JP2006001726A - Rotary article distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rotary article distribution system, reducing the walking distance of a distributing worker as much as possible and dispensing with the replacement work of a container to thereby realize reduction of distribution work time, lessening of load and high efficiency. <P>SOLUTION: One of rectilinear moving areas of a rotary rack apparatus 10 is divided into a plurality of throw-in widths, and one distributing worker throws commodities into a plurality of containers 20 within one throw-in width. A plurality of digital display devices 30 are installed corresponding to the placing parts of the respective containers in each throw-in width. Each digital display device is provided with a display part for the number of commodities thrown into the corresponding container and a push-button switch for indicating the completion of throwing. A management control part moves the rotary rack apparatus to rotate by one throw-in width and also alters the displays of the throw-in commodity numbers of the distribution number display parts of all digital display devices corresponding to the placing parts newly located within each throw-in width when the push-button switches of all digital display devices of the respective throw-in widths are turned on. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an article distribution system for sorting a plurality of delivery destinations and distributing one or more types of delivery articles to different containers for each delivery destination.

  An example of the article distribution system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows a configuration for realizing an article distribution system called a cart type. Here, the fixed product distribution shelf 100 is composed of two shelves 101, and 2 to 4 (here, 3) containers (containers) 110 are arranged on each shelf 101. Each shelf 101 is also provided with a digital display 120 corresponding to the container 110. The digital display 120 is for displaying the number of products to be put into the container 110 as will be described later. The digital display 120 is also provided with a completion push button that is turned on by the distribution worker M after the displayed number of products are put in.

  Here, for the sake of convenience, only one product distribution shelf 100 is shown, but actually, a plurality of product distribution shelves 100 are arranged in the extending direction. Therefore, below, what was connected in multiple numbers is called the goods distribution shelf 100. FIG. A plurality of product distribution shelves 100-1 that are connected in a similar manner to such a product distribution shelf 100 are arranged to face each other. A sufficient work space can be secured between the product distribution shelves 100 and 100-1. In the product distribution shelf 100, a plurality of input slots are set in advance in the length direction, and at least one distribution operator is assigned to one input slot.

  An empty container supply line 130 for supplying an empty container 110 ′ is provided above the product distribution shelf 100. Further, on the back side of the product distribution shelf 100, a two-stage carry-out conveyor 140 for carrying out the containers 110 in which all the products have been stored is disposed. A plurality of product distribution shelves 100-2 are arranged on the opposite side of the product distribution shelf 100 with the carry-out conveyor 140 therebetween. In addition, illustration is abbreviate | omitted about the empty container supply line on the goods distribution shelf 100-1,100-2, the carrying-out conveyor of the back side of the goods distribution shelf 100-1.

  A case where product distribution work is performed on one input slot of the product distribution shelf 100 will be briefly described. The distribution worker M places a necessary number of products (for example, products C1, C2, and C3) at different locations on the cart 150 based on an instruction from the product setter at the different location and before the product distribution shelf 100. Carry. At this time, each digital display 120 of the shelf 101 displays the number of products C1 to be distributed first by the distribution operator M. Display control for the digital display 120 is performed by a control unit (not shown). That is, the control unit executes control operations including display control of the digital display 120 based on work management data set and stored in advance.

  The distribution worker M pushes a completion push button there every time the introduction of the product C1 into the container 110 in the product distribution shelf 100 is completed. In this way, the control unit manages the number and types of products introduced into the container 110. When the introduction of the product C1 to all the containers 110 displayed on the digital display 120 is completed, the number of the product C2 to be input next is displayed on the digital display 120. Thereafter, the distribution work of the products C2 and C3 is performed in the same manner as described above.

  When it is determined that all the commodities have been put in a certain container 110, the control unit notifies the distribution worker M of the fact. Receiving this, the distribution worker M pushes the container 110 to the carry-out conveyor 140 side, takes out the empty container from the empty container supply line 130, and sets it in the empty portion of the shelf 101.

  As described above, in the conventional article distribution system, the products that have been picked up from the product inventory storage location are manually transported to the product distribution shelf by the trolley and placed in the container set on the product distribution shelf. It is a mechanism to do.

