JP2012171759A - Logistics system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a logistics system capable of grasping a storing position of an article in a warehouse easily.SOLUTION: The logistics system 10 includes a bar code reader 300 and a management computer 400. Firstly, at the bar code reader 300, a position coordinate when an article bar code 201 is read is detected using an acceleration sensor. Secondary, at the bar code reader 300 based on the position coordinate, the position of a storage box 120 in which the articles 200 are stored is computed. The position of the computed storage box 120 is made to correspond to the article number of the articles 200 to be stored in the management computer 400.

Description

  The present case relates to an article management system that manages the loading and unloading of articles to and from a warehouse or the like.

  In order to efficiently deliver goods and manage the number of stocks in a warehouse or the like, information on where the goods are stored in the warehouse or the like is required.

  Conventionally, as such information, for example, identification information for identifying an article to be stored and identification information for identifying a storage location of the article are stored in a database or the like in association with each other when the article is stored. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). As a method for obtaining article identification information and storage location identification information at the time of goods receipt, for example, the following method using a barcode is known.

  First, a barcode representing the identification information of the article is displayed on the article. In addition, as an example of a warehouse, a plurality of rows of shelves having a plurality of stages are installed, and a plurality of storage boxes in which articles are stored are arranged in each stage of each shelf. And the barcode showing the number etc. which identify each storage box is displayed on a storage box.

  When the article is received, the barcode of each of the article and the storage box storing the article is read by a barcode reader (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3). Then, a correspondence table between the identification information of the storage box represented by the barcode of the storage box and the identification information of the article represented by the barcode of the article is stored in a database or the like. By searching such a correspondence table at the time of warehouse at the later sunrise, it is possible to grasp in which storage box in the warehouse the article to be delivered is stored.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-25423 JP 2008-242829 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-111747

  However, in the above method, there is a complexity of displaying barcodes on all storage boxes in the warehouse.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an article management system that can easily grasp an article storage location in a warehouse and can be easily installed.

  An article management system that achieves the above object includes a bar code reader, an identifier, and a location storage device.

  The bar code reader includes a reading unit, a position detection unit, and a corresponding unit.

  The reading unit obtains identification information for identifying the article by reading the article barcode attached to the article.

  The position detector detects the three-dimensional position of the barcode reader.

  The correspondence unit associates the identification information with the position information indicating the position of the barcode reader when the article barcode representing the identification information is read.

  The specifying device specifies a storage location of the article in an article shelf in which the article is stored, based on the position represented by the position information associated with the identification information by the corresponding unit of the barcode reader. The specifying device associates the location information indicating the storage location with the identification information.

  The location storage device includes a storage unit and an update unit.

  The storage unit stores a correspondence table representing correspondence between the article in the article shelf and a storage location of the article.

  The update unit updates the correspondence table of the storage unit based on the location information and the identification information associated with each other by the specifying device.

  According to this case, it is possible to obtain an article management system that can easily grasp the storage location of articles in the warehouse and can be easily installed.

It is a figure showing the article management system of a 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the article | item management system of 2nd Embodiment. It is a hardware block diagram of the management computer of FIG. It is a figure which shows the correspondence table memorize | stored in the hard disk apparatus of the management computer. It is a typical external appearance perspective view which shows a barcode reader. It is a figure which shows the display screen of the barcode reader in which information was displayed when the warehousing instruction button or the warehousing instruction button was pressed. It is a hardware block diagram which shows a barcode reader. It is a figure which shows typically the flow of the operation | work in a warehousing process and a warehousing process. It is a figure which shows the first half of the flowchart which shows the flow of the process performed after power activation by a barcode reader. It is a figure which shows the second half of the flowchart which shows the flow of the process performed after power-on with a barcode reader. It is a figure which shows the message displayed on the display screen 301e by step S118 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the information displayed on the display screen 301e by step S123 of FIG. It is a figure which shows another example of what the article | item management system of this case is applied.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the article management system of the present case will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an article management system according to the first embodiment.

  The article management system 1 in FIG. 1 includes a bar code reader 2, an identifying device 3, and a location storage device 4.

  The barcode reader 2 includes a reading unit 2a, a position detection unit 2b, and a corresponding unit 2c.

  The reading unit 2a obtains identification information for identifying the article by reading the article barcode attached to the article.

  The position detector 2b detects the three-dimensional position of the barcode reader 2.

  The correspondence unit 2c associates the identification information with position information representing the position of the barcode reader 2 when the article barcode representing the identification information is read.

  The identification device 3 identifies the storage location of the article in the article shelf in which the article is stored, based on the position represented by the position information associated with the identification information by the correspondence unit 2c of the barcode reader 2. To do. The identifying device 3 associates the location information indicating the storage location with the identification information.

  The location storage device 4 includes a storage unit 4a and an update unit 4b.

  The memory | storage part 4a memorize | stores the correspondence table showing the response | compatibility with the said goods in the said goods shelf, and the storage location of the goods.

  The updating unit 4b updates the correspondence table in the storage unit 4a based on the location information and the identification information associated with each other by the identifying device 3.

  In the article management system 1 of FIG. 1, the storage location of the article from which the article barcode is read is specified. Then, the correspondence table representing the correspondence between the article and the storage location is updated based on the location information indicating the identified storage location and the identification information indicated by the read product barcode. The worker can grasp which article is stored in which storage location by checking the above correspondence table. Here, the storage location in the correspondence table is specified based on the position of the barcode reader 2 as described above. Therefore, the article management system 1 does not require a complicated operation such as attaching a barcode indicating the storage location to all the storage locations. That is, the article management system 1 can easily grasp the storage location of the article in the warehouse and can be easily installed.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an article management system according to the second embodiment.

  The warehouse system 10 of FIG. 2 includes a plurality of shelves 100, a barcode reader 300, and a management computer 400.

  A combination of the barcode reader 300 and the management computer 400 in the warehouse system 10 corresponds to an embodiment of the article management system of the present case.

  The plurality of shelves 100 are arranged at intervals along the passage 11 of the warehouse. Each shelf 100 is mounted with a plurality of shelves 110 in the vertical direction. Each shelf 110 has a plurality of storage boxes 120 arranged in the horizontal direction.

  Each shelf 100 is assigned a shelf number for identifying the shelf 100. And the number 130 showing the shelf number is described on the side facing the channel 11 of each shelf 100 for visual confirmation of an operator.

  In the warehousing process, the worker stores the article 200 in the storage box 120 in which the same type of article 200 as the warehousing object 200 is stored or in the empty storage box 120. In the delivery process, the worker takes out the article 200 from the storage box 120 in which the article 200 to be delivered is stored.

  Each article 200 is provided with an article barcode 201 which is a one-dimensional barcode representing an article number for identifying the type of the article 200. The same article barcode 201 is attached to the plurality of articles 200 of the same type.

  Moreover, the origin barcode 140 which is a two-dimensional barcode is attached | subjected to the side surface which faces the channel | path 11 of each shelf 100 at the following positions.

