Patent Description:
Cylindrical material refers to a cylindrical article around which a fabric or the like is wound based on a cylinder provided in the center thereof. For example, the cylindrical material may include a reel, a roll, a wide roll, and a jumbo roll. In this case, an electrode required for battery production may be wound around the cylindrical material.

The conventional technology for storing such a cylindrical material depends on a worker's manual labor. Therefore, since bulky and heavy cylindrical materials are manually stored, there is a problem in that it is not easy to receive and discharge the cylindrical materials. In addition, when the worker contacts the surface of the fabric wound around the cylindrical material, it may adversely affect the quality of the product that will be manufactured using the fabric.

Therefore, there is a need for a technology of efficiently storing the cylindrical materials by automating the storage of the cylindrical materials and increasing the load amount of the cylindrical materials. Automatic storage installations for handling a cylindrical material are known from documents <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>, which disclose a cylindrical material storing device according to the preamble of claim <NUM>. The storage installations disclosed in <CIT> and <CIT> comprise a rack master fork which has two pairs of supports for receiving two cylindrical material bodies.

Technical aspects to be achieved through one embodiment by the present disclosure provide a device for automatizing material flow and a method thereof.

Technical aspects to be achieved through other embodiments by the present disclosure also provide a device for reducing wastage of manpower caused by manual labor and a method thereof.

Technical aspects to be achieved through still other embodiments by the present disclosure also provide a device for preventing safety accidents that may occur during storage and transport of articles and a method thereof.

Technical aspects to be achieved through still other embodiments by the present disclosure also provide a device for efficiently maintaining the quality of articles and a method thereof.

The technical aspects of the present disclosure are not restricted to those set forth herein, and other unmentioned technical aspects will be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains by referencing the detailed description of the present disclosure given below.

The invention provides a device according to claim <NUM> for storing a cylindrical material, comprising a rack shelf including one or more racks in which a circular axis is stored, a rack master including a first rack master fork configured to collect a first circular axis in which an article stored in a target rack is not mounted, and a second rack master fork configured to transport a second circular axis in which the article is mounted in the target rack from which the first circular axis is collected, a turn skid configured to collect the first circular axis collected from the first rack master fork, and an input/output port configured to mount the article in the first circular axis collected from the turn skid.

According to the invention, the input/output port comprises a shaft rotatably coupled to a body in an integral form, and a first pusher configured to output the article mounted in the shaft to the turn skid.

In some embodiments, the shaft may be to which an article is mounted from an automatic guided vehicle.

In some embodiments, the shaft may rotate integrally with the body at a predetermined angle so that a longitudinal direction of the shaft matches a longitudinal direction of the first circular axis collected in the turn skid.

In some embodiments, the input/output port may comprise a first sensor configured to sense the number of articles mounted in the shaft, and a second sensor configured to sense a match between the longitudinal direction of the shaft and the longitudinal direction of the first circular axis, wherein the first pusher may output the article in the shaft to the turn skid based on a signal of the first sensor and a signal of the second sensor.

In some embodiments, the turn skid may comprise a first movement part that moves between a designated location and a circular axis collection location, and a clamp configured to fix the first circular axis stored in the first rack master fork.

In some embodiments, the clamp may fix and secure the first circular axis when the turn skid is disposed at the circular axis collection location, and the first movement part may move to the designated location when the first circular axis is fixed by the clamp.

In some embodiments, the clamp may be a V-Block clamp.

In some embodiments, the turn skid may further comprise a second movement part that moves between the designated location and an article collection location, wherein the second movement may move to the article collection location when the first circular axis is fixed by the clamp and the turn skid is disposed at the designated location.

In some embodiments, the turn skid may further comprise a third sensor configured to sense the number of articles mounted in the first circular axis fixed in the clamp, a fourth sensor configured to sense a mounted location of the article mounted in the first circular axis fixed in the clamp, and an arrangement pusher configured to arrange the mounted location of the article mounted in the first circular axis, based on a signal of the third sensor and a signal of the fourth sensor.

In some embodiments, a collection operation of the first rack master fork and a transport operation of the second rack master fork may be continuously performed.

In some embodiments, the rack master may further comprise a vertical movement part configured to vertically move the rack master fork.

