JP2002179217A - Picking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a picking device capable of efficiently performing picking work. SOLUTION: This picking device has an article carrying means 3 for placing and carrying an article on a carrying surface 2. Plural article storing and taking-out means 4 are arranged on the side of the article carrying means 3 so as to be positioned side by side in the carrying direction X of the article carrying means 3. The respective article storing and taking-out means 4 have a taking-out part for taking out the article on the carrying surface 2 of the article carrying means 3 on the basis of control of a control means. The control means controls so as to preferentially take out the article positioned on the carrying direction X upstream side of the article than that positioned on the carrying directional X downstream side in a taking-out part group of one order unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a picking device capable of efficiently performing a picking operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional picking apparatus includes, for example, an article conveying means such as a belt conveyor for conveying articles. Are provided, and the plurality of article take-out means are located side by side in the transport direction of the article transport means.

[0003] When an article is picked based on the order information, for example, by simultaneously controlling a plurality of article taking-out means corresponding to the order information, a plurality of articles corresponding to the order information are simultaneously transferred to the article transport means. Take out to the side.

[0004]

However, in the simultaneous pick-up type structure for simultaneously picking up a plurality of articles corresponding to the order information as in the above-mentioned conventional picking apparatus, for example, a plurality of articles corresponding to the order information are taken out. In the case where the means is one article take-out means located on the side of the upstream end of the article transporting means in the transport direction and another article take-out means located on the side of the downstream end of the article transport means in the transport direction, etc. Each article taken out from both of these article taking-out means at the same time is conveyed by the article carrying means with a distance between the two article taking-out means, and the picking workability may be deteriorated.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a picking device capable of efficiently performing a picking operation.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a picking apparatus comprising: a plurality of article transport means for transporting articles; and a plurality of article transporting means which are arranged side by side in the transport direction of the article transport means and take out articles to the article transport means. An article take-out means, and control means for sequentially controlling the article take-out means corresponding to the order information from the upstream side in the carrying direction in accordance with the carrying speed of the article carrying means.

In this configuration, the control means controls the article taking-out means corresponding to the order information sequentially from the upstream side in the transport direction of the article carrying means, so that regardless of the distance between the article taking-out means corresponding to the order information. Since the articles taken out from the article take-out means can be conveyed in a state of being brought close to each other, the article transfer means can be used more efficiently as compared with a conventional simultaneous take-out type construction or the like.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a picking device, comprising: article conveying means for conveying an article; a plurality of article ejecting means which are arranged side by side in the conveying direction of the article conveying means and take out the article to the article conveying means; Control means for sequentially controlling the article taking-out means corresponding to the order information from the upstream side in the carrying direction so that an article corresponding to the information is taken out to a predetermined position of the article carrying means.

In this configuration, the control means controls the article taking-out means corresponding to the order information sequentially from the upstream side in the transport direction of the article carrying means, so that the article taking-out means corresponding to the order information is independent of the distance between the article taking out means. Since the articles taken out from the article take-out means can be conveyed in a state of being brought close to each other, the article transfer means can be used more efficiently as compared with a conventional simultaneous take-out type construction or the like.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a picking device, comprising: a picking data transmitting means for transmitting picking data including a plurality of order information; an article conveying means for conveying an article;
A plurality of article take-out means, which are located side by side in the conveyance direction of the article conveyance means and take out articles to the article conveyance means, a detection means for detecting the operation of the article conveyance means, and the respective order information of the picking data. A plurality of order unit zones are sectioned in the article conveying means, and the article taking out means corresponding to each order information is moved upstream in the conveying direction while recognizing the position of each order unit zone based on the detection of the detecting means. And control means for controlling each of the articles taken out from the article taking-out means so as to be positioned close to each other in the corresponding order unit zone.

