JP6107501B2 - Sorting equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sorting facility for sorting articles, and more particularly, to a sorting facility for sorting articles according to various orders in accordance with various orders from users (traders, stores, individual customers, etc.).

  In order received by a logistics company having various users as customers (for example, a mail order retailer that accepts orders from individual users on the Internet), different types of goods (products) are required from each user. While the types of items (items) required for an entire order are diverse, the number of items required for each order is small, that is, there is a tendency for small quantities and many items.

In sorting equipment (such as a distribution center) that handles orders for small quantities and many items, the use of packaging methods for each type of goods included in the order reduces the work efficiency. There is a need to be able to handle orders that include any goods with only general packaging methods.
As an example of a conventionally known general-purpose packaging method, as described in Patent Document 1, an article is placed on a mount, and the mount and the article are wrapped together in a film and shrink-wrapped. There is a method of packing the package and the product in an outer box.

In Patent Document 1, a mount in which both ends are bent upward is used. However, when trying to mechanize shrink wrapping and boxing, the shape of the mount is made so that the machine can be easily handled. It is preferable to simplify. In consideration of saving resources and the work of folding the mount, flat distribution boards may be used in recent distribution centers.
That is, various articles requested by the user are placed on a flat mount, the mount on which the article is placed is transported to a shrink machine that automatically performs shrink wrapping, and the shrink wrapped mount and The article is transported to a boxing machine that automatically performs the boxing operation on the outer box.
If the size of the mount and the outer box is limited to one or a few types here, there is no need to select the box according to the size of the item, and the mount and the item are wrapped together in a film and shrink-wrapped. By doing so, it is not necessary to pack a cushioning material between the box and the article.

  An operator in charge of sorting work in a sorting facility employing such a packaging method only has to place the article on a pre-prepared size mount, and what kind of article has been ordered. However, there is no need to select a box for storing articles or a cushioning material to be packed in the gap each time. Furthermore, high work efficiency can be obtained by automating shrink wrapping and boxing.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-90869 Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-19122

However, when a flat mount is used as described above, if the mount is transported at a high speed, an article placed on the mount may fall. For this reason, the board transport from the article placed on the mount to the shrink machine has to be performed manually or at a low speed if it is automatically transported, and the transport efficiency is lowered.
As a method of keeping the conveyance efficiency high while the mount conveyance speed is low, a method of conveying a plurality of mounts on which articles are placed in parallel can be considered. That is, if N sheets of paper are transported in parallel, the transport efficiency can be maintained even if the transport speed is 1 / N.

  As an example of a method for conveying an article receiving body into which an article is placed, such as a container, in addition to the mount, there is a method used in the article sorting facility described in Patent Document 2. In the article sorting facility of Patent Document 2, a container support frame that supports a plurality of containers into which articles are placed is loaded on a movable vehicle, and the movable vehicle is moved along a shelf in which articles are stored. Runs. Then, the worker assigned to the mobile vehicle throws the articles stored on the shelf into a plurality of containers in the container support frame on the mobile vehicle.

  However, in the article sorting facility of Patent Document 2, the worker cannot put in the article while the loading operation is completed at a certain position and the moving vehicle moves to the next position, and the waiting time is long. Will occur. In addition, since the waiting time of the operator is generated while the container in which the articles have been loaded is unloaded from the moving vehicle and an empty container is newly loaded, the work efficiency of the entire facility is not sufficiently increased.

  Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to keep the conveyance efficiency high and to enable the worker to continuously carry in the articles, to eliminate the waiting time of the worker and to improve the work efficiency of the entire equipment. It is an object to provide an appropriate sorting facility.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the sorting facility according to claim 1 of the present invention is a sorting facility for sorting articles according to an order from a user, and transports a storage body storing a plurality of article receiving bodies into which articles are placed. A storage body transport path for transporting articles corresponding to a plurality of orders in parallel, and a pre-collection body transport path for transporting a pre-collection body in which articles to be thrown into the article receiving body are collected And a carry-in / out area for carrying out and carrying in the article receiving body to and from each storage section of the storage body having a plurality of storage sections along the storage body conveyance path, and the article receiving body. An article input area is provided for collecting articles that are to be put into the article receiver along the pre-collection conveyance path. There is a pre-collection area and The collection object conveyance path connects the pre-collection area and the input area, the storage body is conveyed between the carry-in / out area and the input area, and the pre-collection object is And an unloading operation for unloading an article receiving body into which an article has been loaded from each storage section of the storage body, and the unloading work. The carrying-in operation of carrying the article receiving body into each storage compartment of the storage body that has been completed is performed at the same or adjacent position, and in the pre-collection area, the same items are handled for the same order. The pre-collection work is performed in which the pre-collection work is performed, and the pre-collection work is performed in the pre-collection body conveyed from the pre-collection area in the input area. Collected goods are sent to the carry-in / out area. Wherein the charged work to be introduced into the loading work already article receiving body that is conveyed into each storage compartment of the storage body which has been conveyed is performed.

  According to the above configuration, after an article is input to the article receiving body in the input area, the plurality of article receiving bodies are conveyed in parallel from the input area to the carry-in / out area in a state of receiving the article. In addition, the storage body used for the input operation of the article in the input area is transported to the input area in a state where the article receiving body is stored in advance by the input operation in the input / output area. Articles to be thrown in the area are transported to the input area in the pre-collected area in the pre-collected area in advance, and workers placed in the input area will be input Only work is required.

  The sorting facility according to claim 2 is the sorting facility according to claim 1, and the loading work position where the loading work is performed in the loading area is a loading / unloading area and a loading area in the storage body conveyance path. It is provided in the position branched from the conveyance path between areas where the storage body is conveyed between.

  According to the above configuration, even if the loading work in the loading area is delayed and the storage body remains at the loading work position, the loading work position is a position branched from the inter-area transport path. The container is not transported.

  Further, the sorting facility according to claim 3 is the sorting facility according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a stop position is provided in the input area, and the storage body has been transported to the input area. When another storage body is already arranged at the input work position where the input work is performed, the transported storage body can be temporarily stopped at the stop position.

  According to the above configuration, when the storage body is stopped at the stop position in the input area, the completion of the input operation to the article receiving body in the storage body at the input operation position is transferred to the input area. Therefore, after the loading operation is completed, the waiting storage body can immediately move to the loading work position and the worker waits for the next storage body to arrive. Is resolved.

  Further, the sorting facility according to claim 4 is the sorting facility according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the loading work position where the loading operation is performed in the loading area is a storage unit. An input work frame having a frontage corresponding to each storage compartment is provided, and an indication indicating that articles should be put into the storage compartment corresponding to the frontage corresponding to each frontage of the input work frame It is characterized by providing a frontage display means capable of

  According to the above configuration, since the frontage display means displays an instruction as to which storage compartment the article should be put into among the plurality of storage compartments of the storage body, There is no hassle to decide which one to use.

