JP3827568B2 - Product sorting instruction device, product sorting instruction method, and product sorting instruction program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a product sorting instruction device, a product sorting instruction method, and a product sorting instruction program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, customer needs have changed in various ways, and in stores and the like, many types of products that meet customer needs are handled every day. Generally, these various types of products are produced by a plurality of production factories and once stored in a plurality of storage shelves provided in a distribution center.
[0003]
Order information is sent from each sales store to the distribution center. This ordering information includes a sales store number, a sales store name, a product name, a product number or a product code, an order quantity, a delivery destination, a delivery route, a delivery container (hereinafter referred to as a container) number, and the like.
[0004]
An operator in the distribution center performs a picking operation of taking out a product from a storage shelf and putting it into a container of each sales store in accordance with ordering information sent from each sales store. The goods put into the container by such picking work are delivered to the sales store.
[0005]
In the distribution center, a truck to be delivered is assigned based on the delivery destination and delivery route included in the ordering information sent from each sales store. Furthermore, sales stores that deliver the same truck are arranged in the order of delivery, and the picking operation is performed based on the order of delivery.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the number and type of products to be ordered differ depending on the scale of each store, the business performance, the type of products handled, etc., and the labor and time of picking work required for each store vary.
[0007]
Therefore, when picking work is performed based on the order in which products are delivered to stores, there are a mix of stores with large and small picking loads, and there are busy and quiet groups in the picking area. As a result, the efficiency of picking work deteriorates.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to provide a merchandise sorting instruction device, a merchandise sorting instruction method, and a merchandise sorting instruction program capable of efficiently sorting merchandise to be delivered for each delivery destination.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A merchandise sorting instruction apparatus according to a first aspect is a merchandise sorting instruction apparatus for instructing sorting work for taking out a merchandise from a merchandise shelf and storing it in a storage container for each delivery destination, and delivers the delivery destination to each delivery destination. First storage means for storing the correspondence relationship with the merchandise to be stored, second storage means for storing, for each product, a load for taking out the product from the product shelf and storing it in the storage container, and first storage means The total amount of load required for taking out the product to be delivered to each delivery destination from the product shelf and storing it in the storage container based on the correspondence stored in the storage and the load for each product stored in the second storage means Product shelves, sorting means for rearranging delivery destinations so that the total amount of load calculated by the calculation means monotonously increases or decreases, and product shelves in the order of delivery destinations sorted by the sorting means Those having an instruction means for instructing the product to be taken out al.
[0010]
In the product sorting instruction apparatus according to the present invention, the correspondence between the delivery destination and the product to be delivered is stored for each delivery destination in the first storage means, and the product is taken out from the product shelf and stored in the second storage means. The load applied to the work stored in the container is stored for each product. The load on the work of taking out the product to be delivered from the product shelf and storing it in the storage container based on the correspondence stored in the first storage unit by the calculation unit and the load for each product stored in the second storage unit Is calculated for each delivery destination. Further, the delivery destinations are rearranged so that the total amount of load calculated by the rearrangement unit monotonously increases or decreases, and the products to be taken out from the product shelf are instructed in the order of the delivery destinations rearranged by the instruction unit.
[0011]
In this case, since the order of the picking work is instructed so that the load of the picking work for each delivery destination increases or decreases monotonously, a sudden change in the load of the picking work is suppressed. As a result, the efficiency of picking work can be improved. It becomes easy to increase or decrease the number of workers according to the load of picking work.
[0012]
The merchandise sorting instruction device according to the second invention is the configuration of the merchandise sorting instruction device according to the first invention, wherein the correspondence stored in the first storage means further includes a delivery route, Sort the delivery destinations for the same delivery route, and the total load calculated by the calculation means in the same delivery route increases or decreases monotonously and is calculated by the calculation means between different transport routes The destinations are rearranged so as to alternately increase and decrease monotonously.
[0013]
In this case, the order of the picking work is instructed so that the total amount of picking work in the same delivery route monotonously increases or decreases monotonically, and the load of picking work alternately increases or decreases monotonously between different transport routes. Therefore, even when picking work is performed on a delivery destination on a plurality of different delivery routes, it is possible to suppress a sudden change in the load of the picking work.
