JP2018090347A - Sorting facility - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sorting facility which makes it possible to save the space of the whole facility by making effective use of the space in the facility to provide conveying means.SOLUTION: A sorting facility 10 comprises a flow rack 24 storing articles 90 and a carrying conveyor 60 carrying an article collection container 91 to carry out a sorting work of the articles 90 between the flow rack 24 and the article collection container 91, wherein the carrying conveyor 60 is composed of a sorting path 61, a conveying path 62 and a turning path 63; the sorting path 61 is arranged along the flow rack 24, and the conveying path 62 is arranged along the flow rack 24 in a state in which it is caused to pass under a shelf 26 in the lowest stage of the flow rack 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a sorting facility that includes a sorting shelf for storing articles and a transport unit that transports a plurality of sorting containers, and performs sorting of the articles between the sorting shelves and the sorting containers.

  In the distribution center or warehouse of various goods in logistics, the goods are sorted. For example, in a distribution center, sorting work is performed in which articles according to orders of users (sorting destinations) are picked and sorted into a plurality of collection containers. In such a sorting operation, for example, a plurality of work zones are divided along the moving direction of the belt conveyor that conveys the collection container, and a dedicated worker is arranged for each work zone. Based on the user's order assigned to each collection container, the worker picks the ordered quantity of articles from the storage shelf in which the articles are stored, and collects the articles conveyed by the belt conveyor. The product container is put into a collection container for the user who has ordered the item.

As a sorting facility for performing such sorting work, for example, an automatic picking device that stores a plurality of types of products (articles) and automatically picks up desired products from the stored products, and is stored in an automatic picking device. A rack (sorting shelf) that stores some types of products that have a large shipment volume among a plurality of types of products, and a display that is provided at each product outlet of the rack and displays the number of products to be taken out There is a sorting facility as shown in Patent Document 1 including a display picking device and a transport unit that transports a shipping case (sorting container) that stores the taken-out merchandise to an automatic picking device and a display picking device.
In the sorting facility shown in Patent Document 1, the sorting path of the transport means for the operator to sort the articles with respect to the sorting container is provided on the sorting shelf on the side of sorting the articles, and the transport means sets the sorting container. By conveying to the sorting path, the sorting operation of the articles is performed between the sorting shelf and the sorting container.

JP 2002-179224 A

  However, in the sorting facility shown in Patent Document 1, in order to transport the sorting container to the sorting path, the sorting container is once detoured and transported to the side opposite to the side where the articles are sorted in the sorting shelf. In other words, it is necessary to provide a path for the conveying means for bypassing the sorting container on the side of the sorting shelf opposite to the side for sorting the articles. For this reason, there is a problem in that a space for providing the path of the conveying means is required on the side opposite to the side on which the goods are sorted in the sorting shelf, and the entire sorting equipment becomes large. In addition, it seems that it is not necessary to provide the path of the transport means on the side opposite to the side where the articles are sorted in the sorting shelf by forming the sorting path by extending the transport means linearly. Since the sorting shelves need to be arranged in series along the sorting path, the space in which the sorting shelves can be installed is limited.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sorting facility capable of saving the space of the entire facility by providing a conveying means by effectively using the space in the facility.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above. Next, means for solving the problem will be described.
That is, the sorting equipment of the present invention comprises a sorting shelf in which a plurality of shelves for storing articles are arranged in the upper and lower stages, and a transport means for transporting a plurality of sorting containers, and the sorting shelves and the sorting containers A sorting facility in which a worker who sorts the articles in between is arranged along the sorting shelf, and the transport means is a sorter in which the worker sorts the articles with respect to the sorting container. A path, a transport path for transporting the sorting container transporting the sorting path, and a path provided between the sorting path and the transport path, and transporting the sorting container, the sorting path or the transport path. The sorting path is provided along the sorting shelf, and the transport path is along the sorting shelf in a state where the lower part of the lowermost shelf of the sorting shelf is hidden. It is intended to be provided.
In the above configuration, the sorting container is transported by the transporting means arranged along the sorting shelf in a state where the lower part of the lowermost shelf of the sorting shelf is hidden.

The sorting equipment according to the present invention is configured such that, in the sorting equipment, the height of the transport surface on the turning path or the turning path side of the transport path is set so that the transport surface of the sorting path is higher than the transport surface of the transport path. To change.
In the above configuration, the transport surface of the sorting route is changed so that the transport surface of the sorting route becomes higher than the transport surface of the transport route, so that the transport surface of the sorting route is sorted by the worker who performs the sorting work. The height is suitable for work.