In some embodiments, the vertical movement part may vertically move a pair of rack master forks including the first rack master fork and the second rack master fork at a time.

In some embodiments, the rack master may further comprise a fifth sensor configured to sense a storage location of the rack, and the vertical movement part may vertically move the rack master fork based on a signal of the fifth sensor.

In some embodiments, each of a plurality of rack master forks including the first rack master fork and the second master fork may further comprise a fork in which the circular axis is stored, an extension bar extending integrally to the fork so that the fork moves to the storage location of the rack, and a third movement part that moves along a path provided in the rack shelf.

In some embodiments, the fork may have a V-Block structure.

In some embodiments, the rack master may comprise a sixth sensor configured to sense the storage location of the rack, and the extension bar may extend integrally to the fork so that the fork moves to the storage location, based on the signal of the sixth sensor.

In some embodiments, the third movement part of the first rack masker fork may move to a circular axis collection location along the path, when the first circular axis stored in the rack is collected by the first rack master fork.

In some embodiments , the rack master may include a third rack master fork configured to collect a third circular axis in which an article stored in a target rack is mounted, and a fourth rack master fork configured to transport a fourth circular axis in which the article is not mounted in the target rack from which the third circular axis is collected, the turn skid configured to collect the third circular axis collected from the third rack master fork, and the input/output port configured to collect the article from the third circular axis collected from the turn skid.

In some embodiments, the turn skid may comprise a second pusher configured to output the article mounted in the third circular axis to the input/output port.

The above embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent with reference to the attached drawings, in which:.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Advantages and features of the present invention and methods of accomplishing the same may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. The present invention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, the present invention will only be defined by the appended claims.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings:.

<FIG> is a view illustrating exemplary environment to which a cylindrical material storing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied. Even though <FIG> illustrates the environment to which one automated guided vehicle <NUM> is applied, this is only an example, and any number of automated guided vehicles <NUM> may be changed.

The cylindrical material storing device according to one embodiment of the present invention illustrated in <FIG> includes an input/output port <NUM>, a turn skid <NUM>, a rack master <NUM>, and a rack shelf <NUM>. In addition, the cylindrical material storing device may further include a controller configured to control each component constituting the cylindrical material storing device. Hereinafter, each of the component constituting the cylindrical material storing device will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The input/output port <NUM> may collect an article, for example, a reel, from the automated guided vehicle <NUM>. Furthermore, the input/output port <NUM> may output the article to the automated guided vehicle <NUM>.

The input/output port <NUM> may collect the article from the automated guided vehicle <NUM> and output the article to the turn skid <NUM>. In addition, in order to output the article to the automated guided vehicle <NUM>, the input/output port <NUM> may collect the article from the turn skid <NUM>. A structure of the input/output port <NUM> and operations performed by the input/output port <NUM> will be described in more detail later with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

The turn skid <NUM> may collect a circular axis from a rack master fork <NUM>. In this case, the article may not be mounted in the circular axis or the article may be mounted therein. When the article is not mounted in the circular axis collected by the turn skid <NUM>, the turn skid <NUM> may collect the article from the input/output port <NUM>. On the other hand, when the article is mounted in the circular axis collected by the turn skid <NUM>, the turn skid <NUM> may output the article mounted in the circular axis to the input/output port <NUM>.

The turn skid <NUM> may output the circular axis to the rack master fork <NUM>. When the article is mounted in the circular axis from the input/output port <NUM>, the turn skid <NUM> may output the circular axis in which the article is mounted, to the rack master fork <NUM>. On the other hand, when the article mounted in the circular axis is output to the input/output port <NUM>, the turn skid <NUM> may output the circular axis in which the article is not mounted, to the rack master fork <NUM>. The structure of the turn skid <NUM> and operations performed by the turn skid <NUM> will be described in more detail later with reference to <FIG>.

The rack master fork <NUM> included in the rack master <NUM> may output the circular axis to the turn skid <NUM>. Furthermore, the rack master fork <NUM> may collect the circular axis from the turn skid <NUM>.

