JP2000109206A - Commodity classifying system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a commodity classifying system which can complete each collection as scheduled without a delay by early resolving a gridlock which is generated after a collection vehicle with much work. SOLUTION: A running aisle R for collection vehicles 2...2 is provided with branch parts B1, B2. When a number of stopping times, or collection items or variety thereof between a starting point S and the first branch point B1, or between the first branch point B1 and the second branch point B2, is high, the collection vehicles 2...2 run at low speed on an escape line which is left of the branch parts B1, B2, and when a number thereof is low, the collection vehicles 2...2 run at normal speed on an main line which is right of the branch parts B1, B2. Since the collection vehicles 2...2 with a little work can overtake the collection vehicle 2 with much work at the branch parts B1, B2, collection by the collection vehicle 2 with a little work is not delayed by the collection vehicle 2 with much work. Unload at a shipment berth W, load to a truck T, and delivery to a shipping destination can be performed as scheduled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a merchandise sorting system, and more particularly to an improvement in the operation of the system, and belongs to the field of merchandise sorting technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a system for sorting products in a product distribution center or the like for a supermarket or a convenience store, a merchandise truck that collects merchandise for each store, and stores merchandise for each item. A so-called picking system that takes out ordered products from the storage unit and loads them on a transport vehicle while moving along the product storage unit, or a product transport vehicle that loads products for each item, There is widely known a so-called sorting system in which ordered products are taken out of the transport vehicle by the number of orders and put into the storage unit while moving along the product storage unit where products are collected for each store. In recent years, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-5174, a self-propelled transport vehicle that automatically travels along an operation route, or a transport vehicle itself, Sorting data such as sorting target products or target stores and sorting numbers, and operation data such as sorting work points set based on the sorting data are stored. And the sorting data at the work point is presented on a screen or the like.

[0003]

By the way, in this type of sorting system, in order to improve the efficiency of the work, it is necessary to sequentially start the transport vehicles and to have a plurality of the transport vehicles perform the respective sorting operations in parallel. Many. In that case, the work volume of each truck varies, and the picking method increases the number of items of the work target product, and the sorting method increases the number of work target stores and the number of stops as the number of target stores increases. More. Alternatively, the stoppage time per time becomes longer. In addition, even if the number of picks or the number of sorts increases, the stop time per operation increases. Therefore, traffic congestion is likely to occur after a transport vehicle that requires a large amount of work and takes a long time to sort.

[0004] On the other hand, many picking cars are concentrated in the storage section for new and popular products, and many sorting cars are concentrated in the storage sections of newly opened stores and large stores. Therefore, a waiting time tends to occur in such a product storage unit.

[0005] Each of these causes a delay in the sorting operation, loading of the collected goods on the delivery truck, and eventually delaying the delivery to the destination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and it is an object of the present invention to end the sorting work of each carrier as scheduled without delay.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in a merchandise sorting system according to the present invention, a storage means for storing sorting data, a transport vehicle is moved along a storage section and set based on the sorting data. In addition to the operating means for stopping at the work point to be performed and the presenting means for presenting the sorting data at the work point when the transport vehicle stops at the work point, the sorting operation of each transport vehicle is determined by the presence of other vehicles. Control means is provided for controlling the operation of each truck so as not to be delayed.

According to this, first, the goods carrier stops at the work point automatically while traveling by itself along the goods storage section,
Since the sorting target product or the target store at the work point and the sorting number are presented, there is no need for the operator to pull around the truck, requiring no manpower, and the sorting work is less likely to be mistaken.

[0009] Then, the operation of each carrier is controlled,
As a result, delays in sorting each truck due to the presence of other trucks are suppressed, so that problems such as delaying the loading time of the collected products on the delivery truck and waiting at the destination store are avoided. Is done.

As the control means, for example, a means for moving a transporter with a large amount of work on a lane different from that of a transporter with a small amount of work at a low speed at a branch portion provided on an operation route of the transporter is used. be able to.

[0011] According to this, it is possible to overtake a transport vehicle having a small amount of work at a branch portion.
The congestion is eliminated, and the delay in sorting the transport vehicles with a small amount of work due to the presence of the large vehicles is suppressed.

Further, the control means may be, for example, a means for stopping a carrier at a work point where the other vehicles are not stopped among a plurality of the same work points.

[0013] According to this, the sorting work of the same picking product or the same sorting store can be performed simultaneously and in parallel at a plurality of places on the operation route, so that the waiting time is eliminated and the sorting work of each transport vehicle is eliminated. Is prevented from being delayed by the presence of another transport vehicle.

