JP2006027810A - Warehouse control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a warehouse control system capable of efficiently and economically controlling a warehouse by sufficiently utilizing the advantages of IC tags. <P>SOLUTION: This warehouse control system comprises a database 10, a large number of pallets 12 on which IC tags are fitted, the radio terminal machines 16 and 36 of a first system capable of recognizing pallet names given to the IC tags 14 and transmitting article information on articles loaded on pallets 12 to the database 10 in the related state to the pallet names, forklift trucks 22 and 32 storing and retrieving the pallets 12 in and from the warehouse, and the radio terminal machines 24 and 34 of a second system arranged on the forklift trucks 22 and 32 and capable of recognizing the pallet names given to the IC tags 14 and outputting the storage/retrieval information on the pallets 12 transmitted from the database 10 in the related state to the pallet names. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a warehouse management system, and more particularly, to a warehouse management system in which goods are loaded and unloaded with a pallet for loading goods.

  A method of loading and unloading articles to and from a warehouse using a pallet for loading articles is widely implemented. That is, a pallet loaded with articles is received and stored in an empty space of a warehouse by a conveying means such as a forklift or a stacker crane. In addition, a desired article is picked together with the pallet in response to a shipping request, and is delivered. In warehouse management, it is required to carry out loading and unloading work quickly and accurately, and to always accurately grasp the stock status of each article.

In order to meet such needs, recently bar code labels or IC tags with article information written on items to be handled or their packaging are affixed, and when loading items on a pallet or when entering and leaving, these item information is stored. There is a method of reading and managing with a reader. In addition, there is a method in which a bar code label or an IC tag is attached to a pallet and management is performed while specifying and confirming the storage position of the pallet (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
JP 2003-176004 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-182096

  However, the method of attaching a barcode label to each pallet described in Patent Document 1 is inefficient because it takes time to read the barcode label from the pallet conveying means. Also, a terminal device that transmits and receives data to and from the central database is shared during all operations such as loading items on the pallet and moving the pallet. For this reason, the function of the terminal device is complicated, resulting in an increase in cost and a problem that operation becomes difficult.

  Moreover, although the method of sticking an IC tag to each pallet described in Patent Document 2 improves the above-mentioned problems, it is necessary to write article information and a storage position on the IC tag each time. This increases the amount of writing to the IC tag, leading to an increase in cost. Moreover, since each pallet is shared without being individualized, warehouse management by pallet name is not possible. For this reason, there is a problem that the advantage of the IC tag is not fully utilized.

  The object of the present invention is to improve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to minimize the amount of writing to the IC tag attached to each pallet. By fully utilizing the advantages of the IC tag, the efficiency is improved. To provide a warehouse management system capable of efficient and economical management.

  In order to achieve the above object, a warehouse management system according to the present invention includes a warehouse management database, a number of pallets to which IC tags are attached, and an IC tag of each of the pallets arranged in a goods receipt / shipment area. Recognizing a given pallet name and associating article information relating to the article loaded on the pallet with a pallet name and transmitting it to the database, and moving the pallet to move the pallet The transporting means for loading and unloading the pallet into the warehouse, the pallet name placed on the transporting means and assigned to the IC tag is recognized, and the pallet loading / unloading information transmitted from the database is output in association with the pallet name. And a wireless terminal of the second system that can be used.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the wireless terminal of the second system can reversely transmit confirmation information or correction information for the pallet entry / exit information transmitted from the database to the database. And In the above configuration, the first wireless terminal can write predetermined article information on the IC tag, and the second wireless terminal can be the first wireless terminal. According to the present invention, the article information written on the IC tag can be read and output. The IC tag is preferably attached to the center of the back surface of the pallet.

