JP2000038203A - Classification system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a classification system and a classification method which can classify article collecting containers housing the ordered merchandises in different delivery routes efficiently. SOLUTION: In a classification system to classify containers 5 depending on the delivery route on a label stuck on the article collecting container 5, a reporting means to report to a worker by detecting the conversion of the delivery route is provided to a printer 6 to issue the label, and the stacking work of the containers 5 is started newly, from a container whose delivery route is converted. As a result, the containers 5 are avoided from overflowing to the area at the upstream side beyond the capacity of the stock area by stacking plural article collecting containers, and as a result, the whole body of the system can be operated efficiently. And since the each worker stacks the containers depending on the report from the printer 6, without sensing the conversion of the delivery route, the working efficiency is never decreased. Furthermore, plural stacked containers can be processed as a block in the classification line, and the classification capacity is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a sorting system for sorting collection containers storing ordered products based on a delivery route.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a distribution center for merchandise for supermarkets and convenience stores, merchandise ordered from each store is collected for each store and stored in a collection container, which is sorted by a distribution conveyor by a sorting conveyor and shipped. Transported to the area.

[0003] A sorting worker attaches a sorting label (hereinafter, referred to as a "container label") to the collection container. Data such as a delivery route and a delivery destination are printed on the container label in a barcode or the like. Therefore, the containers to which the container label is attached are sorted according to the delivery route based on the barcode data.

[0004]

However, the conventional sorting system has the following disadvantages.

[0005] The collection containers storing the commodities are sequentially conveyed to a shipping area by a sorting conveyor, where they wait for the arrival of trucks. However, the operation of storing the commodities in the collection containers on the upstream side is performed continuously. Therefore, if the arrival of the truck is delayed, the collection container overflows on the sorting conveyor, which may affect the upstream collection area and interrupt the work.

[0006] Such a situation can be solved by stacking the collection containers arranged in a line in several stages on a conveyor.

However, in order to efficiently carry out the truck loading operation of the collection containers, it is desirable that the collection containers are stacked separately for each delivery route.
For this reason, the worker has to watch the delivery route affixed to the collection container while stacking, and this places an excessive burden on the worker.

[0008] It is a primary object of the present invention to address the above-mentioned problems without lowering the work efficiency and without imposing an excessive burden on workers.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized in that it is configured as follows.

[0010] First, in the invention according to claim 1 (hereinafter referred to as "first invention"), a label recording a delivery route is affixed to a collection container storing ordered products, and based on the delivery route of the label. In a sorting system configured to sort collected containers by using a label printer, the label printer that issues the label is provided with a detecting unit that detects a change in the delivery route of the collected container, and a notifying unit that notifies the worker of the change. It is characterized by having.

The invention according to claim 2 (hereinafter referred to as “the invention”)
This is referred to as a "second invention." ) Indicates that when the detecting means detects that the delivery route of the collection container has been switched, the switching means is notified to the notifying means at the timing of label issuance or at the timing at which the issued label is removed from the printer. Features.

The invention according to claim 3 (hereinafter, referred to as "third invention") is characterized in that when the detecting means detects that the delivery route of the collection container is switched, the switching is performed at a label issuance timing. Alternatively, at the timing when the issued label is removed from the printer, the notification unit is notified.

Next, the invention according to claim 4 (hereinafter, referred to as "fourth invention") is characterized in that the notification means notifies the worker of the change of the delivery route by sound or light.

Further, the invention according to claim 5 (hereinafter referred to as "the invention")
This is referred to as a "fifth invention." ) Is a method of attaching a label recording a delivery route to a collection container storing ordered products, reading the delivery route of the label, and sorting the collection containers by route. When the switching of the delivery route of the collection container is detected, at the timing of issuing the label,
Alternatively, when the issued label is removed from the printer, the switching is notified to the worker, and when the switching is notified, the worker performs the stacking operation of the collection containers and the collection container in which the delivery route is changed. Starting anew.

According to the above configuration, the following operation can be obtained.

First, according to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, when a collection container storing merchandise for each store is sent to a sorting line, the detecting means provided in the label printer detects a change in the delivery route. Then, the notifying means notifies the worker of it. When this notification is not given, that is, when the delivery route is not switched, the worker stacks the container on the previous container.
When this notification is made, that is, when the delivery route is switched, a new stacking operation is started from the current container. In this way, since the containers of the same delivery route are stacked in several stages according to the above notification, the space in the loading area and the space of the sorting conveyor can be spared, so that the container overflows to the upstream collection area and does not hinder the work, Containers can be efficiently stocked.

