JP2007153490A - Picking system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a picking system capable of reducing the frequency of picking work for picking articles in storage parts, reducing the number of containers (conveyance containers and shipment containers) necessary for overall picking work, and narrowing a spaces necessary for sorting. <P>SOLUTION: This picking system 2 is provided with the conveyance containers 5 for storing articles which are picked in each storage part and of which types and quantities are determined by integrating a plurality of orders; picking lines 6A, 6B and a merging line 9 for conveying the conveyance containers 5; the shipment containers 7 for storing articles sorted based on the types and quantities required by each order; a shipment line 10 for conveying the shipment containers 7; sorting parts 8 for sorting the articles to be stored in the conveyance containers 5 into the shipment containers 7; and indicator lamps for instructing which shipment containers 7 the articles taken out from the conveyance containers 5 are sorted into, based on differences of the orders. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a picking system in which articles are picked from each of storage units provided for each type of article, and the types and quantities of articles required by a shipping destination order are aggregated and stored in a container.

Conventionally, as a picking method that picks up goods from the storage unit provided for each kind of goods and aggregates them in units of types and quantities required by the order of the shipping destination and stores them in a shipping container (shipping container) An order picking method and a total picking method are known.
The total picking method is as follows. For example, articles shipped on that day are first tabulated for each type. Then, the transport container provided for each type of article is moved along a large number of storage units (groups of storage units according to type) in which a large number of articles are stored, and the target type of articles is stored. For example, an operator picks up an object of a target type by the number counted for the type and stores it in a transfer container. The transport container that has been accommodated is transported to the sorting section. On the other hand, the sorting unit waits for the shipping containers of all shipping destinations to be shipped on that day. Then, the articles in the transport container are sorted into each of the shipping containers provided for each shipping destination by the sorting unit. The same processing is performed on all types of articles, and the articles are sorted into shipping containers by type for each shipping destination. Then, at the stage where sorting of all types of articles is completed, each shipping container is in a state where the types and quantities of articles ordered for each shipping destination are arranged. In this way, shipment is performed when the articles are arranged in the shipping container.
On the other hand, in the order picking method, a transport container provided for each shipping destination is moved along a large number of storage units (groups of storage units according to type) where a large number of articles are stored, The station is stopped at a station close to the storage unit in which the articles are stored, and for example, an operator or a transport device picks the target type of articles by the number of orders and stores them in the transport container. Then, the transport container is stopped and picked at a station near the storage unit in which the next article in the order is stored. This is a method in which picking is repeated in order, and when all types and quantities of articles required in the order have been picked, this transport container is used as a shipping container (Patent Document 1).
In addition, at the time of shipment, the shipping container itself may be shipped, but the product in the shipping container may be shipped in a packed state.

Total picking picks the same item at a time, so when picking a large number of items to a small number of shipping destinations, the number of required transfer containers and the transfer container between the shipping container (sorting unit) and the storage unit It is excellent in that the number of reciprocations is small.
Further, the order picking is excellent in that the sorting unit and the sorting operation are not necessary because the shipping container can be shipped as it is after the picking is completed when there are many shipping destinations.

JP-A-11-227909

However, in total picking, it is necessary to have the shipping containers of all shipping destinations targeted for one total picking wait in the sorting section until the order is completed. There was a problem that it was necessary to provide a wide space and the sorting work was difficult.
On the other hand, in order picking, the number of picking operations for picking articles in the storage unit is large, and each time the picking operation is performed, the picking efficiency is not good by reciprocating the worker and the transport device between the storage unit and the station. In addition, since the same number of transport containers as all orders are transported, the transport amount of the transport containers increases. For this reason, there was a problem that the capacity of the transport facility and the ability of picking work are required to be high.
Thus, both total picking and order picking have advantages and disadvantages, and either picking method is selected depending on the number of shipping destinations and the handling amount.

  In other words, the problem to be solved is to reduce the number of picking operations for picking articles in the storage unit and reduce the number of containers (conveying containers / shipping containers) required for the entire picking operation. It is to provide a picking system capable of narrowing a necessary space.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above. Next, means for solving the problem will be described.

The picking system according to claim 1 is:
A picking system that picks up goods from each of the storage units provided for each kind of goods, collects the goods of the kind and quantity required by the order of the shipping destination, and stores them in a container.
A transport container that stores articles of a type and quantity in which a plurality of orders picked in each storage unit are aggregated;
A transport container transport means for transporting the transport container;
A shipping container for storing articles sorted into the types and quantities required in each order;
Shipping container transport means for transporting the shipping container;
A sorting unit that sorts articles stored in the transport container into the shipping containers;
Instructing means for instructing to which shipping container an article taken out from the transport container is sorted based on a difference in order;
When all articles are taken out from the transport container, a control means for controlling the transport container transport means and the shipping container transport means so as to move the transport container and the shipping container from the sorting unit, respectively;
Is provided.

