JP2010120764A - Erroneous operation prevention device for article sorting system or article picking system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inexpensively provide an article sorting system or an article picking system having an erroneous operation prevention device for preventing an incorrect article from being input or picked. <P>SOLUTION: In this article sorting system or article picking system having a sorting rack (10) divided into a plurality of sections (14), the erroneous operation prevention device (20) for preventing an erroneous article to be input or picked is detachably installed on the sorting rack. The erroneous operation prevention device includes fixed parts (22) detachably fixed to the article loading racks (12) in the sections, a rotating shaft (28) pivotally supported on the front part of the fixed part, an opening/closing door (30) fixed to the rotating shaft, a lever (40) which is fixed to the rotating shaft and extends downward, and an air cylinder (32) for pressing the rear end of the lever. Since the existing rack is used as the sorting rack, the cost of the system can be reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an article sorting system for inputting various products by shipment destination or an article picking system for picking various products by shipment destination. More specifically, the present invention relates to an article sorting system for preventing erroneous insertion or picking of articles. The present invention relates to an erroneous work prevention device for an article picking system.

  The applicant has already obtained a patent relating to an article sorting facility (article sorting system) (see Patent Document 1 below). This article sorting equipment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the sorting shelf 60 of the article sorting equipment, an article placing shelf 64 is attached to a support 62. The article placement shelf 64 has an inclined article input section 64b located on the front surface and a horizontal section 64a following the article input section 64b. A fall prevention frame 66 is fixed around the article input portion 64b. A label 68 indicating a shipping destination and an article name is attached to the upper part of the sorting shelf 60. The article input portion 64b is inclined more greatly toward the upper side in order to facilitate the input of the article, and the lower one protrudes more forward than the upper one. The lowermost article mounting shelf 64 is provided with only a flat drop prevention frame 66a at the front end, omitting the inclined article input section 64b.

  Individual article placement shelves 64 in the sorting shelf 60 are defined as sections 70 determined by the shipping destination, the type of the article, and the like. In the sorting shelf 60, an opening / closing door 72 is provided on the front surface of each section 70 as an erroneous work prevention device that prevents the article 84 from being put into the wrong section 70.

  The open / close door 72 has a rectangular frame 74 and a transparent sheet 76 such as vinyl reinforced with fiber or the like, and rotates around a hinge 78 provided at the lower front end of the article input portion 64b of the upper section 70. It is attached so that it can be opened and closed by an air cylinder 80. The open / close door 72 of the uppermost compartment 70 is rotatably attached around a hinge 78 provided at the lower portion of a cross member 82 that connects the upper ends of the front columns 62. An arm 74a is extended at one end of the frame 74 in a right angle direction, and the tip of the rod 80a of the air cylinder 80 is connected to the tip of the arm 74a.

  The article 84 is accommodated in the tray 86 and is transported from the storage location to the tray mounting table 88 by an operator. On the bottom of the tray 86, an ID card 90 in which tray information such as a tray number, a section into which a designated article is to be placed, and the number of articles to be placed in each section is written is placed. A urethane cover 92 for protecting the ID card 90 is placed there. As the ID card 90, an IC card or a magnetic card is used.

  A tray mounting table 88 is placed on one of the side edges of the sorting shelf 60, and the tray mounting table 88 is provided with a control panel 96 for operating a controller (not shown) that controls the air cylinder 80. Further, an ID card reader 98 for reading tray information written on the ID card 90 is fixed to the tray mounting table 88 on the lower surface of an area defined for mounting the tray 86. Of course, it is also possible to use a barcode instead of the ID card 90 and use a barcode reader instead of the ID card reader 98.

  The control panel 96 includes a controller display unit 114, various lamps for giving instructions to the worker and informing the worker, such as a loading lamp 120 for instructing the worker to load the article, and a controller for completing the loading of the article. Various switches etc. are provided such as an input completion switch 122 for informing the controller, and for notifying the controller of the work status and giving work instructions.