  Further, the sorting facility according to claim 5 is the sorting facility according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the article receiving body in which storage compartment is used during the loading operation in the loading area. It is characterized by assigning which articles should be put into the.

  According to the above configuration, it is not necessary to assign the correspondence relationship between the article and the article receiving body in the operation of bringing the article receiving body into the storage body and the pre-collecting work of the article into the pre-collected body. As a result, it is not necessary to decide which goods receiving body should be stored in which storage body, and what items should be collected in which pre-collection bodies. It saves the time and effort of judgment.

  Further, the sorting facility according to claim 6 is the sorting facility according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the storage body that has been loaded in the loading area is carried in and out of the loading area. The speed at which the container is transported to the area is lower than the speed at which the storage body that has been transported in the transport-in / out area is transported from the transport-in / out area to the input area.

  According to the above configuration, the article receiving body in a state where an article is placed is transported at a lower speed than that in a state where no article is placed, so that stable transportation is performed. In particular, when the article receiving body is a face material such as a flat mount, it is possible to prevent the article placed on the face material from falling during transportation.

  According to the present invention, the article receiving body is transported in a state where a plurality of bodies are stored in the storage body. That is, since a plurality of article receivers are collectively transported in parallel, the efficiency of transporting the article receiver is kept high. In addition, the storage body and the pre-collection body used in the input area are transported to the input area in a state where the carry-in work and the pre-collection work have been completed in other areas such as the carry-in / out area and the pre-collection area. The workers placed in the input area do not have to wait for the carry-in work or pre-collection work, and can continuously put articles into the container while staying in the input area, eliminating the waiting time. This increases the sorting work efficiency. In addition, it is only necessary to carry out unloading and loading work in the carry-in / out area, pre-collection work in the pre-collection area, pre-collection work in the input area, and each work in each area. Since it is possible to concentrate only on the work in charge, and the unloading / carrying-in work is easy to mechanize, the sorting work efficiency of the entire facility increases.

It is a top view which shows the outline of the periphery of the cassette conveyance path (container conveyance path) and the pre-collection container conveyance path in the sorting equipment as an example of embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the cassette (housing body) used in the equipment. It is a schematic side view which shows the carrying in / out area in the equipment, (a) is a figure which shows the carrying-out operation | work of the board | substrate (article receiving body) by which articles | goods input was carried out, (b) is a figure which shows the carrying-in work of the board | substrates without articles | goods loaded. It is. It is a schematic plan view of the pre-collection area in the equipment. It is a top view of the input area in the equipment. It is a front view which shows the input work frame provided in the input work position in the equipment. It is a figure which shows the data used for work in the equipment, (a) is a figure showing storage data used in the pre-collection area, (b) is a diagram showing take-out data used in the pre-collection area, (C) is a figure which shows the input data used in an input area. It is a figure showing the flow of work in the equipment.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Main components of sorting equipment]
First, the main part structure in the sorting equipment 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
The sorting facility 10 is provided with a cassette transport path 14 (an example of a storage body transport path) that is configured by a drive conveyor such as a chain conveyor and spreads in the site, and a multistage type is provided on the cassette transport path 14. A cassette 90 which is a storage body configured in a shelf shape is conveyed. The articles 12 to be sorted by the sorting facility 10 are placed on a mount 92 (an example of an article receiving body, for example, a cardboard board) stored in the cassette 90 on the cassette conveyance path 14. It is transported in a mounted state. The article 12 has various sizes and shapes depending on the type, and an article label 13 (for example, a bar code label that describes an article ID that is a unique value for each type) is used for identifying each type. Is pasted.

The sorting facility 10 is also provided with a pre-collection container transport path 16 (an example of a pre-collection body transport path) configured by, for example, a belt conveyor. A pre-collection container 32 (an example of a pre-collection body) configured with a foldable container is transported. On the pre-collection container transport path 16, the article 12 is transported while being stored (collected) in the pre-collection container 32.
In a predetermined area along the cassette conveyance path 14, the loading / unloading area 20 where the loading and unloading work of the mount 92 is performed on the cassette 90, and the placement (loading) of articles on the mounting 92 in the cassette 90 are performed. The loading / unloading area 40 and the loading area 40 are connected to each other by the cassette conveyance path 14.
The input area 40 is also connected to the pre-collection container transport path 16, and the article 12 to the pre-collection container 32 is provided in a predetermined area along the pre-collection container transport path 16. A pre-collection area 30 where the pre-collection work is performed is arranged.
In addition, the carry-in / out area 20 is also connected to a packing conveyance path 18 configured by, for example, a belt conveyor, and along the packing conveyance path 18, a shrink machine 82 that shrink-wraps a mount 92 on which the article 12 is placed; A boxing machine 84 for packing the shrink-wrapped article 12 and the mount 92 into the outer box is arranged.

The sorting facility 10 is provided with a sorting work controller 60 for managing the sorting work of the articles 12. The sorting operation controller 60 can be configured by, for example, a computer, and is connected to each area and device in the sorting facility 10 so as to be able to communicate wirelessly or by wire, and is also connected to a host system 62.
Here, the host system 62 manages orders received from a sorting destination (individual users, stores, business partners, etc.) by a person who operates the sorting equipment 10, for example, a mail order retailer, and purchases of commodities corresponding to the orders. It is a system that manages the operation of the entire sorting equipment 10. Then, the sorting operation controller 60 receives data related to orders and articles 12 from the host system 62, creates data summarized in a form that can be easily used in various operations based on the received data, and each area and device in the sorting facility 10 As appropriate.
The sorting operation controller 60 receives the progress and operation status of various operations from each area and device in the sorting facility 10 and controls the operation of various devices such as the conveyance speed of the cassette conveyance path 14 according to the situation.

  The above is the main configuration of the sorting equipment 10 of the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, only the configuration of the peripheral area of the cassette conveyance path 14 and the pre-collection container conveyance path 16 is shown, but in addition to this, in addition to this, the area where goods are received and inspection are performed. There are many areas, such as the area where the tag is attached and the area where the tag is pasted.

[Cassette 90]
Next, the cassette 90 (storage body) used in this sorting equipment 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the cassette 90 is a multistage shelf-like structure, and a plurality of storage compartments 90a (in this case, two rows on the left and right, and five on the top and bottom) A total of 10 sections) are provided. Each of the storage compartments 90a can store and support the mount 92. By placing (introducing) the articles 12 on the mounts 92 stored in the respective storage sections 90a, when the cassette 90 is conveyed along the cassette conveyance path 14, a plurality of articles 12 are stored. It will be conveyed on the cassette conveyance path 14 simultaneously in parallel.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the section bottom surface part that supports the mount 92 in the storage section 90a has a comb-like structure, and the mount 92 is supported by the bone portion of the comb. Further, the gap portions of the comb are aligned in the left-right direction between the upper and lower stages, and the gap portions are connected in a straight line from top to bottom.
A cassette label 91 (for example, a bar code label) for identifying each cassette 90 is attached below the cassette 90.