[0014]
As a result, it is possible to further improve the efficiency of the picking work. It is also possible to predict the departure and arrival times of delivery vehicles that deliver products for each delivery route.
[0015]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the commodity sorting instruction apparatus according to the first or second aspect of the commodity sorting instruction apparatus, wherein the instruction means is based on the order of the delivery destinations rearranged by the rearranging means. It includes an indicator that displays the number of items to be taken out of the product.
[0016]
In this case, the operator can easily recognize the product to be taken out from the product shelf and the number of products by the display unit during the picking work.
[0017]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a commodity sorting instruction apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, wherein the commodity sorting instruction apparatus is a storage container based on the order of delivery destinations sorted by the sorting means. A label issuing device for issuing a label indicating a delivery destination to be attached is further provided.
[0018]
In this case, since the label issued by the label issuing device is attached to the storage container without the operator confirming the delivery destination of the product stored in the storage container, the efficiency of the picking work is further improved.
[0019]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a commodity sorting instruction apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, further comprising transport means for transporting the storage container to the commodity shelf.
[0020]
In this case, since the storage container is transported to the product shelf by the transport means, the operator can easily put the product taken out from the product shelf into the storage container without moving. As a result, it is possible to further improve the efficiency of the picking work.
[0021]
A merchandise sorting instruction method according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a sorting instruction method for instructing sorting work for taking out merchandise from a merchandise shelf and storing it in a storage container for each delivery destination, and should be delivered to the delivery destination for each delivery destination. The step of storing the correspondence relationship with the product, the step of storing the load for the operation of taking out the product from the product shelf and storing it in the storage container for each product, and the delivery based on the stored correspondence relationship and the load for each product The step of calculating the total amount of load for the work of taking out the product to be delivered from the product shelf and storing it in the storage container, and rearranging the delivery destination so that the calculated total amount of load increases or decreases monotonously. And a step of instructing products to be taken out from the product shelf in the order of the sorted delivery destinations.
[0022]
In the product sorting instruction method according to the present invention, the correspondence relationship between the delivery destination and the product to be delivered is stored for each delivery destination, and the load on the operation of taking out the product from the product shelf and storing it in the storage container is different for each product. Remembered. Based on the correspondence and the load for each product, the total amount of load for the work of taking out the product to be delivered from the product shelf and storing it in the storage container is calculated for each delivery destination. The delivery destinations are rearranged so that the calculated total amount of load monotonously increases or decreases, and the products to be taken out from the product shelf are instructed in the order of the rearranged delivery destinations.
[0023]
In this case, since the order of the picking work is instructed so that the load of the picking work for each delivery destination increases or decreases monotonously, a sudden change in the load of the picking work is suppressed. As a result, the efficiency of picking work can be improved. Further, it becomes easy to increase or decrease the number of workers according to the load of picking work.
[0024]
A product sorting instruction program according to a seventh invention is a product sorting instruction program for causing a computer to execute a sorting instruction for picking up a product from a product shelf and storing the product in a storage container for each delivery destination. A process for storing the correspondence between the delivery destination and the product to be delivered for each product, a process for storing the load for taking out the product from the product shelf and storing it in the storage container for each product, and the stored correspondence Processing to calculate the total amount of load required to take out the products to be delivered to each delivery destination from the product shelf and store them in the storage container based on the load for each product, and the calculated total amount of load increases or decreases monotonously The computer executes processing for rearranging the delivery destinations and processing for instructing products to be taken out from the product shelf in the order of the sorted delivery destinations. It is intended to.
[0025]
In the product sorting instruction program according to the present invention, the correspondence relationship between the delivery destination and the product to be delivered is stored for each delivery destination, and the load on the work of taking out the product from the product shelf and storing it in the storage container is different for each product. Remembered. Based on the correspondence and the load for each product, the total amount of load for the work of taking out the product to be delivered from the product shelf and storing it in the storage container is calculated for each delivery destination. The delivery destinations are rearranged so that the calculated total amount of load monotonously increases or decreases, and the products to be taken out from the product shelf are instructed in the order of the rearranged delivery destinations.
[0026]
In this case, since the order of the picking work is instructed so that the load of the picking work for each delivery destination increases or decreases monotonously, a sudden change in the load of the picking work is suppressed. As a result, the efficiency of picking work can be improved. Further, it becomes easy to increase or decrease the number of workers according to the load of picking work.
