CN116424743A

CN116424743A - Warehouse management system and control method for conveying storage containers

Info

Publication number: CN116424743A
Application number: CN202111654529.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 金禀寰; 蓝淯诚
Original assignee: FamilyMart Co Ltd
Current assignee: FamilyMart Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-12-30
Filing date: 2021-12-30
Publication date: 2023-07-14

Abstract

The invention provides a warehouse management system which comprises a storage rack, a lifting device, a shooting device and a server. The storage rack is arranged above the shop space and is used for storing a plurality of storage containers. The lifting device is connected with the storage rack and comprises a lifting table. The lifting platform is used for conveying the storage container between the initial position and the storage rack. The shooting device is arranged in the lifting device and is used for shooting the inner space of the storage container and generating image data. The server is in communication connection with the lifting platform and the shooting device and comprises a processor and a memory device. The shooting device transmits image data to the server, and the processor judges the residual capacity of the internal space according to the image data, establishes capacity data according to the residual capacity and stores the capacity data in the memory device. The warehouse management system conveys the goods to the storage rack through the lifting device so as to better utilize the shop space.

Description

Warehouse management system and control method for conveying storage containers

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a warehouse management system, and more particularly, to a warehouse management system for transporting storage containers.

Background

Because of the explosive development of electronic commerce, consumers shop through a network platform normally, so that the store responsible for receiving the goods is challenged in warehouse management. In many stores, the goods for online shopping can be stored on the floor or rack, and when the consumer goes to the store for picking up the goods, the store staff needs to spend a lot of time searching for the goods of the consumer, which is inconvenient for the store and the consumer.

Disclosure of Invention

An embodiment of the invention provides a warehouse management system, which comprises a storage rack, a lifting device, a shooting device and a server. The storage rack is arranged above the shop space and is used for storing a plurality of storage containers. The lifting device is connected with the storage rack and comprises a lifting table. The lifting platform is used for conveying the storage container between the initial position and the storage rack. The shooting device is arranged in the lifting device and is used for shooting the inner space of the storage container and generating image data. The server is in communication connection with the lifting platform and the shooting device, and comprises a processor and a memory device. The shooting device transmits image data to the server, the processor judges the residual capacity of the internal space according to the image data, establishes capacity data according to the residual capacity and stores the capacity data in the memory device, and the capacity data records the residual capacity of the storage container.

In some embodiments, the warehouse management system further comprises a weighing device. The weighing device is connected with the lifting platform and the server in communication, and is used for measuring the weight of one of the storage containers placed on the lifting platform. The weighing device transmits weight to the server, the processor establishes weight data according to the weight and stores the weight data in the memory device, and the weight data records the weight of each storage container.

In some embodiments, the warehouse management system further comprises a scanning device. The scanning device is in communication connection with the server and is used for scanning the bar code or the image on the goods to generate goods data, wherein the goods data comprises personal data of consumers. The scanning device transmits the goods data to the server, and the processor establishes binding data in the memory device according to the goods data, wherein the binding data records the corresponding relation between a consumer and one of the storage containers for storing the goods.

In some embodiments, the warehouse management system further comprises a handling device. The carrying device is in communication connection with the server and is used for moving on the storage rack to carry the storage container. The lifting device further comprises a control interface, the control interface is in communication connection with the server, when the control interface receives a basket changing instruction, the control interface transmits a basket changing signal to the server, the server transmits a lifting signal to the lifting platform to enable the lifting platform to lift a first storage container in the storage containers from an initial position to the storage rack, and the server transmits a storage signal to the carrying device to enable the carrying device to carry the first storage container to a first storage cell corresponding to the first storage container.

In some embodiments, the server is further configured to send a basket picking signal to the handling device to cause the handling device to handle the second storage container stored in the second storage compartment to the lifting device, and send a lowering signal to the lifting platform to cause the lifting platform to deliver the second storage container downward to the initial position. The basket picking signal is generated by a processor of the server according to capacity data, weight data and/or binding data in the memory device.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for controlling transportation of a storage container, including: transporting a first storage container of the plurality of storage containers from the storage rack to an initial position; scanning a bar code or an image on a first goods to generate first goods data, wherein the first goods data comprises personal data of a first consumer, and establishing binding data according to the first goods data, wherein the binding data records the corresponding relation between the first consumer and a first storage container transported to an initial position; after the first storage container is transported from the storage rack to the initial position, shooting the inner space of the first storage container in which the first goods are stored to judge the residual capacity of the inner space, and establishing capacity data according to the residual capacity, wherein the capacity data records the residual capacity of each storage container; measuring the weight of the first storage container in which the first cargo is stored after the first storage container is transported from the storage rack to the initial position, and establishing weight data according to the weight, the weight data recording the weight of each of the storage containers; and transporting the first storage container from the initial position to the storage rack after photographing the inner space of the first storage container and measuring the weight of the first storage container.

In some embodiments, the control method further comprises: scanning the bar code or image on the second shipment to generate second shipment data, the second shipment data comprising personal data of the second consumer; selecting a second storage container from the storage containers; and transporting the second storage container from the storage rack to the initial position after selecting the second storage container from the storage containers. Wherein selecting the second storage container from the storage containers comprises one of: selecting a storage container storing the goods of the second consumer as a second storage container according to the binding data and the second goods data; or selecting a storage container with the largest residual capacity from the storage containers as a second storage container according to the capacity data; or selecting the storage container with the smallest weight from the storage containers as the second storage container according to the weight data.

