JP2000095312A - Picking system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a picking system for completing article picking work itself without a remarkable delay even if article picking work with a article picking vehicle is cancelled at the time when the article picking vehicle is fully filled on the way of article picking work. SOLUTION: A computer 23 and a FULL button 30 that an operator depresses are provided in an article picking vehicle travelling itself on a guide passage. After the FULL button 30 is depressed, the computer 23 sends article picking data in use stored in a memory 40 and an operating pattern in use stored in a memory 39 stored in a travelling controller 37 to a work managing device 6 at a start point on the guide passage. The work managing device 6 sends the remaining article picking data and the shortest relief operating pattern upto the FULL point to another article picking vehicle held ready at the start point and sends the shortest withdrawal operating pattern upto a goal point on the guide passage to a fully filled vehicle. A relief vehicle arrives at the FULL point in a short time and keeps taking over the remaining article picking work.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a picking system, and belongs to the technical field of collection in which ordered goods are ordered by the number ordered for each shipping destination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a merchandise distribution center for a supermarket or a convenience store, a collection operation is carried out in which the ordered products are ordered by the number of orders for each shipping destination, and a picking system is widely used as a system for performing such operations. Are known. This is because, as disclosed in, for example, JP-A-8-85609, a picked-up car is moved so as to pass through a storage section for various products, and the collected car moves to a vicinity of a storage section for ordered goods. When
By indicating that the product is an ordered product, the number of ordered products, and the like, the product is collected in the collection vehicle by the number of products.

[0003] Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-5174, the collection vehicle is a self-propelled vehicle, or the collection vehicle itself stores the collection data and the operation pattern to store the collection vehicle. In recent years, a system or the like in which a car is automatically stopped in the vicinity of a storage unit for ordered products has been put into operation.

[0004]

However, if the picked-up car becomes full during the picking-up operation and no more goods can be loaded, the picking-up operation of the picked-up vehicle is temporarily stopped. It will be discontinued. Conventionally, the full car would simply pass through the storage of the remaining goods, return, unload, and then set off to pick up the remaining goods again.

However, in this case, the completion time of the collection operation itself is significantly delayed, and the loading of the goods on the delivery truck and, consequently, the delivery to the shipping destination are delayed.

Therefore, according to the present invention, even if the collection vehicle becomes full during the collection operation and the collection operation of the collection vehicle is terminated, the completion time of the collection operation itself is not significantly delayed. Is the main task.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention uses the following means.

[0008] First, according to the invention described in claim 1 of the present application, a predetermined number of commodities are stored in a collection vehicle moving along a taxiway from a merchandise storage unit arranged along the taxiway. A picking system that collects goods one by one, a running means for the collected cars to run the collected cars according to an operation pattern, and a full notification to notify that the collected cars are full during the collection work. Means for generating collected data of the remaining goods of the full car when the full car is notified, and a full car from a point where another collected car is located. Rescue operation pattern generating means for generating an operation pattern up to a point where the collection operation of the remaining goods should be resumed, and transmission means for transmitting these handover collected data and the rescue operation pattern to the another collection vehicle That is provided And butterflies.

[0009] According to this, even if the collection car becomes full during the collection work and the collection work of the collection car is terminated there, another collection car is used to collect the remaining goods. , And the collection of the remaining goods is taken over and continued, so that the completion time of the collection work itself is not so delayed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rescue operation pattern according to the first aspect, wherein the guideway has a work path passing through the product storage section and a bypass path bypassing the work path. The generation means is characterized by using these to generate an operation pattern in which the moving distance of another collection vehicle is the shortest.

According to this, the arrival of another vehicle to the collection work resuming point becomes earlier, and the interruption time of the collection work becomes shorter.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the rescue operation pattern generating means generates an operation pattern from a collection work start point to a collection work restart point. The transmitting means transmits the picked-up picked-up data and the rescue operation pattern to the picked-up pick-up car at the start point.

[0013] According to this, since the separate vehicle for rescue is an empty collection vehicle that is not yet in the middle of collection work, there is a possibility that the rescue vehicle will be full again during the taken over collection work. In addition to being lower, it is possible to avoid the mixture of the original collection items of another vehicle and the collection items that take over, and the post-inspection after unloading does not become complicated.

Next, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when a full state is notified, the operation from the point where the full car is located to the goal point of the collection work is performed. A withdrawal operation pattern generating means for generating a pattern is provided, and the transmission means transmits the withdrawal operation pattern to the full vehicle.

