JP2002060030A - Picking system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance an efficiency of store-combining work by collecting a commodity which can be accommodated in an accommodation container and a commodity which cannot be accommodated in the accommodation container in a conveying vehicle traveling at a working area without separating them and conveying the commodities of both categories so as to merge them. SOLUTION: The working area is constituted by a first sorting area A1 in which commodity shelves 2, 2, etc., storing commodity accommodatable in a container C are provided; and a second sorting area A2 in which commodity shelves 2, 2, etc., storing the commodity accommodatable in the container C are provided and a conveying conveyor 3 is disposed at the second sorting area A2. A delivery label issued by a label printer provided on the conveying vehicle 1 is stuck to the container C accommodating the commodity picked at the first sorting area A and the commodity picked at the second sorting area A and placed on the conveying conveyor 3. These commodities are merged at an unloading area A3 disposed near a terminal of the conveying conveyor 3.

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 used in a merchandise distribution process, and more particularly, to merchandise stored in a merchandise storage unit in accordance with an order from each destination, in a number specified for each item. The present invention relates to the technical field of picking systems.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a merchandise distribution center for a supermarket or a convenience store, etc., a collecting operation of collecting a required number of various products according to a request from each store is performed. There is a picking method in which a desired number of ordered products are taken out from a plurality of product storage units provided along the transport route while the product storage containers for different destinations are transported, and collected in the storage containers.

In recent years, in a system adopting the above-mentioned picking method, a self-propelled carrier that automatically travels along an operation route is used as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-5174. Based on collected data such as goods and goods to be collected in the carrier itself and the number to be collected, and based on the collected data, more specifically, based on the position of the goods storage unit that stores the goods to be collected The operation data such as the stop position that is set is stored, and the carrier stops at the stop position while automatically moving along the operation path, and presents the collection data at the stop position on a screen display or the like. A picking system employing a so-called navigation method has been put to practical use.

In such a picking system, mistakes in collection work can be reduced because the carrier does not accidentally go over the work site, and equipment costs can be reduced because there is no need to provide indicators on the side of many product storage units. There is an advantage of reduction.

[0005]

By the way, this kind of picking system can be stored in a storage container such as shampoo or soap which is loaded on a transport vehicle, for reasons such as efficiency of shipping work and strict adherence to delivery date. Small goods and lightweight goods, for example, tires, chairs, large articles that cannot be stored in the storage container such as daily necessities in cases, heavy goods, odd-shaped goods,
It is desired to collect the goods by operating the carrier once as much as possible for each destination without discriminating between the case goods and the like. In such a case, if a large product, heavy product, odd-shaped product, case product, etc. are forcibly loaded on the transport vehicle together with the above-mentioned small articles and light-weight products, the loading capacity and the load weight become too large, and the traveling stability of the transport vehicle becomes problematic. May occur.

As countermeasures against the above-mentioned problems, large-size products, heavy-weight products,
Items that cannot be stored in the storage container for reasons such as volume or weight, such as odd-shaped products and case products, are transported to the shipping area by another transport system such as a transport conveyor, for example.
A method of performing a so-called store matching operation in which merchandise stored and transported separately in a storage container loaded on a transport vehicle and merged in the area is considered.

However, in the above-described method, people, places, and time are required for merging goods that are collected and transported by different transport systems such as a transport conveyor and a transport vehicle. In addition, since it is usually difficult to merge the goods conveyed by the two systems in a timely manner, a new problem may occur that the collected goods cannot be shipped to the destination in a timely manner.

In the issuance of a delivery label to be attached to a product for the same destination, when the product is collected and transported by the two transport systems described above, the label is not normally issued with a serial number. Therefore, for example, when inspecting based on a delivery label attached to a product, it is not immediately known whether or not the shipped product has a leak in the shipping area, and whether or not the delivered product also has a leak at the destination. In some cases, the problem may not be immediately determined.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a transport vehicle that travels in a work area, a product that can be stored in a storage container such as a small article, a lightweight article, a large article, a heavy article, and the like. In addition to collecting products that cannot be stored in storage containers such as odd-shaped products and case products without distinguishing them, products of both categories are transported so that they can be merged, increasing the efficiency of store matching work. It is an object to provide a picking system that can be achieved.