It does not matter whether the transport container transport means and the shipping container transport means are integral with or separate from the transport container and the shipping container. As a separate conveyance means, for example, there is a conveyance device such as a conveyor. As an integral conveyance means, there is a self-propelled device provided in a conveyance container.
The instructing means may be of any configuration as long as it allows the operator to recognize in which order each article accommodated in the transport container is required. It may be a means for giving an ID to an article using a barcode or the like, and causing an operator to recognize it by image display output or sound output based on the detection result of the ID. Or the means which attaches the marking which an operator can recognize the difference in an order visually may be sufficient as goods.

The above configuration has the following effects.
More orders are processed per unit time than the number of transport containers that can be transported per unit time by the transport device.

The picking system according to a second aspect is the following structure according to the first aspect.
The sorting section is
Article detection means for respectively detecting that an article has been stored in each shipping container;
Warning means for warning the occurrence of a storage error when the article detection means detects an article sorted into the shipping container from the transport container, and the article is the shipping container contrary to the instruction of the instruction means; , With.

A picking system according to a third aspect of the present invention has the following configuration according to the first or second aspect.
The sorting section is
Transport container support means for supporting the transport container transported by the transport container transport means;
Shipping container support means for supporting the shipping container transported by the shipping container transport means;
With
The transport container support means and the shipping container support means are arranged so as to partially overlap in a plan view with the transport container and the shipping container supported, respectively.

  As effects of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

In claim 1,
Since multiple orders are aggregated and accommodated in a transport container, the number of picking operations for picking up articles in the storage unit can be reduced compared to picking work for each type of article required in the order, The capacity of the transfer equipment and the capacity of the picking work are not required to be high.
Further, since it is not necessary to wait for many shipping containers at the same time as in total picking, the sorting section can be saved in space. Furthermore, when all the articles are taken out from the transport container, the transport container and the shipping container are transported, so that the sorting section is made smaller than when a shipping container and its storage space are provided for each order. Can do.

In claim 2, in addition to the effect of claim 1,
When the storage error occurs, the operator can be warned of the storage error.

In claim 3, in addition to the effect of claim 1 or claim 2,
Since the transport container and the shipping container are supported in a state where they partially overlap each other, the distance required for the operator to move the article from the transport container to the shipping container can be shortened.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The logistics base 1 and the picking system 2 provided in the logistics base 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
The distribution base 1 is an accumulation base for articles 4 (shown in FIGS. 2 to 5) such as a distribution center. The physical distribution base 1 includes a group of storage units provided for each type of article 4 and a picking system 2 that picks the article 4 from the group of storage units.

  The storage unit includes storage means for the articles 4 and picking means for picking the articles 4 from the storage means. The storage means is, for example, a shelf arranged in the storage unit, and the article 4 is accommodated in the shelf. The picking means corresponds to a transfer device such as a stacker crane that takes out the article 4 from the shelf when the picking means is automatic, and corresponds to the operator itself when the picking means is manual.

A plurality of storage units are provided in the distribution base 1 for each type of article and each line system.
These groups of storage units are classified into two systems according to the difference between picking lines 6A and 6B, which will be described later, and are also classified according to the type of article 4 in each system.
First, for each system, there are A system storage units 3A1, 3A2,... 3A14 and B system storage units 3B1, 3B2,. In the same system, different types of articles 4 are stored in different storage units. Further, the same type of article 4 is stored in storage units (storage unit 3A11 and storage unit 3B11, etc.) having the same code end in different systems.

  The goods 4 are carried into the distribution base 1 from an external stocking source, and the goods 4 are stored in the storage unit. Further, when there is an order from an external shipping destination, the articles 4 required by the order are collected, and the collected articles 4 are carried out from the distribution base 1 to the shipping destination. Unloading is performed by a delivery truck or the like.

In this embodiment, the picking lines 6A and 6B, the storage units 3A1... 3A14 and the storage units 3B1. The storage units 3A1 and 3B1 and the like in the corresponding order such as the storage units 3A1 and 3B1 store the same type of articles.
Instead of this configuration, the same type of articles may be stored in adjacent storage units, such as storage unit 3A1 and storage unit 3B14, storage unit 3A2 and storage unit 3B13, but with different lines. In this case, flexible picking is possible, such as delivery of an article from the storage unit 3A1 to the storage unit 3B14.

A station 14 serving as a stop position of the transport container 5 is provided along the picking lines 6A and 6B at positions corresponding to the storage units.
With the transport container 5 stopped at the station 14, the article 4 stored in the storage unit is picked and stored in the transport container 5.