In the reception operation of the article, the rack master fork <NUM> may output the circular axis in which the article is not mounted, to the turn skid <NUM>, and when the article is mounted to the output circular axis, the circular axis in which the article is mounted may be collected from the turn skid <NUM>. On the other hand, in the discharging operation of the article, the rack master fork <NUM> may output the circular axis in which the article is mounted, to the turn skid <NUM>, and, when outputting the article mounted in the output circular axis, the rack master fork <NUM> may collect the circular axis in which the article is not mounted, from the turn skid <NUM>.

The rack master <NUM> includes a plurality of rack master forks. The rack master <NUM> may output and collect the circular axis to the turn skid <NUM> using the plurality of rack master forks. Furthermore, the rack master <NUM> may output and collect the circular axis to the rack shelf <NUM> using the plurality of rack master forks. The structure of the rack master <NUM> and operations performed by the rack master <NUM> will be described in more detail later with reference to <FIG>.

The rack shelf <NUM> may include a plurality of racks. Each of the plurality of racks included in the rack shelf <NUM> may store the circular axis. In this case, the article may not be mounted in the circular axis or the article may be mounted therein. The structure of the rack shelf <NUM> will be described later in more detail with reference to <FIG>.

So far, the exemplary environment to which the cylindrical material storing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied has been described with reference to <FIG>. Hereinafter, each of the components constituting the cylindrical material storing device will be described in more detail with reference to <FIG>.

Hereinafter, a first circular axis refers to a circular axis in which the article is not mounted, which is collected from a target rack in the reception operation of the article, and a second circular axis refers to a circular axis in which the article is mounted, which is transported to the target rack in the reception operation of the article. According to the description of the specification to be explained in detail, it is preferable that the first circular axis in which the article is mounted from the input/output port <NUM> should be changed to the second circular axis and thus indicate the first circular axis; however, for convenience of understanding, even though the article is mounted in the first circular axis, it will be referred to as the first circular axis.

Similarly, a third circular axis refers to a circular axis in which the article is mounted, which is collected from the target rack in the discharging operation of the article, and a fourth circular axis refers to a circular axis in which the article is not mounted, which is transported to the target rack in the discharging operation of the article. According to the description of the specification to be explained in detail, it is preferable that when the article mounted in the third circular axis is output to the input/output port <NUM>, it should be changed to the fourth circular axis and thus indicate the third circular axis; however, for convenience of understanding, in spite of releasing the mounting of the article from the third circular axis, it will be referred to as the third circular axis.

<FIG> is a view for explaining an output and output port described with reference to <FIG>.

The input/output port <NUM> includes a shaft <NUM> rotatably coupled to the body <NUM> in an integral form. Herein, the article output from the automated guided vehicle may be mounted in the shaft <NUM>. In addition, the article output from the turn skid <NUM> may be mounted in the shaft <NUM>.

The shaft <NUM> may rotate integrally with the body <NUM> by using the body <NUM> as a rotary axis. The rotation operation of the input/output port <NUM> will be described in more detail with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates one example of the input/output port <NUM> in which the article <NUM> is mounted. The article <NUM> output from the automated guided vehicle may be mounted in the shaft <NUM> towards the inside <NUM> of the shaft. In this case, the shaft <NUM> may rotate <NUM> integrally with the body <NUM> by using the body <NUM> as the rotary axis.

In some embodiments related to the shaft <NUM>, the shaft <NUM> may rotate integrally with the body <NUM> at a predetermined angle so that a longitudinal direction of the shaft <NUM> matches a longitudinal direction of the first circular axis collected by the turn skid <NUM>. Herein, the predetermined angle may vary depending on the received and discharged locations of the automated guided vehicle, the location of the input/output port <NUM>, and the location of the turn skid <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, it may be understood that the shaft <NUM> may rotate integrally with the body <NUM>.

In addition, the shaft <NUM> may rotate integrally with the body <NUM> at the predetermined angle so that the longitudinal direction of the shaft <NUM> matches the longitudinal direction of the third circular axis collected by the turn skid <NUM>. In this case, when the article is released, the shaft <NUM> and the third circular axis may be arranged so that the article mounted in the third circular axis moves to the inside of the shaft <NUM>.