In some embodiments, the control method further comprises: identifying a storage container in which the goods of the acquirer are stored according to the acquirer data and the binding data, wherein the acquirer data comprises personal data of the acquirer; and after identifying the storage container in which the pickup cargo has been stored in the storage container, transporting the storage container in which the pickup cargo has been stored from the storage rack to the initial position.

In some embodiments, the control method further comprises: when more than two storage containers are identified to store the goods of the taker, the storage containers stored with the goods of the taker are sequentially transported from the storage rack to the initial position.

In some embodiments, wherein the first shipment data further comprises a date of shipment, the warehouse management method further comprises: judging the number of days of the difference between the date of the incoming goods and the current date, and comparing the number of days with the threshold number of days of the returning goods; and after comparing the number of days with the return threshold number of days, if the number of days is greater than or equal to the return threshold number of days as a result of the comparison, transporting the first storage container storing the first goods from the storage rack to the initial position.

In summary, the warehouse management system stores the goods on the storage rack through the lifting device, and also better manages the storage of the goods through the photographing device, the weighing device and the scanning device, so as to properly utilize the capacity in the storage container and avoid the overweight of the storage container. In addition, the control method conveys the storage container in a specific way, thereby improving the efficiency of stores in storing goods, returning goods and picking up goods by consumers.

Drawings

The foregoing and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a warehouse management system according to some embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a warehouse management system according to some embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a warehouse management system according to some embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating signal transmission between elements of a warehouse management system according to some embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a flow chart of a method of controlling the transport of a storage container according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method of controlling the transport of storage containers according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method of controlling the transport of storage containers according to some embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a flow chart of a method of controlling the transport of a storage container according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The following detailed description of the embodiments is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings, but the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, and the description of the operation of the structure is not intended to limit the order of execution, as any device with equivalent performance resulting from the re-combination of elements is intended to be encompassed by the invention. In addition, the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not drawn to scale. For ease of understanding, the same or similar elements will be indicated by the same reference numerals in the following description.

The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents in the context of describing the specification and the claims are to be construed to cover all the plain and accustomed meanings of each term in the art, throughout the disclosure and specification.

The terms "comprises," "comprising," "including," "having," and the like, when used in this specification, are taken to specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The term "and/or" as used below in the present invention encompasses any combination of one or more of the listed associated items.

In the present invention, when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "electrically connected" to another element, it can be directly connected or directly electrically connected to the other element or additional elements can be present between the elements, and the elements are indirectly connected or indirectly electrically connected to the other element. Although the terms first, second, …, etc. are used to describe various elements in the present invention, this term is merely intended to distinguish between the elements or operations described in the same technical term.

An embodiment of the invention provides a warehouse management system. Referring to fig. 1, fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a warehouse management system 100 according to some embodiments of the invention. As shown in fig. 1, the warehouse management system 100 is disposed in a store, wherein the store includes a floor FLR, a ceiling CEL, and a store space STO. The store space STO is located between the floor FLR and the ceiling CEL, and is a main movable block for store staff and consumers in the store. A counter COU is provided in store space STO that is a block of a store clerk that serves a consumer in the store, and in some embodiments, point-of-sale device 110 and scanning device 112 are provided on counter COU. In some embodiments, the POS 110 is a computer host used as a POS (point of sales) or cash register, and the scanner 112 is used to scan bar codes or images on goods (such as the goods A1 and A2 in FIG. 1) to obtain the relevant information of the goods, such as the name and last three digits of the contact phone, the date of the incoming goods, etc. In some embodiments, scanning device 112 is coupled to point-of-sale device 110.

In some embodiments, the warehouse management system 100 mainly includes a lifting device 120 and a storage rack 130, wherein the lifting device 120 is connected to the storage rack 130. The elevating device 120 is disposed in the store space STO and extends upward from the floor FLR to be connected to the storage rack 130. The storage rack 130 is disposed above the store space STO closer to the ceiling CEL. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the storage rack 130 is supported by posts PIL that are perpendicular to the floor FLR, thus being capable of carrying a large weight. The number of columns PIL in fig. 1 is merely illustrative and is not intended to limit embodiments of the present invention, in various embodiments, the warehouse management system 100 uses more than two columns PIL to support the storage rack 130. In various embodiments, storage rack 130 is not supported by posts PIL, and storage rack 130 is directly connected to ceiling CEL to secure storage rack 130 above store space STO. The warehouse management system 100 transports the goods upwards through the lifting device 120, and stores the goods on the storage rack 130, so as to avoid the goods from being stocked in the store space STO.

In some embodiments, storage rack 130 is disposed above store space STO, and a plurality of storage compartments 132 are disposed on storage rack 130. The storage grid 132 is used for storing the storage container 140, and a corresponding relationship exists between the storage grid 132 and the storage container 140. In some embodiments, one storage compartment 132 corresponds to one storage container 140 and is used to store only one storage container 140. In various embodiments, one storage compartment 132 corresponds to a plurality of storage containers 140 for storing a plurality of storage containers 140.

