JP2005280911A - Article handling facility - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article handling facility capable of preventing degradation of the working efficiency when transferring articles from a carrying cove to a carrying-out conveyor. <P>SOLUTION: In the article handling facility in which a plurality of articles W carried by a pallet P are transferred onto a carrying-out conveyor 3 one by one by a robot device 2, and an identification label is affixed to each article by a label affixing device 4 arranged on a carrying-out conveyor 3 side, the label affixing device 4 is arranged on an end of the carrying-out conveyor 2, and a transfer, etc. completion determination unit is provided, which determines whether or not the transfer operation of the articles and the affixing operation of the identification labels is completed are completed by inputting the completion signal from the robot device 2 that the transfer operations of the predetermined number are completed and the completion signal from the label affixing device 4 that the identification label affixing operations of the predetermined number are completed in a control device 5 to control the entire transfer of the articles in the equipment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an article handling facility, for example, an article handling facility to which an identification label can be attached when sorting articles in a warehouse according to a shipping destination.

  Usually, in an article handling facility, for example, an article distribution center, an article sorting operation is performed. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the article is placed on a pallet P and conveyed on a conveyor P. A plurality of incoming articles W were taken out onto the carry-out conveyor 53 one by one, for example, by the robot device 52.

By the way, in this sorting operation, identification labels such as packing tags and product labels are affixed. Conventionally, this affixing operation is performed by a label affixing device 54 arranged on the side of the carry-out conveyor 53. (See, for example, JP-A-2001-146220).
JP 2001-146220 A

  According to the above-described conventional configuration, the operation of applying the identification label to the article is performed in the middle of the carry-out conveyor 53. In order to prevent erroneous delivery, the robot device 52 side and the label applying device 54 side The completion of each operation was confirmed. That is, the completion confirmation of the operations in both apparatuses is performed for each pallet (pallet unit). If the completion confirmation is not synchronized, it will not be possible to confirm the presence or absence of the label data when taking out articles for each pallet. For example, if a data shift occurs, it can be detected. It will disappear.

  However, as described above, since the label sticking device 54 for sticking the identification label is arranged in the middle of the carry-out conveyor 53, in a state delayed with respect to the robot device 52 that completes the operation first, The completion confirmation of the label attaching operation is output.

  Therefore, when confirming the completion of the transfer and pasting operation, it is necessary to wait for the operation completion signal from the label pasting device to confirm, so the robot device must perform the transfer until the label pasting operation is completed. However, there was a problem that work efficiency was lowered.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the handling facility of the goods which can prevent that work efficiency falls, when goods are transferred from the conveyor for conveyance to the conveyor for unloading.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the article handling facility according to claim 1 of the present invention is configured to transfer an article that is conveyed by a conveying means while being placed on a pallet in accordance with a command from a control device. An equipment handling facility for transferring goods by holding them one by one in the device and transferring them to the unloading means,
Identification information adding means for adding identification information to the article transferred by the transfer device is arranged at the end of the unloading means.

  The facility for handling articles according to claim 2 has at least the number of articles placed on the same pallet and transferred by the transfer device on the transfer device side in the facility according to claim 1. A transfer number storage unit for storing, and a counting unit for determining whether or not the number stored in the transfer number storage unit matches the number of articles actually transferred.

  Further, the facility for handling articles according to claim 3 has, at the identification information adding means side in the facility according to claim 1 or 2, at least a number storage unit for storing the number of articles to be transferred for each pallet; And a counting unit for determining whether or not the number of articles transferred to the carrying-out means side and to which identification information is added matches.

  Furthermore, the article handling facility according to claim 4 stores at least identification information of the article to be transferred for each pallet on the control device side in the facility according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A transfer command output unit for instructing the transfer device to transfer an article on the pallet based on the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit, and each count in the transfer device and the identification information adding means. And a completion determination unit for transferring and the like for determining whether or not the transfer of the article and the addition of the identification information are completed.

  According to the above configuration, since the identification information adding means for adding the identification information is arranged at the end of the carry-out means, the location closer to the transfer device as compared with the case where it is arranged in the middle of the carry-out means as in the prior art Since the identification information adding means is arranged in the above, the operation completion signal from the identification information adding means is output without much time delay with respect to the operation completion signal from the transfer apparatus. The work efficiency can be improved.

  In particular, input of judgment results from each counting unit in the transfer device and the identification information adding means to the control device side to determine whether or not the transfer of the article and the addition of the identification information have been completed. Since the determination unit is provided, for example, when a problem such as failure to add identification information occurs, the problem can be found immediately.

[Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the article handling facility according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As a handling facility for articles according to the present embodiment, for example, articles such as cardboard boxes, containers, bags, etc., stored for each type in a warehouse, are taken out by a conveyor for conveyance via pallets, depending on the delivery destination. At the same time, the facility on the pallet will be described as a facility for transferring one by one onto the carry-out conveyor for shipment.

