JP2003237945A - Article sorting method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and completely mange an acceptance limit of arrival articles. <P>SOLUTION: In a sorting process of arrival articles, expiration date information affixed to each article is read, and from the expiration date information, an acceptance limit of the article is computed according to an acceptance limit rule. Articles received within the acceptance limit are sorted to predetermined sorting points corresponding to destinations of the articles, and articles received past the acceptance limit are returned. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for sorting articles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Sorting in a distribution center such as a transit center provided between a seller who is a seller and a retailer who is a buyer has been promoted due to the increasing number of local stores in the retail industry and the variety of product lineups. Work is becoming more shop-oriented and product categories (multi-category) are occurring.

In the retail business, hygiene of foods and medicines,
Due to safety requirements, it is necessary to manage the acceptance period based on the expiration date and expiration date of the received goods. In terms of food, the expiration date and manufacturing date are attached to the food. In addition, it is stipulated by law that the expiration date of medicines should be attached to the goods, and it is used as a material for determining the return of goods.

In addition, in the retail industry, apart from food hygiene or pharmaceutical safety, the newness of "freshness" enhances the commercial value, so that the shelf life is long from the date of manufacture (for example, 90 days). In that case, the sales contract with the supplier is to allow stocking until the remaining effective period is 7/8 of the maximum effective period, and to return without accepting those that have passed 1/8 of the maximum effective period. It appears that they will be concluded between them.

That is, according to the prior art, for the goods received at the distribution center, the goods are accepted based on the expiration date information (expiration date, expiration date, expiration date from the manufacturing date, etc.) attached to the goods. Set a deadline (n days before the expiration date, n days before the expiration date, or a date that elapses, for example, 1/8 of the maximum effective period from the manufacturing date) within the acceptance deadline Acceptance deadline management is in place to accept only the goods received in.

[0006]

However, the conventional acceptance deadline management has the following problems because the above-mentioned acceptance deadline management is performed on the goods in the pallet-loaded state on the receiving platform of the distribution center. There is.

[0007] Since the acceptance deadline management is performed in the process of loading the goods in the pallet loading form as they are into the automatic warehouse, it is necessary to temporarily collapse the pallet loading appearance in order to manage the acceptance deadline for the goods. Due to the heavy work load and time loss, it is impossible to manage all the goods in the operation of the distribution center because only some of the goods on the surface side of the packaging are managed.

The same expiration date information is not necessarily the same among the same articles constituting the pallet loaded form.
Therefore, the above-mentioned partial management cannot completely manage the acceptance period for the received goods. Under the current situation, the trust of consumers who are sensitive to the expiration date information in recent years is damaged, and it causes distrust of retail sales.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to easily and completely manage the acceptance deadline for the received goods.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of sorting articles which receives each received article and sorts each article into each of a plurality of frontages in a sorting zone to which the article is to be sorted. , Establishing an acceptance deadline rule that determines the acceptance deadline of the article from the expiration date information of each article, read the expiration date information attached to each article in the sorting process of the received goods, and use this expiration date information as the acceptance term rule Based on this, the acceptance deadline of the goods is calculated, and the goods accepted within the acceptance deadline are sorted into a predetermined sorting frontage corresponding to the delivery destination of the goods, and the goods accepted outside the acceptance deadline are returned. It is a thing.

According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the invention of claim 1, the articles received outside the acceptance period are sorted into a specified return front within a sorting zone.

According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the invention of claim 2, the articles received outside the acceptance deadline are sorted into the returned goods front specified by the supplier in the sorting zone.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect of the invention, the article received outside the acceptance period is paid out to the return line.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the article received outside the acceptance period is returned with the label having the return information printed thereon, It is designed to issue a list of returned goods.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the article sorting apparatus that receives each received article and sorts each article into each of a plurality of frontages of a sorting zone to be the sorting destination of the article, the expiration date of each article It has a control computer that predefines an acceptance deadline rule that determines the acceptance deadline of the item from information, and a receiving terminal that reads the expiration date information accompanying each item in the sorting process of the received items. The acceptance deadline of the goods is calculated from the expiration date information that is the result of reading the terminal based on the acceptance deadline rule, and the goods received within the acceptance deadline are sorted into a predetermined frontage according to the delivery destination of the goods. Items that have been received outside the acceptance deadline are to be returned.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the control computer can sort the articles received outside the acceptance deadline into a specified return front in a sorting zone. is there.

According to the invention of claim 8, in addition to the invention of claim 7, the control computer can sort the articles received outside the acceptance deadline into the return front specified by the supplier in the sorting zone. It was done.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the control computer is capable of paying out an article received outside the acceptance deadline to a return line.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the control computer according to any one of the sixth to ninth aspects is further capable of issuing a label printed with return information for attaching to an article received before the acceptance deadline. At the same time, a list of returned goods can be issued.

