JP2002160803A - Control system of automated storage and retrieval warehouse - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control system for automated storage and retrieval warehouse excellent in the reliance upon its stock information by preventing the warehouse from occurrence of a shelf dislocation. SOLUTION: The control system is furnished with a first reading means 3a to read the information about objects at the inlet 7 to conveying means 2 and 2a-2c, at-branch object existence sensing means 8a and 8b to sense existence of any object at the branch points 2d and 2e of the conveying means 2 and 2a-2c for automated storage and retrieval warehouses 1a and 1b, second reading means 3b and 3c to read the information of the objects, and a control means 5 to stop the conveying means 2 and 2a-2c and emit a failure alarm when the object information read by the first reading means and that read by the second reading means 3b and 3c are not identical.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a control system for an automatic warehouse.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an automatic warehouse receiving control, inventory information (part number, part number, etc.) in an automatic warehouse managed by a control computer is controlled.
There may be a case where the quantity (location, location) does not match the actual inventory status of the automated warehouse. This is called a shelf shift and impairs the inventory management function of the automatic warehouse.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a conventional automatic warehouse storage control system. Articles A to C put into the automatic warehouse 104 are continuously put into the conveyor 102 from the entrance 103. The input goods are stored at the entrance 103
Nearby, an identification code attached to the article with a barcode or the like is read by the reading device 100. The read article information of the identification code is sent to the control computer 101. The control computer 101 creates entry instruction data for the automatic warehouse 104 based on the article information, and sequentially transmits the data to the automatic warehouse. Reference numeral 101a denotes an automatic warehouse entry instruction data management status processed in the control computer.

On the other hand, the article whose identification code is read at the entrance is conveyed to an automatic warehouse 104 by a conveyor 102. The automatic warehouse 104 stores the arriving articles based on the storage instruction data transmitted from the control computer 101, and notifies the control computer 101 of the completion of the storage in units of the storage instruction. The control computer 101 controls the automatic warehouse 10
In response to the storage completion notification from the storage unit 4, the storage instruction data is completed and stored as inventory information.

In such control, if there is a discrepancy between the entry instruction data and the article carried to the automatic warehouse 104, if the article is stored as it is, the actual article does not match the stock information, resulting in a shelf shift. Receipt instruction data and automatic warehouse 10
Inconsistency between the articles conveyed to No. 4 occurs when an operator mistakes in reading the identification code or when an operator takes articles in and out of the conveyor during abnormal treatment of the conveyor.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining one factor of shelf misalignment in a conventional storage control system. FIG. 12 (a)
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an actual flow of articles flowing on a conveyor. FIG. 12B is an explanatory diagram showing a processing order of the storage instruction data in the control computer, and FIG. 12C is an explanatory diagram showing an actual storage order of the articles in the automatic warehouse.

[0007] Articles A, B, and C are sequentially input to the conveyor 102 from the entrance 103. The identification code of each article is read in the vicinity of the entrance 103, and the control computer 101
The processing order of the storage instruction data in the control computer 101 is recorded in the order of articles A, B, and C as shown in FIG.

When the transport conveyor 102 is out of order for some reason, an operator sometimes forgets to remove the article B from the transport conveyor 102 and repair the article B for repair. In this case, when the transport conveyor 102 is moved again, the articles A and C are transported to the automatic warehouse 104 in this order. As a result, as shown in FIG.
The article C is stored with the storage instruction data. Therefore, a shelf shift occurs in which the article C is actually stored at a place where the article B should be stored in the stock information.
Further, since the storage instruction data of the article C remains, all of the articles to be subsequently input are out of shelf.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a conventional storage control system for a plurality of automatic warehouses. Automatic warehouse first machine 10
8. The articles A to F to be put into the second automatic warehouse 109 are continuously put into the conveyor 106 from the entrance 107. The inserted product is read by the reading device 110 near the entrance 107 with a bar code or the like attached to the product. The read article information of the identification code is sent to the control computer 105. Control computer 10
5 prepares entry instruction data to the automatic warehouse No. 108 and the automatic warehouse No. 109 based on the article information and sequentially transmits the data to the automatic warehouse. Reference numeral 105a denotes an automatic warehouse entry instruction data management situation processed in the control computer.

