JP5196223B2 - Article processing system - Google Patents

Description

  In the present invention, a plurality of article processing units including a transport vehicle that travels along a travel route between a picking location where a plurality of articles are packed and an entrance / exit of an automatic warehouse are transported. The present invention relates to an article processing system.

  The article processing system transports an article delivered from an automatic warehouse to a picking place with a transport vehicle that travels between the picking place and an entry / exit port of the automatic warehouse, and for the article conveyed to the picking place. The picking worker performs the picking work to pack a plurality of designated articles, and the picked up work is transported from the picking point to the loading / unloading port of the automatic warehouse by the transport vehicle. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  Although not shown in Patent Document 1, when a plurality of article processing units are provided, conventionally, the travel routes in each article processing unit are provided independently of each other, and a plurality of article processing units are provided. The operation control means for managing the operation of the transport vehicle disposed in each of the sections is to transport the article between the picking location and the entrance / exit for the article processing section in which the transport vehicle is disposed. The operation of the transport vehicle disposed in each of the plurality of article processing units is controlled separately for each article processing unit.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-103921 (FIG. 1)

  By the way, in the above article processing system, it is said that a plurality of picked articles are aggregated and packed at as few picking locations as possible so that the picked articles can be efficiently processed thereafter. There is a request.

  However, in the conventional configuration, the conveyance vehicle existing in each of the plurality of article processing units is configured to convey the article between the picking location and the entrance / exit for the article processing unit in which the conveyance vehicle is disposed. Since the operation control means controls the operation of the transport vehicle, only the articles stored in the automatic warehouse of the article processing section in which the picking section is arranged can be packed at the picking section for a certain article processing section. Can not.

  Therefore, when multiple items to be picked are classified into various types, if only some of these types of items are stored in the automatic warehouse of a certain item processing unit, the picking location in the item processing unit And picking points in a plurality of article processing units with a picking point in an article processing unit in which an automatic warehouse storing types of articles not stored in the automatic warehouse of the article processing unit is arranged. Must be done.

  In this regard, as many types of articles as possible can be placed in one automatic warehouse for each article processing unit so that combinations of as many types of articles as possible can be picked at the picking location in the same article processing unit. Although it is conceivable to store, as the number of types of articles stored in one automatic warehouse increases, the storage capacity allocated to the different types of articles in the automatic warehouse decreases. As a result, the occurrence frequency of the warehousing process for replenishing articles to the automatic warehouse is increased, and the article processing load of the article processing system may be chronically generated, which may impair the article processing capability.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an article processing system capable of collecting and assembling many types of articles without impairing article processing capability. It is in.

In order to achieve this object, an article processing system according to the present invention is provided along a travel route extending between a picking location where a plurality of types of articles are packed and an entrance / exit of an automatic warehouse storing a plurality of types of articles. A plurality of article processing units provided with a transport vehicle that travels and conveys articles are arranged side by side, and the first characteristic configuration is provided for each of the plurality of article processing units. The transport vehicle existing in the travel route is configured to be able to move to the travel route in another article processing unit through the route change relay unit,
Operation control means for managing the operation of the transport vehicle disposed in each of the plurality of article processing units,
The transporting vehicle disposed in each of the plurality of article processing units is configured to transport the article between the picking location and the entrance / exit for the article processing unit in which the transporting vehicle is disposed. The normal operation for controlling the driving of the car, and the loading / unloading port and the other article processing section for the article processing section in which the transporting vehicle disposed in each of the plurality of article processing sections is disposed. In order to convey the article between the picking point for the item or the picking point for the item processing unit in which the item is disposed and the entrance / exit for the other item processing unit , Is configured to be freely changeable to a path switching operation for controlling the operation of the transport vehicle , and
Manages the total amount of articles for each order in which a plurality of articles are packed, and for an order with a small total amount of articles, the type of picking target article specified in the order is selected from the plurality of article processing units. The route switching operation is performed in order to perform picking for the order at a picking location in a specific article processing unit that stores more .

  That is, the transport vehicle is configured to be able to move to a travel route in another article processing unit through the route change relay unit, and the operation control means is configured to be freely changeable between the normal operation and the route switching operation. The operation state of the operation control means is changed from the normal operation to the route switching operation, and the transport vehicle is arranged so as to move to the travel route in another article processing unit through the route change relay unit. The article is transported between the loading / unloading port for the article processing unit and the picking point for the other article processing unit, or the picking point and the other article for the article processing unit in which the article processing unit is disposed Articles can be transported to / from the entrance / exit for the processing unit.

  Therefore, when a plurality of articles are packed at a picking location by packing a plurality of types of articles (even if they are the same article, different types of packing are articles of different types), Among those plural types of articles, for a certain type, the operation of the transport vehicle existing in the article processing unit where the picking place is arranged is controlled by the normal operation, and the picking place It is transported from the automatic warehouse of the article processing unit where the item is arranged to the picking point, and another type is present in another item processing unit different from the item processing unit where the picking point is arranged. Picking is performed by controlling the operation of the transported vehicle by the route switching operation and transporting it from the automatic warehouse in the other article processing unit to the picking location. It can be transported articles plurality of types far.

  In other words, all types of articles to be packed at the picking location are not stored in the automatic warehouse in the article processing unit in which the picking location is arranged, but in other article processing units. If you sort and store items by type in the automatic warehouse, you can select multiple types of articles specified in the order from all types of articles stored in each automatic warehouse of the article processing system system These plural types of articles can be packed together at the picking location.

  Then, by sorting and storing multiple types of articles in multiple automatic warehouses for each article type, the number of types of articles to be stored in each warehouse is reduced, and as a result, it is assigned to one type in each automatic warehouse. Since the storage capacity to be stored is larger than when all types are stored in each warehouse, a larger number of articles can be stored than each type. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the frequency of warehousing work for replenishing articles so as not to reduce the article processing capacity as much as possible.

As described above, according to the first characteristic configuration of the present invention, an article processing system capable of gathering and assembling many types of articles without impairing article processing capability has been obtained.
According to the first characteristic configuration of the present invention, when the order is instructed, the article operation control means, when the total amount of articles for the order is small, the specific article processing among the plurality of article processing units. Since picking based on the order is performed at the picking location in the department, a plurality of types of articles to be picked in the order are stored in different automatic warehouses in the plurality of article processing sections. In some cases, when the total quantity of articles to be packed in the order is small, the articles to be picked are taken out from each of different automatic warehouses, and those articles are specified by a transport vehicle that is operated in a path switching operation. By transporting to the picking location in the article processing section, the items to be picked can be packed at the picking location. Can. In addition, when the total quantity of articles to be packed in the order is large, the articles to be picked are taken out from different automatic warehouses, and the automatic warehouses distribute these articles by a transport vehicle operated in normal operation. By conveying to the picking location in the installed article processing unit, it is possible to pack the articles to be picked at each picking location.
When picking is performed separately for each of a plurality of article processing units based on a certain order, the number of articles generated as a result of picking for that order increases depending on the picking location, and subsequent article processing is performed. As described above, when the total quantity of articles to be packed in the order is small as described above, the order can be obtained by collecting and assembling a plurality of types of articles to be picked at a specific picking location. Even when multiple types of articles to be picked in are distributed and stored in automatic warehouses of multiple article processing units, the number of articles generated as a result of picking can be reduced as much as possible. Processing can be simplified.
As described above, according to the first characteristic configuration of the present invention, when the total amount of the articles for the picking order for assembling a plurality of articles is small, the article processing after picking becomes simple, and the articles are processed efficiently. An article processing system that can be used has been obtained.