[0027]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a distribution center to which a product sorting instruction device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
[0028]
In FIG. 1, the distribution center includes a management unit 100 and a product storage unit 200. The product storage unit 200 includes a belt conveyor 20, a plurality of product shelves 21, a label printer 22, a plurality of inspection devices 23, and a delivery course sorting scanner 28. On the other hand, the management unit 100 is provided with a host computer 1.
[0029]
The belt conveyor 20 is disposed in the center of the product storage unit 200, and a plurality of delivery containers 24 are prepared near the start end 20 a of the belt conveyor 20. The belt conveyor 20 conveys the container 24 in the direction of the arrow Q. Further, the end portion 20b of the belt conveyor 20 is divided into delivery areas TX to TZ according to the delivery course of the product. In the delivery area TX, a truck 001 that delivers goods to a store of the delivery course X is stopped. Further, in the delivery area TY, a truck 002 that delivers products to stores in the delivery course Y is stopped. Further, in the delivery area TZ, a truck 003 that delivers products to a store on the delivery course Z is stopped.
[0030]
A plurality of picking areas A to D are arranged along the belt conveyor 20. In each picking area A to D, two product shelves 21 are arranged so as to face each other.
[0031]
Storage shelf numbers “1” and “2” are assigned to the two product shelves 21 in each of the picking areas A to D. In each of the picking areas A to D, an inspection device 23 is provided. A label printer 22 and a delivery course sorting scanner 28 are installed on the upstream side of the end portion 20b of the belt conveyor 20.
[0032]
The inspection device 23 confirms whether the type and number of products picked in each of the picking areas A to D match the type and number of products ordered. Here, picking refers to an operation of taking an ordered product from a product shelf and storing it in a delivery container.
[0033]
The label printer 22 issues a label for product delivery to be affixed to the container 24 of each store. The issued label includes the store code, store name, date, delivery course, etc. Information necessary for delivery work is printed.
[0034]
Also, the delivery course sorting scanner 28 reads the delivery course information printed on the label 29 attached to the container 24, and sorts the container 24 into any of the delivery areas TX to TZ based on the delivery course.
[0035]
In addition, a plurality of workers 25 whose work is assigned in advance are arranged in the product storage unit 200.
[0036]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the commodity shelf 21 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the product shelf 21 is provided with a plurality of pockets 50 for storing products according to products. A number indicator 30 is provided in each pocket 50 of the product shelf 21.
[0037]
Each pocket 50 is assigned the number of steps and the pocket position from the left end. For example, the 16 pockets 50 of the product shelf 21 shown in FIG. 2 are assigned the number of stages “01” to “04” and the pocket positions “01” to “04” from the left end.
[0038]
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the number indicator 30.
As shown in FIG. 3, the number display unit 30 includes a digital display unit 31, a picking instruction lamp 32, and a completion button 33.
[0039]
Each number indicator 30 is registered with an indicator ID number (identifier) assigned based on location information (described later) of the product stored in the pocket 50.
[0040]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the host computer 1 of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the host computer 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 500, a communication control unit 501, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 502, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 503, a recording medium drive unit 505, and an external storage. A device 506 is included.
[0041]
The communication control device 501 transmits and receives information to and from the label printer 22 of the product storage unit 200, the inspection device 23 of the product storage unit 200, and the number indicator 30 of the product storage unit 200. The ROM 502 stores a system program. The recording medium driving device 505 includes a CD-ROM drive, a flexible disk drive, and the like, and reads / writes data from / to a recording medium 504 such as a CD-ROM or a flexible disk.
[0042]
The recording medium 504 stores a product sorting instruction program. The external storage device 506 includes a hard disk device or the like, and stores a product sorting instruction program read from the recording medium 504 via the recording medium driving device 505. The external storage device 506 stores a product master and a product storage position master in advance.
[0043]
The CPU 500 executes a product sorting instruction program stored in the external storage device 506 on the RAM 503.
[0044]
Note that various recording media such as a semiconductor memory such as a ROM and a hard disk can be used as the recording medium 504 for recording the product sorting instruction program. Further, the product sorting instruction program may be downloaded to the external storage device 506 via a communication medium such as a communication line and executed on the RAM 503.
[0045]
In the present embodiment, the host computer 1 and the number display 30 constitute a product sorting instruction device.