In some embodiments, the lift 120 includes a lift table 122, the lift table 122 is configured to load the storage container 140 and to transport the storage container 140 between an initial position and the storage shelf 130. The storage container 140 is used to store the cargo (e.g., cargo A1, A2). In some embodiments, the storage container 140 includes a cover that can be verified when a clerk places multiple items into the storage container 140 to ensure that the storage container 140 can be stored in the storage compartment 132 of the storage rack 130 in a later process. Referring to fig. 1 and fig. 2, fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a warehouse management system 100 according to some embodiments of the invention. Fig. 1 depicts a situation in which the lift 122 has not yet started to operate, and fig. 2 depicts a situation in which the storage container 140 is lifted to the storage rack 130 after the lift 122 is operated. In fig. 1, the lift table 122 is in a lower initial position to facilitate the placement of the store clerks into the storage container 140. In fig. 2, the lift 122 is positioned at a higher level to align with the height of the storage rack 130 for subsequent storage of the storage container 140 to the storage grid 132.

Please refer to fig. 1 again. In some embodiments, the warehouse management system 100 includes a weighing device 124, where the weighing device 124 is coupled to the lift table 122 and configured to measure the weight of the storage container 140 when a cargo is placed in the storage container 140. In some embodiments, the warehouse management system 100 includes a photographing device 126, as shown in fig. 1, the photographing device 126 is disposed in the lifting device 120 and is used to photograph the internal space of the storage container 140 when the goods are placed in the storage container 140. In some embodiments, the warehouse management system 100 includes a control interface 128, the control interface 128 for a clerk to control the lift table 122 to raise the storage containers 140 to the storage shelves 130 for storage. The following describes the elements of the storage rack 130 and the elevating device 120 and their operations in detail.

In some embodiments, the warehouse management system 100 includes a handling device 134, where the handling device 134 is configured to move and handle the storage containers 140 on the storage rack 130, so that when the lifting platform 122 lifts the storage containers 140 to the storage rack 130 (as shown in fig. 2), the handling device 134 is configured to handle the storage containers 140 to a specific storage rack 132 for storage. In some embodiments, the handling device 134 is further configured to handle the storage containers 140 stored in the storage compartments 132 from the storage compartments 132 to the lift platform 122, such that the lift platform 122 transports the storage containers 140 downward. In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the handling device 134 is disposed on a frame 136 to be movable within the frame 136. In some embodiments, the frame 136 is coupled to and disposed on the storage rack 130 and is configured to move the handling device 134 over the storage rack 130. In some embodiments, the frame 136 serves as a track for the movement of the handling device 134 over the lift table 122 and between different bins 132. In some embodiments, the frame 136 is directly secured to the ceiling CEL without the storage rack 130 attached.

Referring to fig. 3, fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a portion of a warehouse management system 100 according to some embodiments of the invention. Fig. 3 mainly depicts the elements on the storage rack 130 to illustrate how the storage racks 132 of fig. 1 and 2 are disposed on the storage rack 130, and how the handling device 134 will handle the storage containers 140 of fig. 1 and 2. For clarity of illustration, fig. 3 omits various elements of the warehouse management system 100, such as the frame 136 that is the travel track of the carrier 134. In some embodiments, the frame 136 has a rectangular track passing over the lift table 122 and in front of each of the bins 132, e.g., one corner of the rectangular track falls over the lift table 122, while one long side of the rectangular track corresponds to the

bins

132a, 132b, 132c in FIG. 3 and the other long side of the rectangular track corresponds to the

bins

132d, 132e, 132f in FIG. 3. The above embodiments are not intended to limit the frame 136 of the present invention, and in various embodiments the frame 136 may have different configurations to enable the handling device 134 to handle the storage containers 140 between the lift table 122 and the storage compartments 132.

In fig. 3, the

cells

132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, 132e, 132f are the same cells as the cells 132 in fig. 1 and 2, and the

storage containers

140a, 140b, 140c, 140d, 140e, 140f are the same storage containers as the storage containers 140 in fig. 1 and 2. After the lift table 122 lifts the storage containers 140 to the storage racks 130 as shown in fig. 2, the handling device 134 will grip the storage containers 140 to the corresponding storage racks 132 for storage. In fig. 3, the carrying device 134 grips the storage container 140a that has been lifted up to the storage rack 130 by the lift table 122, and prepares to carry the storage container 140a into the corresponding storage cell 132 a. Further, in the embodiment shown in fig. 3, the storage container 140a corresponds to the storage cell 132a, the storage container 140b corresponds to the storage cell 132b, the storage container 140c corresponds to the storage cell 132c, the storage container 140d corresponds to the storage cell 132d, the storage container 140e corresponds to the storage cell 132e, and the storage container 140f corresponds to the storage cell 132f. In other words, the storage containers 140a must be stored in the storage cells 132a, and the

storage containers

140b, 140c, 140d, 140e, 140f likewise only be stored in their respective corresponding storage cells 132.

