AUTOMATED WAREHOUSE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automated warehouse structured so that transfer racks equipped with buffer function are installed separately for the storing and delivering purposes to/from the warehouse so as to enable effective storing and delivering operations, in which it is possible to discharge the goods even when the constituent part for the goods discharge is out of operation owing to failure etc. SOLUTION: The automated warehouse is equipped with storage rack(s) 10, a plurality of transfer racks 20 for goods storage capable of transporting a plurality of goods articles W while they are put in standstill individually and of transporting in the reverse direction one article W after another, a plurality of transfer racks 40 for goods delivery capable of transporting a plurality of goods articles W while they are put in standstill individually, a plurality of transfer carriages 60 capable of transferring the goods W between the transfer rack 20 for storage and the transfer rack 40 for delivery and the storage rack 10, and rising/falling mechanism parts 30 and 50 arranged able to elevate and sink the goods W, to give the goods to different transfer racks 20 for storage and also receive goods from different transfer racks 40 for delivery. In the emergency delivery mode, the goods W are transported in the reverse direction by the transfer racks 20 for storage one article W after another and delivery from the storage rack 10. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT