JP2011111248A - Picking facility - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve efficiency in sorting work by conveying cargoes onto picking tables in short times, in a picking facility. <P>SOLUTION: The picking facility for picking cargoes transferred from an automated warehouse includes: a conveying device 1 conveying the cargoes; temporary storage areas 5 temporarily storing the cargoes; and picking tables 3 where the cargoes are placed. The plurality of picking tables 3 are linearly arranged. The temporary storage areas 5 are a plurality of temporary storage shelves arranged on the opposite side of the picking tables 3 across a transfer area of the conveying device 1. Openable/closable doors 4 for preventing foreign matters from entering into the transfer area are provided between the picking tables 3 and the transfer area. Temporarily placing tables 7 for temporarily placing cargoes on the picking tables 3 are provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a picking facility.

The picking equipment is installed in an automatic warehouse or the like, and is an equipment for sorting luggage stored in the automatic warehouse.
This picking facility includes a transport device that transports a package delivered from an automatic warehouse and a picking table for picking the package.

JP 2002-37412 A

By the way, in an automatic warehouse, luggage is placed on a pallet and stored, and the pallet is transported together. Similarly, in the picking facility, the parcels are transported together with the pallets, and the normal picking table is configured so that only one pallet can be placed.
Therefore, the next pallet (that is, the load) cannot be transported to the picking table unless all the loads on the pallet placed on the picking table are removed by the sorting operation.

However, due to the layout of the facility and the like, the automatic warehouse and the picking equipment are not necessarily installed close to each other and may be arranged far away.
And if the automatic warehouse and the picking equipment are arranged far away in this way, it will take a very long time to transport the next baggage to the picking table after the baggage disappears on the picking table, Work efficiency will be deteriorated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to transport packages to a picking table in a short time in a picking facility so as to improve the efficiency of sorting work.

  The present invention adopts the following configuration as means for solving the above-described problems.

  A first invention is a picking facility for picking up a baggage delivered from an automatic warehouse, wherein the baggage is transported, a temporary storage area for temporarily storing the baggage, and the baggage mounted thereon. A configuration is provided that includes a picking table.

  According to a second invention, in the first invention, a plurality of the picking tables are arranged in a straight line, and a plurality of the temporary storage areas are arranged with respect to the picking table across the moving area of the transfer device. A configuration that is a storage shelf is adopted.

  According to a third aspect, in the second aspect, a configuration is provided in which an opening / closing door is provided between the picking table and the moving area to prevent foreign substances from entering the moving area.

  According to a fourth invention, in any one of the first to third inventions, a configuration is provided in which a temporary placement table capable of temporarily placing a load on the picking table is provided.

According to the present invention, the temporary storage area for temporarily storing the luggage is provided. Therefore, the next package can be taken into the picking facility before the picking table is vacant, and when the picking table is vacant, the next package can be quickly conveyed to the picking table.
Therefore, according to the present invention, in the picking facility, it is possible to transport the cargo to the picking table in a short time and to improve the efficiency of the sorting operation.

It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the picking installation in one Embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged view of the area where a picking stand is installed in the picking equipment in one embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a top view and (b) is a side view.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a picking facility according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the scale of each member is appropriately changed in order to make each member a recognizable size.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the picking equipment S of the present embodiment.
The picking equipment of the present embodiment is for transporting a package that is transported in a state of being placed on a pallet from an automatic warehouse to a picking table for sorting of packages by an operator.
As shown in FIG. 1, the picking equipment S of the present embodiment includes a traverser 1 (conveying device), a track 2, a picking table 3, an opening / closing door 4, and a temporary storage shelf 5 (temporary storage area). , An intrusion prevention fence 6, a temporary table 7, a receiving unit 8, a collecting unit 9, and a control device 10.

The traverser 1 conveys, in the picking facility S, a pallet on which a load is placed (hereinafter referred to as an actual pallet) and a pallet on which no load is placed (hereinafter referred to as an empty pallet). Carries are transported by transporting actual pallets.
In the present embodiment, the traverser 1 is configured so that both an actual pallet and an empty pallet can be mounted at a time.

  The track 2 is for the traverser 1 to travel, and is laid in a straight line in the picking equipment S of the present embodiment. The trajectory 2 defines the moving area of the traverser 1.

  The picking table 3 is a table on which an actual pallet transported by the traverser 1 is placed, and a plurality of picking tables 3 are arranged in a straight line. And in the picking equipment S of this embodiment, the sorting operation | work of the cargo conveyed by the operator to the picking stand 3 is performed.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an area where the picking table 3 is installed, where (a) is a plan view and (b) is a side view.
As shown in this figure, a plurality of picking tables 3 are arranged along the track 2 on one side of the track 2 (below the track 2 in FIG. 1). In the present embodiment, a space S1 in which an operator can enter is secured between the picking tables 3.