  In addition, a free conveyor is installed in the product distribution shelf, and an article distribution system is also realized in which the distribution operator places products on the free conveyor and pushes them. However, in any article distribution system, time is required for the distribution operator to walk in the commodity distribution shelf.

  Also, the allocation number is instructed by a digital display installed for each container. There is no problem when the number of distribution workers for one input slot is one, but when a plurality of distribution workers perform distribution work, it is necessary to display some sort of distinction. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of lamps 120-1, 120-2, 120-3 having different display colors are provided on the digital display 120, and the distribution workers are instructed by changing the display colors. I am doing so. For example, the distribution worker M1 performs the distribution work on the container whose red lamp 120-1 is lit, and the distribution worker M2 performs the distribution work on the container whose green lamp 120-2 is lit. The distribution worker M3 performs the distribution work on the container whose blue lamp 120-3 is lit.

  In FIG. 7, 120-4 is a completion push button, and 120-5 is a distribution number display section capable of displaying numbers of three or more digits.

  Next, the full container 110 is attached with a shipping label, and then manually pushed into the carry-out conveyor 140 installed on the back side of the product distribution shelf, and is then carried out to the next process. A new container 110 ′ is manually picked up and set on the shelf 101.

  As is clear from the above explanation, in the article distribution system so far, the walking time of the distribution worker is not only the time to walk between the product distribution shelves while performing the distribution work, but also to the end of the product distribution shelves. The time to return with the load was also added, which slowed down the overall work speed. Further, continuing to walk while pushing a cart loaded with goods as in the cart type makes the distribution operator tired and makes long-term continuous work difficult.

  On the other hand, when multiple distribution workers perform distribution work for the same input slot, work efficiency decreases due to the complication of the distribution workers within the determined work space, and the distribution work distinction display by color There are many mistakes in distribution due to mistakes in one's color, leading to a decrease in shipping accuracy.

  Furthermore, in the container replacement work, it is necessary to reach out to the depth of the product distribution shelf and push the container onto the carry-out conveyor 140, or to set a container at a higher position by taking a new container from the empty container supply line 130. For a short worker, it was a very heavy work.

  On the other hand, apart from the article distribution system as described above, the following article sorting system has been proposed. This article sorting system has a multi-tiered shelf group that connects endlessly a plurality of shelves to which sorting destinations are assigned, and supplies the multi-stage rotating shelves in which each shelf group rotates and the articles to be carried into the multi-stage rotating shelves. A plurality of temporary storage shelves for sorting, and a sorting destination instruction device for calling up the shelves to which sorting destinations are assigned. One or more sorting workers are arranged between the multistage rotating shelf and the multistage temporary storage shelf, and another worker is arranged in the sorting destination instruction device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  This article sorting system has an advantage that the walking distance of the sorting operator can be shortened because the articles to be carried are near the multistage rotating shelf. However, in this article sorting system, a slip for each customer is created in advance based on an order received from a customer before the sorting work is started, and the sorting worker reads this slip with a barcode reader or the like at the start of the sorting work. An operation of inputting to the sorting destination instruction device is necessary. In addition, since one sorter is in charge of one shelf in one sort operation, and the operation of calling this shelf to the position of the sort worker is necessary, the efficiency of the entire work is improved. There is a problem.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-87037

  An object of the present invention is to reduce the walking distance associated with the distribution work of the distribution worker as much as possible, and to eliminate the container replacement work, thereby shortening the distribution work time, reducing the load, and increasing the efficiency of the distribution work. The object is to provide an article distribution system.

  The present invention relates to at least one racetrack-type rotary shelf in which a plurality of placement portions on which containers for storing one or more kinds of articles are placed at equal intervals, and each of the rotary shelves An empty container supply unit for automatically supplying an empty container to the mounting unit, and a container unloading unit for automatically unloading a container in which articles are stored from each mounting unit of the rotary shelf to the unloading line, In the rotary shelf, at least one of a pair of linear movement regions extending in parallel with each other is divided into a plurality of input openings in the movement direction, and at least one worker is provided for a plurality of containers in one input opening. Is a rotary article distribution system in which articles are input.