The sorting facility according to the present invention is the above-described sorting facility, wherein the sorting shelf is a shelf for storing articles to be put into the sorting container, and the sorting path is configured so that the worker can sort the sorting shelf with respect to the sorting container. The sorting shelf and the sorting route are used to input an item picked from the sorting shelf to a sorting container that is transporting the sorting route. It is arranged on the same side.
In the above configuration, on the same side with respect to an operator who puts an article into the sorting container that is transporting the sorting path, the work of picking the article from the sorting shelf and the article picked from the sorting shelf are transported on the sorting path. And putting it into the sorting container.

The sorting facility according to the present invention is the above sorting facility, wherein the sorting container is configured to sort high-frequency articles that are frequently requested by the sorting destination into the sorting containers among the articles sorted by the entire facility in response to a request from the sorting destination. Frequency item sorting area and medium frequency item sorting area for sorting intermediate frequency items requested by the sorting destination into intermediate sorting items among the items sorted by the entire facility in response to a request from the sorting destination And a low-frequency product sorting area that sorts low-frequency items that are less frequently requested from the sorting destination among the items sorted by the entire facility in response to a request from the sorting destination into the sorting container, The sorting path is a path for putting articles picked from the sorting shelf into the sorting container, and the transport direction of the sorting container in the sorting path From the flow side, the high-frequency parts sorting area, medium-frequency products sorting area, in the order of low frequency products sorting area, is intended to be arranged along the sorting path.
In the above configuration, the articles are put into the sorting container that is transporting the sorting path in the order of the high-frequency article, the medium-frequency article, and the low-frequency article.

The sorting equipment according to the present invention is the above-described sorting equipment, wherein the sorting route is a route for feeding articles picked from the sorting shelf into the sorting container, and is provided independently of the sorting shelf. A storage unit for high-frequency items that stores high-frequency items that are frequently requested from the sorting destination among the items sorted by the entire facility upon request is provided, and the sorting shelf responds to requests from the sorting destination. Accordingly, it includes a medium-frequency goods sorting shelf for storing medium-frequency goods whose frequency requested by the sorting destination is medium among the goods sorted according to the entire equipment, and the sorting route and the high-frequency goods storage Are arranged on different sides with respect to an operator who puts an article picked from the high-frequency goods storage unit into a sorting container transporting the sorting path. The medium frequency goods sorting shelf is arranged on the same side with respect to an operator who puts an item picked from the medium frequency goods sorting shelf into a sorting container transporting the sorting route. It is to be established.
In the above configuration, the operation of picking high-frequency goods from the high-frequency goods storage section and the high-frequency goods storage section on the different side with respect to the worker who puts the articles into the sorting container that is transporting the sorting route To the sorting container that is transporting the sorting route, and on the same side to the worker who puts the article into the sorting container that is transporting the sorting route , Picking medium-frequency items from the medium-frequency goods sorting shelf, and putting medium-frequency goods picked from the medium-frequency goods sorting shelf into the sorting container transporting the sorting route .

A sorting facility according to the present invention includes an article transporting unit that is provided independently of the sorting shelf in the sorting facility, and transports an article to be loaded into a sorting container that transports the sorting path to the sorting path, The conveying path is provided in a state where the lower part of the article conveying means is hidden.
In the above-described configuration, the sorting container is transported by the transporting unit arranged in a state where the lower part of the article transporting unit is hidden.

  According to the sorting equipment of the present invention, the sorting shelf is provided along the sorting shelf in a state where the lower side of the lowermost shelf of the sorting shelf is hidden, so that the sorting path for transporting the sorting container that transports the sorting path is provided. It is possible to provide the transport means by effectively using the empty space at the lower part of the sheet, and it is not necessary to provide the transport means as the transport path in the peripheral space of the sorting shelf. As a result, the entire sorting facility can be saved.

It is a plane layout view of the sorting equipment according to the present invention. It is a side view of the high frequency goods picking area and medium frequency goods picking area of the sorting equipment concerning the present invention. It is a top view of the medium frequency goods picking area of the sorting equipment concerning the present invention. It is a top view of the low frequency goods picking area of the sorting equipment concerning the present invention. It is a side view of the low frequency goods picking area of the sorting equipment concerning the present invention.