On the other hand, the article whose identification code has been read at the entrance is sent to the first automatic warehouse 10 by the transport conveyor 106.
8 or the second warehouse 109. The articles conveyed by the conveyor 106 are counted by a detection sensor (not shown) provided at the branch point 106a, the automatic warehouse to be stored is determined according to the order in which the articles are sent, and sent to the automatic warehouse.

The first automatic warehouse 108, the second automatic warehouse 1
In step 09, the arriving article is stored according to the storage instruction data transmitted from the control computer 105, and the completion of storage is notified to the control computer 105 in units of the storage instruction. The control computer 105 receives the storage completion notification from the first automatic warehouse 108 and the second automatic warehouse 109 and completes the storage instruction data and stores it as inventory information.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for explaining one cause of a shelf shift in a conventional warehouse control system for a plurality of automatic warehouses. FIG. 14A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an actual flow of an article flowing on a transport conveyor. FIG. 14B is an explanatory diagram showing the processing order of the storage instruction data to the first automatic warehouse in the control computer, and FIG. 14C is an explanatory diagram illustrating the actual order of receiving the articles in the first automatic warehouse. It is. FIG. 14D is an explanatory diagram showing the order of processing of the instruction data for entry into the automatic warehouse No. 2 by the control computer, and FIG. FIG.

[0013] Articles A to f are put into the conveyer 106 in order from the storage port 107. The identification code of each article is read in the vicinity of the entrance 107 and sent to the control computer 105. In the control computer 105, the processing order of the entry instruction data is as shown in FIG. , C, and E, and in the case of the automated warehouse No. 2, the items are recorded in the order of B, D, and F as shown in FIG.

When the transport conveyor 102 is out of order for some reason, the operator sometimes forgets to remove the articles B and E from the transport conveyor 106 and restore them after repair in order to repair them. In this case, when the transport conveyor 106 is moved again, the articles A, C, and F are transported to the first automatic warehouse 108 in this order, and the articles D are transported to the second automatic warehouse 109.

As a result, in the actual automatic warehouse No. 108, the article F is stored according to the storage instruction data of the article E as shown in FIG. Further, in the actual automatic warehouse No. 109, as shown in FIG.
Is received.

Therefore, the article D is actually stored in the place where the article B should be stored in the stock information, and the article E is stored.
Is automatically stored at the location of the first automatic warehouse 108 where the article F is to be stored. Further, since the storage instruction data of the articles D and F remain, all the articles to be input thereafter become shelves.

As described above, the shift of one or two shelves leads to the shift of the shelves in the entire automatic warehouse, and an enormous amount of work is required to correct the disorder of the delivery and the shift of the shelves.

As a prior art, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7-187338 discloses a method for correcting this shelf misalignment.
A method is disclosed in which the consistency with the information in the computer is checked, and if the information does not match, the information is corrected to actual stock information.

[0019]

However, in the prior art, it is possible to cope with the misalignment of several articles, but in practice, as described above, one article misalignment is applied to all the articles to be inserted thereafter. In order to actually correct the inventory information, all the items in the automatic warehouse must be temporarily taken out of the warehouse, the inventory information in the control computer must be initialized, and then re-entered from the beginning.

For this reason, there is a problem that a large amount of time is required for correcting a shelf shift. Moreover, since it requires a lot of time and needs to be performed when the operation is suspended, it is difficult to perform the operation when the system is continuously operated all day.

The present invention has solved the above-mentioned problems, and provides a control system for an automatic warehouse which can prevent the occurrence of a shelf shift in the automatic warehouse and which is excellent in the reliability of inventory information.