Referring to fig. 4, fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating signal transmission among components of the warehouse management system 100 according to some embodiments of the invention. The warehouse management system 100 includes a server 150, and the warehouse management system 100 receives data or signals from a plurality of components via the server 150 to control the lift 122 and the carrier 134 to transport the storage containers 140. The server 150 includes a processor 152 and a memory device 154. In some embodiments, the server 150 is a computer host and is managed by a company responsible for operating the store, so the server 150 is not disposed in the store space STO as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The server 150 is communicatively coupled to the scanner 112, camera 126, weighing device 124, control interface 128, point-of-sale device 110, lift 122, and carrier 134. The following paragraphs will describe the transmission of signals between the components of the warehouse management system 100 in various procedures (e.g., store-to-store inventory, customer-to-store inventory, store-to-store inventory returns without customer inventory, etc.).

The following describes the operation and signaling of the various elements of the warehouse management system 100 during a store's inventory (i.e., shipping) process. Please refer to fig. 1. When a cargo carrier (e.g., a logistics company) carries a cargo of a consumer to a store, a store clerk of the store scans a bar code or an image on the cargo by the scanning device 122 to obtain related information of the cargo, such as a name of the consumer, a phone number of the consumer, and/or a date of delivery, corresponding to the cargo. In some embodiments, the scanner 122 scans the image on the goods to directly obtain the customer name and/or customer phone number. In some embodiments, the scanning device 122 scans the bar code on the goods and transmits the bar code to the server 150 for decoding, so as to obtain the information such as the customer name and/or the customer phone number of the goods. After the store personnel scan the goods, the store personnel place the goods into the storage container 140. For example, in fig. 1, the item A1 has been placed in the storage container 140, and the item A2 will be placed in the storage container 140 by a clerk after scanning by the scanning device 112.

In detail, as shown in fig. 4, when the scanning device 122 scans the bar code or the image on the goods, the scanning device 122 generates the goods data D1 (i.e. the name of the customer, the phone number of the customer, and/or the date of the incoming goods, etc.) and transmits the goods data D1 to the server 150, and the processor 152 of the server 150 establishes the binding data D2 according to the goods data D1 and stores the binding data D2 in the memory device 154. The binding data D2 records the correspondence between the consumer and the storage container 140 storing the goods, for example, the consumer corresponding to the goods A1 in fig. 1 binds with the storage container 140 storing the goods A1, and the goods A2 in fig. 2 is also put into the storage container 140, so that the consumer corresponding to the goods A2 binds with the storage container 140 storing the goods A2. In other words, the binding data D2 will record in which storage container 140 the goods purchased by the particular consumer are stored. In a subsequent process, the binding data D2 can be used to quickly identify one or more goods of the consumer are stored in which storage containers 140 when the consumer takes the goods, and can also be used to improve the efficiency of the subsequent consumer in picking up the goods if the consumer corresponding to the newly arrived goods already has other goods stored in a certain storage container 140 when the consumer takes the goods, and the warehouse management system 100 can select the specific storage container 140 to store the newly arrived goods. In some embodiments, the binding data D2 also records the date of the incoming goods for all the goods stored in the storage container 140 according to the goods data D1.

Referring back to fig. 1, when the store clerk places the goods in the storage container 140, the photographing device 126 photographs the interior space of the storage container 140. Specifically, as shown in fig. 4, the photographing device 126 photographs the internal space of the storage container 140 to generate image data D3 (e.g. digital data of the internal image of the storage container 140), and transmits the image data D3 to the server 150, and the processor 152 of the server 150 determines the remaining capacity of the internal space of the storage container 140 according to the image data D3. In detail, in some embodiments, the processor 152 identifies the length, width and height of the cargo A1 in the storage container 140 shown in FIG. 1 according to the image data D3 by the related image analysis application program, and calculates the volume of the cargo A1 (i.e. the product of the length, width and height of the cargo A1). In some embodiments, the memory device 154 includes data of the volume of the storage container 140, so that the remaining capacity of the storage container 140 can be obtained by subtracting the volume of the cargo A1 from the volume of the storage container 140. Then, the processor 152 establishes the capacity data D4 according to the remaining capacity, and then stores the capacity data D4 into the memory device 154. The capacity data D4 records the remaining capacity of the storage container 140.

Referring again to FIG. 1, when a store clerk places a cargo in the storage container 140, the weighing device 124 measures the weight W of the storage container 140. In detail, as shown in fig. 4, the weighing device 124 measures the weight W of the storage container 140 and then transmits the weight W to the server 150, and the processor 152 of the server 150 creates the weight data D5 according to the weight W and stores the weight data D5 in the memory device 154. The weight data D5 records the weight W of each storage container 140.

In other words, the warehouse management system 100 records the remaining capacity and the weight W of the storage container 140 when the warehouse is placed in the storage container 140 through the photographing device 126 and the weighing device 124. It should be noted that, the sequence of the two procedures can be freely adjusted by using the photographing device 126 to photograph the internal space of the storage container 140 and using the weighing device 124 to measure the weight W of the storage container 140, and the invention is not limited to the sequence. In addition, when the goods A2 as in fig. 1 is also put into the storage container 140 by the clerk, the photographing device 126 will photograph the inner space of the storage container 140 again, and the weighing device 124 will measure the weight W of the storage container 140 again and transmit the relevant data to the server 150 to update the capacity data D4 and the weight data D5 in the server 150.