  In each shelf 100, the center of the base on the side surface facing the passage 11 is predetermined as the origin (shelf origin) 100a. The shelf origin 100a is used when a storage location in the shelf 100 is represented using a coordinate system 100b shown in the drawing. As shown in FIG. 2, the origin bar code 140 is attached at a position where the center coordinates of the origin bar code 140 are (0, 0, Zs).

  The information represented by the origin barcode 140 includes the shelf number of the shelf 100 to which the origin barcode 140 is attached.

  The information represented by the origin barcode 140 represents the position (reading origin) 300a of the barcode reader 300 when the origin barcode 140 is supported by an operator in front of the origin barcode 140 in order to read the origin barcode 140. Information is also included.

  In the passage 11, an origin reading target position symbol 11 a is attached at a position that should be directly below the barcode reader 300 that reads the origin barcode 140. The position of the origin reading target position symbol 11a is a position where the coordinates of the center of the origin reading target position symbol 11a are (Xs, 0, 0). The barcode reader 300 that reads the origin barcode 140 is supported by the operator at a position in front of the origin barcode 140 above the origin reading target position symbol 11a. That is, the coordinates of the reading origin 300a are (Xs, 0, Zs). The information represented by the origin bar code 140 includes the coordinates of the reading origin as information representing the reading origin 300a.

  The barcode reader 300 is carried by an operator when the article 200 is loaded / unloaded. Then, the barcode reader 300 reads the origin barcode 140 of the shelf 100 related to the article 200 to be loaded and unloaded, and the article barcode 201 of the article 200 in the storage box 120.

  The barcode reader 300 corresponds to an example of a barcode reader that reads an article barcode.

  As will be described later, the barcode reader 300 automatically positions the storage box 120 on the rack 100 as follows when the article barcode 201 of the article 200 in the storage box 120 is read. It has a function to get to. In this embodiment, the position of the storage box 120 is the number of rows (rows) of storage boxes 120 from the passage 11 side of the shelf 110 of the shelf (row) from the bottom. It is the number to represent (ie the number of rows and the number of columns).

  Further, as will be described later, the barcode reader 300 includes the number of articles 200 stored in the storage box 120 by the warehousing process (the number of goods received) and the number of articles 200 taken out from the storage box 120 by the warehousing process ( It also has a function that automatically obtains the number of goods issued.

  Hereinafter, a set of the shelf number obtained by the barcode reader 300 during the warehousing process, the number of rows and columns of the storage box 120, the product number, and the number of warehousing is referred to as warehousing information. Further, a set of the shelf number, the number of rows and columns of the storage box 120, the product number, and the number of items obtained by the barcode reader 300 during the issue process is referred to as issue information.

  The incoming information and outgoing information are stored in the semiconductor memory 500. The semiconductor memory 500 is a portable semiconductor memory that is detachably attached to the barcode reader 300. The warehousing information and the warehousing information obtained by the barcode reader 300 are transmitted to the management computer 400 via the semiconductor memory 500.

  The management computer 400 includes a main body device 410, an image display device 420, a keyboard 430, and a mouse 440 in appearance.

  The main unit 410 has a CD-ROM loading slot 410a for loading a CD-ROM and a memory insertion slot 410b for inserting the semiconductor memory 500.

  The image display device 420 displays an image on the display screen 420 a in response to an instruction from the main body device 410. The keyboard 430 inputs various information corresponding to key operations to the main body device 410. The mouse 440 inputs an instruction corresponding to, for example, an icon or the like displayed at the position by designating an arbitrary position on the display screen 420a.

  FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the management computer of FIG.

  The main unit 410 includes a CPU 411, a main memory 412, a hard disk device 413, a CD-ROM drive 414, a memory drive 415, and an I / O interface 416. The CPU 411 executes various programs. The hard disk device 413 stores various programs and data. A program stored in the hard disk device 413 is read into the main memory 412 and expanded for execution by the CPU 411. The CD-ROM drive 414 is loaded with a CD-ROM 414a and accesses the loaded CD-ROM 414a. The memory drive 415 accesses the semiconductor memory 500 inserted from the memory insertion port 410b. The I / O interface 416 exchanges various data with an external device (not shown).

  The CPU 411, hard disk device 413, CD-ROM drive 414, memory drive 415, I / O interface 416, image display device 420, keyboard 430, and mouse 440 also shown in FIG. 2 are connected to each other via a bus 417. Yes.

  Here, the following correspondence table is stored in the hard disk device 413 of the management computer 400.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a correspondence table stored in the hard disk device of the management computer.

  This correspondence table 413a includes the item number of the article 200 currently stored, the shelf number of the rack 100 on which the storage box 120 in which the article 200 is stored, the number of rows and columns of the storage box 120, In addition, the number of articles 200 is associated with each other.

  As described above, in the warehouse system 10 of FIG. 2, warehousing information and warehousing information obtained by the barcode reader 300 in the warehousing process and the warehousing process are stored in the semiconductor memory 500. An operator removes the semiconductor memory 500 from the barcode reader 300 and attaches it to the management computer 400. Using the keyboard 430 or the mouse 440, the operator designates whether the current process is a warehousing process or a warehousing process, and instructs execution of the above-described correspondence table update. Then, the memory drive 415 reads the above warehousing information and warehousing information from the semiconductor memory 500 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 411.

  If the current process is a warehousing process, the item number, the shelf number, the number of rows and columns of the storage box 120, and the number of warehousing are added in the warehousing information. However, if the item number, shelf number, number of rows, and number of columns in the read information have already been described in the correspondence table 413a, the number of warehousing is added to the number corresponding to the item number or the like. to add.

  If the current process is a shipping process, the number of outgoings is subtracted from the number corresponding to the item number, shelf number, and the number of rows and columns of the storage box 120 in the outgoing information in the correspondence table 413a. When the number of the subtraction results is “0”, the description line whose number is “0” in the correspondence table 413a is deleted.

  By such an update process, the correspondence table stored in the hard disk device 413 of the management computer represents the latest warehousing state at the present time.

  The hard disk device 413 of the management computer 400 corresponds to an example of a storage unit that stores a correspondence table representing correspondence between articles and storage locations of the articles. The CPU 411 of the management computer 400 corresponds to an example of an update unit that updates the correspondence table of the storage unit.

  In the warehouse system 10 of FIG. 2, the following information may be specified by the management computer 400 prior to the shipping process. The designated information includes the item number of the article 200 to be delivered, the shelf number of the rack 100 on which the storage box 120 from which the article 200 is taken out, the number of rows and columns of the storage box 120, and the delivery number. It is the planned number.

  Hereinafter, a combination of the item number of the article 200 to be delivered, the shelf number of the rack 100 on which the storage box 120 from which the article 200 is taken out, the number of rows and columns of the storage box 120, and the expected number of goods to be delivered Is called exit instruction information.

  The designation of the leaving instruction information is performed by the following procedure, for example.

  First, the semiconductor memory 500 is attached to the management computer 400. Then, the worker displays the correspondence table 413a of FIG. 4 on the display screen 420a. Further, when the worker inputs the item number to be delivered from the keyboard, the description line corresponding to the item number is hatched. When the operator checks the current number and enters the planned number of issues, the number of goods, the shelf number, the number of rows and columns in the description line, and the planned number of issues entered are displayed. And stored in the semiconductor memory 500 as exit instruction information.