  In the rotary article distribution system, an article supply unit for articles to be thrown in correspondence with the plurality of loading slots is provided, and a plurality of display units are provided to correspond to the placement units in the plurality of loading slots. Is installed. Each display unit includes a distribution number display unit that indicates the number of articles to be placed in a container placed on the corresponding placement unit, and a second item that indicates completion of the introduction of the number of articles displayed in the distribution number display unit. 1 switch is provided. The rotary article distribution system also manages a relationship between a current position of each placement unit in the rotary shelf and an article to be stored in a container placed therein, and a rotary drive unit of the rotary shelf. And a control unit for sending control information to the empty container supply unit and the container unloading unit. When the first switch of all the display units corresponding to the placement units on which the containers are placed at the plurality of input fronts is turned on, the management control unit turns the rotary shelf into one input front. And the number of displays in the distribution number display section of all the display sections corresponding to the placement section that is newly positioned in the plurality of loading slots, and the number of articles to be loaded next Change to number.

  In the rotary article distribution system, the container carry-out unit is installed, for example, near an end of the linear movement region, and the management control unit is stored in a container placed on a certain placement unit. When it is determined that all of the articles to be stored are contained, the control for unloading the certain container to the unloading line when the certain container reaches the unloading position by the unloading section. Information is output.

  In the present rotary article distribution system, the empty container supply unit is installed, for example, near the end of the linear movement region on the side opposite to the container carry-out unit, and the management control unit is installed on a mounting unit. When the placed container is unloaded at the container unloading section, the certain loading section is placed with respect to the empty container supply section when the loading section reaches the supply position by the empty container supply section. The control information to be supplied to is output.

  In the rotary article distribution system, an automatic label sticking unit is installed near the container carrying-out unit in the carrying-out line, and a label with predetermined information attached to the container carried out to the carrying-out line is provided. It is designed to be affixed.

  In the present rotary article distribution system, the display unit is further provided with a second switch indicating that the container is full, and the management control unit is provided on the container with the second switch turned on. On the other hand, if there is still an article to be stored, it is determined whether an empty container is placed on any of the placement parts, and when there is an empty container, the remaining article is stored in the empty container. Control information is output to the automatic label pasting unit so that a label associating the full container with the container in which the remaining articles are stored is pasted.

  According to the rotary article distribution system according to the present invention, the distribution operator hardly needs to walk during the distribution work, and the work for replacing the container is also unnecessary, so that the work fatigue can be reduced.

  By arranging at least one distribution worker at each of the multiple entrances, multiple distribution workers can work simultaneously and individually on the rotating shelf, which greatly reduces input errors. Improvement of work efficiency is expected.

  Before describing the embodiment of the present invention, the contents of the distribution work will be briefly described with reference to FIG. The article distribution system according to the present invention is suitable for application to a distribution center that stores a predetermined number of one or more of a plurality of types of products in a plurality of delivery destinations in a container.

  FIG. 5A shows an example of delivery management data in the case of delivery destinations D1 to Dm and delivered products C1 to Cn. m and n are positive integers, m ranges from several tens to one hundred and several tens, and n ranges from several types to a dozen types. Speaking of the delivery destination D1, there are five items C1, four items C2,..., One Cn, and stores these items in one container. The article distribution system according to the present invention is used to make this parallel for all the delivery destinations D1 to Dm. Of course, when the number of storage is large and cannot be stored in one container, it is stored in a plurality of containers.

  As will be described later, such delivery management data is set and input by the setting unit and sent to the management control unit, and the management control unit stores it in the storage device. The management control unit also calculates the total number of commodities necessary for the above-described work from the delivery management data, and displays it on the display or prints it out.

  FIG. 5B shows a display example of the total number of products. Here, the number of products C1 is 320, the number of C2 is 250,. The product setter can prepare a plurality of distribution workers for the number of products C1 to Cn displayed on the display.

