JP2000085919A - Article arranging method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To warehouse (arrange) an article at high speed, and to ship a desired article at a desired order in a short time by storing the article to be fed by the kind in a storage part of a rotary shelf in the shipping order. SOLUTION: When the shipping request by the batch (for example, the information data on the shipping order, the shipping kind, and the quantity, etc., by the shipping destination) is determined, articles to be arranged by the batch of the requested total quantity are taken out of an automated storage and retrieval system, etc., by the kind. The articles taken out and arranged are carried by the kind by a feed conveyor 5, one or a plurality of articles carried by the kind are arranged and stored in the shipping order in each article storage part of a turnably supported rotary shelf 1 through a vertical ciculation conveyor 2, and the articles of a plurality of kinds are arranged in the desired order. Before a truck for shipping arrives at a berth for shipping, the desired articles can be arranged in each article storage part of the rotary shelf at high speed in the shipping order.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for packing articles by using a rotating shelf, in particular, a horizontal rotating shelf stacked in a plurality of stages, in which articles are packed in the order in which they are delivered.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional techniques relating to a method of packing articles are disclosed in JP-A-61-7107 and JP-A-63-1.
No. 60906 is known.

The prior art described in the above publication is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 61-7107, in which articles arriving in an arbitrary order can be unloaded in a predetermined order before arrival. A control method is described. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-160906 discloses that a rotating shelf is provided in the middle of a transport path for transporting articles ejected from an automatic warehouse to a workplace, and that a multi-item article ejected from the automatic warehouse in any order is once rotated. A delivery system for storing on a shelf is described.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems.

That is, in the warehouse control method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-7107, since articles to be unpacked are not supplied for each type, a great deal of time is required to unpack the articles. Required. Further, in the retrieval system described in JP-A-63-160906, the supplied articles are randomly stored in the article storage section of the rotating shelf.
A desired article cannot be delivered in a desired order in a short time.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to store articles supplied for each type in the order in which they are delivered to the article storage section of the rotating shelf so that articles can be stored (packed) at a high speed, and It is an object of the present invention to provide an article packing method capable of unloading desired articles in a desired order in a very short time.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an article packing method for packing a plurality of types of articles, wherein the articles to be packed are supplied for each type, and the supplied articles are rotated. The above object has been achieved by providing a method for packing articles, wherein the articles are stored in the order in which they are delivered to an article storage section of a rotatable shelf that is supported as possible.

It is preferable that the rotating shelf is formed by stacking a plurality of rotating shelves that rotatably support the article storage section.

Further, it is preferable that the articles are stored in the article storage section via transport means disposed on the side of the rotating shelf.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below together with examples of an article packing apparatus suitable for carrying out the article packing method of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is an elevation view showing a first embodiment of an article packing apparatus suitable for carrying out the article packing method of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the article packing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation view of a transporting unit (an embodiment in which a part is changed) of the article packing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an elevation view showing a second embodiment of the article packing apparatus suitable for carrying out the article packing method of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a plan view of the article packing apparatus shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a carrying-out means (an embodiment in which a part of the carrying-out means is changed) of the article packing equipment shown in FIG. 5, and FIG.

In these drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a rotating shelf which is formed by stacking a plurality of rotating shelf units 11 which rotatably support an article storage unit 12 along a horizontal elliptical circulation path at appropriate intervals, and 2 denotes a rotating shelf. The conveying means (vertical circulating conveyor) 3 disposed on the side of the reversing path R of the rotating shelf 1 is a reversing path R on the opposite side of the rotating shelf 1 in the first embodiment of the article packing equipment.
Unloading means (vertical circulating conveyor), 4
Reference numeral denotes an unloading means arranged along the linear movement path section S of the rotating shelf 1 in the second embodiment of the article packing equipment.
Thus, the articles G to be packed are supplied for each type,
Article G (one or more) supplied (for each type)
Are stored in the order in which they are delivered to (each) the article storage section 12 of the rotating shelf 1 rotatably supported via the conveying means (vertical circulation conveyor) 2 so that a plurality of types of articles are stored. G is arranged in a desired order.