  Prior to the warehousing process, the management computer 400 may designate the following information. The specified information includes the item number of the article 200 to be stored, the shelf number of the rack 100 on which the storage box 120 in which the article 200 is stored, the number of rows and columns of the storage box 120, and the delivery Is the expected number.

  Hereinafter, the item number of the article 200 to be stored, the shelf number of the rack 100 on which the storage box 120 in which the article 200 is stored, the number of rows and columns of the storage box 120, and the expected number of storage The set is called warehousing instruction information.

  The designation of the warehousing instruction information is performed by the following procedure, for example.

  First, the semiconductor memory 500 is attached to the management computer 400. Then, the worker displays the correspondence table 413a of FIG. 4 on the display screen 420a. Further, the worker inputs the item number to be received from the keyboard. If there is a description line corresponding to the product number in the correspondence table 413a, the description line corresponding to the product number is hatched.

  When the operator confirms the current number by entering the entry number and enters the expected number of goods receipt, the item number, shelf number, number of rows and columns in the entry line, and the expected number of goods receipts entered And stored in the semiconductor memory 500 as warehousing instruction information. The warehousing process performed according to this warehousing instruction information corresponds to the replenishment of the article 200.

  On the other hand, when there is no description line corresponding to the product number input by the operator in the correspondence table 413a, the shelf number, the number of rows, and the number of columns applied to the empty storage box 120 are displayed. The hard disk device 413 stores the shelf number, the number of rows, and the number of columns for all the storage boxes 120 in the warehouse system 10 of FIG. If the above described row does not exist in the correspondence table 413a, a list of shelf numbers, rows, and columns not described in the correspondence table 413a is searched from these shelf numbers, rows, and columns. Are displayed on the display screen 420a. When the worker selects a desired shelf number, number of rows, and number of columns from the list, and inputs the item number to be received and the expected number of receipts, the selected shelf number, number of rows, number of columns, and The input product number and the expected number of goods storage are stored in the semiconductor memory 500 as goods storage instruction information. The warehousing process performed according to the warehousing instruction information corresponds to warehousing of the new article 200.

  In the designation of the warehousing instruction information and the warehousing instruction information described above, a plurality of warehousing instruction information having different product numbers may be designated.

  After specifying the exit instruction information or the entry instruction information as described above, the worker removes the semiconductor memory 500 from the management computer 400 and attaches it to the barcode reader 300. As a result, the delivery instruction information or the entry instruction information designated by the management computer 400 is transmitted to the barcode reader 300 via the semiconductor memory 500.

  In the delivery process and the entry process, the worker may take out the article 200 from the storage location that is remembered by the worker or replenish the article 200 to the storage location that is remembered by the worker. Further, during the warehousing process, an operator may visually search for an empty storage box 120 and store the article 200. In these cases, the designation of the exit instruction information and the entry instruction information as described above is not performed.

  Next, the barcode reader 300 schematically shown as an ellipse in FIG. 2 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic external perspective view showing a bar code reader.

  The bar code reader 300 includes a reader main body 301 on which an optical system for reading bar codes and the like are mounted, and a grip portion 302 that is gripped by an operator.

  The reader main body 301 is provided with a power button 301a, an exit instruction button 301b, an entrance instruction button 301c, a reading window 301d, a display screen 301e, a memory insertion port 301f, and a sound generation port 301g in appearance. The gripper 302 is provided with a read instruction button 302a in appearance.

  At the time of delivery, the operator presses the exit instruction button 301b following the press of the power button 301a. As described above, when the above-mentioned delivery instruction information is designated prior to the delivery process, when the delivery instruction button 301b is pressed by the worker, such information is displayed on the display screen 301e.

  In the case where a plurality of exit instruction information is stored in the semiconductor memory 500, when the exit instruction button 301b is pressed after the power button 301a is pressed, among the exit instruction information of the youngest shelf number, The shipping instruction information with the smallest number is displayed on the display screen 301e. Thereafter, each time the exit instruction button 301b is pressed once, the exit instruction information on the display screen 301e is cyclically switched in ascending order according to the shelf number and the product number.

  At the time of warehousing, the worker presses the warehousing instruction button 301c following the pressing of the power button 301a. When the above-mentioned warehousing instruction information is specified prior to the warehousing process, when the warehousing instruction button 301c is pressed by the worker, such information is displayed on the display screen 301e.

  In the case where a plurality of warehousing instruction information is stored in the semiconductor memory 500, when the warehousing instruction button 301c is pressed subsequent to the pressing of the power button 301a, among the warehousing instruction information of the smallest shelf number, the product The warehousing instruction information with the smallest number is displayed on the display screen 301e. Thereafter, each time the warehousing instruction button 301c is pressed once, the warehousing instruction information on the display screen 301e is cyclically switched in ascending order according to the shelf number and the product number.

  On the other hand, when no exit instruction information or entry instruction information is designated, the semiconductor memory 500 is empty, and no information is displayed on the display screen 301e for the entry process.

  FIG. 6 is a view showing a display screen of the barcode reader on which information is displayed when the exit instruction button or the entry instruction button is pressed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, on the display screen 301e, the shelf number, the number of rows of the storage box 120, the number of columns, the product number, and the planned number of entering or leaving are displayed in order from the top in the figure.

  When such information is displayed on the display screen 301e, the worker moves to the shelf 100 (see FIG. 2) having the displayed shelf number.

  On the other hand, when information is not displayed on the display screen 301e, that is, when the storage box 120 is visually searched and entered, the operator visually searches for the rack 100 on which the storage box 120 is placed. Will move.

  In the article management system 1 of FIG. 2, when the worker moves to the target rack 100, first, the bar code reader 300 reads the origin bar code 140. Thereafter, the worker moves to the storage box 120 having the number of rows and the number of columns displayed on the display screen 301e or to the front of the storage box 120 found visually. In the warehousing process, the operator stores the article 200 in the storage box 120 and then reads the article barcode 201 of the article 200 with the barcode reader 300. In the delivery process, the operator reads the article barcode 201 of the article 200 in the storage box 120 and then removes the article 200 from the storage box 120.

  Reading the origin barcode 140 or the article barcode 201 by the barcode reader 300 of FIG. 5 is performed in the following procedure.

  First, the operator points the reading window 301d toward the barcode to be read. Thereafter, when the operator depresses the reading instruction button 302a, reading light is emitted from the reading window 301d to the scan area including the barcode. When the reading light is irradiated, the light is reflected by the scan region and returns to the reading window 301d. By detecting this reflected light inside the barcode reader 300, the barcode in the scan area is read. Then, information represented by the barcode is acquired by a predetermined decoding process.

  Here, as described above, the origin barcode 140 shown in FIG. 2 is a two-dimensional barcode, and the article barcode 201 is a one-dimensional barcode. The barcode reader 300 shown in FIG. 5 is a device that can read both a two-dimensional barcode and a one-dimensional barcode.

