JP2006117366A - Sorting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sorting system capable of surely controlling the performance of a commodity, while sorting in accordance with a store and a passage. <P>SOLUTION: This sorting system has a mobile shelf 53 capable of continuously storing cases 11 and 29 for storing food and having a plurality of access ports 52 respectively assigned with the passage of the store for performing sorting by order data, and a stacker crane 54 for sorting the cases into these access ports 52 by determining the access ports 52 assigned to the passage of the store by the passage of the store identified by a bar code label installed in the cases. A food number stored in the case sorted to the access port 52 of the mobile shelf 53, is stored every access port 52, and when taking out and transferring the case to a basket wagon 68 from the access port 52 of the mobile shelf 53, the food number of the initial and final case is read, and the case taken out of the respective access ports 52 is controlled every basket wagon 68 on the basis of the food number of the case of this stored access port 52. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a sorting system, for example, a sorting system for products that are easy to collapse such as fixed temperature products and bread.

  In recent years, when products such as chilled products and items such as bread are delivered to stores, these products or cases are delivered not only in stores but also in categories and aisles, against the backdrop of increasing the efficiency of display operations in stores. Is required to do. In particular, because constant temperature products need to be controlled in a wide variety and in small quantities, products that include constant temperature products are required to be delivered in five or more categories even at one store, such as delivery by category and delivery by passage. (It has become a need).

  Satisfying these needs, digital assorting equipment and extrusion type (shoe) as sorting equipment that takes into account the characteristics of products that are easy to collapse in a pat (dedicated container for food) such as constant temperature products and bread. Slide type) automatic sorting equipment is widely used.

  An example of the digital assortment facility is described in the “Prior Art” column of Patent Document 1. That is, assortment equipment is equipment that sorts incoming goods to a sorting destination (such as a store), for example, and an operator can store containers (buckets, containers, etc.) in which incoming goods are stored, such as mobile vehicles. (A cart, a cart, etc.) While moving with a conveyor, etc., the display of the sorting indicator provided for each section storage space for each section storage space of the article sorting shelf (storage shelf) from this container ( The goods for each sorting destination by the operator transferring the goods according to the information (information such as the quantity of goods received) or the display transmitted to the portable terminal (terminal) (information such as the compartment storage space and quantity to be received) Are collected (sorted). Similarly to the picking shelf, the storage shelf is also provided with a block composed of a plurality of compartment storage spaces, and each block displays a sorting indicator for one worker. Doing work.

Moreover, the said extrusion-type automatic sorting apparatus is disclosed by patent document 2, for example. The extrusion type automatic sorting apparatus incorporates a slide shoe that moves to the left and right on a slat conveyor, and the shoe is guided by a branching device to the sorting chute assigned to each store to push out a product.
JP 2002-347911 (right column on page 2) Japanese Patent No. 2654857

  However, in the conventional digital assortment equipment, since many workers must be engaged in sorting, it is always a problem to secure manpower and human resources, and the cost for sorting tends to increase. .

  In addition, in the conventional automatic extrusion sorter, when trying to sort products by category or aisle of each store, the number of sorting chutes arranged on the left and right in accordance with the number increases. There is a problem that many are needed. Further, since the product is stored by sliding the sorting chute, the product may be shocked as compared with the case where the product is sorted by the operator. Also, in the case of products that are affected by the outside air temperature, such as chilled products, if multiple products are received at the same time, it will take a long time to store and will not affect the products. It is necessary to have a facility to temporarily store a plurality of products received, but in addition to this, when an extrusion type automatic sorting device is provided, The equipment becomes large, and the burden of the initial investment cost becomes large. In addition, products are loaded from the sorting chute into the cart and shipped by category and aisle of each store. However, it is unclear which products are actually loaded in the cart, and reliable product performance management is possible. It was impossible to do.

  Therefore, the present invention can automatically perform sorting by many stores, categories, and passages in a small space, and can perform sorting work with a small number of people, and can reliably manage the performance of articles (products). The purpose is to provide a sorting system capable of performing the above.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is based on the article request information of the sorting units of a plurality of sorting destinations, and the articles are previously stored for each sorting unit of each sorting destination. A sorting system that sorts articles with information identifying them,
An identification unit that is attached to the article based on the article request information and identifies the sorting unit of the sorting destination, and a frontage that is capable of storing a plurality of the articles continuously and to which the sorting unit of the sorting destination is assigned. A plurality of storage means, and a sorting unit for obtaining a frontage to which the sorting unit of the sorting destination is assigned by a sorting unit of the sorting destination of the identification unit attached to the article, and sorting the article into the frontage. Reading means capable of reading information specifying an article taken out from the frontage of the storage means, and when sorting the goods into the frontage of the storage means, information specifying the article of the article is provided for each frontage. And reading the information specifying the article of the first and last articles when the article sorted out from the front of the storage means is taken out. It is characterized by identifying and managing the articles to be taken out from each frontage based on the information read by the steps and specifying the goods and the stored information specifying the goods classified into the frontage. Is.