[0022]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above technical problems, the technical means (hereinafter referred to as the first technical means) taken in claim 1 of the present invention is described with article information. Article with the given identification code, transport means for transporting the article to the automatic warehouse, first reading means for reading the identification code at the entrance of the transport means, and branching to the automatic warehouse on the transport means A second reading means for reading the identification code at a point, a branch point presence detecting means for detecting the presence of the article at the branch point, a loading order of the articles detected by the first reading means, and a branch point. The article information of each identification code read by the first reading means and the second reading means of the article corresponding to the transport order of the articles detected by the presence detection means is compared, and when the article information does not match, Stop the transfer means and The control means for issuing a warning is provided a control system of an automatic warehouse according to claim.

The effects of the first technical means are as follows.

That is, since the first reading means and the second reading means collate the article information at the entrance of the conveying means with the article information at the branch point, it is possible to detect a mismatch of the articles generated on the conveying means, and Since the problem can be solved before entering the automatic warehouse, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a shelf shift in the automatic warehouse, and to realize an automatic warehouse with excellent reliability of the in-stock information.

In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problem, the technical means (hereinafter referred to as the second technical means) taken in claim 2 of the present invention comprises: A storage transport means is provided between the warehouses, and a storage transport means presence detection means for detecting the number of articles present on the storage transport means, wherein the control means is located on the storage transport means. The number of items to be loaded is calculated, and the calculated number of items is compared with the number of the items detected by the receiving means for detecting the presence of goods in the storage unit. In the case of a mismatch, the control system for an automatic warehouse is provided with control means for stopping the transport means and issuing an abnormality warning.

The effects of the second technical means are as follows.

That is, the number of articles present on the storage means is detected by the storage means for detecting the presence of goods in the storage means, and is compared with the number of goods calculated by the control means. Since the inconsistency of the goods caused by the above can be detected and the problem can be solved before the goods enter the automatic warehouse, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a shelf shift in the automatic warehouse and to realize an automatic warehouse with excellent reliability of the stock information.

[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The automatic warehouse control system according to the present invention detects an article from the entrance of the transportation means to a branch point to the automatic warehouse and information on the article, so that a problem before the article enters the automatic warehouse. To solve the problem of automatic warehouse shelves.

That is, the control means designates an automatic warehouse to be stored by the article information of the identification code of the article read at the entrance, and when the article is transported to the branch point to the automatic warehouse, the article is re-entered. Is read, the article information is compared with the article information read at the entrance, and if there is a mismatch, it is determined that a shelf shift has occurred.

If it is determined that there is no information mismatch between the goods from the entrance to the automatic warehouse and the branch point to the automatic warehouse, the goods are determined to be in the warehouse and the storage instruction data is created based on the information read at the branch point. At the same time as being sent to the automatic warehouse, the goods are sent out from the branch point to the automatic warehouse side. The warehousing instruction data is deleted by the notification of the completion of warehousing from the automatic warehouse when the goods are actually stored. The number of articles from the branch point to the pick-up position of the articles in the automatic warehouse always matches the number of entry instruction data managed by the control means.

The automatic warehouse control system of the present invention detects an inconsistency between the number of articles in the automatic warehouse and the number of articles from the branch point of the transportation means to the automatic warehouse and the number of instructions for entering the warehouse. This is to solve the problem beforehand and to solve the shift of the shelves in the automatic warehouse.

That is, the presence of an article from the branch point to the pick-up position of the article in the automatic warehouse is detected for each article, and the number of detected articles is checked against the number of warehousing instruction data managed by the control means. If there is a mismatch, it is determined that a shelf shift has occurred.

When the information mismatch is found by these detections, the storage is immediately stopped and the occurrence of the information mismatch is notified to the operator. The operator should inspect the goods on the transportation means where the problem occurred and return them to the normal state,
The problem is solved by returning all the articles on the transporting means where the problem has occurred to the front of the entrance, resetting the instruction information of the control means corresponding to the transporting means, and re-entering the articles into the transporting means.

With the automatic warehouse control system of the present invention, a difference between information of articles managed by the control means and information of actual articles is immediately detected before entry into the automatic warehouse. In addition, shelf misalignment can be prevented beforehand, and the reliability of the inventory information of the control means can be guaranteed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a control system of an automatic warehouse according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the conveyor unit according to the embodiment.

