JP2017185430A - Delivery support device, delivery support system and delivery support program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a delivery support device, a delivery support system and a delivery support program which appropriately performs system cooperation.SOLUTION: A delivery support device includes a first acquisition part, a first transmission part, a second acquisition part, and a second transmission part. The first acquisition part acquires information including a sorting destination of a delivery article from a first device managing the delivery article transmitted through a main conveyance path. The first transmission part transmits information acquired by the first acquisition part to a second device managing the delivery article carried to a sub conveyance path separating from the main conveyance path. The second acquisition part acquires information on existence of the delivery article managed by the second device from the second device. The second transmission part transmits information acquired by the second acquisition part to the first device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a delivery support apparatus, a delivery support system, and a delivery support program.

  In a delivery object sorting system that sorts delivery objects according to delivery destinations, the delivery objects are transported by a sub-transport path that branches from a main transport path, and are collected at a stacking location. And the delivery object of a collection location is managed based on the image imaged with the camera. However, the conventional technology requires modification of software in order to link the device for managing the delivery object on the main transport path side with the device for managing the delivery object at the collection point, and a flexible system construction is required. It was sometimes difficult.

Special table 2008-521606

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a delivery support apparatus, a delivery support system, and a delivery support program that can suitably perform system linkage.

  The delivery support apparatus according to the embodiment includes a first acquisition unit, a first transmission unit, a second acquisition unit, and a second transmission unit. The first acquisition unit acquires information including a delivery destination of the delivery object from a first apparatus that manages the delivery object that is conveyed along the main conveyance path. The first transmission unit transmits the information acquired by the first acquisition unit to a second device that manages a delivery object transported to a sub transport path branched from the main transport path. The second acquisition unit acquires information on the location of the delivery object managed by the second device from the second device. The second transmission unit transmits the information acquired by the second acquisition unit to the first device.

1 is a schematic diagram of a delivery support system 1. FIG. The figure which shows an example of the main function structures of the delivery assistance system. The figure which shows an example of a function structure of the assistance apparatus. The block diagram centering on the processing apparatus 200. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of batch information transmission processing executed by the delivery support system 1; The figure which shows an example of the batch registration information 132. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of loading processing executed by the delivery support system 1. The figure which shows an example of the passage information 134. FIG. The figure which shows an example of the loading completion information 136. FIG. FIG. 3 is an overhead view of the sorting table 30. The figure which shows an example of the projection information 278.

  Hereinafter, a delivery support device, a delivery support system, and a delivery support program according to embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Overall configuration]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a delivery support system 1. The delivery support system 1 is a system that assists an operator who transports a delivery object P when the delivery object P such as a parcel is sorted into sorting points according to a delivery destination. The delivery support system 1 according to this embodiment includes a sub-transport path 20, a shooter 28, a sorting table 30, a camera CM, a sensor S1, a sensor S2, a projection unit PJ, a host device 50, and a support device 100. And the processing apparatus 200, but is not limited to this.

  The sub-transport path 20 of the delivery support system 1 is connected to the main transport path 102 including the branch mechanism 104. The main conveyance path 102 forms a circulation (circulation) path, for example. The main conveyance path 102 includes, for example, a conveyance belt, a drive pulley, and a drive motor. The driving pulley is rotated by a driving force output by driving the driving motor. The transport belt is driven by the rotational force of the drive pulley and transports the delivery object P. The drive motor controls the transport force applied to the transport belt based on the control of the host device 50. The drive motor operates the conveyor belt at an arbitrary speed and acceleration.

  The branching mechanism 104 is disposed in the vicinity where the main transport path 102 and the sub transport path 20 are connected. The branching mechanism 104 carries the delivery object P transported in the main transport path 102 to the sub transport path 20. The branching mechanism 104 includes a transport belt that is driven in the transport direction of the sub transport path 20. This conveyor belt carries the delivery object P to the sub-transport path 20.

  The sub conveyance path 20 conveys the delivery object P carried out by the branch mechanism 104 to the shooter 28. The sub-transport path 20 includes a transport belt, a drive pulley, and a drive motor. The conveying belt is operated by the rotational force of the driving pulley and conveys the delivery object P. The drive motor controls the transport force that acts on the transport belt based on the control of the processing apparatus 200. The drive motor conveys the conveyor belt at an arbitrary speed and acceleration.