The sorting equipment 10 according to the present invention will be described. In addition, this invention is not limited to the sorting equipment 10 shown below.
As shown in FIG. 1, the sorting facility 10 receives articles 90 (orders) received from individual pre-registered users (an example of “sorting destination”) from collection containers 91 (“ An example of a “sorting container”). The sorting equipment 10 puts the high-frequency goods picking area 11 (an example of “high-frequency goods sorting area”) into which the high-frequency articles 90 are put into the collection container 91 and the medium-frequency articles 90 into the collection container 91. Medium frequency product picking area 20 (an example of “intermediate frequency product sorting area”), low frequency product picking area 30 (an example of “low frequency product sorting area”) in which low-frequency articles 90 are put into collection containers 91, and Is composed of. Here, the high-frequency article 90 is an article 90 that is frequently ordered by the user among the articles 90 that are picked by the entire sorting facility 10 in accordance with an order from the user, and there are orders from many users. An article 90 having a large number of daily shipments. The low-frequency item 90 is an item 90 that is less frequently ordered by the user among the items 90 picked by the entire sorting facility 10 in response to an order from the user, and the number of items shipped daily with few orders from the user. This refers to an article 90 with a small number of items. The medium-frequency article 90 is an article 90 having an intermediate frequency of ordering from the user among the articles 90 sorted in the entire sorting facility 10 according to the order from the user, and the order frequency of the high-frequency article 90 An article 90 ordered by a user at a lower order frequency than the order frequency of the less frequent article 90.
The medium frequency product picking area 20 is provided adjacent to the high frequency product picking area 11 and the low frequency product picking area 30. The collection container 91 into which the article 90 is put in the high-frequency item picking area 11 is conveyed to the medium-frequency item picking area 20, and the collection container 91 into which the article 90 is put into the medium-frequency item picking area 20 is low-frequency. It is conveyed to the product picking area 30.

[High frequency product picking area 11]
As shown in FIG. 1, the high-frequency item picking area 11 includes a high-frequency item storage unit 14 in which a high-frequency item 90 to be picked is stored, and an item 90 picked from the high-frequency item storage unit 14. And a high-frequency product collection line 13 (an example of a “sorting path”) to be put into the collection container 91. The high-frequency product picking area 11 is configured to perform an operation (picking operation) of picking the article 90 stored in the high-frequency product storage unit 14 and putting it into the collection container 91 (picking operation). One worker H1 (picking worker) is arranged. The high-frequency product storage unit 14 and the high-frequency product collection line 13 are arranged on different sides with respect to the worker H1 (as viewed from the worker H1). That is, the worker H1 is arranged between the high-frequency product storage unit 14 and the high-frequency product collection line 13, and the worker H1 picks the article 90 stored in the high-frequency product storage unit 14. The work and the work of putting the picked article 90 into the collection container 91 are performed in different directions with respect to the worker H1 (the work of loading the article 90 into the collection container 91 is performed in front of the worker H1. The picking work of the article 90 is performed on the back surface of the worker H1).
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the storage unit 14 for high-frequency goods has a gate-type frame 15, and an article 90 is placed on the inside of the gate-type frame 15 or stores the article 90. A mounting table 16 on which a storage box (not shown) is mounted is installed. High-frequency articles 90 that are frequently ordered by the user are placed (stored) on the mounting table 16, and the high-frequency articles 90 are frequently replenished. The high-frequency product storage unit 14 is provided with an indicator 17 including a quantity indicator for displaying the quantity of articles 90 to be taken out and a completion pushbutton switch having a lamp part on the front surface of the upper part of the gate mold 15. It is done. The worker H1 picks the article 90 placed on the placing table 16 or the article 90 stored in the storage box according to the display on the display unit 17.
The high-frequency product collection line 13 can store and move the collection containers 91 one by one, and the conveyance conveyor is configured by an accumulation conveyor designed to collect the collection containers 91 without colliding with each other. 60 is provided. The conveyor 60 is disposed along the high-frequency product storage unit 14 with the worker H1 interposed therebetween. Here, in the high-frequency product picking area 11, as described above, the high-frequency product storage unit 14 stores the high-frequency product 90 that is frequently ordered by the user in the high-frequency product storage unit 14. 14 is frequently replenished with articles 90. Therefore, the transfer conveyor is configured to pick the high-frequency articles 90 from the high-frequency goods storage unit 14 on the back of the worker H1 who puts the high-frequency articles 90 into the collection containers 91 on the transfer conveyor 60. By arranging 60 along the high-frequency product storage unit 14 with the worker H1 in between, it is possible to sufficiently secure a space necessary for replenishing the high-frequency product storage unit 14 with the high-frequency articles 90. And the space of the entire facility can be used effectively.
As shown in FIG. 2, the collection container 91 transported by the transport conveyor 60 is transported while being placed on a tray 92. The tray 92 is an L-shaped tray in a side view including a plate-like bottom surface portion on which the collection container 91 is placed and a plate-like side surface portion standing upright from an end portion of the bottom surface portion. . At the top of the side surface of the tray 92, a loading indicator 93 as a loading object display means for displaying that the collection container 91 is a loading object into which the articles 90 are loaded is attached. As shown in FIG. 3, the input indicator 93 informs that the quantity display unit 93a displays the quantity of articles 90 to be input into the collection container 91 and the collection container 91 to perform normal picking work. And a second lamp part 93c for notifying that it is a collection container 91 to be subjected to a preceding picking operation to be described later.