  According to a second characteristic configuration of the article processing system of the present invention, in the first characteristic configuration, a manual input unit is provided for instructing a command to switch the operation control unit to the normal operation and the path switching operation. It is in.

  That is, the manual input means can command the operation control means to switch from the normal operation to the path switching operation, so that the operator should switch the operation control means from the normal operation to the path switching operation. When the determination is made, the operation control means can be switched to the path switching operation by commanding the manual input means. When the operator determines that the operation control means should be switched from the path switching operation to the normal operation, the operation control means can be switched to the path switching operation by commanding the manual input means.

  As described above, according to the second characteristic configuration of the present invention, an article processing system capable of switching the operation state of the operation control means between the normal operation and the path switching operation as required is obtained.

The third characteristic configuration of the article processing system according to the present invention, the first or second feature Oite the configuration, as the transport vehicle travels while being guided by the guide rail provided along said travel path The vehicle body movement that is configured and arranged in the route changing relay unit so as to move the vehicle body between the traveling route of the article processing unit in which it is disposed and the traveling route of another article processing unit. By being moved by the means, it is configured to be movable between the travel route of the article processing unit on which it is disposed and the travel route of the other article processing unit.

  In other words, if the transport vehicle is guided by a guide rail provided along the travel route, the transport vehicle can be operated based on the target position information and the like without having a steering means for autonomous travel. It can be controlled, and the configuration of the transport vehicle can be simplified.

  The transport vehicle that is guided by the guide rail travels to change the route so that the vehicle moves between the travel route of the article processing unit in which the transport vehicle is disposed and the travel route of the other product processing unit. By being moved by the vehicle body moving means arranged in the section, it is possible to move between the traveling route of the article processing section where it is disposed and the traveling path of the other article processing section.

  Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a means for moving the vehicle body between the travel route of the article processing unit where the transport vehicle is disposed and the travel route of the other article processing unit. Since the configuration of the transport vehicle does not become complicated, it is possible to move between the travel routes with a simple configuration that travels while being guided by the guide rail.

Thus, according to the third characteristic configuration of the present invention, the configuration of the transport vehicle is simplified, and an article processing stem that is advantageous in terms of cost and manufacturing is obtained.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an article processing system of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a distribution warehouse SU as an article processing system is provided with a pair of automatic warehouse facilities 1 as article processing units. One automatic warehouse facility 1 (hereinafter referred to as the first automatic warehouse facility 1a) is located at a position adjacent to the platform 2 on which the truck for landing goods is provided, and the other automatic warehouse facility 1 (hereinafter referred to as the automatic warehouse facility 1). The second automatic warehouse facility 1b) is provided at a position adjacent to the first automatic warehouse facility 1a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first automatic warehouse facility 1 a includes an automatic warehouse 3 for storing articles provided with a stacker crane 11, and an article to be carried into the automatic warehouse facility 1 a from the outside via the platform 2. A plurality of loading / unloading conveyors 4 for conveying unloading articles carried out from the automatic warehouse facility 1 a via the platform 2, and an annular shape extending between the loading / unloading conveyors 4 and the loading / unloading port 5 of the automatic warehouse 3. A pair of guide rails 6 provided along the first travel path L1, and travels clockwise along the first travel path L1 while being guided by the guide rails 6, and the article A (actually placed on the pallet P). A plurality of transport vehicles 7 for transporting the load W or only the pallet P), and a plurality of subdivided products Wp (for example, cardboard cases, dozen boxes, etc.) constituting the load W of the articles A transported by the transport vehicle Removed required number of, and a plurality of picking locations 8 for Tsumeawaseru picking operation for picking containers C such retrieved a plurality of dispensing articles Wp for unloading containers boxes and corrugated board or the like.

  The automatic warehouse 3 is provided with a plurality of storage shelves 10 in which a plurality of storage units 9 that store articles A are arranged side by side. The storage shelves 10 are arranged in a plurality of pairs so that the article loading / unloading ports in the storage unit 9 face each other, and the stacker crane 11 travels between each pair of storage shelves 10. A traveling rail 12 that travels and guides the stacker crane 11 is laid on the floor side of the traveling space.

  Incidentally, in this embodiment, three to six storage shelves 10 are installed, and three stacker cranes 11 travel while being guided by the travel rails 12 through the travel space corresponding to each pair of storage shelves 10. It is provided movably.

  A loading / unloading conveyor 13 and a loading / unloading conveyor 14 are provided at the loading / unloading port 5 of the automatic warehouse 3. If explanation is added, both the entrance conveyor 13 and the exit conveyor 14 are comprised by the roller conveyor, and are installed between the guide rail 6 and the edge part by the side of the said guide rail 6 of the storage shelf 10. FIG. . Then, the article A placed on the transport surface by the rotational drive of the conveyor motor (not shown) is transported in the transport direction set for each conveyor.

  An entrance / exit controller H <b> 1 is installed in the vicinity of the end of each traveling rail 12 on the guide rail 6 side. The entry / exit controller H1 is connected so as to be communicable with a management control device H (to be described later) (see FIG. 7), and based on the entry / exit command commanded by the management control device H, the corresponding stacker crane 11, the receipt conveyor 13 and The operation of the delivery conveyor 14 is controlled.

  The warehousing conveyor 13 conveys the article A placed at the warehousing transfer start position 13 s to the warehousing conveyance end position 13 e by the conveyance vehicle 7 that stops at the corresponding stop position. Then, the article A conveyed to the warehousing conveyance end position 13e is transferred by the stacker crane 11 and stored in the storage unit 9 of the storage shelf 10. Further, the unloading conveyor 14 conveys the article A placed at the unloading transfer start position 14s by the stacker crane 11 to the unloading transfer end position 14e. Then, the article A transported to the unloading conveyance end position 14e is transferred by the transport vehicle 7 stopped at the stop position corresponding to the unloading conveyor 14, and is transported to the position where the unloading / incoming conveyor 4 is located.

  The carry-in / out conveyor 4 is configured by a roller conveyor, and the conveyance direction is switchable between the carry-in conveyance direction and the carry-out conveyance direction independently of the other carry-in / out conveyors 4. A carry-in / out controller H <b> 2 that collectively controls the conveying operations of the plurality of carry-in / out conveyors 4 is provided.

  The carry-in / out controller H2 is communicably connected to the management control device H (see FIG. 7), and based on the carry-in / out command commanded by the management control device H, the conveyance direction for each of the plurality of carry-in / out conveyors 4 And the start and stop of the transfer operation are controlled. Specifically, when the management control device H instructs the carry-in / out controller H2 to carry out a carry-in / fill-in command including the conveyance direction information of each carry-in / out conveyor 4 according to the number of carry-out articles and carry-in articles, the carry-in / out controller H2 The incoming conveyor 4 is configured to be transported in the commanded transport direction.