[Cassette transport path 14]
As shown in FIG. 1, the cassette 90 is conveyed between the carry-in / out area 20 and the loading area 40 on the cassette conveyance path 14. That is, the cassette 90 with the articles 12 placed on the mount 92 in the storage section 90 a after the loading operation in the loading area 40 is transported from the loading area 40 toward the loading / unloading area 20. The cassette 90 in a state in which the mount 92 (with no articles 12 placed) is stored in the storage section 90a after being carried in is carried from the carry-in / out area 20 toward the loading area 40.
Here, conveyance path lifters 15a and 15b that are driven by an electric motor, hydraulic pressure, or the like are provided in the middle of the cassette conveyance path 14, and these conveyance path lifters 15a and 15b are provided for the cassette 90 that is conveying between areas. Raise and lower the height. Specifically, the cassette 90 heading from the loading area 40 to the loading / unloading area 20 is raised by the transport path lifter 15a, and the cassette 90 heading from the loading / unloading area 20 to the loading area 40 is lowered by the transport path lifter 15b.
The conveyance of the cassette 90 through the cassette conveyance path 14 is controlled by the sorting operation controller 60 so as to have an appropriate speed and acceleration, and in particular, the article 12 placed on the mount 92 in the cassette 90 falls. In order to prevent this, the force applied to the article 12 in the cassette 90 is controlled so as not to exceed a certain level. For this purpose, when the article 12 is placed, that is, when the cassette 90 is transported from the loading area 40 toward the loading / unloading area 20, it is transported from the loading / unloading area 20 toward the loading area 40 ( It is desirable to carry at a lower speed than when the article 12 is not placed.

[Loading / unloading area 20]
The mount 92 is taken in and out of the cassette 90 in the carry in / out area 20. Specifically, the loading / unloading of the mount 92 is a carrying-out operation of taking out the mount 92 stored in a state where the article 12 is placed in each storage section 90a of the cassette 90 and carrying out the mount 92 with the article 12 placed thereon. The carrying-in operation of storing and carrying the mount 92 so that the mount 92 is supported in each of the storage sections 90a.
As shown in FIG. 1, several carry-in / out devices 22A and 22B (four in FIG. 1) are provided between the cassette carrying path 14 and the packing carrying path 18 in the carry-in / out area 20. The carry-out work and the carry-in work are executed by 22A and 22B.
As shown in FIG. 3, the loading / unloading devices 22 </ b> A and 22 </ b> B include a lifting mechanism 23 that lifts and lowers the cassette 90, and a transfer fork 26 that includes a transfer conveyor 26 a on the upper surface. Further, the carry-in / out device 22A for carry-out work and the carry-in / out device 22B for carry-in work are paired and arranged at positions adjacent to each other (in the left-right direction in FIG. 1).
Note that the sorting operation controller 60 monitors the operation status of each of the loading / unloading devices 22A and 22B to determine which loading / unloading device 22A and 22B the cassette 90 conveyed to the loading / unloading area 20 is sent to. The devices 22A and 22B are distributed so that the work amount is uniform.

"Unloading work"
In the carry-out operation shown in FIG. 3A, the cassette 90 storing the mount 92 on which the article 12 is placed is put in a state where it is raised to a high position by the transfer path lifter 15a (FIG. 1). It is sent by the cassette conveyance path 14 from the area 40 and is placed on the lifting platform 23a of the lifting mechanism 23 included in the loading / unloading device 22A for unloading work. Here, the cassette label 91 of the cassette 90 is read by the cassette label reader 24 provided in the vicinity of the initial position of the lifting platform 23a, so that an object to be carried out from now on (and subsequent carrying-in work) is to be performed. Which cassette 90 is identified can be identified.
The upper surface of the lift 23a is a moving surface that can move the load forward and backward, and the loaded cassette 90 is slightly moved in the direction of the packing conveyance path 18. The transfer fork 26 is disposed at a height between the lower surface of the lowermost storage section 90a of the cassette 90 to be sent and the upper surface of the lifting platform 23a. By the movement of the cassette 90 on the lifting platform 23a, The transfer fork 26 is positioned between the mount 92 stored in the lowermost storage section 90a and the lift table 23a.
In this state, while the height of the transfer fork 26 is fixed, the lifting platform 23a is lowered together with the cassette 90 by the lifting / lowering driver 23b of the lifting / lowering mechanism 23 (a device that generates vertical movement by the driving force of the electric motor). Accordingly, the transfer fork 26 rises relative to the mount 92 of the lowermost storage section 90a, so that the mount 92 is placed on the transfer conveyor 26a of the transfer fork 26. . Here, although not shown in detail, the transfer fork 26 is composed of several arms spaced left and right so as to be able to pass through the gap portion of the comb at the bottom of the storage section 90a. Further, it is assumed that two transfer forks 26 are arranged in pairs on the left and right sides so that the cassette 90 can be carried out simultaneously from the left and right two rows.
The mount 92 placed on the transfer conveyor 26a is sent in the direction of the packing conveyance path 18 by the transfer conveyor 26a while the article 12 is placed. As a result, the mount 92 and the article 12 stored in the lowermost storage section 90 a are carried out from the cassette 90.
When the cassette 90 is further lowered by the elevator 23a and the elevator driver 23b, as shown in FIG. 3A, the second storage compartment from the bottom following the mount 92 of the lowermost storage compartment 90a. The mount 92 and the article 12 are also carried out from 90a.
By continuing this until the mount 92 and the article 12 are carried out from the uppermost stage, the work of carrying out the mount 92 and the article 12 from each storage section 90a of the cassette 90 is performed.
When the mount 92 and the article 12 are unloaded from the uppermost storage section 90a and the unloading operation is completed, the cassette 90 is empty (the mount 92 is not stored).