The input/output port <NUM> includes a first pusher. Herein, the first pusher may output the article mounted in the shaft to the turn skid <NUM>. Furthermore, the first pusher may output the article mounted in the shaft to the automated guided vehicle. The first pusher may be implemented to perform the operation of outputting the article mounted in the shaft <NUM>. In this case, all known techniques may be applied to implement the first pusher. For example, a hydraulic pusher provided with a hydraulic cylinder may be used, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The input/output port <NUM> may include a first sensor configured to sense the number of articles mounted in the shaft <NUM> and a second sensor configured to sense a match between the longitudinal direction of the shaft and the longitudinal direction of the first circular axis. In this case, the second sensor may sense a match between the longitudinal direction of the shaft and the longitudinal direction of the shaft of the automated guided vehicle.

Herein, the first pusher may output the article mounted in the shaft to the turn skid <NUM> based on a signal of the first sensor and a signal of the second sensor. In addition, the first pusher may output the article mounted in the shaft to the automated guided vehicle based on the signal of the first sensor and the signal of the second sensor. According to the present embodiment, the operation of the first pusher may be controlled according to the number of articles mounted in the shaft <NUM>. In addition, the operation of the first pusher may be controlled by determining whether the shaft <NUM> matches the direction of the first circular axis, or the operation of the first pusher may be controlled by determining whether the shaft <NUM> matches the direction of the shaft provided in the automated guided vehicle, thereby allowing the article mounted in the shaft <NUM> to safely move to the first circular axis or the shaft provided in the automated guided vehicle.

Each of the first sensor and the second sensor may be camera sensors, but the present disclosure is limited thereto, and any sensor for the purpose of implementing the operations of each sensor may be used.

<FIG> is a diagram for describing the turn skid <NUM> described with reference to <FIG> in more detail.

The turn skid <NUM> may include a clamp <NUM> configured to fix the first circular axis stored in a first rack master fork. In this case, all known techniques may be applied to implement the clamp <NUM>. For example, a V-Block clamp may be used. In this way, it may be understood that when the V-Block clamp is used, this may prevent separation of the circular axis having a cylindrical structure. However, it should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to this example. The clamp <NUM> may fix the third circular axis stored in the third rack master fork when discharging the article.

In order to explain the circular axis collecting operation of the turn skid <NUM> in more detail, a further explanation will be described with reference to <FIG>. It may be understood that even though <FIG> illustrates one example of an operation of the turn skid <NUM> configured to collect the first circular axis, the same operation may be performed to collect the third circular axis with reference to <FIG>.

The turn skid <NUM> may include a first movement part that moves between a designated location and a circular axis collection location. Referring to <FIG>, the first movement part of the turn skid <NUM> may move in the direction of circular axis collection location <NUM> from the designated location. In this case, all known techniques may be applied to implement the first movement part. For example, rails and wheels may be used, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

<FIG> illustrates one example of the turn skid <NUM> disposed at the circular axis collection location. Herein, it may be found that the first circular axis <NUM> is stored in the first rack master fork <NUM>. In some embodiments, the clamp <NUM> may fix and secure the first circular axis when the turn skid <NUM> is disposed at the circular axis collection location.

<FIG> illustrates one example of the turn skid <NUM> after collecting the first circular axis <NUM>. In some embodiments, when the first circular axis <NUM> is fixed by the clamp <NUM>, the first movement part may move in the direction of designated location <NUM>.

According to the example described with reference to <FIG>, it may be understood that the turn skid <NUM> moves to the circular axis collection location, and it fixes and secures the first circular axis using the clamp <NUM> and moves back to the designated location.

In addition, it may be understood that the first circular axis in which the article is mounted may be output from the input/output port <NUM> to the first rack master fork <NUM> by performing a reverse operation of the operation illustrated in <FIG>. Furthermore, the third circular axis that has output the article to the input/output port <NUM> may be output to the third rack master fork.

An article collection operation of the turn skid <NUM> will be described in more detail with reference to <FIG> illustrates one example of the article collecting operation in which the article <NUM> output from the input/output port <NUM> is mounted in the first circular axis <NUM>, but an article output operation in which the article mounted in the third circular axis is output to the input/output port may be also understood with reference to <FIG>.

