JP2000177810A - Article inspecting method and device in picking system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save labor and to improve accuracy in article inspection work by specifying a specified article charging box, previously providing individual articles with readable article information, and reading the article information when charging the articles in the article charging boxes. SOLUTION: This article inspecting device 1 is provided with charging boxes 11 for putting specified articles 10A, 10B, 10C...; a belt conveyor 12 for conveying the charging boxes 11; individual article information 13 of the articles 10A, 10B, 10C...; a hand scanner 14 for reading the article information 13; and a quality control personal computer 15 for storing the article information 13 read by the hand scanner 14. When the articles 10A, 10B, 10C... are charged in the charging boxes 11, the article information 13 provided at the individual articles is directly read to store the correct article information 13 in the quality control personal computer 15 so as to be positively stored with the kind, number, and the like of the articles 10A, 10B, 10C... enclosed in the charging boxes 11. When inspecting the articles, stored correct article information is easily retrieved to inspect the articles. An article inspection error can therefore be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inspection method and an apparatus for a picking system applied to a distribution center for distributing various articles in a predetermined quantity to a destination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In supermarkets and distribution centers for merchandise for chain stores, a so-called picking operation is carried out in which various kinds of merchandise are arranged in a required quantity in response to a request from each store.

Conventionally, in this picking operation, a worker performing the picking operation manually walks around the warehouse while looking at the order slip, and collects a required number of products described in the order slip by hand. Was done in a way.

However, in such a method relying on humans,
Workers must remember the storage location of each product in the warehouse, which requires a high level of skill and makes it difficult to quickly process a variety of items, especially in recent years. On the other hand, each store is trying to reduce the stock of goods, and there is a strong demand for speeding up this kind of picking work or delivery.

In response to such a request, for example,
An inspection device in a picking system as disclosed in JP-A-162605 has been proposed. In the inspection device of this picking system, a total number display device indicating the total number of ordered products is provided near the collection position of the containers in the picking zone. By comparing the number of products displayed on the number display device with the number of products in the container, the presence or absence of a picking mistake is confirmed.

[0006]

However, in the inspection apparatus of the conventional picking system disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, the operator must check the number of products finally stored in the container. Therefore, there has been a problem that the confirmation work requires a great deal of trouble. Further, in such a checking operation by an operator, there is a problem that a checking error may occur and the accuracy of the inspection operation varies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an inspection method and apparatus in a picking system that can perform inspection work accurately while saving inspection labor. To provide.

[0008]

According to the inspection method of the picking system according to the present invention, an input box in which a predetermined article is to be placed is specified, and individually readable article information of the article is provided in advance. The article information is read when the article is put into the input box (claim 1), whereby the object can be achieved.

Further, in the sorting apparatus according to the present invention, the read article information is recorded and output on a performance label, and the performance label is attached to the input box (claim 2). After delivering the input box to which the performance label on which the inspected article information is recorded is attached to the delivery destination, the delivery destination accesses a host computer storing the article information to inspect the article. , Is characterized.

[0010] The inspection device in the picking system according to the present invention reads an input box into which a predetermined article is put, transport means for conveying the input box, article information provided on the article, and reads the article information. Reading means, storage means for storing the article information read by the reading means, when loading the article into the input box, the article information is read by the reading means, the article information in the storage means It is characterized in that it is stored (claim 4), whereby the above object can be achieved.

The inspection device in the picking system according to the present invention may further include a result label issuing means for recording article information stored in the storage means on a result label and outputting the result. It is characterized by.

(Operation) According to the inspection method and apparatus in the picking system according to the present invention, the article information is read when the articles are put into the input box, whereby the articles actually put into the input box and the article information are read. Can completely coincide with each other (claims 1 and 4).