That is, in the article handling facility, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, for each type, the conveyor W (conveying means) 1 for conveying (taking out) the article W from the warehouse side via the pallet P, and this A robot apparatus 2 (an example of a transfer apparatus, for example, an articulated arm robot is used) 2 for transferring an article placed in the vicinity of the article transfer location E in the middle of the conveyor 1; A carry-out conveyor (unloading means) 3 for placing the article held by the robot apparatus 2 and carrying it out to a predetermined shipping location, and the article placed at the end near the transfer position E of the carry-out conveyor 3 Label affixing device (an example of identification information addition means) 4 for affixing (adding) an identification label on which identification information (for example, data by bar code) such as the type and delivery destination is displayed, and all the handling facilities The, at least the carrying conveyor 1 specifically, and a control unit for controlling the robot 2 and the labeling machine 4 (a computer is used) 5.
The transfer conveyor 1 is used to transfer a supply-side transfer conveyor 11 from the warehouse side to the transfer location E and an empty pallet P from the transfer location E to the warehouse side (pallet storage location). The return-side conveyor 12 and the cut-out conveyor for arranging the pallets P one by one from the supply side to the return side, arranged between the end portions on the transfer position E side of both the conveyors 11 and 12. 13.

  The robot device 2 includes a control unit (a computer is used) 21 that inputs identification information and commands from the control device 5, and a robot that holds an article W on the pallet P by the commands from the control unit 21. The main body 22 is comprised.

  Further, the label sticking device 4 is provided with an identification label on which identification information such as the type of the article and the delivery destination is printed at a predetermined position on the surface of the article W placed on the end of the carry-out conveyor 3, particularly on the side surface. A control unit (a computer is used) 31 for inputting identification information and commands from the control device 5 and a pasting device main body for actually pasting identification labels according to commands from the control unit 31. 32.

  Furthermore, although not shown in the drawing device main body 32, a code generation unit (provided on the control unit 31 side) that generates barcode data by inputting the identification information of the article W held by the robot device 2 from the control unit 31. A label printing unit for printing the code generated by the code generation unit on a label, and a label for pressing the identification label printed by the label printing unit on the side surface of the article W And an affixing portion. Note that instead of pressing, air may be blown onto the identification label and attached to the article.

  In the control device 5, the entire facility is controlled. For example, identification information such as the type, number, and delivery destination of articles shipped from a warehouse includes at least the transfer conveyor 1 and the robot device 2. And output (transmitted) to the labeling device 4. Therefore, in the conveyor 1, the robot device 2 and the label sticking device 4, based on this identification information, the pallet transport operation, the transfer operation of all articles, and the identification label sticking operation are performed. The completion of the transfer operation of all the articles placed on the pallet is linked (synchronized) with the completion of the operation of applying the identification label to all the transferred articles. In other words, when the identification labels are affixed to all the articles, it is determined that the transfer of the articles on the pallet is completed on the condition that the articles on the pallet are empty. It is configured.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 21 of the robot apparatus 2 has at least a transfer number storage unit 23 for storing the transfer number for each pallet from the control device 5 and each time an article is transferred. A counting unit (a so-called counter) 24 that is subtracted by “1” is provided, and when the counting unit 24 becomes “0 (zero)”, that fact is output to the control device 5. Has been.

  Further, the control unit 31 of the label sticking device 4 stores at least the identification information storage unit 33 for storing identification information such as the type and delivery destination of each pallet from the control device 5, and the number of articles transferred. The number storage unit 34 and the counting unit 35 (which is a so-called counter) that is decremented by “1” each time an article is transferred are provided, and the counting unit 35 becomes “0 (zero)”. At that time, the fact is output to the control device 5.

  When the pallet P arrives at the transfer location E, the control device 5 includes an identification information storage unit 41 that stores identification information related to the article W placed on the pallet, and the identification information storage unit 41. The identification information output unit 42 that outputs the identification information stored in the label affixing device 4 and a transfer command for transferring all articles on the pallet that are also stored in the identification information storage unit 41 to the robot device 2. A transfer command output unit 43 to be output, an article transfer operation completion signal from the robot apparatus 2 and an identification label application operation completion signal from the label application apparatus 4 are input, and all articles related to one pallet are input. A transfer completion determination unit 44 that determines whether transfer and pasting (removal operation) have been completed is provided.

The counting unit, the output unit, and the determination unit in each of the devices 2, 4, and 5 are executed by, for example, a computer program or an electric circuit.
In the above configuration, when a plurality of articles W are transported to the transfer location E side via the pallet P by the supply-side transport conveyor 11, the detection means (not shown) disposed in the middle of the plurality of articles W It is input to the control device 5 that the pallet P has been conveyed, and the pallet P is transferred to the return-side conveyance conveyor 12 via the cut-out-side conveyance conveyor 13 and stopped by an instruction from the control device 5. .

  When the pallet P stops at the end of the return-side transfer conveyor 12, one article W is held by the robot device 4 based on a command from the control device 5 and placed on the end of the carry-out conveyor 3. The

  When the article W is placed on the end portion on the carry-out conveyor 3, the identification label printed with the identification information by the label sticking device 4 is automatically pressed to a predetermined position on the side surface of the article W. After being affixed, it is shipped to a predetermined place by the carry-out conveyor 3.

