JPH1111615A - Article distributing-collecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the distribution failure or collection failure caused by an error in reading, and improve the working efficiency. SOLUTION: A control means 210 provided on a truck 1 receives work- information containing working place such as distributing place for distributing article placed on the truck 1 or collecting place for collecting the article, the name of the article distributed or collected at the working places, and the number of articles, from a distribution-collection control device 20, and displays the information on a displaying means. Then, the control means receives the working place-information stored in transponders 7A to 7D provided in the respective working places A to D by a working place-information receiving means 15, and operates a notifying means to inform the operators of the fact that the information has reached the working places by sound or light when the received working place-information shows specified working places included in the work-information. When the information is notified by the notifying means, the operators perform the article distributing work or collecting work while they confirm the work-information in the working places displayed on the displaying means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article distribution / collection apparatus for distributing articles to a predetermined work place among a plurality of work places such as a distribution place and a pickup place, or for collecting articles from the predetermined work place. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a product is delivered to each store, at a delivery center or the like, a trolley on which the product is placed is moved along a distribution place divided for each store, and an order is placed from each store. The distribution location corresponding to each store while reading the display of the store name and the product name and the number thereof, and the store name card provided at each distribution location, which are described on the delivery slip created based on the data. To distribute the ordered goods in order. Then, the products distributed to each distribution location are collectively delivered to the store corresponding to the distribution location. Alternatively, while reading the display of the store name and the product name and the number thereof described on the delivery slip, and the product name card provided at the storage location where each product is stored, the product ordered at each store is read. And then collect them on a trolley. Then, the merchandise collected by the cart is collectively delivered to the store described on the delivery slip. Such a conventional method uses a store name card and a product name card provided at each work place such as a store name and a product name and the number thereof described on a delivery slip, a distribution place and a pickup place, and the like. Must be read and visually checked, so that a distribution error or a collection error due to a reading error has occurred. In addition, since the work place has to be confirmed while moving the cart, the distribution work or the collection work cannot be performed quickly. In order to prevent distribution errors and collection errors caused by such reading errors,
A method has been developed in which an indicator light is provided at each work place, and the indicator lights provided at the work places where the distribution work or the collection work is performed are turned on. However, this method has a problem that the work efficiency is not good because the number of trolleys that can simultaneously perform the distribution work or the collection work is limited by the number of indicator lights provided at each work place.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and can prevent a distribution error and a collection error due to a reading error, and can improve the work efficiency. It is an object to provide a distribution / collection device.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a transportation means for transporting articles, and a work place provided at each work place for distributing or collecting the articles. An article distributing / collecting device comprising: an information output unit; and a control unit provided in the transport unit and operating a notification unit when the work place information output from the work place information output unit indicates a predetermined work place. Is configured. If the article distribution / collection device according to claim 1 is used,
When the work place information output from the work place information output means provided at each work place indicates the predetermined work place specified by the transport means, the work place is automatically notified by the notifying means. It is possible to prevent distribution mistakes and collection mistakes due to misreading of members. Further, the worker only has to perform the operation of moving the transporting means until the notification is made by the notifying means, and since there is no limitation on the number of transporting means by the equipment, the work efficiency can be improved. Also,
The invention described in claim 2 provides the article distribution and delivery described in claim 1.
