JP2003246421A - Distribution facility - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide distribution facility capable of flexibly responding to changes in picking work amount, and timely supplying a pallet. <P>SOLUTION: This distribution facility comprise three automatic warehouses storing pallets on which articles are loaded, three shipping stations capable of storing a plurality of the pallets and picking the articles from the pallets in order of storing, and a self-traveling carrying truck carrying the pallets taken out from the automatic ware houses to the shipping states. The picking work amount of the article from the pallet in the shipping station is determined, and a next pallet is taken out from the automatic warehouse according to the determined picking work amount. In this structure, shipping station pallets with the small picking work amount can be successively taken out before shipping station pallets with large picking work amount, so that flexible taking out pattern is enabled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to cargo handling such as an automatic warehouse for automatically storing articles, a conveyor used for loading and unloading articles, and a self-propelled carrier for transporting goods between these automatic warehouses and conveyors. The present invention relates to a logistics facility equipped with facility equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a conventional automatic warehouse facility, which is the above-mentioned physical distribution facility, will be described with reference to the layout diagram of FIG.

The automatic warehouse facility shown in FIG. 8 has a storage rack 3 having a plurality of article storage units 2 for storing a pallet (an example of a receiving body) 1 on which articles are loaded, and along a fixed path 4 along the storage rack 3. A stacker crane 5 that is self-propelled and loads and unloads pallets 1 to and from storage shelves 3, and a loading conveyor device that transports articles 1 between the loading position of pallets 1 and the loading position of pallets 1 on this stacker crane 5. 6 and the pallet 1 output position and pallet 1 from the stacker crane 5
Plural (3 units in the figure) provided with a delivery conveyor device (an example of delivery means) 7 for transporting the pallet 1 between the loading and unloading positions
The automatic warehouse (an example of article storage means) 8, the loading conveyor device 6 or the loading conveyor device 7 and the pallet 1 are loaded and unloaded, and the articles 1 are transported by self-propelled on a fixed route 9 on the floor. It is composed of a self-propelled transporting trolley (an example of a transporting means) 10 and three combination conveyors. The self-propelled transporting trolley 10 and the pallet 1 are loaded and unloaded, and the picking work of articles on the pallet 1 is executed. It is composed of a plurality of (three in the figure) shipping stations (an example of a picking work unit) 11 and an in-feed conveyor device 12 for loading and unloading the pallets 1 carried in from outside the equipment onto a self-propelled carrier 10. The pallet 1 can be placed on the unloading conveyor device 7 at two locations, the unloading position and the unloading position, and the unloading conveyor device 7 unloads the pallet 1 delivered from the stacker crane 5 of the automatic warehouse 8. Store in order and self-propelled carrier
It has a function to carry out to 10 in the order of delivery.

Further, one of the three shipping stations 11 is provided with a robot (which also serves as an example of work completion output means) 13 used for transferring articles on the pallet 1, and three stations are also provided. Each of the two shipping stations 11 is provided with a picking completion button (an example of work completion output means) 15 that the picking operator 14 operates at the end of the picking work.

Each shipping station 11 is a loading conveyor device for loading the pallets 1 from the self-propelled carriage 10.
16, an unloading conveyor device 17 for loading and unloading the pallets 1 to and from the self-propelled carriage 10, and an intermediate position between the loading conveyor device 16 and the unloading conveyor device 17, having a picking position for articles on the pallet 1, Conveyor device for loading pallet 1
16 is composed of a picking conveyor device 18 provided with a transfer device (not shown) for transferring the pallet 1 to the carry-out conveyor device 17, and the pallet 1 is transferred from the self-propelled carrier 10 to the carry-in conveyor device 16. When it is received and conveyed to the picking conveyor device 18, and when picking is completed at the picking position, it is conveyed to the carry-out conveyor device 17 and passed to the self-propelled carrier 10.

According to the above configuration, the shipping station 11
According to the shipping schedule of the articles from the pallet 1, the pallet 1 is unloaded from the automatic warehouse 8 to the unloading conveyor device 7, and the pallet 1 is loaded from the unloading conveyor device 7 into the self-propelled transport trolley 10. Target shipping station by 10 11
To be loaded and unloaded from the self-propelled carriage 10. Then, in the shipping station 11, when the pallet 1 is unloaded from the self-propelled carriage 10, the pallet 1 is temporarily stored, and when the picking operation of the article on the previous pallet 1 at the picking position is completed, the picking position is set. It is moved to, the picking work is executed by the robot 13,
When the picking work is completed, or when the picking worker 14 executes the picking work and operates the picking completion button 15, the picking worker moves to the loading position and waits for the arrival of the self-propelled carriage 10 to carry out the loading.

Further, in the automatic warehouse equipment having the above-mentioned structure, there are a plurality of automatic warehouses 8 (stacker cranes 5) from which the goods are issued.
Since a plurality of shipping destination shipping stations 11 exist and are combined, it is necessary to control the rules such as to what extent and how many pallets 1 to be actually shipped are to be shipped. This rule is set by one of the following two types of patterns depending on the equipment configuration.