[0020]

According to the inventions of claims 1 and 6, the following effects are obtained. During the sorting process of the received goods, the expiration date information attached to each article is read, and the acceptance term management for each article is performed based on the read result. Therefore, it is possible to easily manage the acceptance period for all the received goods in a short time by light work without impairing the operation of the distribution center.

By performing the acceptance deadline management for all the received goods, it is possible to perform the complete acceptance deadline management, and it is possible to improve consumer confidence in the retail business.

According to the inventions of claims 2 and 7, the following effects are obtained. It is possible to improve the workability of returning goods to the supplier by collecting the goods that are out of the acceptance deadline in the specified return front in the sorting zone.

According to the inventions of claims 3 and 8, there are the following effects. By specifying the above-mentioned return front for each supplier, the workability of returning to the supplier can be further improved.

According to the inventions of claims 4 and 9, the following effects are obtained. By paying out the goods that are out of the acceptance period to the return line, the goods to be returned can be collected in one place with a simple equipment configuration, and the workability of returning goods to the supplier can be improved.

According to the inventions of claims 5 and 10,
Has the effect of. It is possible to improve the workability of returning goods to the supplier by attaching a return information label to the goods that have expired.

By issuing a list of returned goods, it is possible to accurately record the return history. Further, by sending the return list to the retail business headquarters and the return list to the supplier, it is possible to rationally correct the payment information from the retailer to the supplier and to achieve high precision in quality control. .

[0027]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a sorting device of a distribution center, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a control system of a distribution center, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a sorting zone, and FIG. 4 is a store in the sorting zone. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which different standards are adopted, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing another example in which different store standards are adopted in the sorting zone,
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which the sorting zone-based criteria is adopted, and FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which the sorting-course-based criteria is adopted in the sorting zone.

The distribution center (passage center) 1 in FIG.
Is located between multiple suppliers and multiple retail stores,
It has a sorting device 10.

The sorting device 10 comprises an upstream receiving line 20, a primary sorting transport line 30, and a secondary sorting transport line 40.
Have. Further, the sorting device 10 is, as shown in FIG.
It has a distribution computer 11 and a control computer 12. The distribution computer 11 has a product master such as a supplier code, a store code, a product code, a product classification (category) code, and store order data. The control computer 12 follows the data possessed by the physical distribution computer 11 and the arrival data obtained from the arrival terminal 13 of the upstream arrival line 20 to determine the primary sorting line 30 and the secondary sorting conveyance line 4.
Transport controller 14 for controlling the 0 conveyors 30A and 40A
And the sorting frontage display control unit 1 of the secondary sorting line 40
Rule five.

In the following description of the sorting apparatus 10, the receiving terminal 13 of the upstream receiving line 20 and the primary sorting line 3
The bar code reader 31 of 0 and the bar code reader 41 of the secondary sorting line 40 are described as those which transfer the code data indicating the supplier name, product name, product classification name, etc. attached to each case to the control computer 12. did. However, only the product name code (JAN code) is printed and attached to each case without fail. As the supplier name code, the supplier name stated on the delivery slip, invoice or tag attached to each case is attached to the receiving terminal 13.
It can be known in the control computer 12 by inputting from the. The product classification name code is stored in the product master of the distribution computer 11. In the case of (a) one product and one supplier, the product name can be input to the control computer 12 by the receiving terminal 13 to the supplier. All the order data including the product classification name code are extracted from the distribution computer 11 to the control computer 12, and the control computer 12 can know the product classification name code of the product name from the contents of the order data. b) In the case of multiple suppliers of one product, by inputting the supplier name to the control computer 12 by the receiving terminal 13, all order data to the supplier including the product classification name code is controlled from the distribution computer 11. The computer 12 draws it out, and the control computer 12 knows the product classification name code of the product name from the contents of the order data. Can.

(Upstream Arrival Line 20) Incoming goods from the supplier are carried in the form of a case packed in a roll box pallet 21 or the like, and those cases are supplied to the conveyor 20A of the upstream arrival line 20. At this time, by the receiving terminal 13 such as a bar code reader installed in the upstream receiving line 20, code data indicating a supplier name, a product name, a product classification name, etc. attached to each case,
Arrival data such as the number of articles in each case is transferred to the control computer 12, and this arrival data is further transferred to the physical distribution computer 11. A mixed case product containing a plurality of types of goods in a single case is unpacked, and then the arrival data for the contents goods is collected, and these arrival data are collected from the arrival terminal 13 to the control computer 12 and the distribution computer 11. Transferred to.