  By the way, as shown in the operation flow diagram of FIG. 3, when one article W is transferred onto the carry-out conveyor 3, it is stored in the transfer number storage unit 23 provided in the control unit 21 of the robot apparatus 2. When “1” is subtracted from the transferred number transferred, and an identification label is attached to one article W, the number stored in the number storage unit 34 provided in the control unit 31 of the label attaching device 4 is used. "1" is subtracted.

And the transfer operation | movement of this article | item W and the sticking operation | movement of an identification label are repeated by the number of articles | goods W currently mounted on one pallet P. FIG.
When the transfer of all articles W is completed, a transfer operation completion signal is output from the robot device 2 to the control device 5, while the label labeling device 4 side completes the operation of applying the identification label and stores the number storage unit. When the number stored in 34 becomes “0 (zero)”, a pasting operation completion signal is similarly output to the control device 5.

  Then, the transfer completion completion determination unit 44 of the control device 5 determines that the article take-out operation is completed only when both completion signals of the movement operation and the pasting operation are input, and at least one of them. When only the completion signal is input, it is determined that the system is abnormal (failure). Of course, when it is determined that the system is abnormal, a notification is given to a predetermined place or a worker.

  Thus, since the label sticking device 4 for sticking identification information to the end of the carry-out conveyor 3 is arranged, the robot device 2 is closer to the robot device 2 as compared with the case where the label sticking device 4 is arranged in the middle of the carry-out conveyor 3 as in the prior art. Since the label sticking device 4 is arranged at the spot where the operation is completed, the operation completion signal from the label sticking device 4 is output without much time delay with respect to the operation completion signal from the robot device 2. The work efficiency of the device 2 can be improved.

  In particular, the control device 5 side is inputted with judgment results from the counting units 24 and 35 in the robot device 2 and the label sticking device 4 to judge whether or not the transfer of the article and the sticking of the identification label are completed. Since the loading completion determination unit 44 is provided, for example, when a failure such as a failure to apply the identification label occurs, the failure can be found immediately.

  In the above description, the case where all the articles W placed on the pallet P are shipped has been described. Of course, a predetermined number of articles W placed on the pallet P are transferred and the identification label There are also cases where affixing is performed.

  By the way, in the above embodiment, the label sticking device is used as the identification information adding means. However, the identification information printing device in which ink is directly sprayed on the surface of the article (ink jet method) to perform printing, specifically A label printing device (which may be an example of a label sticking device in some cases) may be used.

  In the above embodiment, an articulated robot apparatus that holds (holds) an article is used as the article transfer means. However, a fork type apparatus that supports the article from below may be used. As a whole, it may move on the floor surface like a stacker crane.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been made by applying the case where the article is shipped as the article handling facility. However, the conveyor for conveying a large number of articles placed on the pallet for each type. 1 may be held and moved, and may be applied to the case where an article on a pallet is transferred to another pallet.

It is a schematic plan view of the principal part in the article handling facility which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of each apparatus in the handling facility. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement flow at the time of the transfer operation | movement of the articles | goods in the handling facility. It is a schematic plan view of the principal part in the handling facility of the article | item which concerns on a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

W article P Pallet 1 Conveyor 2 Robot device 3 Unloading conveyor 4 Label sticking device 5 Control device 21 Control unit 22 Robot main body 23 Transfer number storage unit 24 Counting unit 31 Control unit 32 Pasting device main body 33 Identification information storage unit 34 Number storage unit 35 Counting unit 41 Identification information storage unit 42 Identification information output unit 43 Transfer command output unit 44 Transfer completion completion determination unit

Claims (4)

The articles conveyed by the conveying means in a state of being placed on the pallet are transferred one by one to the unloading means by holding them one by one by a transfer device operated by a command from the control device, thereby transferring the articles. A facility for handling goods,
An article handling facility, characterized in that identification information adding means for adding identification information to an article transferred by the transfer device is arranged at an end of the unloading means.   On the transfer device side, at least a transfer number storage unit for storing the number of articles placed on the same pallet and transferred by the transfer device, and the number stored in the transfer number storage unit 2. The article handling facility according to claim 1, further comprising a counting unit that determines whether or not the number of articles actually transferred coincides.   Whether at least the number storage unit for storing the number of articles to be transferred for each pallet on the identification information adding means side matches the number of articles transferred to the unloading means side and added with identification information The article handling facility according to claim 1, further comprising a counting unit that determines whether or not. On the control device side, at least an identification information storage unit that stores identification information of articles to be transferred for each pallet, and an article on the pallet is transferred to the transfer device based on the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit. The transfer command output unit for instructing the transfer of the product and the determination results from the transfer device and each counting unit in the identification information adding means are input to determine whether the transfer of the article and the addition of the identification information are completed. The article handling facility according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a transfer completion completion determination unit.

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