CN112298877A

CN112298877A - Goods picking system

Info

Publication number: CN112298877A
Application number: CN201910948695.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 韩松
Original assignee: Beijing Jingdong Zhenshi Information Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Beijing Jingdong Zhenshi Information Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-10-08
Filing date: 2019-10-08
Publication date: 2021-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 2039-10-08
Also published as: CN112298877B

Abstract

The invention relates to a picking system, comprising: the goods shelf unit comprises a single-layer shelf body and a first rail, wherein the single-layer shelf body comprises a plurality of goods positions; the first track is arranged above the single-layer frame body; and the goods picking device is movably arranged on the first rail and is configured to move along the first rail so as to pick the goods in the goods space. The goods sorting equipment is automatic unmanned equipment and is used for automatically sorting goods on the goods shelf, so that the labor cost is saved, the goods can be efficiently sorted, the goods can be automatically put on the conveying belt, and the efficiency of the goods sorting link in the warehouse is improved.

Description

Goods picking system

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of logistics, in particular to a goods picking system.

Background

With the vigorous development of online shopping, the shopping website generates millions of orders every day, and is accompanied by warehouse picking personnel of the warehouse logistics company to pick the ordered goods. The time spent by the pickers in the warehouse in the picking process directly influences the time for the goods to reach the hands of the customers. Therefore, many warehouse logistics companies place great importance on the picking efficiency of warehouse pickers.

In a large warehouse of interest, goods need to be picked up by a picker and then the goods containers are sent to a rechecking and packing station by two ways: one is that the goods container is pushed to a rechecking and packaging table by a picking truck; however, due to the large warehouse area, the goods on the goods picking truck are conveyed to the rechecking and packaging table by a long distance of the goods picker, which is very labor-consuming for the goods picker; the second is that the goods container is sent to the rechecking and packaging table through the conveyor belt, namely, the goods container is placed on the conveyor belt by a goods picking person and is automatically conveyed to the rechecking and packaging table through the conveyor belt, so that physical power is saved without the need of repeatedly shuttling the goods picking person in a warehouse, but a large number of goods picking personnel are needed for picking the goods, and the requirement on the labor cost is high.

Disclosure of Invention

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a picking system for alleviating the problem of high labor cost.

Some embodiments of the invention provide a pick-up system comprising:

the goods shelf unit comprises a single-layer shelf body and a first rail, wherein the single-layer shelf body comprises a plurality of goods positions; the first track is arranged above the single-layer frame body; and

the goods picking device is movably arranged on the first rail and is configured to move along the first rail so as to pick the goods in the goods space.

In some embodiments, the picking system comprises at least one shelf, said shelf comprises at least two of said shelf units, each of said shelf units belonging to the same said shelf being arranged above and below.

In some embodiments, the picking system comprises at least one first shelf group, the first shelf group comprises at least two shelves, and the shelves belonging to the same first shelf group are arranged at intervals along a first direction;

the picking system further comprises a transfer unit configured to transfer the picking device from one shelf of the first group of shelves to another shelf;

wherein the first direction is a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of the first rail.

In some embodiments, the transfer unit includes a second rail extending in the first direction and a transfer device provided to the second rail and interfacing with the first rail in the shelf unit;

the relay device is configured to switch the picking device from the first track to the second track, the relay device being further configured to switch the picking device from the second track to the first track.

In some embodiments, the transfer apparatus includes a bracket rotatably disposed and a third rail disposed on the bracket, the bracket configured to rotate to interface the third rail with the first rail, the bracket further configured to rotate to interface the third rail with the second rail.

In some embodiments, the picking system comprises at least one second rack group, the second rack group comprises at least two racks, and the racks belonging to the same second rack group are arranged at intervals along the second direction;

the picking system further comprises a transfer unit configured to transfer the picking device from one shelf of the second group of shelves to another shelf;

wherein the second direction is an extending direction of the first track.

In some embodiments, the transfer unit comprises a transfer apparatus comprising a third track that interfaces the first tracks of two adjacent pallets in the second group of pallets.

In some embodiments, the picking system comprises a lifting device for transferring the picking device from one shelf unit to another shelf unit in the shelf.

In some embodiments, the shelf unit further includes a transmission mechanism disposed on the first rail and disposed along an extending direction of the first rail, and the transmission mechanism is connected to the picking device and configured to drive the picking device to move along the first rail.

In some embodiments, the picking device includes a suction cup mechanism and/or a gripping mechanism.

In some embodiments, the cargo space is provided with a cargo space identifier, and the picking device comprises a first identifier for identifying the cargo space identifier.

In some embodiments, the picking device comprises a second identifier for identifying the position of goods in the cargo space for retrieval of the cargo space.

