JP2002179224A - Picking equipment and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide picking equipment and method capable of efficiently performing picking. SOLUTION: The picking equipment 10 is provided with an automatic picking device 34 and an indicating picking device 44. In the case that an order including a quantity exceeding a designated value of products is stored in the indicating picking device 44, the indication picking device 44 performs picking. In the case that an order including a quantity less than a designated value of products is stored in the indicating picking device 44, the automatic picking device 34 performs picking. Since the indicating picking deice 44 performs picking in case that order quantity of products of high shipping volume is large, frequency of replenishing the automatic picking device 34 with the product is lowered to improve an operation efficiency.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a picking apparatus and a picking method for taking out a variety of goods from a rack in a shipping case according to an order from a customer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, products have been diversified, and distribution centers for products have been required to have a distribution system capable of shipping various types of products.

[0003] Conventionally, as an equipment for packing various kinds of commodities in order units in a physical distribution system, an automatic picking device or a manual picking device is generally used. The automatic picking device is a device of a method of automatically taking out goods stored in a rack, and particularly when handling a variety of relatively small products, an automatic picking device called a vertical magazine type is used. Picking devices are commonly used. The harmful drop-type automatic picking device is simply composed of a rack formed by arranging a plurality of magazines for vertically stacking and storing products, and a product cutting device arranged at a lower portion of each magazine to cut out products one by one. I have. In addition, as a manual picking device, a display picking device in which a display is arranged at each product outlet of a rack (generally, a flow rack) is widely used. It is designed to be taken out.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-described automatic drop-type automatic picking apparatus is characterized in that high-speed processing is possible when the number of orders for the same product is relatively small. However, since the number of products that can be stored in one magazine is relatively small, if shipment of one product is concentrated, the frequency of replenishing the product increases. This replenishment must be done manually, and the replenishment is usually stored in a storage away from the automatic picking device. There is a problem that human productivity is reduced.

On the other hand, the manual display picking device is an effective method when there are few types of products for each order, and a sufficient quantity of products can be stored in the rack. There are few problems with such replenishment work.
However, manual picking imposes a heavy burden on the picking operation itself when there are many types of products for each order. In addition, a plurality of workers are usually provided for the display picking device. However, if there is a large variation in the amount of processing between orders, there is a problem that the workers may have to wait.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a picking facility and a picking method capable of performing picking efficiently.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a picking facility according to the present invention comprises: (i) an automatic picking facility for storing a plurality of types of products and automatically extracting a desired product from the stored products; A picking device; (ii) a rack for storing some types of products with a large shipment amount among a plurality of types of products stored in the automatic picking device; and a rack provided at each product outlet of the rack to be taken out. (Iii) a first display picking device having a display for displaying the number of products, (iii) transport means for transporting a shipping case storing the taken out products to the automatic picking device and the first display picking device, iv) In the case where each order includes products stored in the first display picking device, the number of which is more than a predetermined value, the first display picking device When the picking of the product is performed, and in each order, the product stored in the first display picking device and the number of which is less than a predetermined value is included, the picking of the product is performed by the automatic picking device. And a control means for controlling the automatic picking device, the first display picking device, and the transport means.

[0008] In this configuration, when the number of ordered products is large, it is handled by the first display picking device, and when it is small, it is handled by the automatic picking device. Is reduced. Also, the items handled by the first display picking device are a part of the items handled by the automatic picking device and are small in number, so that the work load on the first display picking device is reduced.

[0009] Further, since there are products that cannot be handled by the automatic picking device, a rack for storing products other than the products stored by the automatic picking device, and a product provided at each product outlet of the rack to store products to be taken out. It is preferable to further include a second display picking device having a display for displaying the number. In this case, the transporting means transports the shipping case accommodating the taken-out product to the automatic picking, the first display picking device and the second display picking device, and the control means sets the first case in each order. In the case where a product stored in the display picking device and the number of which is ordered is equal to or more than a predetermined value is included, the product is picked by the first display picking device, and the first display is performed in each order. If there are products stored in the picking device and the number of orders is less than the predetermined value, picking of the product is performed by the automatic picking device, and in each order, the product is stored in the second display picking device. If the product to be picked up is included, the automatic picking device, the first display picking device, and the second display picking device perform picking of the product.
, The second display picking device, and the transport means.