  The barcode reader 300 also has a function of automatically obtaining the number of rows and columns of the storage box 120 and the number of receipts and exits when the article barcode 201 of the article 200 in the storage box 120 is read. ing. These functions will be described in detail later.

  In the warehousing process, the shelf number obtained by reading the origin barcode 140 in the barcode reader 300, the item number obtained by reading the article barcode 201, the number of rows and columns of the storage box 120, and the number of warehousing are used as warehousing information. It is stored in the semiconductor memory 500.

  In the delivery process, the shelf number obtained by reading the origin barcode 140 by the barcode reader 300, the product number obtained by reading the article barcode 201, the number of rows and columns of the storage box 120, and the number of delivery are output. Information is stored in the semiconductor memory 500 as information.

  Further, these pieces of information are displayed on the display screen 301e when the article barcode 201 is read. Further, when the article barcode 201 is read out of the storage box 120 by mistake, a warning sound for warning that effect is emitted from the sound output port 301g. This warning will be described in detail later.

  The semiconductor memory 500 in which the above information is stored is changed from the barcode reader 300 to the management computer 400 after the warehousing process and the warehousing process. Then, the information in the semiconductor memory 500 is used for updating the correspondence table 413a described above.

  Next, the barcode reader 300 will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 7 is a hardware configuration diagram showing the barcode reader.

  The barcode reader 300 irradiates light to an irradiation area A2 having a size including the barcode A1 to be read, and detects reflected light from the irradiation area A2, thereby detecting the bar in the irradiation area A2. A reading unit 310 that reads the code A1 is provided.

  The reading unit 310 includes a light emission control circuit 311, a light emitting element 312, an irradiation lens 313, a spring 314, a permanent magnet 315, an electromagnet 316, an electromagnet control circuit 317, a light receiving lens 318, a light receiving element 319, and a reading circuit 320. Yes.

  The light emission control circuit 311 is connected to a reading instruction button 302a also shown in FIG. When the reading instruction button 302a is pressed, the light emission control circuit 311 causes the light emitting element 312 to emit light. The light emitted from the light emitting element 312 is emitted from the reading window 301d shown in FIG.

  The irradiation lens 313 is supported by a housing (not shown) via a spring 314. A permanent magnet 315 is fixed to the edge of the irradiation lens 313, and an electromagnet 316 is disposed in the vicinity of the permanent magnet 315. The light emission control circuit 311 transmits a predetermined trigger signal to the electromagnet control circuit 317 when the light emitting element 312 emits light. When receiving the trigger signal, the electromagnet control circuit 317 causes an operating current to flow through the electromagnet 316. The electromagnet control circuit 317 changes the magnitude of the operating current according to a predetermined profile. Thereby, the permanent magnet 315 and the irradiation lens 313 are moved by the electromagnet 316. As a result, the inside of the irradiation area A2 is scanned by the light emitted through the irradiation lens 313.

  The light scanned in the irradiation area A2 is reflected in the irradiation area A2 and returns to the reading window 30 shown in FIG. The returned reflected light is condensed on the light receiving element 319 by the light receiving lens 318. The light receiving element 319 detects the collected reflected light. The detection result is sent to the reading circuit 320. The reading circuit 320 obtains an image of the barcode A1 in the irradiation area A2 based on the detection result of the light receiving element 319 from the start to the end of scanning in the irradiation area A2. And the information which the barcode A1 represents is obtained by performing a decoding process with respect to the image of the barcode A1.

  The reading unit 310 described above corresponds to an example of a reading unit that reads the article barcode and obtains the identification information.

  The bar code reader 300 stores the number of rows and columns of the storage box 120 as the storage location of the article when the article barcode 201 of the article 200 in the storage box 120 (see FIG. 2) is read. An acquisition unit 330 is provided.

  The storage location acquisition unit 330 includes an acceleration sensor 331, a timer unit 332, and a box position calculation circuit 333.

  The acceleration sensor 331 includes X, Y, and the like after the power button 301a shown in FIG. 5 of the barcode reader 300 is pressed and turned on until the power button 301a is pressed again and the power is turned off. The acceleration in the three directions of Z is detected at any time.

  Here, the coordinate system in the acceleration sensor 331 is the coordinate system of the rack 100 shown in FIG. 2 when the reading window 301d (see FIG. 3) is directed to the origin barcode 140 at the reading origin 300a shown in FIG. The direction of each coordinate axis almost coincides with 100b. Hereinafter, the coordinate system of the acceleration sensor 331 and the coordinate system 100b of the rack 100 will be described without particular distinction.

  The time measuring unit 332 measures time.

  The reading position button 302 a and the reading circuit 320 are connected to the box position calculation circuit 333. Then, the barcode information read by the reading circuit 320 is transmitted to the box position calculation circuit 333.

  In the box position calculation circuit 333, the number of rows and the number of columns of the storage box 120 in which the article 200 from which the article barcode 201 is read is stored is obtained by the procedure described later.

  The barcode reader 300 includes a CPU 341, a program memory 342, a temporary storage memory 343, a sound generation unit 344, a display unit 345, an external memory control circuit 346, and a memory connector 347. The box position calculation circuit 333, the program memory 342, the temporary storage memory 343, the sound generation unit 344, the display unit 345, and the external memory control circuit 346 are connected to the CPU 341. Further, the CPU 341 is also connected with a warehousing instruction button 301b and a warehousing instruction button 301c also shown in FIG.

  The CPU 341 controls each element connected to the CPU 341 according to a program stored in the program memory 342. Various parameters acquired in the course of control according to the program are stored in the temporary storage memory 343.

  In response to an instruction from the CPU 341, the sound generation unit 344 emits a warning sound described later from the sound output port 301g shown in FIG. In response to an instruction from the CPU 341, the display unit 345 displays the above-described warehousing instruction information, warehousing instruction information, warehousing information, warehousing information, and the like on the display screen 301e illustrated in FIG.

  The external memory control circuit 346 accesses the semiconductor memory 500 inserted from the memory insertion port 301 f shown in FIG. 5 and connected to the memory connector 347 in response to an instruction from the CPU 341.

  Hereinafter, the work flow when the worker performs the warehousing process and the warehousing process of the article 200 will be described in detail including the processes executed by the box position calculation circuit 333 and the CPU 341.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a work flow in the warehousing process and the warehousing process.

  As described above, at the time of the warehousing process or the warehousing process, the worker first uses the barcode reader 300 to read the origin bar code 300 of the rack 100 for warehousing or unloading the article 200. Thereafter, the worker moves to the front of the storage box 120 that stores the article 200 or takes out the article 200. In the warehousing process, the worker stores the article 200 in the storage box 120 and then reads the article barcode 201 of the article 200 with the barcode reader 300. In the delivery process, the operator reads the article barcode 201 of the article 200 in the storage box 120 and then removes the article 200 from the storage box 120. The bar code reader 300 moves around the rack 100 as the operator moves. When reading the article barcode 201, it is located inside the rack 100.

