JP2003206009A - Picking method and equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a picking method and equipment capable of efficiently performing picking. <P>SOLUTION: In this picking method, a plurality of article collection boxes 12 are mounted on a carriage 14, the carriage 14 is traveled along a prescribed path 34 and the carriage 14 is stopped in stop zones 34a to 34p provided in the path 34. Articles are picked in accordance with a picking instruction from article storage zones 54a to 54p provided in the vicinities of the stop zones 34a to 34p, and the articles are sorted into the plurality of article collection boxes 12 on the carriage 14 stopped in the stop zones 34a to 34p in accordance with a seeding instruction and are packed. Since the plurality of article collection boxes 12 are mounted on the carriage 14 and are carried by this method, the articles picked from the article storage zones 54a to 54p can be temporarily sorted into the plurality of article collection boxes 12, and generation of waiting by workers is reduced even if an order tendency is deviated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a picking method and equipment for picking a wide variety of products according to an order and packing them in a collection box.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the diversification of products, there is a demand for a distribution system that can handle a wide variety of products shipped at product distribution centers and the like. In order to arrange a wide variety of products in order units in a logistics system, generally,
A line type digital display picking system is used. Line type digital display picking system
A transport conveyor that transports the collection box, and a rack that is disposed along the transport conveyor and that stores products for each product type are provided. A digital display is attached to each product outlet of the rack, and the worker takes out the product from the rack according to the instructions displayed on the display and collects the products along the conveyor. Work to put the product in the box. A so-called trolley picking system has also been conventionally used in which a worker moves between racks while pushing a trolley to take out desired products from the racks and put them in a collection box on the trolley. A digital display is attached to the trolley, and the worker moves between racks and takes out the product according to the instruction of this display, and puts the product in the collection box on the trolley. .

[0003]

However, the conventional picking system as described above has the following problems to be solved.

First, in the line type digital display picking system, the number of racks and the number of workers inevitably increase as the number of types of products to be handled increases, but the products to be picked are biased depending on the order (ordering) tendency, and the work can be performed. There is a problem of inducing waiting for the staff.

Further, the cart picking system has a problem that the number of racks increases as the number of types of products handled increases, and accordingly, the walking distance becomes long and work efficiency deteriorates.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a picking method and equipment capable of efficiently performing picking.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a picking method of picking an ordered product from a variety of stored products and packing the picked product in a predetermined collection box, The steps of mounting a plurality of collection boxes on a trolley, running the trolley along a predetermined route, stopping the trolley in a stop zone provided in the route, and providing the trolley near the stop zone From the product storage zone, the step of picking the product according to the instruction from the picking instruction means disposed adjacent to the product storage zone, and the instruction from the packing instruction means disposed adjacent to the stop zone, the picked product, And a step of allocating and packing the plurality of collection boxes on the truck stopped in the stop zone.

According to this method, since a plurality of collection boxes are placed on one cart and conveyed, it is possible to distribute picked products from the product storage zone to a plurality of collection boxes at one time. Further, since a plurality of collection boxes mounted on the trolley are handled at the same time, even if the order tendency is biased, it is less likely that the products will not be assigned to all of these collection boxes.
Therefore, the occurrence of waiting for a worker is reduced.
Further, since the product storage zone is arranged in the vicinity of the stop zone of the truck, the worker can walk a short distance.