This control system is the first automatic warehouse 1a,
2nd automatic warehouse 2a, conveyor 2, article information readers 3a-3c, article presence detectors 4a-4d, automatic warehouse control computer 5, abnormality warning display 6, branch point presence detectors 8a, 8b, etc. It is composed of

The transfer conveyor 2 is a transfer means, and the main transfer conveyor 2a and the first unit storage conveyor 2 which is a storage transfer means.
b, a second conveyor 2c and the like.
The main transport conveyor 2a transfers the articles to be received from the entrance 7
It is a main transport unit that transports the car to the No. 2 conveyor 2b. The first-unit receiving conveyor 2b and the second-unit receiving conveyer 2c are storage transport means for transporting articles from the main transport conveyor 2a to the corresponding automatic warehouses.

The article information reading device 3 a
Is a first reading means for reading the identification code of the article in the vicinity of the entrance 7. The article information reading device 3a includes a first branch point 2d from the transport conveyor 2 to the first automatic warehouse 1a and a first branch point 2d from the transport conveyor 2 to the second automatic warehouse 1b.
e is a second reading means for reading the identification code of the article at e.

The article presence detectors 4a to 4d are loading means for detecting the presence of articles on the first conveyor 2b and the second conveyor 2c. The article presence detectors 4a and 4b jointly detect the number of articles on the first unit storage conveyor 2b. Similarly, the article presence detectors 4c and 4d jointly detect the number of articles on the second-unit storage conveyor 2c. In addition, the branch point presence detector 8a,
Reference numeral 8b denotes branch point presence detecting means for detecting the presence of articles at the first branch point 2d and the second branch point 2e of the conveyor 2, respectively.

The automatic warehouse control computer 5 is a control means, and the article information reading devices 3a to 3c, the article presence detecting device 4
a to 4d and branch point presence detectors 8a and 8b are connected by signal lines (not shown), and are configured to receive data from these devices. In addition, the automatic warehouse control computer 5 includes an automatic warehouse 1st machine 1a, an automatic warehouse 2nd machine 2a,
The main conveyor 2a, the first conveyor 2b, the second conveyor 2c, and the abnormality warning display 6 are connected by a signal line (not shown) to control the respective devices.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described. The articles to be stored are put into the main conveyor 2a through the storage port 7. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a main routine of the control system according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the entrance processing according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the first branch point processing of the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the second branch point processing of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a storage port table of the embodiment. FIG. 7A shows a first storage port table for articles to be stored in the first automatic warehouse, and FIG. 7B shows a first storage port table for goods stored in the second automatic warehouse. It is the 2nd entrance table of goods. FIG. 8 is a transport order table according to the embodiment. 9A and 9B show a storage instruction table according to the embodiment. FIG. 9A is a first storage instruction table for articles to be stored in the first automatic warehouse, and FIG. 9B is a second storage instruction table for articles to be stored in the second automatic warehouse. It is a storage instruction table. FIG. 10 shows an automatic warehouse table according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 (a) is an automatic warehouse first table of articles stored in the first automatic warehouse, and FIG. 10 (b) is a table of articles stored in the second automatic warehouse. It is an automatic warehouse No. 2 table.

In the main routine, in step S1, an operator loads articles to be stored in the automatic warehouse from the storage port 7 into the main transport conveyor 2a. In step S2, an entrance process for recognizing the article information of the articles inserted near the entrance 7 is performed.
Thereafter, in step S3, the article is transported to the first branch point by the main transport conveyor 2a. The article that has reached the first branch point is subjected to the first branch point processing in step S4. The article determined to be in the automatic warehouse No. 2 at the first branch point processing is transported to the second branch point by the main transport conveyor 2a in step S5. The article that has reached the second branch point is subjected to the second branch point processing in step S6.

The entrance processing routine will be described. The articles put into the main transport conveyor 2a are stored in step S21.
Then, the identification code given to the article is read by the article information reading device 3a provided near the entrance 7. In the case of the embodiment, the article has the same kind of parts put in a carton, and the identification code is attached to the plate and inserted into an insertion place provided on the side face of the carton. This plate is a so-called kanban and is compatible with just-in-time production. The identification code describes the article information such as the article number, serial number, and quantity of the article by, for example, a barcode.