[0010] In another aspect, the present invention can be regarded as a picking method of picking goods in order units using an automatic picking device and a picking facility provided with a display picking device. , A product stored in a display picking device,
If the order quantity is more than the specified value,
The picking of the product is performed by the display picking device, and in each order, when the order includes a product stored in the display picking device, the order number of which is less than a predetermined value, the automatic picking device performs the Picking is performed.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a picking facility 1 according to this embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of the 0 ’. As shown in FIG.
The picking equipment 10 of the present embodiment includes a main transport line 14 that transports a shipping case 12 in which products are packed in order units.
It has.

An auto labeler 16 is arranged at the start of the main transport line 14. This auto labeler 16
Is a device for automatically affixing a label 18 to which various information for shipping is attached with a bar code or characters to each shipping case 12. The information attached to the label 18 includes, for example, an order number (customer information) and branch information for determining whether the shipping case 12 goes straight or branches in the automatic branching devices 20, 22, and 24 described below.

In the main transfer line 14, three automatic branching devices 20, 22, 24 are provided at appropriate intervals, and each of the automatic branching devices 20, 22, 24 has a branch line 2
6, 28 and 30 are connected. Each automatic branching device 2
Reference numerals 0, 22, and 24 each include a reading device 32 such as a barcode reader for reading branch information on the label 18 of the shipping case 12 carried by the main transport line 14.

The most upstream branch line 26 extends to an automatic picking device 34. Automatic picking device 34
Is preferably a drop-down type described in, for example, JP-A-11-263406. The automatic picking device 34 includes a rack 38 configured by arranging a plurality of magazines 36 for stacking and storing products in a vertical direction.
And these racks 38 are assembled in a mountain shape or an A shape when viewed from the front. A belt conveyor 40 is arranged at a central portion between the pair of racks 38. Also, each magazine 36 has a lower part of each magazine 3.
A product cutting device 42 that cuts out products located at the lowermost position in the belt conveyor 40 one by one on a belt conveyor 40 is provided. The end of the belt conveyor 40 is located above the branch line 26, so that commodities can be sent into the shipping case 12 conveyed by the branch line 26. Branch line 26 that has passed through automatic picking device 34
Joins the main transport line 14 between the automatic branching devices 20 and 22.

The middle branch line 28 extends through the side of the first display picking device 44. The illustrated first display picking device 44 is a well-known device. The first display picking device 44 is provided with a roller rack or a wheel conveyor attached to a shelf portion to move a flow rack 46 configured to move toward a product outlet by gravity or power. Have.
At the outlet of each product stored in the flow rack 46, a digital display 48 for displaying the number of products to be taken out is attached. In the first display picking device 44 having such a configuration, the operator takes out the product from the flow rack 46 in accordance with the instruction of the display 48 and packs the product into the target cargo handling case 12 carried by the branch line 28. Become. First display picking device 44
Is joined to the main transport line 14 between the automatic branching devices 22 and 24.

The second most downstream branch line 30 is also a second branch line.
The display picking device 50 is provided. This second
The display picking device 50 has the same configuration as the first display picking device 44, and has a flow rack 5 for storing commodities.
2 and a digital display 54 provided at each product outlet. The end of the branch line 30 is the automatic branching device 2
4 is connected to the main transport line 14 on the downstream side.

Main transfer line 14, overtraveler 16, automatic branching devices 20, 22, 24, branch lines 26, 28, 3
0, automatic picking device 34 and display picking device 4
4, 50 and the like are controlled by a controller (control means) including a microcomputer or the like. In the present embodiment, the controller includes a main controller 56 and the main controller 56.
Sub-controller 58 that performs control in accordance with information from
60, 62, and 64. The main controller 56 receives the order data for each customer, determines the processing contents according to the contents of the order data, and transmits the information to the sub-controllers 58, 60, 62, and 64. The sub-controllers 58, 60, 62, 64
For controlling the automatic laver 16, for controlling the automatic branching device 20, the branch line 26 and the automatic picking device 34, the automatic branching device 22, the branch line 28
And a device for controlling the first display picking device 44, and a device for controlling the automatic branching device 24, the branch line 30, and the second display picking device 50.