A description will be given of each part in the above embodiment. Each of the rotating shelves 11 in the rotating shelf 1 supports a large number of article storage sections 12 on a horizontal elliptical traveling rail so as to be able to travel, and also has a traveling rail. The drive chain is hung between the drive tooth wheel and the idler tooth wheel along, the article storage portions 12 are fixed to the drive chain at equal intervals, and the drive tooth wheel is driven by a motor. Can be rotated irrespective of the rotating shelf unit 11 of this stage.
It has been done. It should be noted that each of the rotating racks 11 is not configured to be able to rotate independently of the other rotating racks 11, and the article storage unit 12 is appropriately mounted on one or a plurality of drive chains that are operated synchronously. Multiple stages at intervals (for example, two stages)
And a plurality of sets (a plurality of stages) of the plurality of rotating shelves 11 are stacked (for example, provided with a 20-stage article storage section 12). 1 may be configured. Further, the rotating shelf 1 may be configured by stacking a plurality of sets (a plurality of stages) of the rotating shelf unit 11 having one stage and the rotating shelf unit 11 having a plurality of stages. Although the article packing equipment of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is constituted by two sets of rotating shelves 1, it is constituted by only one set or three or more sets of rotating shelves 1. It may be. In addition, the second shown in FIGS.
Although the article packing equipment of the embodiment is also constituted by two sets of rotating shelves 1, only one set or three or more sets of rotating shelves 1 are provided.
May be configured.

Transport means (vertical circulating conveyor) 2
Is disposed on the side of the reversing path portion R for each rotating shelf 1,
One or a plurality of articles G supplied for each type by the supply conveyor 5 are transported from the supply position B to the storage position A, and stored in the respective article storage sections 12 of the rotating shelf 1 via the storage conveyor 29. The vertical circulation surface of the rotating body (chain) 21 stretched endlessly of the vertical circulation conveyor 2 is disposed in a direction substantially parallel to the linear movement path S of the rotating shelf 1. Reference numeral 22 denotes a first guide frame disposed along the rotation locus of the rotating body 21, and reference numeral 23 denotes a first guide frame which has substantially the same shape as the rotation locus of the rotating body 21 and is displaced vertically and horizontally. 2 guide frame, 24 is the rotating body 2
1 through a transmission chain 25 with a toothed ring
6. 27 is an article carrier having a skewered (fork) -shaped article placement portion 27a; 28 is a guide roller attached to the article carrier 27;
9a is a storage pusher for pushing the articles G on the storage conveyor 29 into the article storage section 12, and 29b is an article receiving stand for receiving the articles G placed on the article placement section 27a at the storage position A. It should be noted that the plurality of article transporters 27 are
Are mounted at a constant pitch (twice the stacking interval of the rotating shelf unit 11). Further, a total of 20 storage positions A (only 9 positions are illustrated in FIG. 3 with a part thereof omitted) are set so as to face the respective storage conveyors 29 for the respective rotating racks 11 alone. The position is on the path along which the article carrier 27 moves downward. In addition, the supply position B is one place,
7 is on the path to move upward.

Further, a carrying-out means (vertical circulation conveyor) 3
Is a side view of the reversing path portion R on the opposite side of the rotating shelf 1 (the position where the conveying means 2 is disposed) in the first embodiment of the article packing equipment shown in FIGS. And has substantially the same configuration as the conveying means (vertical circulation conveyor) 2. In addition, a take-out device (not shown) provided with a delivery pusher for taking out the articles G stored in the article storage section 12 in the reverse path section R on the opposite side of the rotary shelf 1 is located at a take-out position inside the rotary shelf unit 11. , And one set is provided corresponding to each rotating shelf unit 11. A total of 20 take-out positions are determined so as to face the respective rotating racks 11, and each of the positions is a path along which an article carrier corresponding to the article carrier 27 of the vertical circulation conveyor 2 moves upward. It is in. In addition, the carry-out position is one place, and is on a path where the article carrier moves downward.

The unloading means (shipping device) 4 is shown in FIGS.
In the second embodiment of the article packing apparatus shown in FIG.
A book mast 43, an upper frame laid laterally above the mast 43,
Lower frame 4 laterally provided below two masts 43
4, a lifting platform 41 that moves up and down along two masts 43, a twin fork (a pair of fork devices) 42 mounted on the lifting platform 41, and the like.
2 independently of the direction of the article storage unit 12 (rotary shelf 1
The article G is taken out of the article storage section 12 and placed on the delivery station 71 of the carry-out conveyor 7. The fork device 4 is moved up and down by the elevating table 41.
Numeral 2 is configured so as to be able to confront the rotating shelves 11 of all stages. In addition, a starting end 72 including a delivery station 71 of the unloading conveyor 7 is also mounted on the lift 41.