The present invention also provides picking equipment suitable for carrying out the above-mentioned picking method. The picking equipment according to the present invention includes a trolley on which a plurality of collection boxes are mounted, a travel means for causing the trolley to travel along a predetermined route, and a plurality of stop zones provided in the route for stopping the trolley. A loading instruction means for instructing products to be packed in each collection box mounted on a truck stopped in the stop zone and each of the stop zones. A merchandise storage zone for storing merchandise provided in the vicinity, and picking instructing means that is arranged adjacent to each of the merchandise storage zones and that issues an instruction of a merchandise to be picked from the merchandise storage zone,
It is characterized by comprising an input means for inputting ordered product data and a control means for controlling the traveling means, the packing instruction means and the picking instruction means based on the product data input by the input means.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 schematically show an embodiment of the picking equipment according to the present invention. The picking equipment 10 shown in the drawing uses a cart 14 on which a plurality of collection boxes 12 such as cardboard boxes can be placed. Basket car 1
4 is a type of cart, and is also called a roll box pallet. As shown in FIG. 2, the cart 14 is composed of a bottom plate 18 with casters 16 and three side frames 20, 21, 22 which are open on one side. In this embodiment, two stages of intermediate shelves 24 and 26 are arranged between the side frames 20 and 22 that face each other.

Further, the picking equipment 10 is provided with traveling means for intermittently circulating the plurality of basket cars 14 along a predetermined route. Although various types of traveling means can be considered, in the present embodiment, the picking equipment 1
Endless chain 28 arranged along a predetermined annular path on the floor surface of 0, a drive device 30 that circulates and drives the endless chain 28, and a plurality of baskets mounted on the endless chain 28 at regular intervals for vehicle mounting. Self-propelled stand 32
It consists of and.

Straight portions 34 and 3 parallel to each other are formed in the annular path.
6 is formed. In the following, one straight line portion 34 in the annular path is referred to as a packing portion, and the other straight line portion 36.
Will be referred to as a return section. The drive device 30 is controlled by a controller (control means) 38 including a microcomputer for controlling the entire picking equipment 10. An identification number is assigned in advance to each self-propelled table 32. Since the controller 38 controls the drive device 38 while always tracking this identification number, it is possible to recognize which self-propelled table 32 is located at which position on the circular path. Further, the bottom plate 18 of the cart 14 is placed on the self-propelled base 32, but if the endless chain 28 is circularly driven in that state, the self-propelled base 32 is mounted.
At the same time, the cart 14 can move along the circular path. Caster 1 of the cart 14 mounted on the self-propelled table 32
Since the distance between 6 and the floor surface is very small or is in light contact with the floor surface, the cart 14 on the self-propelled table 32 does not fall.

The empty cart 14 has an annular return path 36.
Basket car storage 40 provided adjacent to the intermediate portion 36a of the
The worker P puts the cart 14 in the cart storage area 40 on the self-propelled table 32 located in the intermediate portion 36 a of the return section 36. Hereinafter, the intermediate portion 3 of the return portion 36
6a is referred to as a basket mounting portion. Since each basket car 14 is provided with an identification number in advance, when the basket car 14 is mounted on the self-propelled table 32, the controller 38 sets the identification number of the car cart 14 and the identification number of the self-propelled table 32 to be mounted. The controller 38 can always recognize the position of the cart 14 on the looped route by inputting to the two and linking the two. The device indicated by reference numeral 42 in FIG. 1 is an input device for inputting the identification numbers of the cart 14 and the self-propelled table 32 to the controller 38. As the identification number input device 42, various types such as a keyboard and a bar code reader when the identification number is recorded by a bar code can be applied. Although not shown, the identification number input device 38 is also provided with a loading completion button for inputting to the controller 38 information that loading of the cart 14 has been completed.

Outside the downstream portion 36b of the return portion 36, there is a storage space 44 for the empty collection box 12 to be placed on the cart 14. The worker P mounts the self-propelled table 3 at the car onboard mounting portion 36a.
The empty basket car 14 placed on the 2 is located at the downstream part 3 of the return part 36.
If 6b is reached, empty collection box 1 in collection box storage 44
2 is placed at a predetermined position on the cart 14. Therefore, hereinafter, the downstream portion 36b of the return portion 36 is referred to as a collection box loading portion. In the present embodiment, the cart 14 has a bottom plate 18 and two intermediate shelves 24 and 26, on each of which a collection box 12 can be placed. As shown in FIG. 4 boxes, 3 medium collection boxes 12M, 2 large collection boxes 12L
Boxes are arranged in each stage. Of course, this box arrangement is an example.