Next, the picking facility 1 having such a configuration will be described.
A method of picking a product using 0 will be described.

First, a plurality of types of products to be handled are classified in advance, and the picking devices 34, 44, and 50 to be handled for each product are determined. In this case, first,
The products are classified into products that can be handled by the automatic picking device 34 and products that cannot be handled (for example, products that cannot be stored in the magazine 36 in dimensions or shape).

All products (hereinafter, also referred to as "normal products") that can be handled by the automatic picking device 34 are all allocated to the magazine 36 of the rack 38 of the automatic picking device 34. On the other hand, products that cannot be handled by the automatic picking device 34 (hereinafter also referred to as “special products”)
Is a flow rack 52 of the second display picking device 50.
It will be kept at.

Further, a predetermined number of items are selected from the normal products in descending order of the shipping amount. In this case, the shipment amount may be based only on the past shipment data, but it is preferable that the shipment amount is determined in consideration of the future shipping trend and the like. The normal goods (hereinafter also referred to as “mass goods”) having a large shipment amount selected in this manner are automatically picked up by the automatic picking device 34.
In addition, it is stored in the flow rack 46 of the first display picking device 44.

For example, at a certain distribution center, 500
Although the kinds of commodities are the commodities to be shipped, when classified by the above-mentioned method, generally, the items handled by the automatic picking device 34 are 400 items, and the items handled by the first display picking device 44 are 400 items out of the 400 items. 70 items, 2nd
Of the display picking device 50 described above is 400
100 items other than items.

When the classification of the commodities is completed in this way, the information is stored in the storage section of the main controller 56 in advance. Subsequently, order data to be processed in one operation cycle of the picking facility 10 is input to the main controller 56 using an order data input device 66 such as an optical character reader or a keyboard. It is assumed that each order data includes at least an order number (customer number), an ordered item, and the number thereof.

The input order data is processed by the main computer 56 in order units in accordance with, for example, a flowchart shown in FIG.

First, it is determined from the order data whether there is an order for a large number of products (step 100). If the order is "available" for a large number of items, the order quantity is confirmed for each of the large items ordered. Then, picking is performed by the automatic picking device 34 for a large number of commodities whose order quantity is smaller than a predetermined quantity (in the present embodiment, it is assumed to be 15 regardless of the type of the commodities) (Step 102, 104). On the other hand, it is determined that picking is performed by the first display picking device 44 for a large number of products of 15 or more (Step 102,
106).

After this determination, or when it is determined that there is no order for a large number of products, it is determined whether or not there is an order for a normal product (excluding a large number of products) (step 108). If the order is "Yes", it is determined that those normal products are handled by the automatic picking device 34 (step 11).
0).

Further, after this determination, or when it is determined that the order of the normal product is “absent”, it is determined whether or not there is an order for the special product. It is determined to be handled by the second automatic picking device 50 (steps 112 and 114).

These pieces of decision information are sent to the sub-controllers 58, 60, 62, and 64 together with the order number, and the sub-controllers 58, 60, 62, and 64 control related devices.

When the input of the order data is completed and the storage of the goods in each of the picking devices 34, 44 and 50 is completed, the entire picking facility 10 is started up and the shipping case 12 is started.
At the start of the main transport line 14. A label 18 including various information such as an order number and branch information is sequentially attached to each shipping case 12 by an auto labeler 16 at a start portion. The operation of the auto labeler 16 is performed based on the information stored in the sub controller 58.

For example, when an order is made as shown in the following table, the shipping case 12 is moved to the main transport line 1 as follows.
4 and branch lines 26, 28, 30. In the following table, the products a and b are large-volume products, the product c is a normal product (excluding large-volume products), and the product d is a special product.

[0032]

[Table 1]

The order number 1 is handled by the first display picking device 44 because the number of products a and b, which are a large number of products, is both a predetermined number (15) or more. Further, the automatic picking device 34 handles a commodity c which is a normal commodity which is not a mass commodity. Further, the product d which is a special product is handled by the second display picking device 50.