The order of the shipping destination is configured as a combination of the type and quantity of the requested article 4.
According to this order, two articles 4 stored in the storage unit 3A1, five articles 4 stored in the storage unit 3A3, three articles 4 stored in the storage unit 3A12, etc. Collecting work is required.
A means for performing the picking is the picking system 2.

The picking system 2 includes a transport container 5 into which articles 4 picked in each storage unit are placed, picking lines 6A and 6B and a merging line 9 for transporting the transport container 5, and a shipping container 7 provided for each order. ... For sorting the articles 4 in the transport container 5 into the shipping containers 7, a shipping line 10 for transporting the shipping containers 7, and a host computer 13 for managing the picking plan.
Further, a transfer unit 11 for transferring the shipping container 7 to the delivery truck is provided on the downstream side of the shipping line 10.

The picking lines 6A and 6B are configured as independent lines.
The picking line 6A is a transport means for transporting the transport container 5 so as to pass through the entire A-system storage units 3A1, 3A2,. Similarly, the picking line 6B is a transport unit that transports the transport container 5 so as to pass through the entire B system storage units 3B1, 3B2,.
Further, the end portions of the picking lines 6A and 6B are both connected to the start end portion of the merge line 9. The starting ends of the picking lines 6A and 6B are both connected to the terminal end of the merging line 9.

That is, the picking lines 6 </ b> A and 6 </ b> B and the merging line 9 are transport container transport means for transporting the transport container 5. In particular, the picking lines 6A and 6B are transport container transport means for transporting the transport container 5 in an area involving picking work. Further, a transport side sorting line 25 (described later) provided in the sorting unit 8 is also one of the transport container transport means.
In the present embodiment, the picking lines 6A and 6B and the shipping line 9 are conveyor systems.

  The shipping line 10 is a transport container transport unit that transports the shipping container 7. In the present embodiment, the shipping line 10 is a conveyor system. Further, a shipping side sorting line 27 (described later) provided in the sorting unit 8 is also one of shipping container transporting means.

A plurality of sorting sections 8 are arranged in a region where a part of the merging line 9 and a part of the shipping line 10 are substantially overlapped. In this substantially overlapping region, the merging line 9 and the shipping line 10 are arranged in parallel and close to each other.
Each sorting unit 8 is supplied with a transport container 5 transported on the merge line 9 and a shipping container 7 transported on the shipping line 10. In the sorting unit 8, the articles 4 in the transport container 5 supplied from the merging line 9 are sorted into shipping containers 7 and 7 supplied from the shipping line 10.

The host computer 13 controls the transport of the transport container 5 and the shipping container 7 based on a preset picking plan.
Here, the picking plan is a process from picking the articles 4 from the entire storage unit, storing the articles 4 of the kind and quantity required for each order in the shipping container 7 and sending them out to the transfer unit 11. This means the content of the command for the entire picking operation. In this picking plan, a plurality of orders to be assigned to one transport container 5 are set, and in order to be able to collect the articles 4 of the types and quantities required in the plurality of orders in this transport container 5, Identification of the storage unit with the article 4 and setting of the quantity of the articles 4 to be picked by the storage unit with the article 4 to be picked are performed.
When there is an order with high priority, only one order with high priority is normally assigned to the transport container 5 to which a plurality of orders are assigned. Below, the case where a several order is fundamentally allocated to the conveyance container 5 is demonstrated.

The host computer 13 arranges a plurality of shipping containers 7 in one of the transport containers 5 in which the articles 4 are stored. Specifically, the transport container 5 in which the articles 4 are stored is transported from the merging line 9 to any one of a plurality of sorting units 8, and a plurality of shipments are sent from the shipping line 10 to the same sorting unit 8. The container 7 is conveyed.
Here, the articles 4 accommodated in the transport container 5 are the kinds and quantities of articles 4 required in a plurality of orders. On the other hand, the article 4 accommodated in the shipping container 7 is the kind and quantity of articles 4 required in one order. In the sorting unit 8, the number of shipping containers 7 prepared for one transport container 5 is the same as the number of orders handled by the transport container 5.
When the sorting of the articles 4 is completed, the host computer 13 sends out the shipping container 7 containing the types and quantities of articles 4 required in one order to the transfer unit 11.

The host computer 13 manages each transport container 5 and each shipping container 7 based on IDs such as barcodes attached to these containers. An ID reader that reads IDs attached to the containers 5 and 7 is disposed at the stop position of the transport container 5 and the shipping container 7 such as the storage unit and the sorting unit 8. Based on the read information from these ID readers, the host computer 13 identifies the transport container 5 and the shipping container 7 that are stopped at each stop position. Then, the work contents assigned to the transport container 5 and the shipping container 7 are transmitted to the terminal device arranged at the stop position.
Specifically, for example, when the transport container 5 has moved to the storage unit to store the picked article 4 rather than simply passing, the article to be picked by the storage unit to the terminal device of the storage unit Send a quantity of 4. The quantity is displayed on a display monitor connected to the terminal device. Based on the display content, the worker picks the article 4 from the shelf and puts it into the transport container 5.