In some embodiments, a picking system includes a delivery lane and a conveyor belt connected to the delivery lane, the delivery lane configured to receive goods picked by the picking device and direct the goods to the conveyor belt, the conveyor belt configured to direct the goods to a target location.

In some embodiments, the picking system includes a controller electrically connected to the picking device and the relay unit, the controller configured to control the relay unit to transfer the picking device to the corresponding cargo space, and control the picking device to pick the cargo.

Based on the technical scheme, the invention at least has the following beneficial effects:

in some embodiments, a shelving unit includes a single-tier rack body including a plurality of cargo spaces and a first track; the first track is arranged above the single-layer frame body, and the goods picking device is movably arranged on the first track; the picking device is configured to move along the first track to pick the goods in the goods space; the goods sorting equipment is automatic unmanned equipment and is used for automatically sorting goods on the goods shelf, so that the labor cost is saved, the goods can be efficiently sorted, the goods can be automatically put on the conveying belt, and the efficiency of the goods sorting link in the warehouse is improved.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the invention without limiting the invention. In the drawings:

fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a picking system according to some embodiments of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a schematic top view of a picking system according to some embodiments of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a transfer unit according to some embodiments of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a picking device according to some embodiments of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the flow of control signals provided by some embodiments of the present invention.

Reference numerals in the drawings indicate:

1-a shelf unit; 11-single-layer frame body; 12-a first track; 13-cargo space; 131-goods location identification; 14-a transmission mechanism;

2-a goods picking device; 21-a first identifier; 22-a second identifier; 23-a suction cup mechanism;

3-a goods shelf;

4-a transfer unit; 41-a second track; 42-a transfer device; 421-a scaffold; 422-a third track;

5-a delivery channel;

6-a conveyor belt;

7-a controller.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments. It is to be understood that the described embodiments are merely a few embodiments of the invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments of the present invention without any inventive step, are within the scope of the present invention.

In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate orientations or positional relationships based on those shown in the drawings, and are used merely for convenience in describing the present invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element being referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore, should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention.

Fig. 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams of a picking system according to some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the picking system comprises a shelf unit 1 and a picking device 2.

The shelf unit 1 comprises a single-layer shelf body 11 and a first rail 12, wherein the single-layer shelf body 11 comprises a plurality of goods spaces 13; the first rail 12 is disposed above the single-layer frame body 11.

Optionally, the single-layer shelf body 3 is provided with a plurality of cargo spaces 13 in sequence along the extending direction of the first rail 12. Or, a plurality of goods positions 13 are arranged on the single-layer rack body 11 in sequence, and the first rail 12 extends along the arrangement direction of the goods positions 13.

Optionally, cargo space 13 comprises a square frame within which cargo is placed.

The single-deck rack 11 includes racks having single-deck cargo spaces.

The picking device 2 is movably arranged on the first track 12. The picking device 2 is configured to move along the first track 12 to pick goods within the goods space 13.

The goods sorting equipment 2 is automatic unmanned equipment and is used for automatically sorting goods on the goods shelf, so that the labor cost is saved, the goods can be efficiently sorted, the goods can be automatically put on the conveying belt, and the efficiency of the goods sorting link in the warehouse is improved.

Optionally, a single picking device 2 is operated on the single level shelf 11. Alternatively, a plurality of picking devices 2 are simultaneously operated on the single-layer shelf 11.

In some embodiments, the picking system comprises at least one shelf 3, the shelf 3 comprises at least two shelf units 1, and each shelf unit 1 belonging to the same shelf 3 is arranged above and below.

Alternatively, the shelf 3 comprises three shelf units 1 arranged one above the other, as shown in fig. 1.

Alternatively, the number of cargo spaces 13 on each shelving unit 1 is the same, and the configuration of the cargo spaces 13 is the same.

Alternatively, the shelf units 1 are identical in structure.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 2, the picking system includes at least one first shelf group, the first shelf group includes at least two shelves 3, and the shelves 3 belonging to the same first shelf group are spaced apart along the first direction.

The picking system further comprises a relay unit 4, the relay unit 4 being configured to transfer the picking device 2 from one shelf 3 of the first group of shelves to another shelf 3.

Wherein the first direction is a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the first rail 12.

When the goods to be picked by the picking device 2 and the picking device 2 are not on the same shelf 3 at the moment, the picking device 2 runs from the shelf 3 where the goods to be picked are located to the shelf 3 where the goods to be picked are located through the transfer unit 4, so that the utilization rate of the picking device 2 is improved.