The turn skid <NUM> may include a second movement part that moves between the designated location and an article collection location. Referring to <FIG>, it may be understood that the second movement part of the turn skid <NUM> may move in the direction of article collection location <NUM> from the designated location. In this case, all known techniques may be applied to implement the second movement part. For example, the rails and wheels may be used, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, when the first circular axis <NUM> is fixed by the clamp <NUM> and the turn skid <NUM> is disposed at the designated location, the second movement part may move to the article collection location. According to the present embodiment, the turn skid <NUM> may move to the article collection location in a state where the first circular axis is fixed by the clamp <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates one example of a turn skid <NUM> disposed at the article collection location. Herein, it may be found that the article <NUM> is stored in the input/output port <NUM>. In this case, as described above in the operation of the first pusher of the input/output port <NUM>, the turn skid <NUM> may collect the article by outputting the article <NUM> mounted in the input/output port <NUM>, to the turn skid <NUM>.

When the article <NUM> is mounted in the first circular axis <NUM> fixed to the turn skid <NUM>, the turn skid <NUM> may move from the article collection location to the designated location.

According to the example described with reference to <FIG>, it may be understood that the turn skid <NUM> moves to the article collection location to collect the article from the first circular axis, and then moves back to the designated location. In addition, the turn skid <NUM> moves to the article collection location to output the article mounted in the third circular axis, and then moves back to the designated location.

In some embodiments related to the turn skid <NUM>, the turn skid <NUM> at the discharging of the article may include a second pusher configured to output the article mounted in the third circular axis to the input/output port <NUM>. Since the operation performed by the second pusher is similar to that performed by the first pusher, a description of the operation performed by the second pusher may be easily understood with reference to the description of the first pusher.

According to <FIG> and <FIG>, it may be understood that the turn skid <NUM> moves to the circular axis collection location, and it fixes and secures the first circular axis using the clamp <NUM> and moves back to the designated location; the turn skid <NUM> then moves from the designated location to the article collection location to collect the article from the first circular axis and moves back to the designated location; and the turn skid <NUM> then moves from the designated location to the circular axis collection location, and it outputs the first circular axis in which the article is mounted to the first rack master fork by using the clamp, and moves back to the designated location.

However, in some embodiments, the turn skid <NUM> may output the first circular axis in which the article is mounted to the first rack master fork, and the turn skid <NUM> may fix and secure another circular axis in which the article is not mounted, at the circular axis collection location, instead of moving back to the designated location. According to the present embodiment, any unnecessary movement of the turn skid <NUM> may be removed.

In some embodiments related to the turn skid <NUM>, the turn skid <NUM> may include a third sensor configured to sense the number of articles mounted in the first circular axis fixed to the clamp <NUM>, a fourth sensor configured to sense the mounted location of the article mounted in the first circular axis fixed to the clamp, and an arrangement pusher configured to arrange the mounted location of the article mounted in the first circular axis based on a signal of the third sensor and a signal of the fourth sensor. An arrangement operation of the article mounted in the first circular axis according to the present embodiment may be performed after collecting the article <NUM> from the input/output port <NUM>.

In addition, the third sensor may sensor the number of articles mounted in the third circular axis, the fourth sensor may sensor the mounted location of the articles mounted in the third circular axis, and the arrangement pusher may arrange the mounted location of the articles mounted in the third circular axis based on the signals of the third and fourth sensors. The arrangement operation of the article mounted in the third circular axis according to the present embodiment may be performed before outputting the article <NUM> to the input/output port <NUM>, but no separate arrangement operation may be required since the article mounted in the third circular axis was already subjected to the arrangement operation while receiving the article.

According to the aforementioned embodiments, the articles mounted in the circular axis may be arranged and stored more safely in the rack shelf. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent safety accidents that may occur in the receiving and discharging operations in advance.

The arrangement operation of the turn skid <NUM> will be described in more detail with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> illustrates an example in which the turn skid <NUM> is disposed at a designated location along a second movement part <NUM> after mounting the article <NUM> on the first circular axis <NUM> from the input/output port <NUM>. In this case, the article <NUM> mounted in the first circular axis <NUM> may be arranged using the third sensor and the fourth sensor included in a first sensor unit <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example in which articles 10a and 10b mounted in the first circular axis <NUM> are not arranged. Herein, each of the third sensor and fourth sensor included in the first sensor unit <NUM> may be camera sensors, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and any sensor for the purpose of implementing operations of each sensor may be used.