(Primary sorting line 30) The primary sorting line 30 comprises a conveyor 30A connected to the conveyor 20A of the upstream receiving line 20, and each case carried in from the upstream receiving line 20 is transferred to one of a plurality of secondary sorting lines 40. And carry. At this time, by the bar code reader (scanner) 31 installed in the primary sorting line 30, the control computer 12 receives the code data indicating the supplier name, product name, product classification name, etc. attached to each case.
Transfer to. The control computer 12 refers to the store order data and the like held by the distribution computer 11, and the secondary sorting line 40 that is a branch destination from the primary sorting line 30 of each case, and the sorting of the case in the secondary sorting line 40. Previous sorting zone 50 and frontage 52,
Specify 3.

(Secondary Sorting Line 40) The secondary sorting line 40 is composed of a plurality of branch lines connected in parallel to the primary sorting line 30 and has a plurality of sorting zones 50 assigned to each store. , Primary sorting line 3
It is composed of a conveyor 40A which carries / stops each case carried in from the 0 conveyor 30A in front of each sorting zone 50. A hand cart may be used instead of the conveyor 40A.

A bar code reader (scanner) 41 is installed at the entrance of each sorting zone 50, and the bar code reader 41 is attached to each case as the supplier name, product name,
Control computer 1 for code data indicating a product classification name, etc.
2, and the control computer 12 causes the frontage 52, 53 in the sorting zone 50 to be the sorting destination of the case.
Is output to the sorting frontage display control unit 15 or, in the case of a non-corresponding product, a forwarding transport signal to the next sorting zone 50 is output. When the code data of each case that has been read once by the bar code reader 31 installed in the primary sorting line 30 is stored in the control computer 12 and then the case is transported to the memory, the entrance of each sorting zone 50. The barcode reader 41 installed in the above can be replaced with a photoelectric switch.

Each sorting zone 50 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to 7.
As shown in FIG. 4, a bulk loading frontage 52, which comprises a fluidized shelf 51 (or an article shelf or a roll box pallet), into which the product taken out one by one from the single-item storage case is loaded.
And a plurality of frontages such as a case frontage frontage 53 through which the single-item accommodation case is introduced in case units. A storage box such as a folding container that can receive articles one by one is set in the bulk loading frontage 52. In addition, each sorting zone 50
As shown in FIG. 3, a roll box (or pallet) 2 is arranged on the back surface of the vehicle for each delivery vehicle to the retail store.
These roll boxes 2 are collected on the platforms for each delivery vehicle in the yard 3.

Each sorting zone 50 is provided with an input number indicator 55 controlled by the sorting frontage display control unit 15, and when a case to be sorted into the sorting zone 50 arrives at the sorting zone 50, the sorting is performed. Zone 50
The required number of items of the relevant case type article is displayed on the input number indicator 55.

A sorting confirmation unit 56 controlled by the sorting frontage display control unit 15 is provided with a loading frontage indicator lamp, a loading completion button switch, and a full label issuing button switch at each frontage 52, 53 of each sorting zone 50. Is installed. The sorting confirmation unit 56 has a frontage 5 in which the case type article should be loaded in the sorting zone 50.
2 and 53 are displayed and guided by turning on the loading frontage display lamp, and when the worker turns on the sorting completion button switch at the time when the loading of the article into the frontage is completed, the completion of the loading is controlled by the sorting destination frontage display control. Output to the unit 15 and the control computer 12. The full label issuance button switch outputs a confirmation of the fullness to the sorting frontage display control unit 15 and the control computer 12 when the operator visually confirms that the frontages 52 and 53 are filled with the input articles and turns it on. .

In each sorting zone 50, a labeler 57 controlled by the sorting destination display control unit 15 is installed. The labeler 57 issues a label (or a list) in which the store names and the like assigned to the full frontages 52 and 53 are printed out by turning on the full label issue button switch of the sorting confirmation unit 56. This label is
It is affixed to the article of the full frontage 52, 53 or its storage box by the operator.

The secondary sorting line 40 includes a surplus product sorting line 61, a surplus product return line 62, and a take-out indicator 6.
3, a surplus item labeler 64 is provided. Upstream arrival line 20
Of the cases received from the primary sorting line 30 from
In the case where only some of these articles are sorted into each secondary sorting line 40, they are carried into the surplus item sorting branch line 61 from the primary sorting line 30. The control computer 12 displays on the take-out indicator 63 the necessary take-out quantity from the case and the removal of unnecessary surplus items. The worker takes out the required number of articles and supplies them to the conveyor 40A of the secondary sorting line 40. The surplus product is returned from the surplus product return line 62 to the primary sorting line 30 with a label issued by the surplus product labeler 64.

