.sub.3, fts, fs.sub.1, fs.sub.2, ns, es
hts, hs, abs and kmt of the printing hammer operation verifying
relay SA3 in the circuit of FIG. 40; the unit operation verifying
relay FTS, the aisle first operation verifying relay FS1, the aisle
second operation verifying relay FS2, the left and right side
operation verifying relay NS, the bay position operation verifying
relay ES the stage position operation verifying relay HTS, the
article number first operation verifying relay HS and the signal
detection verifying relay ABS in the circuit of FIG. 43; and the
qualification signal memorization verifying relay KMT in the
circuit of FIG. 39, respectively. These indicator lamps are turned
on in sequence upon actuation of the associated relays.
Although each of the embodiments of the present invention has been
described with reference to a stationary stack assembly consisting
of two subassembly units A and B each comprising 10 aisles, it will
be appreciated from the foregoing description and illustration that
the present invention is easily applicable to a stationary stack
assembly wherein the units A and B each comprise more than 10
aisles or wherein the number of aisles is different between the
units A and B, or to such a stationary stack assembly which
consists of more than two subassembly units, by a simple
modification of the circuits.
It is also to be understood that while in the stationary stack
assemblies described herein, which are operable with qualification
cards, two basic qualifications signals are combined to formulate
six kinds of qualification signals and the shelves are set so as to
be operated by these six qualification signals, the number of
qualification signals can be readily changed by increasing or
decreasing the basic qualification signals recorded on each
qualification card and increasing or decreasing the elements for
reading such qualification signals. It is also readily feasible to
formulate one qualification signal by combining three or even more
basic qualification signals so as to keep the qualification signals
more strictly secret. Another important feature of the present
invention is that the number of shelves to be operated by the
qualification signals can be changed with ease because all that is
required for this purpose is to electrically connect the six input
lines in the qualification setting circuit of FIG. 24 with only
those of the output lines which enable the desired storage
positions to be opened and closed, at their intersections.
In the fifth and sixth embodiments, as described and illustrated in
FIG. 28, each printing mechanism comprises ten magnets 562 and ten
pins 563 for locating the types of 1 to 0 on each printing drum,
e.g., the printing drum 555, in the printing position. However, as
will be understood from the foregoing description, the
qualification signals used for the unit A are from 1 to 6 and
qualification signals of 0 and 7 to 9 are not used. Therefore, the
magnets and the pins relative to the said four positions of the
types may be eliminated. The hyphen type is so arranged that it is
located opposite to the printing hammer 577 when the retainer pin
574 is in its highest position. In the embodiments described
herein, the numbers of the magnets and the pins in the respective
printing mechanisms may be reduced to be equal to the number of
types required for printing a unit, the order of tens of an aisle
number, a bay position, a stage position, the order of tens of an
article number, a qualification number for the unit B and the order
of tens of a qualification card number.
* * * * *