  At the end of the carry-in / out conveyor 4 on the guide rail 6 side, the article A is transferred to / from the transport vehicle 7 that stops at the stop position corresponding to the carry-in / out conveyor 4, and the platform 2 of the carry-in / out conveyor 4. At the side end, the article A is transferred to and from a forklift or the like.

  The alarm rotary lamp 21 (see FIG. 7) is connected to the carry-in / out controller H2. The carry-in / out controller H2 monitors whether or not each of the plurality of carry-in / out conveyors 4 is performing a transport operation according to the control command, and detects a carry-in / out conveyor 4 that is not performing the transport operation according to the control command. Is configured to stop the operation of the carry-in / out conveyor 4 and to operate the rotating lamp 21 to warn the worker of the occurrence of the abnormality, assuming that an abnormality has occurred in the carry-in / out conveyor 4. .

  Each picking point 8 is provided with a U-shaped conveyor 15 configured by combining three one-way linear conveyors. The U-shaped conveyor 15 is configured to be able to command the start and stop of the transport operation by manual operation. Each picking location 8 is provided with a liquid crystal display for displaying an image of a picking slip at a position where an operator who performs the picking work at the picking location 8 can easily see.

  The picking operation at the picking location 8 will be described. A picking worker located on the opposite side of the guide rail 6 with respect to the U-shaped conveyor 15 is discharged from the automatic warehouse 3 and is moved to the U-shaped conveyor 15 by the transport vehicle 7. The conveyance operation of the U-shaped conveyor 15 is started and stopped so that the article A conveyed to the conveyance inlet 15s is positioned at a position where the picking operation is easily performed. Then, a specified quantity of articles Wp as picking articles indicated on the picking slip displayed on the liquid crystal display are taken out from the articles A on the U-shaped conveyor 15 and are delivered on the side of the delivery conveyor 16. In addition, the conveyance operation of the U-shaped conveyor 15 is restarted and stopped so that the article A is placed in the conveyance outlet 15e of the U-shaped conveyor 15. Then, the article A after the necessary number of subdivided articles Wp are taken out is transported to the stop position corresponding to the corresponding warehousing conveyor 13 at the loading / unloading port 5 of the automatic warehouse 3 by the transport vehicle 7. Is received.

  The picking target article at the picking location 8 may be a single type or a plurality of types. In other words, the picking slip displayed on the liquid crystal display at the picking location may indicate each specified quantity for a plurality of types of picking target articles. In this case, a plurality of types are selected in the picking container C for carrying out. Of subdivided articles Wp are packed together.

For example, when a picking slip as shown in FIG. 8 is issued, the pallet P on which a plurality of products having the product name A as the subdivided goods Wp is placed is transferred to the U-shaped conveyor 15 by the transport vehicle 7. It is transported to the transport inlet 15s. Then, the picking operator starts and stops the conveyance operation of the U-shaped conveyor 15, places the pallet P on which a plurality of products with the product name A are placed at a position where the picking work can be easily performed, and refers to the picking slip Then, the designated quantity N ₁ of the product with the product name A is taken out from the pallet P and put in the picking container C prepared behind. Similarly, a pallet P on which a plurality of products with the product name B is placed and a pallet P on which a plurality of products with the product name C are placed are each transported to the transport inlet 15 s of the U-shaped conveyor 15 by the transport vehicle 7. Then, the picking workers take out the designated quantities N ₂ and N ₃ of goods and pack them in the picking container C.

  When the total number of picking objects shown in the picking slip is packed into the picking container C at the picking point 8, the operator picks up the picking container C together with the pallet P and picks the picking container C in order to place the picking container C on the transport surface of the conveyor 16. Is pushed out to the discharge conveyor 16, and then conveyed to the vicinity of the carry-in / out conveyor 4 by the discharge conveyor 16. Then, similarly to the article A carried out by the carry-in / out conveyor 4, the pallet P is transferred by a forklift or the like and conveyed to the platform 2.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the transport vehicle 7 includes a traveling wheel 18 provided below the vehicle body 17 and guided by the traveling rail 6, and a transfer conveyor 19 provided on the upper surface of the vehicle body 17. Yes. The transfer conveyor 19 is configured to be able to switch the conveyance direction so that the article A placed on the transfer conveyor 19 can be drawn or pushed out in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the conveyance vehicle 7.

  The height of the transfer surface of the transfer conveyor 19 from the floor surface is as follows: the carry-in / out conveyor 4, the U-shaped conveyor 15 at the picking location 8, and the loading conveyor 13 and the loading conveyor 14 at the loading / unloading port 5. The height is substantially the same as the conveyor surface of the conveyor, and the transfer conveyor 19 and each conveyor are in a state in which the transport vehicle 7 is stopped at the article transfer stop position set corresponding to each conveyor. The article A can be transferred between the two.

  The configuration of the second automatic warehouse facility 1b is substantially the same as that of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a except that the positional relationship between the automatic warehouse 3 and the guide rail 6 of the second automatic warehouse facility 1b and the number of picking locations 8 are different. Because there is, detailed explanation is omitted.

  And the management control apparatus H as an operation control means which manages the driving | operation of each conveyance vehicle 7 is located between the guide rail 6 of the 1st automatic warehouse equipment 1a, and the guide rail 6 of the 2nd automatic warehouse equipment 1b. It is provided in the place.

  The management control device H instructs a driving command to each transport vehicle 7 with a radio signal, and based on this driving command, an in-vehicle controller mounted on each transport vehicle 7 drives the drive wheels of the transport vehicle 7. And the transfer operation of the transfer conveyor 19 is controlled.

  The distribution warehouse SU is configured such that the transport vehicles 7 existing on the first traveling route L1 and the second traveling route L2 arranged for the first automatic warehouse facility 1a and the second automatic warehouse facility 1b change the route. It is configured to be able to move to a traveling route in the automatic warehouse facility on the opposite side through the traverser unit TR as the relay unit for use.

  The traverser unit TR will be described as a vehicle body moving means for moving the vehicle body of the transport vehicle 7 between the first travel route L1 of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a and the second travel route L2 of the second automatic warehouse facility 1b. The traverser 23 is provided on the floor.

  When the transport vehicle 7 is moved by a traverser 23 as a vehicle body moving means provided in the traverser unit TR, the automatic warehouse facility 1 (for example, the first automatic warehouse facility 1a) in which the transport vehicle 7 is disposed. The travel route (in the previous example, the first travel route L1) and the other automatic warehouse facility 1 (in the previous example, the second automatic warehouse facility 1b) travel route (in the previous example, The vehicle body is moved between the two travel routes L2).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the traverser 23 includes a first path shifter 24, a second path shifter 26, and a slide turntable 25. Each of these includes a base 30 embedded in a pit 27 formed on the floor surface corresponding to each of them, and a slide moving mechanism for sliding the base 30 in the left-right direction on the paper surface of FIG. .

