JP2001180815A - Physical distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To rationalize physical distribution drastically. SOLUTION: A plurality of commodity suppliers 8 and consumers are connected by an internet 4, a commodity ordered by the consumer is distribution fed to an automated storage and retrieval warehouse chain 15 through a distribution feed center 12 and delivered to the consumer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a distribution system using an automatic warehouse and an information system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Shopping systems using the Internet and other information networks are being put into practical use. Products can be searched and ordered on the network, but delivery to consumers is still performed individually for each product by courier. As a result, delivery costs for trucks and other facilities increase, and consumers have to wait for delivery at home, etc., and consumers, delivery companies, and product suppliers are burdened with inquiries, confirmation, and tracking of delivery status. Occurs. Further, there is a significant cultural drop between the purchase system for purchasing products from virtual stores on the network and the behavior pattern of receiving real products at home or the like.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to rationalize distribution from a goods supplier to a customer. In particular, delivery by truck, trouble of the customer waiting for delivery, or a plurality of goods suppliers are required. The object of the present invention is to reduce the trouble of carrying out a delivery independently. An additional object of the present invention is to manage delivery from a goods supplier to an automatic warehouse,
The purpose is to reliably manage the delivery status in an automated warehouse. An additional object of the third aspect of the present invention is to manage the results of warehousing and delivery in an automatic warehouse and to enhance the safety of the automatic warehouse.

[0004]

A logistics system according to the present invention includes a plurality of goods suppliers, an automatic warehouse chain including a plurality of automatic warehouses, and an intervening path between the automatic warehouse chain and the goods suppliers.
A system manager that performs logistics from the product supplier to the automated warehouse chain and manages the automated warehouse chain, an information network that connects the consumer and the product supplier, and the correspondence between the products stored in the automated warehouse and the orderer Permission means for confirming and permitting the delivery (claim 1).

[0005] Here, the goods supplier is an actual factory or company,
It is a virtual merchandise supplier who arranges the supply of merchandise over a network rather than a distributor, and is, for example, a server that manages the sales and dispatch of merchandise at factories, companies, distributors, and the like. Automatic warehouses are arranged in a network, but information exchange between the automatic warehouses is not particularly necessary, and is referred to as an automatic warehouse chain to distinguish it from the information network. The system manager manages the distribution to the automatic warehouse and manages the automatic warehouse, and is preferably a server of the distribution center (claim 2). The server at the distribution center only needs to be able to manage the physical distribution after the product arrives at the distribution center, for example, and does not need to manage the physical distribution from the product supplier to the distribution center.

[0006] Preferably, the automatic warehouse is a storage port and a delivery port, a transport device in the automatic warehouse, a terminal for storage and delivery, and a system which reports a storage result and a delivery result to a system manager. In addition, the delivery port is configured so that the consumer cannot contact the transport device, and a sensor for checking the safety of the stored goods is provided at the storage port (claim 3). Note that the storage port and the delivery port may be physically different ports or the same port.

[0007]

According to the present invention, delivery to the automatic warehouse is performed by the system manager in response to the order placed on the information network of the customer, and the orderer (the customer who ordered the product) ) And check the correspondence with the stored product and deliver it. Further, the automatic warehouse chain provides services to a plurality of commodity suppliers (claim 1). In the following, in such a case, the term “shared” is used as the automatic warehouse chain is shared by a plurality of commodity suppliers. The order in the physical distribution system of the present invention may include the order on the information network, and may additionally receive an order by telephone or mail. Delivery may include delivery to an automated warehouse, and may include delivery to home as an exception.

According to the present invention, since the automatic warehouse chain is shared by a plurality of commodity suppliers, the construction and maintenance costs of the chain are reduced. Delivery can be to an automated warehouse, and the delivery distance can be shortened compared to the case of delivering to the home, and a large number of products can be delivered to the automated warehouse chain at once. After placing an order on the information network, the customer only has to go to the automated warehouse to pick up the product, without having to wait for delivery at home or the like. In the automatic warehouse, the correspondence between the stored product and the orderer is checked and delivered, so that, for example, an unmanned automatic warehouse may be used. For this corresponding key, for example, an order ID, an orderer ID, or a product ID is used. For these reasons, logistics is greatly streamlined (claim 1).