[0046]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a product master. As shown in FIG. 5, the product master includes a product type (hereinafter referred to as an item), a product number, a product name, a size, a pick labor coefficient, and an inspection labor coefficient.
[0047]
Here, the pick labor coefficient is a numerical value representing the labor for picking up one product from the product shelf 21 and storing it in the delivery container 24 (picking) for each product. The inspection labor coefficient is a numerical value for each product, which is the labor involved in checking whether the picked product is the same as the ordered product (hereinafter referred to as inspection). Is.
[0048]
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the commodity storage position master. As shown in FIG. 6, the product storage position master includes a product number, a product name, location information, and a display ID number. Here, the location information is information indicating the position of the product shelf 21 in which each product is stored.
[0049]
For example, in the location information “A-01-03-01”, the first “A” indicates the picking area A where the product shelf 21 is provided, and the next two digits “01” indicates the product shelf number “01”. Show. Further, the next two digits “03” indicate the third level from the bottom of the product shelf 21, and the last two digits “01” indicate the first pocket position from the left of the product shelf 21.
[0050]
Therefore, the shampoo whose location information is “A-01-03-01” is stored in the first pocket 50 from the left in the third row from the bottom of the product shelf 21 of the product shelf number “1” in the picking area A. ing.
[0051]
The display ID number is assigned based on the location information of each product.
[0052]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU 500 of the host computer 1 according to the product sorting instruction program. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of ordering information. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an order table.
[0053]
Further, FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sorting load list in each store. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sorting work order list.
[0054]
Hereinafter, a series of sorting operations up to delivery of products ordered from each store will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0055]
The CPU 500 of the host computer 1 inputs product ordering information from each store (step S1). It should be noted that ordering information for products from each store may be received via a communication control device 501 from a communication medium such as an e-mail or a network, and a recording medium driven from a recording medium 504 such as a flexible disk or a CD-ROM. Reading may be performed via the device 505.
[0056]
As shown in FIG. 8, the order information includes a store name, a delivery course, an item, a product number, a product name, a size, and the number of orders.
[0057]
Next, the CPU 500 stores the ordering information given from each store in the external storage device 506 (step S2).
[0058]
Further, the CPU 500 rearranges the ordering information from each store by delivery course and creates an ordering table (step S3).
[0059]
In the example of FIG. 9, the ordering information is rearranged for each of the delivery courses “X”, “Y”, and “Z” in the ordering table.
[0060]
Next, the CPU 500 associates the product master of FIG. 5 stored in advance in the external storage device 506 with the ordering table, calculates the sorting load F at each store, and creates a sorting load list (step S4).
[0061]
Sorting load F consists of item load A, piece load S, picking load P, and inspection load K, and numerically represents the load on a series of operations for sorting, inspection and shipping of products ordered from each store. It is.
[0062]
Here, the item load A is a load related to the quantity of items (types) of products ordered from the store, and is obtained by multiplying the number of items ordered from the store by the item labor factor. In the present embodiment, the item labor coefficient is set to 0.1.
[0063]
For example, in the ordering information from the XX super station store, the number of items is 3 because the items of the commodity are daily necessities, confectionery and beverages as shown in FIG. Therefore, the item load A is 0.3 from the number of items 3 × the item labor factor 0.1.
[0064]
The piece load S is a load applied to the total quantity (total number of orders) of products ordered from the store, and is obtained by multiplying the total number of products ordered from the store by the piece labor factor. In this embodiment, the piece labor factor is 0.1.
[0065]
For example, in the ordering information from the XX super station store, as shown in FIG. 8, the number of shampoo orders is 3, the number of toothbrush orders is 1, the number of potato chips mini orders is 4, regular coffee M (canned) The number of orders is 1 and the order number of tea (leaf) is 5, so the total number of orders is 14. Therefore, the piece load S is 1.4 based on the total order quantity 14 × piece effort factor 0.1.
[0066]
Furthermore, the picking load P is a load related to picking of products ordered from the store. First, the picking load of each product ordered from the store is multiplied by the order quantity of each product by multiplying the picking load factor of each product. It calculates | requires by calculating | requiring load and also adding the picking load in each goods further.