In the collection device, the control means is configured to display, on a display means, the predetermined work place and work information including an article name and the number of articles to be distributed or collected at the predetermined work place. If the cart for distribution and collection according to claim 2 is used, work information including the work place where distribution or collection is performed and the name and number of articles distributed or collected at the work place are displayed on the display means. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine the work place, the name of the article, and the like, and the distribution work or the collection work can be performed reliably and easily. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the article distribution / collection apparatus according to the first or second aspect, a transponder is used as the work place information output means. The use of the article distribution / collection device according to claim 4 makes it possible to easily receive work place information with a simple configuration.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of an article distribution / collection apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a distribution operation of distributing a product using the article distribution / collection apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a carriage 1 as a transporting means for placing a box 2 or the like containing goods and transporting the box to a distribution place, and is provided with a control means 10 described later. The bogie 1 may be of various types, such as a hand-operated type or an electric type, or may be of a type that guides along a guide for guide provided on a traveling route. Reference numeral 20 denotes a distribution / collection management device for managing distribution and collection operations based on order data from each store.
When a work information request signal is transmitted from the control means 10 provided on the cart 1, a distribution place for distributing the commodity placed on the cart 1, a commodity name of the commodity distributed at the distribution place, and the number thereof Work information including such information is created and transmitted to the control means 10. Reference numeral 5 denotes a distribution place for distributing a product, which is divided into distribution places A to D corresponding to each store. Each of the distribution places A to D has a work place display means 6A to 6 such as a store name card on which a corresponding store name is displayed.
D is provided on each of the work place display means 6A to 6D, and transponders 7A to 7A as work place information output means for outputting work place information such as corresponding shop names and store codes.
D is attached.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the control means 10. The control means 10 shown in FIG.
1, an input unit 12, a notifying unit 13, a display unit 14, a work place information receiving unit 15, and a processing unit 16 such as a CPU. The communication unit 11 communicates with the distribution / collection management device 20 by light, radio waves, or the like, and transmits a work information request signal, receives work information, and the like. Notifying means 13
It is composed of speakers, indicator lights, etc., and notifies the worker by sound, voice, light or the like. The display means 14 displays work information and the like received from the distribution / collection management device 20. The work place information receiving means 15 is composed of an antenna, a transceiver, and the like, and receives work place information transmitted from the transponders 7A to 7D provided at the distribution places A to D. Each of the transponders 7A to 7D includes an antenna, a storage unit, a transmission / reception unit, a control unit, and the like, and the storage unit can store work place information. Transponder 7
A to 7D determine, for example, a received signal received by the antenna at an arbitrary time interval or continuously, and when the received signal is an interrogation signal, transmit the work place information stored in the storage unit as a response signal. I do. Transponders 7A-7
The operating power of D is obtained from radio waves received by an antenna or from a built-in battery. The processing means 16 includes the communication means 11,
Notification means 13, display means 14, work place information receiving means 1
5 is controlled. The work place information receiving means 15 is, for example,
After transmitting the interrogation signal for a predetermined number of times or for a fixed time,
The operation of receiving the work place information transmitted from the transponders 7A to 7D for a predetermined time is controlled so as to be performed at an arbitrary time interval or continuously. The range in which the work place information receiving means 15 can receive the work place information transmitted from the transponders 7A to 7D is as follows.
It is preferable to set it in the range located in. When a transponder is used as the work place information output means, it is not necessary to finely adjust the position, orientation, etc. of the work place information receiving means and the transponder, so that the work place information can be easily received and the device can be easily constructed. Can be configured.