The open / close door 4 is installed between the picking table 3 and the track 2 (the movement area of the traverser 1). For example, a foreign object such as a baggage that an operator has missed enters the movement area of the traverser 1 from the picking table 3. This is to prevent this.
As shown in FIG. 2, the opening / closing door 4 is formed over the entire area between the picking table 3 and the track 2, and only the area facing the picking table 3 can be opened and closed. . The opening / closing door 4 opens a region facing the picking table 3 when the pallet is delivered between the traverser 1 and the picking table 3 under the control of the control device 10.

The temporary storage shelves 5 temporarily store the luggage taken into the picking equipment S, and a plurality of temporary storage shelves 5 are arranged with respect to the picking table 3 with the track 2 (movement area of the traverser 1) interposed therebetween. The temporary storage shelves 5 are arranged close to each other. For this reason, a larger number of temporary storage shelves 5 are arranged than the picking table 3.
Each temporary storage shelf is provided with a detection sensor for detecting the presence / absence of luggage, and the detection sensor is electrically connected to the control device 10.

  The intrusion prevention fence 6 is for preventing foreign objects from entering the installation area of the temporary storage shelf 5 and the movement area of the traverser 1 and is opposite to the track 2 of the temporary storage shelf 5 as shown in FIG. It is provided in the entire area on the side.

The temporary placement table 7 is used for temporarily placing the luggage remaining on the picking table 3 and is installed in a worker's work area. Usually, a large number of packages are placed on an actual pallet transported from an automatic warehouse, and the packages on the pallet are gradually reduced as they are sorted. The temporary placement table 7 is temporarily placed before the small number of packages on the pallet are sorted.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one temporary placement table 7 is provided for each picking table 3.

Returning to FIG. 1, the receiving unit 8 receives the parcel from the automatic warehouse together with the pallet. That is, the receiving unit 8 receives the actual pallet from the automatic warehouse.
The collection unit 9 collects and places empty pallets collected from the picking table 3 by the traverser 1.

The control device 10 supervises the operation of the picking equipment S of the present embodiment, and is electrically connected to the traverser 1, the door 4, the receiving unit 8, the collection unit 9, and the like, and is used as a control device for an automatic warehouse. It is also electrically connected.
As will be described in detail later, in the picking equipment S of the present embodiment, the control device 10 uses the temporary load that is placed next on the picking table 3 before the picking table 3 is unoccupied. Control is performed so that the storage shelf 5 closest to the picking table 3 is stored in advance.
Further, for example, the control device 10 stores the type of luggage stored in the temporary storage shelf 5 and the type of luggage transported to the picking table 3 in advance or based on a command input from the operation unit, Based on this stored data, the operation of the picking equipment S of this embodiment is controlled.

  In addition, a man-machine interface such as an operation unit for issuing a command to the control device 10 and a display unit for visualizing an instruction from the control device 10 is provided in the work area for the worker. This man-machine interface is provided, for example, for each picking table 3 and is disposed near the temporary table 7.

  Next, operation | movement of the picking equipment S of this embodiment comprised in this way is demonstrated. This operation is performed under the control of the control device 10. It is assumed that a plurality of types of luggage are stored in the automatic warehouse.

First, when an operator issues an instruction to transport a new baggage to the picking table 3 by operating the operation unit, the control device 10 determines that the type of baggage to be transported to the picking table 3 is a temporary storage shelf. 5 is judged whether it is stored.
Specifically, the control device 10 transfers the type of luggage to be transported to the picking table 3 to the temporary storage shelf 5 based on the control data thus far and the output of the detection sensor installed in each temporary storage shelf 5. Determine if it is not stored.

Here, when there is no type of baggage to be transported to the temporary storage shelf 5, the control device 10 issues a command to the automatic warehouse to take out the type of baggage and sends it to the receiving unit 8. Wait for the package to be supplied.
When the package is supplied to the receiving unit 8, the control device 10 controls the traverser 1 and the opening / closing door 4 to convey the package from the receiving unit 8 to the picking table 3.

On the other hand, when the type of luggage to be transported to the picking table 3 exists in the temporary storage shelf 5, the control device 10 controls the traverser 1 to transfer the luggage stored in the temporary storage shelf 5 to the picking table 3. Transport.
When there are a plurality of corresponding types of packages in the temporary storage shelf 5, the control device 10 transports the packages existing nearest to the picking table 3 that transports the packages to the picking table 3. Reduce time.

  Then, the control device 10 controls the traverser 1 to collect the empty pallet on the picking table 3 and convey it to the collecting unit 9 simultaneously with the conveyance of the package to the picking table 3. When the transportation of the package to the picking table 3 and the collection of the empty pallet are completed, the control device 10 can determine whether there is an empty temporary storage shelf 5 and can transport the package to the temporary storage shelf 5. Determine whether or not.