  According to the warehouse management system of the present invention, only the pallet name needs to be given to the IC tag attached to each pallet, and the advantage of the IC tag can be fully utilized while minimizing the amount of writing to the IC tag. Can be realized. In particular, the wireless terminals that transmit and receive data to and from the database are divided into two systems, and in the first system wireless terminals that are arranged in the receiving area and the shipping area, the article information on the articles loaded on the pallet is associated with the pallet name. It can be sent to the database. In addition, the second-system wireless terminal disposed in the transport means can output the pallet entry / exit information transmitted from the database in association with the pallet name. For this reason, the division of roles between the loading personnel and shipping personnel handling the first system wireless terminals and the operators of the transport means handling the second system wireless terminals becomes clear, and warehouse management is performed efficiently. Can do.

  Also, it is sufficient that each wireless terminal has a function for recognizing a palette name previously assigned to an IC tag and a function for transmitting / receiving data to / from a database, and no special writing function is required. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the cost and simplify the operation of the wireless terminal.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a warehouse management system according to the present invention. This warehouse management system is used over the receiving area 100, the warehouse 200, and the shipping area 300, and has the warehouse management database 10 at the core.

  A plurality of pallets 12 are waiting in the arrival area 100, and an IC tag 14 is attached to each pallet 12. The IC tag 14 is given a pallet name for each pallet 12.

  A wireless terminal 16 of the first system is arranged in the vicinity of the loading position of articles on the pallet 12 in the arrival area 100. The wireless terminal 16 may be held by an article loading person 18. The wireless terminal 16 has a function of reading and recognizing a palette name given to the IC tag 14. Further, the loading staff 18 has a function capable of transmitting the article information to the database 10 by inputting article information such as the article name, arrival date, quantity, and lot number into the wireless terminal 16. Therefore, the loading staff 18 reads the pallet name of the pallet 12 from the IC tag 14 by the wireless terminal 16 when the article 20 is loaded on the pallet 12. Further, article information relating to the article 20 loaded on the pallet 12 is input to the wireless terminal 16, and the article information is transmitted to the database 10 in association with the pallet name.

  The database 10 stores the pallet name transmitted from the wireless terminal 16 and the item information regarding the item 20 loaded on the pallet 12. Then, the most preferable address 26 in the warehouse 200 is searched and assigned as the storage location of the pallet 12.

  A forklift 22 stands by as a conveying means for moving the article 20 into the warehouse 200 by moving the pallet 12 to the arrival area 100. The forklift 22 is equipped with a second wireless terminal 24. An operator of the forklift 22 may hold the wireless terminal 24. The wireless terminal 24 has a function of reading and recognizing the pallet name given to the IC tag 14. In addition, it has a function capable of outputting the pallet 12 entry / exit information transmitted from the database 10 in association with the pallet name.

  Therefore, for example, the operator of the forklift 22 reads the pallet name of the pallet 12 in the front row to be stored by the wireless terminal 24 and transmits the read pallet name to the database 10. Then, the database 10 transmits the warehousing information of the pallet 12 with the pallet name to the wireless terminal 24 in association with the pallet name. The wireless terminal 24 outputs the warehousing information transmitted from the database 10 to the display screen. FIG. 2 shows an example of display contents. In FIG. 2, the warehousing address is the address 26 in the warehouse 200 that the database 10 has searched and assigned as the most preferable storage location of the pallet 12. The article name and quantity are part of the article information transmitted from the first system wireless terminal 16 and stored in the database 10. The article name and quantity displayed on the display screen are useful for the operator of the forklift 22 to confirm and collate with the article loaded on the pallet 12.

  The operator of the forklift 22 enters the pallet 12 at a designated address 26 in the warehouse 200 according to the display content output to the wireless terminal 24. When the warehousing is completed, the operator of the forklift 22 sends back information to the database 10 via the wireless terminal 24 as confirmation information. The database 10 stores the confirmation information and updates the data to complete a series of warehousing management.

  It is assumed that there is some inconvenience at the designated address 26 and the pallet 12 cannot be stored as designated. In such a case, the operator of the forklift 22 may search for an appropriate address 26 that can be stored, and store the pallet 12 at the address 26. Then, the operator of the forklift 22 transmits the fact as correction information back to the database 10 via the wireless terminal 24. The database 10 stores the correction information and updates the data to complete a series of warehousing management.