The read article information of the identification code is transmitted to the automatic warehouse control computer 5 in step S22. In step S23, the automatic warehouse control computer 5
Determines an automatic warehouse for storing the article based on the article information, and fills in a corresponding automatic warehouse entrance opening table.

The entrance table is provided for recognizing articles on the main conveyor 2a. The first entrance table and the second entrance corresponding to the first automatic warehouse and the second automatic warehouse, respectively. There is a table. These tables are actually stored in a temporary memory in the automatic warehouse control computer 5. The newly read article information is added to the end of the table.

Next, in step S24, the automatic warehouse control computer 5 determines the number of the automatic warehouse of the newly read article information (in the case of the embodiment, 1 is assigned to the article to be entered into the first automatic warehouse and 1 is assigned to the automatic warehouse 2). Is sent to the sequencer of the main conveyor 2a, is stored at the end of the transfer table provided in the temporary memory of the sequencer, and returns to the main routine.

The first branch point processing will be described. The branch point presence detector 8a constantly monitors the arrival of the article at the first branch point 2d. When the article is detected in step S41, the branch point presence detector 8a displays the article at the top of the transfer table of the sequencer of the main transfer conveyor 2a in step S42. Look at the stored number,
If the number is 2, the process returns to the main routine, and if it is 1, the process proceeds to step S43. In any case, the data stored at the head of the transport table is deleted, and the second data becomes the next head data.

In step S43, the first branch point 2d is read by the article information reading device 3b provided at the first branch point 2d.
The identification code attached to the above article is read. Subsequently, in step S44, the read article information of the identification code is transmitted to the automatic warehouse control computer 5, and the process proceeds to step S44.
Proceed to 45.

In step S45, the automatic warehouse control computer 5 checks the article information read at the first branch point 2d against the article information described at the head of the first entrance table.

If the article information matches each other, it is normal, and the process proceeds to step S46. If the article information does not match, the process proceeds to step S50, where the automatic warehouse control computer 5 stops the transport conveyor 2 and, at the same time, sends a signal to the abnormality alarm display 6 to issue an abnormality warning.

The abnormality alarm indicator 6 may sound an alarm by sound, an alarm by a warning light,
Both may be performed simultaneously. Abnormal alarm display 6
, The automatic warehouse control computer 5 itself can issue a warning. The measures for abnormalities will be described later.

In step S46, the article presence detector 4
The number of articles on the first-unit receiving conveyor 2b is detected by a and 4b, and the result is transmitted to the automatic warehouse control computer 5. Next, in step S47, the automatic warehouse control computer 5 calculates the inventory that should be on the first unit storage conveyor 2b from the detected number of items on the first unit storage conveyor 2b and the data of the first storage instruction table described later. Match numbers.

If the number of items is the same, it is normal and the process goes to step S48. If the numbers are not the same, the process proceeds to step 51, where the automatic warehouse control computer 5 stops the transport conveyor 2 and, at the same time, sends a signal to the abnormality alarm display 6 to issue an abnormality warning. The measures for abnormalities will be described later.

In step S48, the automatic warehouse control computer 5 erases the article information at the head of the first warehouse entry table and writes it at the end of the first warehouse instruction table. The first warehousing instruction table is a table provided for recognizing articles on the first unit warehousing conveyor 2b, and is actually stored in a temporary memory in the automatic warehouse control computer 5.

Thereafter, in step S49, the first branch point 2d
The above article is sent out to the first-unit storage conveyor 2b. This feeding method can be used as appropriate, such as a chain traverser type, a roller type, and a pusher type. Thereafter, the process returns to step S41, and is continued as long as the article comes on the first branch point 2d.