  FIG. 1 shows a rotary shelf device constituting the main part of an article distribution system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the rotary shelf apparatus 10 is composed of three-stage racetrack type rotary shelves 10-1 to 10-3. Each rotary shelf is configured by installing, on an endless conveyor, a plurality of placement units on which containers 20 for storing commodities are placed at equal intervals. The number of three stages is a number that takes into consideration that workability is not lowered even for a distribution worker with a short height, and is not limited to three stages.

  The rotary shelf device 10 includes a plurality of containers 20 in which one of a pair of linear movement regions extending in parallel with each other is divided into a plurality of, in this case, three input slots R1, R2, and R3, and the containers 20 are located in one input slot. In contrast, at least one distribution operator inputs the goods. That is, here, the distribution worker M1 performs the distribution input work of the goods in the input frontage R1, the distribution worker M2 in the input frontage R2, and the distribution worker M3 in the input frontage R3. . In addition, it is possible to position four container placement portions per stage in each loading slot, and it is possible to place a total of 12 placement places (4 × 3 stages). . A circulation frontage is provided between adjacent input frontage. Here, a circulation front opening T1 is provided between the introduction front openings R1 and R2, and a circulation front opening T2 is provided between the introduction front openings R2 and R3. The circulation frontage is for preventing the distribution worker from mistaken his / her distribution work area. In FIG. 1, the circulation openings T1 and T2 have a certain length with respect to the moving direction of the container 20, but it is sufficient that the distribution work areas are not mistakenly distinguished. It may be something like

  The container 20 is provided with a barcode or the like having unique information for identification for management by a management control unit described later.

  A plurality of digital indicators 30 are fixedly installed so as to correspond to the respective placement portions at the respective entrances. As shown in FIG. 4, the digital display 30 includes a three-digit distribution number display unit 30-1 that indicates the number of products that are put into the containers 20 mounted on the corresponding mounting unit, and a distribution number display unit. A push button switch 30-2 (first switch) for notifying completion of loading of the number of products displayed in 30-1 and a push button switch (second switch) 30 for notifying that the container 20 is full. -3.

  In the vicinity of the rotary shelf device 10, there are provided product supply conveyors B1, B2, and B3 for providing the distribution workers M1 to M3 with products to be input in correspondence with the input slots R1 to R3.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an arrangement relationship among the rotary shelf device 10, the distribution workers M1 to M3, the product supply conveyors B1 to B3, and the product setter M4. The place where the product setter M4 is located and the product supply conveyors B1 to B3 are connected by the product transport conveyor B. It is assumed that the total number of commodities C1 to Cn described in FIG. 5B is transported to the commodity transport conveyor B in a boxed state from a storage warehouse (not shown). In addition, the barcode which represents the goods inside is attached | subjected to the outer surface of this box. A bar code reader BCR1 is installed on the product transport conveyor B upstream of the product supply conveyor B3, and branching means for branching the sent box to any of the product supply conveyors B1 to B3 is provided.

  In this way, boxes containing products to be distributed are prepared on the product supply conveyors B1 to B3 close to the distribution work area of the distribution workers M1 to M3. There are various ways of assigning the products to be distributed to the distribution workers M1 to M3. In order to simplify the description, the products in the delivery management data shown in FIG. Assume that C1 to Cg are allocated to the distribution worker M1, the products Ch to Cj are allocated to the distribution worker M2, and the products Ck to Cn are allocated to the distribution worker M3. However, g, h, j, and k are positive integers, and 1 <g <h <j <k <n. In this case, boxes containing the products C1 to Cg individually for the total number shown in FIG. 5B are sequentially sent to the product supply conveyor B1. Similarly, boxes that individually store the products Ch to Cj for the calculated total number are sequentially sent to the product supply conveyor B2. Boxes individually containing the total number of products Ck to Cn are sequentially sent to the product supply conveyor B3.