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the server of the distribution center manages the delivery to the automatic warehouse chain and the automatic warehouse chain, so that the delivery status and the status of storage and delivery in the automatic warehouse can be easily determined. Can manage.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the security is checked at the entrance of the automatic warehouse and the warehouse is stored, an accident in the automatic warehouse can be prevented even if various products from a large number of product suppliers are handled. In addition, since the customer is prevented from contacting the transfer device at the delivery port, an accident can be prevented even if the customer operates the automatic warehouse by himself. Further, the terminal of the automatic warehouse reports the result of the receipt and the result of the delivery to the system manager. Because of these, almost no manpower is required for the operation and management of the automated warehouse.

[0011]

1 to 6 show a physical distribution system 2 according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the physical distribution system 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes the Internet, which may be another private network, a dedicated network, or any other information network. 6 is a home terminal connected to the Internet 4;
8 is a server of a commodity supplier, which is a server of each of a plurality of commodity suppliers participating in the distribution system. The type of the product supplier is a manufacturer or a distributor, or a network of overseas distributors, or the like. 10 is a server of the distribution centers 12 and 13, 14 is a mobile terminal mounted on a truck or the like,
It is connected to the server 10 via the Internet 4 or the like, and performs physical distribution to the automatic warehouse chain 15 by truck or the like. The automatic warehouse chain 15 is, for example, deployed in a network all over the country and includes a plurality of automatic warehouses 16 to 19 and the like. Although the automatic warehouse chain 15 and the distribution center 12 are connected by a dedicated information network in the embodiment, the connection on the Internet 4 may be used, and the connection on the information network between the automatic warehouses is particularly necessary. is not.

An outline of processing from ordering to delivery of a product in the embodiment will be described. The home terminal 6 is, for example, a personal computer or the like, which opens a homepage or the like of a product supplier via the Internet 4 and orders from the Internet 4 from there. This record is recorded on the server 8 of the product supplier. The consumer can use the home terminal 6 to inquire about the status of product delivery and arrival, or complaints, etc., and those that the servers 8 and 10 can immediately respond to are sent to the terminal 6 on the Internet 4. Information that cannot be handled immediately is stored in the home terminal 6.
-Responded to mail. For example, a smart card is used as a card for charging the customer 6 and delivering the product in the automatic warehouse, and the card for the customer is particularly called a user card. This card can be read and written by a normal personal computer by attaching an expansion board, and may be a conventional simple IC card. The card is used as a prepaid card, a card for accessing a bank account, a credit card, or the like, in addition to processing from ordering to delivery of a product, and is used for settlement of a product price.

The server 8 that has received an order for a product via the Internet 4 requests the server 10 of the distribution center 12 for delivery. In the embodiment, one automatic warehouse chain 15 is used.
Although the one managed by one delivery center 12 is shown, another delivery center 13 may be provided and the automatic warehouse chain 15 may be shared by the plurality of delivery centers 12 and 13. Upon receiving the delivery request, the delivery center 12 stores its own stock items,
Alternatively, goods delivered from a supplier of ordered goods are delivered to a designated automatic warehouse by a truck equipped with the mobile terminal 14. The distribution center 12 manages the automatic warehouse chain 15, and the mobile terminal 14 is mounted on a truck that circulates between the automatic warehouse chain 15 and the distribution center 12. Are stored in the automatic warehouses 16 to 19. The server 10 of the distribution center 12 transmits the delivery data indicating the goods to be stored and the orderer thereof to each of the automatic warehouses 16 to 19, and when the automatic warehouses 16 to 19 receive the goods, the automatic warehouses 16 to 19 store the goods. When the product is delivered and the product is delivered, the delivery result is reported to the server 10.

When the server 10 of the distribution center 12 receives a report that the goods have been stored in the automatic warehouses 16 to 19, the server 10 notifies the home terminal 6 that the goods have arrived at the automatic warehouse via e-mail, for example. Send the indicated delivery information.
On the other hand, the consumer uses the above-mentioned smart card (referred to as a user card because the consumer uses it) to deliver the goods at a designated automatic warehouse. Then, the commodity price is withdrawn from the user card at the same time as the delivery of the article, and the result of the delivery and payment is transmitted to the server 10. Then, the server 10 virtually transmits the withdrawn money to the server 8 of the goods supplier on the Internet 4.