  According to the above configuration, when sorting an article, a frontage to which the sorting unit of the sorting destination is assigned by the sorting unit of the sorting destination of the identification means attached to the article is obtained, and sorted into the obtained frontage. Information for identifying the articles sorted for each frontage is stored. Then, when a plurality of articles stored in succession are taken out from each frontage, information for identifying the first and last article is read by the reading means, and is taken out from each frontage based on the information for identifying these goods. To be identified and managed. Therefore, the taken-out article is specified for each frontage where the article is taken out, that is, for each sorting unit of the sorting destination. For example, the article can be accurately and surely captured for each delivery carriage to which the taken-out article is transferred.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the article is stored in a container, and the article is received from a receiving container that has been received by storing a single article. In accordance with the request information, a sorting facility for sorting the article into a sorting container of the sorting unit of the sorting destination, transporting the receiving container to the sorting facility, and sorting the article from the receiving container. Sorting into a sorting container in a previous sorting unit, attaching the identification means to the sorting container and transporting to the sorting means, and sorting the sorting container into an opening of the storage means by the sorting means Is.

  According to the above configuration, from the receiving container, the article is sorted into the sorting container of the sorting unit of the sorting destination according to the request information of the article, and the identification unit is attached to the sorting container and conveyed to the sorting unit. The sorting means sorts into the frontage of the storage means.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the identification means is attached to the receiving container and conveyed to the sorting means, and the sorting means stores the sorting container by the sorting means. It is characterized by sorting into frontage.

According to the above configuration, the identification unit is attached to the receiving container, and is directly conveyed to the sorting unit, and is sorted into the front of the storage unit by the sorting unit.
The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sorting unit of the sorting destination of the article is determined based on the article request information, An attachment means for attaching the identification means to each article is provided.

  According to the above configuration, each article is identified with the sorting unit of the sorting destination based on the article request information, and the identification unit is attached.

  In the sorting system of the present invention, when a plurality of continuously stored articles are taken out from each frontage, information for identifying the articles of the first and last articles is read by the reading means, and based on the information for identifying these articles. By specifying and managing the articles to be taken out from each frontage, it is possible to specify the taken out goods for each frontage from which the goods have been taken out, that is, for each sorting unit of the sorting destination.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a sorting system according to an embodiment of the present invention, which includes a receiving area 1, a sorting area 2, and a shipping area 3.

First, an example of order data (article request information) ordered by the sorting system will be described.
The sorting system in the present embodiment is capable of receiving orders for foods (constant temperature products, bread, etc .; examples of articles) that are likely to collapse, and stores (examples of sorting destinations). As shown in FIG. 2, the food order from () is sent to each store passage (an example of a sorting unit of the sorting destination) and specifies food items (for example, food numbers “001” to “0040”). ]) And quantity. Of the foods, foods with numbers “021” to “040” are ordered in units of cases, and other foods are ordered in units of one.

  Orders from these stores are totaled by a sorting control controller 4 composed of a computer on a specific date basis, and various data described later are formed, and sorting operations from receipt to shipment are executed according to these data.

In addition, the above-mentioned areas 1, 2, and 3 are environments of a predetermined temperature necessary for maintaining foods to be handled.
[Arrival area]
In the arrival area 1, a plurality of (for example, 10) pieces of the above-mentioned foods are naked and dedicated to a shallow container (an example of an arrival container; hereinafter referred to as an arrival case) 11 by a transport vehicle 13 such as a truck. It is stored and received, or a large amount (for example, 12 boxes) of arrival cases 11 are mounted on a cage car (an example of arrival of arrival containers in a group) 12 and received. In addition, in the arrival case 11 and the car 12, a bar code (hereinafter referred to as “food”) including a food number and a lot number is used as information (information specifying an article) for specifying food stored in a specific position in advance. A bar code label (hereinafter referred to as a food bar code label) printed with a bar code is attached.

In the arrival area 1, the received arrival case 11 or the car 12 is classified into three routes, cut out, and carried out to the sorting area 2.
* 1st route and 2nd route Among food products "001" to "020" ordered in units of one, if there is an order of a predetermined quantity (for example, 10) of the arrival case 11, the sorting control controller 4 2, it is divided into the number of cases 11 and the number of foods (in units of 1) as shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. Case sorting data consisting of the stores and passage numbers is formed.

  As equipment for sorting the arrival cases 11 into the first route and the second route, the carry-in conveyor 5 that carries the received case 11 from the transport vehicle 13 and the arrival case 11 that has been conveyed by the carry-in conveyor 5 are the first. A branching device 6 that branches to a first receiving conveyor 14 that forms a route and a second receiving conveyor 15 that forms a second route, and a food bar of a receiving case 11 arranged at the entrance of the branching device 6 along the loading conveyor 5 A barcode reader 7 that reads a food barcode (a food number and a lot number) from a code label, and a delivery case that is arranged along the first delivery conveyor 14 at the exit of the branching device 6 and is conveyed by the first delivery conveyor 14 11 is a bar code printed with a bar code (hereinafter referred to as a sorting bar code) consisting of the store and passage number of the order. Doraberu; pasted (hereinafter, sorting bar code label and called an example of the identification means) label sticking machine (an example of the mounting means) 8 is provided. Data read by the bar code reader 7 (food number and lot number) is input to the sorting controller 4 and the branching device 6. The case sorting data formed in the sorting controller 4 is registered in advance in the branching device 6.