  In the above description, the case where the operator of the forklift 22 specifies the pallet 12 to be stored and obtains the storage information of the pallet 12 from the database 10 has been described. However, the warehouse management system according to the present embodiment is not limited to the above case, and can also be applied to a case where a storage instruction for an arbitrary pallet 12 is transmitted from the database 10 to the operator of the forklift 22 through the wireless terminal 24. Also in this case, a screen similar to the display content shown in FIG. 2 is output to the wireless terminal 24. The operator of the forklift 22 who sees this screen first searches the pallet group having the instructed pallet name from the pallet group on which the articles are loaded. That is, the forklift 22 is moved as close to the pallet group as possible. The readable distance of the wireless terminal 24 with respect to the IC tag 14 attached to each pallet 12 is set to 2 m, for example. When the wireless terminal 24 approaches a readable distance with respect to the target pallet, the pallet 12 to which the IC tag 14 with the pallet name is attached is recognized. The recognition result is displayed on the wireless terminal 24 with a screen or voice, and the operator of the forklift 22 can search the pallet group with the pallet name designated by the database 10 from the pallet group. Subsequent warehousing operations are the same as described above.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of attaching the IC tag 14 to the pallet 12. (1) is an example in which the IC tag 14 is attached to only one side of the pallet 12. Although it is economical, there is a case where there is inconvenience when the IC tag 14 is read by the wireless terminal 16 or the wireless terminal 24 because of the directionality. (2) is an example in which IC tags 14 are attached to two opposing sides of the pallet 12. A wireless terminal approach is relatively easy. (3) is an example in which the IC tag 14 is attached to all four sides of the pallet 12. Reading the IC tag 14 is easy even if the wireless terminal is approached from any direction. Therefore, the readable distance of the wireless terminal with respect to the IC tag 14 can be set short. (4) is an example in which the IC tag 14 is attached to the center of the back surface of the pallet 12. Since it is economical and has no direction, it is most practical if the radio terminal can be read appropriately.

  That is, it is assumed that a plurality of pallets 12 are arranged close to each other. In the case of the pallet 12 shown in FIG. 3 (4), when the readable distance d of the wireless terminal is appropriately selected as shown in FIG. 4, the wireless terminal selects only the IC tag 14 of the central pallet 12B. Read, do not read the IC tags 14 of the pallets 12A and 12C on both sides. For this reason, there are fewer cases of confusion in the recognition of palette names.

  On the other hand, in the case of the pallet 12 shown in FIG. 3 (3), even if the readable distance d of the wireless terminal is set small as shown in FIG. In many cases, the IC tag 14 is read. For this reason, it is easy to cause confusion in the recognition of the pallet name, or it becomes difficult to specify the pallet 12 having the designated pallet name. In the case of the pallet 12 shown in FIG. 3A, the wireless terminal may read the IC tag 14 of the pallet 12B farther than the pallet 12A as shown in FIG. For this reason, the recognition of the pallet name is likely to be different, or it is difficult to specify the pallet 12 having the specified pallet name.

  Next, the delivery management will be described. A forklift 32 is waiting in the delivery area 300. The forklift 32 is equipped with a second wireless terminal 34. The operator of the forklift 32 may hold the wireless terminal 34. The wireless terminal 34 has a function of reading and recognizing the palette name given to the IC tag 14. In addition, it has a function capable of outputting the pallet 12 entry / exit information transmitted from the database 10 in association with the pallet name.

  First, in the database 10, delivery information is transmitted to the operator of the forklift 32 via the wireless terminal 34 based on the shipping request. The wireless terminal 34 outputs the shipping information transmitted from the database 10 on the display screen. FIG. 7 shows an example of display contents. The operator of the forklift 32 unloads the pallet 12 stored at the designated address 26 in the warehouse 200 according to the display contents output to the wireless terminal 34. At the time of delivery, the operator of the forklift 32 reads the IC tag 14 of the pallet 12 with the wireless terminal 34 and confirms that the pallet name is the same as that output on the display screen. Further, the article name and inventory quantity displayed on the display screen are useful for the operator of the forklift 32 to confirm and collate with the article loaded on the pallet 12.

