JP2000344312A - Merchandise sorting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a merchandise sorting system capable of eliminating overload on operator(s), wasteful use of human labor or time such as a too busy or unbusy state with gathering operation of merchandise, and occurrence of misjudgement resulting from an inaccurate prediction depending upon the experiences and/or intuition of the person in charge. SOLUTION: A merchandise sorting system includes a host computer 3 which makes previously the simulation of the optimum form of item gathering works in which different factors are taken into consideration such as the distributed condition of the place where the gathering work is conducted in the working region, the amount of the item gathering work in the place the gathering work is conduced, the number of persons in charge, and the number of working vehicles for the gathering works. The form of working appears as either of the attendance mode in which the operator accompanies the working vehicle, the standby mode in which the operator is waiting in the place of item gathering, and a combination mode in which the two modes are used together.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technical field of a product sorting system such as a picking system and a sorting system used in a product distribution process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a product distribution center for a supermarket or a convenience store, etc., a collection work is performed in which a required number of various products are collected according to a request from each store.
For example, a picking method in which the required number of ordered products are taken out from a product storage unit provided along the transport route while the product collection containers for each order destination are being transported and collected in the collection container, and each product is an item. There is a sorting method in which the required number of products are supplied for each order to a product storage unit for each order, which is provided along the transport route, while being conveyed every time.

In a system adopting the above-mentioned picking method, a system using a self-propelled work vehicle that automatically travels along an operation route as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-5174 recently, Collection data such as the products to be collected and the number to be collected, and collection based on the collection data, and more specifically, the position of the product storage unit that stores the products to be collected. Operation data such as the product work point is stored, and the work vehicle stops automatically at the collection work point while automatically moving along the route, and the collection data at the collection work point is presented on a screen or the like. A picking system employing a so-called navigation system has been put to practical use.

In such a picking system, a work vehicle or a worker is prevented from erroneously going over the collection work point, so that a collection work error is reduced, and it is necessary to provide an indicator on the side of a large number of product storage units. There is an advantage that equipment costs are reduced because they are eliminated.

[0005]

However, in the conventional picking system, the operation plan of the work vehicle and the arrangement plan of the workers at the collection work point are made only based on the experience and intuition of the person. However, a situation different from the prediction, that is, an overload on the worker or a busy work of collecting the worker, etc., was likely to occur, and as a result, efficient work was not performed.

[0006] The same problem as described above has also occurred in the sorting system.

Accordingly, the present invention eliminates the waste of time and personnel and the occurrence of erroneous judgments, such as overload on workers and the busyness of workers' collection work resulting from predictions based on human experience and intuition. It is an object of the present invention to construct a product sorting system.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention is characterized by having the following constitution in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.

That is, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application (hereinafter, referred to as a first invention) is a work area in which a large number of product storage sections are provided for storing products for each item or storing for each customer. While running the work vehicle along the predetermined route, take out the products stored in each product storage unit by the number specified for each item and mount it on the work vehicle, or load the products loaded on the work vehicle In a product sorting system in which a specified number of products are taken out from each order and put into each product storage unit, the work vehicle is based on product data received from each customer and the arrangement of each product storage unit in the work area. Collection work point setting means for stopping the collection, and an optimum collection work mode is simulated based on the distribution state of the collection work points set by the setting means in the work area. Characterized by comprising a simulation unit.

The invention according to a second aspect (hereinafter referred to as a second invention) is the configuration according to the first aspect, wherein the simulation means includes an optimal collection work mode in consideration of a collection work amount at each collection work point. Is simulated.

According to a third aspect of the invention (hereinafter referred to as a third invention), in the configuration of the first invention, the simulation means is provided in an optimal collection work mode in consideration of the number of workers engaged in the collection work. Is simulated.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention (hereinafter referred to as a fourth invention), in the configuration of the first invention, the simulation means is provided in an optimal collection work form in consideration of the number of work vehicles used for the collection work. Is simulated.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention (hereinafter referred to as a fifth aspect of the invention), in the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the simulation means is set as an optimal work mode, and a traveling mode in which the worker follows the work vehicle; Is configured to select one of a standby mode for waiting at a collection work point and a combination mode in which these modes are used in combination.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention (hereinafter referred to as a sixth aspect), in the configuration of the fifth aspect, when the simulation means selects either the standby mode or the combined mode as the optimal work mode, The present invention is characterized in that the distribution of the workers to the standby work points is set.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention (hereinafter referred to as a seventh invention), in the configuration of the first invention, the collection work point setting means corrects the collection work point based on a result of simulation by the simulation means. The simulation means is configured to re-simulate based on the corrected distribution state of the collection work points.