In this case, as an embodiment in which a plurality of the same work points are provided, for example, the operation route of the carrier can be branched and the work points can be arranged in different lanes.

According to this, by guiding the transport vehicle to the lane on which the other transport vehicle is not stopped, it is possible to arrange a plurality of transport vehicles in parallel and perform the same sorting operation simultaneously and concurrently. Become.

Further, as another aspect, for example, the work points may be provided in a line on the operation route. In this case, the transport vehicle is stopped from the work point in front.

According to this, it becomes possible to arrange a plurality of transport vehicles in series and to perform the same sorting operation simultaneously and concurrently.

[0018]

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

FIG. 1 is a layout diagram of a picking system to which the present invention is applied. A number of merchandise shelves 1... 1 as merchandise storage sections for storing merchandise for each item are arranged in a plurality of rows, and a circulation route of a collection car 2 as a goods carrier for collecting merchandise for each store. R is provided along the column. A number of stop points P... P are arranged on the operation route R, and one work block is constituted by six commodity shelves 1. The operation route R is provided with two branching portions B1 and B2, each having a main line on the right side and an evacuation line b on the left side.

The pick-up car 2 that has left the start point S stops at a stop point P where the pick-up work is to be performed while moving in a meandering manner between the product shelves 1... While the collection vehicle 2 is stopped, the collection operations are performed by the workers a... A, and the collection vehicle 2 that has completed all collection operations reaches the shipping berth W via the goal point G. At the shipping berth W, the collected goods are unloaded, and the unloaded goods are loaded on the trucks T ... T and delivered to each shipping destination. The empty collection vehicle 2 returns to the start point S again and waits for the next collection operation.

As shown in FIG. 2, the collection car 2 is loaded with a plurality of collection containers C,... C, and has a control box 21 and a computer 22 mounted thereon. A label printer 23 for printing and issuing a delivery label attached to the container C is provided on the front of the control box 21. A scanner 24 for reading a bar code attached to the product x is provided on a side surface of the on-board computer 22, a display unit 25 for displaying sorting data on a screen is provided on a front surface, a key input unit 26 which is depressed when manually inputting various data, A completion button 27 that is pressed when picking is completed, a container button 28 that is pressed when each container C is full, and a pair of left and right direction indicating lamps that indicate the direction of the product shelf 1 in which products to be collected are stored. 29 and 30, and a wireless antenna 31 is further provided on the upper surface.

As shown in FIG.
Has a built-in computer body 32 composed of, for example, a one-chip microcomputer. As shown in FIG. 1, a work management device 4 installed at a start point S of an operation route R is connected to a host computer 3 of a commodity distribution center provided with this picking system. The work management device 4 receives from the host computer 3 all sort data for each shipping destination for the current day. Information is wirelessly exchanged between the work management device 4 and the computer main body 32 via the wireless antenna 5 of the work management device 4 and the wireless antenna 31 of the in-vehicle computer 22, and transmitted from the work management device 4. Assortment data is computer body 3
2 is stored in the memory 33.

The collection vehicle 2 includes front wheels 34, 34 and rear wheels 35,
The driving device 36 includes, for example, a driving device 36 for driving the front wheels 34, 34 as driving wheels, and an operation controller 37 for controlling the driving device 36. Signals are exchanged between the operation controller 37 and the computer main body 32, and operation data transmitted from the work management device 4 is stored in the memory 38 of the operation controller 37.

As shown in FIG. 4, the operation route R is formed by a band mark M having a predetermined width, and the stop point P is formed by a stop mark N provided on one side of the band mark M. Operation controller 3
A signal 7 is input from a band mark detector 39 provided on the lower surface of the front part of the collection car 2 for detecting the band mark M and a stop mark detector 40 for detecting the stop mark N. 2 is guided by the belt mark M, travels, and stops at the stop point P specified by the operation data.
Control.

The computer main unit 32 also receives signals from the bar code scanner 24, the key input section 26, the completion button 27, and the container button 28, and outputs the label printer 23, the display section 25, and the left and right direction indicator lamps 29, 3
Control 0.

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

When the worker a designates a store to be shipped to the work management device 4 by inputting a code number or the like at the start point S of the operation route R (step S1), the work management device 4
Calls the assortment data of the store, specifies the stop point of the picked-up car 2 based on the storage location of the picked-up goods included in the assorted data, and uses this as operation data together with the above-mentioned assortment data at the start point S. It is transmitted to the in-vehicle computer 22 of the first collection car 2 waiting (step S
2). The collection car 2 stores the sorting data in the computer main body 32.
The operation data is stored in the memory 33 of the operation controller 37.
(Step S3).