  Each base 30 of the first path shifter 24, the second path shifter 26, and the slide turntable 25 is provided with a pair of movement guide rails 36 having a length approximately equal to the length of the transport vehicle 7. With the vehicle 7 stopped on the base 30, the transport vehicle 7 can be moved in the left-right direction on the paper surface of FIG. 5. The base 30 of the slide turntable 25 is provided with a turntable 35 so that the direction of the transport vehicle 7 can be rotated 180 degrees. That is, the slide turntable 25 can turn the carrier 7 in the opposite direction in the front-rear direction while sliding the base 30.

  The floor located between the pit 27a of the first path shifter 24 and the pit 27b of the slide turntable 25 guides the travel of the transport vehicle 7 when connecting the first path shifter 24 and the slide turntable 25. The first path-side connecting rail 37 is located between the pit 27c of the second path shifter 26 and the pit 27b of the slide turntable 25. The second path shifter 26 and the slide turn A second path-side connecting rail 38 that guides the travel of the transport vehicle 7 when connecting to the table 25 is provided. Each pit 27 is provided with a slide guide rail 40 that is aligned with a guide groove (not shown) formed on the back surface of the base 30 along the left and right slide path of the base 30.

  Taking the first path shifter 24 as an example, a description will be given of a slide moving mechanism that slides the base 30 left and right. As shown in FIG. 6, the slide moving mechanism includes a rack 28 provided on the bottom surface of the pit 27, a pinion gear 29 that meshes with the rack 28, a drive motor 31 provided on the base 30, and a base Detecting the right position of the base 30 by detecting the right end of the paper 30 and detecting the normal position optical sensor 32 as a normal position detecting means for detecting that the base 30 is positioned at the normal position. The switching position optical sensor 33 serving as a switching position detecting means for detecting that the base 30 is positioned at the switching position is connected to the management controller H so as to be communicable (see FIG. 7). And a slide controller H3 for controlling the driving of the drive motor 31 based on the slide command to be performed.

  When a slide command is commanded from the management control device H to the slide controller H3, the slide controller H3 starts driving the drive motor 31, and the normal position light sensor 32 is positioned at the base position 30. If the switching position optical sensor 33 detects that the base 30 is located at the switching position, the slide controller H3 stops driving the driving motor 31.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the normal position of the first path shifter 24 with respect to the base 30 is the inner side of the annular first traveling path L1, and the outer side moving guide rail in the base 30 in a state of being inward. The position of the base 30 when 36a is positioned on the first travel route L1 is assumed, and the switching position of the base 30 of the first route shifter 24 is outward in the inner and outer directions of the annular first travel route L1. In the state where it approached, the position of the base 30 when the inner side movement guide rail 36b in the base 30 is located in the 1st driving | running route L1 shall be said. When the base 30 of the first path shifter 24 is positioned at the switching position, the outer side movement guide rail 36a of the base 30 and the first path-side transfer rail 37 are positioned on the same straight line. It has become.

  The same applies to the normal position and the switching position of the base 30 of the second path shifter 25. The normal position and the switching position of the base 30 of the slide turntable 25 are the positions shown in FIG. 5, that is, the movement guide rail 36 of the slide turntable 25 and the first path side connecting rail 37. A position located on the same straight line is a normal position, and a position where the movement guide rail 36 of the slide turntable 25 and the second path side connecting rail 38 are located on the same straight line is a switching position.

  The slide commands commanded by the management control device H include a switching slide command and a return slide command. When the switching slide command is commanded to the slide controller H3 of the first path shifter 24, the slide controller H3 In order to position the base 30 of the path shifter 24 at the switching position, and when a return slide command is instructed, the slide controller H3 positions the base 30 of the first path shifter 24 at the normal position. Based on the detection information of the normal position light sensor 32 and the switching position light sensor 33, the operation of the drive motor 31 is controlled.

  Therefore, when the switching slide command is instructed, the first path shifter 24 is in a position at the switching position, and when the return slide command is instructed, the first path shifter 24 is in the normal position (see FIG. 5). The same applies when a switching slide command and a return slide command are commanded to the slide controller H3 of the second path shifter 26.

  When a switching slide command is commanded to the slide controller H3 of the slide turntable 25, the base 30 of the slide turntable 25 is positioned at the switching position, and when a return slide command is commanded, the slide turntable 25 The base 30 is in a state (state shown in FIG. 5) located at the normal position.

  The second automatic warehouse facility 1b has the same configuration as that of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a. As shown in FIG. 7, the management controller H includes a first automatic warehouse facility 1a and a second automatic warehouse facility 1b. Each of the controllers is connected to be able to communicate.

  The management control device H supplies the transport vehicle 7 disposed in each of the plurality of automatic warehouse facilities 1 between the picking point 8 and the entrance / exit 5 for the automatic warehouse facility 1 in which the transport vehicle 7 is disposed. A normal operation for controlling the operation of the transport vehicle 7 to transport A, and an entrance to the automatic warehouse facility 1 in which the transport vehicle 7 disposed in each of the plurality of automatic warehouse facilities 1 is disposed. The article A is transported between the exit port 5 and the picking location 8 for the other automatic warehouse equipment 1 or the picking location 8 and the other automatic warehouse equipment 1 for the automatic warehouse equipment 1 in which the article A is disposed. In order to convey the article A to and from the loading / unloading port 5, it can be changed to a path switching operation for controlling the operation of the transport vehicle 7.

  In other words, the management control device H moves the transport vehicle 7 disposed in the first automatic warehouse facility 1a between the picking point 8 and the entrance / exit 5 for the first automatic warehouse facility 1a in normal operation. The article A is transported between the picking point 8 and the entrance / exit 5 for the second automatic warehouse equipment 1b in order to transport the article A in the second automatic warehouse equipment 1b. Therefore, the operation of the transport vehicle 7 is controlled.

  That is, in normal operation, the vehicle body is not moved between the first travel route L1 and the second travel route L2, and each transport vehicle 7 travels along the travel route on which it is disposed. Thus, the article A is transported between the picking point 8 and the loading / unloading port 5 of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a and between the picking point 8 and the loading / unloading port 5 of the second automatic warehouse facility 1b.

  On the other hand, in the route switching operation, the management control device H moves the transport vehicle 7 disposed in the first automatic warehouse facility 1a to the loading / unloading port 5 for the first automatic warehouse facility 1a and the second automatic warehouse facility 1b. In order to transport the article A between the picking location 8 or between the picking location 8 for the first automatic warehouse facility 1a and the loading / unloading port 5 for the second automatic warehouse facility 1b, The operation of the transport vehicle 7 is controlled.

  That is, in the route switching operation, the vehicle body is moved between the first travel route L1 and the second travel route L2 as necessary, and each transport vehicle 7 is moved from the first travel route L1 to the second travel route. By moving to L2 or from the second travel route L2 to the first travel route L1, the article A between the loading / unloading port 5 of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a and the picking location 8 of the second automatic warehouse facility 1b In addition, the article A is transported between the loading / unloading port 5 of the second automatic warehouse facility 1b and the picking location 8 of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the management control device H is provided with an operation changeover switch 20 as a manual input means for instructing a command to switch between normal operation and path switching operation. The operation changeover switch 20 is configured by a toggle switch that can be switched between a normal operation command state for instructing normal operation and a switching operation command state for instructing path switching operation. The operation state can be switched between normal operation and path switching operation.