In some embodiments, a transfer unit 4 is disposed between two adjacent shelf units 1 at the same height in the first shelf group. The picking devices 2 of the shelf units 1 on one shelf 3 are transferred to the shelf units 1 at the same height on another shelf 3 by the transfer unit 4.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 2, the transfer unit 4 comprises a second rail 41 and a transfer device 42, the second rail 41 extending in a first direction, the transfer device 42 being provided on the second rail 41 and interfacing with the first rail 12 in the shelving unit 1.

The relay device 42 is configured to switch the picking device 2 from the first track 12 to the second track 41, and the relay device 42 is also configured to switch the picking device 2 from the second track 41 to the first track 12.

Optionally, the second track 41 is perpendicular to the first track 12. After the picking device 2 travels to the relay device 42, the relay device 42 switches 90 degrees to allow the picking device 2 to transfer from the first track 12 to the second track 41 or from the second track 41 to the first track 12.

In some embodiments, a transfer device 42 is provided between two adjacent shelving units 1 at each level. Alternatively, the relay device is provided as a liftable mechanism to be adapted to the rack units 1 of different heights in the rack 3.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 3, the transfer device 42 includes a support 421 and a third rail 422, the support 421 is rotatably disposed, the third rail 422 is disposed on the support 421, the support 421 is configured to rotate to interface the third rail 422 with the first rail 12, and the support 421 is further configured to rotate to interface the third rail 422 with the second rail 41.

The first rail 12, the second rail 41 and the third rail 422 are guide support rails for guiding the movement of the picking device 2, and the picking device 2 is hung on the guide support rails.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 1, the picking system comprises at least one second group of shelves, the second group of shelves comprises at least two shelves 3, and the shelves 3 belonging to the same second group of shelves are spaced apart in the second direction.

The picking system further comprises a relay unit 4, the relay unit 4 being configured to transfer the picking device 2 from one shelf 3 to another shelf 3 of the second group of shelves.

Wherein the second direction is the extending direction of the first track 12.

In some embodiments, a transfer unit 4 is disposed between two adjacent shelf units 1 at the same height in the second shelf group. The picking devices 2 of the shelf units 1 on one shelf 3 are transferred to the shelf units 1 at the same height on another shelf 3 by the transfer unit 4.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 3, the transfer unit 4 comprises a transfer device 42, the transfer device 42 comprising a third track 422, the third track 422 abutting the first track 12 of two adjacent shelves 3 of the second group of shelves.

In some embodiments, the same shelf 3 may be located in both the first and second shelf groups.

In some embodiments, the picking device 2 may be moved from side to side by the relay unit 4 from one shelf 3 of the second group of shelves to the shelf 3 adjacent thereto. The picking device 2 is movable back and forth by the relay unit 4 from one shelf 3 of the first group to the shelf 3 adjacent thereto. That is, the relay unit 4 allows the picking device 1 to move between two shelves 3 adjacent in the lateral direction and also between two shelves 3 adjacent in the longitudinal direction.

The picking device 2 may be moved only on shelf units 1 located at a uniform height, or by providing lifting means, the picking device 2 may be moved on shelf units of different heights.

In some embodiments, the picking system comprises a lifting device for transferring the picking device 2 from one shelf unit 1 to another shelf unit 1 in the shelf 3.

The picking device 2 can move up and down through the lifting device, namely: up to the first track 12 in the shelf unit 1 located on the upper level or down to the first track 12 of the shelf unit 1 located on the lower level.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 4, the shelf unit 1 further includes a transmission mechanism 14, the transmission mechanism 14 is disposed on the first rail 12 and is disposed along an extending direction of the first rail 12, and the transmission mechanism 14 is connected to the picking device 2 for driving the picking device 2 to move along the first rail 12.

In some embodiments, the drive mechanism 14 includes a link and a drive chain connecting the link, the link hooking the picking device 2. The transmission chain runs to drive the hanging piece to move, and then the goods picking device 2 is driven to move.

In some embodiments, the drive mechanism 14 includes a hook member and a belt that couples the hook member with the picking device 2. The driving belt runs to drive the hanging piece to move, and then the goods picking device 2 is driven to move.

In some embodiments, the picking system includes a drive member coupled to a drive chain or belt. The transmission chain or the transmission belt automatically rotates under the driving of the driving piece to drive the goods picking device 2 to move.

In some embodiments, the picking device 2 includes a suction cup mechanism 23 and/or a gripping mechanism.

The picking device 2 comprises a device for gripping goods by a gripping mechanism. Alternatively, the picking device comprises means for sucking the goods by means of the suction cup mechanism 23.