In some embodiments, the first sensor unit <NUM> may be a sensor configured to sense information on an area of interest <NUM>. In this case, the first sensor unit <NUM> may transmits a signal associated with the mounted location of the article, the number of articles, and a location of a center line <NUM> to a controller, so that the controller may control operations of arrangement pushers 240a and 240b.

<FIG> illustrates an example in which the articles 10a and 10b are arranged in the center line <NUM> by the arrangement pushers 240a and 240b. It may be understood that the first arrangement pusher 240a illustrated in <FIG> is fixed at a location analyzed by the controller, and the second arrangement pusher 240b pushes the articles 10a and 10b, thus allowing the articles 10a and 10b to be arranged as illustrated in <FIG>.

Even though <FIG> illustrates that there are two articles 10a and 10b, this is only for convenience of understanding, and the number of articles mounted in the first circular axis may be changed as needed. It should be noted that the type of articles mounted in the first circular axis may also vary.

<FIG> is a diagram for describing the rack master <NUM> and the rack shelf <NUM> described with reference to <FIG> in more detail. Even though <FIG> illustrates that the first rack master fork <NUM> and the second rack master fork <NUM> operate as a pair, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and any number of rack master forks may operate by multiple rack masters <NUM>. In addition, even though <FIG> illustrates the first rack master fork <NUM> and the second rack master fork <NUM> while receiving the article, referring to <FIG>, the operations of the third rack master fork and the fourth rack master fork while discharging the article may be understood.

<FIG> illustrates an example of the rack master <NUM> composed of the first rack master fork <NUM> configured to collect a first circular axis 20a in which the article stored in a target rack <NUM> is not mounted and the second rack master fork <NUM> configured to transport a second circular axis 20b in which the article <NUM> is mounted in the target rack <NUM> where the first circular axis 20a is collected.

In some embodiments, the collection operation of the first rack master fork <NUM> and the transport operation of the second rack master fork <NUM> may be continuously performed. In other words, at the time of receiving the article, the collection operation of the first rack master fork <NUM> may be preceded, and then the transport operation of the second rack master fork <NUM> may be subsequently performed. On the other hand, at the time of discharging the article, the collection operation of the third rack master fork configured to collect the third circular axis in which the article is mounted may be preceded, and then the transport operation of the fourth rack master fork configured to discharge the fourth circular axis in which the article is not mounted may be continuously performed.

The rack master <NUM> may include a vertical movement part <NUM> configure to vertically move the rack master forks <NUM> and <NUM>. As the vertical movement part <NUM> moves the rack master forks <NUM> and <NUM> in a vertical direction <NUM>, the rack master <NUM> may collect and transport the circular axis at a location corresponding to a storage location <NUM> of each of the plurality of racks included in the rack shelf <NUM>. In this case, all known techniques may be applied to implement the vertical movement part <NUM>. For example, it should be noted that the rails and wheels may be used, but the present disclosure is not limited to this example.

In some embodiments related to the vertical movement part <NUM>, the vertical movement part <NUM> may move a pair of rack master forks including the first rack master fork <NUM> and the second rack master fork <NUM> in the vertical direction <NUM> at once. According to the present embodiment, the continuous operations of the first rack master fork <NUM> and the second rack master fork <NUM> may be efficiently performed by moving the pair of rack master forks in the vertical direction <NUM> at once.

For example, the first rack master fork <NUM> is disposed at a location corresponding to the storage location <NUM> of the target rack <NUM>, and the first circular axis 20a is collected using the first rack master fork <NUM>. Next, the second rack master fork <NUM> is disposed at a location corresponding to the storage location <NUM> of the target rack <NUM>, and the second circular axis 20b is transported using the second rack master fork <NUM>. Herein, in order to move each of the rack master forks <NUM> to a location corresponding to the storage location <NUM> of the target rack <NUM>, a movement part <NUM> included in the rack master <NUM> may be used. Even though <FIG> illustrates that the rack master <NUM> moves in a left-right direction <NUM> by the movement part <NUM>, the direction in which the rack master <NUM> moves may vary according to a path provided in the rack shelf <NUM>. In addition, it should be noted that the movement part <NUM> may be implemented with rails and wheels, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and all known configurations capable of moving the rack master <NUM> may be applied to the movement part <NUM>.