The supply conveyor 5 is a conveyor for transporting articles G taken out by type from an automatic warehouse or the like (not shown) to transport means (vertical circulation conveyor) 2.

The unloading conveyor 6 transfers the articles G delivered from the unloading position of the unloading means (vertical circulation conveyor) 3 in the first embodiment of the article packing equipment shown in FIGS. (Not shown).

The unloading conveyor 7 transfers the articles G taken out by the unloading means (unloading device) 4 in the second embodiment of the article packing equipment shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 (not shown). Conveyor for transporting
A starting portion 72 composed of a driving roller conveyor having two unloading stations 71 and a transporting portion 7 composed of a horizontal driving roller conveyor, which is disposed along the linear movement path section S of the rotating shelf 1.
3. It is constituted by a swinging part 74 or the like which is a swinging belt conveyor connecting the starting end 72 and the transporting part 73, and the swinging part 74 keeps the end on the transporting part 73 side at a constant height and It is configured such that the end on the starting end 72 side can be moved up and down following the elevating of the starting end 72 mounted on the elevating table 41 of the unloading means (exiting device) 4. The unloading station 71 includes a pair of article support members (not shown), a lifting device (not shown) for lifting and lowering the article support members, and the like. The article support members are located between adjacent rollers (not shown). The articles G, which are composed of plate-like bodies arranged along the respective rollers and are placed on a pair of article support members, are transferred onto the drive roller conveyor at the start end 72 by lowering the article support members. It is designed to be posted.

Reference numeral 8 denotes an appropriate article storage unit 1 of the rotating shelf 1.
2 is a re-storing conveyor for re-storing the articles G temporarily stored in the correct article storing section 12, and is arranged so as to connect the unloading conveyor 6 and the supply conveyor 5.

Next, an embodiment of the article packing method of the present invention using the above-described article packing apparatus will be described.

The method of packing articles according to the present invention is such that a plurality of kinds (types) of articles are packed in batches, for example, in units of one day, one hour, thirty minutes or one truck. When a shipping request for each batch (for example, information on a shipping order for each shipping destination and its shipping type, quantity data, etc.) is determined, each article G to be unpacked for each batch is automatically determined. A total required quantity of each type is taken out from a warehouse or the like (not shown), and the taken out articles G to be packed are transported (supplied) by type by the supply conveyor 5 and transported (supplied) by type. One or a plurality of articles G are stored in the order in which they are delivered to the respective article storage sections 12 of the rotatable shelf 1 rotatably supported via a conveying means (vertical circulation conveyor) 2, and Goods G of type It is none to Nisoroe in order. Therefore, before the shipping truck arrives at the shipping berth (not shown), the desired articles G can be packed in the order of being delivered to the respective article storage sections 12 of the rotating shelf 1 at high speed, and the shipment can be performed. When the trucks or the like arrive at the shipping berth or the like (not shown), the articles G are already arranged in the order of being delivered to the respective article storage units 12, so that the desired articles G can be obtained in a very short time. Can be issued in this order.