Next, the operation of distributing goods to each distribution place using the article distribution / collection apparatus of the present invention will be described. First,
The goods to be distributed are stored and placed on the cart 1 in the box 2 or the like. Next, it is placed on the trolley 1 by bar code reading means or input means 12 for reading a product placed on the trolley 1 or a bar code attached to the box 2. After inputting the product name, the number, etc. of the products, the user operates the input unit 12, the display unit 14, and the like to perform a work information request operation. As a result, the processing unit 16 transmits a work information request signal including the cart number, the product name, and the number thereof to the distribution / collection management device 20 via the communication unit 11. Upon receiving the work information request signal and the like, the distribution / collection management device 20 distributes the products placed on the cart 1 based on the order data from each store, and distributes the products at the distribution locations. Work information including the product name of the product to be performed and the number of the products is created and transmitted to the control unit 10. In addition,
When the distribution and collection management device 20 manages the products and the number of products placed on each truck 1, only the truck number needs to be transmitted. In this case, the distribution / collection management device 20 determines the product placed on each truck 1, the distribution location of each truck 1, and the product name of the product distributed at the distribution location based on order data from each store. Since the work information including the number and the like is created in advance, the work of transmitting the work information to each carriage is easy.

The processing means 16 includes a distribution / collection management device 20
The work information transmitted from the server is received and displayed on the display unit 14. FIG. 3A shows an example of the display state of the display means 14 at this time. In FIG. 3a, the distribution places for distributing the products placed on the cart 1 are stores A, C, and D. In store A, two products A, one product A, and three products C are distributed. Work information is displayed that the user distributes two products A and four products D to the store C, and distributes three products C and five products E to the store D. When the worker performs a confirmation operation, for example, an operation of a confirmation key of the input means 12 or a touch of a confirmation part on the display screen, the control means 16 controls the distribution / collection management device 20
The work information transmitted from the mobile terminal 1 is searched, and the first distribution location on the predetermined moving route of the cart 1 and the product name and the number of the products to be distributed to the distribution location are displayed on the display means 14. The display state of the display means 14 at this time is shown in FIG. In FIG. 3B, the first distribution place is the store A, and the operation information of distributing two products A, one product A, and three products C is displayed. In this state, the carriage 1 is moved along the distribution place 5.

When the cart 1 approaches the distribution place A and the transponder 7A attached to the work place display means 6A reaches the transmission / reception range of the work place information receiving means 15,
The transponder 7A receives the inquiry signal from the work place information receiving means 15 and transmits the work place information as a response signal. The processing means 16 determines whether or not the work place information transmitted from the transponder 7A matches the work place A. If it is determined that the work place information is matched, the notifying means 13 is operated to generate sound or light. Notify the worker that the work place has been reached. When the notification means 13 is activated, the worker displays the store name and the display means 14 displayed on the work place display means 6A.
After confirming that the store name A displayed in the display unit 14 matches, the product is dropped from the cart 1 according to the product name and the number displayed on the display means 14 and distributed to the distribution place A. Note that the confirmation that the store name displayed on the work place display unit 6A matches the store name A displayed on the display unit 14 may be omitted. When the work place information transmitted from the transponder 7A matches the predetermined work place A, the notifying means 13 is operated, and the irradiation direction and irradiation position are determined in advance according to the direction and distance at which transmission and reception are possible. The transponder 7A, that is, the work place A may be indicated by the light emitting device or the like.

When the worker distributes two merchandise items a, the user completes a distribution operation, for example, operates the input means 12 to designate the merchandise name and operates the confirmation key or the part of the merchandise name on the display screen. touch. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3C, the display state of the product name A and the number thereof is changed, and it is displayed that the distribution work of the product A is completed. Similarly, after the distribution work of the goods A and C is sequentially performed, the distribution completion operation is performed. When the distribution work at the distribution place A is completed and the display state of all the product names and their numbers on the display means 14 is changed, the worker performs a confirmation operation. At this time, when the confirmation operation is performed in a state where the distribution completion operation has not been performed for all the products, the processing unit 16 operates the notification unit 13 to notify that the distribution has not been completed. When the confirmation operation is performed, the processing unit 16 searches for work information, and as shown in FIG.
Work information indicating that two products A and four products D are distributed is displayed on the display unit 14. Note that the distribution completion operation for each product may be omitted, and only the confirmation operation may be performed.
Further, the distribution work of each product at the distribution place A is displayed in the same display state, and the procedure of the distribution work is determined by the worker. However, the distribution work at the distribution place A is sequentially displayed and the worker is instructed. You may do so. For example, when the work information at the distribution place A is displayed, or when the transponder 7
For example, when the work place information transmitted from A matches the predetermined work place A, the display state of the product name A and the number 2 is changed as shown in FIG. When the distribution completion operation is performed, the display state is controlled based on the display state of the product name a and the number 2 while the display state of the product name a and the number 1 is changed. Alternatively, the product name A and the number 2 are displayed first, and when the distribution work of the product A is completed and the distribution completion operation is performed, the product name A and the number 1 are displayed.
Is controlled to display.