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

First, in any of the first invention to the seventh invention, when performing the collection work, the work vehicle functions as a navigating type collection work vehicle, and the work vehicle automatically moves along the product storage section. While running, it is automatically stopped at the collection work point and the number of products to be sorted at the work point is presented. Therefore, the work vehicle or the worker does not accidentally go over the collection work point. Further, it is not necessary to provide a large number of display devices in the product storage, which reduces equipment costs.

In particular, according to the first aspect of the present invention, prior to starting a series of collection operations, the optimal collection operation form is simulated in advance based on the distribution state of the collection operation points in the work area. An efficient operation plan of a work vehicle and a rational arrangement plan of workers can be quickly and without error.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the optimal collection work form is simulated in consideration of the collection work amount at each collection work point, it is possible to perform a product sorting work that does not waste people and time. it can.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the optimal collection work form is simulated in consideration of the number of workers engaged in the collection work, so that it is possible to predict the efficient placement of the workers in the work area. it can.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the optimal collection work form is simulated in consideration of the number of work vehicles used in the collection work, so that effective operation of the work vehicle can be realized.

According to the fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention, in the day or the time zone, an accompanying mode in which the worker follows the work vehicle, a standby mode in which the worker stands by at the collection work point, and these modes By selecting any one of the combination modes in which the operator is used together, it is possible to eliminate the waste of the worker, the work vehicle, and time. That is, as a result of the simulation, the collection work mode to be adopted can be determined based on the required collection work time estimated in each mode.

Here, the accompanying mode in which the worker accompanies the work vehicle is applied when the number of collected products is small and the goods are widely distributed in the work area. The standby mode, in which workers wait at the collection work point, is applied when there are many products to be collected and when products are concentrated at a specific work point, and workers are concentrated in the work area. It is necessary to keep it. In addition to the above, there may be a combination mode in which the two modes are used in combination.

In particular, according to the sixth aspect, when either the standby mode or the combined mode is selected as the optimal work mode, the workers are distributed and arranged to each collection work point, so that excessive work is given to the workers. Eliminates workload.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the collection work point is corrected based on the result of the simulation, and the simulation is performed again based on the corrected distribution state of the collection work point. And efficient operation of the work vehicle can be realized.

In the simulation, the following criteria can be set. The number of workers according to the number of products to be sorted at the work vehicle stop point is made to stand by. In addition, when the number of products to be collected between adjacent work blocks is small, or when the number of workers that can be input is insufficient, the work blocks are integrated and regarded as one work block. It is only necessary to set a reference such as arranging a worker who has been working.

[0027]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a layout diagram of a picking system to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, a traveling route R for a self-propelled work vehicle 1... 1 is laid. The moving directions of the work vehicles 1... 1 are indicated by arrows in the figure.

The operation path R is basically composed of a plurality of collection work paths r1a, r1b, r1c, r1d, r extending along a large number of product storage sections 2... 2 arranged in a plurality of rows in the work area A.
1e, r1f, a plurality of bypass paths r11a, r11b, r11c that intersect with these collection work paths r1a to r1f and bypass the product storage sections 2,. It is formed in a lattice shape by a communication path r12 for communication.

Next, a control system of the picking system will be described with reference to FIG. The in-vehicle computer 6 mounted on the work vehicle 1 shown in FIG.
A display 8 for displaying various data on a screen, a key input unit 9 that is pressed when manually inputting various data, a completion button 10 that is pressed when various operations are completed, and a wireless antenna 11. Is provided.

A work management device 4 installed near the connecting path r12 is communicably connected to the host computer 3 of the picking system. The work management device 4 is provided with a wireless antenna 5, and information is wirelessly communicated between the work management device 4 and the vehicle-mounted computer 6 via the wireless antenna 5 and the wireless antenna 11 of the vehicle-mounted computer 6.

The driving device 12 shown in FIG.
Is also provided in the work vehicle 1. The operation controller 13 and the computer main body 14 of the vehicle-mounted computer 6 are connected so as to be able to communicate bidirectionally. The operation controller 13 controls the driving device 12 so that the work vehicle 1 stops at a desired stop point P.