In these processes, in order to maintain the automatic warehouses 16 to 19, to receive returned goods, or to change the delivery destination and deliver the goods to the customer's home, a truck is prepared. Of mobile terminals 14 are used. These instructions are issued from the server 10 directly or via the Internet 4 to the mobile terminal 14 to change the delivery destination, check and receive the returned goods, or repair the malfunction of the automatic warehouse. Although the automatic warehouses 16 to 19 are assumed to be unmanned automatic warehouses, they may be installed in stations, stores, gas stations, or the like, and may be an automatic warehouse with a manager.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the automatic warehouse. The automatic warehouse according to the embodiment has characteristics such as being operated unattended, storing various kinds of commodities, and delivering goods directly to consumers. In addition, it has a function of temporarily storing luggage and the like of the consumer, and a function as a reception desk of a courier service for delivering the goods stored by the consumer to other homes and the like. The center of the automatic warehouse is a stacker crane 20 as a transport device, and a pair of shelves 22 on both sides of the traveling path.
23, and articles are stored on shelves 22, 23.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a storage entrance, 25 denotes a storage terminal, 26 denotes a check space for checking the stored goods, for example, a container provided with an automatic door on the storage opening side. Is closed and various tests are performed. In this inspection, for example, an infrared sensor or a smoke sensor is used to inspect the incoming goods for a fire, and an odor sensor or the like is used to check whether there is any spoilage or liquid leakage. Using a pyroelectric sensor, an infrared sensor, or the like, an inspection is performed to determine whether or not there is a moving object with a body temperature, that is, whether or not an animal is included, and an inspection of a weapon or the like is performed using an X-ray camera or the like. The inspection of the weapon may be performed by taking an X-ray image and checking an image similar to a dangerous shape such as a pistol by image recognition. Reference numeral 28 denotes a gate for checking the weight and size of the articles stored, and for items that cannot be stored in the automatic warehouse. The articles that have passed these checks are conveyed to the delivery position to the stacker crane 20 by the storage conveyor 30 that extends from the check space 26 to the delivery position to the stacker crane 20.

An automatic door 34 is also provided at the delivery port 32, and a consumer requests delivery of goods via a delivery terminal 36. After the articles conveyed from the delivery conveyor 38 stop inside the automatic door 34, the automatic door 3
4 opens and can be taken out. And the auto door 34
Since the transfer conveyor 38 does not allow the customer to contact the stacker crane 20 because of the transfer conveyor 38, and the transfer conveyor 38 is one-way transfer from the stacker crane 20 to the automatic door 34 side, so that the goods are sent in reverse. Can not do. In addition, except when necessary, the automatic door does not open at the entrance or exit, so no one can enter the automated warehouse. A delivery terminal 36 is connected to the warehouse controller 40 together with the storage terminal 25. The warehouse controller 40 is connected to the server 10 via the Internet 4 or a dedicated line.

Each of the terminals 25 and 36 has a card reader and can read and write a master card possessed by a driver, maintenance staff, and the like in addition to a user card of a consumer. Both the Master Card and the User Card are physically smart cards, the differences being in privilege levels and functions. The warehouse controller 40 has files such as an inventory file 42, a stock record file 43, a delivery record file 44, and the like. In addition to the ID of the article, these are the ID of the sender (such as the server 8) and the consumer (home use). In addition, check items such as the size and weight of the article, whether or not the article is easily damaged, the price, and the like are recorded. Although this data configuration includes all the physical distribution data from the sender to the consumer, the shipping number may simply be stored in the inventory file 42 or the like and collated with the shipping number recorded on the user card.

At each automatic warehouse, upon receipt of the goods, the above data is read from the master card, collated with the data notified from the server 10, and if the data matches, the warehouse is accepted and the result of the warehouse is checked. Delivery center 12
To the server 10 on the side. When the product is delivered to the customer, the delivery result is reported to the server 10.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the user card 50.
This card has a member information record 5 indicating the ID of the owner.
1, an order record 5 that records the order on the Internet 4
2. Receipt record 53 that records the receipt from the automated warehouse, temporary storage record 54 that records the primary deposit when the automated warehouse is used as a coin locker, and goods are sent from the automated warehouse as a courier service. In this case, there are provided a shipping record 55, a billing record 56 for billing these services in an automatic warehouse, and a record 57 of returned goods, complaints and other exceptional processing. Of these records 53 to 57 can be written at terminals 25 and 36 of the automatic warehouse, and all records can be read at terminals 25 and 36. When an article is ordered at the home terminal 6, the order record 52
This is recorded with an order number and the like, and when the goods are received in the automatic warehouse, the fact is written in the receipt record 53 together with the order number and the like, and at the same time, the commodity price is recorded in the billing record 5.
6, the card is deposited from a bank deposit, a bank account, or the like, or a credit is settled.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of a master card 60 held by a staff member or a driver. This card has a privilege key processing unit 61 indicating that the card has a privilege level different from that of the user card, a file search processing unit 62 enabling search of the files 42 to 44 of each automatic warehouse, and each automatic warehouse 16. To 19, and an entry / exit processing section 64 for freely entering / exiting articles in the shelves 22 and 23. In addition, an exception processing unit 65 for accepting refunds and returns, or for overwriting files, and a master card 60
Is provided with a work record 68 for recording work such as entry, exit, return of goods, maintenance, etc., performed by using. The person holding the master card 60 can perform virtually any operation on the automatic warehouses 16 to 19.