[0010]

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) comprises a number of product storage units for storing products for each item, and a work area in which these product storage units are provided. And a transport vehicle for collecting the ordered products in a storage container for each destination, and a display means for displaying the number of products to be taken out from the product storage unit for each item in the transport vehicle. A picking system, wherein a transport means is provided for transporting a product that cannot be stored in the storage container taken out of the product storage unit so that the product can be merged with a product that can be stored in the storage container at a predetermined location. And

Next, according to a second aspect of the invention (hereinafter referred to as a second aspect), in the configuration of the first aspect, the transporting means can load goods which cannot be stored in the storage container and is connected to the transporting vehicle. It is characterized by the possibility of a connected vehicle.

According to a third aspect of the invention (hereinafter referred to as a third aspect), in the configuration of the first aspect, the work area is a first area provided with a storage section for commodities that can be stored in a storage container. And a second area provided with a storage unit for products that cannot be stored in the storage container, wherein the transporting means is disposed in the second area and the products taken out of the product storage unit in the second area. Is transported so as to be able to merge with a product that can be stored in the storage container at a predetermined location.

Further, the invention according to claim 4 (hereinafter referred to as a fourth invention)
The present invention is characterized in that, in the configuration of the third aspect, a merging area is provided near the terminal end of the traveling route of the transport vehicle in the first area and near the terminal end of the transport conveyor in the second area. And

The invention according to claim 5 (hereinafter referred to as the fifth invention)
In the configuration according to any one of the first to fourth inventions, a label attached to a storage container into which a product that can be stored in the storage container taken out of the product storage unit is inserted, and a product storage unit Label issuing means for issuing a label to be attached to a product that cannot be stored in the storage container taken out of the storage container.

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

First, in any of the first to third aspects of the present invention, the inside of the work area provided with the storage section for commodities that can be stored in the storage container and the storage section for commodities that cannot be stored in the storage container is described above. Display means for displaying the number of products to be taken out of the product storage unit for each item is provided, and a transport vehicle that collects ordered products in storage containers runs for each destination, so that products that can be stored in storage containers and storage It becomes possible to take out and collect products without distinguishing from products that cannot be stored in the container.

[0018] Further, since the transporting means for transporting the products that cannot be stored in the storage container taken out of the product storage unit is provided, the products that cannot be stored in the storage container are not forced to be loaded on the transport vehicle.

In addition, the transport means transports the products that cannot be stored in the storage container so that they can be merged with the products that can be stored in the storage container at a predetermined location. Become like

[0020] In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the transporting means is a connecting vehicle capable of loading products that cannot be stored in the storage container and being connected to the transport vehicle, the products that can be stored in the storage container and the storage container The merging with the goods that cannot be stored in the vehicle is performed substantially during the collection work by the carrier to which the connected vehicle is connected.

According to the third invention, the work area is
The first area is provided with a storage unit for storing products that can be stored in the storage container, and the second area is provided with a storage unit for storing products that cannot be stored in the storage container. Since the transport conveyor is arranged and transports the product taken out of the second area so as to be able to merge with the product that can be stored in the storage container at a predetermined location, the transport vehicle can be stored in the storage container. Only those products that are loaded will travel.

Further, since the goods taken out of the goods storage section provided in the second area are usually immediately conveyed to the predetermined place by the above-mentioned conveyor, the goods and the goods to be conveyed by the carrier are synchronized with each other. You will come together well.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the merging area is provided near the end of the transport route in the first area near the end of the transport conveyor in the second area. Even if the goods are conveyed by different conveyance systems such as a conveyer and a conveyer, these products are surely merged in this merging area.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a label attached to a storage container into which a product storable in the storage container taken out of the product storage unit is put, and a label stored in the storage container taken out of the product storage unit Since a label issuing means for issuing a label to be attached to an impossible product is provided, the label can be distinguished between the storage container in which the product that can be stored in the storage container is put and the product that cannot be stored in the storage container. Will be issued.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows a layout diagram of a picking system according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

