AU2018101188A4

AU2018101188A4 - Put-to-light device

Info

Publication number: AU2018101188A4
Application number: AU2018101188A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Tapio Saviranta
Original assignee: Pickdelso Oy
Current assignee: Pickdelso Oy
Priority date: 2018-08-15
Filing date: 2018-08-15
Publication date: 2018-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2026-08-15

Abstract

A put-to-light device for guiding items into storage places including a first storage place and a second storage place, and a first entry to the first storage place and a second entry to the second storage place, the put-to-light device comprising at least one light source to indicate a storage place intended for a first item, characterized in that the put-to-light device further comprises a first motion detector at the first entry to the first storage place such that the first motion detector is able to detect an object thereat and a second motion detector at the second entry to the second storage place such that the second motion detector is able to detect an object thereat. 104> ~ 2 0-OO

Description

Put-to-light device

Area of technology: an invention relates to picking products, parcels, or other items and placing the items picked into bins or another storage places; the invention especially relates to put-to-light devices intended for guiding the picking work.

Background of the technology

Grocery products and postal parcels are example of items which an employee picks and places to storage places intended for the items. The storage places, such as boxes, may locate on a conveyor. When the employee has filled the boxes the conveyor moves them forwards and brings new, empty boxes to the employee. Alternatively, the storage places may locate on the shelves of a rack and an automated guided vehicle (AGV) moves the rack when it is filled. Then another AGV brings an empty rack to the employee. A typical put-to-light device comprises indicator lights under the storage places and each of the indicator lights also operates as a push bottom. The typical put-to-light device switches on an indicator light to indicate for an employee the correct storage place for the item picked by the employee. The employee is expected to place the item into the correct storage place and then push the indicator light under said storage place.

The typical put-to-light device has such drawback that it causes additional work because an employee have to push an indicator light each time the employee places an item into a storage place. Another drawback is that the employee may unintentionally place the item into a wrong storage place and push the indicator light of the correct storage place. The typical put-to-light device does not recognize this error.

Summary of the invention

An objective of the invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks.

In other words, the invention aims to save the working time by removing the work related to the pushing of indicator lights. In addition, the invention aims to make the work more reliable such that a put-to-light device uses motion detectors to determine into which storage place an employee has placed an item.

The invention concerns a put-to-light device for guiding items into storage places including a first storage place and a second storage place, and a first entry to the first storage place and a second entry to the second storage place.

The put-to-light device comprises the following: at least one light source to indicate a storage place intended for an item, a first motion detector arranged at the first entry such that the first motion detector is able to detect an object thereat, and a second motion detector arranged at the second entry such that the second motion detector is able to detect an object thereat.

Brief description of the drawings

For a more complete understanding of examples and embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows an embodiment of a put-to-light device, FIGURE 2 shows a put-to-light device equipped with a control unit, FIGURE 3 shows light-source-and-light-sensor pairs at storage place entries, FIGURE 4 shows put-to-light device for a conveyor and boxes, FIGURE 5 shows alternative embodiments for motion sensing.

Detailed description of the invention

It is appreciated that the following embodiments are exemplary. Although the specification may refer to “one” embodiment, the reference is not necessarily made to the same embodiments), or the feature in question may apply to multiple embodiments. FIGURE 1 shows a basic model of a put-to-light device 100. In this embodiment put-to-light device 100 comprises mechanical parts and electronics but no intelligence. Put-to-light device 100 is intended for guiding items into storage places including at least a first storage place 101 and a second storage place 102. There is a first entry 103 to first storage place 101 and there is a second entry 104 to second storage place 102. Put-to-light device 100 may include tens of entries to tens of storage places but two entries and storage places are enough to illustrate the operation of put-to-light device 100.

Put-to-light device 100 comprises at least one light source 105 to indicate a storage place intended for a first item (not shown). In one embodiment the light source is an electrically movable light pointer such that it can target a (red or green) light beam towards first storage place 101 or second storage place 102. The electrically movable light pointer comprises at least one electric motor or device for moving.