Further, in the case where the switching of the delivery route is notified to the worker at the timing when the label is removed from the printer, the worker recognizes that the delivery route has just been switched when the label is to be attached to the container. Therefore, there is no time lag from the switching notification to the label affixing and the container stacking operation, and the stacking error of the container can be reliably avoided.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In a distribution center for merchandise for supermarkets and convenience stores, for example, sorting operations from storing merchandise ordered from each store in a container to loading the goods on a delivery truck are performed on a conveyor line. FIG.
As shown in the figure, the sorting line is divided into a collection area 1, a sorting area 2, and a shipping area 3 from the upstream side.

In the delivery center, a host computer installed in an office and various terminals installed in each area are communicated in real time via communication means (not shown). Therefore,
Each worker can perform each sorting work while checking the information on the sorting work transmitted from the host computer on the terminal screen each time.

Next, each area will be described.

First, in the collection area 1, a well-known picking system is provided for the conveyor lines L ... L. In accordance with instructions from the host computer, each worker puts the ordered products 7... 7 from each store into each collection container 5.
・ ・ We store in 5. When the picking operation is completed for one store, the operator operates the container label printer 6 to issue a container label 8 as shown in FIG.
Affix to the collection container 5 described above.

As shown in FIG. 2, the label printer 6 includes an operation board 10, a display 11, a key panel 12, a label printing unit, a label issuing port 13, a memory (not shown), and the like. Is connected to a host computer in the distribution center via communication means (not shown). The operator is using the label printer 6
When the store code is input to the label printer 6, the data of each product stored in each container is transferred from the host to the label printer 6.
Is stored in the memory. The label printer 6 issues a container label 8 based on the data.

Information on each collection container 5 is printed on the container label 8 issued from the label printer 6. The information on the container is information necessary for the operator to identify the container, and includes, for example, a delivery date, a delivery route, the number of units, a store code, a flight number, a container sorting barcode 14, and the like ( (Fig. 3). These pieces of information are used in downstream sorting work and delivery work.

When there are many orders from one store, the merchandise may not fit in one container.
At this time, the operator stores the product in a plurality of containers according to his own judgment, and inputs the number of used containers 5 to the label printer. Then, the label printer 6 issues a number of labels 8 corresponding to the number of containers, and the operator attaches them one by one to each container 5. When a plurality of containers are used for one store as described above, these containers are transferred to the transport conveyor 18 as shown in FIG. It is desirable to stack them on top or place them next to each other.

In this way, the container 5 in which the merchandise is stored by the worker and the label 8 is affixed is sent to the sorting area 2 downstream.

In the sorting area 2, the containers 5 storing the commodities are sorted by the delivery route. FIG.
.. L in the collection area 1 merge with the sorting line Ls in the sorting area 2. The sorting line Ls is provided with a shipping inspection terminal 15 for inspecting the goods 7 stored in the container 5 and a route-specific sorting scanner 17.

When the collection container 5 is sent from the collection area 1, the worker in the sorting area performs a shipping inspection operation on the container. This inspection is performed for the stored product 7
Is an operation for confirming whether the product matches the ordered product, and is performed using the shipping inspection terminal 15 as shown in FIG. The inspection terminal 15 is connected to a host computer in the distribution center via a communication means (not shown). When a store name (store code) is input to the terminal, ordered product data of the store is transmitted from the host computer. It is displayed on the screen of the terminal 15.

The worker inspects each product 7 for shipping according to the ordered product data. When the operator causes the bar code scanner 16 attached to the inspection terminal 15 to read a bar code (not shown) of the product 7, the order number is displayed together with the product name. At this time, if the number of products stored in the container 5 and the number of orders match, the same operation is repeated for the next product, and if they do not match, processing is performed as a missing item. Then, when the above operation is performed for all containers and all products of the store, the inspection work for the store is completed.

The containers 5 inspected for shipment are sorted on a delivery route by the sorting scanner 17 for each route and sent to the shipping area 3 while being transported on the sorting line Ls. The scanner 17 is provided on the conveyor 1
8, the bar code 14 of the label attached to each container 5 is read and automatically sorted according to the delivery route. However, a handy type bar code scanner (not shown) may be employed. is there.

Next, the shipping area 3 will be described. Figure
As shown in FIG. 1, the shipping area 3 is provided with stock areas 4... 4 and delivery trucks T. The collection container 5 transported from the sorting area 2 to the shipping area 3 by the transport conveyor 18 waits for the arrival of the delivery truck T in the stock area 4. When the delivery truck T arrives at the shipping area 3, the worker loads the collection containers 5 waiting in the stock area 4 onto the truck T one after another. Since the stock area 4 and the delivery truck T are associated with each delivery route, the worker can perform the loading operation mechanically without being aware of the delivery route described on the container label 8. When the loading operation is completed, each truck T delivers the container 5 to each store according to the delivery route.