  The delivered pallet 12 is transported to the delivery area 300 by the forklift 32 and delivered to the shipping position. A wireless terminal 36 of the first system is arranged at the shipping position. This wireless terminal 36 may be held by an article shipping person 38. The wireless terminal 36 has a function of reading and recognizing the palette name given to the IC tag 14 of the palette 12. Further, the wireless terminal 36 has a function capable of outputting the pallet 12 delivery information transmitted from the database 10 in association with the pallet name. Accordingly, the shipping information transmitted from the database 10 is also transmitted to the shipping staff 38 through the wireless terminal 36. The display screen output to the wireless terminal 36 is the same as that shown in FIG.

  The shipping person 38 reads and collates the pallet name of the pallet 12 delivered from the forklift 32, and receives articles for the shipment quantity from the pallet 12 based on the delivery information on the display screen. As a result, when all the articles on the pallet 12 are received, the empty pallet 12 is returned to the arrival area 100. Alternatively, the pallet may be shipped to the outside while the article is loaded on the pallet 12. Further, when the article remains on the pallet 12, the shipping person 38 checks the remaining quantity and collates it with the remaining quantity shown on the display screen. Thereafter, the shipping person 38 transmits to the database 10 by the wireless terminal 36 that the shipping has been performed as instructed. The database 10 updates the stored data based on the shipping performance information transmitted from the wireless terminal 36 and transmits the warehousing information to the wireless terminal 34 for the pallet 12 where the article remains. At this time, the display contents of the display screen output to the wireless terminal 34 are the same as those shown in FIG. 2, and the operator of the forklift 32 enters the pallet according to the warehousing information. One delivery management is completed by the above series of flows.

  As described above, according to the warehouse management system of the present embodiment, only the permanent pallet name needs to be given to the IC tag 14 attached to each pallet 12, and the amount of writing to the IC tag is minimized. On the other hand, it is possible to realize storage management that fully utilizes the advantages of the IC tag. In particular, the wireless terminals that transmit / receive data to / from the database 10 are divided into two systems, and the first-system wireless terminals 16 and 36 arranged in the receiving area and the shipping area store article information about articles loaded on the pallet 12. The data can be transmitted to the database 10 in association with the palette name. In addition, the second-system wireless terminals 24 and 34 arranged in the conveying means can output the pallet 12 entry / exit information transmitted from the database 10 in association with the pallet name. For this reason, the division of roles between loading personnel and shipping personnel handling the first-system wireless terminals and forklift operators handling the second-system wireless terminals becomes clear, and warehouse management can be performed efficiently. it can.

  In particular, it is sufficient that each wireless terminal has a function for recognizing a pallet name assigned to an IC tag in advance and a function for transmitting / receiving data to / from the database 10, and no special writing function is required. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the cost and simplify the operation of the wireless terminal.

  However, the present invention does not exclude that each wireless terminal has a function of writing to an IC tag. For example, the first-system wireless terminals 16 and 36 have an article name writing function on the IC tag 14, and the second-system wireless terminals 24 and 34 have an article name reading function written on the IC tag 14. It is convenient to have. FIG. 8 is a main part configuration diagram showing an embodiment in such a case. In FIG. 8, elements denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are the same as described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  In this embodiment, in the arrival area, the loading person 18 reads and recognizes the pallet name given to the IC tag 14 of the pallet by the first-system wireless terminal 16 and also recognizes the name of the article loaded on the pallet. Write to. At the same time, the loading staff 18 transmits the loading information of the articles related to the articles loaded on the pallet by the wireless terminal 16 to the database 10 in association with the pallet name. The transmitted loading information is stored in the database 10, and the database 10 immediately creates warehousing information for the pallet. The forklift operator 22A reads and recognizes the pallet name and article name written on the IC tag 14 of the pallet by the wireless terminal 24 of the second system and recognizes the actual product loaded on the pallet from the IC tag 14. It is possible to visually check whether the name matches. For this reason, if there is an input mistake in the loading information transmitted to the database 10 by the loading person 18 and the pallet name or article name is incorrect, the forklift operator 22A can immediately find the input mistake. Further, the forklift operator 22A collates the warehousing information from the database 10 displayed on the wireless terminal 24 with the pallet name written on the IC tag 14 and the article name, thereby making the warehousing work more reliable. It can be carried out.