According to this, when a full vehicle is notified, the full vehicle is withdrawn from the taxiway along with the dispatch of a rescue vehicle, so that useless traveling after the full vehicle is avoided,
The flow line of the full car becomes shorter, and the rotation of the collection car becomes faster.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, the taxiway has a work path passing through the goods storage section and a bypass path bypassing the product, and the withdrawal operation pattern is provided. The generation means generates an operation pattern that minimizes the travel distance of a full car by using these.

According to this, the return of the full car to the goal point becomes faster, the flow line becomes shorter, and the rotation of the collection car becomes faster.

In each of the above-mentioned inventions, since the full notification unit is mounted on the collection vehicle side, it is not necessary for the worker to move for notification when the collection vehicle is full. Further, since the handover data, the rescue operation pattern, or the withdrawal operation pattern is transmitted by the transmission means, the worker does not need to move to exchange information each time, which requires no labor, Changes, additions, corrections, etc., of the content of the transmission command to each vehicle are facilitated, and a more flexible picking system is realized.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail by describing embodiments of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the picking system according to this embodiment, a large number of merchandise shelves 1... 1 are arranged in a plurality of rows, and a taxiway on which a collection car 2 moves along these rows. R is laid. Taxiway R is product shelf 1 ...
1 and a bypass path r2... R2 that bypasses without passing between the product shelves 1. The unloading route r passing through the shipping berth W between the start point S for starting the work and the goal point G returning from the collection work
3 A number of stop points P... P are disposed on the taxiway R, and a plurality of product shelves 1 centered on each stop point P are provided.
The range of 1 is one working block B.

As shown in FIG. 2, the guide path R is formed by a band mark M having a predetermined width, and the stop point P is formed by a pair of stop marks N, N provided on both sides of the band mark M. The picked-up car 2 which has left the start point S detects the band mark M by the band mark detector 3 mounted on the front part of the lower surface thereof, and the work paths r1.
1 and a plurality of operation patterns obtained by a combination of the bypass paths r2... R2, the vehicle travels between the product shelves 1. It stops when the mark detectors 4, 4 detect the stop marks N, N in the order number specified. In the meantime, as shown in FIG. 3, the workers a... A take out the designated products from the products x. Load. The collection vehicle 2 that has completed the collection operation returns to the goal point G, unloads the collection items on the unloading route r3, and then reaches the start point S again and waits for the next collection operation. The unloaded goods are loaded on trucks T ... T and delivered to each shipping destination.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the collection car 2 has a plurality of containers C... C loaded thereon, and a control box 22 and a computer 23 mounted on the front of the vehicle body 21. A scanner 24 for reading a bar code attached to the product x is attached to a side surface of the control box 22, and a label printer 25 for printing and issuing a delivery label is provided on a front surface. On the other hand, on the front surface of the in-vehicle computer 23, a display section 26 for displaying various data, a key input section 27 for manually inputting various data, a completion button 28 pressed when picking is completed, and one container C are full. Each time a container button 29 is pressed, all containers C ...
A full button 30 to be pressed when C is full,
A pair of left and right storage direction indicating lamps 31 and 32 indicating the direction of the shelf 1 where the products to be picked are stored are provided, and a wireless antenna 33 is mounted on the upper surface. Further, the collection vehicle 2 includes a driving device 36 for driving the front wheels 34, 34 as driving wheels among the front wheels 34, 34 and the rear wheels 35, 35, and a traveling controller 37 for controlling the driving device 36. .

As shown in FIG.
Has a built-in computer body 38 composed of, for example, a one-chip microcomputer. Various signals from the key input unit 27, the completion button 28, the container button 29, the full button 30, the bar code scanner 24, and the like are input to the computer main body 38. As shown in FIG. 1, a work management device 6 installed at the start point S of the taxiway R is connected to the host computer 5 of the goods distribution center provided with this picking system. This work management device 6 includes:
All order data for each shipping destination for the current day is delivered from the host computer 5. Then, various data are wirelessly communicated between the work management device 6 and the computer main body 38 via the wireless antenna 7 of the work management device 6 and the wireless antenna 33 of the in-vehicle computer 23. Further, the traveling controller 37 receives detection signals from the band mark detector 3 and the stop mark detectors 4 and 4 so that the collection car 2 travels according to a predetermined operation pattern stored in the built-in memory 39 and performs a predetermined operation. The driving device 36 is controlled so as to stop at the stop points P. Signals are exchanged between the traveling controller 37 and the computer main body 38. Computer body 38
The display unit 26, based on these various input signals,
Each control signal is output to the storage direction indicating lamps 31 and 32, the label printer 25, and the like. The computer body 38
Has a built-in memory 40 for storing various data.

Next, an operation example of the picking system will be described with reference to flowcharts of FIGS.