  With this configuration, when the arrival case 11 is received by the carry-in conveyor 5, the food number and the lot number are read from the food barcode label and input to the sorting controller 4 and the branching device 6.

  The branching device 6 searches the case sorting data registered in advance by the input food number to check whether the case and the number of cases to be sorted in case units are confirmed. After branching to the arrival conveyor 14, data including the store and passage number of the arrival case 11 is output to the label sticking machine 8, and the sorting barcode label including the store and passage number is attached to the arrival case 11. . As described above, according to the case sorting data, the sorting barcode label (store and passage number) is attached to the receiving case 11 and is conveyed to the sorting area 2 by the first receiving conveyor 14 forming the first route. In the data shown in FIG. 3A, the receiving case 11 with the food number “003” is transported with one box, the sorting barcode label with the store A and the passage number 2 attached thereto.

  Further, the branching device 6 branches to the second arrival conveyor 15 when it is not a case of sorting by case. In this way, among the food products “001” to “020” ordered in units of one, the incoming case 11 other than the one branched off to the first route is branched to the second incoming conveyor 15 forming the second route. , Transported to the sorting area 2.

  In this way, in the facility that sorts the arrival cases 11 into the first route and the second route, when the food items “001” to “020” ordered in units of one are stored and received in the arrival case 11, they are received. In the case 11 unit, according to the case sorting data formed from the order data, it is sorted into two sorting categories, that is, the first route and the second route, and is transported to the sorting area 2.

* Third route The portable barcode reader 9 is arranged. When the food items “021” to “040” ordered by the case are received by the cart 12, the basket is read by the portable barcode reader 9. The food bar code (food number and lot number) of the food bar code label of the car 12 is read, and the car 12 is pushed by the operator and conveyed to the sorting area 2 as it is. Data read by the portable barcode reader 9 (food number and lot number) is input to the sorting controller 4.

The sorting controller 4 stores the food number and lot number input from the barcode reader 7 in units of arrival cases, and the food number and lot number input from the barcode reader 9 in units of carts, as shown in FIG. Thus, the lot number is stored for each food number in the order data. Thereby, the lot number of the food (number) ordered for each store and passage is stored, and the lot number of the food sorted and shipped to each store can be accurately and reliably captured (practice traceability).
[Sorting area]
The sorting area 2 includes an assortment facility (an example of a sorting facility) 21, a pool facility 22, and a basket car picking facility (an example of a second sorting facility) 24.
"Assortment equipment 21"
In the assortment facility 21, the arrival case 11 is conveyed by the second arrival conveyor 15 that forms the second route, and the food is sorted by passage (sorting unit of the sorting destination) of each store.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the assortment equipment 21 is arranged along the sorting conveyor 28 composed of an accumulation conveyor continuously arranged on the second receiving conveyor 15, and arranged along the sorting conveyor 28. Example) Sorting shelf 32 composed of a fixed shelf having a plurality of compartment storage spaces 31 in which 29 is stored, an unloading conveyor 33 for transporting the sorting case 29 that has been sorted to the pool facility 22, and assorting work of the assorting facility 21 It is comprised from the assortment equipment controller 34 which consists of computers which controls. It should be noted that in many cases, the delivery of chilled items such as chilled products to a store is a “limited type of containers (cases)”, and the sorting case 29 is received in this limited type of case shape. The case 11 can be stacked.

  In addition, a (work) zone Z in which one worker is in charge of assorting work is set for each of the three-stage, three-row partition storage spaces 31. In addition, an empty sorting case 29 is stacked on the sorting shelf 32 in a folded state.

Each compartment storage space 31 is assigned with a passage of each store and is registered in advance in the assortment equipment controller 34.
Each compartment storage space 31 is provided with an assortment display 35. Each assortment indicator 35 is provided with a digital quantity indicator 36 (display means) for displaying the quantity of food to be sorted, a completion push button switch 37 (completion operation means), and an expiration push button switch (expiration operation means) 38. Yes. The completion push button switch 37 is used when the food is sorted into the sorting case 29 of the compartment storage space 31 provided with the switch 37 according to the quantity displayed on the quantity indicator 36, or when the feeding is finished (sorting is finished). And operated.

  A bar code reader (input means) 39 for reading the food bar code (food number in this case) of the arrival case 11 is provided at the entrance of the assorting facility 21 (the end of the second arrival conveyor 15).

  For each zone Z, a sorting bar code label (a label for an arrival area) printed on the downstream end of the sorting conveyor 28 is printed with a sorting bar code including a zone sorting end switch 40 and a sorting case 29 attached to the sorting case 29. A label printer (issuing means) 41 that issues the same sort barcode label that is pasted by the pasting machine 8 is provided. The sorting case 29 is specified by the sorting barcode label.

  The assortment equipment controller 34 is connected to a sorting conveyor 28, an assortment display 35 for each compartment storage space 31, a barcode reader 39, a zone sorting end switch 40 for each zone Z, and a label printer 41. Further, in the sorting control controller 4, assortment equipment sorting data shown in FIG. 3B is formed from the data of FIG. 2, that is, data for sorting foods from the arrival case 11 into the respective compartment storage spaces 31. be registered. For example, from the arrival case 11 of the food number “001”, five in the compartment storage space 31 assigned to the passage number 1 of the store A, three in the compartment storage space 31 assigned to the passage number 2 of the store B, Data for sorting the two into the compartment storage space 31 assigned to the passage number 1 of the store C is formed.