Next, the collection vehicle 2 determines whether or not the sorting work from the sorting data to the branching sections B1 and B2 is large (step S4). That is, the starting point S
The number of stop points, the number of items of the work target product, the number of picked products of the work target product, and the like between the first and second branch portions B1 and between the first and second branch portions B1 and B2 are larger than predetermined values. It is determined whether or not. When the work volume is large, the collection vehicle 2 generates a command to reduce the speed at the branching portions B1 and B2 and proceed on the left evacuation line b, and stores the command in the memory 33 of the computer main body 32 (step S5). Then, the collection operation is started (step S6). Here, collection car 2
Moves normally at a speed of, for example, 30 m per minute, while it moves at a speed of 10 m per minute on the retreat line b. On the other hand, when the sorting work amount is not large, the process starts the collection work without generating or storing such a command (step S6).

While the pick-up car 2 is moving, the band mark detector 39
It is detected that the vehicle has reached the branching points B1 and B2 (step S7), and when there is a command (step S8), the speed of the left retreat line b is reduced according to the command (step S9).

When the collection vehicle 2 stops at the stop point P specified by the operation data (step S10), as shown in FIG.
5 is displayed (step S11). At this time, the direction indicating lamps 29 and 30 in which the product is stored are turned on. The worker a in the vicinity looks at the screen display, takes out the corresponding product from the product shelf 1 by the displayed number, reads the product code with the barcode scanner 24, and then places the product in the container C.
And the completion button 27 is turned ON (step S12). The worker a checks whether or not the container C is full (step S13), and when it is full, turns on the container button 28 (step S14). Pickup car 2
In response to this, the label printer 23 issues a delivery label printed with the names of all products and shipping destination stores that have been put into the container C so far (step S1).
5). The worker a attaches the issued delivery label to the full container C.

The collection car 2 determines whether or not the collection work in this work block is completed by sorting data and by pressing the completion button 27
It is determined from the N operation status (step S16), and if not, the next sorting data is displayed (step S11).
When the collection operation of one block is completed in this way, the collection vehicle 2 determines whether or not the collection operation in all the work blocks is completed based on the sorting data and the ON operation status of the completion button 27 in the same manner. (Step S17) If it is not yet, move to the next designated stop point P (Step S18). Also at this time, it is detected that the collection vehicle 2 has reached the branching points B1 and B2 while moving (step S7), and when there is a command (step S8), the left evacuation line b is moved according to the command. (Step S9).

When the collection work of all the blocks is completed in this way, the collection car 2 returns to the goal point G, unloads the collection goods at the shipping berth W, and then reaches the start point S again to the next point. Waiting for the collection work (step S1)
9).

Next, the operation obtained in this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, for example, the collection vehicle A now stops between the start point S and the first branch portion B1 at the stop points P2 and P2.
7, P9 and P11, and the picked-up car A that departs next stops only at the stop point P5, and the later picked-up car A arrives at the first branching point B1. The car A catches up, and congestion occurs after the collection car A as shown by a broken line in the figure. However, in the first branching section B1, the starting vehicle A having a large sorting work amount slowly advances on the evacuation line b, and the subsequent vehicle A having a small sorting work amount advances on the main line at a normal speed, as shown by the chain line in the figure. Here, the late car A overtakes the first car A, and the picked-up car A can go out of the first branch B1 to the latter half of the operation route R first. As a result, the congestion is eliminated, and the work of the collection vehicle A having a small sorting work amount is prevented from being delayed due to the presence of the collection vehicle A having the large sorting work amount. The collection vehicle A is indicated by a dotted line in the figure. As described above, the ship arrives at the shipping berth W early as scheduled. As a result, problems such as a delay in the loading time of the collected goods of the collection vehicle A onto the delivery truck T and a delay in the delivery time to the destination store are avoided.

Similarly, the first branch B1 and the second branch B2
In the meantime, even if the later collection car c catches up with the earlier collection car A, as shown by the broken line in the figure, even if congestion occurs,
In the second branching section B2, as shown by the chain line in the figure, the late car "C" overtakes the preceding car "A", and the picked-up car "C" can first exit from the second branching section B2 to the end of the operation route R. Thereby, for example, even if the collection car A is to stop and work further to the goal point G as shown by the dotted line in the figure, the collection car C is indicated by the dotted line in the figure. As shown, the vehicle reaches the goal point G early as scheduled.