A. Non-interfering operation pattern of other shipping station 11 Regardless of the work progress of the adjacent shipping station 11,
This is a pattern in which the pallets 1 are supplied to each shipping station 11, and the pallets 1 are supplied so that the shipping stations 11 have a storable number (fixed set value) of the pallets 1.

B. Lead time reduction priority operation pattern This pattern aims to shorten the lead time (actual time or estimated time required to complete the execution of the action targeted by the command after a command is issued). Similarly, the other shipping stations 11 also have a pattern in which the pallet 1 is preliminarily delivered prior to the delivery conveyor device 7, assuming that the pallet 1 is processed in a timely manner. At this time, the delivered pallets 1 are stored in the delivery conveyor device 7 in the order preset in the shipping station 11. If the picking time at the shipping station 11 is short, the required tact time of the pallet 1 increases, and the lead time is required to be shortened.

[0010]

In the automatic warehouse equipment having the above-mentioned configuration, there are a plurality of stacker cranes 5 from which the goods are delivered,
Since a plurality of shipping destination shipping stations 11 exist and are combined, the phenomenon that the supply of the pallet 1 is delayed or the shipping of the articles from the shipping station 11 is delayed depending on the characteristics of the work. .

That is, in the above rule, when the "non-interfering operation pattern of the other shipping station 11", one of the pallets 1 stored in the shipping station 11 for which picking has been completed is automatically conveyed. Since the next pallet 1 is unloaded from the trolley 10 in the automatic warehouse 8, the pallet 1 is a shipping station in which picking work time is short.
In 11, "Pallet 1 is delayed in arrival, pallet 1
“Picking work waits and the shipment of goods is delayed”
There was a problem that a pallet supply shortage occurred.

Further, in the "lead time reduction priority operation pattern", since the pallet 1 is preceded and stored in the shipping conveyor device 7 in the order of the set shipping station 11, one shipping station. When the picking work at 11 is extended, the pallet 1 to be supplied to the shipping station 11 where the picking work is delayed
There is a problem in that the pallet 1 positioned after is unable to be transported and a pallet supply failure to the intended shipping station 11 occurs.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a physical distribution facility capable of supplying pallets in a timely manner while flexibly responding to changes in the working state when the amount of picking work can be predicted to some extent.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises an article storage means for storing articles in a state of being loaded on a receiver.
It is possible to store a plurality of receptacles on which the articles are loaded, and a plurality of picking work units that pick the articles from the receptacles in the order in which they are stored, and the articles that are unloaded from the article storage means. A physical distribution facility comprising a transporting unit for transporting a receiver to the picking work unit, wherein the picking work unit determines a picking work amount of the article from the receiver in accordance with the determined picking work amount. Then, the next receiving body is unloaded from the article storage means.

According to the above structure, the picking amount of the article from the receiving body is determined in the picking work unit, and the next receiving body on which the article is loaded from the article storage means is determined according to the determined picking work amount. The product is issued (or the next issue command for the recipient is output). That is, when the determined picking work amount is small, the receiving body is immediately put out, and when the decided picking work amount is large, the receiving body is put out after a while. Therefore, the receiving body for the picking work unit with a small amount of picking work can be continuously output before the receiving body for the picking work unit with a large amount of picking work, and a flexible delivery form can be achieved. it can.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the article storage means are provided, and each of the article storage means has the article loaded on each picking work unit. The present invention is characterized by supplying a receiving body.

According to the above construction, the picking work amount of the article from the receiving body in each picking work portion is determined, and the picking work portion is supplied to the picking work portion in accordance with the estimated picking work amount of each picking work portion. The next receiver on which the article to be loaded is loaded is ejected from each of the article storage means accommodated therein.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the amount of picked-up work of the determined article is small, the receiving body is moved from the article storing means. It is characterized in that the time for leaving the container is shortened, and the time for leaving the receiving body from the article storage means is lengthened when the pickup work amount is large.

According to the above structure, when the amount of picked-up work of the determined article is small, the time for which the receiving body is unloaded from the article storage means is shortened, so that the receiving body on which the article is loaded is unloaded from the article storage means. The time required to reach the picking work unit via the transport means is shortened. In addition, when the amount of picked-up work of the determined article is large, the time for which the receiving body is unloaded from the article storage means is lengthened, and the receiving body for the picking work unit with a small picking work amount is used for the picking work unit with a large picking work amount. It is possible to continuously leave before the receiving body.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein each of the picking work parts has a picking work for the article from the receiving body. Work end output means for outputting end information is provided, and in accordance with the picking work end information from the work end output means, the next receiving body for the picking work unit that has output the picking work end information is the article storage means. The feature is that the amount of picking work is reassigned and the amount of picking work is determined again.

According to the above construction, the next receiving member for the picking work unit, which has output the picking work end information in accordance with the picking work end information from the work end output means, is attracted from the article storage means, and the picking work amount Is judged again. Then, according to the re-determined picking work amount, the receiving body assigned before the article storage means is unloaded (or a receiving command of the receiving body is output).