Under the control of the assortment equipment controller 34, the sorting work is executed in the assortment equipment as follows.
1. Before the sorting operation, the label printer 41 of each zone Z is driven by the assortment equipment controller 34, and the sorting barcode label on which the sorting barcode consisting of the store and the passage number registered in each partition storage space 31 is printed. publish. The operator attaches these sorting bar code labels to the sorting cases 29 of the corresponding compartment storage spaces 31.

2. The arrival case 11 is carried into each zone Z for each box, and when the sorting operation in each zone Z is completed, it is conveyed to the next zone Z.
3. The number of the food stored in the arrival case 11 is confirmed by the barcode data read by the barcode reader 39 at the entrance, and the assortment equipment sorting data registered in advance is searched by this food number. Sorting data in is formed. In each zone Z to which this food number receipt case 11 is transported, the quantity of food to be sorted to the digital display 36 of the assortment display 35 of the compartment storage space 31 for sorting based on the formed sorting data. Is displayed.

  4). When the sorting case 11 is carried in, each sorting operator puts food into the sorting case 29 from the receiving case 11 in accordance with the quantity displayed on the quantity display 36 of the assortment display 35 in the compartment storage space 31. When the charging is finished (sorting is finished), the completion push button switch 37 is operated. When the sorting case 29 is expired, the expiration push button switch 38 is operated to transfer to the carry-out sorting conveyor 33. As a result, the sorting case 29 that has expired is transported to the pool facility 22. Further, the assortment equipment controller 34 confirms the store and passage number assigned to the compartment storage space 31 in which the expiration pushbutton switch 38 is operated, and drives the label printer 41 in the zone Z to store the store and passage number. A sorting bar code label printed with a sorting bar code consisting of is issued. The operator attaches this sorting bar code label to the empty sorting case 29 and stores it in the compartment storage space 31 to continue the assorting operation.

  5. The operator operates the zone sorting end switch 40 when the sorting operation for the arrival case 11 is completed. When the sorting operation in all the zones Z is completed, the assortment equipment controller 34 drives the sorting conveyor 28 to transport the incoming case 11 to the adjacent downstream zone Z.

  6). When the sorting operation for all the incoming cases 11 is completed, the operator in each zone Z takes out the sorting case 29 from each compartment storage space 31 and transfers it to the carry-out sorting conveyor 33. As a result, the sorting case 29 that has been sorted is transported to the pool facility 22.

In this way, food is sorted from the arrival case 11 according to the order data into the sorting case 29 to which the sorting barcode label is attached for each store and passage number, and is conveyed to the pool facility 22 by the carry-out sorting conveyor 33. .
"Pool facilities 22"
In the pool facility 22, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of groups (three groups in the figure) of automatic sorting facilities 51 are arranged in parallel. Each automatic sorting equipment 51 can store a plurality of receiving cases 11 and sorting cases 29 in succession, and has a plurality of front doors 52 each assigned with a store and a passage number (sorting unit of sorting destination). (One example of storage means) 53 and a fixed path i formed along the case inlet (inlet) side of the fluid shelf 53 are automatically traveled, and the arrival case 11 or the sorting case 29 is introduced into the mouth 52 of the fluid shelf 53. The stacker crane 54, the automatic sorting equipment controller 56 including a computer, and the warehousing conveyor 57 for carrying the cases 11 and 29 to the stacker crane 54. The stacker crane 54 and the automatic sorting equipment controller 56 form an example of sorting means.

  In addition, the fluidized shelves 53 of each automatic sorting equipment 51 are divided into 10 zones (5 floors) and divided into 10 zones (5 floors) across the first and second floors. k is composed of the frontage 52 in three rows and four rows. For example, each zone k is assigned to a group of stores on a predetermined delivery route, and the passage numbers of these stores are respectively assigned to the frontage 52 of this zone k. As an example, as shown in FIG. 8, passage numbers 1 to 4 of the store A are assigned to the entrances 1 to 4 of the zone 1. In addition, the store and passage number (sorting destination unit of sorting destination) assigned in advance to each frontage 52 of each automatic sorting equipment 51 are registered in the automatic sorting equipment controller 56 of each automatic sorting equipment 51. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the automatic sorting equipment controller 56, for each frontage 52 to which a store and a passage number are assigned, the number and lot number (in order of loading) of the food in the input case 11 or the sorting case 29, Furthermore, the number is managed as inventory data.

  Further, the stacker crane 54 is configured to travel while being guided by a traveling rail 58A on the ceiling and a guide rail 58B on the floor that constitute the fixed path i. The carriage 54A that can be raised and lowered includes a carriage 54A and a front door. 52 or a fork device 55 for taking in and out the cases 11 and 29 to / from the warehousing conveyor 57 is provided. Further, the traveling rail 58A and the guide rail 58B for guiding the stacker crane 54 of each automatic sorting equipment 51 are continuous, and the stacker crane 54 moves to the adjacent automatic sorting equipment 51 to transfer the cases 11 and 29. It is possible.