For example, 20 articles G are arranged in the following order: articles Ga, Gd, Gh, Gg, Gf, Gf, Ga, G
f, Gd, Gi, Gi, Gi, Gd, Gh, Gf, G
When the shipment request of (one batch) is determined so as to be delivered in the order of h, Ga, Gd, Gi, and Gi (one batch is formed of 20 articles G for simplicity of explanation). Although an example is described, for example, one batch can be formed of 100 to 1000 articles G), articles G to be unloaded (articles Ga, Gd, Gf, Gg,
Gh, Gi) from an automatic warehouse (not shown) or the like (not shown) for each type in a total required quantity (three articles Ga, articles G
d, 4 articles Gf, 1 article Gg, 1 article Gh
Are taken out and three articles Gi are taken out), and the taken out articles G are supplied by the supply conveyor 5 for each type,
Through the conveying means (vertical circulating conveyor) 2, the packages are sequentially arranged in any one of the preset rotating shelf units 11, for example, the fifth rotating shelf unit 11 from the bottom, By rotating the rotating shelf unit 11 at the fifth tier from the bottom, the 20 articles storage units 1 in which articles G supplied for each type are successively arranged.
2 (ie, articles Ga, Gd, Gh, G
g, Gf, Gf, Ga, Gf, Gd, Gi, Gi, G
i, Gd, Gh, Gf, Gh, Ga, Gd, Gi, Gi
) Are stored one by one so that a plurality of types of articles G are packed in a desired order.
That is, the predetermined article storage section 12 of the rotary shelf unit 11 at the fifth stage from the bottom is rotated to a position facing the storage conveyor 29, and firstly, the top of the three articles Ga supplied for each type. First article storage section 12 in which article Ga is stored
Is rotated to a position facing the storage conveyor 29, and the first article Ga is stored in the first article storage section 12. Then 2
The seventh article storage section 12 in which the second article Ga is stored is rotated to the position opposing the storage conveyor 29 (the fifth rotary shelf unit 11 from the bottom), and the second article Ga is moved to the seventh article Ga. It is stored in the article storage unit 12. Similarly, the third article Ga is stored in the seventeenth article storage section 12. Next, the leading article Gd among the four articles Gd supplied for each type
The second article storage section 12 in which is stored the storage conveyor 2
9 to the position opposite to the rotating shelf 9 (the fifth rotating shelf unit 11 from the bottom).
Rotate in the opposite direction) to store the leading article Gd in the second article storage unit 12. Similarly, the second article Gd is stored in the ninth article storage section 12, the third article Gd is stored in the 13th article storage section 12, and the fourth article Gd is stored.
Is stored in the eighteenth article storage unit 12. Similarly,
Among the four articles Gf, the first article Gf is stored in the fifth article storage section 12, the second article Gf is stored in the sixth article storage section 12, and the third article Gf is stored in the eighth article. The fourth article Gf is stored in the storage section 12, and the fourth article Gf is stored in the fifteenth article storage section 12. Similarly, one article Gg is stored in the fourth article storage unit 12. Similarly, the first article Gh among the three articles Gh is stored in the third article storage section 12, the second article Gh is stored in the 14th article storage section 12, and the third article Gh is stored in the third article storage section 12. It is stored in the sixteenth article storage unit 12. Similarly, among the five articles Gi, the first article Gi is stored in the tenth article storage section 12, the second article Gi is stored in the eleventh article storage section 12, and the third article Gi is stored in the eleventh article storage section 12. The fourth article Gi is stored in the twelfth article storage section 12, and the fourth article Gi is stored in the nineteenth article storage section 12.
And the fifth article Gi is stored in the twentieth article storage section 1
2 and the order in which the articles G supplied for each type are delivered to the consecutive 20 article storage sections 12 of the rotating shelf 11 at the fifth level from the bottom (that is, the articles Ga, Gd, Gh, and Gg). ,
Gf, Gf, Ga, Gf, Gd, Gi, Gi, Gi, G
d, Gh, Gf, Gh, Ga, Gd, Gi, and Gi) in order, and a plurality of types of articles G are packed in a desired order.

Thus, the articles G sorted in the order of being delivered to the article storage section 12 of the rotating shelf 11 at the fifth stage from the bottom.
When a shipping truck or the like (not shown) on which the packed articles G are to be loaded arrives at a shipping berth or the like (not shown), the article is packed in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. In the equipment, the rotating shelf unit 11 at the fifth tier from the bottom is rotated by the mounting interval of the article storage unit 12 to be continuous 20 units.
The articles G stored in the individual article storage sections 12 are taken out one by one into the respective article carrying tools of the unloading means (vertical circulation conveyor) 3 and shipped via the unloading means (vertical circulation conveyor) 3 and the unloading conveyor 6. The sheet is transported to a berth or the like (not shown). Further, in the article packing equipment according to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the rotating shelf unit 11 at the fifth tier from the bottom is continuously rotated by twice the mounting interval of the article storage unit 12. The two articles G stored in the twenty article storage sections 12 are taken out two by two by a pair of fork devices 42 of the unloading means (unloading device) 4 and transported to a shipping berth or the like (not shown) via the unloading conveyor 7. It is made to do.

Incidentally, 20 articles G (articles Ga, Gd, G
h, Gg, Gf, Gf, Ga, Gf, Gd, Gi, G
i, Gi, Gd, Gh, Gf, Gh, Ga, Gd, G
When (i, Gi) is packed in the continuous 20 article storage units 12 of the fifth rotating shelf unit 11 from the bottom, the next article G is set in advance based on the shipment request of the next batch. Of the rotating shelves 11 in any one of the stages (the rotating shelves 11 in the fifth stage from the bottom may be used, but the rotating shelves 11 in other stages may be used).