As shown in FIG. 1, a stop point P of the work vehicle 1 is provided on the operation route R for each work block B, and a large number of such stop points P... P are arranged on the operation route R.
The stop point P where the work vehicle 1 needs to stop means a collection work point. When the work vehicle 1 reaches the collection work point, the worker a performs the collection work shown on the display 8 of the work vehicle 1. Carry out collection work based on instructions.

Next, a specific operation example of the picking system will be described with reference to the flowchart of the main operation shown in FIG.

The host computer 3 stores order data for each order destination and location data for each item in the product storage unit 2, and the data is passed to the work management device 4.

First, the host computer 3 operates in the work area A
, The number of workers a engaged in the collection work, and the number of work vehicles 1 used,
The optimal collection work mode is simulated in advance (steps S1 and S2).

Based on the result, the operation manager m sets the following modes: the worker a follows the work vehicle, the worker a stands by at the collection work point, and a combination of these modes. One of the modes is selected, and the content of the work command is input to the host computer 3 via the work management device 4 (step S3).

In this case, when the accompanying mode is selected, the worker a inputs the store number of the current order destination into the work management device 4. The work management device 4 calls order data of the store corresponding to the corresponding number, and based on the order data and the location data indicating the storage location of the product, the work data for the store and the work vehicle 1 move the shortest distance. An operation pattern is generated, and these data are collectively transmitted to the on-vehicle computer 6 of the work vehicle 1 waiting for the start of work (steps S4 to S7).

When the work vehicle 1 stops at the point P to be stopped after departure, that is, at the collection work point, the worker a starts picking work in the corresponding work block B. That is, the worker a looks at the screen display on the display 8 and
After picking up the corresponding products from the product shelf 2 by the displayed number, the product codes are read using the barcode scanner 7 (steps S10 to S12).

After the commodities have been collected in this way, the completion button 10 is turned on (steps S13 and S1).
4). The computer body 14 that has received this ON signal
Erases work data.

Thereafter, the computer main body 14 determines whether or not the collection work in the work block B has been completed.
If not completed, the process returns to step S10 to display the work data on the next product. If completed, the process proceeds to step S16 to determine whether the next work block B remains. When it is determined that the next work block B remains, the process returns to step S8 to return to the next stop point P.
A command signal is output to the operation controller 13 so as to move to.

The work vehicle 1 that has stopped at all the planned stop points P and has completed all the work returns to the start point and waits for an instruction for the next work in front of the work management device 4.

Next, a case where the collection work is performed based on the result of the simulation will be described more specifically.

That is, FIG. 4 shows a case where the worker a follows the work vehicle 1 in an accompanying mode. In the product storage section 2, a dense hatched portion indicates that the number of products to be collected is large, a sparse hatched portion indicates that the number of products to be collected is small, and a blank portion indicates that there are no products to be collected. Is shown. The illustrated stop points P... P are designated as collection work points, and a movement route (A) shown by a solid line is generated.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the number of products to be collected at each stop point P of the work vehicle 1 is small and the stop points P are dispersed throughout the work area A, the worker a Instead of the standby mode in which the vehicle waits at each stop point P, an accompanying mode in which the worker a follows the work vehicle 1 is recommended.

FIG. 5 shows that the worker a does not follow the work vehicle 1,
Instead, the case of the standby mode in which the worker a waits at the stop point P is shown. The illustrated stop points P... P are designated as collection work points, and the travel route shown by the solid line (a)
Is generated.

A characteristic feature compared to the case of FIG. 4 is that the stop point P requiring a large amount of work, in other words, the ratio of the concentrated work blocks B in the densely hatched product storage unit 2 is large and the work area is large. A. At this time, if the worker a adopts the accompanying mode that accompanies the work vehicle 1,
Since it is necessary to collect a large number of concentrated products, the worker a becomes tired, and collection mistakes are likely to occur. In such a case, the worker a is moved to the stop point P
In the standby mode in which the operator a is concentratedly arranged and waits, the worker a has less fatigue and can perform the collection work promptly and without errors. In this case, the operation of inputting the store number of the order destination is performed by the business manager m or another person.

FIG. 6 shows a combined mode in which the above two modes are used in combination. The illustrated stop points P... P are designated as collection work points, and a movement route (C) shown by a solid line is generated.