  Further, at the entrance of the pool facility 22, a merging device 59 that joins the sorting case 29 conveyed by the carry-out sorting conveyor 33 of the assorting facility 21 and the receiving case 11 conveyed by the first receiving conveyor 14 so as not to collide with each other. Is provided. The cases 11 and 29 merged by the merge device 59 are conveyed by the warehousing conveyor 61 and are carried into the branch device 60. Further, along the warehousing conveyor 61, a barcode reader 64 that reads the store and passage number from the sorting barcode label attached to the cases 11 and 29, and the food number from the food barcode label attached to the cases 11 and 29. A bar code reader 65 for reading the lot number is provided. The reading data of these bar code readers 64 and 65 are input to the branching device 60.

  The branching device 60 is a device that branches the case 11 or 29 conveyed by the warehousing / conveying conveyor 61 to the warehousing conveyor 57 of each automatic sorting equipment 51. In this branching device 60, stores and passage numbers assigned to the respective automatic sorting equipment 51 (controller 56) are registered in advance, and the sorting barcode of the sorting barcode label read by the barcode reader 64 (store) The automatic sorting equipment 51 for branching the case 11 or 29 is obtained, and the incoming conveyor 57 for the automatic sorting equipment 51 is branched from the incoming conveyor 61. Further, the store and passage number data of the branched case 11 or 29 and the food bar code (food number and lot number) data of the food bar code label read by the bar code reader 65 are output to the automatic sorting equipment controller 56. is doing.

  Further, the food number and the lot number are read from the barcode labels attached to the cases 11 and 29 on the outlet (exit) side for taking out the cases 11 and 29 from the fluid shelf 53 for each zone of each automatic sorting equipment 51. A portable bar code reader 66 (an example of a reading means) and a sorting bar code label on which a sorting bar code consisting of a store and a passage number is printed (the same as the sorting bar code label attached by the label sticking machine 8 in the arrival area) An issuing label printer 67 is provided. The sorting bar code label issued by the label printer 67 is affixed to the shipping cart 68. The portable bar code reader 66 is used to read the store and passage number from the sorted bar code label issued by the label printer 67 and attached to the shipping cart 68.

The sorting operation in the automatic sorting equipment 51 by the automatic sorting equipment controller 56 will be described.
"Receiving / sorting"
When the automatic sorting equipment controller 56 receives the store and the passage number from the branching device 60, the automatic sorting equipment controller 56 obtains the entrance 52 to be received based on the store and the passage number of the entrance 52 registered in advance. Then, when the case 11 or 29 is conveyed to the warehousing conveyor 57, the stacker crane 54 is driven, and the case 11 or 29 is transferred from the warehousing conveyor 57 onto the carriage 54A by the fork device 65. The case 11 or 29 is transported to 52 and put into the determined frontage 52 using the fork device 65. After the input, the inventory data, that is, the number of cases 11 or 29, the food number, and the lot number (the order of input) are updated.

"Shipping"
When the sorting is completed, the delivery operation is executed.
First, as shown in FIG. 7, the worker prepares a shipping cart 68 corresponding to each frontage 52 in each zone. Further, the automatic sorting equipment controller 56 divides the number of cases 11 or 29 accommodated in each frontage 52 by the cases 11 or 29 that can be mounted on the shipping car 68, and the necessary number of shipping cars 68 required. To the label printer 67 of each zone, and outputs the data including the store and passage number assigned to each frontage 52 of each zone and the number of carts 68 for shipment, and the sorting bar including the store and passage number. Assorted bar code labels printed with codes are issued for the number of car carts 68 for shipping. The operator attaches these bar code labels to the shipping carts 68 corresponding to the front doors 52 respectively.

  Subsequently, the worker transfers the case 11 or 29 from the frontage 52 to the corresponding shipping cart 68. At this time, first, the barcode (store and passage number) of the sorting barcode label attached to the shipping cart 68 is read by the barcode reader 66 and is input to the automatic sorting equipment controller 56, and then the barcode reader 66 is used. The bar code (food number and lot number) of the food bar code label of the first case 11 or 29 to be put into the shipping cart 68 is read and input to the automatic sorting equipment controller 56. Then, the product is transferred to the shipping cart 68, and when it expires, the barcode of the food barcode label of the last case 11 or 29 loaded into the shipping cart 68 by the barcode reader 66 (the number of the food) And lot number) are read and input to the automatic sorting equipment controller 56.

  If the case 11 or 29 remains in the frontage 52, the same operation is repeated for the next shipping car 68. Such a simple operation that does not require the operator to make a determination forms the shipping cart 68 specified by the “store and passage number”, thereby reducing mistakes.

  The automatic sorting equipment controller 56 identifies the shipping cart 68 by the input store and passage number, and then the first case 11 or 29 food number and lot number and the last case 11 or 29 food number. Based on the lot number, as shown in FIG. 8, the food number and lot number of the case 11 or 29 taken out from the inventory data are obtained and transferred to the shipping cart 68 specified by the “store and passage number”. The food number and lot number of the case 11 or 29 placed are stored. For example, when loading (transferring) the case 11 or 29 from the frontage number “1” shown in FIG. 8 to the shipping cart 68 corresponding to this frontage, the first case 11 or 29 is read by the barcode reader 66. The data read from the food bar code on the food bar code label, that is, when the food number and lot number are “a” and the food number and lot number of the last case 11 or 29 are “g” From the data, the food number and lot number stored in the middle of these food numbers and lot numbers “a” and “g” are obtained as “b, c, d, e, f”. No. 11 or 29 food number and lot number “a, b, c, d, e, f, "It is stored.