Further, since the article information is stored in the host computer, and the article information can be inspected by reading the article information by accessing the host computer from the delivery destination, for example, the input box is opened and entered as in the conventional case. Since there is no need to check for missing items, it is possible to greatly reduce inspection work. In addition, since the inspection work is based on the information of the articles actually put into the input box, not only labor saving of the inspection work at the delivery destination but also inspection work without any error in accuracy can be performed ( Claim 3).

Further, since the read article information is written on the result label and output from the result label issuing means, and the result label is attached to the input box, the type of the final article stored in the input box is determined. And the number can be accurately displayed (claims 2 and 5).

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an inspection method and apparatus in a picking system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an inspection device in the picking system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a display device of the inspection device in the picking system according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the entire configuration of the picking system according to the present invention.

(First Embodiment) As shown in FIG.
Inspection device 1 in picking system according to the present invention
, A loading box 11 for storing predetermined articles 10A, 10B, 10C,..., A belt conveyor 12 as a transporting means for transporting the loading box 11, and articles 10A, 10B
The article information 13 individually provided in 10C..., A hand scanner 14 (wireless type hand scanner) as reading means for reading the article information 13, and the article information 13 read by the hand scanner 14 are stored. For example, an inspection management personal computer 15 as a storage means for performing the inspection is provided. The product management personal computer 15 is connected to a host computer (not shown) and configured to exchange information as appropriate. Further, the scanner is not limited to the hand scanner but may be a fixed type.

The above-mentioned charging box 11 has a shape and a size suitable for transportation, and for example, a folding container which can be folded and assembled can be used. When the picking operation is started, a predetermined label 16 is attached to an appropriate position of the input box 11, for example, a side surface thereof. The schedule label 16 includes, for example, a number for identifying the input box 11, the name of an item ordered from a delivery destination, the number of items ordered, and the like.

The article information 13 provided for each article 10A, 10B, 10C...
Information for identifying 0B, 10C,... Is displayed in a readable manner. Then, the article information 13 is stored in the picking area 12B by, for example, the hand scanner 14.
Is read, the read information is sent to the inspection management personal computer 15 and each of the articles 10 input so far is read.
A, 10B, 10C... And the article name (article type) are counted.

The belt conveyor 12 is operated at a predetermined transport speed. An enlarged display 17 is arranged in the scheduled label attaching area 12A of the belt conveyor 12.
The enlarged display 17 displays the number of the input boxes 11 to be put on the belt conveyor 12. That is, input box 1
If there are many articles 10A, 10B, 10C,... To be put into one, they are put into a plurality of (for example, parent boxes and child boxes) input boxes 11 separately.

As described above, the operator places the input box 11 on the belt conveyor 12 in accordance with the number displayed on the enlarged display 17. In addition, the loading box 11 on which the
Are attached to the schedule label 16 in which the types and the numbers of the articles 10A, 10B, 10C,.

After the predetermined label 16 is attached to the input box 11, the input box 11 is cut out and transported to the picking area 12B of the belt conveyor 12. The input box 11
One or a plurality of articles 10A, 10B, 10C,... To be stored are conveyed as one set.
FIG. 1 shows a case where two input boxes 11 are conveyed as one set, one of which is called, for example, a parent box and the other one is called a small box.

An article storage shelf 18 is arranged near the picking area 12B. In this article storage shelf 18,
Each of the articles 10A, 10B, and 10C is divided and arranged. And each article 10A, 10B, 10C ...
A display 19 is provided at each of the divided positions. As shown in FIG.
A number display section 20 for displaying the number to be picked A, 10B, 10C,... And a reset button 21 for resetting the number display section 20 are provided.

The display 19 is managed by an order management personal computer 22. The number to be picked shown on the display 19 is the number ordered from each delivery destination. Also, near the picking portion 12B,
A buzzer 23, a display 24, a lamp 25 and the like are arranged. Note that the order management personal computer 22 can also serve as the inspection management personal computer 15.

After the operator puts the articles 10A, 10B, 10C,... Into the set of input boxes 11, 11 by the number indicated on the display 19, the operator presses the reset button 21 of the display 19. By pressing the button, the number display section 20 can be reset. As a result, the number to be put into the next set of putting boxes 11 is displayed.