Therefore, when the shipping case 12 to which the label 18 of the order number 1 is attached reaches the automatic branching device 20, the order number and the branch information of the label 18 are read by the reader 32, and the read data is read. The sub controller 60 controls the automatic branching device 20 to send the shipping case 12 to the branch line 26. Then, when the shipping case 12 enters, the automatic picking device 34 cuts out five products c from the magazine 36 of the rack 38 and puts them into the shipping case 12 by the belt conveyor 40.

Thereafter, the shipping case 12 is moved to the main transport line 1
Returning to step 4, the information is automatically branched by the next automatic branching device 22 from the information described on the label 18 and flows to the branch line 28 in the same manner as above. When the shipping case 12 enters a predetermined position on the branch line 28, the first display picking device 44 is controlled by the sub-controller 62, and the digital display 48 for the products a and b displays the number of picks. Thus, the worker in charge of the shipping case 12 takes out 20 pieces of the product a and 20 pieces of the product b from the flow rack 46 according to the instructions on the display 48 and puts them in the shipping case 12.

Shipping case 1 in which goods a, b, and c are stored
2 returns to the main transport line 14 again. Then, the light is branched from the automatic branching device 24 to the branch line 30 and reaches the second display picking device 50. In the second display picking device 50, the digital display 54 for the product d displays the number of picks, and the worker in charge takes out five products d from the flow rack 52 according to the instruction and packs them in the shipping case 12.

The shipping case 12 in which all the ordered products have been packed in this way is returned to the main transport line 14 and carried out. After that, operations such as sealing and attaching a tag are performed, and then sent to another department.

Regarding the order number 1, the products a and b can be picked by the automatic picking device 34. However, since these are expected to be shipped in a large amount, the order numbers are large. By picking with the first display picking device 44, the frequency of replenishment of the products a and b of the automatic picking device 34 can be reduced. Further, since the amount of commodities stored in the first display picking device 44 is sufficient, even if a large number of commodities are taken out, the number of replenishments does not excessively increase.

In the case of order number 2, the order items are the same as in order number 1. However, there are only 10 orders for products a and b. Therefore, the products a and b are also handled by the automatic picking device 34. Although the number of the products c is as large as 20 pieces, since the products are handled only by the automatic picking device 34, the shipping case 12 with the label 18 of the order number 2 is attached to the branch line 26. Products a, b, and
After c is packed, the automatic branching device 22 goes straight, and the merchandise d is packed from the branch line 30 by the second display picking device 50.

As described above, even if there are a large number of commodities, if the number of orders is small, there is little effect on the replenishment frequency. Therefore, picking is performed using the automatic picking device 34 to improve work efficiency. If it is assumed that the first display picking device 44 handles all of a large number of commodities, the number of workers to be provided to the first display picking device 44 must be increased, while the number of workers is increased. In such a case, the number of waiting workers increases. Accordingly, by switching the handling device between the automatic picking device 34 and the display picking device 44 according to the number of ordered large quantities of commodities as in the present invention, the work efficiency of the entire picking facility 10 can be improved.

In the case of the order number 3, the order of the product a is 15
Although there is only one piece and the total order quantity is small, the automatic picking device 34 is not used, and the shipping case 12 is sent only to the first display picking device 44, where after the product a is packed by the worker, It returns to the transport line 34 and is carried out as it is.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

For example, in the above embodiment, the main transport line 34, the automatic branching devices 20, 22, 24 and the branch line 2
6, 28, 30, each picking device 34, 44,
The transporting means for transporting the shipping case 12 is configured at 50. The transporting means can take various forms, for example, as shown schematically in FIG. You may. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 3, all the picking devices 34, 44, 50 must be
Will pass, but the automatic branching device will not be needed,
There is an effect that control becomes simple and the equipment cost can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, the first display picking device 44 treats all the fifteen or more items regardless of the type of a large number of products, but the first display picking device 44 performs the first display for each product. The minimum number to be handled by the picking device 44 may be determined.