The shipping cart 68 that has been transferred is transported to the shipping area 3.
According to the configuration of the pool facility 22, the sorting case 29 transported by the carry-out sorting conveyor 33 of the assorting facility 21 and the receiving case 11 transported by the first receiving conveyor 14 are discriminated, and the stacker crane 54 is driven. The store and the passage number are input (sorted) into the frontage 52 assigned in advance. At this time, for each frontage 52, the number and lot number of the food of case 11 or 29 put into frontage 52 are stored, and inventory data is formed.

When the sorting is completed, the cases 11 or 29 sorted into the frontage 52 are transferred to the shipping cart 68 corresponding to the frontage 52. Then, the shipping car 68 can be used as a cart for a store and a passage number, and is transported to the shipping area 3. At this time, by reading the food barcodes of the first and last cases 11 or 29, the cases are taken out from the frontage 52 based on the stored food number and lot number of the case 11 or 29 sorted into the frontage 52. 11 and 29 are obtained for each car 68, and the food number and lot number of the transferred case 11 or 29 are stored for each shipping car 68 specified by the store and the passage number. When the sorting operation is completed, the data is transferred to the sorting controller 4, and finally, the sorting controller 4 transfers the case 11 or the case 11 transferred to each shipping car 68 specified by the store and the passage number. 29 food numbers and lot numbers, that is, loading results are stored.
"Kago car picking equipment 24"
The basket car picking equipment 24 is composed of a horizontal rotating shelf equipment. As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of pedestals 71 on which the car carriage 12 is placed are linked, and an endless oval lower (floor) rail 72. The upper rail 73 having the same shape as that is supported and guided via a roller or the like, and the plurality of cradles 71 are simultaneously moved forward and backward. As a driving device for simultaneously moving the plurality of cradles 71 forward and backward, a drive shaft 78 and a driven shaft 79 standing near the center of the arc inside the rails 72 and 73 and the shafts 78 and 79 are attached. A driving wheel body 80 and a driven wheel body 81, an endless rotating body 82 wound between the two wheel bodies 80, 81 and connected to each pedestal 71, and forward / reverse driving freely linked to the driving shaft 78. A motor 83 is provided.

  A loading / unloading controller 84 including a portable bar code reader 87 for reading a bar code (food number and lot number) from a food bar code label of the car cart 12 and a computer at a loading / unloading exit at which the car cart 12 gets on and off the receiving platform 71. And a sorting bar code label on which a sorting bar code including a store and a passage number is printed on a sorting port for sorting the receiving case 11 from the car 12 (labeling machine for receiving area) 8 is a label printer 86 that issues the same sort bar code label 8 is attached). Further, the sorting controller 4 determines the quantity of the storage case 11 of the food number to be picked for each store and aisle from the data shown in FIG. 2, and forms car car picking equipment data. The car car picking equipment data Are previously registered in the sorting controller 85.

  The stock controller 84 stores, as inventory data, the quantity, food number, and lot number of the stock case 11 loaded with the car 12 mounted on each cradle 71. When the worker transports the cart 12 from the receiving area 1, the worker inputs a warehousing request to the warehousing controller 84, and the warehousing controller 84 obtains an empty cradle 71 from the inventory data in response to the warehousing request. Then, the motor 83 is driven to move the empty cradle 71 to the carry-in / out port. When the empty cradle 71 is moved to the loading / unloading port, the worker first reads the bar code (food number and lot number) from the food bar code label of the basket car 12 by the portable bar code reader 87 for loading and unloading. Input to the controller 84, and then the car 12 is placed on the vacant cradle 71 that has been moved, and the quantity of the incoming case 11 is input to the controller 84 for storage. Thus, the inventory data is updated and stored, and transferred to the sorting controller 85. In addition, when the operator lowers the cart 12 from the cradle 71, the worker inputs a warehousing request including a food number to the warehousing / exiting controller 84, and the warehousing / unloading controller 84 searches inventory data in response to the warehousing request. Then, the cradle 71 on which the basket car 12 having the inputted food number is mounted is obtained, and the motor 83 is driven to move the cradle 71 to the loading / unloading port. When the cradle 71 moves to the loading / unloading port and the car 12 is moved to the loading / unloading port, the operator lowers the car 12 from the cradle 71 and inputs the end of warehousing to the loading / unloading controller 84. As a result, the inventory data is updated and stored (registered as an empty cradle 71).

  Further, according to an instruction from the sorting controller 85 provided in the sorting port, sorting work for each warehousing case 11 is executed. In other words, the store controller and the passage number are instructed to the operator by the sorting controller 85, and the sorting bar code label on which the sorting bar code including the store and the passage number is printed is issued from the label printer 86. The worker attaches the issued sorting bar code label to the shipping cart 88, and then the shipping cart 11 is moved to the sorting port by the sorting controller 85, and the inbound case 11 of the designated quantity is shipped. Transfer to the car 88 and input the transfer end to the sorting controller 85. As a result, the food number and lot number (the food number and lot number of the car 12 moved to the sorting port) of the arrival case 11 transferred to the shipping car 88 specified by the store and the passage number are stored.