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 4, wherein the receiving means on which the articles loaded with the articles are received from the article storage means and is carried out to the carrying means. Is provided, and the order of the receiving bodies assigned to the article storage means and delivered to the delivery means can be changed according to the re-determined pickup work amount.

According to the above construction, the order of the receiving bodies assigned to the article storage means and delivered to the delivery means is changed in accordance with the re-determined picking work amount, and the picking work amount with a small re-determined picking work amount is changed. It is possible to continuously leave the group receiving body before the receiving body for the picking working unit having a large amount of picking work.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 5, wherein the time until the receiving body is delivered to the delivery means in the article storage means is determined, and the delivery time is calculated. In consideration of the above, the receiving body is unloaded.

According to the above construction, the time required for the receiving unit to be unloaded and to arrive at the picking work section is adjusted in consideration of the delivery time until the receiving unit is delivered to the delivery unit in the article storage unit.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the delivery means stores the receiving bodies delivered from the article storage means in the delivery order. , And has a function of carrying out to the carrying means in the order of warehousing.

According to the above-mentioned structure, the receiving means to be delivered from the article storage means are sequentially stored in the delivery means, and are delivered to the transport means in the stored order. The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the picking work amount is set to be changeable in advance for each of the picking work parts. It is characterized in that the receptacle is unloaded from the article storage means so that the picking work amount determined is substantially equal to the determined picking work amount.

According to the above construction, the receptacles are unloaded from the article storage means so that the set picking workload and the determined picking workloads are substantially equal, and the supply of the receptacles is delayed at each picking work section. It is also possible to avoid delaying the shipment of articles from the picking work unit.

The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the supply amount of the receiver can be changed in advance for each of the picking working parts. Is set, and the receiving body is supplied from the article storage means so that the set supply amount of the receiving body is set.

According to the above construction, the receiving body is supplied from the article storage means so that the supply amount of the receiving body stored in the picking working section becomes the set supply amount of the receiving body, and each picking working section is supplied. In the above, it is possible to prevent the supply of the receiving body from being delayed and the shipment of the articles from the picking work unit to be delayed.

Further, the invention according to claim 10 is the invention according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein a plurality of the article storages each have a receiving body on which articles of the same type are loaded. When the receiving bodies loaded with the same kind of articles are stocked in only one article storing means, the picking work unit It is characterized in that the picking work amount of the article from the receiving body is determined, and the next receiving body is unloaded from the article storage means according to the determined picking work amount.

According to the above construction, when the picking work amount in each picking work unit is determined and the next receiving unit is unloaded from the article storage means based on this determination, the receiving unit loaded with the same type of articles is used. It starts when stock is stored in only one storage means.

[0033]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the physical distribution equipment in the embodiment of the present invention has the configuration of the automatic warehouse equipment shown in FIG. 8, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of an automatic warehouse facility which is a physical distribution facility according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 21 is a general control unit of the automatic warehouse equipment. The general control unit 21 is a general controller (a control unit of control means) which is a computer connected to a communication cable (an example of a communication line) 22 via a transceiver 23. An example) 24, and a liquid crystal display device (an example of display means) 25, a keyboard 26, and a mouse (an example of an instruction means) 27 connected to the overall controller 24. A superordinate management computer 28 is connected to the overall controller 24.

In addition, each of the RM controllers 31 of the three automated warehouses 8, the transport controller 32 of the self-propelled carrier 10, the shipping controller 33 of the three shipping stations 11, the controller 34 of the incoming conveyor device 12, and the robot 13. A robot controller 35 is connected to the communication cable 22 via a transceiver 23, and is configured to be able to send and receive data between the general controller 24 and each controller 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. "RM controller 31 of automated warehouse 8" Each automated warehouse 8 above
The controller 31 is provided with the respective article storage units 2 of the storage shelves 3 in advance.
Data (for example, pallet number) for specifying the pallet 1 stored for each (shelf number) is stored, and the controller 31 of each automated warehouse 8 stores the stacker crane 5 via an optical communication device (not shown). Are connected, and further, the storage conveyor device 6 and the storage conveyor device 7 are connected. The controller 31 of the automatic warehouse 8 drives the warehousing conveyor device 6 to receive the pallet 1 that has been conveyed by the self-propelled carrier 10 (picking completed) and drives the stacker crane 5 to restore the original pallet 1 The self-propelled carriage 10 stores the pallets 1 that have been stored in the article storage unit 2 and driven the output conveyor device 7 to be output to the output conveyor device 7.
The operation to hand over to is executed and the next shipping operation is executed.