  A shooter 28 is connected between the sub-transport path 20 and the sorting table 30. The shooter 28 includes a conveyor belt, a drive pulley, and a drive motor. The shooter 28 has a gradient from the sub-transport path 20 toward the sorting table 30. When the delivery object P transported through the sub-transport path 20 reaches the shooter 28, it is transported by the transport belt of the shooter 28 and moved to the sorting table 30 (an example of an accumulation location). On the sorting table 30, the delivery object P coming from the direction of the shooter 28 is temporarily placed. The worker transports the delivery object P placed on the sorting table 30 to the car V according to the sorting destination. The sorting destination is information indicating a group of delivery destinations set in advance, for example. A group of delivery destinations is a group that is suitable to be transported in a lump, for example, with a common postal code. The sorting destination is, for example, information indicating the position where the sub-transport path 20 through which the delivery target P included in the delivery destination group is transported, the shooter 28, and the car V are disposed.

  For example, the camera CM repeatedly images at least a part of the shooter 28 and the delivery object P placed on the sorting table 30 at predetermined time intervals. Further, the camera CM captures an image including not only the vicinity of the shooter 28 and the sorting table 30 but also the vicinity of the car V arranged around the sorting table 30. Hereinafter, an area captured by the camera CM is referred to as a “specific area”. The camera CM supplies the captured image data to the processing device 200.

  The sensor S1 is provided, for example, in the sub transport path 20. For example, the sensor S1 is provided in the vicinity of the sub-transport path 20 where the sub-transport path 20 and the branch mechanism 104 are connected. The sensor S1 detects passage of the delivery object P using, for example, an optical method. The sensor S1 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit (not shown) arranged to face each other so as to cross the sub conveyance path 20 through which the delivery object P is conveyed. Irradiation light emitted from the light emitting unit is received by the light receiving unit when there is no obstruction, and is received when the delivery object P transported through the sub-transport path 20 exists between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. It is installed so that the reception of the irradiation light by the part is blocked. The sensor S1 outputs an ON signal indicating that the delivery object P exists on the optical axis of the irradiation light output from the light emitting unit when the reception of the irradiation light by the light receiving unit is interrupted. On the other hand, the sensor S1 outputs an off signal indicating that the delivery target P does not exist on the optical axis of the irradiation light output from the light emitting unit when the light reception by the light receiving unit is not blocked.

  The sensor S2 is provided in the shooter 28, for example. The sensor S2 is provided outside the specific area and on the side where the delivery object P is transported in the vicinity of the specific area. The sensor S2 detects the passage of the delivery object P and supplies the detection result to the processing device 200. The sensor S2 detects passage of the delivery object P using, for example, an optical method. The sensor S2 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit (not shown) arranged to face each other so as to cross the shooter 28 to which the delivery object P is conveyed.

  The projection unit PJ is, for example, a slide projector. The projection unit PJ switches and projects a predetermined image toward the delivery target P existing on the shooter 28 or the sorting table 30 based on an instruction from the processing device 200. The delivery support system 1 may include a plurality of projection units PJ. Further, the projection unit PJ may be a light (irradiation unit) that irradiates the delivery object P by switching light of different colors. The worker moves the delivery object P on the sorting table 30 based on the image projected on the delivery object P by the projection unit PJ, or delivers the delivery object to the sorting car V corresponding to the delivery object P. Put an object P on it.

  The basket car V is a delivery aid that can be moved and loaded with a delivery object P belonging to the same classification destination. The cart V is placed on a moving body such as a truck with the delivery object P loaded thereon, and is transported to another place.

  The host device 50, the support device 100, and the processing device 200 are connected to the network NW. The network NW is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network). Note that the support device 100 and the host device 50 or the processing device 200 may be connected by a dedicated line corresponding to each.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main functional configuration of the delivery support system 1. Details of information transmitted and received between the support device 100 and the higher-level device 50 or the processing device 200 will be described later.