Next, a sorting procedure performed by the article sorting equipment will be described.
(1) Each tray 86 is provided with an ID card 90 on which tray information such as a tray number, a section 70 into which a designated article is placed, and the number of articles 84 to be placed in each section 70 is written. A cover 92 is placed over which the designated article 84 is received. The tray information is written on the ID card 90 in advance.
(2) The worker carries the tray 86 containing the article 84 from the storage location to the tray mounting table 88 and places it on a predetermined area on the tray mounting table 88.
(3) The ID card reader 98 fixed to the tray mounting table 88 reads tray information and transmits this tray information to the controller.
(4) The controller sends air to the air cylinder 80 of the section 70 specified by the tray information, lights the input lamp 120, and displays the number of articles 84 to be input to the section 70 on the display unit 114.
(5) When air is supplied to the air cylinder 80, the open / close door 72 of the designated section 70 opens.
(6) After confirming that the input lamp 120 is turned on, the worker inputs the article 84 into the section 70 in which the open / close door 72 is opened. At this time, since the tray mounting table 88 is located at one end of the sorting shelf 60, it is easy for an operator in front of the tray mounting table 88 to find the section 70 in which the open / close door 72 is opened. Further, since the number of articles 84 to be thrown is displayed on the display unit 114 of the controller, the worker throws in the articles 84 by the displayed number.
(7) When the worker has finished loading the article 84, he presses the loading completion switch 122.
(8) When the closing completion switch 122 is pressed, the controller releases the air in the air cylinder 80 and closes the open / close door 72.

  If the articles 84 to be put in other compartments 70 remain, the controller returns to the operation of (4) and repeats (4)-(8) until the articles 84 in the tray 86 are exhausted. repeat. In this way, a large number of articles 84 are sorted.

According to this article sorting equipment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The tray information written on the ID card 90 placed on the bottom of the tray 86 is read by the ID card reader 98, and the opening / closing door 72 of the designated section 70 is opened. It is possible to reliably prevent erroneous insertion. (2) Since the worker carries the article from the tray mounting table 88 to the designated section 70, an erroneous input prevention device can be economically provided in the article sorting facility on a small scale. (3) Since the article can be sorted by simply putting the article into the compartment 70 with the open / close door 72 open according to the lighting of the throwing lamp 120 and pushing the loading completion switch 122 after the article is loaded, the operation is simple. (4) The tray information also includes number information for designating the number of articles to be loaded for each section 70 into which the designated article 86 is to be loaded, and the number of articles to be inserted is displayed on the display unit 114. Can be input to the designated section 70. (5) Since the air cylinder 80 is employed as the actuator, the opening and closing speed of the opening / closing door 72 is fast, and a simple and highly reliable and inexpensive article sorting facility can be obtained. (8) Since the open / close door 72 has a transparent sheet pasted on the frame, you can see the articles that have already been thrown in, so you can see the progress of sorting and encourage the workers. It is easy to notice the goods.
Japanese Patent No. 4119861

  By the way, although the article sorting system provided with the erroneous operation preventing apparatus as disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a great effect as described above, severe price reduction is required from the user. Similarly, price reduction is required for an article picking system having a similar configuration.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described demand, and provides an article sorting system or an article picking system provided with an erroneous work prevention device for preventing erroneous article insertion or picking at a lower cost than conventional ones. Let it be an issue.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the invention according to claim 1, in the article sorting system or the article picking system having the sorting shelf divided into a plurality of sections, an erroneous operation for preventing erroneous article insertion or picking. A prevention device is detachable from the sorting shelf. The erroneous operation preventing apparatus includes a fixing portion that is detachably fixed to an article placement shelf in each section of the sorting shelf, a rotating shaft that is pivotally supported at a front portion of the fixing portion, and a rotating shaft. The door includes a fixed door, a lever that is fixed to the rotating shaft and extends downward, and an actuator that presses a rear portion of the lever.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1, the lever has a crescent shape with a recessed rear part when viewed from the side.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the fixing portion is fixed to the article mounting shelf by a magnetic force.