When the worker a arranged at the start point S of the taxiway R inputs the store number of the shipping destination to the work management device 6 (step S1), the work management device 6 receives an order from the store corresponding to the number. The data is called, and based on the received order data and the pre-registered location data indicating the storage location of each product, the collection data for the store and an operation pattern in which the collection vehicle 2 moves in the shortest distance. Is generated and transmitted as work data to the in-vehicle computer 23 of the first collection car 2 waiting at the start point S (step S2). For example, if the ordered product is stored in the shelf 1... 1 hatched in FIG.
An operation pattern (A) as shown by a solid line in the figure is generated. The computer body 38 of the in-vehicle computer 23 includes:
The collection data of the work data transmitted from the work management device 6 is stored in its own memory 40, and the operation pattern is transferred and stored in the memory 39 of the traveling controller 37. As a result, the traveling controller 37 is operated, and the collection vehicle 2 starts moving according to the operation pattern (step S3).

The collection vehicle 2 stops at the stop point P designated during the operation pattern (step S4), and displays the collection data as shown in FIG. 11 on the display unit 26 (step S).
5). At this time, the storage direction indicating lamps 31 and 32 in which the product exists are turned on. When the collection car 2 stops, the worker a nearby takes out the displayed product from the product shelf 1 as many as the displayed number by looking at the screen display of the display unit 26, reads the product code with the barcode scanner 24, and then places the product in the container. C
And the completion button 28 is turned on (step S6). When the completion button 28 is
The collection data of the operated products is identified from the unprocessed items (step S7). In addition, the worker a sequentially puts products into the container C until one container C becomes full.

Next, the worker a determines whether or not the container C is full (step S8), and if not, neither the container button 29 nor the full button 30 is turned on. The collection car 2 determines whether or not the collection work in the stopped work block B has been completed based on the collection data and the ON operation status of the completion button 28 (step S9). Display product data. Thus, steps S5 to S
When one block B is completed by repeating Step 9, the collection car 2 determines whether or not the collection work in all the work blocks B... B is completed based on the collection data and the ON operation status of the completion button 28. (Step S10) If it is not yet, move to the next instruction stop point P (Step S11). In this way, when all the blocks B... B are completed by repeating steps S4 to S10, the collection car 2 returns to the goal point G, unloads the collection items at the shipping berth W, and then reaches the start point S again. It waits for the next collection work (step S12).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S8 that the container C is full, the worker a turns on the container button 29 (step S13). Pickup car 2
In response to this, the label printer 25 issues a delivery label printed with the name of the product stored in the container C and the name of the destination store (step S14). The worker a attaches the issued delivery label to the full container C.

Next, the worker a determines whether or not there is another empty container C (step S15), and if there is any, the collection operation can still be continued, so the flow returns to step S9. However, if there is no other empty container C, that is, if the collection car 2 is full, the collection work can no longer be continued. However, if one block B has been completed (step S16) and all blocks B... B have also been completed (step S17), the process returns to step S12, and the collected car 2 may return to the goal point G as it is.

On the other hand, if the collection work of one block B has not been completed, the process proceeds from step S16 to step S1.
Proceeding to 8, the operator a turns on the full button 30. In response to this, the collection vehicle 2 collectively sends the collection data currently in use and the operation pattern to the work management device 6 as work data in use (step S19). The work management device 6 obtains the current position of the full vehicle 2 from the returned work data in use, generates a withdrawal operation pattern in which the full vehicle 2 moves from the full position to the goal point G in the shortest distance, This is transmitted to the full car 2 (step S20). For example, if the collection car C becomes full at the point A in FIG. 10, a withdrawal operation pattern (D) as shown by a broken line in the figure is generated. The full car c transfers and stores the withdrawal operation pattern (d) in the memory 39 of the traveling controller 37, returns to the goal point G, unloads the collected items at the shipping berth W, and then reaches the start point S again to the next point. It waits for the collection work (step S21).

The work management device 6 extracts unprocessed collected data from the returned in-use work data and uses it as taken-over collected data. A rescue operation pattern that moves in the shortest distance from the start point S to the full point is generated, and is transmitted to the leading vehicle 2 as the takeover work data (step S22). For example, in the case of FIG. 10, a rescue operation pattern (E) as shown by a chain line in the figure is generated, and the leading car transfers and stores the rescue operation pattern (E) in the memory 39 of the traveling controller 37. To the full point a (step S23). After the rescue vehicle arrives at the full point A, the unloading work is resumed at the block B, and the rescue vehicle moves according to the original operation pattern (A) after the full point A. Then, the collection operation is continued (Step S4 and subsequent steps are repeated).