When the package can be transported to the temporary storage shelf 5, the control device 10 receives the high priority package from the automatic warehouse and stores it in the temporary storage shelf 5.
For example, the control device 10 determines that the baggage that has been transported to the picking table 3 most recently is a high-priority baggage, and determines that a frequently exchanged baggage is a high-priority baggage.
Here, when a plurality of temporary storage shelves 5 are vacant, the control device 10 stores temporary storage shelves 5 so that the cargo to be stored is stored at a position closest to the picking table 3 to be transported next. Select.

  The picking equipment S of this embodiment conveys the required type of cargo to each picking table 3 by repeating the above-described operation.

And according to such a picking equipment S of this embodiment, the temporary storage shelf 5 which stores a package temporarily is provided. For this reason, the next load can be taken into the picking equipment S before the picking table 3 becomes empty, and when the picking table 3 becomes empty, the next load can be quickly conveyed to the picking table 3.
Therefore, according to the picking equipment S of the present embodiment, it is possible to transport the luggage to the picking table 3 in a short time and to improve the efficiency of the sorting work.

Further, in the picking equipment S of the present embodiment, since the luggage can be quickly supplied to the picking table 3, it is not necessary to stock a large number of luggage in the picking table 3, and the picking table 3 is more than the conventional picking equipment. The number of can be reduced.
For this reason, compared with the conventional picking equipment, between the picking stands 3 can be arranged widely apart. Specifically, in the picking equipment of the present embodiment, a space S1 in which an operator can enter is secured between the picking tables 3.
As a result, the operator can easily pick up the baggage located on the back side (track 2 side) of the picking table 3, and the work efficiency is further improved.

In the picking equipment S of the present embodiment, a plurality of picking tables 3 are arranged in a straight line, and a plurality of temporary storage shelves 5 are arranged with respect to the picking table 3 with a movement region of the traverser 1 interposed therebetween.
That is, the picking table 3 and the temporary storage shelf 5 are installed at the front and rear as viewed from the traverser 1, and the movement distance of the baggage from the temporary storage shelf 5 to the picking table 3 is shortened, and the delivery time of the baggage is shortened. Is possible.

Further, the picking equipment S of the present embodiment includes an opening / closing door 4 between the picking table 3 and the moving area of the traverser 1 that prevents foreign matter from entering the moving area of the traverser 1.
For this reason, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the moving area of the traverser 1 and to reduce the possibility that the operation of the picking equipment S is stopped due to the entry of the foreign matter.

Further, the picking equipment S of the present embodiment is provided with a temporary placement table 7 on which the luggage on the picking table 3 can be temporarily placed.
For this reason, when the load on the picking table 3 is reduced, it is possible to remove the load on the picking table 3 by moving the remaining baggage to the temporary table 7. For this reason, it is possible to transport the next package to the picking table 3 before completing the sorting operation of all the packages that have been transported first, and it is possible to further improve the work efficiency.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring drawings, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. Various shapes, combinations, and the like of the constituent members shown in the above-described embodiments are examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration using the one-stage temporary storage shelf 5 as the temporary storage area of the present invention has been described.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a stand or a multistage shelf can be used as the temporary storage area.
In addition, when using a multistage shelf as a temporary storage area, it is also possible to employ | adopt the structure which replaces with a traverser and can provide the stacker crane which can raise / lower a fork apparatus large.

Further, the open / close door 4 does not have a drive source, and can be configured to open and close by driving the traverser 1.
Further, the presence / absence of a baggage may be determined from the control data so far without installing a detection sensor for detecting the presence / absence of the baggage in each temporary storage shelf 5.
Further, the temporary table 7 may be shared by a plurality of picking tables without providing one for the picking table 3.

In addition, for example, in the above embodiment, a plurality of empty pallets used for sorting work as a load may be supplied to the picking table 3.
In order to further increase the working efficiency, it is preferable that the picking tables 3 on both sides of the picking table 3 to which the empty pallet is supplied are supplied with the cargo that is most often sorted into the empty pallet.

  S: Picking equipment, 1 ... Traverser (transport device), 2 ... Track, 3 ... Picking table, 4 ... Opening / closing door, 5 ... Temporary storage shelf (temporary storage area), 6 ... Intrusion prevention fence 7 ... Temporary table, 8 ... Receiving unit, 9 ... Collection unit, 10 ... Control device

Claims (4)

A picking facility for picking up packages delivered from an automatic warehouse,
A transport device for transporting the luggage;
A temporary storage area for temporarily storing the luggage;
And a picking table on which the luggage is placed. A plurality of the picking tables are arranged in a straight line,
The picking facility according to claim 1, wherein the temporary storage area is a plurality of temporary storage shelves arranged with respect to the picking table across a movement area of the transfer device.   The picking equipment according to claim 2, further comprising an opening / closing door that prevents foreign matter from entering the moving area between the picking table and the moving area.   The picking equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a temporary placement table capable of temporarily placing a load on the picking table.

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