In the above-mentioned system, there is provided an operation route R in which the self-propelled transport vehicles 1... 1 loaded with containers C, C (two in the illustrated example) serving as storage containers, circulate as indicated by white arrows in the figure. Has been laid. The operation route R includes a first sorting area A1 provided with a number of product shelves 2... 2 for storing products that can be stored in the container C, such as small articles, lightweight articles, and the like; A large number of product shelves 2 for storing products that cannot be stored in the container C, such as odd-shaped products, case products, etc.
Are arranged so as to extend over a second sorting area A2 provided with the unloading area A3 for unloading the collected products.

In the first sorting area A1, a meandering first operation path R1 constituting an operation path R is provided, and a large number of product shelves 2 are arranged on both sides of the operation path R1 so as to face each other. At the same time, a number of stop positions P are provided on the first operation route R1.
P is set. Then, workers a ... a performing picking work are arranged at appropriate positions in the first sorting area A1.

In the second sorting area A2, there is provided a second operating route R2 which branches from the first operating route R1 to the area A2 and connects to the first operating route R1 again. A number of product shelves 2... 2 are arranged along the operation route R2, and three stop positions P... P are set on the second operation route R2 in FIG. Then, on the opposite side of the second operation path R2 across the product shelves 2 ... 2, a transport conveyor 3 extending to the vicinity of the unloading area A3 and transporting the loaded products as indicated by black arrows in the figure. Are located. Further, workers a ... a performing picking work are arranged at appropriate positions in the second sorting area A2.

The first operating route R1 is provided with a third operating route R3 projecting from the operating route R1 to the unloading area A3. The third operating route R3 in the unloading area A3 is provided. One stop position P is set in R3. Further, a worker a who performs an unloading operation is arranged at an appropriate position in the unloading area A3.

In the above-described configuration, after starting from the start point S, each transport vehicle 1 moves between the product shelves 2... 2 arranged in the first sorting area A1 according to the first operation route R1. Stop position P ... P for picking work
Stop at While the transport vehicle 1 is stopped, workers a ...
According to a, a specified product is picked from the product shelves 2... 2 at the stop positions P... P, and the picked product is put into the containers C loaded on the carrier 1.

Next, in order to perform the picking operation in the second sorting area A2, the transport vehicle 1 is moved to the second operation route R
2 and stops at stop positions P... P where the picking operation is performed. While the transport vehicle 1 is stopped, a specified product is picked from the product shelves 2... 2 at the stop positions P. It is transported to the vicinity of the unloading area A3.

After all the picking operations have been completed, the carrier 1 returns to the first route R1 from the second route R2, enters the third route R3, and stops at the stop position P in the unloading area A3. Stop. When the containers C, C containing the goods are unloaded in the area A3, the transport vehicle 1 returns to the start point S again and waits for the next picking.

As shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, the carrier 1 is provided with a gantry 11 at the rear, and two containers C, C in the illustrated example are loaded on the gantry 11. It has become.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a control box 12 is mounted on the front of the carrier 1 and an in-vehicle computer 13 is provided above the control box 12. A label printer 14 for printing and issuing a delivery label for a destination and a barcode scanner 15 for reading a barcode attached to a product are provided.

The on-board computer 13 has a display section 16 for displaying various data on a screen, a key input section 17 which is pressed when manually inputting various data, and which is pressed when the picking operation is completed. Done button 18
A container button 19 that is pressed down when the container C is full during the picking operation, and a pair of left and right direction indicating lamps 20 and 21 that indicate the direction of the product shelf 2 that stores products to be taken out during the picking operation. , And a wireless antenna 22.

The on-board computer 13 includes:
For example, a computer body 2 composed of a one-chip microcomputer or the like
3 is built-in. The computer main body 23 includes a barcode scanner 15, a key input unit 17, a completion button 1
8 and a signal from the container button 19, and outputs signals to the label printer 14, the display unit 16, and the left and right direction indicating lamps 20 and 21.