Further, the first display picking device 44 may handle a large number of products packaged in dozen or ten units, and the automatic picking device 34 may handle a large number of products that are fractional. .

Although the second display picking device 50 handles special products, the second display picking device 50 may be omitted and the first picking device 44 may be used.

Further, the type of the automatic picking device 34 is not limited to the above-mentioned dart dropping type, but may be, for example, an extrusion type or a picking robot type.

Further, in the above embodiment, the control means comprises the main controller 56 and the sub-controllers 58, 60, 6
However, if the processing capacity is high, it is also possible to control all the devices in the picking facility 10 with one controller.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the number of orders for a large shipment quantity is large, it is handled by the first display picking device, and when it is small, it is handled by the automatic picking device. As a result, the frequency of replenishment of goods to the automatic picking device is reduced. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or suppress a decrease in work efficiency due to frequent product replenishment work. Further, since the items handled by the first display picking device are a part of the items handled by the automatic picking device, the work load on the first display picking device is reduced, and the man-hour productivity of the entire picking equipment is reduced. improves.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an entire configuration of a picking facility according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing flow in a controller.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 picking equipment, 12 shipping case, 14 main transport line, 16 auto labeler, 18 label, 20,
22, 24 ... automatic branching device, 26, 28, 30 ... branch line, 34 ... automatic picking device, 44 ... first display picking device, 46 ... flow rack, 48 ... digital display, 50 ... second display picking Device, 52: Flow rack, 54: Digital display, 56: Main controller, 58, 60, 62, 64: Sub-controller, 7
0: transport line.

Claims (3)

[Claims] An automatic picking device (34) for storing a plurality of types of products and automatically extracting a desired product from the stored products, and the plurality of types of products stored in the automatic picking device (34). Among the products, a rack (46) for storing some types of products with a large shipment amount, and a display (48) provided at each product outlet of the rack (46) and displaying the number of products to be taken out. And a transport means for transporting a shipping case (12) for storing the taken out product to the automatic picking device (34) and the first display picking device (44). (14, 26, 2
8), and in each order, the first display picking device (4)
In the case where a product stored in 4) is included in which the number of orders is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the product is picked by the first display picking device (44),
In each order, the first display picking device (4
In the case where products stored in 4) are included in which the number of orders is less than a predetermined value, the automatic picking device (34) is configured to pick the products by the automatic picking device (34). , The first display picking device (44) and the transporting means (14, 26, 2).
A picking facility comprising: control means (56, 60, 62) for controlling 8). 2. A rack (52) for storing products other than the products stored by the automatic picking device (34).
And a second display picking device (50) provided at each product outlet of the rack (52) and displaying the number of products to be taken out. (14, 26, 28, 30), the shipping case (12) for accommodating the taken-out product, the automatic picking device (34), the first display picking device (44), and the second display picking device. (50), wherein the control means (56, 60, 62, 64) is a product stored in the first display picking device (44) for each order, and In the case where a value greater than or equal to a predetermined value is included, the first display picking device (44) picks the product, and in each order, the first display picking device (44). A product to be stored, if the order number is included those that are less than a predetermined value, the automatic picking device (34)
Picking of the product by, in each order,
When a product stored in the second display picking device (50) is included, the automatic picking device (34) may be configured to pick the product by the second display picking device (50). A first display picking device (44), the second display picking device (5);
The picking equipment according to claim 1, wherein the picking equipment controls the transport means (14, 26, 28, 30). 3. An automatic picking device (34) for storing a plurality of types of products and automatically extracting a desired product from the stored products, and the automatic picking device (3).
4) A rack (46) for storing some types of products with a large amount of shipment among the plurality of types of products stored in (4), and a product provided at each product outlet of the rack (46) and to be taken out. Picking equipment (1) including a display picking device (44) having a display (48) for displaying the number of
0) A picking method for picking goods in order units by using the order picking method, wherein, in each order, goods stored in the display picking device (44), the number of which is more than a predetermined value are included. The display picking device (4
4) picking the product according to 4), and in each order, if the order includes a product stored in the display picking device (44), the number of which is less than a predetermined value, the automatic picking device A picking method for picking the product according to (34).