  In the example of FIG. 8, the bar code reader 300, after reading the origin bar code 140, moves the first path with the movement distance “D1”, the second path with the movement distance “D2”, and the movement distance as the operator moves. Is moving along the third route of “D3” and the fourth route of “D4”. Then, the barcode reader 300 reads the article barcode 201 at the position of the end point of the fourth path.

  In the barcode reader 300, after the power is turned on, the following processing is executed in the box position calculation circuit 333, the CPU 341, etc. shown in FIG. 7 from reading the origin barcode 140 to reading the article barcode 201. .

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the first half of a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed after power-on by the barcode reader. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the latter half of the flowchart.

  When the processing shown in this flowchart is started, the box position calculation circuit 333 is in a standby state until the reading instruction button 302a (see FIG. 5) is pressed and the barcode is read (step S101). When the barcode is read and information represented by the barcode is input (Yes determination in step S101), the box position calculation circuit 333 determines whether the information is information of the origin barcode 140 or not. (Step S102).

  When the information is not the information of the origin barcode 140 (No determination in step S102), the box position calculation circuit 333 displays a message prompting the reading of the origin barcode 140 on the display screen 301e via the CPU 341. (Step S103).

  When the information is information of the origin barcode 140 (Yes determination in step S102), the box position calculation circuit 333 sets the position coordinate of the barcode reader 300 to (0, 0, 0) at that time (step S102). S104).

  And the box position calculation circuit 333 starts the process of periodically integrating the acceleration of each axis detected by the acceleration sensor 331 with the time measured by the time measuring unit 332 from that time (step S105). . By this second order integration, the box position calculation circuit 333 periodically calculates the position coordinates of the barcode reader 300 with respect to the reading origin 300a shown in FIG. The box position calculation circuit 333 stores the calculated position coordinates in the temporary storage memory 343 via the CPU 341.

  Thereafter, the box position calculation circuit 333 again waits for the barcode to be read by pressing the reading instruction button 302a (see FIG. 5) while periodically calculating the position coordinates (step S106). During this time, as shown in an example in FIG. 8, the bar code reader 300 is moved by an operator heading to the storage box 120. Each position coordinate when the barcode reader 300 is moving is calculated by the box position calculation circuit 333 and stored in the temporary storage memory 343.

  The combination of the acceleration sensor 331 and the box position calculation circuit 333 in the present embodiment corresponds to an example of a position detection unit that detects a three-dimensional position of the barcode reader.

  When the barcode is read and the information represented by the barcode is input (Yes determination in step S106), the box position calculation circuit 333 determines whether the information is the information of the article barcode 201. (Step S107).

  If the information is not information on the article barcode 201 (No determination in step S107), the box position calculation circuit 333 determines whether or not the information is information on the origin barcode 140 (step S108).

  Here, the information represented by the barcode at this point is the information of the origin barcode 140. For example, the operator moves to another shelf 100 and moves to the origin bar of the other shelf 100. This means that the code 140 has been read.

  Therefore, when the information is information of the origin barcode 140 (Yes determination in step S108), the box position calculation circuit 333 sets the position coordinate of the barcode reader 300 to (0, 0, 0) again at that time. (Step S104). Then, from that time point, the box position calculation circuit 333 resumes the calculation of the position coordinates (step S105).

  On the other hand, the fact that the information represented by the barcode at this point is not the information of the origin barcode 140 means that a barcode unrelated to the warehousing process or the warehousing process has been read by mistake. Therefore, when the information is not information of the origin bar code 140 (No determination in step S108), the box position calculation circuit 333 prompts the operator to read a correct bar code via the CPU 341 and the display unit 345 (step S109). That is, the box position calculation circuit 333 causes the display unit 345 to display a message prompting the reading of the article barcode 201 or the origin barcode 140 on the display screen 301e via the CPU 341.

  The case where the information input in step S106 is information on the article barcode 201 (Yes determination in step S107) means the following case. That is, in the case of the warehousing process, it means that the operator has stored the article 200 in the storage box 120 and has read the article barcode 201 of the article 200 with the barcode reader 300. In the case of the delivery process, it means that the operator has read the article barcode 201 of the article 200 with the barcode reader 300 before taking out the article 200 from the storage box 120.

  In such a case, the box position calculation circuit 333 executes the process of step S110 shown in FIG.

  In step S110, the box position calculation circuit 333 determines whether or not the information of the article barcode 201, that is, the product number is present in the delivery instruction information or the entry instruction information. With this determination, it is determined whether or not the article 200 from which the article barcode 201 has been read is the article 200 to be processed that has been designated prior to the delivery process or the entry process.

  It should be noted that the process of step S110 is omitted when the exit instruction information and the entry instruction information are not specified prior to the process.

  When the article 200 is not the article 200 to be processed (No determination in step S110), the box position calculation circuit 333 executes the process of step S111.

  In step S111, the box position calculation circuit 333 causes the display unit 345 to display an error message indicating that the article barcode 201 of the irrelevant article 200 has been read on the display screen 301e via the CPU 341. At this time, the box position calculation circuit 333 causes the sound generation unit 344 to generate a warning sound for reporting an error via the CPU 341. Further, the box position calculation circuit 333 causes the display unit 345 to display a message prompting the reading of the article barcode 201 of the correct article on the display screen 301e via the CPU 341. Then, the box position calculation circuit 333 discards the product number input in step S106.

  When the article 200 is the article 200 to be processed (Yes determination in step S110), the box position calculation circuit 333 executes the process of step S112.

  In step S112, the box position calculation circuit 333 determines whether or not the item number of the article 200 is already stored in the semiconductor memory 500 as warehousing information or warehousing information.

  In the present embodiment, when a plurality of articles 200 having the same item number are delivered or received in succession, the article barcode 201 is read for each article 200. The article number represented by the read article barcode 201 is stored in the semiconductor memory 500 as warehousing information or warehousing information, as will be described later.

  In step S112, it is determined whether the article barcode 201 of the article 200 having the same article number as the article 200 from which the article barcode 201 has been read in the past has been continuously read.

  When the article barcode 201 of the article 200 having the same article number has not been read (No determination in step S112), that is, when the article barcode 201 of the article 200 having the article number is read for the first time, the box position calculation is performed. The circuit 333 executes Step S113.

  In step S113, the number of outgoing goods or the number of incoming goods is set to "1".

  On the other hand, when the article barcode 201 of the article 200 having the same article number is read (Yes determination in step S112), the box position calculation circuit 333 adds “1” to the number of exits or receipts at that time ( Step S114).

  Through the processing from step S112 to step S114 described above, the latest number of goods received or number of goods for the article 200 having a certain product number is obtained. The box position calculation circuit 333 stores the number of warehouses or the number of warehouses obtained in this way in the temporary storage memory 343.

  Next, the box position calculation circuit 333 reads the latest position information among the position information stored in the temporary storage memory 343 at this time (step S115). As described above, this position information is position coordinates with the reading origin 300a shown in FIGS. 2 and 8 as the origin. The box position calculation circuit 333 converts this position information into position coordinates with the shelf origin 100a shown in FIGS. 2 and 8 as the origin (step S116).

  In the example shown in FIG. 8, the position coordinates when the barcode reader 300 reads the article barcode 201 at the position of the end point of the fourth path are converted into the position coordinates with the shelf origin 100a as the origin.

