JP2004182462A - Picking system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce mistakes in picking work by constantly matching a case to be picked in each operation zone and the display of an order lamp for specifying the case. <P>SOLUTION: A picking system has a case transferring means 3 installed, which is equipped with an engagement means 17 individually engaging with the case 1 for storing articles along a plurality of previously divided operation zones Z(n-1), Z(n), Z(n+1), and the like. The engagement means 17 is provided with the order lamp 17 for specifying the picking case 1. The picking system is structured so that the case 1 is transferred in a state of being engaged with an engagement means 14 having the order lamp 17 accompanying traveling of a case transferring means 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a picking system for sorting and storing articles designated in advance in predetermined cases in a distribution center or a warehouse.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a distribution center or a warehouse, for example, a picking operation for sorting and storing articles designated in advance in a case such as a cardboard box, a wooden box, or a plastic case according to an order of a customer is performed. In order to facilitate such a picking operation, various picking systems have been conventionally proposed (for example, Patent Document 1 below).
[0003]
In this type of conventional picking system, a belt-type or roller-type conveyor is laid along a rack for storing articles to be stored in a case, and an operator can be operated according to the type of articles stored in the rack. Divides a plurality of working zones to be assigned along the conveying direction of the conveyor. Further, an indicator for indicating the article to be picked and the number thereof is arranged for each work zone. Then, the conveyor is driven to start transporting the case, and the operator arranged in advance for each work zone gives an instruction on the articles to be picked, the number of the articles to be picked, and the like based on the display. Then, the worker takes out a predetermined article stored in the rack for the work zone to which the worker belongs, and stores it in a case to be conveyed.
[0004]
Further, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of lamps are arranged along a conveying direction of a conveyor, and when a case to be picked arrives in a predetermined work zone, the lamp is moved by moving the case. Are sequentially illuminated so as to follow the operator, thereby instructing the operator of the case to be picked.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-4-354704
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
[0007]
However, in such a method in which a plurality of lamps are sequentially turned on, the case is slipped on a belt or a roller of a conveyor, and the actual conveying speed of the case is slower than the blinking speed of the lamps. Synchronization may be lost. As described above, if the case to be picked in each work zone does not match the indication of the lamp for designating the case to be picked, a positional shift occurs between the two, and there is a possibility that a picking operation error may occur. is there.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and a system that can eliminate a picking operation error due to a positional shift between the two by always matching the display of a case and a lamp in each operation zone. The purpose is to provide.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a rack for storing articles, a plurality of working zones partitioned along the rack, and a transport unit for sequentially transporting a plurality of cases along the zone. In a picking system for placing an article taken out of the rack into a case, when a worker to be operated is transported to his / her zone, a worker arranged in each of the zones, Along with the carrying means, the engaging means individually engaged with the case and carried by the carrying means are interposed, and a lamp which is visible to the worker is provided in the engaging means, and A picking system provided with control means for turning on the lamp when a case in which each of the engagement means is engaged is transported to a zone to be worked by the worker; To provide.
[0010]
According to the present invention, each case is conveyed via the engaging means, and when the case is conveyed to the zone to be worked by the worker, the lamp provided on the engaging means is turned on. Therefore, the lamp does not move separately from the case as in the prior art described above, but moves integrally with the case, so that there is no room for displacement between the two.
[0011]
The conveying means can be configured as a conveyor using belts, rollers, chains, and the like. The engaging means can be configured as a pallet mounted or fixed on the conveyor, for example, when the transport means is a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor. At this time, the case is detachably mounted on the pallet. Can be done. Alternatively, the engaging means can be configured as a hanger connected to the chain when the conveying means is a circulation type chain, and in this case, the case is assumed to be conveyed by being hung or pressed by the hanger. be able to. Therefore, the term “engagement” in the present invention means that the case is placed, hung, pressed, or the like, that is, the relationship is such that the case is conveyed integrally with the case. means. Further, it is preferable that the case is detachable from the engaging means so that the case can be carried out of the carrying means after the article has been charged. The engaging means and the transporting means need not necessarily be detachable, but if they are detachable, the pitch between the engaging means can be changed according to the size of the case to be transported. There may be a plurality of ramps provided in the engagement means, but at least one ramp is sufficient. The lamp can be configured to be supplied with power from a power source installed at an appropriate position via an appropriate power supply means arranged along the movement path of the transport means.
[0012]
The control means can be configured as a computer, and, as described above, performs an operation of turning on the lamp when the case engaged with each engagement means is transported to the zone to be worked by the worker. To determine whether a case is a work target of an operator, for example, a mark corresponding to a zone to be worked is provided in each case or engagement means, and a reading means that responds to the mark is provided in each zone. When the reading means responds to the mark, the control device turns on the lamp of the engaging means. Further, for example, it is also possible to achieve this by associating each case with a zone in which the case is to be worked beforehand, and storing this in a memory in the control means, before carrying the case. This association is performed by associating the engagement means for engaging the case with the zone, and may be input from the keyboard of the control means or may be input by another method. Further, whether or not the case or the engagement means is in the zone to be worked is determined by, for example, providing a detection means such as a limit switch or a sensor at a boundary position of each zone and a projection or the like to which the detection means can react. When the detection means for the zone to be worked, that is, the zone associated with the case is turned on, the control means determines that the case has reached the target zone, and until the next detection means is turned on. The lamp may be turned on. The operator only needs to take out a predetermined article from the rack and put it in only the case where the lamp of the engagement means is turned on among a plurality of cases passing through his / her zone.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of a picking system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of case transport means for transporting cases in the system, and FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows a line.