"Import work"
Next, the carrying-in operation shown in FIG. 3B is performed on the empty cassette 90.
When the carry-out operation is completed, the cassette 90 is positioned at a lower height than when the cassette 90 is sent to the carry-in / out area 20.
The cassette 90 at the low height is delivered to the carry-in / out device 22B for carrying-in work in the adjacent position (as a group) by the delivery device 27 provided at a low position. Similarly to the carry-in / out device 22A for carry-out work, the carry-in / out device 22B for carry-in work includes an elevating mechanism 23 and a transfer fork 26, and is in communication with the cassette carrying path 14, Is not in direct communication, but instead is in communication with a board carry-in path 28 (for example, a belt conveyor) connected to the board feeder 28a, as shown in FIG.
The mount supply machine 28a can supply a plurality of mounts 92 stored by a suction cup to the mount carry-in path 28 one by one, and the mount 92 supplied to the mount carry-in path 28 is a transfer fork. It is conveyed in the direction of 26.
Since the cassette 90 has been lowered by the unloading operation, the transfer fork 26 is located above the uppermost storage section 90a of the cassette 90 when the cassette 90 is transferred to the lifting platform 23a of the loading / unloading device 22B for loading operation. Will be located. In this state, when the elevating platform 23a is raised while the mount 92 is being conveyed in the direction of the cassette conveying path 14 by the transfer conveyor 26a of the transfer fork 26, the mount 92 is relatively lowered with respect to the cassette 90. Therefore, the mount 92 overlaps the partition bottom surface of the uppermost storage compartment 90a, and when the cassette 90 is further raised from there, the mount 92 is supported on the partition bottom surface of the uppermost storage compartment 90a. Thus, the mount 92 is carried into the uppermost storage section 90a.
When the cassette 90 is further raised by the elevator 23a and the elevator driver 23b, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the second storage compartment 90a from the top follows the uppermost storage compartment 90a. The mount 92 is carried in.
By continuing this until the mount 92 is carried into the lowermost storage section 90a, the work of carrying the mount 92 into each storage section 90a of the cassette 90 is performed.
When the mount 92 is carried into the lowermost storage section 90a and the carrying-in operation is completed, the height of the cassette 90 returns to the same height as when the cassette 90 is reached.
The cassette 90 that has returned to this high position is transferred to the cassette conveyance path 14 toward the input area 40 by the moving surface on the lifting platform 23a, whereby the carry-out operation and the carry-in operation for the cassette 90 are completed.
In carrying-in work, it is preferable to record information about which mount 92 is carried into which storage section 90a of which cassette 90. As a specific example, as shown in FIG. 3B, a mount identification information printer 29a for printing mount identification information (for example, a barcode) for individually identifying the mount 92 is provided above the mount carry-in path 28. The board identification information is printed on the board 92 directed to the cassette 90, and the board identification information reader 29b provided near the transfer fork 26 reads the board identification information on the board 92. By combining the mount identification information with the operating status of the loading / unloading device 22B (which stage of which cassette 90 is being loaded), which is the storage section 90a of the cassette 90 into which the mount 92 is loaded It is conceivable to record whether there is any information and send the correspondence between the mount 92 and the storage section 90a to the sorting work controller 60.

[Pre-collection area 30]
The articles 12 scheduled to be placed on each mount 92 in the cassette 90, that is, the articles 12 to be sorted in the sorting equipment 10, are received from the respective suppliers according to the type of the articles 12. (Not shown), after prior work such as sticking of the article label 13 is sent to the pre-collection area 30 shown in FIG. In this pre-collection area 30, in response to a plurality of orders, a plurality of articles 12 belonging to those orders are collected into a pre-collection container 32 (an example of a pre-collection body, for example, a foldable container). Pre-collection work to collect is performed. Here, it is assumed that a container label 33 (for example, a barcode) for individually identifying each pre-collection container 32 is attached to the pre-collection container 32.
For convenience of illustration, only one pre-collection area 30 is shown in FIG. 4, but a plurality of pre-collection areas 30 may be provided in each part of the sorting equipment 10, and each of the pre-collection containers 32 is provided in each area. The pre-collection work of the articles 12 may be performed, and each pre-collection area 30 may be connected to the input area 40 by the pre-collection container conveyance path 16.
The pre-collection area 30 shown in FIG. 4 is equipped with a storage shelf 34 for storing the articles 12 sent from the arrival area and a pre-collection cart 36 for pre-collection work. A worker HS who is in charge of goods work is arranged. Further, a pre-collection controller 38 (for example, a computer) that manages pre-collection work that can communicate with the sorting work controller 60 wirelessly or by wire is provided.
The storage shelf 34 can be configured as a flow rack capable of sequentially replenishing the articles 12 from the arrival area, for example. In addition, an address (position information) is set in advance in each storage unit that stores each article 12 in the storage shelf 34, and what type of article 12 is received and stored at which address position. The storage data relating to this is managed by the pre-collection controller 38. As shown in FIG. 7A, the storage data is data including the address of the storage shelf 34 and the article ID (a unique value for each type) of the article 12 stored at the address position.
The pre-collection cart 36 shown in FIG. 4 can be a traveling body capable of traveling in the pre-collection area 30 along the storage shelf 34 while loading the pre-collection containers 32. However, a display unit (liquid crystal display or the like) that displays an instruction for pre-collection work to the worker HS, a container label reader that reads the container label 33, and a radio that transmits and receives information to and from the pre-collection controller 38. An apparatus, an information processing unit (such as an IC chip) that processes information to be transmitted and received, and a storage confirmation unit (such as a button) that is operated by the worker HS when the article 12 is stored in the pre-collection container 32. I have.

"Pre-collection work"
The worker HS who is in charge of the pre-collection work performs the pre-collection work by using the empty pre-collection container 32 stored in the pre-collection container storage (not shown) and the container label 33 as the container. After being read by the label reader, it is loaded into the pre-collection cart 36 and moved in the pre-collection area 30 together with the pre-collection cart 36.
The pre-collection controller 38 communicates with the sorting work controller 60 at the start of the pre-collection work, receives data related to orders from the user, and performs pre-collection work based on the received data and storage data. Create the retrieval data to be used.
As shown in FIG. 7B, the take-out data includes an order ID individually assigned for each order from the user, an article ID of the article 12 belonging to (required) the order, and the article ID. The address in the storage shelf 34 where the articles 12 are stored, the required quantity of each article 12, and the required volume (the amount of empty space in the pre-collection container 32 necessary for storing all the articles 12 belonging to the order) Is included as an item.
The pre-collection cart 36 shown in FIG. 4 receives pre-collection data corresponding to one (one) order from the pre-collection controller 38 in the pre-collection work, and the articles 12 included in the take-out data. An instruction for the prior collection work is displayed to the worker HS. That is, how many articles 12 stored at which address (address) in the storage shelf 34 are to be taken out and collected into the pre-collection container 32 is first displayed on the display unit for one address.
According to this display, the worker HS heads to the position of the displayed address together with the pre-collection cart 36, and stores (collects) the articles 12 at that position in the pre-collection container 32 by the displayed quantity. When stored, the storage confirmation unit of the pre-collection cart 36 is operated. Then, since the information of the next article 12 included in the take-out data, that is, the address and quantity of another article 12 belonging to the same order as the article 12 collected this time, is newly displayed on the display unit. Go to the collection of the newly displayed article 12.
By repeating this, the articles 12 belonging to the same order are collected in the same pre-collection container 32. That is, the articles 12 requested in one order are not collected in a plurality of pre-collection containers 32.