The picking device 2 is an unmanned picking device, can clamp or attract goods in the goods space 13, moves to the goods sliding channel port of the corresponding layer, delivers the goods to the delivery channel 5, and sends the goods to the conveyor belt 6 through the delivery channel 5.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 4, the cargo space 13 is provided with a cargo space identifier 131, and the picking device 2 comprises a first identifier 21, the first identifier 21 being adapted to identify the cargo space identifier 131.

The cargo space identifier 131 includes an identification code, and the first recognizer 21 includes a code-scanning recognizer. The code scanning identifier is used for scanning an identification code (such as a bar code, a two-dimensional code, and the like) on the goods space 13, and after identifying the identification code, the code scanning identifier is used for the goods picking device 2 to judge whether the goods have moved to the target goods space.

The identification code is a goods position identification code and is used for representing the information of the goods position.

In some embodiments, the picking device 2 comprises a second identifier 22, the second identifier 22 being used to identify the position of the goods in the cargo space 13 for removal of the cargo space 13.

The second identifier 22 is used to identify the location of the goods so that the picking device 2 can accurately pick or pick up the goods.

Alternatively, the second identifier 22 may include an image recognition device that can identify the position of the goods in the cargo space 13 so as to direct the picking device 2 to perform gripping or suction of the goods, or the like.

In some embodiments, the picking system further comprises a delivery lane 5 and a conveyor belt 6, the conveyor belt 6 being connected to the delivery lane 5, the delivery lane 5 being configured to receive goods picked by the picking device 2 and to direct the goods towards the conveyor belt 6, the conveyor belt 6 being configured to direct the goods towards the target location.

Wherein the target location comprises: a wave division station, a rechecking station or a packaging station, etc.

The goods picking device moves on the track, moves above the delivery channel 5 after acquiring the goods, and releases the goods to the delivery channel 5; the delivery passage 5 delivers the picked goods to the conveyor belt 6, and the goods are delivered to the packing table or the rechecking table by the conveyor belt 6.

In some embodiments, the picking system further comprises a controller 7, the controller 7 electrically connects the picking device 2 and the relay unit 4, the controller 7 is configured to control the relay unit 4 to transfer the picking device 2, bring the picking device 2 to the corresponding cargo space 13, and control the picking device 2 to pick the cargo.

The goods picking device 2 is a device for picking goods, can interact with the in-warehouse controller 7, obtains goods picking tasks and the like, can advance according to a route planned by the controller 7, and moves to a corresponding goods position 13 to clamp the goods. The support 421 of the transfer unit 4 can rotate to switch the track of the picking device 2.

Alternatively, the picking device 2 may instruct the cradle 421 to rotate after the picking device 2 moves to the relay unit 4 by sending a command from the picking device 2 to the relay unit 4.

After the controller 7 issues the picking task data to the picking device 2, the picking device 2 proceeds according to the route planned by the controller 7, and when a cross-row goods space is encountered, direction conversion needs to be performed through the transfer unit 4. The relay unit 4 is equivalently located at the intersection. After the goods are picked, the goods picking device 2 moves to the position above the conveyor belt 6 to carry out goods tape feeding.

In some embodiments, a method of picking (as shown in fig. 5) for a picking system includes:

s1) the in-bin controller 7 issues the picking task to the picking device 2.

The picking task comprises information of goods to be picked; the goods information comprises goods position information, goods number and a traveling route of the picking device.

After the controller 7 is programmed, the programmed route storage location list is sent to the picking device 2, and the picking device 2 determines whether the target location is reached according to the location identification code 131 of each location 13.

S2) the picking device 2 moves one by one according to the planning of the moving route, if the picking device 2 is not on the current shelf and needs to go to another shelf, it needs to move to the transfer unit 4 to inform the current transfer unit 4 to change the angle, and the picking device 2 moves to the vertical direction after receiving the change.

S3), after the picking device 2 moves to the goods location to be picked, identifying and positioning the goods, picking up the goods, and informing the service system that the goods is taken off the shelf.

S4) the order picking device 2 moves to the conveyor 6 position and the relay unit 4 is also required to switch tracks for the order picking device 2.

S5) the picking device 2 moves above the conveyor belt 6, and releases the goods, and the goods fall on the conveyor belt 6 and are conveyed to a target position (a wave separation table, a review table, a packing table, etc.).

S6) the picking device 2 informs the service system that the picking of the current goods is completed and gets a new picking task.

In some embodiments, the goods are automatically picked by the picking device 2; the transfer unit 4 is adopted to switch the position of the goods shelf of the automatic goods picking device 2 on the goods shelf; the goods are delivered by adopting the goods picking equipment 2; the automation efficiency is high, the labor cost is saved, and the logistics efficiency is improved.