  Then, by switching the operation switch 20 to the switching operation command state, for example, the article A stored in the automatic warehouse 3 of the second automatic warehouse facility 1b is transported to the picking location 8 of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a. It can be transported by the car 7 and operated so that only the picking location 8 of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a is operated. That is, the worker is arranged only at the picking location 8 in the first automatic warehouse facility 1a, and the worker is not arranged at the picking location 8 in the second automatic warehouse facility 1b. Therefore, the work efficiency can be improved.

  In addition, the management control device H manages the entire article quantity M for each order in which a plurality of articles A are packed, and the first automatic warehouse equipment 1a and the second automatic warehouse equipment for orders with a small overall article quantity M. A path switching operation is performed so that picking is performed for the order at the picking point 8 in any of the automatic warehouse facilities 1b.

Hereinafter, with respect to the management control device H performing the path switching operation according to the total amount of articles M for each order, the products of item names i, b, c, and d are stored in the automatic warehouse 3 of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a. is, product name in the automated warehouse 3 of the second automatic warehouse facility 1b b, e to, in the case (see FIG. 9) which bets products are housed, N _i number of items of product name Yi, the product name b product N _b pieces, illustrating the product name Ha products N _Ha number, the product name e products as an example the control operation of the management control unit H at the time when only Tsumeawaseru order occurs N _ho pieces.

The management control device H, the volume data V _b for each product in the subdivision article Wp units Product Name to be picked, V _B, ... are stored in advance, when an order is generated, and the volume data for each commodity Based on the picking designated quantity, the entire article quantity M for the order is calculated, and according to the magnitude, the route switching operation is performed to perform the picking work by collecting at the picking point 8 in any automatic warehouse facility 1 It is determined whether to control the operation of the transport vehicle 7 or to control the operation of the transport vehicle 7 in the normal operation so as to perform the picking work dispersedly at the picking locations 8 in both automatic warehouse facilities 1. Then, based on the determination result, a picker slip is output to the liquid crystal display at the picking location 8, and the picker pair target article A instructed in the picking slip is transported to the picking location 8. The operation of the delivery conveyor 14, the transport vehicle 7, and the traverser 23 is controlled.

  Hereinafter, a specific control operation of the management control device H after the exemplified order is generated will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 10 and 11.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in step # A1, the entire article quantity M for the generated order is calculated. Specifically, the total volume of each product for the order is calculated by multiplying the volume data in units of subdivided goods Wp of the product specified in the order by the specified quantity of the product and calculating the total volume for each product. M is calculated.

  Next, in step # A2, it is determined whether or not the entire article amount M is smaller than the picking load determination threshold Mth. When the total amount M of articles is smaller than the picking load determination threshold value Mth, the picking operation (hereinafter referred to as the following) is performed for all articles designated by the order only at the picking location 8 arranged in any of the automatic warehouse facilities 1. A plurality of types of articles A to be picked are transported to a selected picking location 8s set in a later step so that the selected picking location 8s can be used in a later step. The picking slip to be generated is output.

  When the total amount M of articles is equal to or greater than the picking load determination threshold value Mth, the first automatic warehouse facility 1a side set in a later step from the respective picking location 8 of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a and the second automatic warehouse facility 1b. The first selected picking location 8s and the second selected so that the picking operation (hereinafter referred to as distributed picking operation) can be performed at both the selected picking location 8s and the selected picking location 8s on the second automatic warehouse facility 1b side. A plurality of types of articles A to be picked are transported to the picking location 8s in a form that is sorted by type, and the liquid crystal display at each of the first selected picking location 8s and the second selected picking location 8s has a subsequent step. The picking slip generated in is output.

  Hereinafter, the case where Yes is determined in Step # A2, that is, the case where the aggregation picking work is performed, and the case where it is determined No in Step # A2, that is, the case where the distributed picking work is performed are described in detail. To do.

  First, in the aggregate picking work, in step # A3, the automatic warehouse facility 1 that stores more types of picked articles A specified in the order is determined, and is arranged in the automatic warehouse facility. Among the picking locations 8 that are not assigned picking operations by other orders, that is, the picking location 8s for the relevant order is set from the picking locations 8 that are not set in the selected picking location 8s for the other orders. .

  Specifically, among the types of articles A specified in the order, the number Ka of the types of articles A stored in the automatic warehouse 3 of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a and the second automatic warehouse facility 1b A comparison is made with the number Kb of the type of article A stored in the automatic warehouse 3, and only when Kb> Ka, the selected picking point 8s for the order is set from the picking point 8 of the second automatic warehouse facility 1b ( Step # A4) When Ka = Kb or Ka> Kb, the selected picking location 8s for the order is set from the picking location 8 of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a (step # A5).

  In the previous example, there are four types of articles A designated in the order, i, b, c, and ho, and the types of articles A stored in the automatic warehouse 3 of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a are Since A, B, C, and D, Ka = 3, and the type of the article A stored in the automatic warehouse 3 of the second automatic warehouse facility 1b is B, E, H, G. Kb = 2. Therefore, in the case of the order of this example, among the picking locations 8 of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a, the selected picking location 8s for the order is selected from the picking location 8 that is not set as the selected picking location 8s for the other order. Is set.

  When the selected picking location 8s is set, a picking slip is output to the liquid crystal display at the selected picking location 8s in step # A6.

  Step # A7 and subsequent steps are repeatedly executed for all types of picking target articles A instructed in the order (four types, i, b, c, and ho in the above example). In step # A7, it is determined whether or not the automatic warehouse 3 in which the type of article A is stored and the selected picking location 8s are arranged in the same automatic warehouse facility 1.

  The automatic warehouse 3 in which the article A of the type is stored and the selected picking location 8 s are arranged in the same automatic warehouse equipment 1, and the article A of the type is stored in the same automatic warehouse equipment 1. If it is to be transported, the operation of the transport vehicle 7 is controlled in the normal operation (step # A8), and the automatic warehouse facility in which the automatic warehouse 3 in which the article A of the type is stored differs from the selected picking location 8s. If the article A of the type is transported between different automatic warehouse facilities 1, the operation of the transport vehicle 7 is controlled by the route switching operation (step # A9).

  In this way, in order to transport various types of articles A to be picked to the selected picking location 8s, the transport vehicle 7 provided in the automatic warehouse facility 1 provided with the selected picking location 8s is operated in a normal operation. The operation is controlled, and the article A stored in the automatic warehouse 3 of the automatic warehouse facility 1 in which the selected picking location 8s is arranged is conveyed to the transfer inlet 15s of the U-shaped conveyor 15 for the selected picking location 8s. Further, the transporter 7 disposed in the other automatic warehouse equipment 1 is controlled by route switching operation, and the article A stored in the automatic warehouse 3 of the other automatic warehouse equipment 1 is transferred to the traverser unit. It conveys to the conveyance inlet 15s of the U-shaped conveyor 15 about the selected picking location 8s via TR.

  The article A transferred to the conveyance inlet 15s of the U-shaped conveyor 15 for the selected picking location 8s is conveyed to a position where the picking work can be easily performed by the U-shaped conveyor 15 operated by the picking worker, and the necessary number The subdivided articles Wp are taken out. Thereafter, the picking operator instructs to start the conveyance operation of the U-shaped conveyor 15, and the article A is conveyed to the conveyance outlet 15 e of the U-shaped conveyor 15.