The picking method (the flow of picking work) is roughly as follows.
This picking method is a method of picking goods from each of the storage units provided for each kind of goods and collecting the goods of the kind and quantity required by the order of the shipping destination, a picking process, a distribution process, It has.
In the picking process, while changing each storage unit to be picked up, a work is performed in which the articles 4 are picked from each storage unit and the types and quantities of articles 4 in which a plurality of orders are collected are collected.
In the distribution step, an operation of distributing the types / quantities of articles 4 obtained by collecting a plurality of orders collected in the picking process to the types / quantities of articles 4 required in each order is performed.

In more detail, the flow of picking work is as follows.
First, the empty transport container 5 is supplied from the downstream side of the merge line 9 to each of the picking lines 6A and 6B. In this transport container 5, the types and quantities of articles 4 in which a plurality of orders are aggregated are simultaneously loaded.
The transport container 5 supplied to the picking line 6A is transported along the picking line 6A so as to pass through the A-system storage units 3A1,. During the conveyance, the articles 4 picked by the storage units 3A1,... Are put into the conveyance container 5. More specifically, the transport container 5 is stopped at the station 14 of the storage section where the articles 4 of the kind to be picked are transported while the transport container 5 is transported so as to make a round of the storage section. The article 4 picked from is stored in the transport container 5.
Here, the article 4 that is picked and put into the transport container 5 is the kind of article 4 that is required for the whole of a plurality of orders, and the article 4 that is not in the order is not put in. Further, the kind of article 4 required by the order is picked up by the required quantity and is put into the transport container 5. And when this conveyance container 5 passes the whole storage part 3A1 ... of A system | strain, the state in which the articles | goods 4 of the kind and quantity which aggregated several orders were accommodated in this conveyance container 5; Become.

  The transport container 5 supplied to the picking line 6B is also transported along the picking line 6B so as to pass through the B-system storage units 3B1,. When the transport container 5 passes through the entire B-system storage unit 3B1,..., A state in which the articles 4 of the types and quantities requested in a plurality of orders are stored in the transport container 5. It becomes.

  Next, the transport container 5 is transported from the picking lines 6 </ b> A and 6 </ b> B to the merging line 9 and supplied to any one of the sorting sections 8. In addition to the transport container 5, a plurality of empty shipping containers 7 are supplied to the sorting unit 8 corresponding to the transport container 5. Then, the articles 4 accommodated in the transport container 5 are sorted into the shipping containers 7. That is, the operation of distributing the articles 4 required for a plurality of orders accommodated in the transport container 5 to the articles 4 required for each order and putting them into the shipping containers 7 is performed by this sorting unit. 8 is done.

  In the present embodiment, the transport container 5 is a foldable container having a volume of 60 liters, and the shipping container 7 is a foldable container having a volume of 40 liters. Naturally, the capacity of the transport container 5 is set larger than the capacity of the shipping container 7 due to the difference in the number of corresponding orders.

  The shipping container 7 is transported along the shipping line 10 and sent to the transfer unit 11 when the articles 4 of the type and quantity required by the order are accommodated. In the transfer unit 11, the shipping container 7 is taken out from the shipping line 10 and transferred to a delivery truck. Then, the shipping container 7 is carried out to the shipping destination.

On the other hand, the articles 4 are transferred in the sorting unit 8, and the transport container 5 emptied is returned to the merge line 9 again. The empty transport container 5 is transported through the merging line 9 and sent to the start ends of the picking lines 6A and 6B.
A transport container storage unit 12 is provided at the end of the merging line 9 (on the downstream side of the sorting unit 8 group). The transport container 5 that has a small number of new orders and does not need to be supplied to the picking lines 6A and 6B is stored in the transport container storage unit 12.

Next, the configuration of the sorting unit 8 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sorting unit 8 is disposed in a region where the merging line 9 and the shipping line 10 are disposed in parallel.
The sorting unit 8 includes an apparatus for carrying in / out the transport container 5 and the shipping container 7 between the merging line 9 and the shipping line 10, and an apparatus for work for sorting the articles 4 in the transport container 5 into the shipping container 7. And are provided.

  In the apparatus provided in the sorting unit 8, the apparatus for carrying in / out the transfer container 5 and the shipping container 7 includes a transfer side sorting line 25 connected to the merging line 9 and a shipping side sorting line 27 connected to the shipping line 10. A container ID reader 35 for the merge line 9, a container ID reader 37 for the shipping line 10, a terminal device 20, and a label supply device 31.