The articles sent to the first-unit storage conveyor 2b are sequentially conveyed by the first-unit storage conveyor 2b, and stored at predetermined positions on the shelves of the first automatic warehouse 1a based on the instructions described in the first storage instruction table. Is done. When the storage of the articles is completed, the data at the head of the first warehousing instruction table is deleted, and the data is described in the first automatic warehouse table.
The automatic warehouse first machine table is a table for managing all articles in the automatic warehouse first machine 1a, and is stored in a storage device in the automatic warehouse control computer 5.

The second branch point processing will be described. The branch point presence detector 8b constantly monitors the arrival of the article at the second branch point 2e, and proceeds to step S62 when the article is detected in step S61. The article transported to the second branch point 2e is an article that is to be always stored in the second automatic warehouse.

In step S62, the identification code given to the article at the second branch point 2e is read by the article information reading device 3c provided at the second branch point 2e. Subsequently, in step S63, the read article information of the identification code is transmitted to the automatic warehouse control computer 5, and the process proceeds to step S64.
Proceed to.

In step S64, the automatic warehouse control computer 5 checks the article information read at the second branch point 2e against the article information described at the head of the second entrance table.

If the article information matches each other, it is normal and the process proceeds to step S65. If the article information does not match, the process proceeds to step S69, where the automatic warehouse control computer 5 stops the transport conveyor 2 and, at the same time, sends a signal to the abnormality alarm indicator 6 to issue an abnormality warning. The measures for abnormalities will be described later.

In step S65, the article presence detector 4
The number of articles on the second conveyor 2c is detected by c and d, and the result is transmitted to the automatic warehouse control computer 5. Next, in step S68, the automatic warehouse control computer 5 determines the number of articles on the second unit storage conveyor 2c based on the detected number of articles on the second unit storage conveyor 2c and the data on the second storage instruction table described later. Match numbers.

If the number of items is the same, it is normal and the process goes to step S67. If the numbers are not the same, the process proceeds to step 70, where the automatic warehouse control computer 5 stops the transport conveyor 2 and sends a signal to the abnormality alarm display 6 to issue an abnormality warning. The measures for abnormalities will be described later.

In step S67, the automatic warehouse control computer 5 deletes the article information at the head of the second entrance table and writes it at the end of the second warehouse instruction table. The second storage instruction table is a table provided for recognizing articles on the second-unit storage conveyor 2c, and is actually stored in a temporary memory in the automatic warehouse control computer 5. Then, in step S68, the article on the second branch point 2e is sent out to the No. 2 unit entrance conveyor 2c, and the process proceeds to step S68.
Returning to 61, the process is continued as long as the article comes on the second branch point 2e.

The articles sent to the second conveyor 2c are sequentially conveyed by the second conveyor 2c and stored in a predetermined position on the shelf of the second automatic warehouse 1b based on the instruction described in the second instruction table. Is done. When the storage of the articles is completed, the data at the head of the second storage instruction table is deleted, and the data is described in the automatic warehouse No. 2 table. The automatic warehouse No. 2 table is a table for managing all the articles in the automatic warehouse No. 2, and the automatic warehouse control computer 5
Stored in the storage device.

In the description of the embodiment, the flow chart is simplified for simplicity. However, the article input, the entrance processing, the first branch point processing, the second branch point processing, and the processing for storing the articles in the automatic warehouse are performed in parallel. The process is continued until all the articles are stored.

If an abnormal warning is issued in step S50,
The operator lowers all the articles on the entrance 7 side from the first branch point 2d, deletes all the data on the first entrance table and the transport order table, and starts reloading the lowered articles.
As a result, the cause of the shelf misalignment that has occurred up to the first branch point 2d can be found when the article comes to the first branch point 2d. An automatic warehouse with excellent reliability can be created. First branch point 2d
Since the cause of the shelf misalignment can be eliminated only by reloading the articles on the entrance 7 side, the shelf misalignment can be prevented in a short time, and the system can be applied to a system such as continuous operation all day. The operator may rearrange the articles on the entrance 7 side from the first branch point 2d in the correct order, but re-introducing the articles is simpler and can reduce mistakes.