A work management device 25 installed near the start point S of the carrier 1 is connected to the host computer 24 of the picking system so as to be capable of bidirectional communication. The host computer 24 stores all sort data for each shipping destination, and the data is transferred to the work management device 25. The work management device 25 is provided with a wireless antenna 26, and the wireless antenna 26 and the wireless antenna 2 of the in-vehicle computer 13 are provided.
2, the work management device 25 and the computer main body 2
Information is wirelessly exchanged with the third party. Further, various data such as sorting data such as the number of the product shelf 2 storing the products to be picked up at each stop position P, the product name to be picked, and the number to be picked up transmitted from the work management device 25 are stored in the computer. Memory 23a of main body 23
Is stored in

Further, the transport vehicle 1 is provided with a drive device 27 for driving the drive wheels of the transport vehicle 1 and an operation controller 28 for controlling the drive device 27. The operation controller 28 is communicably connected to the computer main body 23 in a bidirectional manner, and operation data transmitted from the work management device 25 is stored in the memory 28a of the operation controller 28.

As shown in FIG. 4, the operation route R is formed by a band mark M having a predetermined width, and the stop position P is formed by a stop mark N provided on one side of the band mark M. The operation controller 28 receives signals from a band mark detector 29 provided on the lower surface of the front part of the carrier 1 for detecting the band mark M and a stop mark detector 30 for detecting the stop mark N, The driving device 27 is controlled so that the transport vehicle 1 travels guided by the belt mark M and stops at the stop position P specified by the operation data.

In the case of the present invention, when the container button 19 is turned on when the container C is filled with the goods which can be stored in the container C, the computer main body 23 to which the signal is inputted is stored in the memory. Data corresponding to the above signal is read out from all the sorting data stored in the storage 23a, and the label printer 14 prints the product name of the product put in the container C and the destination store name so far. Have labels issued.

On the other hand, when a product that cannot be stored in the container C is taken out, and the product code attached to the product is read by the bar code scanner 15, the computer main body 23 outputs a signal from the bar code scanner 15. It is determined that the product is a product that cannot be stored in the container C based on the. Then, when the completion button 18 is turned on, the computer main body 23 causes the label printer 14 to issue a delivery label on which the product name of the product, the destination store name, and the like are printed.

Next, a specific operation example of the picking system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS.

That is, the worker a arranged in the work management device 25 specifies a destination store in the work management device 25 by, for example, inputting a store number (step S1).

The work management device 25, based on the order data for the store, stores the numbers of the product shelves 2... 2 for storing the products to be picked, the names of the products to be picked, and the number of items to be picked. And the stop positions P... P of the transport vehicle 1 are designated based on the positions of the product shelves 2... 2 where products to be picked are stored, and are used as operation data (Step S).
2).

The work management device 25 transfers the sorting data and the operation data at the start point S in front of the work management device 25 by, for example, turning ON the transmission key by the worker a. The data is transmitted to the car 1 (step S3). In that case, the sorting data is
3 and the operation data is stored in the memory 28a of the operation controller 28.

Then, for example, when the worker a turns on the start key of the key input section 17 of the transport vehicle 1 or the like, the transport vehicle 1 having the empty containers C
Starts moving (step S4). In the illustrated example, the number of containers C and C is two, but the present invention is not limited to this number.

Next, the transport vehicle 1 stops at the stop position P in the first sorting area A1 specified by the operation data (step S5). At this time, the direction indicating lamps 20 and 21 in the direction in which the product is stored are turned on.

When the transport vehicle 1 stops, the worker a arranged nearby performs a picking operation (step S6).

FIG. 6 shows an example of a picking operation in the first sorting area A1. That is, the worker a
Sees the sorting data displayed on the display unit 16 of the transport vehicle 1 on the screen (step S21), and displays the number of product shelves 2 by the displayed number.
After the product is taken out from Step 2 (Step S22), the product code is read by the barcode scanner 15 (Step S23), and the product is put into the container C loaded on the transport vehicle 1 (Step S24), and the completion button 18 is turned on. Operate (step S25). In this case, the product shelves 2... 2 provided in the first sorting area A1 store the products that can be stored in the container C.
2 can be put into the container C.