The packing portion 34 in the annular path is divided into a plurality of zones (16 zones in the illustrated embodiment) 34a to 34p. The self-propelled table 32 attached to the endless chain 28, and therefore the cart 14 mounted on the self-propelled table 32, is stopped in each of the zones 34a to 34p.
Hereinafter, these zones 34a to 34p are referred to as stop zones.

At a position adjacent to the outside of each of the stop zones 34a to 34p, the collection box 1 on the cart 14 stopped there.
In order to give instructions to the workers to pack the goods A in 2, the so-called digital type quantity indicator for sowing (packing instructing means)
46 is installed. As described above, in the present embodiment, the cart 14 has four small collection boxes 12 in order from the top.
S, 3 medium-sized collection boxes 12M, 2 large collection boxes 12L
Are arranged, the display 46 displays, as shown in FIG.
The carts 14 are installed at positions corresponding to the collection boxes 12 of the stopped cart 14, and are controlled by the controller 38 described above. The display 46 is preferably fixed to the upper and lower three frames 50 extending horizontally along the packing portion 34.

A work area 52 in which a worker works is located outside the loading section 34 of the annular path, and a product storage section 54 for storing a wide variety of products is formed outside the work area 52. The product storage unit 54 is provided in parallel with the loading unit 34 and is divided into a plurality of product storage zones 54a to 54p. In the illustrated embodiment, the product storage zone 54a-
54p has 16 zones, which is the same number as the stop zones, and each of them has a stop zone 3 through a relatively narrow work area 52.
4a to 34p are arranged so as to face each other.

In the present embodiment, the commodity storage section 54 is divided into an upstream section 54U and a downstream section 54D, and a so-called ABC analysis method (PQ analysis method) or the like is used for the upstream storage section 54D. A group of products (hereinafter, referred to as “A rank product”) G that have been selected and selected with a small number of products (hereinafter referred to as “A rank product”) is stored, and a product with many products and a small number of orders (hereinafter, “B・ Group of G) called "C rank product" is to be stored. Where AB
The C analysis method is a method of analyzing the quantitative conditions of a product with respect to the product (Product) and the shipping frequency or the ordered quantity (Quantity).

In the present embodiment, one type of product G is to be stored in the product storage zones 54a to 54i in the upstream storage section 54U. Further, the product G having a larger number of orders is stored in the upstream zone. There are various conceivable ways of storing the product G, such as using a rack, but in the present embodiment, the product G is stored in a foldable container (foldable carrying box) 56. On the other hand, in each of the product storage zones 54j to 54p in the downstream storage unit 54D, one type of product G is stored in each row of the foldable containers 56 arranged in three rows. That is, the downstream storage unit 54
In each of the product storage zones 54j to 54p of D, three kinds of products G
Is stored. In the downstream storage unit 54D as well, products G having a larger number of orders are placed in the upstream zone.

In each of the product storage zones 54a to 54p, a digital quantity indicator (picking instructing means) 58 for giving an instruction to the worker P for picking (picking up products) is installed on the work area 54 side. Upstream storage unit 54
In U, since one kind of product G is stored in each of the product storage zones 54a to 54i, each of the product storage zones 54a to 5i is stored.
One display 58 is installed at 4i. In the downstream storage unit 54D, 3 items are stored in each of the product storage zones 54j to 54p.
Since the kind of product G is stored, three indicators 58 are used and installed for each container row (see the dotted line in FIG. 2). These indicators 58 are also controller 38
Controlled by.

The most upstream part of the return part 36 of the annular path, which is on the downstream side of the product storage part 54, is a basket car withdrawing part for the worker P to pull out the basket car 14 from the self-propelled table 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the basket car drawer portion is divided into two basket car drawer zones 36c in which the basket car is stopped, and a drawer confirmation button 60 is provided in each zone 36c. The basket car pull-out confirmation button 60 is connected to the controller 38 so that the worker P pulls out the basket car 36c from the self-propelled base 32 and the pull-out confirmation button 60.
By pressing, the controller 38 can recognize from which self-propelled table 32 the cart 14 has been unloaded.