In this configuration, the control means recognizes the position of each order unit zone and sequentially controls the article take-out means corresponding to each order information from the upstream side in the transport direction of the article transport means. By locating the taken out articles in the order unit zone corresponding to each other in a state of being close to each other, regardless of the distance between the article taking out means corresponding to the order information, each article taken out from these article taking out means is mutually put together. Since the articles can be conveyed in the approached state, the article conveying means can be used more efficiently as compared with a conventional simultaneous unloading type configuration or the like.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a picking device, comprising: article conveying means for conveying an article; a plurality of article ejecting means which are arranged side by side in the conveying direction of the article conveying means and take out the article to the article conveying means; Control means for controlling each of the article transporting means and the article take-out means based on information, wherein the control means transports the order unit zone defined by the article transporting means in accordance with the order information. In the direction, and immediately after the leading end position of the order unit zone has passed the position of one article takeout means located at the most upstream side in the transport direction among the article takeout means corresponding to the order information, An article is taken out by one article taking out means, and the taken out article is located at a position of another article taking out means located on the downstream side in the transport direction from the one article taking out means. Immediately spent, but to remove the article to the other articles retriever.

In this configuration, regardless of the distance between the article taking-out means corresponding to the order information, the articles taken out from these article taking-out means can be conveyed in a state of approaching each other. As compared with the configuration and the like, the article conveying means can be used more efficiently.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the picking device as set forth in any one of the first to fourth aspects, further comprising an article storage means for storing the articles, and the article take-out means taking out the articles from the article storage means. Things.

[0015] In this configuration, the articles can be appropriately stored by the article storage means, and the article removal means can appropriately remove the article from the article storage means.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The structure of an embodiment of the picking device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a picking device. The picking device 1 is a device for automatically picking an article W based on picking data including a plurality of order information.

The picking device 1 is provided with a plurality of, for example, four-stage article conveying means 3 for carrying the article W on the conveying surface 2 and conveying the article W in the conveying direction X. A plurality of article storage and retrieval means 4 are provided at the positions, respectively, and the plurality of article storage and retrieval means 4 are located adjacent to each other and arranged in the transport direction X of the article transport means 3.

Each article storage and unloading means 4 is, for example, a storage section 6 as an article storage means for storing a plurality of articles W of the same type in a row in a direction intersecting the transport direction X, and is stored in the storage section 6. It is constituted by a take-out section 7 or the like as a product take-out means for taking out the product W so as to pay it out onto the transport surface 2.

An aggregating section 11 such as a pick-up station comprising an inclined conveyor 8, a belt conveyor 9, a chute 10 and the like is connected to the conveying end side of the article conveying means 3. Then, at the transport end portion of the consolidating section 11, the operator 12 manually puts a group of articles W in units of one order, which is a plurality of types of articles W corresponding to one order information, in the box mounting section 15.
It is stored in the storage box 13 located above. The storage box 13 in which the articles W are stored is sent to the next step by the box conveyor 14.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the article conveying means 3 is, for example, a horizontal belt conveyor or the like.
It has an endless conveying belt 21, and the conveying belt 21 is wound around rollers (not shown) as rotating bodies.

The conveying belt 21 of the article conveying means 3
Is driven and rotated on the basis of the driving force from a driving motor 22 as a driving means. It is transported to X. In addition, the article conveying means 3 of each stage is
It is attached to a common movable frame 25 having wheels 24 at the lower part, and is configured to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the article storage / extraction means 4 side.

The storage section 6 of the article storage / extraction means 4 includes:
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, for example, a free roller conveyor or the like having an inclined shape has a free roller (not shown) attached to a fixing machine frame 26 as a support means. 27 are configured. The storage and transport surface 27 is located in an inclined shape that is gradually inclined upward from the transport end side, which is the article transport unit 3 side, to the transport start end side, which is the anti-article transport unit 3 side. An opening 28 for taking out an article, which is open toward the article conveying means 3, is formed at the transport end side of the storage and transport surface 27. An opening 29 is formed.

The article W placed and stored on the storage and transport surface 27 of the storage section 6 is transported in the transport direction Y while being placed in the loaded state by its own weight based on the removal operation of the removal section 7.