After the photographing device 126 photographs the internal space of the storage container 140 and the weighing device 124 measures the weight W of the storage container 140, if the store clerk finds that the storage container 140 has no space for placing more goods, the store clerk can input a basket exchange command to the control interface 128 of the lifting device 120 to control the lifting platform 122 and the carrying device 134 to carry the full storage container 140 to the storage rack 130 for storage, and then take another storage container 140 from the storage rack 130 for storing the subsequent goods. In some embodiments, the control interface 128 is a touch panel, or a display device with an input interface such as a keyboard or buttons, and thus may be used to receive basket change instructions given by a store clerk. In detail, as shown in fig. 4, when the control interface 128 receives a basket exchange command (not shown), the control interface 128 transmits a basket exchange signal S1 to the server 150, and the server 150 transmits a lifting signal S2 to the lifting platform 122, so that the lifting platform 122 lifts the storage container 140 from the initial position to the storage rack 130. Then, when the storage container 140 has been lifted to the storage rack 130, the server 150 transmits the storage signal S3 to the carrying device 134, so that the carrying device 134 carries the storage container 140 to the corresponding storage rack 132. The warehouse management system 100 can lift the storage container 140 at the initial position to the storage rack 130 through the signal transmission and the element actuation, and then, as shown in the embodiment of fig. 3, the storage container 140a is transported to the storage rack 132a by the transporting device 134 for storage.

After the storage container 140 of the stored goods is stored in the storage compartment 132, as shown in fig. 4, the server 150 further transmits a basket picking signal S4 to the carrying device 134, so that the carrying device 134 carries the storage container 140 onto the lifting platform 122 of the lifting device 120. Then, the server 150 transmits the lowering signal S5 to the lifting platform 122, so that the lifting platform 122 conveys the storage container 140 downward to the initial position. Referring to fig. 3, for example, in one embodiment, after the carrying device 134 stores the storage container 140a in the storage compartment 132a, the carrying device 134 moves to the storage compartment 132b according to the basket picking signal S4 transmitted by the server 150 and carries the storage container 140b, and after the carrying device 134 carries the storage container 140b back onto the lifting platform 122, the lifting platform 122 conveys the storage container 140b down to the initial position according to the descending signal S5 transmitted by the server 150, so that a salesman loads the goods into the storage container 140 b.

It should be noted that, in the foregoing embodiment, the warehouse management system 100 selects the storage container 140b as the container for storing the goods next after storing the storage container 140a, and in various embodiments, the warehouse management system 100 generates the basket picking signal S4 according to the binding data D2, the capacity data D4 and/or the weight data D5 stored in the memory device 154 of the server 150 to select the container for storing the goods next. The following describes different ways in which the server 150 selects the next storage container 140.

In some embodiments, after the warehouse management system 100 stores the storage containers 140a to the storage cells 132a, the server 150 generates the basket-out signal S4 according to the capacity data D4 to select the storage container 140 with the largest remaining capacity as the storage container 140 for storing the goods next. In detail, the capacity data D4 records the remaining capacity of each storage container 140, so the server 150 can identify the storage container 140 with the largest remaining capacity according to the capacity data D4, and then convey the storage container 140 with the largest remaining capacity to the initial position according to the signal transmission. In some embodiments, if the server 150 recognizes that the plurality of storage containers 140 have the same remaining capacity according to the capacity data D4, and the remaining capacity is greater than the remaining capacities of the other storage containers 140, the server 150 may select any one of the plurality of storage containers 140 as the storage container 140 for storing the goods next.

In some embodiments, after the warehouse management system 100 stores the storage containers 140a to the storage grid 132a, the server 150 generates the basket-out signal S4 according to the weight data D5 to select the storage container 140 with the smallest weight W as the storage container 140 for storing the next cargo. In detail, the weight data D5 records the weight W of each storage container 140, so the server 150 can identify the storage container 140 with the smallest weight W (i.e. the lightest storage container 140) according to the weight data D5, and then convey the lightest storage container 140 to the initial position according to the signal transmission. In some embodiments, if the server 150 recognizes that the plurality of storage containers 140 have the same weight W according to the weight data D5, and the weight W is smaller than the weight W of the other storage containers 140, the server 150 may select any one of the plurality of storage containers 140 as the storage container 140 for storing the goods next.

Referring to fig. 4, in some embodiments, after the warehouse management system 100 stores the storage containers 140 to the storage racks 132, if the store clerk scans the bar codes or images of the new goods again with the scanning device 122, the scanning device 122 will generate the goods data D1 corresponding to the new goods again, and transmit the goods data D1 to the server 150, and the server 150 will generate the basket picking signal S4 according to the existing binding data D2 and the new goods data D1. The new cargo data D1 includes personal data of the consumer, and if any of the storage containers 140 on the storage rack 130 already stores the cargo of the consumer, the server 150 can identify the storage container 140 storing the cargo of the consumer by comparing the binding data D2 with the new cargo data D1. Then, the server 150 generates a basket picking signal S4 to drive the carrying device 134 and the lifting platform 122 to carry the storage container 140 storing the consumer goods to the initial position. Therefore, in this embodiment, if a new cargo and a cargo already stored in the storage container 140 correspond to the same consumer, the new cargo and the old cargo can be stored in the same storage container 140, so that when the following consumer arrives at the store to pick up the cargo, the warehouse management system 100 can only handle a few storage containers 140, and avoid the cargo of the same consumer being stored in different storage containers 140 in a scattered manner, resulting in inefficiency when the consumer picks up the cargo.