Although the controller 38 is not explicitly shown,
Drive device 30, identification number input device 42 and indicator 46,
It is composed of an interface unit to which 58 is connected, a storage unit for storing various data, and a central processing unit for processing data. Product data such as external dimensions of products to be handled are input in the storage unit in advance.
Further, an order data input device 62 for inputting order data is connected to the interface section. The order data input device 62 includes a customer's computer and the like in addition to a keyboard and a bar code reader.

Next, a picking method according to the present invention using the picking equipment 10 having the above-mentioned structure will be described.

First, the order data is input to the order data input device 6
The data is input to the controller 38 from 2 and the data is aggregated. At that time, for each orderer (shipping destination), the collection box 12 of the optimum size to be put in, based on the ordered product, the quantity thereof, and the external dimensions of the product stored in the controller 38 in advance.
Is selected. It should be noted that a series of processes from this input work is performed in batch units. Usually multiple times a day,
This batch process would be performed, but in the following, 1
Only batch processing once will be described.

On the other hand, the worker P is placed in a predetermined place of the picking equipment 10. Specifically, basket car storage 4
0, an appropriate number of workers P are arranged in each of the collection box storage 44, the work area 52, and the basket car drawer 36c.
In particular, eight workers P are assigned to the work area 52,
The first worker from the upstream side is in charge of the stop zone 34a (product storage zone 54a), and the second worker is in charge of the stop zone 34b (product storage zone 54b). The reason why one person is in charge of one zone is that the product order frequency in that zone is high. The third and subsequent workers are in charge of two zones or three zones because the commodity order frequency of the zone in which the worker is located decreases. Specifically, the third worker is the stop zones 34c and 34d (the product storage zones 54c and 54d).
d), the fourth worker is in stop zones 34e and 34f
(Product storage zones 54e and 54f), the fifth worker is the stop zones 34g, 34h and 34i (the product storage zones 54g, 54h and 54i), and the sixth worker is the stop zones 34j and 34k (the product storage zones). 54j and 54
k), 7th worker is in stop zones 34l and 34m
(Merchandise storage zones 54l and 54m) and the eighth worker is in charge of stop zones 34n, 34o and 34p (merchandise storage zones 54n, 54o and 54p), respectively.

After this, the controller 38 drives the drive unit 30.
Is controlled to intermittently drive the endless chain 28 in circulation. The worker P in the cart storage area 40 places the cart 14 on the self-propelled table 32 located in the car onboard mounting portion 36a while the endless chain 28 is stopped, and at the same time, from the identification number input device 42. The identification number of the self-propelled table 32 and the identification number of the cart 14 are input. After confirming that the input of the identification number is completed and the placement of the cart 14 on the self-propelled table 32 is completed, the worker P presses the in-car loading completion button attached to the identification number input device 42. . This allows
In the controller 38, the self-propelled table 32 and the cart 14 on it
And are linked. The controller 38 constantly monitors the position of each self-propelled table 32.
With that, the position is always recognized.

After this, the cart 1 placed on the self-propelled table 32
4 moves to the collection box loading section 36b and stops there. The worker P in the collection box storage area 44 places the collection box 12 on the empty cart 14 as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, since the position where the collection box 12 is placed is determined, at this time, the controller 38 has already linked the cart 14 and each collection box 12 set in the cart 14 to each other. It is assigned which product box of which orderer is to be packed in which collection box 12.

The cart 14 with the collection box 12 thus set reaches the loading section 34 of the annular path due to the intermittent circulating drive of the endless chain 28.
It stops in each stop zone 34a-34p.