When the completion button 18 is turned on, the computer main body 23 deletes the sorting data corresponding to the above-mentioned signal from all the sorting data stored in the memory 23a, and also stores the memory in the operation controller 28. The operation data corresponding to the signal is deleted from all the operation data stored in 28a.

Next, the worker a determines whether or not the container C is full (step S26), and if it determines that the container C is full, turns on the container button 19 (step S2).
7).

When the container button 19 is turned ON in step S27, the label printer 14 issues a delivery label on which the product name of the product put into the container C and the name of the destination store are printed. Is performed (step S28). Then, this label is affixed to the container C by the worker a (step S29).

If it is determined in step S26 that the container C is full, after steps S27 to S29 are executed, or if it is determined that the container C is not full,
After steps S27 to S29 are skipped, the process proceeds to step S30.

The computer main body 23 moves to the stop position P
It is determined whether or not the picking of the product to be picked is completed (step S30). If it is determined that the picking is not completed, the process returns to step S21, while if it is determined that the picking is completed, the process returns.

Next, the computer main body 23 determines whether or not there is a next specified stop position P in the first sorting area A1 (step S7). Returning to S4, the transport vehicle 1 is moved, and if it is determined that the stop position P does not exist, all the picking operations in the first sorting area A1 are completed, and the container button 19 is turned on (step S8).

In step S8, the container button 19 is
When the N operation is performed, the label printer 14 issues a delivery label on which the product name of the product put into the container C and the name of the destination store are printed (step S9). This label is affixed to the container C by the worker a (step S10).

Next, the computer main body 23 determines whether or not there is a designated stop position P in the second sorting area A2 (step S11). If it is determined that there is no designated stop position P, it will be described later. After skipping steps S12 to S15, the process proceeds to step S16. If it is determined that the designated stop position P is present, the transport vehicle 1 is moved to the second sorting area A2 (step S12).

When the carrier 1 stops at the designated stop position P in the second sorting area A2 (step S13).
The worker a arranged nearby performs a picking operation (step S14).

FIG. 7 shows an example of a picking operation in the second sorting area A2. That is, the worker a
Sees the sorting data displayed on the screen of the display unit 16 of the carrier 1 (step S31), and displays the number of the product shelves 2 by the displayed number.
2 is taken out of the product (step S32), and the product code is read by the barcode scanner 15 (step S3).
3) Turn ON the completion button 18 (step S3)
4) Instruct the label printer 14 to issue a delivery label to be attached to the taken out product (step S35). In this case, the product shelf 2 for storing products that cannot be stored in the container C
When the commodity is taken out from the... 2 and the commodity code attached to the commodity is read by the barcode scanner 15, the computer main body 23 cannot store the commodity in the container C based on the signal from the barcode scanner 15. It is determined that the product is a possible product. Then, the completion button 18 is
When the N operation is performed, the computer main body 23 causes the label printer 14 to issue a delivery label on which the product name of the product, the name of the destination store, and the like are printed.

After attaching the label to the product (step S36), the worker a places the product on the transport conveyor 3 (step S37). In this case, the product shelves 2... 2 provided in the second sorting area A2 store products that cannot be stored in the container C.
Does not put the products taken out of the product shelves 2... 2 into the container C. That is, this product is placed on the conveyor 3 by the worker a, and is conveyed by the conveyor 3.

The computer main body 23 moves to the stop position P
It is determined whether or not the picking of the product to be picked is completed (step S38). If it is determined that the picking is not completed, the process returns to step S31. If it is determined that the picking is completed, the process returns.