The rack master forks <NUM> and <NUM> included in the rack master <NUM> may extend and contract in a storage-location direction <NUM>. For a more detailed explanation thereof, it will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates an example of the rack master fork included in the rack master <NUM>. Even though <FIG> shows two rack master forks, it should be noted that this is for convenience of understanding that rack master forks may operate as a pair and does not limit the scope of the present disclosure.

The rack master fork may include a fork <NUM> in which the circular axis is stored. In some embodiments, the fork <NUM> may have a V-Block structure. According to the present embodiment, since the fork <NUM> has the V-Block structure, the circular axis stored in the fork <NUM> may be prevented from being separated.

The rack master fork may include an extension bar <NUM> extending integrally to the fork <NUM> so that the fork <NUM> moves to a storage location of the rack. It should be noted that all known structures for extension to move the fork <NUM> to the storage location of the rack may be applied to the extension bar <NUM>.

The rack master fork may include a third movement part separated from the rack master <NUM> and moving along the path provided in the rack shelf <NUM>. In some embodiments, when the first circular axis stored in the rack is collected in the first rack master fork while receiving the article, the third movement part of the first rack master fork may move to a circular axis collection location along the path provided in the rack shelf <NUM>. In addition, when the third circular axis stored in the rack is collected in the third rack master fork while discharging the article, the third movement part of the third rack master fork may move to the circular axis collection location along the path provided in the rack shelf <NUM>. According to the present embodiment, the first circular axis in which the article is not mounted during the receiving operation may be provided to the turn skid <NUM>, and a third circular axis in which the article is mounted during the discharging operation may be provided to the turn skid <NUM>.

Herein, the second rack master fork that has transported the second circular axis to the rack during the receiving operation may be separated from the rack master <NUM> and moved to a location corresponding to a storage location of another rack included in the rack shelf <NUM>, thus performing the operation performed by the first rack master fork. Similarly, the fourth rack master fork that has transported the fourth circular axis to the rack during the discharging operation may be separated from the rack master <NUM> and moved to a location corresponding to the storage location of another rack included in the rack shelf <NUM>, thus performing the operation performed by the third rack master fork. Each operation of the rack master fork included in the cylindrical material storing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be changed by controlling each of the operations of the rack master fork by the controller.

<FIG> is a view explaining in more detail a vertical movement of the rack master <NUM> and the extension of the extension bar <NUM> of the rack master fork <NUM>. Even though <FIG> illustrates that racks 410a and 410b are provided on both sides of the vertical movement part <NUM>, this is only exemplary and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The rack master <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may include second sensor units 350a and 350b. Herein, the second sensor units 350a and 350b may be provided on both sides of the vertical movement part <NUM> and may sense storage locations of articles 40a and 40b stored in the racks 410a and 410b that are present on both sides of the vertical movement part <NUM>. Furthermore, the second sensor units 350a and 350b may be camera sensors, but the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and any sensor for the purpose of implementing the operations of each sensor may be used.

<FIG> illustrates an example in which the storage locations of the racks 410a and 410b are sensed based on signals of the second sensor units 350a and 350b, and accordingly, the rack master fork <NUM> is vertically moved to a location corresponding to the storage location using the vertical movement part <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example in which the vertical movement part <NUM> is moved in a downward direction <NUM> by a predetermined length after the rack master fork <NUM> is arranged at the location corresponding to the storage location. Herein, the predetermined length is to easily extend the fork <NUM> of the rack master fork <NUM> to the articles 40a and 40b stored in the racks 410a and 410b. In some embodiments, it may be understood that an operation of moving in the downward direction <NUM> by a predetermined length may be omitted. In addition, the predetermined length may be set differently in advance according to the structure of the extension bar <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example in which the extension bar <NUM> extends integrally to the fork <NUM> of the rack master fork <NUM>. In some embodiments, a storage location of the articles 40a and 40b stored in the racks 410a and 410b is sensed based on the signals of the second sensor units 350a and 350b, and accordingly, the extension bar <NUM> may extend integrally to the fork <NUM> so that the fork <NUM> moves to the storage location. According to the present embodiment, the fork <NUM> may finely move to the storage location based on the signal sensed by the second sensor units 350a and 350b.