  The host device 50 includes a communication unit 60, a control unit 70, a management unit 80, and a storage unit 90. The communication unit 60 communicates with the support device 100. The control unit 70 controls the main transport path 102 and the branch mechanism 104. Further, the control unit 70 controls the branch mechanism 104 based on the information related to the delivery object P being transported to the main transport path 102 so that the delivery object P is carried out to the preset sub transport path 20. . The management unit 80 manages information related to the delivery object P being transported to the main transport path 102. The storage unit 90 stores information related to the delivery object P. The host device 50 acquires the detection result of the sensor S1. The host device 50 transmits batch information, passage information, and the like to the support device 100. In addition, the upper device 50 acquires loading completion information from the support device 100. Details of the batch information, the passage information 134 (274), and the loading completion information 136 (278) will be described later.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the support device 100. The support device 100 includes a communication interface 110, a first acquisition unit 112, a second acquisition unit 114, a first transmission unit 116, a second transmission unit 118, a management unit 120, and a storage unit 130. With. The communication interface 110 is a communication interface for connecting to a network, and includes, for example, a NIC (Network Interface Card).

  The first acquisition unit 112 acquires information about delivery objects (information including the classification destination) such as batch information and passage information 134 from the higher-level device 50. The second acquisition unit 114 acquires information regarding the location of the delivery target P managed by the processing device 200 (for example, loading completion information 136) from the processing device 200. The first transmission unit 116 transmits information regarding the delivery object P acquired by the first acquisition unit 112 to the processing device 200. The second transmission unit 118 transmits the information acquired by the second acquisition unit 114 to the higher-level device 50. Note that these components do not need to be clearly separated, and may be realized by performing reception settings and transmission settings corresponding to the NICs described above. These components may be realized by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a program, an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an FPGA (Field- It may be realized by hardware such as a Programmable Gate Array. The same applies to the management unit 120.

  The management unit 120 manages information acquired from the host device 50, the processing device 200, and the like, and information input to the own device. The storage unit 130 is realized by a storage device such as a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), or a flash memory. The storage unit 130 stores the processing result of the device itself and information acquired from other devices. Further, the storage unit 130 stores, for example, batch registration information 132, passage information 134, and loading completion information 136.

  FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram centering on the processing apparatus 200. The processing apparatus 200 may include a communication interface 210, a transport control unit 220, a data management unit 230, an image recognition unit 240, a processing unit 250, a projection control unit 260, and a storage unit 270. It is not limited to. Components other than the storage unit 270 may be realized by a processor such as a CPU executing a program, or may be realized by hardware such as an LSI, an ASIC, or an FPGA.

  The communication interface 210 is connected to the network NW and communicates with the host device 50, the support device 100, the camera CM, and the sensor S2. The processing device 200 and the camera CM or the sensor S2 may be connected by a dedicated line corresponding to each.

  The conveyance control unit 220 controls the drive motor and the conveyance belt included in the sub conveyance path 20 or the shooter 28 to adjust the speed at which the delivery object P is conveyed.

  The data management unit 230 integrates information related to the delivery object P acquired from the support apparatus 100 and manages it as passage information 274. In addition, the data management unit 230 manages the results processed by the image recognition unit 240, the processing unit 250, and the like as loading completion information 276. The data management unit 230 manages the batch registration information 272 and the projection information 278. Details of such information will be described later.

  The image recognition unit 240 performs a recognition process on the image data of the image captured by the camera CM. The processing unit 250 binarizes each pixel of the image captured by the camera CM based on a predetermined threshold, and extracts an image area including a recognition target from the binarized image.

  The processing unit 250 identifies a “target” newly appearing from the direction in which the sensor S2 is provided in the image captured by the camera CM. The “target” is an area in the image that the processing apparatus 200 recognizes as an object. The processing unit 250 (or would have appeared) that the delivery object P newly appears in the time-series image based on the passage time and the transport speed of a certain location of the delivery object P acquired from the host device 50. )

  The processing unit 250 estimates the timing at which the delivery target P appears in the image, identifies the target (rectangular region) that appears at the timing as the delivery target P, and provides identification information for the delivery target P. Manage. Further, the processing unit 250 manages a newly appearing object as an unknown object at a timing different from the timing when the delivery object P appears in the image. The identification information of the delivery object P is stored in the storage unit 270 as the passage information 274.

  Based on the comparison result between the position change of the target in the time-series image and the position change estimated based on the conveyance speed of the delivery object P, the processing unit 250 determines whether the target object in each time-series image has been delivered in the past. It is determined whether or not it is the same as the object to which the identification information as the object P is given. The processing unit 250 determines that these objects are the same when the degree of coincidence is higher than a predetermined degree. When the processing unit 250 determines that the target is the same between the imaging frames, the identification information that is the same as the identification information given to the target in the immediately preceding imaging frame is used as the target of the imaging frame that is determined to be the same. Give.