Then, the computer main body 23 determines whether or not there is a next designated stop position P in the second sorting area A2 (step S15). If it is determined that the stop position P exists, the process proceeds to step S12. When the transport vehicle 1 is moved back to the above, if it is determined that there is no stop position P, all the picking work in the second sorting area A2 is completed, and the transport vehicle 1 is moved to the unloading area A3 (step S1).
6), the containers C, C into which the products are put are unloaded by the worker a arranged in the area A3 (step S17). The transport vehicle 1 from which the containers C and C have been unloaded returns to the start point S again (step S18) and waits for the next picking operation.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the carrier 1 travels along the operation route R,
The product taken out of the product shelf 2 that stores the products that can be stored in the container C is put into the container C loaded on the carrier 1 and transported, and also stores the product that cannot be stored in the container C. The product taken out of the shelf 2 is placed on the transport conveyor 3 and transported, and the two products are surely merged in the unloading area A3. Therefore,
Store matching work becomes easy.

Further, the delivery label is issued by the label printer 14 without discriminating between the products that can be stored in the container C and the products that cannot be stored in the container C.
For example, serialized delivery labels for the same destination are issued. Therefore, inspection at the time of shipment becomes easy, and inspection at the destination becomes easy.

Next, FIG. 8 shows a layout diagram of a picking system according to a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied. Note that the same reference numerals as used in the description of the first embodiment are used unless there is a problem.

In the above-mentioned system, a self-propelled type in which containers C, C (two in the illustrated example) as storage containers are loaded and a basket cart 31 (indicated by a chain line in FIG. 2) as a connecting car is pulled. A traveling route R4 is laid such that the transport vehicles 1 ... 1 circulate as indicated by white arrows in the figure. The traveling route R4 is a product that can be stored in the container C such as a small article, a light-weight article, or the like. And a plurality of merchandise shelves 2... 2 for storing goods that cannot be stored in the container C, such as heavy goods, large goods, odd-shaped goods, case goods, etc., are arranged in a meandering manner in a sorting area A4. I have.

In the sorting area A4, an operation route R4
Are arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the vehicle, and a large number of stop positions P are set on the operation route R4. Then, workers a ... a performing picking work are arranged at appropriate positions in the sorting area A4.

Further, an unloading area A5 is provided near the goal point G on the operation route R4.
5, one stop position P is set in the operation route R4. Further, a worker a who performs an unloading operation is arranged at an appropriate position in the unloading area A5.

In the above-described configuration, each of the transport vehicles 1 loaded with two containers C and C and connected to the cart 31 departs from the start point S and then enters the sorting area A4 according to the operation route R4. It stops at the stop positions P... P where the picking operation is performed while moving between the arranged product shelves 2. While the transport vehicle 1 is stopped, workers a ... a
As a result, a specified product is picked from the product shelves 2... 2 at the stop positions P... P, and if the picked product is a product that can be stored in the container C,
If the product is put into the container C and cannot be stored in the container C, the product is loaded on the basket cart 31.

Then, after all the picking operations, the transport vehicle 1 stops at the stop position P in the unloading area A5 provided near the goal point G. In the area A5, when the containers C and C containing the goods are unloaded from the carrier 1 and the cart 31 loaded with the goods is separated from the carrier 1, the carrier 1 returns to the start point S again. Return and wait for the next picking.

The structure of the carrier 1 is the same as that described in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, a specific operation example of the picking system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS.

That is, the worker a arranged in the work management device 25 loads the empty containers C, C on the gantry 11 of the transport vehicle 1 and connects the empty cart 31 to the transport vehicle 1 (step S41). ).

Next, the worker a specifies a destination store in the work management device 25 by, for example, inputting a store number (step S42).

The work management device 25, based on the order data for the store, stores the numbers of the product shelves 2... 2 for storing the products to be picked, the names of the products to be picked, and the number of items to be picked. And the stop positions P... P of the transport vehicle 1 are designated based on the positions of the product shelves 2... 2 where products to be picked are stored, and are used as operation data (Step S).
43).

The work management device 25 transfers the sorting data and the operation data at the start point S in front of the work management device 25 by, for example, turning on the transmission key by the worker a. The data is transmitted to the car 1 (step S44). In this case, the sorting data is stored in the memory 23a of the computer main body 23, and the operation data is stored in the memory 28a of the operation controller 28.