[Medium frequency picking area 20]
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the medium frequency product picking area 20 includes a flow rack 24 (an example of “sorting shelf” and “medium frequency product sorting shelf”) in which picked medium frequency items 90 are stored. The medium-frequency product collection line 22 (an example of a “sorting route”) in which an article 90 picked from the flow rack 24 is put into the collection container 91 is configured.
As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of zones 23 are set in the flow rack 24 and the medium frequency product collection line 22. Each zone 23 is configured to execute an operation of picking the article 90 stored in the flow rack 24 and putting it into the collection container 91, and one worker H2 (picking worker) who performs the picking work. Placed one by one. The flow rack 24 and the medium frequency product collection line 22 are arranged so as to be offset to the same side (as viewed from the worker H2) with respect to the worker H2. That is, the work of picking the article 90 stored in the flow rack 24 by the worker H2 and the work of putting the picked article 90 into the collection container 91 are performed in the same direction with respect to the worker H2 (work). The person H2 faces the front and performs both operations.)
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flow rack 24 is provided independently of the high-frequency product storage unit 14, and the high-frequency product storage unit centered on the medium-frequency product collection line 22 (conveying conveyor 60). 14 is disposed on the side opposite to the side on which 14 is provided. The flow rack 24 is configured such that shelves 26 having a plurality of rows of opening 25 in which articles 90 are stored are arranged in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction. A plurality of storage boxes 29 in which articles 90 are stored are placed on each shelf 26. The flow rack 24 is a frontage indicator 27 composed of a quantity indicator for displaying the quantity of articles 90 to be taken out and a completion push button switch having a lamp portion at the front end of each shelf 26 and in front of each frontage 25. Is provided. The worker H2 picks the article 90 from the frontage 25 in accordance with the display on each frontage display 27.
A conveyance conveyor 60 is provided in the medium frequency product collection line 22. The transfer conveyor 60 is disposed along the flow rack 24. That is, the transfer conveyor 60 and the flow rack 24 are disposed in front of the worker H2 (on the same side as the worker H2). For this reason, the operator H2 picks up the medium-frequency article 90 from the flow rack 24 in front of himself / herself, and loads the medium-frequency article 90 into the collection container 91 transported by the transport conveyor 60. ,It can be performed.
When the article 90 picked from the flow rack 24 is put into a predetermined collection container 91 on the upper surface of the side frame on the side opposite to the flow rack 24 side, the worker H2 An input completion tape switch 28 is provided for pressing. When the worker H2 presses the loading completion tape switch 28, the loading of the article 90 into the predetermined collection container 91 is completed.