When the cart 14 stops, the controller 3
The signal from 8 turns on the indicator 58 corresponding to the product G requiring picking and the indicator 46 corresponding to the collection box requiring seeding (packing). First, the worker P in the work area 54 starts with the product storage zone 54a to which each person is in charge.
Looking at the picking indicator 58 of 54p, the quantity G of goods G displayed there is stored in the goods storage zone 54a-5.
Picking from 4p. When the worker P picks up the quantity of commodities G, the worker P pushes a reset button (not shown) of the display 58 to turn off the display. Since this turn-off information is sent to the controller 38, the controller 38 recognizes that the picking in the product storage zone 54a to 54p is completed.

Next, the worker P is in charge of the stop zone 34.
Looking back to the cart 14 that is stopped at a to 34p, and according to the display of the seeding display device 46, the collection box 12 corresponding to the lit display device 46 is filled with the displayed quantity of products G. When this work is completed, the reset button (not shown) of the lit indicator 46 is pressed to turn it off. This information is also managed by the controller 38, and the completion of sowing is recognized.

In such picking / seeding work, the worker P only has to walk between the product storage zones 54a-54p in charge and the stop zones 34a-34p, so that the walking distance is short. Further, at least one kind of product is picked in the work while the cart 14 is stopped once, but the plurality of collection boxes 12 to be packed (9 boxes in this embodiment), that is, the orderer Since there are a plurality of items, it is rare that a product is not picked at all, and it is possible to reduce the wasteful waiting time of the worker P. Further, the total number of products G packed in all of the designated collection boxes 12 and the product storage zones 54a to 54.
It should be the same as the total number of merchandise G taken out from p. However, if the merchandise G is insufficient or surplus, some kind of trouble, such as picking or sowing, is a human error of the worker P. it is conceivable that. Therefore, according to this method, the suitability or unsuitability of the work is immediately found, which is extremely effective.

Further, in the downstream storage section 54D, 3 zones per zone
Although the seeds of the product G are stored, the above steps are only repeated for each product G, and by pressing the reset button of the indicators 58 and 46 for the third kind of product G, the controller 38 causes the same. Recognize that the person in charge has completed the picking work and the sowing work.

The above-mentioned picking / seeding work is repeated every time the cart 14 is stopped.

When the cart 14 passing through the packing section 34 of the annular path reaches one of the cart pull-out zones 36c, the worker P pulls out the cart 14 from the self-propelled table 32, and the pull-out zone 36c. Press the drawer confirmation button 60 of. As a result, the controller 38 recognizes that the cart 14 has been removed from the self-propelled table 32, and that the car cart 14 can be placed again on the self-propelled table 32.

In addition, the traveling of the self-propelled table 32 and the cart 14
The stop may be performed at a fixed time, but during the stop, the car-carrying-in completion button of the car-carrying-in part 34a, the reset button of the lit indicators 46 and 58, and the withdrawal confirmation button of the car withdrawal zone 36c are confirmed. When all 60 are pushed, it is determined that all the work to be done while the cart 14 or the self-propelled table 32 is stopped is completed, the vehicle starts traveling, and the cart 14 reaches the next stop zones 34a to 34p. It is effective from the standpoint of work efficiency to stop the operation again when it is done. In the present embodiment, since it is considered that the loading of the collection box 12 does not take time, the information indicating that the collection box loading is completed is not transmitted to the controller 38, but a device such as a collection box loading completion button is displayed. Of course, it may be provided.

The cart 14 drawn out from the cart drawing section 36c can be moved, for example, to a shipping area (not shown) with a collection box loaded. If a computer connected to the controller 38 is arranged in the shipping area, by inputting the identification number of the cart 14 into the computer, the cart 14 and the collection boxes 12 mounted therein are linked. Since it is attached, it is possible to print out the invoice and the detailed list relating to each collection box 12. Then, if the printed invoice / detailed list is attached to the related collection box 12 and the collection box 12 is sealed, it can be shipped as it is. The emptied cart 14 is returned to the cart yard 40.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

For example, the cart on which the collection box 12 is mounted is not limited to the cart 14 and may be a roll pallet having only casters on a flat plate. In such cases,
The collection boxes 12 are placed side by side on a flat plate.