Further, in the sorting apparatus 10, a payout line 71 is connected to the conveying end of the primary sorting line 30.
Items that have not been ordered or items that have been delivered in excess of the ordered number are delivered from the delivery line 71.

However, in the sorting device 10,
Each of (1) an operation of assigning a sorting zone based on a sorting standard and (2) an operation of managing an acceptance deadline of a received item are provided as follows.

(1) Sorting Zone Allocation Operation According to Sorting Criteria (FIGS. 4 to 7) The sorting apparatus 10 predetermines a plurality of types of sorting criteria for sorting articles in each sorting zone 50, and the upstream receiving line Code data (product information) indicating a supplier name, a product name, a product classification name, etc. incidental to the case of each product received at 20 is read by the arrival terminal 13 as described above.

The control computer 12 presets a plurality of types of sorting standards for sorting articles in each sorting zone 50. Then, the control computer 12 adopts a specific sorting standard from a plurality of types of sorting standards based on the reading result of the receiving terminal 13, and the sorting zone to be the sorting destination of the case article according to the adopted sorting standard. 50 and the frontages 52 and 53 are allocated, and when the case is branched to the secondary sorting line 40, this allocation destination is output to the sorting frontage display control unit 15 as described above, and the corresponding number of the sorting zones 50 is input. The display 55 and the sorting confirmation unit 56 are operated to sort each article.

The control computer 12 can determine, as the plurality of types of sorting criteria, for example, two or more criteria selected from among the criteria by store, the criteria by product category, and the criteria by delivery course.

(Example 1 of Store-Specific Criteria) (FIG. 4) In adopting the store-specific standard, one delivery destination store (for example, A store, B store or C store) is assigned to one sorting zone 50, Each product category is assigned to each frontage 52, 53 of the sorting zone 50.

In the example of FIG. 4, each of the three sorting zones 50 is assigned to each of the A store zone, the B store zone and the C store zone. In the A store zone and the B store zone, the upper three-stage frontages a to i are set as the bulk loading frontages 52 according to the product classifications a to i, and the lower first frontage j is the upper three-stage frontage a,
The product insertion categories a, d, and g assigned to d and g are referred to as a case insertion frontage 53, and the frontage k is the frontages b, e, and 3 above it.
A case loading frontage 53 is a collection of product categories b, e, h assigned to h, and a frontage l is a case loading frontage that is a collection of the product categories c, f, i assigned to the frontages c, f, i. It was set to 53. In the C store zone, since the product categories c, f, i are not handled, there is no frontage for allocation of those product categories c, f, i.

The case insertion opening 53 (for example, j) of FIG.
Registered the merger so that the handling product classifications (for example, a, d, g) of a plurality of bulk insertion fronts 52 (for example, a, d, g) were collected. In the case where there are a large number of sorted items and a small number of sorted items, it is efficient to register and use a plurality of product classification cases per one case insertion opening 53 in this way.

On the other hand, when case-sorted products are mainly handled, for example, each of the upper three frontages is a case loading frontage 53 assigned to each of the three product categories, and the lower one frontage front is the upper three. It is also possible to carry out the merger registration as the bulk loading frontage 52 that allows all the three handling product categories of the case loading frontage 53 in a tier to be collectively received.

In the frontage allocation program executed by the control computer 12, the priority distribution is selected when the number of items handled in bulk is large, and the case priority allocation is selected when the number of items handled in case is large. You can choose to register.

In the store A zone of FIG. 4, for example, the frontage b, k
The frontage indicator lamp of each sorting confirmation unit 56 is turned on, indicating that the goods of the product category b which should be the sorting destination of the A store have arrived at the sorting zone 50 which is the A store zone.

In the store A zone of FIG. 4, for example, the bulk insertion opening 52 (b) and the case insertion opening 53 (k) are simultaneously designated by the simultaneous lighting of the insertion opening display lamps of the sorting confirmation unit 56. , The worker visually confirms the article size of the goods classification B which arrived at this A store zone,
One of the loose loading front 52 (b) and the case loading front 53 (k) is selected and determined as a loading destination suitable for the size of the article. After inserting the article into one of the loose insertion opening 52 (b) or the case insertion opening 53 (k) selected by the operator, if the insertion completion button switch of the sorting confirmation unit 56 is turned on, the insertion of both openings 52, 53 is performed. The frontage indicator lamp goes off.

(Example 2 of Store-Specific Criteria) (FIG. 5) In the example of FIG. 5, each of the two sorting zones 50 is A.
It was assigned to each of the store zone and the B store zone. Each A store,
In the B store zone, one frontage of the sorting zone 50 is set as a case insertion and non-category frontage 54, and all other frontages are set as individual insertion frontages 52 corresponding to respective product categories. In each of the bulk insertion openings 52, articles of a corresponding product category can be stored in a unit taken out from the case. Case insertion and no category frontage 54,
In addition to accommodating the single-item accommodation case of each product category in units of cases, the articles of each product category can be accommodated in units of one piece taken out from the case.