  This sorting operation is performed every time the car 12 is moved to the sorting port. Therefore, the food number and lot number of the arrival case 11 transferred to the shipping cart 88 specified by the store and the passage number are specified.

When the delivery operation for the shipping cart 88 is completed, the shipping cart 88 is transported to the shipping area 3.
In this way, when a group of arrival cases 11 are received by the basket car 12 in the basket car picking facility 24, the stores and passage numbers are classified in units of the arrival cases 11 from the basket car 12 (units of sorting destinations and sorting destinations). The incoming cases 11 are sorted and mounted on the shipping cart 88 and transported to the shipping area 3. In addition, the food number and lot number of the transferred arrival case 11 are stored for each of the shipping carts 88 specified by the store and the passage number, and these data are transferred to the sorting controller 4 when the sorting operation is completed. Finally, the sorting controller 4 stores the food number and lot number (loading result) of the arrival case 11 transferred to each shipping car 88 specified by the store and passage number. .
[Shipping area]
In the shipping area 3, the shipping cart 68 for each store and passage number transported from the pool facility 22 and the shipping cart 88 for each store and passage number transported from the cart picking facility 24 are: The store and passage number are confirmed by the sorting bar code label, merged, mounted on a transport vehicle 13 such as a truck for each delivery route and store, and transported to each store.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the food number stored in the stock case 11 or the sort case 29 that sorts into the front opening 52 of the fluid shelf 53 is stored for each front door 52 and is received from the front door 52 of the fluid shelf 53. When the case 11 or the sorting case 29 is taken out and transferred to the basket car 68, the shipping cart specified by the store and the passage number is obtained by reading the food bar code of the first and last arrival cases 11 or the sorting case 29. For each 68, the number and lot number of the food in the transferred case 11 or 29 are stored, and for each shipping car 88 specified by the store and the passage number, the transferred case 11 is transferred. By storing the food number and the lot number (finally these data are stored in the sorting controller 4 By stored), the loading performance actually shipped correctly can be surely captured by the basket car 66,88 units and case 11 and 29 units for shipment to each store may be practiced traceability. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the sorting controller 4 stores the lot number of the food actually received for each food number, and stores the lot number of the food (number) ordered for each store and passage. Therefore, it is possible to accurately and reliably grasp the lot number of the food that is sorted and shipped by each store and passage, and to implement traceability.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the arrival case 11 is sorted into two lines of the first route and the second route, one of which is an assortment facility 21 where food is sorted from the arrival case 11 in units of stores and passage numbers. The sorting case 29 is transported to the pool facility 22, and the receiving case 11 is directly transported to the pool facility 22 with the store and passage number specified, and the receiving case 11 and the sorting case 29 are Each unit of store and passage number is put into and stored in the frontage 52 of the automatic sorting facility 51, that is, by sorting and storing in the pool facility 22 for each store and passage number, it is possible to load goods such as fixed temperature products and bread. Cases that store foods that are easy to collapse (incoming cases) 1 and can be automated store and a passage number specific task of sorting by the case of the sorting case 29), it is possible to more completely automated. Moreover, by carrying out and shipping for each store and passage number, shipment in units of stores and passage numbers, that is, delivery by passage can be realized.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, by using the fluidized shelves 53 having a large number of frontage 52 in the upper and lower multi-stage left and right, a frontage that can automatically and reliably sort the requested store and passage number (sorting unit). In addition, it is possible to eliminate sorting mistakes and improve sorting efficiency by performing reliable automatic sorting. Furthermore, by using a fluidized shelf 53 having a large number of openings 52 in the upper and lower multistage left and right, the sorting operation by store and passage number is executed, compared with a conventional extrusion type (shoe slide type) automatic sorting device. Space saving and low cost can be realized. {Extrusion type (shoe slide type) automatic sorting device requires a separate chute for each store and passage number, which is arranged in a plane.} It is possible to sort by passage, and it is possible to sort by passage for many stores, which is difficult by hand.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the arrival cases 11 are a group, for example, when a large amount of arrival case containers are received by the basket car 12, the basket car picking facility 24 is used to directly By sorting in units of passage numbers, it is possible to quickly sort a large number of incoming cases 11.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, food is sorted using the assorting equipment 21 and the pool equipment 22, so that the food ( Product) and the number of automation targets can be greatly increased (investment can be increased).

In the present embodiment, the unit of the sorting destination is set for each store passage, but it may be set for each store partition, shelf, or category.
In the present embodiment, the areas 1, 2, and 3 of the sorting system are set to an environment having a predetermined temperature necessary for maintaining the food to be handled, but the temperature can be set for each facility in the area. For example, in the unmanned pool facility 22, the temperature is set to about 4 ° C. suitable for long-term storage of chilled products, and in the assort facility 21, the worker sets the temperature so as not to affect the worker.

  In the present embodiment, the arrival cases 11 are sorted into the first route and the second route using the branching device 6 in the arrival area 1, but manually based on the case sorting data shown in FIG. It is also possible to sort the arrival cases 11. In addition, when the arrival case 11 can be put into the frontage 52 even if it has two stages, it is also possible to manually sort the arrival cases 11 in two stages. At this time, it is necessary to add two-stage data to the sorting bar code label and to input to the automatic sorting controller 56 that the arrival case 11 put into the frontage 52 is two-stage stacking.