If an abnormal warning is issued in step S51,
The operator unloads all the articles on the first conveyor 2b, deletes all data in the first storage instruction table,
Restart the control system. The grated articles are re-entered from the entrance. As a result, the cause of the shelf shift occurring in the first-unit storage conveyor 2b can be found before the goods are stored in the first automatic warehouse, so that the occurrence of the shelf shift in the automatic warehouse can be prevented beforehand, and the inventory information can be prevented. A highly reliable automated warehouse can be created. By simply reloading the goods on the Unit 1 storage conveyor 2b,
Since the cause of the shelf shift can be eliminated, the shelf shift can be prevented in a short time, and the system can be applied to a system such as continuous operation all day. In addition, the operator may rearrange the articles on the first-unit storage conveyor 2b in the correct order, but re-introducing the articles is simpler and can reduce errors.

If an abnormal warning is issued in step S69,
The operator lowers all the articles on the entrance 7 side from the second branch point 2e, deletes all the data of the first entrance table, the second entrance table, and the transport order table, and starts re-introducing the lowered articles. . As a result, the cause of the shelf misalignment occurring up to the second branch point 2e can be found when the article comes to the second branch point 2e, so that the occurrence of the shelf misalignment in the automatic warehouse can be prevented beforehand, and the inventory information can be detected. An automatic warehouse with excellent reliability can be created. Since the cause of the shelf shift can be eliminated only by reloading the articles on the entrance 7 side from the second branch point 2e, the shelf shift can be prevented in a short time and the system can be applied to a system such as continuous operation all day. In addition, the worker enters the entrance 7 from the second branch point 2e.
The articles on the side may be rearranged in the correct order, but re-introducing the articles is simpler in operation and can reduce errors.

If an abnormal warning is issued in step S70,
The operator unloads all the articles on the second conveyor 2c, deletes all data in the second receiving instruction table,
Restart the control system. The grated articles are re-entered from the entrance. As a result, the cause of the shelf shift occurring in the second-unit receiving conveyor 2c can be found before the goods are stored in the automatic warehouse No. 2, so that the occurrence of the shelf shift in the automatic warehouse can be prevented beforehand, and the inventory information can be prevented. A highly reliable automated warehouse can be created. By simply reloading the goods on the Unit 2 storage conveyor 2c,
Since the cause of the shelf shift can be eliminated, the shelf shift can be prevented in a short time, and the system can be applied to a system such as continuous operation all day. Note that the operator may rearrange the articles on the second-unit storage conveyor 2c in the correct order, but re-introducing the articles is simpler and can reduce errors.

The above-described response to the abnormality warning is performed by re-inserting or rearranging the articles in the place where the abnormality has occurred. However, all the articles on the conveyor 2 are lowered, and the first entrance table and the second (2) Receiving port table, transport order table,
It is also possible to delete all the data in the first storage instruction table and the second storage instruction table and start again from re-input of the article. In this way, when the abnormality warning is issued, there is no need to recognize where the abnormality has occurred, and even an inexperienced operator can definitely cope with the abnormality warning.

The article presence detectors 4a to 4d and branch point presence detectors 8a and 8b are devices for detecting whether there is an article at a predetermined position. For example, a photoelectric tube type, a reflection type detector, a mechanical type A detector or the like can be used. Also, the functions of the branch point presence detectors 8a and 8b are changed to the article information reading devices 3b and 3c.
May be shared.

In the present embodiment, the main conveyor and the receiving conveyor for directly transferring the goods to the automatic warehouse are used. However, it may be configured such that the goods are directly entered into the automatic warehouse from the branch point of the main conveyor. Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been made assuming that there are two automatic warehouses. However, the present invention is not particularly limited and can be applied regardless of the number of automatic warehouses. In the present embodiment, one control computer is used as the control means, but a plurality of computers may be used. Further, in the present embodiment, the operator handles an abnormal situation, but it can be automatically performed by a machine.