When the articles 12 belonging to one order are all collected in the pre-collection container 32 loaded on the pre-collection cart 36, the pre-collection cart 36 communicates with the pre-collection controller 38 and is used this time. The fact that the pre-collection work related to the order corresponding to the retrieved data has been completed is transmitted, and the retrieved data corresponding to the next order is newly received.
When the next take-out data is received, the information processing unit of the pre-collection cart 36 stores the take-out data used in the pre-collection work that has been performed on the pre-collection container 32 currently loaded. The sum of the required volumes and the required volume of the next extraction data are summed, and the next predicted volume, which is the sum, is compared with the total volume (specified value) of the pre-collection container 32.
If the next expected volume is smaller than the total volume of the pre-collection container 32 and the pre-collection work for a predetermined number of orders (for example, 10) has not yet been performed on the pre-collection container 32, information processing is performed. The department determines that pre-collection work should continue. That is, an instruction about the pre-collection work of the article 12 included in the newly received take-out data is displayed on the display unit.
On the other hand, if the next expected volume exceeds the total volume of the pre-collection container 32, the information processing unit determines that the pre-collection container 32 is already full, and places the pre-collection container 32 in the input area. The display unit displays an instruction to send to 40 to the worker HS.
Further, even if the next expected volume is smaller than the total volume of the pre-collection container 32, the pre-collection work related to the specified number of orders (for example, 10) is already performed on the pre-collection container 32 currently loaded. If there is, the information processing unit determines that the pre-collection work for the pre-collection container 32 has been completed, and displays an instruction to the effect that the pre-collection container 32 should be sent to the input area 40 on the display unit. .
When an instruction indicating that the pre-collection container 32 should be sent to the input area 40 (for example, “full” or “complete” is displayed on the display unit) is given, the worker HS selects the pre-collection area 30 and the input area. 40, the pre-collection container 32 loaded on the pre-collection cart 36 is sent out to the input area 40 (for example, the pre-collection container transport path 16 is a belt conveyor). In this case, the pre-collection container 32 is placed on the belt conveyor).
After sending the pre-collection container 32 to the input area 40, the worker HS loads a new empty pre-collection container 32 from the pre-collection container storage to the pre-collection cart 36. When the pre-collection container 32 is newly loaded, the information processing unit of the pre-collection cart 36 causes the display unit to display an instruction on the pre-collection work of the article 12 included in the previously received take-out data. Thus, the worker HS performs the pre-collection work on the newly loaded pre-collection container 32.
Note that when the pre-collection container 32 is sent out to the input area 40, it is desirable to record information on which order the articles 12 are collected in the pre-collection container 32. As a specific example, information on the container label 33 (container ID for individually identifying the pre-collection container 32) read when the pre-collection container 32 is loaded on the pre-collection cart 36, and the pre-collection container A plurality of (for example, 10) order IDs related to the pre-collection work performed on the pair 32, and the correspondence relationship between the container ID and the order ID is sorted via the pre-collection controller 38. A method of transmitting to 60 is conceivable.

[Input area 40]
In the input area 40 shown in FIG. 5, which is connected by the pre-collection area 30 and the pre-collection container conveyance path 16, the mount is provided in the carry-in / out area 20 in addition to the pre-collection container 32 in which the articles 12 are collected. The cassette 90 in which 92 is stored is conveyed by the cassette conveyance path 14. In the loading area 40, a loading operation is performed in which the articles 12 in the pre-collection container 32 are placed (loaded) on the mount 92 in the cassette 90 that has been transported.
The input area 40 is provided with an input controller 48 (for example, a computer) that can communicate with the sorting operation controller 60 wirelessly or in a wired manner, and manages the input work. It is possible to control the operation of various devices.

<Input work position 41>
As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of input work positions 41 (four places shown in the drawing) are provided in the input area 40, and each of the input work positions 41 faces the input work position 41. The worker HA who is in charge of is arranged. The loading operation position 41 is provided at a position branched from the inter-area conveyance path 14M connecting the carry-in / out area 20 and the loading area 40 to the side (left and right in FIG. 5).
To a position on the cassette conveyance path 14 adjacent to the loading work position 41, a side shifter 45 (for example, the cassette conveyance path 14) capable of moving the object to be conveyed in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the cassette conveyance path 14. A chain conveyor that temporarily rises from the conveyance surface of the sheet and conveys for a short distance). The cassette 90 that has been conveyed on the inter-area conveyance path 14M is loaded by the side shifter 45. 41 can be moved. Further, a side shifter 45 is also provided at the loading work position 41, and the cassette 90 can be received from the cassette transport path 14 by the side shifter 45 at the loading work position 41, and the loading work is completed. The completed cassette 90 can be returned to the cassette conveyance path 14.
A cassette label reader 42 is provided on the worker HA side of the loading work position 41, and the cassette label 91 is read which cassette 90 is sent to the loading work position 41. Can be identified.

<Stop position 43>
A stop position 43 having a side shifter 45 similar to the loading work position 41 is provided behind the loading work position 41 as viewed from the worker HA. A side shifter 45 is also provided at a position adjacent to the stop position 43 on the cassette transport path 14 so that the cassette 90 can be moved from the cassette transport path 14 to the stop position 43.
When the cassette 90 approaches the loading work position 41, if another cassette 90 is already arranged at the loading work position 41, the cassette 90 can temporarily stand by at the stop position 43. A stationary cassette transporter 43U (for example, a short-distance chain conveyor) is provided between the stop position 43 and the input work position 41, and the cassette 90 at the stop position 43 is input by the stop cassette transporter 43U. It can be moved to position 41.
For determining whether or not another cassette 90 is disposed at the loading work position 41, it is preferable to provide means for detecting the presence or absence of the cassette 90 such as a weight sensor (not shown) at the loading work position 41. Then, the insertion controller 48 may determine whether to operate the side shifter 45 based on the presence / absence detection of the cassette 90. Further, if a weight sensor or the like is also provided at the stop position 43 so that the presence or absence of the cassette 90 at the stop position 43 can be detected, the cassette 90 is further moved to the stop position 43 where the cassette 90 is already waiting. It is possible to prevent the cassettes 90 from colliding with each other.

<Input work frame 44>
Between the loading work position 41 and the worker HA, a loading work frame 44 having a plurality of (for example, 10) openings 44a corresponding to each storage section 90a of the cassette 90 is provided. As shown in FIG. 6, the loading work frame 44 can be configured by combining rod-shaped frames, and regions surrounded by the frames serve as the front openings 44 a. A frontage ID for identifying each frontage 44a is assigned to the frontage 44a.
Further, an illumination body (for example, a linear light source in which LEDs are arranged in a row) that can be turned on and off is embedded in the frame around each frontage 44a, and constitutes frontage illumination 44b (an example of frontage display means). . Further, on the side of each frontage 44a, a quantity display 44c that can display the quantity of the articles 12 to be put into the frontage 44a, and for the operator HA to operate when putting into the frontage 44a. A loading confirmation button 44d is provided.
As shown in FIG. 5, a stopper 41 s that suppresses the movement of the cassette 90 is provided on the worker HA side of the loading work position 41, and the cassette 90 moves from the stop position 43 to the loading work position 41. When this occurs, the cassette 90 stops at a position spaced apart from the input work frame 44 by a predetermined distance so that the cassette 90 does not collide with the input work frame 44. Then, when the cassette 90 is stopped (arranged) with respect to the loading work frame 44, each of the storage sections 90 a of the cassette 90 faces each front opening 44 a of the loading work frame 44.