Put-to-light device 100 comprises a first motion detector 106 and a second motion detector 107. First motion detector 106 is arranged at first entry 103 such that it is able to detect an item to be placed into first storage place 101. If the item is placed into some other storage place than first storage place 101, first motion detector 106 refrains to signal “object detected”. Correspondingly, second motion detector 107 is arranged at second entry 104 such that it is able to detect an item to be placed into the second storage place 102.

In one embodiment first motion detector 106 is activated when an employee is expected to place the first item into the first storage place, and the first motion detector is deactivated in response to detecting an object by the first motion detector.

In an alternative embodiment the all motion detectors, such as first motion detector 106 and second motion detector 107, are continuously activated. When an employee is expected to place the first item into first storage place 101 the first item is considered to be placed into first storage place 101, if some object is detected by first motion detector 106.

Various techniques can be utilized in first motion detector 106 and in second motion detector 107. In one embodiment first motion detector 106 detects decreasing of light intensity in a space. Assuming that the space has, for example, ceiling lamps for lighting, first motion detector 106 detects a change in an optical field at first entry 103 when some object makes a shadow that covers first motion detector 106. FIGURE 2 shows put-to-light device 100 equipped with a control unit 201 that comprises at least one processor and memory. Control unit 201 is configured to receive a command to guide the first item into first storage place 101 and, in response to the command, to indicate by at least one light source 105 first storage place 101. The first item is in this example a parcel 202. Control unit 201 is further configured to detect by first motion detector 106 an object at first entry 103 and to determine that the object is the first item. The object may be a parcel or an employee’s hand holding the parcel. Nevertheless, the object causes a shadow that decreases the light intensity at first motion detector 106. Therefore, no buttons are needed for informing control unit 201 about placing of items. This saves working time and eliminates a possibility that the employee pushes a wrong button. FIGURE 3 shows light-source-and-light-sensor pairs at the storage place entries. In this embodiment at least one light source 105 includes a first light source 301. First light sensor 302 at first entry 103 represents first motion detector 106. First light source 301 and first light sensor 302 are located such that first light source 301 is able to form a first light beam 303 across first entry 103 towards first light sensor 302.

Let us assume that an employee is moving the first item, i.e. parcel 202, towards first entry 103. When parcel 202 is located at first entry 103 first light beam 303 hits to parcel 202 and thus the light intensity in first light sensor 302 decreases below a predetermined level and first light sensor 302 signals “object detected”.

At least one light source 105 further includes a second light source 304. A second light sensor 305 at second entry 104 represents second motion detector 107. Second light source 304 and second light sensor 305 are located such that second light source 304 is able to form a second light beam across second entry 104 towards second light sensor 305. In one embodiment first light source 301 and second light source 304 are led lamps or lasers which are configured to emit colorful light. In another embodiment they can emit (bright) white light that humans can easily see. In Fig. 3 first light beam 303 is thin. Alternatively, first light beam 303 may have a shape of cone.

In this example the mechanical parts that hold light-source-and-light-sensor pairs, such as first light source 301 and first light sensor 302, comprise two rectangles. These mechanical parts can made of steel or plastic, for example. FIGURE 4 shows put-to-light device 100 for a conveyor 401 and boxes. A front panel of conveyor 401 is removed and rollers, including a roller 402, are visible. The boxes are located on the rollers of conveyor 401 and a box 403 operates as first storage place 101, and another box 404 operates as second storage place 102. First light source 301 (at first entry 103) is attached to a first support 405. First support 405 is attached to a vertical bar 406 that is intended to support the front panel of conveyor 401. Correspondingly, second light source 304 is attached to a second support 407 which is attached to vertical bar 406. In addition, first light sensor 302 and second light sensor 305 are attached to vertical bar 406.