Then, for example, when the worker a turns on the start key of the key input unit 17 of the transport vehicle 1 or the like, the transport vehicle 1 starts moving while towing the basket wheel 31 (step S45).

Next, the transport vehicle 1 stops at the stop position P in the sorting area A4 specified by the operation data (step S46). At this time, the direction indicating lamps 19 and 20 in the direction in which the goods are stored are turned on.

When the transport vehicle 1 stops, the worker a arranged nearby performs a picking operation (step S47).

FIG. 10 shows an example of a picking operation in the sorting area A4. That is, the worker a
The sorting data displayed on the display unit 16 of the transport vehicle 1 is viewed (step S61), the products are taken out from the product shelves 2... 2 by the displayed number (step S62), and the product code is read by the barcode scanner 15 (step S62). S63).

Next, the computer main body 23 determines whether or not the product can be stored in the container C (step S).
64) If it is determined that the product can be stored in the container C, the worker a puts the product into the container C (step S6).
5) Turn ON the completion button 18 (step S6)
6).

Note that the computer main body 23 can cause the display section 16 to display a determination result as to whether or not a product can be stored in the container C, for example.

When the completion button 18 is turned on, the computer main body 23 deletes the sorting data corresponding to the above-mentioned signal from all the sorting data stored in the memory 23a, and deletes the memory of the operation controller 28. The operation data corresponding to the signal is deleted from all the operation data stored in 28a.

The worker a then determines whether or not the container C is full (step S67). If it is determined that the container C is full, the operator a turns on the container button 19 (step S6).
8).

In step S68, when the container button 19 is turned on, the label printer 14 issues a delivery label on which the product name of the product put into the container C and the name of the destination store are printed. Is performed (step S69). Then, this label is attached to the container C by the worker a (step S70).

The worker a can transfer the full container C from the gantry 11 of the transport vehicle 1 to the cart 31 connected to the transport vehicle 1.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S64 that the product cannot be stored in the container C, the worker a loads the product on the cart 31 (step S72) and turns on the completion button 18 (step S72). In step S73, the label printer 14 issues a delivery label to be attached to the taken out product (step S74), and attaches the label to the product (step S75).

After step S70 or step S75 is executed, or in step S67, container C
Are not full, steps S68 to S70
Is skipped, the computer main body 23 determines whether or not the picking of the product to be picked at the stop position P is completed (step S71), and if it is determined that the picking is not completed, the process returns to step S61. On the other hand, if it is determined that the picking is completed, the process returns.

Next, the computer main body 23 determines whether or not there is a next designated stop position P in the sorting area A4 (step S48). If it is determined that the stop position P exists, the process proceeds to step S45. While returning and moving the transport vehicle 1, if it is determined that the stop position P does not exist, the sorting area A4
Is completed, the worker a turns on the container button 19 (step S49).

In step S49, when the container button 19 is turned on, the label printer 14 issues a delivery label on which the product name of the product put into the container C and the name of the destination store are printed. Is performed (step S50). This label is displayed on container C by worker a.
(Step S51).

Next, the transport vehicle 1 moves to the unloading area A5 (step S52), and the workers C arranged in the area A5 unload the containers C, C containing the goods from the transport vehicle 1, Further, the cart 31 on which the goods are loaded is separated from the carrier 1 (step S53).
Then, the transport vehicle 1 returns to the start point S again (step S54) and waits for the next picking operation.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the transport vehicle 1 travels along the operation route R4, the products that can be stored in the container C are put into the container C loaded on the transport vehicle 1. At the same time, the products that cannot be stored in the container C are loaded on the cart 31 connected to the carrier 1, and the merging of both products is performed substantially during the collection operation by the carrier 1. Therefore, a store matching operation is not required.

Further, as in the case of the first embodiment, the label printer 14 can be used without distinguishing between products that can be stored in the container C and products that cannot be stored in the container C.
As a result, a delivery label is issued, so that, for example, a delivery label numbered consecutively for the same destination is issued. Therefore, inspection at the time of shipment becomes easy, and inspection at the destination becomes easy.