  In the invention according to claim 4, in the invention according to claim 1, 2 or 3, the display unit for displaying the number of articles input or the number of picking, and the instruction of the article input location or picking location and completion of input or completion of picking A switch with a lamp for closing the open / close door later is provided.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that in the invention according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, there is provided confirmation means for confirming whether or not the type and the number of articles to be charged or the number of picking are as instructed. And

  According to the invention according to claim 1, in the article sorting system or the article picking system having the sorting shelves divided into a plurality of sections, the erroneous work prevention device for preventing the wrong article from being inserted or picked is provided in the sorting shelves. Since it is detachable, an existing shelf can be used as a sorting shelf, and an article sorting system or an article picking system that is less expensive than the conventional one can be obtained. Moreover, by using the existing shelves, it is not necessary to greatly change the conventional line, and it is not necessary to discard the existing shelves, so that the cost can be further reduced. It can also contribute to resource conservation and global environment maintenance. Further, since the erroneous work prevention device opens only the opening / closing door of the designated section, it can almost certainly prevent the article from being put into the wrong section or picking the article from the wrong section. . Furthermore, by providing an open / close door fixed to the rotary shaft, a lever fixed to the rotary shaft and extending downward, and an actuator that presses the rear portion of the lever, even in the event of a power failure or failure, it is possible to manually This has the advantage that the door can be opened and articles can be loaded or picked.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, the lever pressed by the actuator has a crescent shape with the rear portion recessed when viewed from the side, and therefore, when the rear surface recess of the lever is pressed by the actuator, the opening / closing door is opened larger than the horizontal. This makes it easy to load articles.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the fixing portion of the erroneous work prevention device is fixed to the article placement shelf by magnetic force, the erroneous operation prevention device can be easily attached to and detached from the article placement shelf without tools. is there.

  According to the invention of claim 4, there is provided a display unit for displaying the number of articles inserted or picked, and a lamp for instructing the article insertion location or picking location and closing the open / close door after completion of the insertion or after the completion of picking. Since a switch is provided, it is possible to further reduce erroneous operations such as loading or picking an incorrect article or loading or picking an incorrect number of articles.

  According to the invention of claim 5, since the confirmation means for confirming whether or not the type and number of articles to be picked or the number of picking is as instructed is provided, the wrong article is thrown in or the wrong number is thrown in. Can be almost completely eliminated.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article sorting system including an erroneous operation preventing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the erroneous operation preventing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the erroneous operation preventing apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the article sorting system provided with the erroneous work prevention apparatus of the present embodiment has a plurality of article placement shelves 12 and further divides the article placement shelf 12 into a plurality of sections 14. A sorting shelf 10, an erroneous operation preventing device 20 having an opening / closing door 30 provided in front of each section 14, and a controller 50 for controlling opening / closing of the opening / closing door 30 are provided. The erroneous work prevention device 20 is detachably attached to the sorting shelf 10. As a result, an existing shelf can be used as the sorting shelf 10, and an article sorting system that is less expensive than the conventional one can be obtained. As the sorting shelf 10, most existing shelves can be used as long as the shelves have a plurality of article placement shelves 12 on which articles are placed. In order to divide the article placement shelf 12 into a plurality of compartments 14, it is not necessary to provide a partition or the like. However, it is preferable to place a tray 16 so that the introduced articles are not mixed into the adjacent compartments 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the erroneous work prevention device 20 is provided on the fixing portion 22 for detachably fixing to the article placement shelf 12 and the front surface portion 24 extending downward from the front end of the fixing portion 22. A rotary shaft 28 pivotally supported by the pair of brackets 26, an open / close door 30 having a base fixed to the rotary shaft 28, and an air cylinder 32 that opens and closes the open / close door 30. The opening / closing door 30 normally rotates downward until it abuts against a stopper (not shown) by gravity, and closes each section 14.

  The fixing part 22 is a flat plate to which a magnetized iron plate or magnet is attached. If the article mounting shelf 12 is made of iron, it can be fixed to the article mounting shelf 12 with a magnetic force without a tool. The fixing portion 22 is also provided with a screw hole (not shown) so that the non-magnetic article mounting shelf 12 such as wooden can be fixed.