  In step # A10, when it is detected that the article A has been conveyed to the conveyance outlet 15e of the U-shaped conveyor 15 for the selected picking location 8s, the picking operation for the article A of that type is completed, In step # A11, the article A is transferred to the transport vehicle 7 so as to be stored in the original storage unit 9. As for the transport vehicle 7, the transport vehicle 7 that has transported the article A to the selected picking location 8s may be placed on standby, or another transport vehicle 7 may be newly dispatched. Good.

  In step # A12, whether or not the article is transported in the same automatic warehouse facility 1, that is, the automatic warehouse 3 that is the storage destination of the article A transferred to the transport vehicle 7 is provided with the selected picking location 8s. It is determined based on the article management information of the article A whether it is the automated warehouse 3 arranged in the automated warehouse facility 1 or another automated warehouse.

  The article management information is registered in advance in a form associated with each type based on the identification information set for each type of article A. If the identification information of article A is known, By referring to the article management information for A, storage location information indicating which storage unit 9 in which automatic warehouse 3 should be stored can be acquired.

  Specifically, a label reader such as a barcode reader provided in the vicinity of the transfer outlet 15e of the U-shaped conveyor 15 reads an identification label such as a barcode attached to each article A, and The identification information is acquired, and the label reading device transmits the identification information to the management control device H by communication, whereby the storage location information for the type of article A conveyed to the conveyance outlet 15e can be acquired.

  When the automatic warehouse 3 which is the storage destination of the article A is the automatic warehouse 3 provided in the automatic warehouse facility 1 in which the selected picking location 8s is provided, the process proceeds to step # A13, and the article A The operation of the transport vehicle 7 is controlled in a normal operation so that the transport vehicle 7 travels to the entrance / exit 5 of the automatic warehouse 3 of the automatic warehouse facility 1 in which the transport vehicle 7 is placed. .

  If the automatic warehouse 3 that is the storage destination of the article A is another automatic warehouse 3 that is not the automatic warehouse 3 provided in the automatic warehouse facility 1 in which the selected picking location 8s is provided, step # A14. In order to move the transport vehicle 7 to the entrance / exit 5 of another automatic warehouse 3 that is not the automatic warehouse 3 of the automatic warehouse facility 1 where the transport vehicle 7 on which the article A is placed is disposed. The operation of the transport vehicle 7 is controlled by the switching operation.

  When it is detected in step # A15 that the transport vehicle 7 has arrived at the stop position corresponding to the corresponding warehousing conveyor 13 in the automatic warehouse 3 as the storage destination, in step # A16, the corresponding warehousing conveyor 13 is detected. In addition, the transfer controller 19 of the transport vehicle 7 is operated in the transport direction for wholesale. As a result, the article A is transferred to the warehousing conveyor 13 and returned to the storage unit 9 of the storage shelf 10 originally stored in the stacker crane 11.

  The above-described processing from step # A7 to step # A16 is repeatedly executed until various types of articles A are processed. In order to minimize the time for the picking worker at the selected picking point 8s to wait for the arrival of the article A to be picked, the processing from step # A7 to step # A16 for different types of articles A may be partially or It may be done when all of them overlap.

  The process of Step # A7 to Step # A16 will be briefly described in the case where four types of articles, i. First, as described above, since Ka = 3 and Kb = 2, the selected picking location 8s is selected from the picking location 8 of the first automatic warehouse 1a by the processing of Step # A3 and Step # A4. Accordingly, the article A having the item name A stored in the first automatic warehouse facility 1a is conveyed from the automatic warehouse 3 to the selected picking point 8s by the article conveyance in the same automatic warehouse facility. The transported vehicle disposed in the first automatic warehouse facility 1a is identified and transported from the automatic warehouse 3 of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a to the selected picking location 8s along the first travel route L1. 7 is controlled by normal operation (step # A9).

  Then, when a specified quantity of small articles Wp is taken out from the article A with the article name A, the picking of the article A with the article name A is completed, and the article A is positioned at the transfer outlet 15e of the U-shaped conveyor 15 (step # A10). ), The article A is transferred to the transported vehicle 7 that has been dispatched or is waiting (step # A11). Then, in order to store the article A with the item name A in the original automatic warehouse 3, the carriage 7 is received from the stop position corresponding to the conveyance outlet 15e of the U-shaped conveyor 15 at the selected picking location 8s. The operation of the transport vehicle 7 is controlled in the normal operation so as to transport the articles in the same automatic warehouse facility along the first travel path L1 to the stop position corresponding to the conveyor 13 (step # A13). Thereafter, the article A with the product name A is stored in the storage unit 9 of the original automatic warehouse 3 in accordance with the warehousing instruction.

  Since the article A with the name B is stored in both the first automatic warehouse equipment 1a and the second automatic warehouse equipment 1b, it can be delivered from the automatic warehouse 3 in any automatic warehouse equipment. In such a case, out of the automatic warehouse 3 having a smaller number of types to be picked out of the types of stored articles A, the goods are discharged. That is, in the case of this example, as described above, Kb <Ka, so the article A with the product name B is to be delivered from the second automatic warehouse facility 1b.

  Therefore, since the article A with the item name B is conveyed from the automatic warehouse 3 to the selected picking location 8s by the article conveyance between the different automatic warehouse facilities 1, it is determined as No in Step # A7, and the article A with the item name B is 2 In order to transport from the automatic warehouse 3 of the automatic warehouse facility 1b along the second travel route L2 to the selected picking point 8s along the first travel route L1 in the form of passing through the traverser TR. The transport vehicle 7 disposed in the automatic warehouse facility 1b is controlled by the path switching operation (step # A9).

  Then, when a specified quantity of small articles Wp is taken out from the article A with the article name B, the picking of the article A with the article name B is completed, and the article A is positioned at the transfer outlet 15e of the U-shaped conveyor 15 (step # A10). ), The article A is transferred to the transported vehicle 7 that has been dispatched or is waiting (step # A11). And in order to store the article A of the article name B in the original automatic warehouse 3, the stop position corresponding to the conveyance outlet 15e of the U-shaped conveyor 15 at the selected picking location 8s of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a To the stop position corresponding to the warehousing conveyor 13 of the automatic warehouse 3 of the second automatic warehouse facility 1b, along the first travel route L1, via the traverser part TR, and further along the second travel route L2. In order to transport the articles in different automatic warehouse facilities, the operation of the transport vehicle 7 is controlled by the path switching operation (step # A13). Thereafter, the article A with the name B is stored in the storage unit 9 of the original automatic warehouse 3 in accordance with the warehousing instruction.

  As for the article A with the article name C, similarly to the article A with the article name A, the first automated warehouse is delivered from the automatic warehouse 3 of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a and controlled by normal operation. The selected picking location 8s of the facility 1a is transported to the transport inlet 15s of the U-shaped conveyor 15. When entering the original automatic warehouse 3, the first automatic is made from the transfer outlet 15e of the U-shaped conveyor 15 for the selected picking point 8s of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a by the transport vehicle 7 controlled by normal operation. The goods are transferred to the stop position corresponding to the receiving conveyor 13 of the automatic warehouse 3 of the warehouse facility 1a, and the article A having the item name C is received in the original automatic warehouse 3.