Further, the removal section 7 of the article storage and removal means 4
As shown in FIG. 3, for example, an electric dispenser or the like has a base 31 mounted on the upper surface of the mounting plate 26a of the fixing machine frame 26. A stopper body 33 as a movement restricting portion is attached via a rotation shaft 32 that matches the position. The stopper body 33 is configured to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the moving position of the article W by rotating about the rotating shaft 32 based on a driving force from a motor 34 as a stopper driving means. Also,
The upper surface of the stopper body 33 is composed of a plurality of free rollers 35.

Then, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, when the stopper body 33 of the take-out section 7 has advanced to the moving position side of the article W, that is, the contact section 33a on the tip side of the stopper body 33 is stored and transported. When the article W is located at a position higher than the surface 27, the lower part of the front side of the leading article W on the storage / transport surface 27 contacts the contact portion 33a of the stopper body 33, and the articles W are transported in a state where the movement of each article W is restricted. It is placed and stored on the surface 27.

As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
When 33 is retracted from the moving position side of the article W by rotating about the rotating shaft 32 with the driving force from the motor 34,
The contact portion 33a of the stopper body 33 is located at a position lower than the storage / transport surface 27, and the leading article W on the storage / transport surface 27
Is cut out from the opening 28 onto the conveying surface 2 of the article conveying means 3 via the free roller 35 and the chute 36.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the picking apparatus 1 includes picking data transmitting means 41 for transmitting picking data including a plurality of order information, and controls picking data from the picking data transmitting means 41.
42 receives. The one-order information includes, for example, data relating to the take-out unit 7 to be taken out, the number data of the articles W taken out from the take-out unit 7, and the like.

The control means 42 is connected to a drive motor 22 for driving and rotating the transport belt 21 of the article transport means 3, and based on the rotation amount of the rotating shaft 22 a of the drive motor 22, the transport surface 2 of the transport belt 21 is controlled. A detecting means 43 such as an encoder for detecting the amount of movement of the
A motor 34 for driving and rotating the motor is connected.

The control means 42 sets a plurality of order unit zones on the transport surface 2 based on the respective order information of the picking data, and recognizes the position of each order unit zone moving at a constant speed, while recognizing the position of each order unit zone. A function of sequentially controlling the plurality of take-out units 7 corresponding to the order information from the upstream side in the transport direction X, and positioning each article W taken out from these take-out units 7 on the corresponding order unit zone in a state of approaching each other. Have.

Next, a picking method used in the picking apparatus 1 of the embodiment will be described.

At the time of a picking operation based on the picking data sent from the picking data sending means 41, detection is performed in a state where a plurality of order unit zones are continuously set on the transport surface 2 by each order information of the picking data. While the position of each moving order unit zone is recognized by the detection of the means 43, each takeout unit 7 corresponding to each order information is sequentially controlled from the upstream side in the transport direction X.

According to this control, among the plurality of extracting units 7 corresponding to one order information, ie, a group of extracting units 7 in order units,
Items located on the upstream side in the transport direction X perform the take-out operation preferentially from those located on the downstream side in the transport direction X of the article transport means 3, whereby articles W adjacent on the transport surface 2 approach each other. The sheet is transported in the transport direction X at a constant transport speed in the state.

Then, the articles W are sent out from the conveying end portion of the article conveying means 3 to the collecting section 11 side for each article W group of one order unit, and the worker 12 manually removes the articles W in the collecting section 11. The articles W are stored in the storage box 13 for each group of articles W in order.

Here, for example, picking data having a plurality of, for example, two pieces of order information shown in Table 1 is transmitted to the control means.
The case in which 42 is received will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0036]

[Table 1] In Table 1, A means the first article storage and retrieval means 4 located at the most downstream position among the article storage and retrieval means 4 arranged in the transport direction X, B means the tenth article storage and retrieval means 4, C means the thirtieth article storage / extraction means 4. In FIG. 5, A1, A2, and A3 mean the articles W stored at A, B1, B2, and B3 mean the articles W stored at B, and C1, C2, and C3 , C means the article W being stored.