The position coordinates (X _store , Y _store , Z _store ) after conversion in the example shown in FIG. 8 are as follows.

X _store = -Xs + D2
Y _store = D1-D4
Z _store = Zs + D3
Next, the box position calculation circuit 333 determines whether or not the converted position coordinates are position coordinates in the rack 100 (step S117).

  This determination is performed by determining whether each component value in the converted position coordinates satisfies all the following conditional expressions.

Xs < _Xstore <Xs + Wt
−Ds × 1/2 <Y _store <Ds × 1/2
0 <Z _store <Ht-Zs
As shown in FIG. 8, Wt indicates the width of the rack 100, Ht indicates the height of the rack 100, and Ds indicates the depth length of the rack 100.

  The fact that the converted position coordinates are not position coordinates in the rack 100 (No determination in step S117) means that the following has occurred.

  The fact that it is not the position coordinates in the rack 100 means that, for example, in the warehousing process, before the article 200 is stored in the storage box 120 by the operator, the article barcode 201 of the article 200 that is still in the hand is barcoded. This means that it has been read by the reader 300.

  Further, the fact that it is not the position coordinate in the rack 100 means that, for example, in the delivery process, the operator takes out the article barcode 201 of the article 200 with the barcode reader 300 after taking out the article 200 from the storage box 120. It means reading.

  In these cases, since the number of rows and columns of the storage box 120 in which the article 200 is stored cannot be obtained from the converted position coordinates, the box position calculation circuit 333 In the next step S118, the operator is urged to read correctly.

  In step S118, the box position calculation circuit 333 causes the display unit 345 to display an error message on the display screen 301e indicating that the article barcode 201 of the article 200 has been read at the wrong position via the CPU 341. At this time, the box position calculation circuit 333 causes the sound generation unit 344 to generate a warning sound for reporting an error via the CPU 341. Further, the box position calculation circuit 333 causes the display unit 345 to display a message prompting the reading of the article barcode 201 of the article at the correct position on the display screen 301e via the CPU 341. Then, the box position calculation circuit 333 discards the set of the product number input in step S106 and the converted position coordinates obtained in step S116. At this time, “1” is subtracted from the number of warehouses at this point.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a message displayed on the display screen 301e in step S118 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the display screen 301e includes the shelf number, the row number, the column number, the product number of the storage box 120, and the planned number of receipts or deliverys in the delivery instruction information or the entry instruction information. Two messages are displayed.

  First, a message “Position is wrong” is displayed as an error message indicating that the article barcode 201 of the article 200 has been read at the wrong position.

  Further, a message “Please read again at the correct position” is displayed as a message prompting the reading of the article barcode 201 of the article at the correct position.

  When the box position calculation circuit 333 performs the process of step S118 including the display of such a message, the box position calculation circuit 333 returns to step S106 shown in FIG. 9 and waits for reading of the barcode.

  On the other hand, when the converted position coordinates are the position coordinates in the rack 100 (Yes determination in step S117), the box position calculation circuit 333 calculates the product number input in step S106 and the converted position. The coordinates are associated with each other (step S119).

  This association is performed by the box position calculation circuit 333 storing the converted position coordinates and the product number in each of two storage fields set in advance in association with each other in the temporary storage memory 343. Is called.

  The box position calculation circuit 333 corresponds to an example of a correspondence unit that associates identification information for identifying an article with position information representing the position of the barcode reader when the article barcode representing the identification information is read. ing.

Next, the box position calculation circuit 333 calculates the number of rows and columns of the storage box 120 in which the article 200 from which the article barcode 201 is read is stored as the Z coordinate Z _store of the converted position coordinates. , Based on the X coordinate _Xstore (step S120).

  As described above, the number of rows of the storage boxes 120 is a number indicating how many shelves 110 from the bottom the shelf 110 on which the storage boxes 120 are placed. Further, the number of rows of storage boxes 120 is a number indicating the number (row) of storage boxes 120 from the passage 11 side as described above. The box position calculation circuit 333 calculates the number of rows and the number of columns of the storage box 120 using the following equations.

Number of lines = _Zstore / Hs
Number of columns = _Xstore / Ws
As shown in FIG. 8, Hs is a vertical interval between the shelves 110, and Ws is an interval between the storage boxes 120 arranged in the horizontal direction.

  The box position calculation circuit 333 corresponds to an example of a specifying device that specifies a storage location of an article and associates location information indicating the storage location with identification information of the article.

  When the number of rows and the number of columns of the storage box 120 are calculated in this way, the box position calculation circuit 333 determines the next step S121 with respect to the calculated number of rows and columns.

  In step S121, the box position calculation circuit 333 determines whether or not the calculated number of rows and columns is the number of rows and columns of the storage box 120 specified by the delivery instruction information or the entry instruction information. . With this determination, it is determined whether the storage box 120 designated prior to the delivery process or the entry process has been entered or exited.

  It should be noted that the process of step S121 is omitted when the exit instruction information and the entrance instruction information are not specified prior to the process.

  When the calculated number of rows and columns is not the designated number of rows and columns (No determination in step S121), the box position calculation circuit 333 executes the process of step S122.

  In step S122, the box position calculation circuit 333 causes the display unit 345 to display an error message indicating that the article barcode 201 of the irrelevant article 200 has been read on the display screen 301e via the CPU 341. At this time, the box position calculation circuit 333 causes the sound generation unit 344 to generate a warning sound for reporting an error via the CPU 341. Further, the box position calculation circuit 333 causes the display unit 345 to display a message prompting the reading of the article barcode 201 of the correct article on the display screen 301e via the CPU 341. Then, the box position calculation circuit 333 discards the combination of the product number and the position coordinate that are associated with each other in step S119, and the number of rows and columns calculated in step S120. At this time, “1” is subtracted from the number of warehouses at this point.

  On the other hand, when the calculated number of rows and columns is the specified number of rows and columns (Yes determination in step S121), the box position calculation circuit 333 executes the process of step S123.

  In the process up to step S123, the warehousing information or the warehousing information for the article 200 having a certain product number is prepared.

  In step S123, the box position calculation circuit 333 causes the display unit 345 to display the warehousing information or the warehousing information at this time on the display screen 301e via the CPU 341.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing information displayed on the display screen 301e in step S123 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 12, on the display screen 301e, in order from the top in the figure, the shelf number, the number of rows of the storage box 120, the number of columns, the item number, the expected number of receipt or delivery, and the actual receipt or delivery are displayed. Number is displayed.

  The shelf number displayed here is included in the information represented by the origin barcode 140 read by the barcode reader 300. The number of rows and the number of columns of the storage box 120 are the number of rows and the number of columns calculated in step S120 described above. The product number is a product number represented by the product barcode 201 read by the barcode reader 300. The planned number of warehousing or warehousing is the planned number included in the warehousing instruction information or the warehousing instruction information specified prior to the current warehousing process or warehousing process. However, when the current process is a warehousing process performed without the warehousing instruction information or the warehousing instruction information, this scheduled number field is displayed blank. The number of goods received or delivered is the latest number of goods received or delivered at the present time counted in the processing from step S112 to step S114.