Incidentally, the no-category frontage 54 is allocated and used for an article whose merchandise category is not registered in the ordering data of the physical distribution computer 11. Alternatively, when a product category is assigned to each frontage in the store-specific zone and the remaining frontage is reduced, one frontage can be changed and used as the no-category frontage 54, and the frontage already registered in the no-category frontage 54. Multiple merchandise categories other than the merchandise category merchandise can be added. When the article is put into the no-category frontage 54, the labeler 57 issues a no-category label and affixes the no-category label to the put-in article, which is useful for the display work at the storefront.

In, for example, the A store zone of FIG. 5, the loading frontage indicator lamps of the sorting confirmation units 56 of the bulk loading frontage 52 and the case loading / no-category fronting 54 are lit, and the A store should be the sorting destination. It indicates that the goods of the goods category have arrived at the sorting zone 50 which is the A shop zone.

In the store A zone of FIG. 5, for example, the bulk loading front 52, the case loading, and the no-category fronting 54 are simultaneously designated by the simultaneous lighting of the front loading display lamps of the sorting confirmation unit 56. Is this A
After visually recognizing the size of the article that has arrived at the store zone, one of the loose loading front 52, the case loading, and the no-category front opening 54 is selected and determined as a loading destination suitable for the size of the article. After inserting the article into one of the loose loading front 52 or the case loading and non-category front opening 54 selected by the worker, if the loading completion button switch of the sorting confirmation unit 56 is turned on, the loading front display lamps of both front openings 52 and 54 are displayed. Turns off.

(Example of Product Classification-Specific Criteria) (FIG. 6) In adopting the product classification-specific criteria, one product classification (for example, A or B) is assigned to one sorting zone 50, and the sorting zone concerned is assigned. The delivery destination store (for example, a store, b
Store, store c, etc.).

In the example of FIG. 6, each of the two sorting zones 50 is assigned to each of Class A and Class B. In the A-type zone and the B-type zone, the upper and lower two-stage bulk loading frontage 52 and case loading frontage 53 are provided for one store.

In the zone A of FIG. 6, for example, the loading front display lamps of the sorting confirmation units 56 of the bulk loading front 52 and the case loading front 53 of the b store are lit, and the product to be sorted is the b store. It shows that the goods of the classification A have arrived at the sorting zone 50 which is the A class zone.

In addition, for example, in the zone A of FIG. 6, the bulk loading front 52 and the case loading front 53 in which the goods of the product classification A are assigned to the same b store are simultaneously turned on by the loading front display lamps of the sorting confirmation unit 56. Are specified at the same time by the operator, and the operator visually recognizes the size of the article that has arrived at the A-type zone, and selects one of the bulk loading slot 52 and the case loading slot 53 of the b store as the loading destination suitable for this size of the article. to decide. After the worker inserts the article into one of the loose loading front 52 or the case loading front 53 selected in the store b, if the loading completion button switch of the sorting confirmation unit 56 is turned on, the loading front display lamps of the front opening 52 and 53 are displayed. Is turned off and, if necessary, each sorting confirmation unit such as a bulk loading slot 52 and a case loading slot 53 of a store c that is next assigned as the next sorting destination of the articles of the relevant product classification A arriving at the relevant Class A zone. The frontage indicator lamp 56 is turned on.

(Example of Delivery Course-Specific Criteria) (FIG. 7) When adopting the delivery course-based criteria, one delivery course (for example, A course) is assigned to one sorting zone 50, and the shelves of the sorting zone 50 are allocated. Next to each other rose input frontage 5
The delivery destination stores (for example, a to h stores) are assigned to each of the two items in the order of delivery (for example, the top row in the horizontal order, and subsequently the bottom row in the horizontal order ... are the delivery order (or the reverse order)). Assign to.

In the example of FIG. 7, the sorting zone 50 is assigned to the A course zone (course number display portion 58).

In the example of FIG. 7, the case loading frontage 53 is assigned a front loading case loading frontage i and a post loading case loading frontage k, and each of the front ends of the case loading frontage 53 is also delivered to each delivery destination store. Assigned in order. Case loading frontage 53
A roll box pallet capable of accommodating heavy and large products is arranged in the.

For example, in the A course zone of FIG. 7, the loading frontage indicator lamps of the sorting confirmation units 56 of the bulk loading frontage 52 of the store a and the case loading frontage 53 of the pre-loading case loading frontage i are lit, and a Sorting zone 50, which is the A course zone, for articles of the product category that should be sorted by the store
It has arrived at.