When the picking data shown in Table 1 is sent from the picking data sending means 41 to the control means 42, it corresponds to the first order on the transport surface 2 of the article transport means 3, as shown in FIG. After the leading end position (A) of the order unit zone is set, the transfer surface 2 moves at a constant speed in the transfer direction X by the operation of the drive motor 22. Since the moving amount of the transfer surface 2 is detected by the detecting means, the control means
42 is the tip position (A) of the order unit zone (1st order)
Can be recognized. Further, the control means 42 can also recognize, for example, article information such as a preset article size.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when the leading end position (A) of the order unit zone (first order) passes through the position of C, that is, the position facing C, immediately after that, C1 is taken out of the C take-out section. 7 is taken out to a position near the leading end position (A) on the transport surface 2 by the take-out operation 7.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 7, when C1 passes through the position B, that is, the position facing B, immediately after that, B1
1 is taken out to a position near C1 on the transport surface 2 by the taking-out operation of the B taking-out section 7.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8, when B1 passes through the position of A, that is, the position opposite to A, immediately after that, A1
1 is taken out by the take-out operation of the take-out section 7 of A at a position near B 1 on the transport surface 2.

In this manner, the group of articles W in units of one order according to the order information of the first order is arranged such that adjacent articles on the order unit zone (first order) of the transport surface 2 have a substantially constant gap therebetween. Then, they are brought closer to each other, and then sent out to the aggregation unit 11 side, and are stored in the storage box 13.
Note that the storage box 13 for storing the first order article W group, which is the corresponding article W group, is located in the box placement section of the aggregation section 11.
If not, the drive motor 22 stops, and the group of articles W of one order stands by at the transport end position of the article transport means 3.

On the other hand, when the leading end position (B) of the order unit zone (second order) passes the position C, immediately after that, C 2 is moved out of the transfer surface 2 by the take-out operation of the C take-out section 7.
It is taken out at a position near the upper end position (B).

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9, when C2 passes through the position B, immediately after that, B2 is taken out to a position near C2 on the transport surface 2 by the taking-out operation of the taking-out section 7 for B.

As described above, in the order W unit in the order unit according to the order information of the second order, the articles adjacent to each other on the order unit zone (second order) of the transport surface 2 are substantially similar to the first order. After approaching each other through a certain gap, it is sent out to the collecting unit 11 side,
Housed in 13. In addition, when the accommodation operation of the preceding first order article W group is not completed, and the accommodation box 13 in which the second order article W group is to be accommodated is not located on the box placement unit 15 of the aggregation unit 11. , The drive motor 22 is stopped, and the article W group in units of two orders waits at the transport end position of the article transport means 3.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,
At the base end of each order unit zone, there is provided a security gap, which is a zone that takes into account errors such as unloading time, and an order gap, which is a zone that takes into account the storage box replacement time. Unit of goods W
There are gaps between the groups.

According to the above-described embodiment, the control unit 42 recognizes the position of each order unit zone on the transport surface 2 and moves each takeout unit 7 corresponding to each order information upstream in the transport direction X. , The extracted articles W can be brought close to each other even if the distance between the extraction sections 7 corresponding to each order information is relatively long.

Therefore, unlike the conventional simultaneous unloading type configuration, a plurality of order unit zones can be mixed on the transport surface 2 of the article transport means 3. Can be transported all at once by the transport surface 2, so that the article transporting means 3 can be used with a better space efficiency than in the conventional simultaneous removal type configuration and the like, and therefore, the picking operation can be performed very efficiently.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the storage section 6 of the article storage / extraction means 4 is constituted by, for example, a free roller conveyor or the like has been described. Roller conveyor or the like.

Further, the case where the article conveying means 3 is constituted by, for example, a belt conveyor has been described. For example, although not shown, the article conveying means 3 may be constituted by a driven roller conveyor having a driving means.