<Pre-collection container lead-in path 47>
As shown in FIG. 5, the pre-collection container conveyance path 16 that conveys the pre-collection container 32 extends in the input area 40 so as to pass through a plurality of input work positions 41. A pre-collection container pull-in path 47 is provided corresponding to each input work position 41 so as to connect the pre-collection container transport path 16 and each input work position 41.
The pre-collection container drawing path 47 is provided so that the operator HA can pull the pre-collection container 32 on the pre-collection container transport path 16 to his / her hand, for example, as a free roller conveyor. Can be configured.
Further, on the worker HA side of the pre-collection container drawing-in path 47, a container detention table 47a capable of retaining the pre-collection container 32 is provided.

<Input work terminal 46>
An input work terminal 46 (for example, a computer) for supporting the input work is provided in the vicinity of each container detainment table 47a. Although not shown in detail, the input work terminal 46 displays the container label 33 and the article label 13. A readable label reader, a display unit that displays information to the worker HA, a communication device that performs wireless or wired communication with the cassette label reader 42, the loading work frame 44, and the loading controller 48 are provided.

"Input work"
The input work performed in the input area 40 will be described.
First, when the cassette 90 is placed (conveyed) at the loading work position 41, the cassette label 91 of the cassette 90 is read by the cassette label reader 42, and the loading work terminal 46 receives its communication device and loading machine. Information on the mount 92 stored in the cassette 90 (information recorded at the time of carrying-in work) is acquired from the sorting work controller 60 via the controller 48.
On the other hand, the worker HA arranged for each input work position 41 moves his / her pre-collected container 32 conveyed on the pre-collected container transport path 16 through his / her pre-collected container retracting path 47. It draws in the nearby container detention table 47a. If the cassette 90 has already been placed at the loading operation position 41 in front of the user, the loading operation of the article 12 in the pre-collection container 32 that has been drawn into the cassette 90 is started.
Specifically, the container label 33 of the previously collected pre-collected container 32 is first read by the label reader of the loading work terminal 46. Then, the input work terminal 46 receives information on the articles 12 collected in the pre-collection container 32 from the sorting work controller 60 via the communication device and the input controller 48 (in the case of the pre-collection work). (Recorded information) is acquired, and input data to be used in the input operation is created based on the information and the information of the mount 92 in the cassette 90 acquired previously.
The input data is data regarding which articles 12 should be input into which front 44a of the input work frame 44, and as shown in FIG. 7C, the order ID and the items 12 belonging to the order. Item ID, requested quantity of each item 12, input flag indicating whether or not each item 12 has been input, frontage ID of the frontage 44a into which each item 12 should be input, and storage section corresponding to the frontage 44a By using data including the identification information (mount ID) of the mount 92 stored in 90a as an item, a plurality of orders (for example, 10 orders) related to the pre-collection work performed on the pre-collection container 32 The correspondence relationship between each order ID and the frontage ID can be shown.
Here, as to the assignment of the article 12 belonging to which order to be inserted into which frontage 44a (the mount 92 in the corresponding storage section 90a), it is automatically assigned according to a certain rule. For example, if the order ID and the frontage ID are expressed as numerical values, the order ID and the frontage ID are grouped in ascending order of the numerical values. Here, if the frontage ID is set to be smaller for the lower frontage 44a and the frontage ID is set to be higher for the upper frontage, an order with a smaller order ID is assigned to the lower frontage 44a.
Based on the input data created in this way, the input work terminal 46 shown in FIG. 5 displays on its display section which storage section 90a of the cassette 90 currently arranged at the input work position 41 (which front end 44a of the input work frame 44). Which article 12 should be put in is displayed.

Next, the worker HA arbitrarily takes out the article 12 in the pre-collection container 32 and reads the article label 13 of the article 12 with the label reader of the loading work terminal 46. Then, the input work terminal 46 compares the product ID read from the product label 13 with the input data, and specifies the front door 44a to which the product 12 having the product ID is assigned. Then, a command for operating the frontage illumination 44b and the quantity indicator 44c corresponding to the specified frontage 44a is transmitted to the input work frame 44 via the communication device of the input work terminal 46.
Thus, the front opening 44a corresponding to the storage section 90a into which the article 12 is to be input is illuminated by the front opening illumination 44b. In addition, the quantity to be thrown in the article 12 (required quantity in the throwing data) is displayed on the quantity display 44c.
The worker HA puts the article 12 taken out from the pre-collection container 32 into the front opening 44a where the front opening illumination 44b is shining. That is, the article 12 is placed on the mount 92 stored in the storage section 90a of the cassette 90 corresponding to the front opening 44a. Here, if the display on the quantity display 44c indicates a plurality, the same type of articles 12 are taken out from the pre-collection container 32 by that quantity and then loaded. Then, the insertion confirmation button 44d in the entrance 44a that has been inserted is operated (pressed).
The loading work terminal 46 detects that the loading confirmation button 44d has been operated via the communication device, and sets a loading flag in the loading data for the article 12 that has been loaded this time (that the loading has been completed). ). Then, the frontage illumination 44b corresponding to the operated input confirmation button 44d is turned off, and the display on the quantity display 44c is turned off.

Subsequently, the worker HA newly takes out the article 12 from the pre-collection container 32 arbitrarily, and reads the article label 13 of the article 12 with the label reader of the loading work terminal 46. Then, in the same way as described above, the newly extracted article 12 is collated with the input data, the operation command to the input work frame 44, the input to the frontage 44a, and the operation of the input confirmation button 44d are performed. The above operation is repeated until all the articles 12 in the pre-collection container 32 are loaded into the cassette 90.
When all the articles 12 in the pre-collection container 32 are loaded into the cassette 90, all the loading flags in the loading data are set. When all the input flags are set, the input work terminal 46 determines that the input work to the cassette 90 currently arranged at the input work position 41 has been completed, and moves to the side of the input work position 41 via the input controller 48. The container 45 is operated to return the cassette 90 to the cassette conveyance path 14 and send it out to the carry-in / out area 20.
After the cassette 90 at the loading work position 41 is returned to the cassette conveyance path 14, the article 90 in the cassette 90 waiting at the stop position 43 on the back side of the loading work position 41 or the cassette 90 on the cassette conveyance path 14 is loaded. Those not yet input are moved to the input work position 41. Here, in order to prevent the cassette 90 into which the articles 12 have been loaded from being moved to the loading work position 41, a cassette 90 is provided when it is not loaded and when it has been loaded, such as by providing a weight sensor in the cassette transport path 14. It may be possible to detect whether or not it has been charged based on the weight difference.
The worker HA returns the empty pre-collection container 32 to the pre-collection area 30 through an empty container return line (not shown) provided in the input area 40 or an empty container storage place (not shown). The next pre-collection container 32 is pulled out from the pre-collection container transport path 16 by removing it from the container detention table 47a.
As described above, the loading operation is performed on the mount 92 stored in the storage section 90a in the cassette 90 which has been transported to the loading area 40.