Note that, for example, in the A course zone of FIG.
The bulk loading frontage 52 and the case loading frontage 53 assigned to the a store of the course are simultaneously designated by the simultaneous lighting of the loading frontage display lamps of the sorting confirmation unit 56, and the worker has arrived at the A course zone. After visually recognizing the item, one of the loose loading front 52 and the case loading front 53 is selected and determined as a loading destination suitable for the size of the article. After the worker puts the article into one of the loose loading front 52 or the case loading front 53 selected for the store a, if the loading completion button switch of the sorting confirmation unit 56 is turned on, the loading front display lamps of the front loading 52 and 53 are displayed. Is turned off, and if necessary, for example, the loose loading frontage 52 of the f store and the pre-loading case loading frontage i (or the next loading destination in the A course as the next sorting destination for the articles arriving in the A course zone). The loading frontage indicator lamp of each sorting confirmation unit 56 of the rear loading case loading frontage k) is turned on.

(Switching Setting of Each Sorting Standard) The control computer 12 uses the above-mentioned sorting standards applied to each sorting zone 50 to the arrival status of the incoming goods to the upstream receiving line 20 (whether it is a bulk product or a case product). Etc.) and switch setting. That is, the control computer 12 adopts one sorting standard (for example, store-based standard) for the articles received in the upstream receiving line 20, and sorts in accordance with this sorting standard in the sorting zone 50 to which this sorting standard is applied. After completion, other sorting criteria (for example, product classification criteria) for the articles that are subsequently received in the upstream receiving line 20.
Sorting zone 50 that adopts this sorting standard
In, the sorting is performed according to this sorting standard.

Therefore, the sorting device 10 has the following effects by adopting the sorting zone allocating operation based on the sorting standard described above.

By reading the product information of the products received in the upstream receiving line 20, the arrival status of the products can be grasped. And according to the sorting criteria that can match this arrival situation,
Sorting zone 50 and frontage 5 that should be the sorting destination of the article
By assigning 2, 53, a plurality of sorting zones 5
The usage pattern of 0 can be appropriately changed, and the productivity of the sorting apparatus 10 can be improved. The selection of the sorting standard and the setting change of the usage mode of the sorting zone 50 according to the arrival status are not limited to those by the control computer 12, but may be made by a person's judgment.

As the sorting standard, two or more appropriately selected from a store-based standard, a product-classified standard, and a delivery-course-based standard can be set.

A. When the store-based standard is adopted, it is convenient that the articles can be subdivided according to the product categories when the articles are distributed from many suppliers in many product categories in a concentrated manner.

B. When the product category-based standard is adopted, it is effective when the number of product categories of the supplier is small and the number of workers is small. 1 if only one product category is delivered
It is also possible to carry out sorting for 20 stores in one sorting zone 50 handled by human workers. If 5 stores are assigned to one sorting zone, the used sorting zone will be 4 zones, the used sorting zone can be adjusted according to the work load and working time, the workers in each sorting zone 50 can be leveled, and the sorting speed can be improved. Can be faster. When sorting only one product category, there is virtually no product category (no category).
Therefore, many stores can be assigned to a distribution center that does not require sorting of product categories.

C. If you use the standard by delivery course,
By setting the frontages assigned to each store so as to be arranged in the order of delivery (or the reverse order of delivery) and stacking the sorted articles or their storage boxes taken out from the frontages in the order of frontage, the delivery workability is improved.

After completing sorting according to one sorting standard for the articles received in the upstream receiving line 20, another sorting standard is adopted for other articles received subsequently in the upstream receiving line 20. Then, by sorting them, the usage pattern of each sorting zone 50 can be appropriately changed according to the change of the arrival status accompanying the transition of the delivery time zone of the distribution center 1.

(2) Receipt Deadline Management Operation of Incoming Goods The sorting device 10 defines the receipt deadline rule of each article in the product master of the physical distribution computer 11 in order to manage the receipt deadline of the received goods, and controls this. 1
2 can be transferred. The acceptance deadline rule is based on expiration date information such as the expiration date, expiration date, or expiration date from the manufacturing date of each item, and the sorting device 10 for the item.
The permissible acceptance period (the date which is n days before the expiration date, or the date when, for example, ⅛ of the maximum effective period has passed from the manufacturing date) has been set.

The receiving terminal 13 of the upstream receiving line 20 reads the expiration date information attached to each article. The arrival terminal 13 is
Bar code for each case of single product type delivered in case packing, and for each individual unpacked content product for mixed case product containing multiple product types in a single case As described above, the reader or the like reads the arrival data such as the product name, and the operator visually checks the expiration date information such as the expiration date printed on each case or the content item, and then the handy terminal (mobile terminal ) And scan. These reading results of the arrival terminal 13 are transferred to the control computer 12 and the physical distribution computer 11.