In the above embodiments, the server 150 uses the capacity data D4, the weight data D5, and the binding data D2 to determine how to select the new storage container 140 to store the goods, and in some embodiments, the server 150 may use the capacity data D4, the weight data D5, and the binding data D2 to determine how to select the new storage container 140. For example, the server 150 may store a plurality of goods into the storage containers 140 according to the capacity data D4, and when the remaining capacity of all the storage containers 140 is smaller than the value, the server 150 may select the lightest storage container 140 to store the following goods according to the weight data D5 instead. For another example, after the store clerk scans the new goods with the scanning device 112, if the server 150 identifies the specific storage container 140 storing the goods of the same customer according to the binding data D2, the server 150 finds that the remaining capacity of the specific storage container 140 is too small or the weight W is too large according to the capacity data D4 or the weight data D5, and at this time, the server 150 may select the storage containers 140 other than the specific storage container 140 to store the new goods. The above embodiments are merely illustrative, and are not intended to limit the present invention, and one skilled in the relevant art can adjust, combine or change the above embodiments according to actual storage requirements and situations, and still consider to fall within the scope of the embodiments of the present invention.

The following describes the operation and signaling of the components of the warehouse management system 100 in a customer-to-store picking process. Referring to fig. 4, in some embodiments, after the customer goes to the store and informs the store personnel of the last three digits of the customer's name and phone number, the store personnel enters the last three digits of the customer's name and phone number into the point-of-sale device 110, and the point-of-sale device 110 transmits the pick-up profile D6 to the server 150, wherein the pick-up profile D6 includes the personal profile of the customer's last three digits of the customer's name and phone number. The server 150 identifies the storage container 140 storing the goods of the sender according to the sender data D6 and the binding data D2, in other words, the server 150 searches the matched consumers in the binding data D2 according to the last three digits of the name and the phone number of the sender in the sender data D6, and finds the storage container 140 storing the goods of the sender according to the corresponding relationship between the consumers and the storage container 140 recorded by the binding data D2. Then, the server 150 controls the transporting device 134 to transport the storage container 140 storing the pickup cargo to the lifting device 120 by transmitting a signal to the transporting device 134, and the server 150 controls the lifting platform 122 to transport the storage container 140 storing the pickup cargo down to the initial position by transmitting a signal to the lifting platform 122.

In some embodiments, when the server 150 recognizes that more than two storage containers 140 have stored the pickup object according to the pickup object data D6 and the binding data D2, the server 150 sequentially transfers all the storage containers 140 storing the pickup object to the initial position by transmitting signals to the transferring device 134 and the lifting platform 122, so as to facilitate the pickup of the object by the consumer.

The following describes the operation and signaling of the components of the warehouse management system 100 during a store's return (i.e., return) of a good that was not picked by a consumer. In some embodiments, when the goods are stored in the storage container 140 for a certain return threshold number of days (e.g., 7 days) and the customer has not yet arrived at the store to pick up the goods, the store clerk will return the goods through the point-of-sale device 110 to return the goods to the seller or e-commerce merchant. Referring to fig. 4, when a store clerk inputs a return instruction to the point-of-sale device 110, the point-of-sale device 110 transmits a return signal S6 to the server 150, the server 150 captures the binding data D2 to obtain the incoming date of all the goods stored in the storage container 140, the server 150 further determines the number of days differing between the incoming date and the current date of all the goods stored in the storage container 140, and compares the number of days with the return threshold number of days, if the number of days compared by the server 150 is greater than or equal to the return threshold number of days, the server 150 transmits a signal to the carrying device 134 to enable the carrying device 134 to carry the storage container 140 of the stored goods to the lifting device 120, and the server 150 transmits a signal to the lifting platform 122 to enable the lifting platform 122 to convey the storage container 140 down to the initial position. In other words, the server 150 finds the storage containers 140 storing the goods exceeding the return threshold number according to the incoming date of all the goods recorded by the binding data D2, and controls the carrying device 134 and the lifting platform 122 to carry the storage containers 140 to the initial position, so as to facilitate the store personnel to return the goods.

In some embodiments, when the server 150 recognizes that more than two storage containers 140 have stored the goods exceeding the number of the return threshold according to the binding data D2, the server 150 sequentially transfers all the storage containers 140 storing the goods exceeding the number of the return threshold to the initial position by transmitting the signal to the transferring device 134 and the lifting platform 122.

In summary, the warehouse management system 100 stores the goods on the storage rack 130 by the lifting device 120, so as to better utilize the space in the store. The warehouse management system 100 also preferably manages the storage of the goods by the photographing device 126, the weighing device 124 and the scanning device 112 to properly utilize the capacity of the storage container 140, avoid the overweight of the storage container 140 and improve the efficiency of the customer in picking up the goods later. In addition, the above storage method is matched with the data stored in the server 150, so that the efficiency of the consumer in picking up goods and returning goods by store staff is improved.