As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 3, first, by the general controller 24, as will be described later, "the number (shelf number) of the article storage section 2 of the storage shelf 3 to be delivered, the number of the pallet 1 and the shipping station of the delivery destination. If you enter "Outgoing command data consisting of a number that specifies 11" (Step-
1) Check whether the pallet 1 is placed at the shipping position of the shipping conveyor device 7, that is, whether shipping is possible (step-2).
To specify a shelf number and output a shipping request (step-3). In response to this request, the pallet 1 of the rack number designated by the stacker crane 5 is delivered to the delivery position of the delivery conveyor device 7, and when the delivery completion signal is input from the stacker crane 5 (step-4), the "automatic warehouse 8 is opened." The delivery completion data "including the number to be specified, the number of the pallet 1 and the number of the shipping station 11 at the delivery destination" is transmitted to the general controller 24 and the transport controller 32 (step-5), and the process is ended. It should be noted that, when a plurality of shipping command data are input, they are executed in the order of input.

By this shipping operation, the pallet 1 is shipped to the shipping conveyor device 7 in response to the shipping command data.
When the pallet 1 is unloaded from the loading / unloading position of the unloading conveyor device 7 to the self-propelled carriage 10, the pallet 1 in the unloading position
Is moved to the loading / unloading position, and can be delivered to the delivery conveyor device 7 again.

When the pallet 1 is received from the self-propelled carrier 10, the carrier controller 32 receives "receipt data consisting of a number identifying the pallet 1 to be delivered and a number of the shipping station 11 at the destination" which will be described later. Based on the pallet 1 number of this warehousing data, the stocking operation of the article storage unit 2 to be stored is performed, and when the warehousing is completed, the “automatic warehouse 8 number, this pallet 1 number, and the shipping station 11 The receipt completion data including the number of "is transmitted to the central computer 24. [Transport controller 32 of self-propelled transport vehicle 10] The transport controller 32 of the self-propelled transport vehicle 10 has a self-propelled transport vehicle 10 via a communication means (antenna, transmitting / receiving device, etc .;
Are connected.

Upon receipt of the delivery completion data from the RM controller 31 of each automated warehouse 8, the transport controller 32 stores the data in the received order to form "transportation schedule data to the shipping station 11", which will be described later. When "picking completion data" consisting of the number identifying the shipping station 11, the number of the pallet 1 and the number of the automated warehouse 8 of the transport destination is received from the general controller 24, it is stored in the received order and the "scheduled to be transported to the automated warehouse 8". Data ".

Then, the transport controller 32 transports the pallet 1 from the shipping conveyor device 7 of the automatic warehouse 8 to the shipping station 11 at the shipping destination in accordance with the scheduled transport data to the shipping station 11, and subsequently, the automatic warehouse. In accordance with the data scheduled to be transported to the pallet 8 from the shipping station 11 to the warehousing conveyor device 6 of the automatic warehouse 8, the pallet 1
To transport. When the pallet 1 is delivered to the warehousing conveyor device 6 of the automatic warehouse 8, the transport controller 32 forms "receipt data including the number identifying the pallet 1 to be delivered and the number of the shipping station 11 at the delivery destination",
This receipt data is transmitted to the RM controller 31 of the automated warehouse 8. In this way, the pallet 1 is alternately transported from the automated warehouse 8 to the shipping station 11 and from the shipping station 11 to the automated warehouse 8 in accordance with the transportation schedule data to the shipping station 11 and the transportation schedule data to the automatic warehouse 8. To be done. “Shipping controller 33 of shipping station 11” The shipping controller 33 of the two shipping stations 11 out of the three shipping stations 11 includes the shipping station 11
3 of the conveyor devices 16, 17, 18 are connected to the picking completion button 15, and the shipping controller 33 of the shipping station 11 equipped with the robot 13 has three conveyor devices 16, 17, 18 connected.

When the self-propelled carrier 10 carrying the pallets 1 from the automatic warehouse 8 arrives at the shipping controller 33,
Drive the carry-in conveyor device 16 to receive the pallet 1,
When the pallet 1 is moved upstream from the picking position of the picking conveyor device 18 and the operation signal of the picking completion button 15 is input, or the robot controller 35
When the picking completion signal is further received, the pallet 1 on the picking conveyor device 18 is moved to the carry-out conveyor device 17, and the next pallet 1 moved upstream from the carry-in conveyor device 16 is moved to the picking position.

When the operation signal of the picking completion button 15 is input or when the picking end signal is received from the robot controller 35, the picking end information is transmitted to the general controller 24.