So far, the cylindrical material storing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with reference to <FIG>. According to the aforementioned device, efficient automated material flow may be realized, unlike a conventional method that relies on the worker's manual labor. In addition, with the realization of the automated material flow, the waste of manpower caused by the manual labor can be reduced, and safety accidents that may occur during the storage and transport of the article can be prevented. Furthermore, the worker may be prevented from touching the article, thereby improving the quality of the final manufactured product using the article.

Hereinafter, an exemplary computing device <NUM> that is applicable to the cylindrical material storing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to <FIG>.

A computing device <NUM> may include one or more processors <NUM>, a bus <NUM>, a communication interface <NUM>, a memory <NUM> configured to load a computer program <NUM> by the processor <NUM>, and a storage <NUM> configured to store the computer program <NUM>. However, FIG. <NUM> illustrates only components related to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Therefore, it may be found by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs that other universal components may be further included in addition to the components illustrated in <FIG>.

The processor <NUM> controls overall operations of each component of the computing device <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may include a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor unit (MPU), a micro-controller unit (MCU), a graphical processing unit (GPU), or any type of processor known in the technical field of the present disclosure. In addition, the processor <NUM> may perform arithmetic operations for at least one application or program for executing the method according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The computing device <NUM> may include one or more processors.

The memory <NUM> stores different kinds of data, commands, and/or information. The memory <NUM> may load one or more programs <NUM> from the storage <NUM> to execute the method according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. The memory <NUM> may be implemented with a volatile memory such as RAM, but the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The bus <NUM> provides a communication function between the components of the computing device <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may be implemented with various types of buses such as an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus.

The communication interface <NUM> supports wired/wireless Internet communication of the computing device <NUM>. In addition, the communication interface <NUM> may support a variety of communication methods other than Internet communication. To this end, the communication interface <NUM> may include a communication module well known in the technical field of the present disclosure.

According to some embodiments, the communication interface <NUM> may be omitted.

The storage <NUM> may non-temporarily store one or more programs <NUM> and different kinds of data.

The storage <NUM> may include non-volatile memories such as a read only memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) and flash memory, a hard disk, a removable disk, or any computer-readable recording medium known to the technical field which the present disclosure belongs.

The computer program <NUM> may include one or more instructions that cause the processor <NUM> to execute the method/operation according to a variety of embodiments of the present disclosure when loaded into the memory <NUM>. That is, the processor <NUM> may perform methods/operations according to a variety of embodiments of the present disclosure by executing the one or more instructions.

In this case, the controller may be implemented in a way that is applicable to the cylindrical material storing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosures via the computing device <NUM>. Herein, the controller may perform operations performed by the cylindrical material storing device based on the signals of the plurality of sensors constituting the cylindrical material storing device. In addition, the controller may control rotation, extension, and movement of each component constituting the cylindrical material storing device.

In some embodiments, the controller may be implemented with one computing device <NUM> in an integral form, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the controller may be implemented by including the computing device <NUM> in each of the components constituting the cylindrical material storing device in functional units.

Some of the computing features of the present disclosure described so far may be embodied as computer readable codes on a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium may be, for example, a removable recording medium (CD, DVD, Blu-ray disc, USB storage device, removable hard disk) or a fixed recording medium (ROM, RAM, computer equipped hard disk). The computer program recorded on the computer readable medium may be transmitted to other computing device via a network such as internet and installed in the other computing device, thereby being used in the other computing device.

Claim 1:
A cylindrical material storing device, comprising:
a rack shelf (<NUM>) including one or more racks in which a circular axis is stored;
a rack master (<NUM>) including a first rack master fork (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to collect a first circular axis (<NUM>, 20a) in which an article stored in a target rack is not mounted, and a second rack master fork (<NUM>) configured to transport a second circular axis (20b) in which the article is mounted in the target rack from which the first circular axis is collected;
a turn skid (<NUM>) configured to collect the first circular axis (<NUM>, 20a) collected from the first rack master fork (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
an input/output port (<NUM>) configured to mount the article in the first circular axis (<NUM>, 20a) collected from the turn skid (<NUM>),
characterized in that the input/output port (<NUM>) comprises:
a shaft (<NUM>) rotatably coupled to a body (<NUM>) in an integral form; and
a first pusher configured to output the article mounted in the shaft (<NUM>) to the turn skid (<NUM>).