It is to be noted that the present invention can be applied to a sorting system according to the above. In that case, a large number of collection shelves as a product storage unit for collecting products for each store are arranged in a plurality of rows, and a circulation route of a carrier as a product carrier for loading products for each item is provided. Provided along the columns. Congestion of a small-volume carrier after a large-volume carrier causes delays in the sorting of stores that order products conveyed by the small-volume carrier, and delivery of collected products. Loading on a truck and delivery to the store will be delayed. However, by applying the present invention, the sorting work of each transport vehicle is not delayed, and the collection work on each collection shelf is completed early as scheduled.

It is needless to say that the layout of the operation route and the branching section shown in FIG. 1 is merely an example. Further, only one branch or three or more branches may be provided.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 shows two merchandise shelves 10 arranged in each lane y, z of the branch B of the operation route R in the picking system.
1 and 102 show an example in which the same picked product A is stored. Even if the collection vehicle d advances to one lane y and stops in front of the shelf 101, the next collection vehicle e advances to the other lane z and stops before the other shelf 102. Since it is possible, a plurality of collection vehicles d and e can be arranged in parallel and the sorting operation of the same picked product A can be performed simultaneously and concurrently. This eliminates the waiting time,
It is possible to prevent the sorting operation of each collection vehicle from being delayed due to the presence of another collection vehicle.

In the case of the sorting system, even if the transport vehicle d advances first to one lane y and stops before the collection shelf 101, the next transport vehicle e advances to the other lane z and the other transport vehicle e advances to the other lane z. Can be stopped in front of the collection shelf 102, so that the sorting work of the same sorting store A can be performed simultaneously and in parallel by arranging a plurality of carriers D and E in parallel.

FIG. 10 shows a picking system.
Three commodity shelves 101, 102,
103 shows an example in which the same picked product A is stored. By stopping the collected cars F, C, and C in order from the front product shelf 101, a plurality of collected cars F, C, and C are arranged in series to simultaneously sort the same picked product A in parallel. It becomes possible. This also
The occurrence of the waiting time is eliminated, and the sorting work of each collection vehicle is suppressed from being delayed due to the presence of another collection vehicle.

In the case of the sorting system, a plurality of transport vehicles A, B, and C are stopped in order from the collection shelf 101 in front, so that a plurality of transport vehicles A, B, and C are arranged in series, and The sorting operation can be performed simultaneously and concurrently.

It is needless to say that the layouts and the numbers of the branch portions, the product shelves and the collection shelves shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 are merely examples.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the sorting operation of each commodity transport vehicle from being delayed due to the presence of another transport vehicle, so that the loading time of the collected products to the delivery truck is reduced. Problems such as delaying the destination store after a delay can be avoided.

The present invention is preferably applicable to a product sorting system such as a picking system or a sorting system in a product distribution center or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a product shelf and a collection vehicle in the same system.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of the system.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an operation method of the collection vehicle.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the same.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of display contents on a display unit of the collection car.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the system.

FIG. 9 is a layout diagram of a characteristic portion of a product sorting system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a layout diagram of a characteristic portion of the product sorting system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 merchandise shelves, collection shelves (commodity storage section) 2 collected cars, transport vehicles (commodity transportation vehicles) 4 work management device 22 in-vehicle computer 25 display section (presentation means) 32 computer main body (control means) 33 memory of computer main body (Storage means) 37 Operation controller (operation means) 38 Memory of operation controller B1, B2 Branch b Retreat line P Stop point (work point) R Operation route

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A merchandise sorting system for sorting merchandise stored in a merchandise storage unit into a merchandise carrier or merchandise in a merchandise carrier into a merchandise storage unit, comprising: storage means for storing sorting data; An operation unit that moves along the storage unit and stops at a sorting work point set based on the sorting data, and a presentation unit that presents the sorting data at the work point when the carrier stops at the work point.
Control means for controlling the operation of each transport vehicle such that the sorting operation of each transport vehicle is not delayed by the presence of another transport vehicle. 2. A divergence section is provided on an operation route of a transportation vehicle, and the control means moves the transportation vehicle having a large amount of work on a lane different from the transportation vehicle having a small amount of operation at a low speed at the branch section. The merchandise sorting system according to claim 1, wherein 3. The product according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the same work points are provided, and the control means stops the carrier at a work point at which the other vehicles are not stopped. Sorting system. 4. The merchandise sorting system according to claim 3, wherein a branch portion is provided on an operation route of the transport vehicle, and the same work points are provided in different lanes at the branch portion. 5. The merchandise sorting system according to claim 3, wherein the same work points are provided in a line on an operation route of the carrier, and the control means stops the carrier from a front work point.