The pallet 1 between the self-propelled carrier 10 and the delivery conveyor device 7 of the automatic warehouse 8 and the carry-in conveyor device 16 and carry-out conveyor device 17 of the shipping station 11.
Of the transfer controller 32 and the R of the automatic warehouse 8
This is executed by passing permission data for passing the pallet 1 between the M controller 31 and the shipping controller 33 of the shipping station 11. "Robot controller 35" Above robot controller
35 receives the later-described "picking data consisting of the number of articles to be picked" from the general controller 24, drives the robot 13 and operates the pallet 1 at the picking position.
When the article is further picked and picking is completed, a picking completion signal is transmitted to the shipping controller 33 of the shipping station 11 (number 2) provided with the robot 13. "General controller 24" The general controller 24 will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 2, the general controller 24 manages the inventory data of the shipping schedule data storage unit 41 connected to the management computer 28 and the number 1 automatic warehouse 8 of the three automatic warehouses 8. The first inventory management unit 42 and the second inventory management unit 42 which also manages inventory data of the automated warehouse 8
An inventory management unit 43, a third inventory management unit 44 that manages inventory data of the automated warehouse 8 of No. 3, and a first inventory storage unit 44 that stores shipping data of the shipping station 11 of No. 1 out of the three shipping stations 11. A shipping data storage unit 45, a second shipping data storage unit 46 that also stores shipping data of the number 2 shipping station 11, and a third shipping data storage unit 47 that stores shipping data of the number 3 shipping station 11. A first control unit 48 for controlling the supply of the pallet 1 to the number 1 shipping station 11, a second control unit 49 for controlling the supply of the pallet 1 to the number 2 shipping station 11, and a number 3 And a communication section 51 connected to the control sections 48, 49 and 5 and the transceiver 23 for transmitting and receiving data. To have.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the shipping schedule data storage section 41, the command shipping data commanded by the management computer 28, that is, the articles are specified in the shipping order (shipping order) for each shipping station 11. The information (for example, the product name or code) and the number of picked items are stored.

The above-mentioned first to third inventory management units 42, 43, 44
The information (stock data) of the articles stored in the article storage section 2 of the storage rack 3 of each automated warehouse 8 is stored in each. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, information (for example, an article name or code) for identifying the stored article and its quantity, and this article are placed for each rack number (location) of the article storage unit 2. Information (for example, a number) for identifying the pallet 1 and the delivery time until the pallet 1 is delivered to the delivery conveyor device 7 by the stacker crane 5 are stored.

The first to third shipping data storage units 45,
46 and 47 respectively store the shipping data of each shipping station 11 obtained from the command shipping data of FIG. 4 and the inventory data of FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the shipping data includes the number of pallet 1 and the pallet 1 in the order of shipping.
The number of the automated warehouse 8 in stock, the bin number of the article storage unit 2, the picking quantity, the judgment picking work time (an example of the picking work quantity), and the shipping status (shipping completed / has been issued / not yet issued). Has been done. Note that the shipping status is initially set to undelivered.

The operation of the control units 48, 49 and 50 will be described in detail by taking the first control unit 48 as an example. In addition, each control unit 48, 4
For the keyboards 9 and 50, using the keyboard 26, the picking amount P _S (picking amount set for each picking working unit) of each shipping station 11 and the average picking amount / pallet per pallet 1 are set in advance. α is set. Further, the picking unit time of the picking operator 14 who picks this one item for each item is set in the control units 48 and 50, and the control unit 49 controls the picking unit time of the robot 13 that picks this one item for each item. Picking unit time is set. “Formation of shipping data” Number 1 in the command shipping data (FIG. 4) stored in the shipping schedule data storage unit 41
The inventory data stored in the first to third inventory management units 42, 43, and 44 by the article name are searched in the order of shipping the articles from the shipping station 11, and the pallet 1 on which the articles are placed is stocked. The automatic warehouse 8 is obtained together with its shelf number and the delivery time, the picking unit time of this item is further obtained from the item name, and the picking work time required to pick this item by this picking unit time and picking quantity ( = Picking unit time × picking quantity) is calculated and stored in the first shipping data storage unit 45. "Update of shipping data" When the above-mentioned shipping completion data is input from the RM controller 31, when the number of the shipping station 11 of the shipping destination of this data is "1", the data "number for identifying the automatic warehouse 8 and pallet 1" No. ”of the pallet, the shipping status of the number of this pallet 1 is set as shipped.

When the picking end information is input from the shipping controller 33 of the shipping station 11 having the number 1, the shipping status of the pallet 1 whose shipping status is already shipped and which is the earliest in the shipping order is completed. "Updating automatic warehouse inventory data" When the above-mentioned warehousing completion data is input from the RM controller 31, when the number of the shipping station 11 of the destination of this data is "1", the shipping data from the "pallet 1 number" of the data The quantity of picked goods is calculated by the following, and then from the "number identifying the automated warehouse 8 and the number of pallet 1",
The bin number of this automatic warehouse 8 and the quantity of goods are calculated, the quantity of the picked goods is subtracted from the quantity of this goods, and the quantity of the goods on the new pallet 1 is calculated. Update inventory data. In the initial state of the “automatic warehouse delivery command”, that is, before the picking work is started at the shipping station 11 having the number 1, the pallets 1 in the shipping order 1 to 3 stored in the first shipping data storage unit 45 are delivered. The output command data described above is output to the RM controller 31 of each automated warehouse 8 that stocks these pallets 1 in the order of shipment. As described above, the delivery command data is formed from "the number (shelf number) of the article storage section 2 of the storage shelf 3, the number of the pallet 1 and the number 1 for specifying the shipping station 11 of the delivery destination."

The operation after the picking work is actually started will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Immediately after the start of the picking work, the process is executed from step-3 described later.