In the sorting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the container label printer 6 has a detecting means for detecting a change in the delivery route of the collection container 5, and a notification for notifying the worker of the change. Means 9 are provided. This detecting means detects that the delivery route of the container has been switched from this time based on the delivery route data of the collection container 5 stored in the memory, and sends a notification instruction signal to the notification means 9. When the notification means 9 receives a notification instruction signal from the detection means, the notification means 9 notifies the operator of the change at the timing of label issuance. For example, a red lamp which is lit at the timing of label issuance, or the like. Buzzer or the like that emits a sound at the timing of. When this notification is not made, that is, when the delivery route is not switched, the worker stacks and discharges the container 5b to be discharged to the sorting area 2 this time on the previous container 5a as shown in FIG. . The same procedure is repeated for the next container, and a plurality of containers are stacked and discharged to the sorting area 2. When this notification is given, that is, when the delivery route is switched, a new stacking operation is started from the current container 5d.

Further, in the sorting system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the detecting means is configured to perform the following operations based on the delivery route data of the collection container 5 stored in the memory.
It detects that the delivery route of the container 5 has been switched from the next time, and sends a notification instruction signal to the notification means 9. When receiving the notification instruction signal from the detection means, the notification means 9 notifies the worker of the change at the timing of label issuance. When this notification is not made, that is, when the delivery route is not switched, the operator stacks the next container on the current container and discharges the container. When this notification is made, that is, when the delivery route is switched, the stacking work is newly started from the next container.

Further, in the sorting system according to the third embodiment of the present invention, when the notification means 9 receives a notification instruction signal from the detection means, the notification is switched by the issued label 8 from the printer 6. The operator is notified at the removal timing. The label printer 6 is provided with a peeling sensor (not shown) for detecting that the label 8 has been peeled, for example, at a label issuing port. The sensor detects that the label has been peeled off, and when a signal is sent from the sensor to the notification means 9, the notification means 9 notifies the switching of the delivery route. Therefore, the worker can recognize the switching of the delivery route immediately before discharging the container 5.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, the worker can stack the collection containers upstream of the stock area, thereby increasing the container capacity in the stock area. Therefore, when a large time lag occurs between the collection operation and the loading operation, for example, when a large number of containers are waiting in the stock area due to the arrival of a delivery truck being delayed, the collection container is kept in the stock area. Overflow to the upstream collection area beyond the capacity is avoided, resulting in efficient operation of the entire system. Further, since the operators mechanically stack the containers according to the notification from the label printer without being aware of the switching of the delivery route, there is no possibility that the work efficiency of each operator is reduced. Further, as described above, since the containers of the same delivery route are stacked in a plurality of stages and sent to the sorting line, the operator of the sorting line can process the stacked containers as one lump, improving the sorting ability. I do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a work flow in a distribution center.

FIG. 2 issues a label for identifying a container,
It is a schematic diagram of a container label printer.

FIG. 3 is printed by a container label printer.
It is the schematic of a container label.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a shipping inspection terminal and a barcode scanner.

FIG. 5 illustrates a container stacking operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Collection Area 2 Sorting Area 3 Shipping Area 4 Stock Area 5 Collection Container 6 Container Label Printer 7 Products 8 Container Label 9 Notification Means 14 Container Sorting Barcode 15 Shipping Inspection Terminal 16 Barcode Scanner 17 Route Sorting Scanner 18 Transport conveyor L Conveyor line Ls Sorting line T Delivery truck

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A label issuing label in a sorting system in which a label recording a delivery route is attached to a collection container storing ordered products and the collection container is sorted based on the delivery route of the label. A sorting system, comprising: a printer provided with a detecting means for detecting a change of a delivery route of a collection container, and a notifying means for notifying an operator of the change. 2. When the detecting means detects that the delivery route of the collection container has been switched, the switching is notified to the notifying means at a label issuance timing or at a timing at which the issued label is removed from the printer. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. When the detecting means detects that the delivery route of the collection container is changed, the change is notified to the notifying means at the timing of label issuance or at the timing at which the issued label is removed from the printer. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit notifies the worker of the change of the delivery route by sound or light. 5. A sorting method for attaching a label recording a delivery route to a collection container storing ordered products, reading a delivery route of the label, and sorting the collection containers by route, wherein the label is issued. When the label printer detects a change in the delivery route of the collection container, the label printer notifies the worker of the change at the timing of issuing the label or at the timing of the issued label being removed from the printer. When the switching is notified, a stacking operation of the collection containers is newly started from the collection container whose delivery route has been switched.