The input boxes 11 containing the articles 10A, 10B, 10C,...
Transported to A display 26, a hand scanner 27, and a performance label issuing machine 28 are arranged near the performance label sticking area 12C. The performance label issuing machine 28 issues a performance label 29.

On the performance label 29, article information sent from the inspection management personal computer 15 is recorded. This article information (here, the “article information” is the above-described article information 13
Is the composite article information based on the information 10), the articles 10A, 10A put into the input box 11 in the picking area 12B.
B, 10C...

The performance label 29 can be pasted on the schedule label 16 previously pasted on the input box 11. Thus, the total number of articles 10A, 10B, 10C,... Stored in the input box 11 can be determined at the delivery destination without opening the input box 11 and counting the articles 10A, 10B, 10C,. , Achievement label 2
9 can be confirmed simply by reading. Thereafter, the input box 11 is sent to each delivery destination.

Next, the operation of the inspection device 1 will be described.
First, the scheduled label attaching area 12A of the belt conveyor 12
In, the number of input boxes 11 is put on the number displayed on the enlarged display 17, and the schedule label 16 is attached to the input box 11.

Next, the input box 11 is moved to the picking area 12B.
Is transported to the display unit 1 on the article storage shelf 18.
9, each article 10A, 10A
B, 10C,... At this time, the lamp 25 is turned on.

Each article 10A, 10B, 10C,.
Each time one operator inserts one, the worker reads the article information 13 provided in each of the articles 10A, 10B, 10C,. The article information 13 read here is sent to the inspection management personal computer 15, and the articles 10A, 10B, 10C,.
Are reliably counted for each of the articles 10A, 10B, 10C,....

If the read article information 13 matches the preset article to be put in, the through is performed as it is, and if the article information 13 is different, the buzzer 23 sounds and at the same time,
The lamp 25 flashes. As a result, the worker can recognize that he / she is wrong, and can pick up the correct article.

When the operator resets the display 19 after the picking operation is completed, the articles 10A, 10B, 10C,.
The type and total number are stored and sent to the result label issuing machine 28 to be recorded on the result label 29, and are also sent to the host computer and stored. When the first loading operation of the input box 11 is completed, for example, the full card 30 is put in the input box 11 and transported to the downstream side of the conveyor. Then, an article input operation of the next input box 11 is performed.

In this manner, when the work of loading the articles into one set of loading boxes 11 is completed (when all the reset buttons are pressed), the lamp 25 is automatically turned off. Then, the input box 11 is transported to the result label pasting area 12C. In the performance label sticking area 12C, the number of the input box 11 written on the scheduled label 16 attached to the input box 11 is read by the operator with the hand scanner 27,
The result label 29 corresponding to the input box 11 is issued from the result label issuing machine 28. The operator attaches the performance label 29 on the schedule label 16 of the input box 11.
Thereafter, the input box 11 is transported to each delivery destination.

As described above, the inspection apparatus 1 in the picking system according to the present embodiment
. 0A, 10B, 10C... Can be read directly, the article information 13 provided for each article can be directly read.
, And the types and the numbers of the articles 10A, 10B, 10C,... Stored in the input box 11 are reliably stored, and at the time of inspection, etc., the stored reliable article information is stored. It can be easily searched and used for inspection, and inspection errors can be prevented.

(Second Embodiment) This inspection device 1
The present invention can be applied to a picking system 30 as shown in FIG. In this picking system 30,
From the stores 31A to 31X that are the delivery destinations to the retail store headquarters 32
The order information is sent to the retail store headquarters 32, and the order information is compiled and sent to the wholesale headquarters 33. Then, an order is placed from the wholesale headquarters 33 to the manufacturer 34 in accordance with the order information.