When the picking end information is input from the shipping controller 33 of the number 1 shipping station 11 (step -1), the pallet 1 whose shipping status is the shipping end according to the picking end information in the shipping data.
The automatic warehouse 8 that was stocked was obtained, and "picking completion data consisting of the number identifying the shipping station 11, the number of the pallet 1 and the number of the automated warehouse 8 of the transport destination" is formed and transmitted to the transport controller 32. Then, the current picking amount P _N is obtained by adding the respective determination picking work time and the shipping time of the pallet 1 whose shipping status has been shipped in the shipping data (step-3).

Subsequently, the difference between the preset picking amount P _S and the obtained current picking amount P _N is calculated, and this difference is spread over a preset predetermined amount (for example, average article picking amount / pallet α). If it has spread, the pallet 1 in the next shipping order of the shipping data is allocated (step -5), and the picking quantity P _{N of the} next pallet 1 is assigned to the picking quantity P _{N of the} next pallet 1.
Is checked to see if this added value is smaller than the set picking amount P _S (step-6), and if confirmed, the pallet 1 in the next shipping order is further allocated (step-7).

Then, step-5 or step-7
The unloading command data for the pallet 1 allocated in step S8 is formed and output (step-8). The second control unit
In step 49, when the picking end information is input in step-1, picking data including the number of articles to be picked from the pallet 1 to be moved to the next picking position is transmitted to the robot controller 35.

When the picking operation is started in this way, the picking amount P _N of the pallet 1 that has already been delivered is set to the preset picking amount each time the picking completion button 15 is operated (or the picking of the robot controller 35 ends). The pallet 1 in the next shipping order, or the pallet 1 in the next shipping order and the pallet 1 in the next shipping order are allocated so that P _S becomes P _S, and the shipping command data is sent to the automatic warehouse 8
Is output to. At this time, if the current picking amount P _N is small and the difference is larger than the average article picking amount / pallet α, the pallet 1 in the next shipping order is immediately assigned and output command data is output, so that the automatic warehouse 8 If the time for unloading the next pallet 1 is shortened and the current picking amount P _N is not large and the difference is not widened, the pallet 1 in the next shipping order will not be assigned and the next picking completion button 15 will be displayed. Since the pallet 1 is not assigned until it is operated (or until the picking is finished by the robot controller 35), the time for taking out the next pallet 1 from the automatic warehouse 8 becomes long.

The operation of the configuration of the automatic warehouse facility will be described by taking the picking operation of the number 1 shipping station 11 as an example. Note that the inventory data of each automated warehouse 8 is stored in the inventory management units 42, 43, 44, and the information is transmitted / received via the transceiver 23 and the communication cable 22.

1. First, when the command shipping data is received from the management computer 28, the command shipping data is stored in the shipping scheduled data storage unit 41, and subsequently, the command shipping data stored in the shipping scheduled data storage unit 41 and each inventory management unit are stored.
Based on the inventory data of each automated warehouse 8 stored in 42, 43, and 44, the shipping station control units 48, 49, and 50 form the shipping data of the shipping station 11, and the shipping station 11 stores the shipping data of the shipping station 11. Shipping data storage 45, 46,
Stored in 47.

2. Next, before the picking operation is started, the shipping station control units 48, 49, 50 output the shipping command data of the pallets 1 in the shipping order 1 to 3 to the RM controller 31 of the automatic warehouse 8.

As a result, three pallets 1 are shipped to the shipping stations 11 in the shipping order 1 to 3, respectively.
Then, the pallet 1 in the shipping order 1 is placed at the picking position of each shipping station 11 by being transported and supplied by the self-propelled transport carriage 10.

3. Simultaneously with the start of the picking work, the difference between the preset picking amount P _S and the obtained current picking amount P _N is calculated, and the pallet 1 in the next shipping order is allocated according to the difference, and the allocated pallet is allocated. The issue command data of 1 is formed and output.

As a result, the pallet 1 is unloaded from the automatic warehouse 8 for the shipping station 11 with a small current picking amount P _N , and the pallet 1 is supplied early. 4. When the picking work is executed at the shipping station 11, the picking completion button 15 is operated and the picking completion information is received, or the robot controller
When picking is completed and picking completion information is received at 35, picking completion data is formed and output to the transport controller 32. Based on this picking completion data, the pallet 1 for which picking work has been completed is returned to the original automated warehouse 8 via the self-propelled carrier 10.

At the same time, the current picking amount P _N is again obtained (re-determined), the difference between the preset picking amount P _{S and} the obtained current picking amount P _N is obtained, and the difference is calculated. Accordingly, the next pallet 1 in the shipping order is allocated, and the delivery command data of the allocated pallet 1 is formed and output.

As a result, the pallet 1 is unloaded from the automatic warehouse 8 and supplied to the shipping station 11 having a small current picking amount P _N. 5. When the warehousing operation is executed in the automated warehouse 8 and the warehousing completion data is received, the inventory data of the inventory management units 42, 43, 44 is updated based on the warehousing completion data.