  The open / close door 30 is similar to the conventional door, in which a base is fixed to the rotary shaft 28 to form a rectangular frame 34, and a transparent sheet 36 such as vinyl reinforced with fibers or the like is pasted on the frame 34. is there.

  The front end of the adhering portion 22 is a front portion 24 bent downward, and the front portion 24 protrudes below the article placement shelf 12 and protrudes below the article placement shelf 12 of the front portion 24. The front end of the air cylinder 32 is fixed to the part via the bracket 38. The air cylinder 32 is connected to the controller 50 by an air tube (not shown), and is controlled to be opened and closed in the same manner as a conventional one.

  A crescent-shaped lever 40 having a recessed rear portion when viewed from the side is fixed to the rotary shaft 28 to which the base portion of the opening / closing door 30 is fixed, and is fixed to the rear surface concave portion 40a of the lever 40 in the rod 40 of the air cylinder 32. The head 32b of 32a is contact | abutted. When air is sent to the air cylinder 32, the rod 32a is moved forward and the lever 40 is pressed, the open / close door 30 can be opened against gravity. Conversely, when the air is extracted from the air cylinder 32 and the rod 32a is moved backward, the open / close door 30 can be closed by gravity.

  Since the erroneous work prevention device 20 of the present embodiment opens only the opening / closing door 30 of the compartment 14 designated by the command from the controller 50, it can be surely prevented that an article is erroneously put into the wrong compartment 14. . Moreover, since the erroneous work prevention device 20 is detachable from the sorting shelf 10, it is possible to use an existing shelf, and an article sorting system can be obtained at a lower cost than the conventional one. In addition, the use of existing shelves eliminates the need for major changes to the existing line and eliminates the need to discard existing shelves, thus further reducing costs and conserving resources and maintaining the global environment. Can also contribute.

  In addition, since the lever 40 has a crescent shape with a recessed rear part when viewed from the side, the lever 40 is linear when the rod 32a of the air cylinder 32 that contacts the rear concave part 40a of the lever 40 is moved forward. Since the opening / closing door 30 can be opened larger than the horizontal, it is easy to load articles. Further, since the head 32b of the rod 32a of the air cylinder 32 is merely brought into contact with the rear surface recess 40a of the lever 40, the erroneous operation preventing device does not operate due to a power failure or failure, or when an incorrect article is thrown in. For example, the open / close door 30 can be manually opened to load or take out articles.

  In addition, the erroneous work prevention device 20 includes a display unit 42 that displays the number of articles to be inserted in response to an instruction from the controller 50, a loading lamp that indicates the article loading position, and a worker pressing the article to complete the loading of the article. A switch 44 with a lamp, which also serves as an input completion switch for informing 50, is detachably fixed to the front surface of each section 14. In the present embodiment, the display unit 42 and the switch with lamp 44 can be fixed to the front portion of the article placement shelf 12 with an adhesive tape without a tool. Of course, these may be fixed to the article placement shelf 12 by appropriate fixing means such as screws.

  In addition, the controller 50 includes a voice output unit 52 that gives an instruction, a warning, and the like by voice to an operator, and an image display unit 54 that gives an instruction, a warning, and the like by an image to the worker. Since the controller 50 knows the section 14 into which the designated article is placed and the number of articles to be placed into the section 14, the article is displayed on the display unit 42 of the section 14 into which the article is placed before the article is placed. Is displayed, the switch with lamp 44 is turned on, the type and number of articles are voice-output from the audio output unit 52, and the type and number of articles are output to the image display unit 54. When the worker completes the loading of the article, the operator pushes the switch with lamp 44 to notify the controller 50 of the completion of the loading of the article and turns off the switch with lamp 44.

  The article sorting system includes the display unit 42, the switch with lamp 44, and the audio output unit 52, so that it is possible to further reduce erroneous operations such as putting in wrong articles or putting in the wrong number. In particular, the provision of the audio output unit 52 eliminates the need to normally view the display unit 42, thereby increasing the work speed. However, since the voice may be missed due to noise or the like, the display unit 42 is also provided in this embodiment.