FIG. 5 shows the processing in the automatic warehouses 16 to 19. The controller 40 checks the card inserted in the terminals 25 and 36, and checks whether the card is a user card or a master card. Subsequently, a menu is displayed according to the type of the card. For example, in the case of a user card, a menu for delivery, temporary storage, and shipping is displayed. Then, the selected menu is executed. For example, in the case of delivery, a required product is taken out of the shelves 22 and 23 using the crane 20,
The merchandise is conveyed from the delivery conveyor 38 to a position short of the automatic door 34, and the automatic door 34 is opened to be able to be taken out. Subsequently, these results are transferred to the result file 44.
And the like, and the stock file 42 and the like are corrected accordingly, and billing is performed. Then, these results are reported to an upper server such as the server 10 of the distribution center 12.

FIG. 6 schematically shows the layout of the entrance 24. The terminal 25 is provided with a touch panel 70 and the like so that display and input can be performed, and the card writer 72 reads and writes the card 60 and the like. Further, using a video camera 74 or the like, an image of a person or a product that has performed the entry / exit work is captured and stored. A smoke sensor, an infrared sensor, an odor sensor, a pyroelectric sensor, an X-ray camera, and the like are arranged in the check space 26 of the storage conveyor 30;
Prevent storage of dangerous goods, animals, weapons, putrefaction, etc. In addition, the weight and size are checked at the gate 28 to prevent entry of items that cannot be stored in the automatic warehouses 16 to 19.

As described above, in the embodiment, various articles from a large number of commodity suppliers can be stored in the automatic warehouse. In addition, it is possible to temporarily store the customer's luggage or to serve as a contact for shipping from the customer. At the same time, the safety of the automated warehouse has been enhanced, so that the automated warehouse can be operated with virtually no personnel. For the distribution center, the distribution distance is shortened between the automatic warehouse chain 15 and the goods supplier, and there is no need to deliver the goods to the homes of individual consumers, so that a large number of goods can be delivered at once. In exceptional cases, when delivery to the home is necessary, a command can be appropriately given using a mobile terminal loaded on a truck. The order from the home terminal 6 can be made on the Internet or the like, and the user card is used for billing and delivery at the automatic warehouse, so that the procedure is simple. In addition, consumers do not have to wait for delivery at home.
For merchandise suppliers, they can share automated warehouse chains, distribution centers, and mobile terminals. For these reasons, distribution costs are significantly reduced. The payment for the goods is made in an automatic warehouse and can be remitted from the server to the goods supplier.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a physical distribution system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an automatic warehouse in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a user card in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a master card in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing algorithm of an automatic warehouse in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a storage station of the automatic warehouse in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Distribution system 4 Internet 6 Home terminal 8,10 Server 12,13 Distribution center 14 Mobile terminal 15 Automatic warehouse chain 16-19 Automatic warehouse 20 Stacker crane 22,23 Shelf 24 Entry port 25 Entry terminal 26 Check space 28 Gate 30 Entry Conveyor 32 Delivery port 34 Auto door 36 Delivery terminal 38 Delivery conveyor 40 Warehouse controller 42 Inventory file 43 Receipt record file 44 Delivery record file 50 User card 51-57 Record 60 Master card 61-65 Processing unit 68 Work record 70 Touch panel 72 Card writer 74 Video camera

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An automatic warehouse chain comprising a plurality of commodity suppliers, a plurality of automatic warehouses, and logistics from the commodity supplier to the automatic warehouse chain interposed between the automatic warehouse chain and the commodity supplier. And a system manager that manages the automatic warehouse chain, an information network that connects the consumer and the product supplier, and permission to confirm the correspondence between the goods stored in the automatic warehouse and the orderer and permit delivery. Means, and a logistics system comprising: 2. The distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said system manager is a server of a distribution center. 3. The automatic warehouse is an entrance and a delivery port, a transport device in the automatic warehouse, a terminal for storage and delivery, and reports the storage result and the delivery result to the system manager. The delivery port is further configured to prevent a consumer from contacting a transport device, and a sensor for performing a safety check of a stored product is provided at the storage port. Or 2 logistics system.