In this way, the next pallet 1 for the shipping station 11 that has output the picking end information in accordance with the picking end information is allocated from the automatic warehouse 8 and the articles from the pallet 1 in the shipping station 11 are stored. The picking amount is re-determined, and an issue command for the pallet 1 assigned prior to the automatic warehouse 8 is output according to the re-determined picking work amount, so that the unloading conveyor device is assigned to each automatic warehouse 8 respectively. The order of the pallets 1 to be shipped to 7 changes according to the re-determined pickup work amount. Therefore, the pallet 1 for the shipping station 11 with a small amount of picking work determined is put out first, and the pallet 1 for the shipping station 11 with a large amount of picking work decided is put out after a while, As a result, the pallet 1 for the shipping station 11 with a small amount of picking work can be continuously delivered before the pallet 1 for the shipping station 11 with a large amount of picking work, and the pallet 1 can be loaded in a timely manner. It can take the form of flexible delivery. Further, the pallet 1 is unloaded from the automatic warehouse 8 such that the set picking work amount P _S and the determined picking work amount P _N are substantially equal, so that the supply of the pallet 1 is delayed at each shipping station 11. Alternatively, it is possible to avoid delaying the shipment of articles from the shipping station 11.

Further, when the picking work amount P _N is determined, the actual picking work amount P _N is accurately calculated by considering the delivery time until the pallet 1 is delivered to the delivery conveyor device 7 in the automatic warehouse 8. You can ask, therefore more timely for each shipping station 11
It is possible to supply the pallet 1 according to the amount of work, and it is possible to avoid the delay of the supply of the pallet 1 at each shipping station 11 and the delay of the shipping of the articles from the shipping station 11.

Further, the pallets 1 to be unloaded from the automatic warehouse 8 are sequentially stored in the unloading conveyor device 7, and the pallets 1 are unloading to the self-propelled carrier 10 in the order in which the pallets 1 are stored, so that a plurality of pallets 1 are sent out in advance. The pallet 1 can be delivered to the device 7, and the time for supplying the pallet 1 to each shipping station 11 can be shortened.

In this embodiment, the pallets 1 are supplied so that the picking amount P _S is set in advance. However, the number of pallets 1 that have already been delivered is set in advance by the supply amount of the pallets 1 set in advance. Therefore, it is also possible to supply the pallet 1 from the automatic warehouse 8.

According to this configuration, the shipping station 11
So that the supply amount of the pallet 1 stored in the pallet 1 becomes the set supply amount of the pallet 1.
Supply of pallets 1 at each shipping station 11 is delayed,
It is possible to avoid delaying the shipment of goods from 11.

In the present embodiment, the picking work amount is determined at each shipping station 11 from the start of the picking work, and the next pallet 1 is delivered from the automatic warehouse 8 based on this determination. , Multiple automated warehouses 8 with pallets 1 loaded with the same type of goods
If the pallets 1 loaded with the same type of articles are stored in only one automatic warehouse 8 when the pallets 1 are unloaded from the automatic warehouse 8, the above-mentioned shipping You may make it judge the picking work amount in the use station 11, and carry out the unloading of the next pallet 1 from the automatic warehouse 8 based on this judgment.

According to this construction, for example, one shipping station 11 is used until the pallets 1 loaded with the same type of articles are stored in only one automated warehouse 8.
It is possible to continuously supply the pallet 1 to the shipping station 11 formed by the automatic warehouse 8 as a set, and the pallet 1 is efficiently preceded.
Can be supplied.

In the present embodiment, the distribution facility is
Although the automatic warehouse equipment is shown, any physical distribution equipment including an article storage means, a picking work unit, and a transportation means may be used. Further, in the present embodiment, the automatic warehouse 8 is used as the article storage means, but the present invention is not limited to the automatic warehouse 8 and the receiving body can be received and stored from the receiving conveyor device 6 and the receiving body can be discharged by designation. Any storage that can be delivered to the conveyor device 7 may be used. Further, although three automatic warehouses 8 are provided as the article storage means, the present invention can be applied to the case where only one automatic warehouse 8 is installed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the pallet 1 is used as the receiving body, but the pallet 1 is not limited to the pallet 1 and can load articles, for example, a box or plate such as a bucket, a container or a basket. May be

Further, in the present embodiment, the self-propelled transport carriage 10 that travels on the floor is used as the transport means, but it is not limited to the self-propelled transport carriage 10 and a transport carriage suspended from the ceiling may be used. It is also possible to use, and the fixed route 9 of the self-propelled carriage 10 is in a straight line shape, but it may be made to run in a loop shape. Further, although only one self-propelled transport cart 10 is used, a plurality of self-propelled transport carts 10 may be used to transport the pallet 1.

Further, in this embodiment, the delivery conveyor device 7 forming the delivery means has the delivery position and the unloading position of the pallet 1 and can store two pallets 1. However, the delivery conveyor device It is also possible to use an accumulation conveyor device as 7 so that more pallets 1 can be stored.