  In order to automatically supply an empty container when there is a vacancy in each placement section of the rotary shelves 10-1 to 10-3 on one side of the rotary shelf device 10 on the opposite side, here one side. An empty container supply device 40 is provided. The empty container supply device 40 is provided with a barcode reader BCR2 for reading the barcode of the supplied empty container. On the other hand, in order to automatically carry out a container in which products are stored from the respective placement portions of the rotary shelves 10-1 to 10-3 on the opposite side of the input area in the rotary shelf device 10, here the other end side. The container unloading device 50 is provided. Further, on the upstream side of the carry-out line 60, a label sticking device 70 for sticking a predetermined label to the carried-out container is provided. In addition, although the empty container supply apparatus 40 and the container carrying-out apparatus 50 may be provided in any area | region of the rotary shelf apparatus 10, the other side of an injection | throwing-in area | region is preferable.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration diagram of a control system of the article distribution system according to the present invention. The article distribution system according to the present invention operates under the control of the management control unit 1. That is, the management control unit 1 manages the relationship between the current position of each placement unit in the rotary shelf device 10 and the product to be stored in the container 20 placed there, and the rotation of the rotary shelf device 10. Control information is sent to a drive unit (not shown), display control to each digital display 30, empty container supply device 40, container carry-out device 50, and label sticking device 70. In FIG. 3, a plurality of digital displays installed on the rotary shelf device 10 are represented by one block.

  The management control unit 1 holds the delivery management data of FIG. 5A set by the setting unit 2, and the current positions of all the placement units in the rotary shelf device 10 and the containers 20 placed there. To understand the relationship of products that should be stored in Of course, each container placed on the placement unit is managed based on unique information represented by a barcode attached thereto.

  The management control unit 1 assigns the delivery destinations D1 to Dm in the delivery management data to each container 20 placed on the rotary shelf device 10. For example, it is assumed that the delivery destinations D1 and D2 are assigned to two of the four containers 20 placed on the uppermost rotary shelf 10-3 in the loading slot R1. In this case, the management control unit 1 first causes the distribution number display unit 30-1 of the digital display 30 corresponding to the container 20 to which the delivery destination D1 is assigned to display the number 5 of products C1 inserted. On the other hand, the distribution number display section 30-1 of the digital display 30 corresponding to the container 20 to which the delivery destination D2 is assigned first displays the number 3 of products C1 inserted. In the same manner, the number of products C1 input is displayed on all the digital displays 30 on which the containers 20 are placed in the input opening R1.

  The display control as described above is performed by the management control unit 1 on the digital displays 30 corresponding to all the containers 20 placed on the placement unit at the insertion openings R2 and R3. In other words, the number of products Ch inserted at the input opening R2 is initially displayed on the digital display 30 and the number of products Ck initially displayed on the digital display 30 at the input opening R3.

  As a result, the distribution workers M1 to M3 perform the distribution input operation of taking out the products C1, the products Ch, and the products Ck from the boxes on the product supply conveyors B1 to B3 and storing them in the number of distributions displayed for each container 20. Do. The distribution operator presses the push button switch 30-2 of the corresponding digital display 30 every time the storage of the product in one container 20 is completed, and notifies the management control unit 1 of the completion of the insertion.

  When the push button switches 30-2 of all the digital display devices 30 corresponding to the placement units on which the containers 20 are placed are turned on at the insertion slots R1 to R3, the management control unit 1 turns on the rotary shelf 10-. 1 to 10-3 are rotated and moved by one loading slot, that is, four containers. In addition to the notification by the push button switch 30-2, one switch for notifying the management control unit 1 that the product distribution input to all the containers has been completed may be provided one by one. In this case, the management control unit 1 does not determine whether or not the push button switch 30-2 of all the digital display devices 30 is turned on, and receives the switch on signal to turn the rotary shelves 10-1 to 10-10. -3 is rotated.

  The management control unit 1 then distributes all the digital display units 30 corresponding to the containers 20 placed on the placement units newly located in the insertion slots R1 to R3. The number display of 1 is changed to the number of products to be inserted next and displayed. In this case, the next product to be thrown in is the same until the container 20 in which the merchandise is thrown first makes a round and returns to the original position. That is, each of the distribution workers M1 to M3 continues the distribution and input work of the products C1, the products Ch, and the products Ck at the input ports R1 to R3 until the container 20 returns after one round.