  Also in the delivery process, the forklift operator 32A further compares the delivery information from the database 10 displayed on the wireless terminal 34 with the pallet name and article name written in the IC tag 14 of the pallet. A reliable shipping operation can be performed. Even in the shipping area, the shipping person 38 collates the shipping information from the database 10 displayed on the wireless terminal 36 with the pallet name written on the IC tag 14 of the pallet and the article name, thereby further ensuring the load. The work can be done. When the pallet becomes empty due to unloading, the shipping person 38 deletes the article name from the IC tag 14 of the pallet by the wireless terminal 36.

  As described above, in the first system wireless terminal, it is possible to write predetermined article information such as an article name on the IC tag, and in the second system wireless terminal, it is written in the IC tag by the first system wireless terminal. If the article information can be read and output, the collation between the pallet name and the article information is facilitated, and a more reliable entry / exit process can be performed.

  In the description of each of the embodiments, the case where one type of article is loaded on one pallet has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case, and can also be applied to a case where a plurality of types of articles are stacked on one pallet. In the description of each of the above embodiments, the case where one pallet is stored corresponding to each address of the warehouse has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case, and each address of the warehouse has a relatively large area, and can be applied to a case where a plurality of pallets are stored in each address. In the present invention, since the specific pallet name given to the IC tag can be recognized from a relatively distant position by the wireless terminal, rather, when picking a target pallet from a plurality of pallets randomly stored as described above. It is particularly effective.

  The pallet conveying means according to the present invention is not limited to a forklift. A stacker crane operated by an operator is also included in the pallet transport means according to the present invention.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a warehouse management system according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the warehousing information output on a display screen. It is the top view which showed the example of attachment of the IC tag to a pallet. It is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of the readable distance of a wireless terminal, and an IC tag. It is explanatory drawing similar to FIG. It is explanatory drawing similar to FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the leaving information output on a display screen. It is a principal part block diagram which shows other embodiment of the warehouse management system which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 ......... Database, 12 ......... Pallet, 14 ......... IC tag, 16, 36 ......... (First system) wireless terminal, 18 ......... Loading staff, 20 ......... Goods, 22 , 32 ......... Forklift, 24, 34 ......... (second system) wireless terminal, 26 ......... Address, 38 ......... Shipping staff, 100 ......... Receiving area, 200 ......... Warehouse, 300 .... Shipping area.

Claims (4)

A database for warehouse management;
Many pallets with IC tags attached,
A first pallet that is arranged in an article receipt / shipment area and recognizes a pallet name assigned to an IC tag of each pallet and that can transmit article information related to the article loaded on the pallet to the database in association with the pallet name. A wireless terminal of the system,
Conveying means for moving the article into and out of a warehouse by moving the pallet;
A second wireless terminal that is arranged in the transport means and recognizes the pallet name assigned to the IC tag and that can output the pallet entry / exit information transmitted from the database in association with the pallet name; A warehouse management system characterized by including:   2. The warehouse management according to claim 1, wherein the second-system wireless terminal is configured to be able to reversely transmit confirmation information or correction information for the pallet entry / exit information transmitted from the database to the database. system.   The first system wireless terminal is capable of writing predetermined article information on the IC tag, and the second system wireless terminal is article information written on the IC tag by the first system wireless terminal. The warehouse management system according to claim 1, wherein the warehouse management system is configured to be capable of reading and outputting. The warehouse management system according to claim 1, wherein the IC tag is attached to the center of the back surface of the pallet.

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