[Flow of article 12 and cassette 90]
Next, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 8, the flow of the article 12 and the cassette 90 in the present embodiment is confirmed. In FIG. 8, the flow of the article 12 and the flow of the cassette 90 are shown in parallel, the flow on the left side is the flow of the article 12, and the flow on the right side is the flow of the cassette 90.
First, the articles 12 received in the sorting facility 10 are sent to the pre-collection area 30 after undergoing prior work such as pasting the article labels 13 and collected in the pre-collection container 32 by the pre-collection work. (Step S1 in FIG. 8).
On the other hand, independently of the pre-collection work, the carry-in work is performed on the cassette 90 in the carry-in / out area 20, and the mount 92 is carried into each storage section 90a of the cassette 90 (step S2 in FIG. 8). .
The article 12 that has received the pre-collection work and the cassette 90 that has received the carry-in work are each transferred to the loading area 40, and on the mount 92 that is stored (loaded) in the storage section 90a in the cassette 90 by the loading work. The article 12 is placed (input) (step S3 in FIG. 8).
The article 12 and the cassette 90 that have been subjected to the loading operation are both transported to the carry-in / out area 20, and the mount 92 in the cassette 90 is carried out with the article 12 placed thereon by the carry-out work (step S4 in FIG. 8).
The mount 92 taken out from the cassette 90 and the article 12 thereon are sent out from the carry-in / out area 20 through a packing conveyance path 18 constituted by, for example, a belt conveyor, and undergo a packing operation (step S5 in FIG. 8). Specifically, the mount 92 and the article 12 are first transported to the shrink machine 82, where the heat-shrinkable film is wrapped around the mount 92 and the article 12, and the mount 92 and the article 12 in that state are thermally contracted. Through the processing tunnel, the article 12 is brought into close contact with the mount 92 by heat shrinkage of the film, so that the article 12 and the mount 92 are bonded together. The packing conveyance path 18 leads from the shrink machine 82 to the boxing machine 84, and the articles 12 integrated with the mount 92 are boxed together with the mount 92 into the outer box in the boxing machine 84, and then sorted. It is transported to a shipping area where shipment is made earlier, or a downstream area where subsequent work such as tagging is performed.
On the other hand, the cassette 90 from which the mount 92 has been unloaded (removed) by the unloading operation is again loaded in the unloading / unloading area 20 (return to step S2 in FIG. 8).
The above is the flow of the article 12 and the cassette 90 in the present embodiment.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, while the article 12 is placed on the mount 92 that is a face material that is easy to handle in the packing operation, a plurality of the mounts 92 are stored in the cassette 90 and stored. Therefore, even if the transport speed of the mount 92 on which the article 12 is placed is reduced to a speed that does not cause the article 12 to fall, the mount 92 (and its The transport quantity of the upper article 12) does not decrease, and the article 12 can be safely and reliably transported while maintaining high transport efficiency.
In addition, according to the present embodiment, the cassette 90 to be loaded with the article 12 and the article 12 to be loaded, which are necessary for the loading operation, are carried in from the loading / unloading area 20 and the pre-collection area 30 respectively. After receiving the pre-collection work, it is transported to the input area 40 one after another, so that the worker HA who is in charge of the input work stays in the input area 40 and does not generate any waiting time. Work efficiency is increased. In addition, since the carry-in work and the pre-collection work are performed in different areas in advance (the carry-in / out area 20 and the pre-collection area 30), the worker can concentrate exclusively on the input work. Rise.
In addition, according to the present embodiment, the input work position 41 where the input work is performed is provided not at the inter-area transport path 14M but at a branch point from the inter-area transfer path 14M. Even if the loading work is delayed due to unfamiliarity or the like and the cassette 90 stays at the loading work position 41 for a long time, the cassette 90 does not stay on the inter-area transport path 14M. The conveyance of the cassette 90 between the input areas 40 is not delayed.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since the stop position 43 at which the cassette 90 can temporarily stop is provided, the loading operation to the cassette 90 arranged at the loading operation position 41 is performed. Since the next cassette 90 is made to stand by at the stop position 43, the waiting cassette 90 is immediately moved to the loading work position 41 when the loading work position 41 is loaded into the cassette 90. The worker HA does not need to wait for the arrival of the next cassette 90, and can immediately start the next loading operation, so that high working efficiency can be obtained.
In addition, a loading work frame 44 having an opening 44a corresponding to each storage section 90a of the cassette 90 is provided at the loading work position 41, and the article 12 is transferred to the storage section 90a of the cassette 90 corresponding to any of the opening 44a. When the door HA is to be turned on, the front door illumination 44b provided in the frame around the front door 44a is turned on, and the frame surrounding the front door 44a is illuminated, so that the front door 44a is illuminated. The frontage 44a can be easily recognized, and there is no doubt as to which frontage 44a the article 12 should be put into. Further, display means and input means such as frontage lighting 44b, quantity display 44c, and input confirmation button 44d need only be prepared in accordance with the number of input work positions 41, so that they are displayed on each cassette 90. There is no need to provide means and input means, and the equipment cost can be reduced.
Further, when the container label 33 of the pre-collection container 32 is read in the loading operation, the loading data is created and which article 12 should be loaded (placed) on the mount 92 stored in which storage section 90a. In other words, in order to determine at the time of the loading operation how the articles 12 in the pre-collection container 32 are to be loaded into the cassette 90 that is currently at the loading work position 41, At the time of the work, the correspondence relationship between the input work position 41 and the pre-collection container 32 is not determined, and the pre-collection container 32 that has completed the pre-collection work is placed in the container detention table 47a corresponding to which input work position 41. You may be drawn in. In addition, since the correspondence between the cassette 90 and the loading work position 41 is not determined even when the mount 92 is loaded into the cassette 90, the cassette 90 that has been loaded may be sent to any loading work position 41. . For this reason, flexible operation of the sorting equipment 10 is possible.

In the present embodiment, the mount 92 is used as an example of the article receiving body. However, as the article receiving body, the cassette 90 (storage body) in a state where the article 12 is loaded (the article 12 is received). What is necessary is just to use what is stored and conveyed, for example, surface materials, such as a plastic plate and a metal net, and a tray and a container may be used in order to make support of the articles | goods 12 more reliable.
Further, in the present embodiment, a cassette 90 configured in a shelf shape having two rows and five stages of storage compartments 90a is used as an example of a storage body, but the arrangement of the storage compartments 90a is not limited to this. Instead, a plurality may be arranged in the height direction and arranged in a row in the width direction, or a plurality may be arranged in the width direction and arranged in one stage in the height direction. Moreover, the storage body should just be conveyed in the state which stored the several article | item receiving body, for example, can also be set as the self-propelled trolley | bogie which hold | maintains a several article | item receiving body, and is self-propelled. In this case, the movement path of the self-propelled carriage serves as the storage body conveyance path. The carry-out work and the carry-in work in the carry-in / out area 20 may be performed in an optimum format according to the form of the storage body. Forklifts may be used instead of the carry-in / out devices 22A and 22B, or the work may be performed manually. Good.
Further, in the present embodiment, the pre-collection container 32 (foldable container) is used as the pre-collection body, but the pre-collection body collects the articles 12 to be sorted (to be put in). What is necessary is just to be conveyed in a state, for example, a bag body may be sufficient. Alternatively, the pre-collection cart 36 may be moved between the pre-collection area 30 and the input area 40 so that the articles 12 can be loaded directly into the pre-collection cart 36. In this case, the movement path of the pre-collection cart 36 becomes the pre-collection article transport path. In addition, the collection of articles 12 can be regarded as a pre-collection body by collecting the articles 12 directly on the pre-collection body conveyance path.