  As described above, when the distribution input work of the product C1, the product Ch, and the product Ck with respect to all the containers 20 is completed, the distribution workers M1 to M3 each now have the next product C2, The distribution operation of the product Ci and the product Cl is performed. The above operation is repeated until all the products C1 to Cn are stored in all the containers 20. Of course, not all types of products are stored in all containers 20, and when there is a container 20 that does not need to store a certain product, the distribution number display section 30- of the digital display 30 corresponding thereto 2 is 0 or turned off.

  In the distribution form described above, each distribution worker continues the distribution input work of the same product until the rotary shelf makes one round, but another distribution form may be used. For example, after confirming the end of the distribution and input work of the first product C1, product Ch, and product Ck at the input slots R1 to R3, the management control unit 1 does not rotate the rotary shelf, and displays each digital display at the input slots R1 to R3. The container 30 is caused to display the distribution number of the product C2, the product Ci, and the product Cl to be input next. Then, after confirming the end of the distribution input operation of the products C2, products Ci, and products Cl in the input slots R1 to R3, the distribution of the products to be input next to each digital display 30 in the input windows R1 to R3. Display the number. This is repeated until the last product is introduced, and when the last product entry is confirmed, the rotary shelves 10-1 to 10-3 are rotated and moved by one entry slot, that is, four containers. May be.

  The management control unit 1 can determine that all of the products to be stored are stored in a container 20 mounted on a mounting unit in the above-described operation. Managed by the department address. Accordingly, the management control unit 1 outputs control information for causing the container 20 to be carried out to the carry-out line 60 when the certain container 20 reaches the carry-out position by the container carry-out device 50. . In this way, the container 20 in which all of the goods to be stored are stored is automatically carried out to the carry-out line 60.

  When the container 20 is unloaded, a label is pasted on the unloaded container 20 by the label pasting device 70. Predetermined information is attached to the label, and this information is information indicating, for example, a delivery destination, a date, a container number to be delivered to the delivery destination, and the like. The reason for indicating the number of items is that, as described above, when one container is full, products that could not be stored may be stored in another container, and the relationship between these containers It is because it is necessary to show. For this purpose, the digital display 30 is provided with a push button switch 30-3 for informing the management control unit 1 that it is full.

  The distribution operator presses the push button switch 30-3 in the digital display 30 when the storage of the product in a certain container 20 is full. This ON signal is sent to the management control unit 1. The management control unit 1 determines from the delivery management data whether there are any articles that still need to be stored in the container 20 in which the pushbutton switch 30-3 is turned on. When there is a product to be stored, the management control unit 1 determines whether an empty container is placed on any placement unit. When there is an empty container, the management control unit 1 performs display control of the digital display 30 so that the remaining products are stored in the empty container. The management control unit 1 also outputs control information to the label sticking device 70 so as to stick a label that associates the full container 20 with the container in which the remaining products are stored.

  Next, when the container 20 placed on a placement unit in the above-described operation is carried out by the container carry-out device 50, the management control unit 1 can recognize that the placement unit is empty. Is managed by the address of the placement unit. As a result, the management control unit 1 outputs control information for causing the empty container supply device 40 to supply the empty container to the upper placement unit when the upper placement unit reaches the supply position by the empty container supply device 40. To do. In this way, an empty container is supplied to the empty placement unit. As described above, the unique information of the empty container is read by the barcode reader BCR2 and sent to the management control unit 1 at the time of supply.

  Note that neither the empty container supply device 40 nor the container carry-out device 50 is a device that is already provided, and is not a device specific to the present invention.

  Further, the article distribution system according to the present invention has been described for the case where there is one rotary shelf device 10, but in the actual article distribution system, a plurality of rotary shelf devices 10 are provided, and each rotary shelf device has a different category. It is applied in the form of use such as goods, for example, general daily goods in some rotary shelf devices, general horticultural items in other rotary shelf devices, and general tools in other rotary shelf devices.