[0050]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the control means controls the article taking-out means corresponding to the order information in order from the upstream side in the conveying direction of the article carrying means, so that the article taking-out means corresponding to the order information. Regardless of the distance between the articles, the articles taken out from these article taking-out means can be transported in a state of being close to each other, so that the article carrying means can be used more efficiently as compared with a conventional simultaneous take-out type configuration and the like, Picking work can be performed efficiently.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the control means controls the article taking-out means corresponding to the order information sequentially from the upstream side in the conveying direction of the article carrying means, so that the article taking-out means corresponding to the order information is controlled. Regardless of the distance, each article taken out from these article take-out means can be conveyed in a state of approaching each other, so that the article transfer means can be used more efficiently as compared with a conventional simultaneous take-out type configuration and the like,
Picking work can be performed efficiently.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, while recognizing the position of each order unit zone by the control means, the article take-out means corresponding to each order information is controlled sequentially from the upstream side in the transport direction of the article transport means. By locating the articles taken out from the article taking-out means close to each other in the corresponding order unit zone, regardless of the distance between the article taking-out means corresponding to the order information, the articles taken out from these article taking-out means are taken out. Since each article can be transported close to each other, compared to the conventional simultaneous removal type configuration, etc.
The article transporting means can be used efficiently, so that the picking operation can be performed efficiently.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, regardless of the distance between the article taking-out means corresponding to the order information, the articles taken out from these article taking-out means can be conveyed in a state of approaching each other. As compared with the simultaneous unloading type configuration, the article transport means can be used more efficiently,
Picking work can be performed efficiently.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, articles can be appropriately stored in the article storage means, and the article take-out means can properly take out the articles from the article storage means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a picking device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same picking device.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged side view of an article storage and retrieval unit of the picking device.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the same picking device.

FIG. 5 is an example of picking data of the same picking device.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory view of the same picking device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the above picking device continued from FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of the operation of the above picking device following FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of the operation of the above picking device continued from FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Picking device 3 Article conveyance means 6 Storage part as article storage means 7 Extraction part as article extraction means 41 Picking data sending means 42 Control means 43 Detecting means W Article X conveyance direction

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kenichi Yamashita 900 Oouchi, Noguchi-cho, Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture Inside Okura Transport Aircraft Co., Ltd. F-term in Okura Transport Co., Ltd. (reference) 3F022 FF12 GG01 LL30 LL32 LL33 MM08 MM12 MM36 NN41

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An article transporting means for transporting an article, a plurality of article extracting means positioned side by side in the transport direction of the article transporting means for extracting an article to the article transporting means, and the article extracting corresponding to order information Control means for controlling the means in order from the upstream in the transport direction in accordance with the transport speed of the article transport means. 2. An article conveying means for conveying an article, a plurality of article ejecting means which are arranged side by side in the conveying direction of the article conveying means and take out the article to the article conveying means, and wherein the article corresponding to the order information is A picking device, comprising: control means for sequentially controlling the article take-out means corresponding to the order information from the upstream side in the carrying direction so as to be taken out to a predetermined position of the article carrying means. 3. Picking data transmitting means for transmitting picking data including a plurality of order information; article transporting means for transporting articles; and article transporting means which are located side by side in the transport direction of the article transporting means. A plurality of article taking-out means to be taken out, a detecting means for detecting an operation of the article carrying means, a plurality of order unit zones are sectioned and set in the article carrying means according to the respective order information of the picking data, While recognizing the position of each of the order unit zones based on the detection, the article taking out means corresponding to each of the order information is controlled in order from the upstream side in the transport direction, and each article taken out from these article taking out means is corresponded. A picking device comprising: a control unit for positioning the order unit zone close to each other. 4. An article conveying means for conveying an article, a plurality of article extracting means positioned side by side in the conveying direction of the article conveying means, and for picking up articles to the article conveying means, and the article conveying means based on order information. And control means for controlling each of the article take-out means, wherein the control means moves an order unit zone defined in the article transfer means in the transfer direction in accordance with the order information, and Immediately after the leading end position of the unit zone has passed the position of one of the article taking-out means corresponding to the order information and located at the most upstream side in the transport direction, the article is taken into this one article taking-out means. Immediately after the taken-out article has passed the position of another article taking-out means located downstream of the one article taking-out means in the transport direction, the other article is taken out. A picking device, wherein the picking device causes the picking means to pick up the article. 5. The picking device according to claim 1, further comprising article storage means for storing articles, wherein the article takeout means takes out the articles from the article storage means.