  In addition, a message indicating that the position (number of rows and columns) of the storage box 120 has been obtained by reading the current article barcode 201 is displayed on the display screen 301e.

  In step S123, the box position calculation circuit 333 causes the external memory control circuit 346 to store the entry information or the exit information at this time in the semiconductor memory 500 via the CPU 341.

  At this time, when the warehousing information or the warehousing information having the same product number as the warehousing information or the warehousing information to be stored this time is stored in the semiconductor memory 500, the box position calculation circuit 333 obtains the latest obtained Update to warehousing information or warehousing information.

  When the display of the warehousing information or the warehousing information and the storage in the semiconductor memory 500 are thus completed, the box position calculation circuit 333 returns to step S106 unless the power button 301a is pressed (No determination in step S124). Wait for the next barcode to be read.

  At this time, when the worker presses the warehousing instruction button 301b or the warehousing instruction button 301c, the display content of the display screen 301e is switched to warehousing instruction information or warehousing instruction information for the next item number.

  On the other hand, when the power button 301a is pressed (Yes determination in step S124), the processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 and 10 ends, and the power of the barcode reader 300 is shut off.

  Thereafter, when the operator changes the semiconductor memory 500 from the barcode reader 300 to the management computer 400 shown in FIG. 2 and performs the above-described operation, the correspondence table 413a shown in FIG. The

  In the warehouse system 10 described above, the position of the storage box 120 in which the article 200 is stored is specified based on the position of the barcode reader 300 detected when the article barcode 201 is read. That is, according to the warehouse system 10, the storage location of the article 201 is specified at the timing when the article barcode 201 is read.

  And the correspondence table 413a showing the correspondence between the article 201 and the storage location is information including the identified storage location and the product number represented by the article barcode 201 read by the reading that triggered the specific opportunity. Updated based on. An operator can grasp which article 200 is stored in which storage location (storage box 120) by checking the correspondence table 413a. Here, the storage location in the correspondence table 413a is specified based on the position of the barcode reader 300 as described above. Therefore, in this warehouse system 10, for example, a complicated operation such as attaching a barcode indicating the position of the storage box 120 to all the storage boxes 120 is unnecessary. That is, according to the warehouse system 10, the storage location of the article 200 in the warehouse can be easily grasped.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the barcode reader 300 identifies the storage location (the number of rows and the number of columns of the storage box 120) and the correspondence between the product number and the storage location with respect to the article 200 to be received or delivered. This is performed by an internal box position calculation circuit 333 (see FIG. 7). Then, the result of the association, that is, the warehousing information or the warehousing information is displayed on the display screen 301e by the display unit 345. Thereby, at the time of warehousing or unloading, the operator can immediately confirm the storage location (the number of rows and the number of columns of the storage box 120) of the article 200 acquired as data on the display screen 301e.

  This means that the following application forms are suitable for the article management system of the present case.

  In this application mode, the identification device is mounted on the barcode reader. And the barcode reader is provided with the 1st display part which displays the said location information matched with the said specific device, and the said identification information.

  The box position calculation circuit 333 in the present embodiment also corresponds to an example of a specifying device in this application mode. In addition, the display unit 345 in the present embodiment corresponds to an example of the first display unit in this application mode.

  Note that the specifying device for specifying the storage location of the article and associating the location information indicating the storage location with the identification information of the article is not limited to being mounted on the barcode reader, but is mounted on the management computer side, for example. May be. In this case, the bar code reader only detects the position coordinates and transmits the position coordinates to the management computer via a semiconductor memory or the like.

  In the management computer, the storage location of the article is specified based on the transmitted position coordinates, and the location information representing the storage location and the identification information of the article are stored in association with each other. However, in this form, at the stage of reading the barcode of the article, the operator can know only the position coordinates of the barcode reader, and cannot confirm whether or not the storage location of the article has been obtained. . In this embodiment, which is also an embodiment of the above-described application mode, this confirmation can be made immediately after the barcode is read.

  In the present embodiment, the box position calculation circuit 333 confirms whether the position coordinates of the barcode reader 300 when reading the article barcode 201 are the position coordinates in the rack 100. When the position coordinates are not the position coordinates in the rack 100, a warning sound is emitted by the sound generation unit 344 (see FIG. 7). Further, the set of the position coordinates and the product number of the article 200 at this time is discarded by the box position calculation circuit 333. Thereby, when an operator reads the article barcode 201 by mistake before storing the article 200 in the storage box 120 or after taking it out of the storage box 120, the operator can immediately grasp the error. Can do.

  This means that the following application forms are suitable for the article management system of the present case.

  In this application form, the bar code reader includes a position determination unit and a first warning unit. The position determination unit determines whether the position of the barcode reader when the article barcode is read is a position outside the article shelf or a position within the article shelf. When the position determination unit determines that the position is outside the article shelf, the first warning unit warns the user that the article barcode has been read at a position outside the article shelf. . In this application mode, the corresponding unit discards the set of the position information and the identification information when the position determination unit determines that the position is outside the article shelf.

  The box position calculation circuit 333 in the present embodiment also corresponds to an example of a position determination unit in this application mode. In addition, the sound generation unit 344 in the present embodiment corresponds to an example of a first warning unit in this application mode. Further, the box position calculation circuit 333 in the present embodiment also corresponds to an example of a corresponding unit in this application mode.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the item number represented by the article barcode 201 read by the barcode reader 300 is different from the item number of the article 200 to be delivered, the sound generation unit 344 generates a warning sound. Further, even when the number of rows and the number of columns of the storage box 120 specified at that time are different from the number of rows and the number of columns specified in the warehousing instruction information and the warehousing instruction information, the sound generation unit 344 generates a warning sound. Be emitted. As a result, when an operator erroneously enters or leaves a storage box 120 different from the designated storage box 120, the worker can immediately grasp the error.

  This means that the following application forms are suitable for the article management system of the present case.

  In this application mode, the bar code reader includes a storage / retrieval target storage unit and a second warning unit. The warehousing / unloading target storage unit stores warehousing identification information or warehousing identification information and warehousing / unloading location information in advance. The warehousing identification information is information for identifying the warehousing target article stored in the warehousing process for storing the article in the article shelf. The unloading identification information is information for identifying the unloading target article to be taken out in the unloading process for taking out the article from the article shelf. Entry / exit location information is information representing a storage location where the warehousing object or the warehousing object is stored.

  The second warning unit warns that the article whose barcode has been read is different from the goods to be stored or the goods to be discharged when at least one of the following two cases occurs. To do. One of the two cases is when the identification information represented by the article barcode read by the reading unit is different from the warehousing identification information or the warehousing identification information stored in the warehousing / unloading target storage unit It is. The other is a case where the storage location specified by the specifying device is different from the storage location represented by the entry / exit location information stored in the entry / exit object storage unit.