The control computer 12 calculates the acceptance deadline of the article from the expiration date information which is the read result of the arrival terminal 13 based on the acceptance term rule, and the article accepted within the acceptance term is the ordering data of the article, etc. In addition to sorting into a sorting zone 50 corresponding to a predetermined sorting destination (delivery destination store) and frontages 52 and 53, a primary sorting line 30 and a secondary sorting line 40 are set so that articles received before the acceptance deadline are returned. Control as follows.

When the code data such as the product name of each case collected by the bar code reader 31 of the primary sorting line 30 is transferred to the control computer 12, the control computer 12 calculates the acceptance deadline of the case article. Based on the above, perform the following (a) or (b).

(A) For the articles whose date of receipt to the upstream receiving line 20 is within the acceptance deadline, the control computer 1
2 refers to the store order data or the like held by the distribution computer 11 according to the sorting operation described above, and the secondary sorting line 4 that is a branch destination from the primary sorting line 30 of the case concerned.
0, the sorting zone 50, which is the sorting destination of the case in the secondary sorting line 42, and the openings 52 and 53 are designated, and sorting into these openings 52 and 53 is performed.

(B) For items whose acceptance date to the upstream delivery line 20 is outside the acceptance deadline, the control computer 1
2 designates a secondary sorting line 40 which is a branch destination from the primary sorting line 30 of the case, a sorting zone 50 which is a sorting destination of the case in the secondary sorting line 40, and a return front 80. The goods are sorted into the returned goods frontage 80.

At this time, the control computer 12 among the frontages of the plurality of sorting zones 50, the frontages 52 and 53 already assigned as the destinations for the goods within the acceptance deadline of the above (a), according to the above-mentioned sorting criteria. Those excluding "" are allocated as the return frontage 80. And the control computer 12
One sorting zone 50 may be used as a return-only zone and all the frontages may be used as the returnage frontages 80. A part or only one frontage of the one sorting zone 50 may be used as the returnage frontage 80.
You may use as. When using a plurality of frontages as the return frontages 80, the control computer 12 may specify each frontage 80 for each supplier.

Items that are out of the acceptance period are the primary sorting line 30.
The arrival at the entrance of the sorting zone 50 designated for the article through the secondary sorting line 40 means that the barcode reader 41 of the sorting zone 50 displays the code data such as the product name attached to the article case. It is determined by transferring to the control computer 12. This allows
The control computer 12 outputs the returned goods frontage 80 in the sorting zone 50, which is a sorting destination of the goods whose acceptance deadline has expired, to the sorting frontage display control unit 15.

The sorting frontage display control unit 15 lights and displays on the loading number indicator 55 of the sorting zone 50 that the article case has arrived at the sorting zone 50 which is the sorting destination of the goods whose acceptance period is not yet reached. Then, the control computer 12 actuates the sorting confirmation unit 56 of the return front 80 that is specified in advance as the destination of the goods whose acceptance period has expired, and the return front 80 is turned on by turning on the loading front display lamp of the sorting confirmation unit 56. Is displayed, and when the worker turns on the sorting completion button switch at the time when the insertion of the article into the frontage 80 is completed, the completion of the input is output to the destination frontage display control unit 15 and the control computer 12. To do.

The sorting confirmation unit 56 is also provided with a return label issuing button switch, and when the operator turns this switch on, the sorting frontage display control unit 15 activates the labeler 57 to return the undelivered goods. Issue information label. This return information label is attached to the article put in the return front 80 or the storage box thereof. On the returned goods information label, "supplier name, supplier code, acceptance deadline and date, receipt reason, etc." are printed.

The above-mentioned return information label may be issued by interlocking the labeler 57 by turning on the insertion completion button switch (sorting completion button switch) of the sorting confirmation unit 56, or by the sorting confirmation unit 56. The full label issuing button switch may also be used as the return label issuing button switch.

Further, a roll box (or pallet) 2 is arranged for each supplier, etc., on the back side of the return front 80 of the sorting zone 50, and collects and returns the undelivered goods put in the return front 80. It can be processed.

The physical distribution computer 11 records the returned product record data by organizing it by the supplier based on the above-mentioned returned product records by the control computer 12, and records the recorded data, and can issue a returned product list. Further, the physical distribution computer 11 can send the return record data to the retail business headquarters or to the supplier.