  Based on the position of the delivery object P specified by the processing unit 250 and the sorting destination of the delivery object P acquired by the data management unit 230, the projection control unit 260 indicates information indicating the sorting destination to the projection unit PJ. Is presented to the operator.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the sub-transport path 20, the shooter 28, and the processing apparatus 200 are provided one by one has been described, but a plurality of the sub-transport path 20 and the shooter 28 may be provided. In this case, the processing apparatus 200 is provided for each sub-transport path 20 and the shooter 28. The support device 100 responds to each of the inquiries from the plurality of processing devices 200.

[Transmission processing of batch information by delivery support system]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of batch information transmission processing executed by the delivery support system 1.

  First, the support device 100 acquires master information (S1). For example, the support device 100 acquires master information from a terminal device that can communicate with the own device. The master information is, for example, information on a car corresponding to the sub-transport path 20 and the shooter 28. The information on the car is the number of car cars V arranged around the shooter 28, for example.

  Next, the management unit 120 of the support apparatus acquires master information and stores the acquired master information in the storage unit 130 (S2). In addition, the storage unit 270 of the processing device 200 stores a basket car installation address. The basket car installation address is information on a position where the basket car V is provided in advance on the floor surface around the shooter 28 and the dividing table 30. This position is defined by the coordinates of the XY plane in the imaging area of the camera CM, for example. For example, the operator refers to the master information and registers the number of the car cars V in the storage unit 270. Further, for example, the operator registers in the storage unit 270 information indicating that the car V is installed at each of the car car installation addresses 1 to 4. The management unit 120 of the support device 100 may acquire master information from the higher-level device 50 and transmit the acquired master information to the processing device 200. In this case, the processing device 200 may store information on the shooter 28 and the car in the storage unit 90 based on the acquired master information.

  Next, the host device 50 acquires batch information (S3), and transmits the acquired batch information to the support device 100 (S4). When acquiring the batch information, the support device 100 stores the batch information in the storage unit 130 (S5). The batch information acquired here is, for example, information relating to a set of delivery target objects P to be processed, such as a set of information relating to a plurality of delivery target objects P to be delivered to the XX direction, and delivery to the XX direction. For example, a set of information on a plurality of delivery objects P. For example, the host device 50 acquires batch information from a terminal device that can communicate with the own device.

  Next, the support apparatus 100 registers information on the shooter 28 to which the delivery object P is transported and the cart V on which the delivery object P is loaded based on the batch information (S6), and information on the registered cart V is registered. Is stored in the storage unit 130 as batch registration information 132 (S7).

  The batch registration information 132 is information in which worker identification information (worker code) is associated (designated) with the destination of the delivery object P. The classification destination of the delivery object P is, for example, the identification information of the shooter 28 to which the delivery object P is transported, the destination code for identifying the destination (delivery destination), and the cage car V of the cart V on which the delivery object P is loaded. It is an installation address. For example, a correspondence relationship between the identification information of the shooter 28, the destination code, and the basket car installation address is set by an operator and stored as batch registration information 132. Two or more basket car installation addresses or worker identification information may be associated with the destination code.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the batch registration information 132. By using the batch registration information 132, for example, the delivery target P having a delivery destination of “XX Ward” is transported to the shooter 28, and the car V placed at the car car installation address “1” The delivery object P to be transported is loaded in “XX chome”, which is a smaller category than “XX ward”. Note that the size of the section corresponding to the shooter 28 and the installation address may be arbitrarily set. The batch registration information 132 may be associated with worker identification information corresponding to the sorting destination. The batch registration information 132 is set by a terminal device that can access the support device 100, for example.

  Next, when the support apparatus 100 receives an inquiry about the batch registration information 132 from the processing apparatus 200 (S8), the management unit 120 of the support apparatus 100 causes the batch registration information 132 to be processed and the higher order registered in the storage unit 130. The batch information acquired from the apparatus 50 is associated and transmitted to the processing apparatus 200 (S9). In this case, the processing device 200 may transmit information indicating that a response to the inquiry has been made to the support device 100. In addition, the processing device 200 stores the batch information and the batch registration information 132 acquired from the support device 100 in the storage unit 270. For example, the processing apparatus 200 inquires the batch registration information 132 after the processing of the delivery object P to be processed, for example, is completed.