[0067]
For example, in the ordering information from the XX super station store, as shown in FIG. 8, the number of shampoo orders is 3 and the pick labor factor is 0.7, so the picking load of shampoo is 2.1. Similarly, the picking load of a toothbrush with an order quantity of 1 and a pick labor factor of 0.4 is 0.4. In addition, the picking load of a potato chips mini having an order quantity of 4 and a pick labor factor of 0.7 is 2.8. The picking load of regular coffee (canned) with an order quantity of 1 and a pick labor factor of 0.3 is 0.3. Furthermore, the picking load of tea (leaf) with an order quantity of 5 and a pick labor factor of 0.1 is 0.5.
[0068]
Shampoo picking load 2.1, toothbrush picking load 0.4, potato chips mini picking load 2.8, regular coffee (canned) picking load 0.3 and tea (leaf) picking load obtained above A value 6.1 obtained by adding 0.5 is the picking load P of the XX super station store.
[0069]
The inspection load K is a load applied to the inspection of the product ordered from the store, and first, the inspection for each product is multiplied by the inspection labor factor of each product ordered from the store and the number of orders for each product. It calculates | requires by calculating | requiring load and also adding the inspection load in each goods further.
[0070]
For example, in the ordering information from the XX super station store, as shown in FIG. 8, the number of shampoo orders is 3 and the inspection labor factor is 0.5, so the inspection load of shampoo is 1.5. Similarly, the inspection load of a toothbrush with an order quantity of 1 and an inspection labor factor of 0.7 is 0.7. Further, the inspection load of a potato chips mini having an order quantity of 4 and an inspection labor factor of 0.5 is 2.0. The inspection load of regular coffee (canned) with an order quantity of 1 and an inspection labor factor of 0.6 is 0.6. Furthermore, the inspection load of black tea (leaf) having an order quantity of 5 and an inspection labor factor of 0.3 is 1.5.
[0071]
Shampoo inspection load 1.5 obtained above, toothbrush inspection load 0.7, potato chips mini inspection load 2.0, regular coffee (canned) inspection load 0.6 and tea (leaf) inspection load A value 6.3 obtained by adding 1.5 is the inspection load K of the XX super station store.
[0072]
The CPU 500 associates the order information from each store with the product master, obtains the item load A, piece load S, picking load P, and inspection load K of each store by the above method, and obtains the obtained item load A, piece load S. The sorting load F at each store is calculated by summing the picking load P and the inspection load K.
[0073]
Accordingly, the sorting load F of the XX super station store where the item load A obtained above is 0.3, the piece load S is 1.4, the picking load P is 6.1, and the inspection load K is 6.3 is 14 .1.
[0074]
Next, the CPU 500 compares the sorting loads F of the stores having the same delivery course, the sorting load F monotonously increases or monotonously decreases in the same delivery course, and the sorting load F increases monotonously alternately between the delivery courses. The work order of the stores is rearranged so as to monotonously decrease, and a sorting work order list is created (step S5).
[0075]
For example, the sorting load F in the delivery course X shown in FIG. 10 at the XX super station store, △△ supermarket 1-chome store, △△ super station store, ◇◇ pharmacy 1-chome store and home center station store is compared, and FIG. As shown, the sorting load F is rearranged in order from the store having the smallest sorting load F.
[0076]
Next, the sorting load F in the delivery course Y shown in FIG. 10 in the ◇◇ pharmacy 2-chome store, XX super 2-chome store, △△ super 2-chome store, xx super 1-chome store, and home center 2-chome store is compared. As shown in FIG. 11, the sorting load F is rearranged in order from the store having the largest sort load F.
[0077]
Furthermore, the sorting load F in the delivery course Z shown in FIG. 10 in the XX super 4-chome store, △△ super 3-chome store, XX super 3-chome store, home center 3-chome store, and ◇◇ pharmacy 4-chome store is compared, As shown in FIG. 11, the sorting load F is rearranged in order from the store having the smallest sort load F.
[0078]
The CPU 500 associates the ordering information of each store with the product storage position master based on the sorting work order shown in FIG. 11, and instructs the number display 30 of the pocket 50 in which the product to be picked in each picking area is stored. A signal is transmitted and order information of each store is given to the label printer 22 and the inspection device 23 (step S6).
[0079]
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the transmission order of the picking instruction signal transmitted from the host computer 1 for each of the picking areas A to D.