In the sorting apparatus 10, the returned goods frontage 80 of the sorting zone 50 is used as the return destination of the goods whose acceptance period has expired.
If you do not prepare the item, the payout line 7
1 (return line) may be used. At this time, when the case article for which the code data such as the product name is collected by the bar code reader 31 of the primary sorting line 30 is an unacceptable article, the control computer 12 directly pays out the article from the primary sorting line 30. Pay out at 71. The payout line 71 is provided with a bar code reader 72, a payout indicator 73, and a labeler 74. The bar code reader 72 outputs code data such as a product name of an article that has arrived at the payout line 71 to the control computer 12, The pay-out display device 73 lights up the arrival of the article on the pay-out line 71, and the labeler 74 issues a returned-goods information label to be attached to the undelivered goods that arrive on the pay-out line 71. The worker attaches the return information label to the corresponding article and processes the return.

According to this embodiment, there are the following effects. During the sorting process of the received goods, the expiration date information attached to each article is read, and the acceptance term management for each article is performed based on the read result. Therefore, it is possible to easily manage the acceptance period for all the received goods in a short time by light work without impairing the operation of the distribution center.

By performing the acceptance deadline management for all the received goods, it is possible to perform the complete acceptance deadline management and improve the consumer's trust in the retail business.

The goods whose acceptance period has expired are collected in the specified return opening 80 in the sorting zone 50, and the workability of returning goods to the supplier can be improved.

By specifying the above-mentioned return front 80 for each supplier, the workability of returning to the supplier can be further improved.

A delivery line 71 for items out of the acceptance deadline
By paying out to the (return line), the goods to be returned can be collected in one place with a simple equipment configuration, and the workability of returning to the supplier can be improved.

By attaching the returned goods information label to the goods whose acceptance period has expired, the workability of returning goods to the supplier can be improved.

By issuing a list of returned goods, it is possible to accurately record the return history. Further, by sending the return list to the retail business headquarters and the return list to the supplier, it is possible to rationally correct the payment information from the retailer to the supplier and to achieve high precision in quality control. .

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and changes in design within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. Even so, it is included in the present invention.

[0095]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and completely manage the acceptance deadline for the received goods.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a sorting device of a distribution center.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a control system of a distribution center.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a sorting zone.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which a store-specific standard is adopted for a sorting zone.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing another example in which a store-based standard is adopted for a sorting zone.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an example in which a product classification standard is adopted for a sorting zone.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which a distribution course-based standard is adopted in a sorting zone.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Sorting device 11 Logistics computer 12 Control computer 13 Arrival terminal 20 upstream arrival line 30, 40 sorting line 50 sorting zones 71 Payout line (Return line) 80 Return frontage

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A method for sorting articles that receives each article received and sorts each article into each of a number of frontages of a sorting zone that should be the sorting destination of the article, based on the expiration date information of each article. Predetermine the acceptance deadline rule that determines the acceptance deadline, read the expiration date information incidental to each article in the sorting process of the received goods, calculate the acceptance deadline of the article based on the acceptance deadline rule from this expiration date information, A method of sorting goods, characterized in that goods received within the acceptance deadline are sorted into a predetermined frontage of the sorting destination corresponding to the delivery destination of the goods, and goods received outside the acceptance deadline are returned. 2. The method for sorting articles according to claim 1, wherein the articles received outside the acceptance deadline are sorted into a specified return front in a sorting zone. 3. The method for sorting articles according to claim 2, wherein the articles received outside the acceptance deadline are sorted into a return slot specified for each supplier in the sorting zone. 4. The method for sorting goods according to claim 1, wherein the goods received outside the acceptance deadline are paid out to a return line. 5. The article returned in a state where a label printed with return information is attached to the article received outside the acceptance deadline and a list of returned articles is issued.
4. The method for sorting articles according to any one of 4 above. 6. An article sorting apparatus that receives each received article and sorts each article into each of a number of frontages in a sorting zone that should be the sorting destination of the article, based on the expiration date information of each article. It has a control computer that predefines an acceptance deadline rule that determines the acceptance deadline, and a receiving terminal that reads the expiration date information that accompanies each item in the process of sorting the received items. Calculate the acceptance deadline of the article based on the expiration date rule from certain expiration date information, and sort the goods received within the acceptance deadline into the predetermined sorting frontage corresponding to the delivery destination of the goods, and outside the acceptance deadline A sorting device for goods, which is capable of returning the received goods. 7. The article sorting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control computer is capable of sorting articles received outside the acceptance deadline into a specified return front in a sorting zone. 8. The apparatus for sorting articles according to claim 7, wherein the control computer is capable of sorting the articles received outside the acceptance deadline in a return zone specified by a supplier in a sorting zone. 9. The article sorting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control computer is capable of delivering an article received outside the acceptance deadline to a return line. 10. The control computer is capable of issuing a label printed with return information for attaching to an article received before the acceptance deadline, and issuing a list of returned articles. Item sorting apparatus according to any one of 1.