Further, in the present embodiment, at the number 1 and number 3 shipping stations 11 forming the picking work section, one picking worker performs the picking work, but two or three people, etc. The picking work may be performed by a plurality of picking workers. At this time, the picking unit time of the article is set to be short according to the number of people. As a result, the picking work amount P _N is reduced, so that the pallet 1 is supplied earlier.

Further, in the present embodiment, the number of articles picked from the pallet 1 at the shipping station 11 is preliminarily commanded by the command shipping data, but all the articles loaded from the pallet 1 to the pallet 1 are It is also possible to set it to pick.

Further, in the present embodiment, one pallet 1
Although only one type of article is loaded in the printer, a plurality of types of articles may be mixedly loaded. At this time,
In the inventory data stored in the inventory management units 42, 43, 44, a plurality of article names are registered in the article name column.

Further, in the present embodiment, the picking unit time is set for each article to obtain the picking work amount. However, the picking unit time is not set for each article in this way, but the external dimensions of the article, The weight and the type of product stacking are set in advance, and the external dimensions, weight, and type of product stacking are divided into multiple stages, and each index is set to determine the picking time. Then, the external dimensions, weight, and type of stacking of the article of this article may be searched and calculated by each index to obtain the picking unit time of the article.

[0078]

As described above, according to the present invention, a receiving member for a picking work portion having a small amount of picking work is provided.
It is possible to continuously carry out the warehousing before the receiving body for the picking work unit, which has a large amount of picking work, and thus it is possible to take a flexible warehousing form.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control configuration diagram of an automated warehouse facility that is a physical distribution facility according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a general controller of the automatic warehouse facility.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a shipping operation of a controller of an automated warehouse of the automated warehouse facility.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of command shipping data in a shipping schedule data storage unit of the overall controller of the automatic warehouse facility.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of inventory data in an inventory management unit of the overall controller of the automated warehouse facility.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of shipping data in a shipping data storage unit of the overall controller of the automated warehouse facility.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a control unit of the overall controller of the automatic warehouse facility.

FIG. 8 is a layout view of devices of an automatic warehouse facility as an example of physical distribution facilities.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 pallet 2 article storage 3 storage shelves 5 stacker crane 6 Storage conveyor device 7 Delivery conveyor device 8 automatic warehouse 10 Self-propelled carrier 11 Shipping station 13 robots 14 Pickers 21 General control department 24 Integrated controller 31 Automatic warehouse RM controller 32 Transport controller for self-propelled carrier 33 Shipping Station Shipping Controller 35 Robot controller

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An article storage unit for storing articles in a state of being loaded on a receiver, and a plurality of receiving bodies on which the articles are loaded can be stored, and the articles are picked from the receiving order in the order of storage. A plurality of picking work units, and a receiving body on which the articles discharged from the article storage means are loaded, a distribution facility including a transporting unit that transports the picking work units, wherein the picking work unit includes: A physical distribution facility characterized in that a picking work amount of the article from the receiving body is determined, and the next receiving body is unloaded from the article storage means according to the determined picking work amount. 2. The physical distribution facility according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the article storage means, each of the article storage means supplying a receiving body on which the articles are loaded to each picking work unit. 3. When the amount of picked-up work of the determined articles is small, the time for leaving the receiving body from the article storage means is shortened, and when the amount of picked-up work is large, the receiving body is removed from the article storage means. The physical distribution facility according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the time for leaving the warehouse is lengthened. 4. Each of the picking work sections is provided with a work end output means for outputting picking work end information of the article from the receiving body, and according to the picking work end information from the work end output means, 4. The picking work amount is re-determined by allocating the next receiving body for the picking work unit, which has output the picking work end information, from the article storage means. Logistics equipment. 5. A receiving means for receiving the receiving body loaded with the articles from the article storing means and delivering the receiving article to the conveying means is provided, and the receiving means for receiving the receiving article loaded to the article storing means and delivering to the delivering means is provided. 5. The order can be changed according to the re-determined pickup work amount.
Logistics equipment described in. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the article storage means obtains a time until the receiving body is delivered to the delivery means, and the receiving body is delivered in consideration of the delivery time. Logistics equipment. 7. The delivery means has a function of storing the receiving bodies delivered from the article storage means in the delivery order and delivering the receiving bodies to the transport means in the delivery order. Logistics equipment described in. 8. The picking work amount is set to be changeable in advance for each of the picking work units, and the article storing means is configured to make the set picking work amount and the determined picking work amount substantially equal. The physical distribution facility according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the receiving body is unloaded. 9. The supply amount of the receiving body is set to be changeable in advance for each of the picking work parts, and the receiving body is supplied from the article storage means so as to be the set supply amount of the receiving body. Claims 1 to 7 characterized in that
Logistics facility described in any of. 10. Receiving bodies on which articles of the same type are loaded are respectively stored in a plurality of article storage means, and the articles of the same type are loaded as the receiving articles are ejected from these article storage means. When the received receiving body is stocked in only one article storage means, the picking work amount of the article from the receiving body in the picking work unit is determined, and the article according to the determined picking work amount. The physical distribution facility according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the next receiving body is unloaded from the storage means.