  Furthermore, the erroneous work prevention device 20 includes confirmation means (not shown) for confirming whether or not the articles thrown into each section 14 match the designated type and number. This confirmation means is a weight sensor placed on the article placement shelf 12, and sends the total weight of the inputted articles to the controller 50. The controller 50 monitors whether the total weight matches the type and number specified for the input article. When it is determined that there is an error in the type or number of articles that have been input, a warning is issued by voice from the voice output unit 52, and the error content and processing for eliminating the error are also displayed on the image display unit 54. At this time, the worker performs error processing according to the display on the image display unit 54. By providing this confirmation means, it is possible to eliminate almost completely the erroneous work of putting in an incorrect article or putting in the wrong number. However, the confirmation means can be omitted for cost reduction.

  Further, a lamp (not shown) for designating the discharge location of the sorted articles and a report button (not shown) for reporting the article discharge to the controller 50 may be provided on the back of each section 14. As a result, the article can be input from the front and the article can be discharged from the rear at the same time, thereby speeding up the sorting operation.

  By the way, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made as follows, for example. For example, the embodiment has been described as an article sorting system that sorts various products according to shipping destinations. However, if the controller 50 stores a program related to the article picking system in addition to a program related to the article sorting system, It can also be used as an article picking system that collects goods by destination. In the case of the article picking system, the confirmation means for confirming whether or not the article picked from each section 14 matches the designated type and number is not arranged in each section 14 but is connected to the controller 50. A weighing scale (not shown) may be used, and by placing the picked article on the weighing scale, it can be confirmed whether or not the article matches the designated type and number. When the controller 50 confirms that the picked article matches the designated type and number, the controller 50 closes the open / close door 30 to prevent erroneous picking. If the picked article does not match the specified type and number, an error is displayed on the image display unit 54 and an alarm is issued from the voice output unit 52 to request the worker to handle the error.

  In the above-described embodiment, the air cylinder 32 is used as an actuator for opening and closing the door 28. However, an actuator such as an electric motor or a hydraulic cylinder can be used as appropriate. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the air cylinder 32 is fixed to the front surface portion 24 of the fixing portion 22. However, the air cylinder 32 is provided with a detachable fixing means to the article mounting shelf 12, and the air cylinder 32 is attached to the article mounting shelf. The design may be changed so that it is directly fixed to 12.

It is a perspective view of the article sorting system provided with the erroneous operation prevention device of one example of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the principal part of the said erroneous operation prevention apparatus. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the principal part of the said erroneous operation prevention apparatus. It is a perspective view of the conventional article sorting system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Sort shelf 12 Article placement shelf 14 Compartment 20 Accident work prevention device 22 Adhering part 28 Rotating shaft 30 Opening / closing door 32 Air cylinder (actuator)
40 Lever 42 Display 44 Switch with lamp

Claims (5)

In an article sorting system or an article picking system having a sorting shelf divided into a plurality of sections, an erroneous work prevention device for preventing erroneous article input or picking,
The erroneous work prevention device is detachably attached to the sorting shelf, and is attached to the article placement shelf in each section of the sorting shelf so as to be detachable, and the rotation is pivotally supported by the front portion of the securing portion. An article sorting system or an article picking system comprising: a shaft, an open / close door fixed to the rotary shaft, a lever fixed to the rotary shaft and extending downward, and an actuator for pressing a rear portion of the lever Incorrect work prevention device for system.   3. The misoperation preventing apparatus for an article sorting system or an article picking system according to claim 1, wherein the lever has a crescent shape with a recessed rear portion when viewed from the side.   3. The erroneous work prevention device for an article sorting system or an article picking system according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion is fixed to the article mounting shelf by a magnetic force.   A display unit for displaying the number of articles inserted or picked, and a switch with a lamp for instructing the article insertion location or picking location and closing the door after completion of the insertion or completion of picking. An erroneous work prevention device for the article sorting system or the article picking system according to claim 1, 2 or 3.   5. The article sorting system or the article picking system according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, further comprising confirmation means for confirming whether or not the kind and the number of articles to be inserted or the number of picking are as instructed. Wrong work prevention device.

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