  As seen in FIG. 2, when viewed relatively, the merging line 9 and the transport side sorting line 25 are arranged on the upper side, and the shipping line 10 and the shipping side sorting line 27 are arranged on the lower side.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the transport side sorting line 25 takes the transport container 5 containing the shipping articles 4 into the sorting section 8 from the merging line 9, and after the sorting operation of the articles 4, This is a line for sending the transport container 5 that has become back to the merging line 9.
The transport side sorting line 25 is configured by combining three conveyors, a carry-in conveyor 25a, a standby conveyor 25b, and a carry-out conveyor 25c in a U shape. The standby conveyor 25b is disposed in parallel with the merge line 9, and other conveyors 25a and 25c are disposed so as to bridge the standby conveyor 25b and the merge line 9.

  The standby conveyor 25b is a transport device for the transport container 5, and includes a position (stop position P5) for stopping the transport container 5 when sorting the articles 4 in the transport container 5 into the shipping containers 7. The standby conveyor 25b is located at the position that projects outward from the merge line 9 in the transport side sorting line 25. The carry-in conveyor 25a is a transfer device that supplies the transfer container 5 containing the articles 4 on the merge line 9 onto the standby conveyor 25b. The carry-out conveyor 25c is a transfer device that returns the transfer container 5 that has been emptied after the sorting of the articles 4 to the merge line 9 again.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the shipping side sorting line 27 takes the empty shipping container 7 into the sorting unit 8 from the shipping line 10, and after the sorting operation of the item 4, the shipping item 4 is accommodated. This is a line for sending the transport container 5 back to the shipping line 10.
The shipping side sorting line 27 is configured by combining four conveyors, a carry-in conveyor 27a, a standby conveyor 27b, a first carry-out conveyor 27c, and a second carry-out conveyor 27d in an E shape. The standby conveyor 27b is arranged in parallel with the shipping line 10, and other conveyors 27a, 27c, and 27d are arranged so as to bridge the standby conveyor 27b and the shipping line 10.

  The standby conveyor 27b is a transport device for the shipping container 7, and has a position (stop position P7) for stopping the shipping container 7 when sorting the articles 4 in the transport container 5 into the shipping container 7. This standby conveyor 27 b is located at the position of the shipping side sorting line 27 that protrudes outward from the shipping line 10. The carry-in conveyor 27a is a transport device that supplies empty shipping containers 7 on the shipping line 10 onto the standby conveyor 27b. Further, the carry-out conveyor 27c is a transport device that returns the shipping containers 7 filled with the articles 4 after the sorting of the articles 4 to the shipping line 10 again.

The terminal device 20 arranged in the sorting unit 8 is one of the terminal devices arranged corresponding to the stop positions P5 and P7 of the transport container 5 and the shipping container 7 described above.
The terminal device 20 specifies the transport container 5 based on the ID read information of the transport container 5 by the container ID reader 35. Further, the terminal device 20 inquires the ID of the specified transport container 5 for the contents of the picking plan stored in the host computer 13, fetches the data, and obtains the entire order assigned to the transport container 5. Recognize the contents. At this time, it is specified by the terminal device 20 whether the transport container 5 is in a state in which the article 4 is accommodated or empty. Then, the terminal device 20 causes the joining line 9 to be transported as it is for the empty transport container 5, and transports the transport container 5 in which the article 4 is stored into the sorting unit 8. More specifically, the terminal device 20 controls the merging line 9 and the carry-in conveyor 25a of the sorting unit 8 to carry it to the standby conveyor 25b of the sorting unit 8, Done. In the present embodiment, the terminal device 20 controls the merging line 9 and the conveying side sorting line 25 related to the sorting unit 8, but a control unit that controls the conveyor may control the joining line 9.
Further, the terminal device 20 specifies the shipping container 7 based on the ID reading information of the shipping container 7 by the container ID reader 37. The empty shipping container 7 is not attached with an ID such as a barcode, and the ID is attached when the shipping container 7 is carried into the sorting unit 8. The attachment of this ID is performed by the operator 30 attaching the label supplied from the label supply device 31 to the shipping container 7.

In the apparatus provided in each sorting unit 8, the apparatus related to the work of sorting the articles 4 in the transport container 5 into the shipping containers 7 is the following apparatus.
ID reader 21 that detects the ID of each article 4, display lamps 22 and 22 that indicate the shipping container 7 that is the sorting destination of each article 4, monitoring sensors 23 and 23 that detect the occurrence of storage errors, and storage errors The warning buzzer 24 that warns the occurrence of the terminal, the terminal device 20, and the display monitor 29.
Here, the display lamps 22 and the monitoring sensors 23 are provided in the same number as the number of shipping containers 7 (two in the present embodiment) as the sorting destination of the articles 4.
Further, the terminal device 20 not only functions as a control device in charge of management of the transport container 5 and the shipping container 7 but also functions as a control device in charge of management of the articles 4 to be sorted.