Even if the cart 1 approaches the distribution place B and the work place information receiving means 15 receives the work place information transmitted from the transponder 7B, the received work place information does not match the next distribution place C, so that the processing is performed. Means 16 is notification means 1
Do not operate 3. Thereby, the worker moves the carriage 1 through the work place B. When the cart 1 approaches the work place C, the work place information receiving means 15
When the work location information transmitted from C is received, the processing means 16 activates the notification means 13 because the received work location information matches the next distribution location C. Hereinafter, the same operation as described above is performed.

As described above, the work information including the work place and the product name and the number of the goods to be distributed at the work place is received and stored in advance from the distribution / collection management device, and provided at each work place. Receiving the work place information output from the transponder, and when the received work place information indicates the predetermined work place included in the work information, activates the notifying means to give the worker a predetermined work place Is notified, it is possible to prevent distribution mistakes and collection mistakes due to reading errors. In addition, since it is not necessary to move the trolley while checking the work place, the trolley can be moved quickly, and work efficiency can be improved. In addition, since the work location and the product name and the number of products to be distributed at the work location are displayed on the display means, the next work location, product name, and the like can be easily determined.

In the above embodiment, the distribution work for distributing goods has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to the collection work for collecting goods, and further the distribution work and the collection work for parts and the like other than the goods. Can also be applied. When performing a collection operation, the bar code or the like attached to the article is read by bar code reading means or the like, and the read bar code is included in the work information. When the number of items matches, the display state of the corresponding article name is changed from among the article names displayed on the display means, or control such as activation of the notification means is performed, so that the articles can be collected more reliably. . Further, the display means 14 displays the work location transmitted from the distribution / collection management device 20 and the work information including the article name and the number of articles distributed or collected at the work place. When the number is determined, the display of the number may be omitted. Further, the display unit 14 displays a list of the work information in all the work places, and then the work information in each work place is sequentially displayed on the display means. When the received work place information indicates a predetermined work place included in the work information, the notifying unit 13 may be operated, and the display state of the work information in the corresponding work place may be changed. In addition, work information at all work places is collectively received from the distribution / collection management device 20, but work information indicating the article name and the number of articles distributed or collected at the next work place and the work place is received. Then, after the distribution work or the collection work at the work place is completed, the work information on the next work place may be received from the distribution / collection management device 20. In addition, the names and the number of articles distributed or collected at each work place are displayed on the display means 14,
You may make it output by audio | voice from an audio | voice output means. As the work place information receiving means for receiving the work place information, an image pickup means for reading a store name or the like displayed on the work place display means 6A to 6D, or a work place display means 6A to 6D
Optical reading means or the like for reading a bar code or the like displayed on 6D can also be used.

[0014]

As described above, when the article distributing / collecting device according to the first aspect is used, when the transport means reaches a predetermined work place, the notifying means is automatically activated to notify the user. Distribution errors and collection errors due to mistakes can be prevented, and work efficiency can be improved. Also, if the article distribution / collection device according to claim 2 is used,
It is possible to easily determine a work place and articles to be distributed or collected at the work place. In addition, the use of the article distribution / collection apparatus according to claim 3 makes it possible to easily receive work place information with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a case where a distribution work is performed using the article distribution / collection apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of one embodiment of a control means used in the article distribution / collection apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display state of a display unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 cart 5 work place 6A to 6D work place display means 7A to 7D transponder 10 control means 11 communication means 12 input means 13 notification means 14 display means 15 work place information receiving means 20 processing means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A conveyance means for conveying an article, a work place information output means provided at each work place for distributing or collecting the article, and a work place information output means provided on the conveyance means and output from the work place information output means. And a control means for activating the notifying means when the work place information indicates a predetermined work place. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the control means displays on the display means the predetermined work place and work information including an article name and the number of articles distributed or collected at the predetermined work place. Goods distribution and collection equipment. 3. The article distribution and distribution system according to claim 1, wherein a transponder is used as said work place information output means.
Collection device.