At the maker 34, the ordered articles 10A, 1
Are delivered to the wholesale distribution center 35. In the wholesale distribution center 35, in the piece picking, the inspection device 1 described above specifies the input box 11 and supplies the articles 10A, 10B, 10C, and the like to the input box 11.
・ ・ Assortment (input) is performed in the process described above, and then delivered. Note that the case picking in FIG. 3 is a case where a case in which articles are packed in the case in advance is picked.

Then, in accordance with the shipping instruction from the wholesale headquarters 33, the input box 11 is transferred from the wholesale distribution center 35 to each of the stores 31A to 31A.
It is sent to 31X. In each of the stores 31A to 31X, after the input box 11 arrives, for example, a telephone line, an INS line, or the like 4
0, the host computer of the inspection device 1 of the wholesale distribution center 35 is accessed, and the article information corresponding to the result label 29 of the arriving input box 11 is appropriately read by a scanner, and collated with the result data. Inspection is performed. Therefore, the inspection work can be performed very easily. After this, the articles 10A, 10A in the input box 11
B, 10C,... Are arranged, for example, in each of the counters 36a to 36n.

As described above, this picking system 3
0, the goods can be inspected simply by accessing the host computer of the inspection apparatus 1 from each of the stores 31A to 31X and reading the article information, and the articles 10A, 10B, 10C... Since there is no need to inspect the products, the labor of the inspection work can be greatly reduced as compared with the related art.

[0039]

As described above, the inspection method and apparatus in the picking system according to the present invention can read the article information when the articles are put into the input box, so that the articles are actually put into the input box. The position of the article and the article information can be completely matched, and the inspection work of the actual article is not required unlike the related art, so that the inspection work can be omitted and the inspection work can be performed accurately.

In the inspection method according to the present invention, the article information is stored in the host computer, and the article information can be inspected by accessing the host computer from the delivery destination and reading the article information. Since there is no need to open the input box and check each item that is not in the box, the inspection work can be greatly reduced, and the inspection work is based on the information of the articles actually put in the input box. Therefore, there is a remarkable effect that not only labor saving of the inspection work at the delivery destination but also inspection work without any error in accuracy can be performed.

Further, according to the present invention, the read article information is written in a performance label, output from the performance label issuing means, and the performance label is attached to the input box.
Since the type and number of final items stored in the input box can be accurately displayed, the inspection data used for inspection after shipping is extremely accurate. Inspection work can be guaranteed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an inspection device in a picking system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a display of an inspection device in the picking system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a picking system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inspection apparatus 10A, 10B, 10C ... Article 11 Input box 12 Belt conveyor (conveying means) 13 Article information 14 Hand scanner (reading means) 15 Inspection management personal computer (storage means) 19 Display 28 Actual label issuing machine 29 Actual Label 31A-31X store (delivery destination)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A predetermined article (10A, 10B, 10C,
.) Are specified, and individually readable article information (13) of the articles (10A, 10B, 10C,...) Is provided in advance, and the articles (10A, 10B, 10C) are provided. , ..) is read into the input box (11) when the article information (13) is read. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the read article information is recorded on a performance label and output, and the performance label is provided on the input box. Inspection method in the picking system according to Item 1. 3. After delivering the input box (11) provided with a result label (29) recording article information finally shipped and inspected to delivery destinations (31A to 31X), the delivery destinations (31A to 31X). 31. The inspection method in the picking system according to claim 1, wherein the inspection is performed by accessing a host computer storing the article information in 31X). 4. An input box into which a predetermined article is put; a conveying means (12) for conveying the input box (11); article information (13) provided on the article (11); Reading means (14) for reading 13)
And article information (1) read by the reading means (14).
3) a storage means (15) for storing the articles (10A, 10B, 10) in the input box (11).
(C,...) When the reading means (14)
Wherein the article information is read and the article information is stored in the storage means. 5. A performance label issuing means (28) for recording article information (13) stored in said storage means (15) on a performance label (29) and outputting the result. An inspection device (1) in the picking system according to (4).