  When the processing device 200 acquires the batch registration information 132 and the batch information transmitted from the support device 100, it transmits reception confirmation information indicating that the information has been acquired to the support device 100 (S10). When the support apparatus 100 acquires the receipt confirmation information from the processing apparatus 200, the support apparatus 100 registers the batch registration information 132 and information indicating that the batch information has been transmitted to the processing apparatus 200 (S11). In this case, the support apparatus 100 may transmit information indicating that a response to the inquiry has been made to the processing apparatus 200.

  For example, the management unit 120 of the support apparatus 100 registers the date and time when information indicating that batch information and batch registration information have been acquired is acquired. Thereby, the support apparatus 100 can exclude the batch information and batch registration information that have already been transmitted to the processing apparatus 200 from the targets of batch information and batch registration information that are transmitted next time. Thereby, the process of one routine of this flowchart is completed.

[Loading by delivery support system]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the loading process executed by the delivery support system 1.

  After the process of FIG. 5 described above, the support device 100 acquires the sorting schedule data from the host device 50 and stores it in the storage unit 130 (S20). Sorting schedule data is information including identification information of a delivery object P to be processed, delivery destination information, and the like. The support apparatus 100 may acquire the sorting schedule data from the upper apparatus 50 at an arbitrary timing. Next, the host device 50 acquires the detection result of the sensor S1 (S21). The detection result is passage information indicating a result of detection of the delivery object P by the sensor S1.

  Next, the host device 50 generates passage information including information regarding the detected delivery object P, and transmits the generated passage information to the support device 100 (S22). For example, the host device 50 controls the branching mechanism 104 to carry out the delivery object P to the preset sub-transport path 20. The host device 50 can specify the detected delivery object P based on the timing when the delivery object P is carried out and the transport speed of the delivery object P. The host device 50 transmits information about the delivery object P detected by the sensor S1 and information including the detection result of the sensor S1 to the support device 100 as passage information.

  The support device 100 acquires the passage information and stores the acquired passage information 134 in the storage unit 130 (S23). FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the passage information 134. The information regarding the delivery target P included in the passage information 134 is information acquired in advance by the higher-level device 50. Information related to the delivery object P included in the passage information 134 includes the identification information of the delivery object P, the shipper's information, the delivery destination information, the size, shape, weight, and characteristics of the delivery object P (broken objects, top and bottom useless). Etc.), the time when the delivery object P arrives at a specific location is associated with the information. The passage information may be information obtained by omitting a part of the information described above. For example, when obtaining the passage information, the support apparatus 100 determines whether or not the identification information of the delivery object P corresponding to the passage information is included in the sorting schedule data. If the identification information of the delivery object P corresponding to the passage information is not included in the sorting schedule data, the support apparatus 100 determines that a delivery object P different from the sorting schedule delivery object P is being conveyed. The determination result is transmitted to the terminal device or the like.

  Next, when the support device 100 receives an inquiry about passage information from the processing device 200 (S24), the passage device 134 stores the passage information 134 stored in S23 to the processing device 200 (S25). When the passage information 134 is acquired, the processing device 200 may transmit information indicating that a response to the inquiry has been made to the support device 100. For example, when the processing apparatus 200 acquires information indicating that the delivery target P has passed from the sensor S2, the processing apparatus 200 makes an inquiry to the support apparatus 100. As a result, the delivery object P that has been transported to the imaging area of the camera CM can be identified more accurately.

  When the processing device 200 acquires the passage information 134 transmitted from the support device 100, the processing device 200 transmits reception confirmation information indicating that the passage information 134 has been acquired to the support device 100 (S26). When the support device 100 acquires the receipt confirmation information from the processing device 200, information indicating that the passage information 134 has been transmitted to the processing device 200 is registered in association with the passage information 134 (S27). Thereby, the support apparatus 100 can recognize the delivery object P that has already been carried out to the sub-transport path 20. When the receipt confirmation information is acquired, the support apparatus 100 may transmit information indicating that a response to the inquiry has been made to the processing apparatus 200.

  Next, the processing device 200 recognizes the delivery object P based on the passage information 134 (passage information 274) acquired in S26 and the image captured by the camera CM (S28), and recognizes the delivery object P thus recognized. An image including information indicating the sorting destination is projected (S29).