  As for article A of product name E, in the same way as article A of product name b, the first automatic warehouse equipment is taken out from automatic warehouse 3 of second automatic warehouse equipment 1b and is controlled by route switching operation. The selected picking location 1a of 1a is conveyed to the conveyance inlet 15s of the U-shaped conveyor 15. In the case of entering the original automatic warehouse 3, the transfer vehicle 7 controlled by the path switching operation performs the second operation from the transfer outlet 15e of the U-shaped conveyor 15 for the selected picking point 8s of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a. The product is transported to a stop position corresponding to the receiving conveyor 13 of the automatic warehouse 3 of the automatic warehouse facility 1b, and the article A having the product name is received in the original automatic warehouse 3.

  Next, in the distributed picking work, in step # A18, the picking work by another order is not allocated among the picking locations 8 arranged in the first automatic warehouse equipment 1a and the second automatic warehouse equipment 1b. That is, a plurality of selected picking locations 8s for the order are set from all the empty picking locations 8 that are not set in the selected picking locations 8s for other orders.

  Specifically, the first automatic warehouse is used as a picking location for picking the type of articles A stored in the automatic warehouse 3 of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a among the plurality of types of articles A specified in the order. An empty one is selected from the picking locations 8 arranged in the facility 1a, and similarly, the second picking location for picking the type of article A stored in the automatic warehouse 3 of the second automatic warehouse facility 1b is used as the second picking location. A vacant one from the picking location 8 arranged in the automatic warehouse facility 1b is selected as the selected picking location 8s. In addition, although illustration by a flow is abbreviate | omitted, about the picking location of the article | item A (specifically the article | item of article name B) of the classification accommodated in both the 1st automatic warehouse equipment 1a and the 2nd automatic warehouse equipment 1b. Are distributed to one of the selected picking locations 8s in consideration of the balance of the amount of articles at each selected picking location 8s.

  Although illustration by the flow is omitted, in step # A18, when the quantity of articles at the selected picking location 8s in the first automatic warehouse facility 1a exceeds the above-described picking load determination threshold Mth, the first automatic warehouse. Similarly, the number of selected picking locations 8s in the facility 1a is increased. Similarly, when the amount of articles at the selected picking location 8s in the second automatic warehouse facility 1b exceeds the picking load determination threshold Mth, the selected picking location in the second automatic warehouse facility 1b. By increasing 8s, the picking work amount at the selected picking location is prevented from becoming excessive.

  In addition, depending on the combination of a plurality of types specified in the order, a plurality of picking locations 8 may be selected from either the first automatic warehouse facility 1a or the second automatic warehouse facility 1b. For example, if the order is an assortment of product name A, product name C, and product name D, all these items A are stored in the automatic warehouse of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a. One or a plurality of selected picking locations 8s are selected from the empty picking locations 8.

Incidentally, there is previously illustrated order (a product of Name Lee N _i number, Product N _B number of product name B, N _C number of items of product name Ha, the product name E products N _ho pieces only Tsumeawaseru order) in If, for example, over a specified quantity of the product to the volume data of the subdivision goods Wp unit to calculate the total volume of each product name (V _i × N + V _b × N _b + V _c × N _c)> (V _b × N _B + V _E x N _E ), the product name B is assigned to the second automatic warehouse equipment 1b. As a result, the picking locations of the product names A and C are from the empty picking location 8 of the first automatic warehouse equipment 1a. The picking locations of the selected product names B and E are selected from the empty picking locations 8 of the second automatic warehouse facility 1b. The article total amount articles to be picked in selected picking portion 8s of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a and "V _i × N _i + V _c × N _c", is picked by the selected picking portion 8s of the second automatic warehouse facility 1b If the total amount “V _B × N _B + V _H × N _H ” is equal to or greater than the picking load determination threshold Mth, the total amount of articles picked at each selected picking location 8s is less than the picking load determination threshold Mth. Then, a new selected picking location 8s is added from the empty picking location 8 in the automatic warehouse facility where there is a selected picking location 8s in which the total amount of articles is equal to or greater than the picking load determination threshold Mth.

Further, for example, if (V _i × N + V _B × N _B + V _C × N _c) ≦ (V _b × N _b + V _E × N _E), shared by the first automatic warehouse facility 1a for Name b As a result, the picking location 8s for the product names A, B and C is selected from the empty picking location 8 of the first automatic warehouse equipment 1a, and the selected picking location 8s for the product name E is available in the second automatic warehouse equipment 1b. Selected from the picking point 8 in the state. The selected article total amount to be picked by the picking portion 8s "V × N _i + V _B × N _B + V _C × N _c" and the first automatic warehouse facility 1a, selected picking portion 8s of the second automatic warehouse facility 1b If the total amount of articles picked at “V _ho × N _ho ” is equal to or greater than the picking load determination threshold Mth, the total amount of articles picked at each selected picking location 8s is less than the picking load determination threshold Mth. Then, a new selected picking location 8s is added from the empty picking location 8 in the automatic warehouse facility where there is a selected picking location 8s in which the total amount of articles is equal to or greater than the picking load determination threshold Mth.

  As described above, when the selected picking location 8s is selected in step # A18, the picking that indicates the type and quantity to be picked at the selected picking location 8s is displayed for the liquid crystal display at the selected picking location 8s. A slip is output (step # A6).

  In the distributed picking operation, the selected picking portion 8s for picking the article A with a certain product name is picked at the automatic warehouse facility 1 in which the automatic warehouse 3 in which the product A with the product name is stored is provided. Since it is selected from the part 8, in Step # A7, it is determined as Yes in principle. However, for the articles stored in the automatic warehouse 3 of both automatic warehouse facilities 1 such as the article A with the name B, other automatics different from the automatic warehouse equipment 1 in which the selected picking location 8s is arranged. Since it is also possible to receive the goods A from the warehouse 3, in the case of such operation (for example, when a large quantity of goods A with the name B is requested, it is possible to receive the provision from both automatic warehouses 3). In other cases, the inventory of the item name B in the automatic warehouse 3 in the same automatic warehouse facility as the selected picking point 8s becomes zero and the article A of the item name B is received from the other automatic warehouse 3). May be determined No in step # A7.

  After the discrimination process in step # A7, the processing contents are the same as those of the aggregation picking process already described, and therefore the description of steps # A8 to # A17 in the distributed picking process is omitted.

  Next, the route switching operation will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. In the following description, the second automatic warehouse facility 1b is entered so as to supply the article A stored in the automatic warehouse 3 of the second automatic warehouse facility 1b to the selected picking location 8s of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a. When the article A to be picked transferred to the transport vehicle 7 at the exit 5 is transported to the stop position corresponding to the selected picking location 8s of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a (see FIG. 4), that is, step # A9 A case where an article is conveyed by the path switching operation in FIG. The route switching operation in step # A14 is merely a replacement of the transport start position and the transport end position of the route switching operation in step # A9, and there is no particular technical difference compared to the route switching operation in step # A9. Since there is no description, the description will be omitted.