[0014]
The picking system according to this embodiment includes a rack 2 for storing articles to be stored in various cases 1 such as a cardboard box and a plastic case, and an endless belt as a case conveying means along the longitudinal direction of the rack 2. A conveyor 3 of the type is provided. A plurality of work zones Z (n-1), Z (n), Z (n + 1),... Are preliminarily partitioned along the conveyor 3 in accordance with the type of articles stored in the rack 2, and the like. One dedicated worker is arranged in each of the zones between the rack 2 and the conveyor 3.
[0015]
In addition, at positions corresponding to the boundary positions of the work zones Z (n-1), Z (n), Z (n + 1),..., The work zones Z (n-1), Z (n), Z ( n + 1),... and a bar as reading means for reading a unique identification code (here, a bar code) 7 assigned to each case 1. A code reader 8 is provided.
[0016]
Further, an item display 9 composed of a liquid crystal panel or the like is provided corresponding to each of the work zones Z (n-1), Z (n), Z (n + 1),. For each item display 9, the number of cases 2 that exist simultaneously in each work zone (three cases in the case of one work zone Z (n) in FIG. 1 of this example) The identification number of the case 1 to be picked, the articles to be put into each case 1 to be picked, and the number of the articles are individually displayed.
[0017]
The conveyor 3 runs at a predetermined speed from an upstream (left side in FIG. 1) side to a downstream (right side) side by a motor 13 driven by a conveyor drive circuit 12. An engaging unit 14 as a pallet as an engaging means that directly and individually engages with each case 1 is integrally attached at a predetermined interval. For this reason, the case 1 is transported in a state where the case 1 is engaged by the engagement unit 14 as the conveyor 3 travels.
[0018]
Each of the engagement units 14 has a base portion 14a on which the case 1 is placed, and an engagement wall portion 14b erected from one end of the base portion 14a. Is provided with an illuminated reset button 18 having a built-in order lamp 17 and a lamp controller 21.
[0019]
The order lamp 17 is for designating a case to be picked for storing articles, and is provided toward the worker (upper side in FIG. 1) so that the worker can easily recognize the case. The reset button 18 is designed to turn off the order lamp 17 when the operator presses the reset button 18 after a predetermined article has been stored in the case 1 to be picked.
[0020]
The lamp controller 21 is assigned a unique address, and controls the blinking of the order lamp 17 based on a blinking command signal given from a sequence controller 30 described later.
[0021]
Reference numerals 23 and 24 denote power lines and signal lines laid along the conveyor 3, and reference numerals 26 and 27 denote brushes extending from the engagement unit 14 so as to contact the respective lines 23 and 24. Power is supplied to the lamps 17 and the lamp controller 21 via the signal line 24, and communication is performed between the sequence controller 30 and the lamp controller 21 via the signal line 24 and the brush 27.
[0022]
Further, the picking system according to this embodiment includes a sequence controller 30 as control means. The sequence controller 30 comprehensively controls the operation of the entire system. In particular, signals output from the case arrival detection sensor 5, the barcode reader 8, the reset button 18, and inputs from the keyboard and the like are provided. The order lamp 17 and the item display 9 are respectively controlled based on customer information provided from the operation unit 31.
[0023]
Next, a processing operation when a picking operation is performed using the picking system having the above configuration will be described.
[0024]
Here, as described above, before the picking operation is started, a dedicated worker is provided in advance for each of the operation zones Z (n−1), Z (n), Z (n + 1),. From the input operation unit 31 to the sequence controller 30, in addition to the customer information, a unique identification code for each of the cases 1 to be picked, the articles to be stored in each of the cases 1 to be picked and the number of the articles, It is assumed that the information of the stored working zones Z (n−1), Z (n), Z (n + 1),... And the traveling speed of the conveyor 3 has been input in advance. Further, a bar code 7 as an identification code is attached to each case 1 in advance by printing, labeling, or the like. In each case 1, the bar code 7 is turned to the bar code reader 8 side. It is placed on the conveyor 3.
[0025]
In this state, when a start command of the picking operation is given from the input operation unit 31 to the sequence controller 30, the sequence controller 30 controls the motor drive circuit 12 to run the conveyor 3 at a predetermined speed in response to the instruction. , Picking control for all work zones is started.
[0026]
The case 1 is supplied from a case supply unit (not shown), and is sequentially placed on each engagement unit 14 of the conveyor 3. Therefore, the amount of movement of the conveyor 3 and the actual amount of conveyance of the case 1 always coincide with each other, so that the two can be synchronized.