On the other hand, if the collection operation of one block B has been completed in step S16, but the collection operation of all blocks B... B has not been completed in step S17,
24 to S29 are executed. These steps substantially correspond to steps S18 to S23 described above. However, since the operation of one block at the full point has been completed, the rescue vehicle moves to the stop point P next to the full point in step S29. In this case, for example, a rescue operation pattern (g) as shown by a chain line in FIG. 12 is generated, and the rescue vehicle performs the rescue operation pattern (g) on the memory 3 of the traveling controller 37.
The data is transferred to and stored in 9, and the next stop point C after the full point A is moved. Then, after the rescue vehicle arrives at the stop point G, the rescue vehicle resumes from the beginning of the collection work in the work block B, and the rescue vehicle performs the initial operation pattern after the point C (A). And the collection operation is continued (Step S4 and subsequent steps are repeated).

As described above, even if the collection vehicle is full during the collection operation and the collection operation of the collection vehicle is terminated there, another collection vehicle can collect the remaining products. Since it will come to the point where it should be restarted and take over the remaining products and continue, the completion time of the collection work itself will not be too late,
Therefore, it is possible to avoid delaying loading of the collected products on the delivery truck and delivery to the shipping destination.

In this case, the rescue vehicle comes to the rescue at the shortest distance, so that the interruption time of the collection work is shortened, and since the full car is withdrawn at the shortest distance, the flow line is shortened, and the next work can be quickly waited for. .

Since the full button 30 is mounted on the collection car 2, the worker a does not have to move to the full notification every time. Further, the handover work data, the rescue operation pattern or the withdrawal operation pattern is stored in the work management device 6 and each collection vehicle 2.
This also eliminates the need for the worker a to move each time to exchange data and information, and saves labor.

The initial operation pattern (A), the withdrawal operation pattern (D), the rescue operation pattern (E) and (G) shown in FIGS. 10 and 12 are examples, and other operation patterns are selected. It goes without saying that it is good.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the collection vehicle becomes full during the collection operation and the collection operation by the collection vehicle is terminated there, another collection is performed. Cars rush to rescue and take over the subsequent collection work, so the completion time of the collection work itself will not be significantly delayed, causing delivery trucks to wait or delay delivery of goods to the destination. Can be avoided.

The present invention is preferably applicable to a collection work system at a goods distribution center or the like, particularly a picking system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a layout diagram of a picking system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a method for guiding a collection vehicle in the system.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a product shelf in the system.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the collection vehicle.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of the system.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the system.

FIG. 8 is also a flowchart.

FIG. 9 is also a flowchart.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of the system.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of display contents on a display unit of the collection car.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of the system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Merchandise shelf 2 Collected car 6 Work management device 23 In-vehicle computer 26 Display unit 30 Full button 36 Drive device 37 Travel controller 38 Computer body 39 Memory of travel controller 40 Memory of computer body

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3F022 EE09 FF01 LL07 MM08 MM13 MM36 NN32 PP04 5H301 AA02 BB08 CC03 DD01 DD07 DD17 EE03 EE12 EE15 FF01 HH01 KK02 KK03 KK04 KK06 KK19

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A picking system for collecting a predetermined number of predetermined products from a product storage section arranged along a taxiway on a collection vehicle moving along the taxiway. Traveling means for running the collection vehicle according to the operation pattern, and full notification means for notifying that the collection vehicle is full during the collection work, and when there is a notification of the full, A hand-over collection data generating means for generating collection data of the remaining goods of the full car, and operation from a point where another collection car is present to a point where collection work of the remaining goods of the full car should be resumed A picking system, comprising: a rescue operation pattern generating means for generating a pattern; and a transmitting means for transmitting the handover collected data and the rescue operation pattern to the another collection vehicle. 2. The taxiway has a work path passing through a merchandise storage unit and a bypass path bypassing, and the rescue operation pattern generation means uses these to minimize the moving distance of another collection vehicle. The picking system according to claim 1, wherein an operation pattern is generated. 3. The rescue operation pattern generation means generates an operation pattern from a collection work start point to a collection work resumption point, and the transmission means transfers the collection pattern to a waiting collection car at the start point. The picking system according to claim 1, wherein the item data and the rescue operation pattern are transmitted. 4. A retraction operation pattern generating means for generating an operation pattern from a point where a full car is present to a goal point of a collection operation when a notice of fullness is provided, and the transmission means includes: The picking system according to claim 1, wherein a pattern is transmitted to the full car. 5. The taxiway has a work path passing through a merchandise storage unit and a bypass path bypassing, and the withdrawal operation pattern generation means uses these to determine an operation pattern that minimizes the travel distance of a full car. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein
A picking system according to item 1.