  Next, the processing device 200 recognizes that the delivery object P has been loaded on the basket car V based on the image captured by the camera CM, and that the cargo vehicle V has been loaded. The information is associated with each other and transmitted to the support apparatus 100 as loading completion information 136 (S30). FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the loading completion information 136. The loading completion information 136 includes identification information of the delivery object P, information related to the car on which the delivery object P is placed (car car ID, car car installation address), the position of the delivery object P at a certain time, Information indicating the angle (orientation), probability (matching degree), the size, shape, etc. of the delivery object P are stored in association with each other. In addition, the loading completion information includes information on the basket car V to be placed specified in the batch registration information 132 acquired from the support apparatus 100 and the specified basket car V with respect to the identification information of the delivery object P. Is stored in association with information indicating whether or not the information has been correctly placed. The loading completion information 136 may omit a part of the information described above. The loading completion information 136 is an example of information regarding the location of the delivery target P. In addition, the processing device 200 informs the support device 100 of the position of the delivery object P on the recognized shooter 28, the sorting table 30 or the like based on the image captured by the camera CM as information on the location of the delivery object P. You may send it.

  Next, the support device 100 stores the acquired loading completion information 136 in the storage unit 130, and updates the loading record information stored in the storage unit 130 (S31). The loading result information is information associated with the delivery target P of the sorting schedule data and is information indicating whether or not the delivery target P of the sorting schedule data has been loaded into the car V. Next, the support device 100 acquires the loading completion information 136 (S32), and transmits the loading completion information 136 to the host device 50 (S33). The loading completion information 136 is transmitted every predetermined time, for example. Thereby, the process of one routine of this flowchart is completed.

[Process to project onto delivery object P]
Based on the processing result of the processing unit 250, the projection control unit 260 causes the projection unit PJ to project information indicating the sorting destination onto the delivery object P. FIG. 10 is an overhead view of the sorting table 30. The sorting table 30 includes, for example, a plurality of roller conveyors that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the sorting table 30 and rotate around an axis along the short direction. The surface of the roller conveyor is made of a metal having a low friction coefficient. The delivery object P conveyed by the shooter 28 moves on the sorting table 30 by rotation of the roller conveyor or sliding on the roller conveyor. The sorting table 30 may be formed by, for example, a ball conveyor or a belt conveyor.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the sorting table 30, for example, areas A to D are virtually set by dividing the long and short sides of the sorting table 30 into halves into four. The areas A to D correspond to, for example, the work ranges of the workers a to d. The areas A to D correspond to the sorting destinations that are a set of delivery destinations. That is, in this embodiment, the worker and the sorting destination correspond to each other. In addition, a plurality of basket cars V are arranged around the sorting table 30 with an area where an operator works. The processing device 200 performs processing by assigning the identification information 1 to 16 of the car V to the position where the car V is arranged or the car V.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the projection information 278. The projection information 278 includes the identification information of the shooter 28, the cart installation address arranged around the sorting table 30, the identification information of the cart V corresponding to the position of the cart V, and the range of the area set in the sorting table 30. The delivery destination of the delivery object P, the worker in charge of the work in the set area, the information (color, figure, symbol) of the image to be projected on the projection unit PJ, etc. are associated with each other. The projection information 278 may be acquired from the higher-level device 50, or may be set based on information input by an input unit (not shown) included in the support device 100. For example, each area and the position where the car V is arranged are stored in the projection information 278 as XY coordinates with the floor as a reference.

  As described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5, the projection control unit 260 acquires the position of the delivery object P, the classification destination, and the information on the destination car V, and the projection unit PJ receives the classification destination information and the basket. An image indicating the vehicle identification information is projected toward the delivery object P. For example, the projection control unit 260 projects an image including information such as numbers corresponding to the identification information of the car V on the delivery target P in a color corresponding to the sorting destination.

  Thereby, the worker can easily recognize the delivery object P he / she is in charge of. In addition, it is possible to easily recognize the basket car V on which the delivery object P needs to be placed. As a result, system cooperation can be suitably performed.

  Further, the projection control unit 260 refers to the position specified by the processing unit 250, and the case where the delivery object P exists in the region (A to D) corresponding to the sorting destination in the sorting table 30 and the case where it does not exist Then, the projection unit PJ causes the operator to project different information. The different information is an image having a different aspect from the image projected when the delivery object P exists in the area corresponding to the sorting destination in the sorting table 30. For example, when the delivery object P exists in an area corresponding to the sorting destination in the sorting table 30, the projection control unit 260 projects the above-described image as it is to the worker, and the delivery object P is If not present, the above-described image is displayed in a blinking manner (FIG. 10, “AT”).