[0027]
Next, focusing on a certain work zone, for example, Z (n), an operation when a picking work is required in this work zone Z (n) will be described.
[0028]
Each time the case 1 arrives in the work zone Z (n), its arrival is detected by the case arrival detection sensor 5, and the detection output is input to the sequence controller 30. In response to this, the sequence controller 30 activates the barcode reader 8 to read the barcode 7 attached to the case 1. Then, based on the read barcode 7, it is determined whether or not the case 1 is to be picked in the work zone Z (n).
[0029]
When the sequence controller 30 determines that the case 1 arriving at the work zone Z (n) is to be picked, the sequence controller 30 outputs item information to the item display 9. The identification number of the case 1 and the articles to be stored in the case 1 and the number thereof are displayed.
[0030]
Further, the sequence controller 30 outputs a lighting command signal for the order lamp 17 to the lamp controller 21. The lamp controller 21 determines whether the lighting command signal from the sequence controller 30 matches its own address, and turns on the order lamp 17 if the address matches. Thus, the worker is instructed that the case 1 is to be picked.
[0031]
In the case of this example, there is a possibility that three cases 1 exist simultaneously in the work zone Z (n), and all these cases 1 are to be picked, and When the picking operation of the case 1 on the side has not been completed yet, the three order lamps 17 present in the operation zone Z (n) are simultaneously turned on, and the item display 9 displays the articles to be put into the first case 1. Is displayed only.
[0032]
The operator picks up a predetermined number of articles displayed on the item display 9 from the rack 2 and puts them into the case 1 with the case 1 at the head position where the order lamp 17 is turned on as a picking target.
[0033]
As described above, when the picking operation for one head case 1 to be picked is completed, the operator presses the reset button 18. Then, in response to this, a reset signal is transmitted to the sequence controller 30 via the lamp controller 21, and the sequence controller 30 outputs a turn-off command signal for the leading order lamp 17.
[0034]
The lamp controller 21 determines whether or not the light-off instruction signal from the sequence controller 30 matches its own address, and turns off the order lamp 17 if the address matches. Further, in response to the operation of the reset button 18, the sequence controller 30 deletes the information on the first case 1 displayed on the item display 9 and displays the information on the next case 1.
[0035]
As described above, in this embodiment, the case 1 is transported in a state in which the case 1 is engaged by the engagement unit 14 having the order ramp 17, so that the movement amount of the conveyor 3 and the actual transport amount of the case 1 are different. The two are always synchronized and synchronized, and by reading the unique barcode attached to case 1, it is possible to reliably recognize that case 1 to be picked has arrived in the work zone. Therefore, since the order lamp 17 is turned on in accordance with the arrival timing and the operator can specify the case 1 to be picked, the picking operation error such as the unordered articles being stored in the case 1 can occur. Is reliably prevented.
[0036]
Note that the case transporting means may be configured as shown in FIG. That is, the case conveying means is provided with a guide rail 33 laid along and above a conveyor 32 composed of a large number of rotatable rollers. The engagement unit 14 having the arm 34 is slidably mounted. A chain (not shown) driven by driving means is provided inside the guide rail 33, and each engagement unit 14 is connected to the chain at a predetermined interval. A reset button 18 in which an order lamp 17 is built is attached to the engagement unit 14 as in the above-described embodiment. As the chain travels, each engagement unit 14 travels in one direction, and the pressing arm 34 presses each case 1 to convey it on the conveyor 32.
[0037]
Even in such a configuration, as in the case of the above-described embodiment, the case 1 to be picked and the display of the order lamp 17 indicating that the case 1 is the picking target are always displayed. It is possible to make them coincide with each other, and it is possible to prevent a picking operation error from occurring.
[0038]
Further, it goes without saying that other configurations can be appropriately changed and implemented without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
According to the picking system of the present invention, since the engaging means provided with the lamp and the case are conveyed integrally by the conveying means, there is room for displacement or difference between the movement of the case and the lamp display. Therefore, there is an effect that the confusion and mistake of the operator due to this can be eliminated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of a picking system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a configuration of a transporting means for transporting a case and an engaging means in the picking system of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a front view showing another example of the conveying means and the engaging means in the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Case 3 Conveyor (transportation means)
7 Barcode (identification code)
8 Barcode reader (reading means)
9 Item display 14 Engagement unit (engagement means)
17 Order lamp 18 Reset button 30 Sequence controller (control means)

Claims (1)

A rack for storing articles, a plurality of work zones partitioned along the rack, and transport means for sequentially transporting a plurality of cases along the zone, wherein workers arranged in each of the zones are provided. When a case to be worked on is transported to its own zone, in a picking system in which articles taken out of the rack are put into the case, the cases are individually separated between the cases and the carrying means. A case in which the engaging means is engaged and conveyed by the conveying means is interposed, and a lamp visible to the worker is provided in the engaging means, and a case in which each engaging means is engaged is the work. A pick-up system provided with control means for turning on the lamp when conveyed to a zone to be worked by a worker.

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