In this case, the number of commodities to be collected is small in the area from the start of the operation to the point E at which the worker a goes along (the final stop point P at which the accompanying worker a needs to follow), and Since the stop points P are dispersed throughout the work area A, the traveling mode in which the worker a follows the work vehicle 1 is adopted. Since the stop point P requiring a large amount of work is unevenly distributed after the entrainment completion point E, the collection work is left to the worker a who is waiting in a concentrated manner at the stop point P, The worker “a” who has been accompanied by 1 is released from being accompanied. In this way, since each worker a does not carry out unnecessarily severe collection work, the fatigue is reduced and the possibility of making mistakes is reduced.

By the way, the distribution state of the collection work points is corrected by correcting the collection work point presented as a result of the simulation, and the simulation can be performed again based on the corrected distribution state of the collection work points. The correction mentioned here includes the integration, abolition or addition of collection work points. In this way, the collection work form can be flexibly adopted according to the situation, so that a more rational arrangement of workers and more effective operation of the work vehicle can be realized.

A description of the case where the present invention is applied to a sorting system will be omitted, but there is basically no significant difference in the system configuration from the picking system. Therefore, the operation example is almost the same, and thus the description is omitted. In this case, the same operation as that of the picking system can be obtained.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, a product is stored along a predetermined route in a work area in which a plurality of product storage sections for storing products for each item or storing for each customer are provided. While running the work vehicle, the products stored in each product storage section were taken out by the number specified for each item and loaded on the work vehicle, or the products loaded on the work vehicle were specified for each order destination. In the product sorting system that takes out each product and puts it into each product storage unit, the optimal collection work form in the work area is simulated, so the workforce placement plan and work vehicle operation plan can be made more reasonably quickly. And can be set without error.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a layout diagram of a picking system.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a control system of the system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a main operation showing an operation example of the system.

FIG. 4 is a layout diagram illustrating an example of an accompanying mode in which a worker accompanies a work vehicle.

FIG. 5 is a layout diagram illustrating an example of a standby mode in which a worker waits at a collection work point.

FIG. 6 is a layout diagram showing an example of a combined mode in which the above two modes are used together.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 work vehicle 2 product storage unit 3 host computer (control means, simulation means) 4 work management device (control means) 6 in-vehicle computer (control means) 13 operation controller (operation means) A work area P stop point (work point) R Route a Worker

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Kei Iwamoto F-term (reference) 3F022 FF01 LL05 MM08 MM11 MM22 MM36 MM44 PP04 at 959 Shimoda, Kurito-cho, Kurita-gun, Shiga Pref.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A product storage device that stores a product for each item or a work vehicle along a predetermined route in a work area provided with a large number of product storage portions for storing for each customer. The products stored in the vehicle are taken out by the number specified for each item and loaded into the work vehicle, or the products loaded in the work vehicle are taken out by the number specified by the orderer and put into each product storage unit. A product sorting system, wherein a collection work point setting means for setting a collection work point at which the work vehicle is stopped based on order product data received from each customer and the arrangement of each product storage unit in the work area. Simulation means for simulating an optimal collection work mode based on the distribution state of the collection work points set by the setting means in the work area. A product sorting system characterized by the following. 2. The product sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the simulation means is configured to simulate an optimal collection work mode in consideration of a collection work amount at each collection work point. system. 3. The product sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the simulation means is configured to simulate an optimal collection work mode in consideration of the number of workers engaged in the collection work. system. 4. The product sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the simulation means is configured to simulate an optimal collection work mode in consideration of the number of work vehicles used for the collection work. system. 5. The simulation means according to claim 1, wherein the optimal work mode is any of an accompanying mode in which the worker follows the work vehicle, a standby mode in which the worker stands by at the collection work point, and a combined mode in which these modes are used in combination. The merchandise sorting system according to claim 1, wherein the merchandise sorting system is configured to select the item. 6. The simulation means is configured to set the distribution of workers to each standby work point when selecting either the standby mode or the combined mode as the optimum work mode. The product sorting system according to claim 5, wherein 7. The collection work point setting means corrects the collection work point based on the result of the simulation by the simulation means, and the simulation means re-simulates based on the corrected distribution state of the collection work point. The merchandise sorting system according to claim 1, wherein the merchandise is sorted.