Also, twenty articles G (articles Ga, Gd,
Gh, Gg, Gf, Gf, Ga, Gf, Gd, Gi, G
i, Gi, Gd, Gh, Gf, Gh, Ga, Gd, G
When i, Gi) are packed in 20 consecutive article storage units 12 of the rotary shelf unit 11 at the fifth tier from the bottom, the articles G to be delivered next (or shipping destinations to be delivered simultaneously are different) The articles G) may be packed in another rotating shelf 11, for example, the article storage section 12 that is continuous with the rotating shelf 11 at the sixth tier from the bottom. For example, the first 20
When the (one batch) shipment request is determined for the individual articles G and the next 10 articles G, the next article 1 is dispatched.
0 articles G are in the following order: articles Gb, Gg, Ga,
When the goods are delivered in the order of Gi, Gg, Gi, Ga, Gi, Gb, and Gd, the articles G to be unpacked (the articles G
a, Gb, Gd, Gf, Gg, Gh, Gi), etc., from a warehouse (not shown) or the like (not shown), the total required quantity for each type (5 articles Ga, 2 articles Gb, 2 articles Gd 5
Individuals, 4 articles Gf, 3 articles Gg, 3 articles Gh
And the articles Gi are picked up by eight pieces), and the picked-up articles G are supplied for each type by the supply conveyor 5, and are sequentially passed through the transport means (vertical circulating conveyor) 2 to any of predetermined stages. Rotating shelf 11, for example, 5 from the bottom
The single-stage rotating shelf 11 and the sixth-stage rotating shelf 11 from below
And 5 each from the bottom.
The order in which the articles G supplied for each type are output to the successive 20 article storage units 12 by rotating the single-stage rotating shelf unit 11 (that is, articles Ga, Gd, Gh, Gg, Gf, G
f, Ga, Gf, Gd, Gi, Gi, Gi, Gd, G
h, Gf, Gh, Ga, Gd, Gi, and Gi) in this order, and the rotating shelf unit 11 at the sixth level from the bottom is rotated to supply the articles supplied for each type. The order in which G is next delivered to ten consecutive article storage units 12 (that is, Gb, Gg, Ga, Gi, Gg, Gi, Ga,
(Gi, Gb, Gd order) one by one, and a plurality of types of articles G can be divided into two shelves and packed in a desired order for each shelves. .

Further, 20 articles G (articles Ga, Gd,
Gh, Gg, Gf, Gf, Ga, Gf, Gd, Gi, G
i, Gi, Gd, Gh, Gf, Gh, Ga, Gd, G
When i and Gi) are packed in 20 successive article storage units 12 of the fifth rotating shelf unit 11 from the bottom, the goods are already unpacked from the article storage units 12 of the other rotating shelf units 11 in the other stages. You may be made to take out the article G which has been taken out and leave it.

As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described together with the examples of the article packing equipment suitable for carrying out the article packing method of the present invention. However, the article packing method of the present invention is not limited thereto. It is not done. For example, the order in which the articles G to be unpacked are taken out from an automatic warehouse or the like (not shown) for each type is not set in advance, but the order is determined as appropriate such that the articles G are taken out in an order of large assortment quantity per batch. It may be.

[0029]

The method of packing articles according to the present invention is configured as described above, and stores articles supplied for each type in the order in which they are delivered to the article storage section of the rotating shelf. Therefore, articles can be stored (packed) at a high speed, and desired articles can be unloaded in a desired order in a very short time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing a first embodiment of an article packing apparatus suitable for carrying out the article packing method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the article packing equipment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of a transporting means (an embodiment in which a part is changed) of the article packing equipment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view showing a second embodiment of an article packing apparatus suitable for carrying out the article packing method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the article packing equipment shown in FIG. 4;

6 is an enlarged plan view of an unloading unit (an embodiment in which a part of the unloading unit is changed) of the article packing apparatus shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the carrying-out means shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rotary shelf 2 Conveying means (vertical circulation conveyor) 11 Single rotating shelf 12 Article storage part G Article

Claims (3)

[Claims] In an article packing method for packing a plurality of kinds of articles, articles to be packed are supplied for each type, and the supplied articles are provided on a rotating shelf rotatably supported. A method for packing articles, wherein the articles are stored in the order in which they are delivered to the article storage section. 2. The article packing method according to claim 1, wherein the rotating shelves are formed by stacking a plurality of rotating shelves each of which rotatably supports an article storage section. 3. The article packing method according to claim 1, wherein the articles are stored in the article storage section via transport means arranged on the side of the rotating shelf.