In another embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling the transport of a storage container is also disclosed. Referring to fig. 5, fig. 5 is a flowchart of a method 200 for controlling the transport of a storage container according to some embodiments of the present invention. The control method 200 includes steps S210, S220, S230, S240, and S250. The control method 200 can be described by the embodiments of fig. 1, 2, 3 and 4. In step S210, the original storage container 140 is stored in the storage compartment 132 of the storage rack 130, and when the logistics provider sends the goods to the store and the store personnel wants to start storing the goods, the server 150 controls the carrying device 134 and the lifting platform 122 to transport one storage container 140 from the storage rack 130 to the initial position. In step S220, the store clerk scans the bar code or image on the goods (e.g. the goods A1 or A2 in fig. 1) with the scanning device 112 to generate the goods data D1, and the server 150 establishes the binding data D2 according to the goods data D1 after receiving the goods data D1. In step S230, the photographing device 126 photographs the internal space of the storage container 140 as the stored goods A1 in fig. 1, and transmits the photographed image to the server 150 to enable the server 150 to determine the remaining capacity of the internal space of the storage container 140 according to the photographed image. In step S240, the weighing device 124 measures the weight W of the storage container 140 of the stored cargo A1 in fig. 1, and transmits the measured weight W to the server 150 to enable the server 150 to establish the weight data D5 according to the weight W. In step S250, the server 150 conveys the storage container 140 from the initial position to the storage rack 130 for storage by transmitting a signal to the conveying device 134 and the lifting platform 122.

In some embodiments, the control method 200 further includes steps S260, S270, and S280. In step S260, after the storage container 140 is stored on the storage rack 130 in step S250, the store clerk scans another goods again with the scanning device 112 to generate new goods data D1. In step S270, the server 150 again selects the storage container 140 from the storage containers 140 to store the goods. In step S280, the server 150 transfers the storage container 140 selected in step S270 from the storage rack 130 to the initial position by transmitting a signal to the transfer device 134 and the lifting table 122.

Referring to fig. 6, fig. 6 is a flowchart of a method 200 for controlling the transport of a storage container according to some embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, step S270 further comprises S271, S272, or S273. When the server 150 selects the storage container 140 again to store a new cargo in step S270, the server 150 has a different selection method. In some embodiments, the server 150 identifies the consumer of the new shipment according to the shipment data D1 of the new shipment, and determines whether the storage container 140 already stores the consumer's shipment according to the binding data D2, and if so, the server 150 selects the storage container 140 already storing the consumer's shipment to store the new shipment. In some embodiments, the server 150 selects the storage container 140 having the largest remaining capacity among the storage containers 140 to store the new cargo according to the capacity data D4. In some embodiments, the server 150 selects the storage container 140 having the smallest weight W of the storage containers 140 to store the new cargo according to the weight data D5.

Referring to fig. 7, fig. 7 is a flowchart of a method 200 for controlling the transport of a storage container according to some embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, the control method 200 further includes steps S310, S320, and S330. In step S310, the server 150 identifies the storage container 140 storing the pickup' S goods according to the pickup data D6 and the binding data D2. In step S320, the server 150 controls the carrying device 134 and the lifting platform 122 to transfer the storage container 140 storing the pickup object from the storage rack 130 to the initial position by transmitting a signal to the carrying device 134 and the lifting platform 122. In some embodiments, when the server 150 recognizes that more than two storage containers 140 have stored the pickup truck, the server 150 controls the handling device 134 and the lifting platform 122 to sequentially transfer the storage containers 140 storing the pickup truck from the storage rack 130 to the initial position by transmitting signals to the handling device 134 and the lifting platform 122.

Referring to fig. 8, fig. 8 is a flowchart of a method 200 for controlling the transport of a storage container according to some embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, the control method 200 further includes steps S410 and S420. In step S410, the server 150 determines the number of days when the date of the incoming goods is worse than the current date, and compares the number of days with the threshold number of days for the return. In step S420, if the number of days is greater than or equal to the return threshold number of days as a result of the comparison by the server 150, the server 150 controls the carrying device 134 and the lifting platform 122 to transfer the storage container 140 storing the goods up to the return threshold number of days from the storage rack 130 to the initial position by transmitting the signal to the carrying device 134 and the lifting platform 122.

The details of the control method 200 described above can be found in the relevant paragraphs of the embodiments of fig. 1, 2, 3 and 4. It should be noted that, the order of the steps of the control method 200 in the above embodiment can be adjusted or changed according to the actual needs and situations, and still be considered to fall within the scope of the embodiments of the present invention.

In summary, the control method 200 transports the storage container 140 in a specific manner, thereby improving the efficiency of the store in storing and returning the goods and picking up the goods by the consumer.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be modified or altered in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[ symbolic description ]

100 warehouse management system

110 point of sale device

112 scanning device

120 lifting device

122 lifting table

124 weighing device

126 photographing device

128 control interface

130 storage rack

132 storage cell

132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, 132e, 132f: cells

134 conveying device

136 frame

140 storage container

140a, 140b, 140c, 140d, 140e, 140f: storage containers

A1 goods piece

A2 goods

CEL ceiling

COU counter

FLR floor

PIL column

STO: store space

150 Server

152 processor

154 memory device

D1, goods data

D2 binding data

D3 image data

D4 capacity data

D5 weight data

D6, taking the data of the sender

S1 basket changing signal

S2, rising signal

S3, storing signals

S4, basket taking signal

S5, falling signal

W is weight of

200 control method

S210, S220, S230, S240, S250, S260, S270, S280 steps

S271, S272, S273 step

S310, S320 and S330.