The embodiment of the utility model can greatly reduce the physical consumption of goods picking personnel and improve the production efficiency of goods picking.

In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. are used to define the components, and are used only for the convenience of distinguishing the components, and if not otherwise stated, the terms have no special meaning, and thus, should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention.

Furthermore, the technical features of one embodiment may be combined with one or more other embodiments advantageously without explicit negatives.

Finally, it should be noted that the above examples are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and not to limit the same; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that: modifications to the specific embodiments of the invention or equivalent substitutions for parts of the technical features may be made; without departing from the spirit of the present invention, it is intended to cover all aspects of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A picking system, comprising:

a shelving unit (1) comprising a single-tier shelf body (11) and a first track (12), the single-tier shelf body (11) comprising a plurality of cargo spaces (13); the first track (12) is arranged above the single-layer frame body (11); and

a picking device (2) movably arranged on the first track (12), wherein the picking device (2) is configured to move along the first track (12) to pick the goods in the goods space (13).

2. A picking system according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises at least one shelf (3), said shelf (3) comprising at least two said shelf units (1), each shelf unit (1) belonging to the same shelf (3) being arranged one above the other.

3. A picking system according to claim 2, characterised by comprising at least one first group of shelves comprising at least two shelves (3), the shelves (3) belonging to the same first group being spaced apart in a first direction;

the picking system further comprises a relay unit (4), the relay unit (4) being configured to transfer the picking device (2) from one shelf (3) to another shelf (3) of the first group of shelves;

wherein the first direction is a direction perpendicular to an extension direction of the first track (12).

4. A picking system according to claim 3, characterised in that the relay unit (4) comprises a second track (41) and a relay device (42), the second track (41) extending in the first direction, the relay device (42) being provided on the second track (41) and interfacing with the first track (12) in the shelf unit (1);

the relay device (42) is configured to switch the picking device (2) from the first track (12) to the second track (41), the relay device (42) being further configured to switch the picking device (2) from the second track (41) to the first track (12).

5. A picking system according to claim 4, characterised in that the relay device (42) comprises a bracket (421) and a third track (422), the bracket (421) being rotatably arranged, the third track (422) being provided to the bracket (421), the bracket (421) being configured to rotate to interface the third track (422) with the first track (12), the bracket (421) also being configured to rotate to interface the third track (422) with the second track (41).

6. A picking system according to any of claims 2-5, characterised in that it comprises at least one second group of shelves, said second group of shelves comprising at least two shelves (3), the shelves (3) belonging to the same second group of shelves being spaced apart in a second direction;

the picking system further comprises a relay unit (4), the relay unit (4) being configured to transfer the picking device (2) from one shelf (3) to another shelf (3) of the second group of shelves;

wherein the second direction is an extension direction of the first track (12).

7. A picking system according to claim 6, characterised in that the relay unit (4) comprises a relay device (42), the relay device (42) comprising a third track (422), the third track (422) interfacing the first tracks (12) of two adjacent shelves (3) of the second group of shelves.

8. A picking system according to claim 2, characterised by comprising lifting means for transferring the picking device (2) from one shelf unit (1) to another shelf unit (1) in the shelf (3).

9. A picking system according to claim 1, characterised in that the shelf unit (1) further comprises a transmission mechanism (14), the transmission mechanism (14) being provided at the first track (12) and being arranged along the extension direction of the first track (12), the transmission mechanism (14) being connected to the picking device (2) for moving the picking device (2) along the first track (12).

10. A picking system according to claim 1, characterised in that the picking device (2) comprises a suction cup mechanism (23) and/or a gripping mechanism.

11. A picking system according to claim 1, characterised in that the cargo space (13) is provided with a cargo space identification (131), the picking device (2) comprising a first identifier (21), the first identifier (21) being adapted to identify the cargo space identification (131).

12. A picking system according to claim 1, characterised in that the picking device (2) comprises a second identifier (22), the second identifier (22) being used to identify the position of goods in the cargo space (13) for removal of the cargo space (13).

13. A picking system according to claim 1, characterised by comprising a delivery channel (5) and a conveyor belt (6), the conveyor belt (6) being connected to the delivery channel (5), the delivery channel (5) being configured to receive goods picked by the picking device (2) and to direct the goods towards the conveyor belt (6), the conveyor belt (6) being configured to direct the goods towards a target location.

14. A picking system according to claim 3, characterised by a controller (7), the controller (7) electrically connecting the picking devices (2) and the relay unit (4), the controller (7) being adapted to control the relay unit (4) to transfer the picking devices (2), bring the picking devices (2) to the corresponding bays (13) and control the picking devices (2) to pick goods.