Second light source 304 creates a second light beam 408 towards second light sensor 305 indicating that the first item (not shown) should be placed throughout second entry 104 into box 404, i.e. into second storage place 102. FIGURE 5 shows alternative embodiments for motion sensing relating to Fig. 1 -Fig. 4. In some embodiments first motion detector 106 is a passive sensor that senses a moving object via emission or reflection. Assuming that there is some ambient emitter or transmitter, such as the sun, or ceiling lamps, or a radio station of sufficient strength, it is possible to detect changes in the optical, infrared, microwave or acoustic field in the proximity of first motion detector 106. For example, a passive infrared (PIR) sensor is sensitive to a skin temperature (30-37 Celsius) that is higher than a normal room temperature. The following three views illustrate various manners to implement a motion detector. A first view 501 shows an embodiment wherein first motion detector 106 is configured to detect a change in an infrared field. First motion detector 106 comprises a PIR sensor 502 which signals when an employee moves his/hers hand (and an item in the hand) to the first entry. PIR sensor 502 does not need a lamp or any emitter device to function. A second view 503 shows an embodiment wherein first motion detector 106 is configured to detect a change in a microwave field. First motion detector 106 comprises a microwave sensor 504. A continuous wave of microwave radiation is generated by an emitter (not shown). Motion of some object to the first entry causes a phase shift in the microwave radiation and microwave sensor 504 is configured to react to the phase shift such that it signals “object detected”. A third view 505 shows an embodiment wherein first motion detector 106 is configured to detect a change in an acoustic field. First motion detector 106 comprises a microphone 506. If an object is located on microphone 506, microphone 506 senses silence (i.e. lack of voices) and signals “object detected”. The embodiment requires that the environment, in which put-to-light device 100 is used, has some ambient noise. Alternatively, first motion detector 106 comprises an ultrasonic sensor and a transducer (not shown). The ultrasonic sensor is configured to detect shifts in ultrasonic waves generated by the transducer. The ultrasonic sensor and microwave sensor 504 sense motions similarly than a Doppler radar.

In one embodiment put-to-light device 100 is separated from the storage places, such as first storage place 101 and second storage place 102. For example, the storage places locating on a conveyor belt are separated from put-to-light device 100.

In another embodiment put-to-light device 100 is permanently attached to the storage places. Put-to-light device 100 can be installed to a picking cart intended for picking of products. Then put-to-light device 100 is moveable with the picking cart. The picking cart may be a frame that is intended to be placed inside a fixed or movable packet automaton.

In Fig. 1 - Fig. 4 first motion detector 106 is placed in the lower edge of first entry 103. Usually, first motion detector 106 can be placed in some other edge of first entry 103. First motion detector 106 is placed somewhere at first entry 103 such it is able to detect the first item thereat. Correspondingly, the second motion detector is placed at the second entry for detecting an object thereat.

While the present invention has been described in connection with a number of exemplary embodiments, and implementations, the present invention is not so limited, but rather covers various modifications, and equivalent arrangements, which fall within purview of prospective claims.

Claims

Claims

1. A put-to-light device for guiding items into storage places including a first storage place and a second storage place, and a first entry to the first storage place and a second entry to the second storage place, the put-to-light device comprising at least one light source to indicate a storage place intended for a first item, characterized in that the put-to-light device further comprises a first motion detector at the first entry to the first storage place such that the first motion detector is able to detect an object thereat and a second motion detector at the second entry to the second storage place such that the second motion detector is able to detect an object thereat.
2. The put-to-light device as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the first motion detector is activated when an employee is expected to place the first item into the first storage place, and in response to detecting an object by the first motion detector, the first motion detector is deactivated.
3. The put-to-light device as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the put-to-light device further comprises a control unit and the control unit is configured to receive a command to guide the first item into the first storage place, indicate by said at least one light source the first storage place, detect by the first motion detector an object at the first entry, and to determine that the object at the first entry is the first item.
4. The put-to-light device as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said at least one light source is an electrically movable light pointer.
5. The put-to-light device as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said at least one light source includes a first light source, and the first light source and a first light sensor are located at the first entry such that the first light source is able form a first light beam across the first entry towards the first light sensor.