[0080]
In the merchandise storage unit 200, a container 24 for loading merchandise is assembled and placed on the belt conveyor 20. The belt conveyor 20 conveys the container 24 to the front of the picking area A and stops.
[0081]
At this time, in the picking area A, the picking instruction lamp 32 of the number display unit 30 of the pocket 50 storing the products ordered from the pharmacy 1-chome store in the sorting work order “1” is lit, and the display unit A number 31 to be picked is displayed.
[0082]
An operator in the picking area A takes out a quantity of products displayed on the display unit 31 of the number display unit 30 from the pocket 50 in which the picking instruction lamp 32 of the number display unit 30 is lit. Furthermore, the operator uses the inspection device 23 to check whether the type and quantity of the picked product matches the order information, and after that, puts it into the container 24 placed on the belt conveyor 20.
[0083]
After the insertion, the operator presses the completion button 33 of the number display unit 30 of the pocket 50 from which the product is taken out. Thereby, the lighting of the picking instruction lamp 32 and the display of the number displayed on the display unit 31 are turned off. The worker repeats this operation until the number indicator 30 in which the picking instruction lamp 32 is lit in the picking area A disappears.
[0084]
When the operator presses the completion button 33 of the number display unit 30, a picking end signal is transmitted to the host computer 1 to notify the end of the picking operation of the product on the number display unit 30 on which the completion button 33 is pressed.
[0085]
When the worker finishes picking all the products ordered from the pharmacy 1-chome store in the picking area A, the picking area of the products ordered from the XX super station store with the second sorting order from the host computer 1 A picking instruction signal is transmitted to the number display 30 of the pockets 50 of the goods stored in A, and the picking instruction lamp 32 is newly lit.
[0086]
In addition, the host computer 1 transmits a picking instruction signal to the number display unit 30 of the products stored in the picking area B among the products ordered from the ◇◇ pharmacy 1-chome store in the first sorting order.
[0087]
Therefore, in the picking area B, the picking instruction lamp 32 of the number display unit 30 of the pocket 50 storing the products ordered from the pharmacy 1-chome store in the sorting work order “1” is lit, and the display unit 31 The number to be picked is displayed.
[0088]
The belt conveyor 20 conveys the container 24 loaded with the products picked in the picking area A to the next picking area B. At this time, a new container 24 is placed on the start end 20 a of the belt conveyor 20 and is transported to the picking area A.
[0089]
As a result, in the picking area B, the picking work of the product ordered from the ◇◇ pharmacy 1-chome store is performed, and in the picking area A, the picking work of the product ordered from the XX super station store is performed.
[0090]
As shown in FIG. 12, the CPU 500 of the host computer 1 picks each picking based on ordering information from each store so that products ordered from each store are picked in each picking area A to D based on the sorting work order. A picking instruction signal is transmitted to the number display unit 30 in the areas A to D.
[0091]
On the other hand, the delivery label issued by the label printer 22 is attached to the container 24 of the store where the picking work in the picking areas A to D is completed and all the ordered products are placed. The container 24 to which the delivery label is affixed is conveyed by the belt conveyor 20 and the delivery course is determined by the delivery course sorting scanner 28 and distributed to any of the delivery areas X to Z.
[0092]
For example, since the delivery label of ◇◇ pharmacy 1-chome store is affixed to the first container 24, the delivery course sorting scanner 28 identifies the delivery course X and the delivery area X where the truck 001 of the delivery course X is stopped. It is conveyed to.
[0093]
Further, in the delivery areas X to Y, the containers 24 are rearranged in the order of delivery and loaded onto the truck 001.
[0094]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the order of picking work is determined so that the sorting load F for each store monotonously increases or decreases monotonically, and each picking area A is based on the determined order of picking work. A picking instruction signal is transmitted to -D. Therefore, a sudden change in the load of the picking work is suppressed, and the efficiency of the picking work can be improved.
[0095]
In the present embodiment, the case where the conveying means for conveying the picked goods is the belt conveyor 20 has been described. However, instead of the belt conveyor 20, an automatic guided vehicle or a cart manually pushed by the operator is used as the conveying means. It can also be used.