  As is clear from the above explanation, the article distribution system according to the present invention is greatly different from the conventional article distribution system in that the fixed article distribution shelf is made a rotary type, thereby reducing the walk of the distribution workers. In addition, the adoption of a rotating shelf has made it possible to automatically supply empty containers and carry out stored containers.

  The article distribution system according to the present invention is suitable for an article distribution system for piece shipments to a plurality of stores such as home centers scattered in a plurality of regions. However, since the product category does not matter, it can be widely applied to the sorting and distribution of stores such as food and daily necessities. Also, in piece picking in the mail-order industry, this distribution system can be applied to a distribution system for orders of large quantities of products.

It is the figure which showed the principal part structure of the rotary article | item distribution system by this invention. It is the top view which showed the arrangement | positioning relationship between the peripheral equipment combined with the goods distribution system of FIG. 1, and an operator. It is the block diagram which showed the control system of the article distribution system of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the digital display with which the article distribution system of FIG. 1 is equipped. It is the figure which showed an example of the delivery management data prepared in the article distribution system by this invention, and the data displayed on a display. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the conventional article distribution system. It is a figure for demonstrating the digital display with which the article distribution system of FIG. 6 is equipped.

Explanation of symbols

M1 to M3 Allocation operator M4 Product setting person 10 Rotary shelf device 10-1 to 10-3 Rotary shelf 20 Container 30 Digital display 30-1 Allocation number display section 30-2, 30-3 Push button switch 40 Empty container Supply device 50 Container unloading device 60 Unloading line 70 Label sticking device

Claims (5)

At least one stage of a racetrack-type rotary shelf in which a plurality of placement units on which containers for storing one or more kinds of articles are placed are installed at equal intervals;
An empty container supply section for automatically supplying an empty container to each placement section of the rotary shelf;
A container unloading unit for automatically unloading containers having stored articles from each mounting unit of the rotary shelf to a unloading line;
In the rotary shelf, at least one of a pair of linear movement regions extending in parallel with each other is divided into a plurality of input openings in the movement direction, and at least one worker is provided for a plurality of containers in one input opening. Is a rotary distribution system in which goods are input,
An article supply unit for articles to be thrown in correspondence with the plurality of throwing openings;
A plurality of display units are installed so as to correspond to the respective placement units in the plurality of loading openings, and each display unit indicates the number of articles to be placed in the container placed on the corresponding placement unit. And a first switch indicating completion of input of the number of articles displayed on the distribution number display unit is provided,
Managing the relationship between the current position of each placement unit in the rotary shelf and the article to be stored in the container placed there, control for the rotary drive unit of the rotary shelf, display control for the display unit A management control unit for sending control information to the empty container supply unit and the container unloading unit,
When the first switch of all the display units corresponding to the placement units on which the containers are placed at the plurality of loading openings is turned on, the management control unit turns on the one rotary shelf Articles to be input next are displayed in the distribution number display section of all the display sections corresponding to the placement section newly rotated and moved by the front opening and newly positioned in the plurality of input front openings. The rotating article distribution system is characterized in that it is changed to the number of items.   When the management control unit determines that all of the articles to be stored are stored in a certain container placed on a certain placement unit, the certain container has reached the unloading position by the container unloading unit. 2. The rotary article distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the control information for unloading the certain container to the unloading line is sometimes output to the container unloading unit.   When the container placed on a placement unit is unloaded by the container unloading unit, the management control unit moves the empty container supply unit when the placement unit reaches a supply position by the empty container supply unit. The rotary article distribution system according to claim 2, wherein the control information for supplying an empty container to the certain placement unit is output.   An automatic label sticking unit is installed near the container carry-out unit in the carry-out line, and a label with predetermined information is stuck on the container carried out to the carry-out line. 4. The rotary article distribution system according to 3. The display unit is further provided with a second switch indicating that the container is full, and the management control unit has an article to be stored still remaining in the container in which the second switch is turned on. If there is an empty container on any of the mounting parts, and managing to store the remaining articles in the empty container when there is an empty container, the automatic label attaching part 5. The rotary article distribution according to claim 4, wherein the control information is output so that a label in which the full container and the container in which the remaining articles are stored is attached is attached. system.

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