[Low frequency picking area 30]
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the low-frequency item picking area 30 includes a picking area 31 in which low-frequency items 90 to be picked are stored, and low-frequency items 90 are picked according to an order from the user. , A low-frequency article 90 picked in the picking area 31 is put into the collection container 91, a transfer conveyor 60, and a buffer conveyor 40 (10) that transfers the low-frequency article 90 picked in the picking area 31. An example of “article conveying means”.
In the picking area 31, a plurality of (two in FIG. 1) workers H3 who put the articles 90 picked in the picking area 31 into the buffer conveyor 40 are arranged. In the loading area 32, one worker H4 who loads the articles 90 conveyed by the buffer conveyor 40 into the collection container 91 conveyed by the conveying conveyor 60 is arranged.
The picking area 31, the buffer conveyor 40, and the transfer conveyor 60 are arranged to be on the same side (as viewed from the worker H4) with respect to the worker H4 of the loading area 32, and the loading area 32, The buffer conveyor 40 and the transfer conveyor 60 are arranged on the same side with respect to the worker H3 in the picking area 31 (as viewed from the worker H3). Specifically, the picking area 31 is provided on the upstream side of the buffer conveyor 40, and the input area 32 is provided on the downstream side of the buffer conveyor 40. The transfer conveyor 60 is the input area 32 and is provided on the downstream side of the buffer conveyor 40 so as to be orthogonal to the buffer conveyor 40.

[Picking area 31]
The picking area 31 is composed of a plurality of medium weight shelves 33. The medium weight shelf 33 is a movable shelf having casters at the bottom thereof. The medium-weight shelf 33 has a plurality of upper and lower shelves in which articles 90 are stored. The medium-weight shelf 33 is provided with a plurality of movable partition plates on the shelves 26 of each stage, which form an opening for storing articles 90 by partitioning the shelf so as to be movable at a predetermined interval. That is, the medium-volume shelf 33 is configured to be able to change the interval between the frontage to a predetermined interval.
In the medium weight shelf 33, the articles 90 are stored in the frontage areas in an arrival area (not shown) in which the articles 90 are received. The medium amount shelf 33 is provided with an auxiliary medium amount shelf 34 for storing articles 90 that exceed the storage capacity of the medium amount shelf 33. In the auxiliary medium amount shelf 34, the article 90 is stored in the same frontage as the frontage accommodated in the intermediate amount shelf 33.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the worker H3 in the picking area 31 is wearing a voice terminal 35. The voice terminal 35 gives an instruction regarding the picking work in the picking area 31 to the worker H3 by voice guidance. The voice terminal 35 mainly includes a headset worn by the worker H3, and a voice terminal main body that communicates with an external controller. The worker H3 picks a predetermined article 90 from the medium weight shelf 33 in accordance with an instruction from the voice terminal 35, and puts the article 90 into the predetermined conveyance line 42 of the buffer conveyor 40.

[Buffer conveyor 40]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the buffer conveyor 40 includes a plurality of (seven in FIG. 4) belt conveyors 41 formed in series in the conveying direction of articles 90, thereby forming a row of conveying lines 42. In addition, a plurality of rows (four rows in FIG. 4) of conveyance lines 42 are arranged in parallel in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the article 90 in the horizontal direction. The buffer conveyor 40 is provided independently of the flow rack 24 and the high-frequency product storage unit 14, with the transport conveyor 60 as the center, on the same side as the side where the flow rack 24 is provided, and the high-frequency product storage unit 14. It is arrange | positioned on the opposite side to the side provided.
Each of the belt conveyors 41 constituting the conveyance line 42 is configured such that a wide belt formed in a ring shape is hung on two parallel rollers provided at both ends of the article 90 in the conveyance direction.
In the buffer conveyor 40, the articles 90 picked from the medium weight shelf 33 of the picking area 31 are placed on the belts of the belt conveyors 41 of the respective conveying lines 42, and the picking area 31 on the upstream side of the buffer conveyor 40. To the input area 32 on the downstream side of the buffer conveyor 40.
Each belt conveyor 41 of each conveyance line 42 is provided so that articles 90 to be conveyed can be accumulated on the belt, and according to the amount of articles 90 put into the buffer conveyor 40, the belt conveyors 41 are sequentially fed to each belt conveyor 41. The article 90 is conveyed while being stopped or conveyed from the most upstream belt conveyor 41 to the most downstream belt conveyor 41 without being stopped.

  A barcode reader 43 for reading an article identification barcode attached to the article 90 is provided at the uppermost stream portion of the buffer conveyor 40. The bar code reader 43 is configured to be able to read bar codes for article identification attached to the top, side, and bottom surfaces of the article 90 when the article 90 is placed on the placement section. That is, the barcode reader 43 includes a reading unit capable of reading a barcode for identifying an article from three directions of the top surface, the side surface, and the bottom surface of the placed article 90. In the case where an article identification barcode is not attached to the article 90, the type of the article 90 and the like are directly input on the control panel 44 provided in the uppermost stream portion of the buffer conveyor 40.