  Each sorting unit 8 is provided with an operator 30, who performs an operation of sorting the articles 4 in the transport container 5 into the shipping containers 7.

3 to 5 show two sorting sections 8, the left sorting section 8 sorts the sort work as described above, that is, two articles 4 in one transport container 5. Work to sort into shipping containers 7 is performed. On the other hand, in the sorting unit 8 on the right side, an operation of simply transferring the articles 4 in one transport container 5 to one shipping container 7 is performed. For an order having a high priority of picking work, the group of articles 4 required in the order for the shipping container 7 by simple transfer work without sorting work so that the work time in the sorting unit 8 is shortened. To accommodate.
Hereinafter, a sorting operation performed in the sorting unit 8 on the left side of FIGS. 3 to 5 will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sorting unit 8 is provided with a standby conveyor 25 b from which the articles 4 are taken out and a standby conveyor 27 b from which the articles 4 are sorted.
The standby conveyor 25b is a transport container support unit that supports the transport container 5 transported by the merge line 9 (transport container transport unit). The standby conveyor 27b is a shipping container transport unit that supports the shipping container 7 transported by the shipping line 10 (shipping container transport unit).
The articles 4 are sorted from the transport container 5 supported by the standby conveyor 25b to the shipping containers 7 and 7 supported by the standby conveyor 27b.

As shown in FIG. 2, the layout of the container support means (conveyors 25 b and 27 b) provided in the sorting unit 8 is configured as follows in consideration of the workability of the worker 30.
The standby conveyor 25b is arranged so that the opening position (upper surface) of the transport container 5 stopped by the standby conveyor 25b is a height position near the chest of the worker 30 having an average height. Moreover, it is configured to be able to tilt forward (tilt toward the worker 30 side) so that the article 4 in the transport container 5 can be easily taken by the worker 30.
The standby conveyor 27b is arranged such that the opening position (upper surface) of the shipping container 7 stopped by the standby conveyor 27b is positioned below the waist of the worker 30 having an average height.
Further, in a plan view, the standby conveyor 25b (from which the article 4 is taken out) and the standby conveyor 27b (from which the article 4 is sorted) are in a partially overlapping positional relationship, and the standby conveyor 27b is more than the standby conveyor 25b. However, it is in a position overhanging slightly from the joining line 9 and the shipping line 10.

In this way, since the transport container 5 and the shipping container 7 are supported in a state where they partially overlap each other, the distance required to move the article 4 from the transport container 5 to the shipping container 7 can be shortened. . Further, the operator 30 can see the opening position of the transport container 5 and the opening of the shipping container 7 at the same time. As a result, the burden on the sorting work of the worker 30 can be reduced.
In general, the sorting operation of the articles 4 is such that the operator 30 puts his hand in the opening of the transport container 5 to grasp the article 4 and puts the article 4 into the opening of the shipping container 7.

  The ID reader 21 is disposed at the tip of the standby conveyor 25b (the end on the side of the anti-merging line 9). The operator 30 moves the article 4 to the front position of the ID reader 21 before putting the article 4 grasped from the transport container 5 into the shipping container 7, and moves the article 4 to the ID reader 21. Read the attached ID. Here, each article 4 is given an ID such as a barcode.

The terminal device 20 is means for identifying the shipping container 7 that is the sorting destination of each article 4 based on the ID detection of the article 4. In the present embodiment, two shipping containers 7 corresponding to one order are arranged (transported) to the sorting unit 8 for one transport container 5 corresponding to two orders. That is, the terminal device 20 specifies which of the two shipping containers 7 the article 4 taken out from the transport container 5 should be put into.
Here, the terminal device 20 makes an inquiry to the host computer 13 to recognize the contents of a plurality of orders assigned to the transport container 5 stopped in the sorting unit 8. Then, the terminal device 20 specifies which of the two orders each article to be taken out from the transport container 5 is the article 4 required. In addition, one order is assigned to each shipping container 7 by the host computer 13 when the two shipping containers 7 are transported to the sorting unit 8 and the ID is read by the container ID reader 37. And the terminal device 20 specifies the sorting destination of each article | item 4 to the shipping container 7 to which the order which requests | requires the article | item was allocated.