  In addition, when the processing apparatus 200 cannot acquire the classification destination of the delivery object P (when the delivery object P cannot be specified, or is specified as an unknown object, etc.), the projection unit PJ Information indicating that the sorting destination could not be acquired may be projected toward the object P. For example, the projection unit PJ blinks and projects an image that does not include a number or the like that identifies the car V toward the delivery object P, or projects a color that is different from the color when the classification destination can be acquired. To do. Thereby, the worker can recognize the delivery object P that needs to visually recognize the delivery destination.

  When the processing apparatus 200 cannot acquire the sorting destination of the delivery object P, the projection control unit 260 displays an image corresponding to the sorting destination area in charge of a predetermined worker as the delivery object P. You may make it project on the projection part PJ toward. The predetermined worker here is a worker set in advance, for example, a worker with high processing efficiency and skill.

  In this way, the projection control unit 260 switches the information projected by the projection unit PJ based on the processing result of the processing unit 250, so that the worker is the delivery object P that needs confirmation of the sorting destination. Can be recognized. As a result, the worker visually identifies the sorting destination of the delivery object P and sorts the delivery object P, so that the delivery object P is more reliably placed on the correct car V.

  According to the delivery support system 1 of the embodiment described above, the support device 100 transmits the information related to the delivery object P acquired from the host device 50 in response to the inquiry of the processing device 200 and is acquired by the processing device 200. Information regarding the cart V loaded with the delivery object P is acquired from the processing device 200, and the acquired information is transmitted to the host device 50. As described above, the support apparatus 100 can appropriately perform system cooperation by transmitting and receiving information. Further, the support device 100 can cause the host device 50 and the processing device 200 to manage the delivery object P with higher accuracy.

  According to at least one embodiment described above, a first acquisition unit that acquires information including a distribution destination of a delivery object from a first device that manages the delivery object that is conveyed on the main conveyance path; A first transmission unit that transmits information acquired by the first acquisition unit to a second device that manages a delivery object transported to a sub-transport path branched from the main transport path, and a second device A second acquisition unit that acquires information on the location of the delivery object managed by the second device, and a second transmission unit that transmits the information acquired by the second acquisition unit to the first device; Therefore, system linkage can be suitably performed.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Delivery support system, 20 ... Sub conveyance path, 28 ... Shooter, 50 ... Host apparatus, 100 ... Support apparatus, 110 ... Communication interface, 112 ... 1st acquisition part, 114 ... 2nd acquisition part, 116 ... 1st 1 transmission unit 118 118 second transmission unit 120 management unit 130 storage unit 132 registration information 134 passing information 136 loading completion information 200 processing device 220 transport control 230, data management unit, 240 ... image recognition unit, 250 ... processing unit, 260 ... projection control unit, 270 ... storage unit, CM ... camera, PJ ... projection unit, S1, S2 ... sensor, V ... basket car,

Claims (6)

A first acquisition unit that acquires information including a classification destination of the delivery object from a first device that manages the delivery object that is conveyed along the main conveyance path;
A first transmission unit that transmits information acquired by the first acquisition unit to a second device that manages a delivery object transported to a sub-transport path branched from the main transport path;
A second acquisition unit that acquires information on the location of the delivery object managed by the second device from the second device;
A second transmission unit that transmits information acquired by the second acquisition unit to the first device;
A delivery support device comprising: In response to the inquiry from the second device, the first transmission unit transmits information including a delivery destination of the delivery object to the second device.
The delivery support apparatus according to claim 1. The first acquisition unit detects passage of the delivery object provided in the sub-transport path and detects the delivery object by a sensor that outputs a detection result to the first device. , Obtaining information including a delivery destination of the delivery object from the first device that has obtained the detection result of the sensor;
The delivery support apparatus according to claim 2. The delivery support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The second device;
Having a delivery support system. An imaging unit for imaging a specific area where the delivery object is accumulated after branching from the main transport path;
The second device manages the location of the delivery object based on information acquired from the delivery support device and an image captured by the imaging unit.
The delivery support system according to claim 4. From the first device that manages the delivery object to be transported along the main transport path, information including the delivery destination of the delivery object is acquired,
Transmitting the acquired information to a second device that manages a delivery object transported to a sub-transport path branched from the main transport path;
From the second device, to obtain information on the location of the delivery object managed by the second device,
Transmitting the acquired information to the first device;
Delivery support program.

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