In the above embodiment, the chain-driven self-propelled table 32 is used as the traveling means for traveling the cart such as the cart 14 but the endless chain 2
The dolly 14 may be connected to the vehicle 8 for traveling.

Further, the picking instructing means and the packing instruction means are not limited to the indicators 46 and 58 for displaying the quantity, but various types such as a model for displaying the product name can be applied.

Further, the above work procedure can be changed as appropriate. For example, in the above embodiment, the cart 14 is mounted on the self-propelled table 3
After placing the cart on the vehicle 2, the collection boxes 12 are set in all of the predetermined locations of the cart 14, but before the cart 14 is placed on the self-propelled table 32, a required number of carts are collected according to an instruction from the controller 38. It is also possible to adopt a procedure of setting the product box 12 at the designated position of the cart 14.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, since a plurality of collection boxes are placed on one cart and conveyed, picked products from the product storage zone can be distributed to a plurality of collection boxes at one time. . In addition, since multiple collection boxes mounted on the trolley are handled at the same time, even if the order tendency is biased, it is less likely that products will not be assigned to all of these collection boxes. The occurrence of waiting is also reduced. Further, since the product storage zone is arranged in the vicinity of the stop zone of the truck, the walking distance of the worker is short. From the above, the work efficiency is remarkably improved.

Further, since the trolley is used, it is not necessary to use an expensive and complicated device such as a belt conveyor for conveying the collection box, and the trolley can be used in a state where the collection box is set. There is also an advantage that it can be moved to the shipping area.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a picking equipment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of the picking equipment shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Picking equipment, 12 ... Collecting box, 14 ... Basket car (carriage), 32 ... Self-propelled table (traveling means), 34 ... Packing section (route), 34a-34p ... Stop zone, 38 ... Controller (control) Means), 42 ... Identification number input device, 46 ...
Display (packing instruction means), 52 ... Work area, 54a
~ 54p ... Product storage zone, 56 ... Foldable container,
58 ... Display (picking instruction means), 62 ... Order data input device.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A picking method for picking an ordered product (G) from a variety of products (G) stored and packing the picked product (G) in a predetermined collection box (12), Mounting a plurality of collection boxes (12) on a trolley (14), running the trolley (14) along a predetermined route (34), and stopping provided on the route (34) Zone (34a-
34p) stopping the trolley (14), and arranging the product storage zone (54a-54p) adjacent to the stop zone (34a-34p) from the product storage zone (54a-54p). Picking the product (G) according to the instruction from the picking instruction means (58), and picking according to the instruction from the packing instruction means (46) disposed adjacent to the stop zones (34a to 34p). The product (G) is transferred to the stop zone (34a-34).
p), sorting and packing the plurality of collection boxes (12) on the carriage (14) stopped at p). 2. A picking facility (10) for picking an ordered product (G) from a variety of stored products (G) and packing the picked product (G) in a predetermined collection box (12). ), And a carriage (14) on which a plurality of collection boxes (12) are mounted, and a traveling means (28, 30, 32) for causing the carriage (14) to travel along a predetermined route (34). , A plurality of stop zones (34a to 34p) provided in the route (34) for stopping the carriage (14), and arranged adjacent to each of the stop zones (34a to 34p), and A packing instruction means (46) for issuing an instruction of a product (G) to be packed in each collection box (12) mounted on the carriage (14) stopped in the stop zones (234a to 34p); Each of the stop zones (34a-34p) Product storage zone storing goods (G) provided in the vicinity of (54
a to 54p) and the product storage zones (54a to 54p), respectively, and adjacent to the product storage zones (54a to 54p).
The picking instruction means (58) for giving an instruction of the product (G) to be picked from p), the input means (62) for inputting the ordered product data, and the product data input by the input means (62). Based on the traveling means (28, 30, 32), the packing instruction means (46) and the picking instruction means (5)
8) Control means (38) for controlling the picking equipment.