The display lamp 22 is an instruction means for instructing the operator 30 on the shipping container 7 as the sorting destination based on the ID reading by the ID reader 21 and the identification of the shipping container 7 as the sorting destination by the terminal device 20. is there.
Two indicator lamps 22 are arranged at the tip of the standby conveyor 25b (on the side opposite to the merge line 9). Here, two shipping containers 7 are stopped simultaneously on the standby conveyor 27b, and each display lamp 22 is positioned above each shipping container 7 corresponding to the stop position P7 of each shipping container 7. Is provided.

Then, when the ID of the article 4 taken out from the transport container 5 is read by the ID reader 21 and the terminal device 20 specifies the shipping container 7 as the sorting destination, the terminal device 20 corresponds to the specified shipping container 7. The display lamp 22 to be switched shifts from the unlit state to the lit state. Alternatively, the display color of the display lamp 22 is changed (such as from green to red). At this time, the display state of the remaining display lamps 22 (display lamps 22 corresponding to the shipping containers 7 not instructed) is not changed.
For this reason, the operator 30 can identify the shipping container 7 as the sorting destination by looking at the display of the display lamp 22. Then, the worker 30 puts the article 4 whose ID is read by the ID reader 21 into the shipping container 7 of the designated sorting destination.

  Note that the configuration of the instruction means for instructing the operator 30 on the shipping container 7 to be sorted is not limited to the display lamp 22 that operates based on the cooperation of the ID reader 21 and the terminal device 20. For example, when storing the picked article 4 in the storage unit 3 in the transport container 5, a label with a marking according to the order is attached to each article 4, and the operator 30 is designated by the difference in the marking. The shipping container 7 may be specified.

The monitoring sensor 23 is a detection unit that detects whether or not the article 4 has been put into the shipping container 7.
Two monitoring sensors 23 are arranged at the tip of the standby conveyor 25b (the end on the side of the anti-merging line 9). Similarly to the display lamp 22, this monitoring sensor 23 is also provided at a position above each shipping container 7 corresponding to the stop position P7 of each shipping container 7 on the standby conveyor 27b.

  More specifically, the monitoring sensor 23 is configured to monitor a surface area covering the opening at a position above the opening of the shipping container 7 and detect whether or not the article 4 has passed through the surface area. Yes. When the article 4 is thrown toward the shipping container 7, the article 4 passes through the surface area corresponding to the opening of the shipping container 7 and is detected by the monitoring sensor 23.

The terminal device 20 is also an article detection unit that detects that the article 4 is accommodated in each shipping container 7.
The terminal device 20 detects in which shipping container 7 the article 4 taken out from the transport container 5 is stored based on detection information from the two monitoring sensors 23 and 23. Further, as described above, the terminal device 20 specifies the shipping container 7 that is the sorting destination of each article 4 based on the ID detection of the article 4. In response to this specification, the display state of the display lamp 22 is changed to indicate the shipping container 7 as the sorting destination.
Then, the terminal device 20 determines that the article 4 is the correct shipping container 7 (the shipping container 7 designated as the sorting destination 7 based on the detection information from the monitoring sensors 23 and 23 and the specific result of the shipping container 7 that is the sorting destination. ) Can be determined.

The warning buzzer 24 puts the article 4 into the shipping container 7 against the instruction of the display lamp 22 for the article 4 detected that the terminal device 20 as the article detecting means is accommodated in each shipping container 7. In this case, it is a warning means for warning the occurrence of a storage error.
As described above, the terminal device 20 determines whether or not the shipping container 7 into which the article 4 has been loaded is the shipping container 7 that should be the sorting destination of the article 4. Here, there is no problem when the article 4 is accommodated in the correct shipping container 7 as instructed. On the other hand, when the article 4 is accommodated in the shipping container 7 that is contrary to the instruction, the article 4 not corresponding to the order is accommodated in the shipping container 7. Therefore, when the article 4 is accommodated in the shipping container 7 that is against the instruction, the terminal device 20 instructs the warning buzzer 24 to output a warning sound. This voice output alerts the operator 30 to recognize that a storage error has occurred when a storage error has occurred.

  Further, as the warning means, not only the warning buzzer 24 but also display lamps 22 and 22 provided corresponding to the shipping containers 7 may be used. Specifically, when the article 4 is stored in the shipping container 7 that does not comply with the instruction, the operator 30 may make a mistake in storing the display lamp 22 corresponding to the shipping container 7 that does not comply with the instruction. To recognize the occurrence of

The inspection means for inspecting the article 4 when sorting into the shipping container 7 will be described.
Here, the inspection means an operation for confirming the following contents. In this embodiment, there are two types of confirmation contents. The first type of confirmation content is whether or not the article 4 accommodated in the shipping container 7 by sorting is an article of the type required by the order. The second type is whether or not the entire article 4 accommodated in the shipping container 7 satisfies the type and quantity required in the order.
The means for performing the inspection is the terminal device 20 that operates based on the detection information of the ID reader 21 and the contents of the order stored in the host computer 13.