[0074]

As described above, the present invention relates to an article provided with an identification code on which article information is described, a transport means for transporting the article to an automatic warehouse, and the identification code at an entrance of the transport means. First reading means for reading the information, second reading means for reading the identification code at a branch point to the automatic warehouse on the transport means, and branch point presence detecting means for detecting the presence of the article at the branch point The first reading unit and the second reading unit read the articles corresponding to the loading order of the articles detected by the first reading unit and the conveying order of the articles detected by the branch point presence detecting unit. Since the article information of each identification code is compared, and if the article information does not match, the control means for stopping the transport means and issuing an abnormality warning is provided. Automatic warehouse shelves Can be prevented from occurring in advance, it is possible to provide a control system of an automatic warehouse having excellent reliability of the inventory information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an automatic warehouse control system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a conveyor unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a main routine of the control system according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the entrance processing according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a first branch point process according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a second branch point process according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an entrance table of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a transport order table according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a warehousing instruction table according to the embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 9B is a first storage instruction table for articles to be stored in the first automatic warehouse, and FIG. 9B is a second storage instruction table for articles to be stored in the second automatic warehouse.

FIG. 10 is an automatic warehouse table according to the embodiment;
(A) Automated warehouse 1 for goods received at the first automated warehouse
FIG. 10B is an automatic warehouse No. 2 table of articles stored in the automatic warehouse No. 2.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view illustrating a conventional automatic warehouse storage control system.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining one cause of a shelf shift in a conventional storage control system. FIG. 12A is an explanatory diagram for explaining the flow of an actual article flowing on a transport conveyor, and FIG. FIG. 12C is an explanatory diagram showing the order of processing of the storage instruction data in the control computer, and FIG. 12C is an explanatory diagram for explaining the order of storing articles in an actual automatic warehouse.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a conventional storage control system for a plurality of automatic warehouses.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for explaining one cause of shelf misalignment in a conventional storage control system for a plurality of automatic warehouses.
FIG. 14A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an actual flow of articles flowing on the transport conveyor, FIG. 14B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a processing order of entry instruction data to the first automatic warehouse at the control computer, and FIG. ) Is an explanatory diagram for explaining the actual order of entry of articles in the automatic warehouse No. 1, and FIG. 14D is an explanatory diagram for showing the processing order of entry instruction data to the automatic warehouse No. 2 in the control computer, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an actual order of entry of articles in the automatic warehouse No. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a: Automatic warehouse No.1 (automatic warehouse) 1b ... Automatic warehouse No.2 (automatic warehouse) 2 ... Transport conveyor (transport means) 2a ... Main transport conveyor (transport means) 2b ... Unit 1 entry conveyor (transport means for entry) 2c ... Unit 2 warehousing conveyor (conveyance means for warehousing) 2d .. first branch point 2e... Second branch point 3a... Article information reading device (first reading means) 3b, 3c. -4d: Article presence detection equipment (transport detection means for storage) 5: Automatic warehouse control computer (control means) 6: Abnormality warning indicator 7: Storage entrance (entrance) 8: (branch point presence detection means)

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yasuhito Suzuki 2-1-1 Asahi-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi F-term (reference) in Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. 3F022 FF01 LL31 MM03 MM07 MM22 MM61 MM70 PP04

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An article provided with an identification code on which article information is described, and transport means for transporting the article to an automatic warehouse.
First reading means for reading the identification code at the entrance of the transport means, second reading means for reading the identification code at a branch point on the transport means to an automatic warehouse, and loading of the article at the branch point And the first reading means of the article in which the order of loading of the articles detected by the first reading means corresponds to the transporting order of the articles detected by the branch loading detection means. Control means for collating the article information of each identification code read by the second reading means with each other, and when the article information does not match, stopping the transport means and issuing an abnormality warning. Automatic warehouse control system. 2. An in-cargo transport means between the branch point of the transport means and the automatic warehouse, and an in-cargo transport means in stock detection means for detecting the number of articles on the in-car transport means. Provided, the control means calculates the number of articles that should be present on the storage transport means, and the calculated number of articles is detected by the storage transport means presence detection means. A control system for an automatic warehouse, comprising a control unit for collating the number of articles in the article and, when the number of articles does not match, stopping the transporting means and issuing an abnormality warning.