Claims

1. A warehouse management system, comprising:

the storage rack is arranged above the shop space and is used for storing a plurality of storage containers;

the lifting device is connected with the storage rack and comprises a lifting table, and the lifting table is used for conveying one of the storage containers between the initial position and the storage rack;

the shooting device is arranged in the lifting device and is used for shooting the inner space of one of the storage containers and generating image data; and

the server is in communication connection with the lifting table and the shooting device and comprises a processor and a memory device;

The shooting device transmits the image data to the server, the processor judges the residual capacity of the internal space according to the image data, and establishes capacity data according to the residual capacity and stores the capacity data in the memory device, wherein the capacity data records the residual capacity of each of the storage containers.

2. The warehouse management system of claim 1, further comprising:

the weighing device is connected with the lifting table and the server in communication and is used for measuring the weight of one of the storage containers placed on the lifting table;

the weighing device transmits the weight to the server, the processor establishes weight data according to the weight and stores the weight data in the memory device, and the weight data records the weight of each storage container.

3. The warehouse management system of claim 2, further comprising:

the scanning device is in communication connection with the server and is used for scanning the bar code or the image on the goods to generate goods data, wherein the goods data comprises personal data of consumers;

the processor establishes binding data in the memory device according to the goods data, and the binding data records the corresponding relation between the consumer and one of the storage containers storing the goods.

4. The warehouse management system of claim 3, further comprising:

the carrying device is in communication connection with the server and is used for moving on the storage rack to carry the storage containers;

when the control interface receives a basket changing instruction, the control interface transmits a basket changing signal to the server, the server transmits a rising signal to the lifting platform to enable the lifting platform to lift a first storage container in the storage containers from the initial position to the storage rack, and the server transmits a storage signal to the carrying device to enable the carrying device to carry the first storage container to a first storage cell corresponding to the first storage container.

5. The warehouse management system of claim 4, wherein:

the server is further used for transmitting a basket taking signal to the carrying device so that the carrying device carries the second storage container stored in the second storage grid to the lifting device, and transmitting a descending signal to the lifting platform so that the lifting platform downwards carries the second storage container to the initial position;

The basket picking signal is generated by the processor of the server according to the capacity data, the weight data and/or the binding data in the memory device.

6. A method of controlling the transport of a storage container, comprising:

transporting a first storage container of the plurality of storage containers from the storage rack to an initial position;

scanning a bar code or an image on a first cargo to generate first cargo data, wherein the first cargo data comprises personal data of a first consumer, and binding data is established according to the first cargo data, and the binding data records the corresponding relation between the first consumer and the first storage container conveyed to the initial position;

after the first storage container is transported from the storage rack to the initial position, shooting the inner space of the first storage container in which the first goods are stored to judge the residual capacity of the inner space, and establishing capacity data according to the residual capacity, wherein the capacity data records the residual capacity of each storage container;

measuring the weight of the first storage container in which the first cargo has been stored after the first storage container is transported from the storage rack to the initial position, and creating weight data based on the weight, the weight data recording the weight of each of the storage containers; and

After photographing the inner space of the first storage container and measuring the weight of the first storage container, the first storage container is transferred from the initial position to the storage rack.

7. The control method according to claim 6, characterized by further comprising:

scanning the bar code or image on the second shipment to generate second shipment data comprising personal data of the second consumer;

selecting a second storage container from the plurality of storage containers; and

after selecting the second storage container from the storage containers, transporting the second storage container from the storage rack to the initial position;

wherein selecting the second storage container from the plurality of storage containers comprises one of:

selecting the storage container storing the second consumer's goods as the second storage container according to the binding data and the second goods data; or (b)

Selecting the storage container with the largest residual capacity from the storage containers as the second storage container according to the capacity data; or (b)

And selecting the storage container with the smallest weight from the storage containers as the second storage container according to the weight data.

8. The control method according to claim 6, characterized by further comprising:

identifying the storage containers in which the goods of the acquirer are stored according to the acquirer data and the binding data, wherein the acquirer data comprises personal data of the acquirer; and

after identifying the storage container in which the pickup cargo has been stored in the storage containers, the storage container in which the pickup cargo has been stored is transported from the storage rack to the initial position.

9. The control method according to claim 8, characterized by further comprising:

when more than two storage containers are identified to store the goods of the pick-up person, the storage containers stored with the goods of the pick-up person are sequentially transported from the storage rack to the initial position.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the first inventory data further includes a date of the shipment, the warehouse management method further comprising:

judging the number of days of the difference between the date of the incoming goods and the current date, and comparing the number of days with the threshold number of days of the returning goods; and

after comparing the number of days with the return threshold number of days, if the number of days is greater than or equal to the return threshold number of days as a result of the comparison, the first storage container storing the first cargo is transported from the storage rack to the initial position.