In the first type of inspection (confirmation work), when the article 4 taken out from the transport container 5 is sorted into the shipping container 7, that is, the ID of the article 4 is read by the ID reader 21, and the display lamp 22 indicates the shipping container 7. When done.
At this time, the terminal device 20 requests the article 4 accommodated in the shipping container 7 by order based on the ID detection of the article 4 by the ID reader 21 and the contents of the order obtained by referring to the host computer 13. It is detected that it is an article of the kind.

The second type of inspection (confirmation work) is performed when the sorting of the articles 4 from the transport container 5 to the shipping container 7 is completed.
The terminal device 20 measures the type and quantity of the articles accommodated in each shipping container 7 when sorting the articles 4. One count of the type and quantity of the article is detected from the monitoring sensors 23 and 23 that the ID of the article 4 is detected by the ID reader 21 and that the article 4 is correctly stored in the shipping container 7 of the designated sorting destination. It is done every time it confirms based on information.
In this way, when the entire article 4 (the recognized content of the terminal device 20) recognized that the terminal device 20 is accommodated in the shipping container 7 matches the content of the order assigned to the shipping container 7, The device 20 permits the shipping container 7 to be carried out to the shipping line 10. On the other hand, if the recognized content of the terminal device 20 and the content of the order assigned to the shipping container 7 do not match, the terminal device 20 prohibits the shipping container 7 from being carried out to the shipping line 10 and the operator 30 Or the host computer 13 is warned of an erroneous storage. In the case of warning for the operator 30 as well, the warning buzzer 24 and the display lamps 22 and 22 are used.

The display monitor 29 is an image output device of the terminal device 20.
On the display monitor 29, for example, the processing content executed in the terminal device 20 is displayed and output as an image. Specifically, for example, a list of order contents assigned to the transport container 5 and a list of order contents assigned to the shipping container 7 are displayed. Further, the contents of the transport container 5 and the shipping container 7 that change with the sorting of the articles 4, that is, the list of the articles 4 accommodated in the transport container 5 at the current time point, or are accommodated in the shipping container 7 at the current time point. A list of the articles 4 that are present may be output and displayed.
Alternatively, it can also be used as the instruction means by causing the image output display to instruct the shipping container 7 as the sorting destination of each article 4 to be performed. Furthermore, when a storage error occurs, information indicating the corresponding shipping container 7 or the article 4 stored in error can be displayed as an image and used as the warning means.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the distribution base where the picking system was applied. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the structure of a classification part. It is a top view which shows the structure of a classification part. It is a top view which shows the structure of the classification part which concerns on a conveyance container. It is a top view which shows the structure of the classification part which concerns on a shipping container.

Explanation of symbols

2 Picking system 3A1... 3B1... Storage unit 4 Article 5 Transport container 6A and 6B Picking line (transport container transport means)
7 Shipping Container 8 Sorting Section 9 Merge Line (Transport Container Transport Means)
10. Shipping line (shipping container transport means)
22 Indicator lamp (instruction means)
24 Warning buzzer (Warning means)
25 Transport side sorting line (transport container transport means)
27 Shipping side sorting line (shipping container transport means)
20 Terminal device (control means / article detection means)

Claims (3)

A picking system that picks up goods from each of the storage units provided for each kind of goods, collects the goods of the kind and quantity required by the order of the shipping destination, and stores them in a container.
A transport container that stores articles of a type and quantity in which a plurality of orders picked in each storage unit are aggregated;
A transport container transport means for transporting the transport container;
A shipping container for storing articles sorted into the types and quantities required in each order;
Shipping container transport means for transporting the shipping container;
A sorting unit that sorts articles stored in the transport container into the shipping containers;
Instructing means for instructing to which shipping container an article taken out from the transport container is sorted based on a difference in order;
When all articles are taken out from the transport container, a control means for controlling the transport container transport means and the shipping container transport means so as to move the transport container and the shipping container from the sorting unit, respectively;
Provided,
Picking system characterized by that. The sorting section is
Article detection means for respectively detecting that an article has been stored in each shipping container;
Warning means for warning the occurrence of a storage error when the article detection means detects an article sorted into the shipping container from the transport container, and the article is the shipping container contrary to the instruction of the instruction means; ,
With
The picking system according to claim 1. The sorting section is
Transport container support means for supporting the transport container transported by the transport container transport means;
Shipping container support means for supporting the shipping container transported by the shipping container transport means;
With
The transport container support means and the shipping container support means are arranged so as to partially overlap in plan view, with the transport container and the shipping container supported, respectively.
The picking system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

Images