[0096]
Further, in this embodiment, the order of the stores that perform the picking work is rearranged for each delivery course, but the assortment order F is compared for all the stores that received orders without classifying for each delivery course. Alternatively, the order of picking operations may be rearranged in descending order. In this case, it is possible to predict the busy and quiet periods in the picking operation of the day in the time of the day, and it is possible to systematically determine the number of part-time workers hired as workers.
[0097]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since the order of the picking work is instructed so that the load of the picking work for each delivery destination increases or decreases monotonously, it is possible to suppress a sudden change in the load of the picking work. As a result, the efficiency of picking work can be improved. It becomes easy to increase or decrease the number of workers according to the load of picking work.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a delivery center to which a product sorting instruction device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a product shelf shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a number display 30. FIG.
4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the host computer of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a product master.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a product storage position master.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU 500 of the host computer 1 according to the product sorting instruction program.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of ordering information.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an ordering table.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a sorting load list in each store.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a sorting work order list;
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a transmission order of picking instruction signals for each picking area.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Host computer
20 Belt conveyor
21 Product shelf
22 Label printer
23 Inspection equipment
24 containers
25 workers
28 Delivery course sorting scanner
30 Piece display
31 Display section
32 Picking instruction lamp
33 Complete button
50 pockets
100 Management Department
200 Product Storage Department
500 CPU
501 Communication control device
502 ROM
503 RAM
504 recording medium
505 Recording medium driving device
506 External storage device

Claims (7)

A product sorting instruction device for instructing sorting work for taking out products from a product shelf and storing them in a storage container for each delivery destination,
First storage means for storing a correspondence between a delivery destination and a product to be delivered for each delivery destination;
Second storage means for storing, for each product, a load applied to work for taking out the product from the product shelf and storing it in a storage container;
Based on the correspondence relationship stored in the first storage unit and the load for each product stored in the second storage unit, a product to be delivered for each delivery destination is taken out from the product shelf and stored in a storage container. A calculation means for calculating a total amount of load applied to the work;
Reordering means for reordering the delivery destination so that the total amount of load calculated by the calculating means monotonously increases or decreases monotonously;
A product sorting instruction device comprising: instruction means for instructing products to be taken out from a product shelf in the order of delivery destinations sorted by the sorting means. The correspondence stored in the first storage means further includes a delivery route;
The reordering means reorders the delivery destinations for the same delivery route, and the total load calculated by the calculation means within the same delivery route is monotonously increased or monotonically decreased, and the calculation is performed between different transport routes. 2. The product sorting instruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the delivery destinations are rearranged so that the total amount of load calculated by the means alternately increases and decreases monotonously. 3. The product classification according to claim 1, wherein the instruction unit includes a display for displaying the number of products to be taken out from the product shelf based on the order of the delivery destinations sorted by the sorting unit. Pointing device. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a label issuing device that issues a label indicating a delivery destination to be affixed to a storage container based on the order of delivery destinations sorted by the sorting means. The product sorting instruction device described. The product sorting instruction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising transport means for transporting the storage container to the product shelf. A product sorting instruction method for instructing sorting work for taking out a product from a product shelf and storing it in a storage container for each delivery destination,
Storing a correspondence between a delivery destination and a product to be delivered for each delivery destination;
Storing for each product the load required to take out the product from the product shelf and store it in a storage container;
Calculating the total amount of load for the work of taking out products to be delivered to each delivery destination from the product shelf and storing them in a storage container based on the stored correspondence and the load for each product;
Rearranging the delivery destination so that the calculated total amount of load monotonously increases or monotonously decreases; and
And a step of instructing products to be taken out from the product shelf in the order of the sorted delivery destinations. A product sorting instruction program for causing a computer to execute an instruction for sorting work to take out a product from a product shelf and store it in a storage container for each delivery destination,
Processing for storing the correspondence between the delivery destination and the product to be delivered for each delivery destination;
A process for storing the load on the work for taking out the product from the product shelf and storing it in the storage container for each product;
A process of calculating the total amount of load on the work of taking out a product to be delivered for each delivery destination from the product shelf and storing it in a storage container based on the stored correspondence and the load for each product;
A process of rearranging the delivery destination so that the calculated total amount of load monotonously increases or monotonously decreases;
A product sorting instruction program for causing a computer to execute processing for instructing products to be taken out from a product shelf in the order of the sorted delivery destinations.

Images