  In this embodiment, the controller 56 of the automatic sorting equipment 51 manages the inventory data of the case 11 or 29 stored in each frontage 52, but the sorting control controller 4 manages the inventory of each automatic sorting equipment 51. Data management may be performed.

  In this embodiment, the sorting conveyor 28 of the assorting equipment 21 is configured by an accumulation conveyor. However, the sorting conveyor 28 is not limited to the accumulation conveyor, and a stopper for preventing the movement of the receiving case 11 is provided at the end of each zone Z. You may form with the conveyor provided. When holding the arrival case 11, the stopper is raised to prevent the arrival case 11 from being carried out, and when carrying out to the adjacent downstream zone, the stopper is lowered to allow the arrival case 11 to be carried out. In addition, a fixed shelf is used as the sorting shelf 32 of the assortment facility 21. However, when the sorting case 29 that has expired is taken out using the fluidized shelf, an empty sorting case 29 comes to the front. You can also. In the assortment facility 21, an operator attaches a bar code label on which a bar code indicating a store and a passage number is pasted to the sorting case 29. A code label may be attached and supplied to the assortment facility 21.

  In the present embodiment, the cart 12 is used as a means for receiving the arrival case 11, but the cart 12 is not limited to the cart 12, and a cart, a pallet, or the like can also be used. Further, although the shipping carts 68 and 88 are used as the conveying means for the cases 11 and 29 to be shipped, carts and pallets can be used in the same manner.

  Further, in the present embodiment, information (information for specifying an article) for specifying food stored in the arrival case 11 is represented by a barcode, and a barcode label on which this barcode is printed is used. The barcode label is not limited to such a barcode label. For example, an IC tag storing information for identifying the food may be used. The information indicating the order store and the passage number is represented by a bar code, and the bar code label on which the bar code is printed is attached to the receiving case 11 and the sorting case 29. However, the bar code label is limited to such a bar code label. For example, an IC tag in which information indicating an order store and a passage number is stored may be used. At this time, an IC tag attachment machine is used instead of the label printer, and an IC tag reader is used instead of the barcode reader.

It is a block diagram of the sorting system in embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the order data to the same sorting system. It is explanatory drawing of the data for sorting of the sorting system. It is the top view and front view of the assortment equipment of the sorting system. It is a top view of the automatic sorting equipment of the sorting system. It is a side view of the automatic sorting equipment of the sorting system. It is a principal part perspective view of the automatic sorting equipment of the sorting system. It is explanatory drawing of the inventory data of the automatic sorting equipment of the sorting system. It is the top view and front view of the cage picking equipment of the sorting system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Arrival area 2 Sorting area 3 Shipping area 4 Sorting controller 6 Branching device 8 Label sticking machine 11 Arrival case 12 Basket car 21 Assortment equipment 22 Pool equipment 24 Basket picking equipment 28 Sorting conveyor 29 Sorting case 31 Partition storage space 32 Sorting shelf 35 Assorted Display 51 Automatic Sorting Equipment 52 Frontage 53 Fluid Shelf 54 Stacker Crane 56 Automatic Sorting Equipment Controller 57 Receipt Conveyor 59 Junction Device 60 Branch Device 64, 65, 66 Barcode Reader 68, 88 Cargo Cart for Shipping 71 Receptacle 84 Entering Controller for delivery 85 Controller for sorting

Claims (4)

In accordance with the article request information of the sorting units of a plurality of sorting destinations, each sorting unit of the sorting destination is a sorting system that sorts the articles to which information for specifying the articles is attached in advance,
Identification means attached to the article based on the article request information and identifying a sorting unit of the sorting destination;
A plurality of storage means capable of storing a plurality of the articles continuously, and having a plurality of frontage doors each assigned with a sorting unit of the sorting destination,
According to the sorting unit of the sorting unit of the identification means attached to the article, a sorting unit for sorting the sorting unit of the sorting unit for the sorting unit is obtained,
Reading means capable of reading information identifying an article of the article taken out from the front of the storage means,
When sorting the articles into the frontage of the storage means, information for identifying the goods of this article is stored for each frontage, and when taking out the sorted goods from the frontage of the storage means, Information that identifies an article is read by the reading means, and an article to be taken out from each frontage based on the information that identifies the article and the information that identifies the article that is stored in the frontage is stored. A sorting system characterized by identification and management. The article is stored in a container;
A sorting facility for sorting the articles into sorting containers of the sorting unit of the sorting destination according to the request information of the articles from the receiving container that has received and received a single article,
Transporting the receiving container to the sorting facility, sorting articles from the receiving container into sorting containers of the sorting destination, attaching the identification means to the sorting container and transporting the sorting means to the sorting means 2. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein the sorting container sorts the sorting container into the frontage of the storage means. 3. The sorting system according to claim 2, wherein the identification unit is attached to the receiving container and conveyed to the sorting unit, and the sorting container is sorted into the storage unit by the sorting unit. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an attaching unit that determines a sorting unit of a sorting destination of the article based on the article request information and attaches the identification unit to each article. Sorting system described in

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