  First, in step # B1, a switching slide command is issued to each slide controller H3, and the first path shifter 24, the second path shifter 26, and the slide turntable 25 of the traverser section TR are switched to the switching position.

  In step # B2, the transport vehicle 7 is caused to travel along the second travel route L2 to the second route shifter 26.

  In step # B3, a return slide command is commanded to the slide controller H3 of the second path shifter 26. Since the transport vehicle 7 is transferred from the second travel route L2 to the second route shifter 26 at the switching position in step # B2, when the second route shifter 26 slides to the normal position, the transport vehicle 7 moves to the second travel route. In a state of being placed on the outer movement guide rail 36a in the inner and outer directions of the route L2, the state is located on the travel route corresponding to the second route side connecting rail 38.

  In step # B4, the transport vehicle 7 travels forward (upward in the drawing in FIG. 5) and travels to the slide turntable 25 at the switching position while being guided by the second path-side connecting rail 38.

  After the transport vehicle 7 has completely transferred to the slide turntable 25, a return slide command is commanded to the slide controller H3 of the slide turntable 25 in step # B5. As a result, the turntable 35 rotates 180 degrees while the base 30 of the slide turntable 25 moves laterally to the normal position on the first travel path L1 side, and the transport vehicle 7 travels in the travel direction on the first travel path L1. In a state of facing the first route side connecting rail 37.

  In Step # B6, the transport vehicle 7 travels forward (downward in the drawing in FIG. 5) and travels to the first path shifter 24 that is the switching position while being guided by the first path-side connecting rail 37. Let

  In step # B7, a return slide command is issued to the slide controller H3 of the first path shifter 24. Since the transport vehicle 7 is transferred from the slide turntable 25 to the first path shifter 24 at the switching position in step # B5, when the first path shifter 24 slides to the normal position, the transport vehicle 7 moves to the first travel path L1. In a state of being placed on the outer movement guide rail 36a in the inner and outer directions, the state is located on the first travel route L1.

  In step # B8, the transport vehicle 7 is traveled along the first travel route L1 to a stop position corresponding to the transport entrance 15s of the U-shaped conveyor 15 at the selected picking location 8s for the article A.

  As described above, in the path switching operation, the management control device H uses the automatic warehouse facility in which the transport vehicle 7 disposed in each of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a and the second automatic warehouse facility 1b is disposed. The article A is transported between the loading / unloading port 5 for 1 and the picking location 8 for another automatic warehouse facility 1, or the picking location 8 for the automatic warehouse facility 1 in which the transport vehicle 7 is disposed The operation of the transport vehicle 7 is controlled so as to transport the article A to and from the loading / unloading port 5 for the other automatic warehouse equipment 1.

  As described above, the management control device H controls the operation of the transport vehicle 7 by the path switching operation, and the article A delivered from the automatic warehouse 3 of the second automatic warehouse facility 1b is picked to the picking location 8 of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a. By transporting, when the total amount of articles for picking orders in which a plurality of articles are packed together is small, the aggregate picking process can simplify the article processing after picking, and the articles can be processed efficiently. It can be done.

  Moreover, the traverser unit TR is provided with a traverser 23 for moving the vehicle body of the transport vehicle 7 between the first travel route L1 of the first automatic warehouse facility 1a and the second travel route L2 of the second automatic warehouse facility 1b. Therefore, the management control device H can be operated in the route switching operation without providing the carriage A with a special function for changing the travel route.

[Another embodiment]
Hereinafter, other embodiments are listed.

(1) In the above embodiment, the manual input means and the abnormality detection means are provided. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the manual input means is not provided, and the operation control means is the abnormality detection means. It may be configured to automatically switch from the normal operation state to the path switching operation state based on the detected information.

(2) In the above embodiment, the vehicle body moving means is configured by the traverser 23. However, instead of this, the vehicle body moving means is configured to include a crane or the like that moves the transport vehicle in a suspended state. It may be.

(3) In the above embodiment, it is configured so that it can be moved between the travel route of the article processing unit on which the transport vehicle is disposed and the travel route of another article processing unit by being moved by the vehicle body moving means. However, instead of this, a route connection state that connects the travel route of the article processing unit on which the transport vehicle is disposed and a travel route of another article processing unit, and a route independent state that does not connect A path switching means that can be switched to is provided, and when the transport vehicle self-travels with the path switching means switched to the path connection state, the travel path of the article processing unit in which the transport vehicle is disposed and other articles It may be configured to be able to move between the processing unit and the travel route.

Overall plan view of a distribution warehouse equipped with the article processing system of the present invention Plan view around the entrance / exit of the first automatic warehouse facility Elevation view showing the transport vehicle stopped at the stop position corresponding to the carry-in / out conveyor Schematic plan view showing the movement trajectory of an article by route switching operation Top view of the traverser Cross section of shifter in traverser Block diagram showing input and output for the management controller Example of picking document Table showing the types of articles stored in automatic warehouse equipment Picking work management flowchart Path switching operation flowchart

Explanation of symbols

A Article H Operation control means L1, L2 Travel route M Whole article amount SU Article processing system TR Route changing relay part 1 Article processing part 3 Automatic warehouse 5 Entrance / exit 6 Guide rail 7 Transport vehicle 8 Picking location 20 Input means 23 Car body transportation

Claims (3)

An article processing unit including a conveyance vehicle that travels along a traveling route between a picking location for assembling plural types of articles and an entrance / exit of an automatic warehouse that stores plural types of articles, and conveys the articles, A plurality of juxtaposed article processing systems,
The transport vehicle existing on the travel route disposed for each of the plurality of article processing units is configured to be able to move to the travel route in another article processing unit through the route change relay unit,
Operation control means for managing the operation of the transport vehicle disposed in each of the plurality of article processing units,
The transporting vehicle disposed in each of the plurality of article processing units is configured to transport the article between the picking location and the entrance / exit for the article processing unit in which the transporting vehicle is disposed. The normal operation for controlling the driving of the car, and the loading / unloading port and the other article processing section for the article processing section in which the transporting vehicle disposed in each of the plurality of article processing sections is disposed. In order to convey the article between the picking point for the item or the picking point for the item processing unit in which the item is disposed and the entrance / exit for the other item processing unit , Is configured to be freely changeable to a path switching operation for controlling the operation of the transport vehicle , and
Manages the total amount of articles for each order in which a plurality of articles are packed, and for an order with a small total amount of articles, the type of picking target article specified in the order is selected from the plurality of article processing units. An article processing system configured to perform the path switching operation so that picking is performed for an order at a picking location in a specific article processing unit that stores more .   2. The article processing system according to claim 1, further comprising manual input means for instructing a command to switch the operation control means between the normal operation and the path switching operation. The transport vehicle is configured to travel while being guided by a guide rail provided along the travel route, and a travel route of an article processing unit on which the transport vehicle is disposed and a travel route of another article processing unit. The vehicle is moved by the vehicle body moving means disposed in the route changing relay unit so as to move the vehicle body between the vehicle and the traveling route of the article processing unit in which the vehicle is moved and other article processing the article processing system according to claim 1 or 2 is configured to be moved between the traveling path of the parts.

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