In the present embodiment, the input data is used only for the input operation, but it may be used for the post-check. For example, when the loading operation is completed, the used loading data is transmitted to the sorting operation controller 60, and during the unloading operation, the mount identification information of the mounted mount 92 and the mounted article 12 are stored. By reading the ID and collating it with the input data, and confirming the consistency between the read mount identification information and the article ID and the input data, whether the input operation is performed according to the input data, or the article 12 falls during transportation. You may make it check whether it has done.
In the present embodiment, the carry-in work is performed by the carry-in / out device 22B at a position adjacent to the carry-in / out device 22A that performs the carry-out work. However, the carry-out work and the carry-in work may be performed at the same position. For example, the conveyance direction of the cassette conveyance path 14 near the entrance / exit of the carry-in / out area 20 is changed depending on whether the carry-out work or the carry-in work is performed, and the carry-in / out device 22A is connected to the packing conveyance path 18 and the mount carry-in path 28. It may be made possible to change both the unloading work and the loading work by the same loading / unloading apparatus 22A by making it possible to change which of them is connected.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when all the articles 12 in the pre-collection container 32 are put into the cassette 90, the cassette 90 is sent out to the carry-in / out area 20. If the section 90a remains, the article 12 in the next pre-collection container 32 may be put into the same cassette 90. For example, since there is an order for requesting a large number of large articles 12, the volume is insufficient, and the number of cases (e.g., 4 cases) in the pre-collection container 32 is less than the number of storage compartments 90a (e.g., 10 areas) of the cassette 90. If the articles 12 are collected only for the order, even if all the articles 12 in the pre-collection container 32 are loaded, the cassette 90 is not immediately sent to the loading / unloading area 20, but the next loading. The cassette 90 is kept at the loading operation position 41 until the container label 33 of the pre-collection container 32 used for work is read. In addition, only the articles 12 corresponding to a small number of orders (for example, 6) are collected in the pre-collection container 32 used for the next charging operation, and the number and the pre-collection container 32 corresponding to the previous pre-collection container 32 are collected. If the total number of items is within the number of the storage compartments 90a, the articles 12 in the next pre-collection container 32 may be put into the storage compartments 90a that have not yet been put in. However, if the total number of cases exceeds the number of storage compartments 90a, the cassette 90 used for the previous loading operation is sent to the carry-in / out area 20, and a new cassette 90 is loaded from the stop position 43 or the cassette conveyance path 14. Move to position 41.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, one stop position 43 is provided corresponding to each input work position 41, but a stop position corresponding to one input work position 41 is provided. Two or more locations may be provided. That is, a plurality of cassettes 90 may wait for the completion of the loading operation at one loading operation position 41.
Further, in the present embodiment, the required quantity of the article 12 is displayed on the quantity display 44c, and the requested quantity of the same kind of article 12 is input at a time. Depending on the nature of 12 (hard to grip, etc.), the articles 12 may be inserted one by one. At this time, with respect to the input flag for a plurality of requested articles 12, the required quantity in the input data is subtracted for each input so that the input flag is set when the required quantity becomes zero. Good. When a plurality of types of articles 12 are often requested in a set, when the article label 13 of the article 12 included in the set is read, the fact that the set is requested and the breakdown of the set May be displayed together on the display unit of the input work terminal 46 to input a plurality of types of articles 12 together.
Further, in the present embodiment, the frontage illumination 44b is used as the frontage display means, and the frontage 44a is made to recognize the frontage 44a to be input by illuminating the frontage 44a. It is only necessary that the worker HA can recognize whether or not the input should be made to 44a. For example, the entrance 44a may be recognized only by displaying the quantity on the quantity display 44c. 44a may be provided with an openable / closable shutter so that only the entrance opening 44a is opened.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Sorting equipment 12 Goods 20 Carry-in / out area 30 Pre-collection area 32 Pre-collection container 40 Input area 90 Cassette 92 Mount

Claims (6)

In a sorting facility that sorts items according to orders from users,
A storage body transport path for transporting articles corresponding to a plurality of orders in parallel by transporting a storage body storing a plurality of article receiving bodies into which articles have been placed, and articles to be thrown into the article receiving body are collected. A pre-collected product conveyance path for conveying the pre-collected product collected,
Along the container transport path,
A carry-in / out area for carrying out and carrying in the article receiving body for each storage section of the storage body having a plurality of storage sections,
An input area for inputting an article to the article receiver;
Is provided,
A pre-collection area is provided along the pre-collection product conveyance path to collect the articles to be put into the product receiver into the pre-collection product, and the pre-collection The body conveyance path connects the pre-collection area and the input area,
The storage body is transported between the carry-in / out area and the input area,
The pre-collection body is transported between the pre-collection area and the input area,
In the unloading / unloading area, unloading work for unloading an article receiving body into which an article has been loaded from each storage compartment of the storage body, and unloading of the article receiving body to each storage section of the storage body for which the unloading operation has been completed. Work in the same or adjacent position,
In the pre-collection area, pre-collection work is performed in which articles corresponding to the same order are collected into the same pre-collection body,
In the input area, the pre-collected articles collected in the pre-collection body conveyed from the pre-collection area are stored in the storage body conveyed from the carry-in / out area. A sorting facility characterized in that a loading operation is performed for loading into an article receiving body that has been loaded into each storage compartment. The input work position where the input work is performed in the input area is provided at a position branched from the inter-area transfer path where the storage body is transferred between the carry-in / out area and the input area of the storage body transfer path. The sorting equipment according to claim 1, wherein: There is a stop position in the input area.
When the storage body is transported to the input area, if another storage body is already arranged at the input work position where the input work is performed, the transported storage body is temporarily stored at the stop position. The sorting facility according to claim 1, wherein the sorting facility can stop. In the input work position where the input work is performed in the input area, an input work frame having a front opening corresponding to each storage section of the storage body is provided, and the front opening corresponding to each front opening of the input work frame The sorting facility according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a frontage display means capable of displaying that an article should be input into a storage compartment corresponding to . The sorting equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, in a loading operation in a loading area, assignment of which articles are to be thrown into an article receiving body in which storage compartment is performed. . The speed at which the storage body that has been loaded in the loading area is transferred from the loading area to the loading / unloading area is transferred from the loading / unloading area to the loading area. The sorting equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sorting equipment has a lower speed than a predetermined speed.

Images