Note that in the first embodiment,
The third operation route R3 is provided on the first operation route R1 and protrudes from the unloading area A3, and the goods transported by the transport vehicle 1 and the transport conveyor 3 are merged in the unloading area A3. The road R3 may not be provided. In that case,
The goods transported by the transport vehicle 1 are transferred to the unloading area A3 by, for example, ordinary means,
Merging with the goods transported in the area A3.

Each of the operation routes R1, R2, and R3 shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 described in the first and second embodiments.
R3, R4, shelf 2 ... 2, stop position P ... P, worker a
… A, layout and number of arrangements, etc., and FIGS. 2 and 3
Needless to say, the configuration and the like of the carrier 1 shown in FIG.

In the first and second embodiments, the work mode in which the workers a ... a stand by at appropriate positions in the respective sorting areas A1, A2, A4 is adopted. May be employed in a work mode accompanying each carrier 1. In this case, the same operation and effect as those in the standby operation mode can be obtained.

[0098]

As described above, according to the present invention, the goods that can be stored in the storage container from the goods storage unit and the goods that cannot be stored in the storage container can be distinguished by the transport vehicle traveling in the work area. The goods are taken out without being merged, and are conveyed to the merging area so that they merge without a large time difference.

In this case, the goods that cannot be stored in the storage container are conveyed to the confluence area by a connecting vehicle or a conveyer connected to the transporting vehicle, thereby avoiding forcible loading of the products on the transporting vehicle.

[0100] Further, the label affixing means provided on the transport vehicle makes it possible, for example, that the label affixed to the container loaded with the product and the product loaded on the coupled vehicle or the product placed on the transport conveyor be the same. Issued sequentially to the destination.

As a result, the traveling stability of the transport vehicle is ensured, and efficient shop matching work in the merging area, timely shipping work to the destination, and efficient inspection work at the destination are realized. The present invention can be widely applied to a picking system using a carrier in a commodity distribution center or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a side view of the carrier.

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

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a method for guiding a carrier.

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

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation example.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation example.

FIG. 8 is a layout diagram of a picking system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the system.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyor vehicle 2 Merchandise shelf 3 Conveyor (conveyance means) 14 Label printer (label issuing means) 16 Display part (display means) 23 Computer main body 31 Basket cart (connecting vehicle, conveyance means) A1, A2, A4 Sorting area (work) Area) A3, A5 Unloading area (merging area) C Container (storage container) P Stopping position R, R1-R4 Route

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Hisamitsu 1-52-1, Itabashi, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 3F022 AA15 BB01 FF01 LL01 LL31 MM03 MM08 PP04

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A product storage unit for storing products for each item, and traveling in a work area in which these product storage units are arranged, and collecting ordered products for each destination in a storage container. Picking system provided with a display means for displaying, for each item, the number of commodities to be taken out of the merchandise storage unit, the picking system provided with A picking system, comprising: a conveyance unit that conveys a product that cannot be stored so as to be able to merge with a product that can be stored in a storage container at a predetermined location. 2. The picking system according to claim 1, wherein the transporting means is a connecting vehicle that can load goods that cannot be stored in the storage container and that can be connected to the transporting vehicle. 3. The work area is composed of a first area provided with a storage unit for commodities that can be stored in the storage container, and a second area provided with a storage unit for products that cannot be stored in the storage container. A transporting unit arranged in the second area and transporting the product taken out of the product storage unit in the second area so as to be able to merge with the product storable in the storage container at a predetermined location. The picking system according to claim 1, wherein 4. A converging area which is provided in the vicinity of the terminal end of the traveling route of the transport vehicle in the first area, and is located near the terminal end of the transport conveyor in the second area. Picking system as described. 5. A label attached to a storage container into which a product storable in a storage container taken out of the product storage unit is put, and a label attached to a product not storable in the storage container taken out from the product storage unit. 2. A label issuing means for issuing a label to be issued.
The picking system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.