  The semiconductor memory 500 in this embodiment corresponds to an example of a storage / retrieval target storage unit in this application mode. The sound generation unit 344 in the present embodiment also corresponds to an example of a second warning unit in this application mode.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the position (shelf number, number of rows, and number of columns) of the storage box 120 in which the goods 200 to be delivered are stored prior to the entry process and the exit process is specified, the semiconductor memory 500. Then, the display unit 345 displays the position of the storage box 120 on the display screen 301e. Thereby, the worker can easily reach the target storage box 120 by viewing the display content of the display screen 301e during the warehousing process and the warehousing process.

  This means that the following application form is more suitable for the above-described application form in which the barcode reader is provided with the storage object storage unit.

  In this application mode, the bar code reader includes a second display unit that displays a storage location represented by the entry / exit location information stored in the entry / exit object storage unit.

  The display unit 345 in the present embodiment also corresponds to an example of the second display unit in this application mode.

  Heretofore, the warehouse system 10 in which a plurality of shelves 100 are arranged as shown in FIG. However, what is applied to the article management system of the present invention is not limited to such a warehouse system.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example to which the article management system of the present case is applied.

  FIG. 13 shows a display shelf 600 on which products are displayed at the store. The display shelf 600 is provided with 16 shelves 601 on which products are placed in a 4 × 4 array. An origin bar code 602 is attached to the upper right corner of the display shelf 600 in the figure.

  When the store clerk displays a product, first, the origin barcode 602 is scanned to determine the reading origin of the barcode reader with respect to the display shelf 600.

  Next, the store clerk places the product on one of the shelves 601, for example, the shelf 601 with the number “1-3”. Thereafter, the store clerk scans the bar code of the product, thereby notifying the management computer of the system that the product has been placed on the shelf 601 with the number “1-3”. By repeating such display, the store clerk stores in the management computer of the system how many items are placed on which shelf 601.

  When selling a product, for example, it is assumed that a customer tries to purchase one product placed on a shelf 601 with a number “1-3”. At this time, the store clerk scans the barcode of the product at the cash register, so that the system management computer is notified that the number of products placed on the shelf 601 with the number “1-3” has decreased. Then, the information in the management computer is updated.

  In this way, the increase / decrease of the product is managed through the display and sale of the product.

  The article management system of the present case can also be applied to collection management in a library, for example.

  When a librarian displays a collection, first, the reading origin of the barcode reader with respect to the collection shelf is determined by scanning the origin barcode on the collection shelf.

  The librarian then places the collection in any section of the collection shelf. Thereafter, the bar code of the book is scanned to notify the system management computer that the book has been placed in the compartment. By repeating this display, it is memorized in the management computer of the system how many books are placed in which section.

  When renting a collection, suppose that a user tries to borrow one book placed in a section with a shelf. At this time, the librarian scans the bar code of the collection at the reception desk, so that the management computer of the system is notified that one book on the shelf has been reduced. Then, the information in the management computer is updated.

  When the collection is returned, the librarian performs the above collection display.

  As described above, the increase and decrease of the collection is managed through the display and lending of the collection.

  In the above, the form in which the acceleration sensor is used for detecting the position of the barcode reader is illustrated, but the position detection of the barcode reader is not limited to this form.

  The position detection of the barcode reader may be, for example, a form in which a wireless device is mounted on the barcode reader and the position is detected by so-called triangulation by communicating with a terminal point in the warehouse.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Goods management system 2,300 Bar code reader 2a Reading part 2b Position detection part 2c Corresponding part 3 Identifying device 4 Location storage device 4a Storage part 4b Update part 10 Warehouse system 11 Passage 11a Origin reading target position symbol 100 Shelf 100a Shelf origin 100b Coordinate system 110 Shelf 120 Storage box 121, 130 Number 140 Origin bar code 200 Article 201 Article barcode 300a Reading origin 400 Management computer 410 Main unit 410a CD-ROM loading slot 410b Memory insertion slot 411 CPU
412 Main memory 413 Hard disk device 413a Correspondence table 414 CD-ROM drive 414a CD-ROM
415 Memory Drive 416 I / O Interface 417 Bus 420 Image Display Device 420a Display Screen 430 Keyboard 440 Mouse 301 Reader Main Body 301a Power Button 301b Exit Instruction Button 301c Incoming Instruction Button 301d Reading Window 301e Display Screen 301f Memory Insertion Port 301g Sound Output Port 302 Gripping Section 302a Reading instruction button 310 Reading section 311 Light emission control circuit 312 Light emitting element 313 Irradiation lens 314 Spring 315 Permanent magnet 316 Electromagnet 317 Electromagnet control circuit 318 Light receiving lens 319 Light receiving element 320 Reading circuit 330 Storage location acquisition section 331 Acceleration sensor 332 Timing section 333 Box position calculation circuit 341 CPU
342 Program memory 343 Temporary storage memory 344 Sound generation unit 345 Display unit 346 External memory control circuit 347 Memory connector 500 Semiconductor memory 600 Display shelf 601 Shelf 602 Origin bar code

Claims (5)

A reading unit that reads the article barcode attached to the article and obtains identification information for identifying the article;
A position detector for detecting a three-dimensional position of the barcode reader;
A barcode reader comprising: a correspondence unit that associates the identification information with position information indicating a position of the barcode reader when an article barcode representing the identification information is read;
Based on the position represented by the position information associated with the identification information by the corresponding unit of the barcode reader, the storage location of the product in the product shelf in which the product is stored is specified, and the storage location is represented A specifying unit that associates location information with the identification information; and a storage unit that stores a correspondence table that represents correspondence between the article in the article shelf and a storage location of the article;
A location storage device comprising: an update unit that updates the correspondence table of the storage unit based on the location information and the identification information associated with each other by the specifying device;
An article management system comprising: The identification device is mounted on the barcode reader;
The barcode reader is
The article management system according to claim 1, further comprising a first display unit that displays the location information and the identification information associated with each other by the specifying device. The barcode reader is
A position determination unit that determines whether the position of the barcode reader when the article barcode is read is a position outside the article shelf or a position within the article shelf;
A first warning unit that warns the user that the article barcode has been read at a position outside the article shelf when the position judgment unit determines that the position is outside the article shelf; With
The said corresponding | compatible part discards the group of the said positional information and the said identification information, when it determines with the said position determination part being the position outside the said goods shelf. Or the article management system of 2. The barcode reader is
Warehousing identification information for identifying the warehousing object stored in the warehousing process for storing the article in the warehousing shelf, or warehousing identification information for identifying the warehousing object to be taken out in the warehousing process for taking out the article from the article shelf, and , A storage and storage object storage unit that stores and stores in advance storage location information indicating the storage location where the storage target article or the storage target article is stored;
When the identification information represented by the article barcode read by the reading unit is different from the warehousing identification information or the warehousing identification information stored in the warehousing / unloading storage unit, the storage specified by the specifying device When the location is different from the storage location represented by the storage location information stored in the storage target storage unit, the article barcode is read when at least one of the cases occurs. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a second warning unit that warns that the article is different from the goods to be stored or the goods to be discharged. Management system. The barcode reader is
5. The article management system according to claim 4, further comprising a second display unit that displays a storage location represented by the storage location information stored in the storage target storage unit.

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