In the uppermost stream portion of the buffer conveyor 40, an instruction lamp 45 is provided for each conveyance line 42 for instructing the operator H3 the conveyance line 42 into which the article 90 picked from the medium-weight shelf 33 should be put. The worker H3 puts the article 90 picked from the medium weight shelf 33 into the transport line 42 where the instruction lamp 45 is lit.
In the uppermost stream portion of the buffer conveyor 40, a completion tape switch 46 is provided that is pressed by the operator H3 when an article 90 picked from the medium weight shelf 33 is put into a predetermined transport line 42 of the buffer conveyor 40. When the worker H3 presses the completion tape switch 46, the loading of the article 90 into the predetermined transport line 42 is completed.
An upstream load sensor (not shown) is provided on the side of the belt conveyor 41 on the most upstream side of the buffer conveyor 40. In the sorting equipment 10, it is determined based on the detection signal of the upstream stock sensor whether or not the article 90 picked from the medium weight shelf 33 has been put into the predetermined transport line 42.
The belt conveyor 41 on the uppermost stream side of the buffer conveyor 40 is provided with a weight detector (not shown) that detects the weight of the article 90 placed on the belt of the belt conveyor 41.

A downstream side display 49 comprising a quantity indicator for displaying the quantity of articles 90 to be put into the collection container 91 and a completion push button switch having a lamp part is conveyed to the most downstream part of the buffer conveyor 40. Each line 42 is provided. The worker H4 puts the article 90 into the collection container 91 based on the lighting of the lamp part of the completion pushbutton switch and the quantity of the article 90 displayed on the quantity indicator of the insertion indicator 93. Further, when the worker H4 presses the completion push button switch of the loading indicator 93, the loading of the article 90 into the collection container 91 is completed.
A downstream load sensor (not shown) is provided on the side of the belt conveyor 41 on the most downstream side of the buffer conveyor 40. In the sorting equipment 10, it is determined based on the detection signal of the downstream stock sensor whether the article 90 picked from the medium weight shelf 33 is transported to the most downstream position of the predetermined transport line 42.

[Input area 32]
In the input area 32, a transport conveyor 60 is provided along the most downstream end of the buffer conveyor 40. That is, the transfer conveyor and the buffer conveyor 40 are arranged in front of the worker H4 (on the same side as the worker H2). For this reason, the worker H4 picks the low-frequency articles 90 from the transfer lines 42 of the buffer conveyor 40 and the low-frequency articles to the collection containers 91 transferred by the transfer conveyor 60 in front of himself / herself. 90 charging operations can be performed.
The transport conveyor 60 transports the collection container 91 that has been picked in the high frequency product picking area 11 and the medium frequency product picking area 20 to the input area 32. That is, the input area 32 (low frequency product picking area 30) is provided on the downstream side of the high frequency product picking area 11 and the medium frequency product picking area 20.
When the article 90 transported by the buffer conveyor 40 is placed in a predetermined collection container 91 on the upper surface of the side frame of the transport conveyor 60 opposite to the buffer conveyor 40 side, the operator A tape switch 50 pressed by H4 is provided. When the worker H4 presses the tape switch 50, the loading of the article 90 into the predetermined collection container 91 is completed.

[Conveyor 60]
Next, the conveyance conveyor 60 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the transport conveyor 60 is configured such that a collection container 91 that is input from a container input area (not shown) provided at the uppermost stream side end is a high-frequency product picking area 11 and a medium-frequency product picking. Transport is performed in the order of the area 20 and the low-frequency product picking area 30. The transport conveyor 60 includes three paths as a path for transporting the collection container 91 from the upstream side in the order of a transport path 62, a turning path 63, and a sorting path 61. The transport conveyor 60 is a shipping area provided at the end on the most downstream side of the collection container 91 that is input from the container input area (not shown) in the order of the transport path 62, the turning path 63, and the sorting path 61. (Not shown).
[Sorting path 61]
The sorting path 61 is a path for the workers H1, H2, and H4 to sort the articles 90 with respect to the collection container 91. In other words, the sorting path 61 is provided in the input area of the high-frequency product picking area 13 in the high-frequency product picking area 11, the medium-frequency product pick-up line 22 in the medium-frequency product picking area 20, and the low-frequency product picking area 30. It is the path | route of the conveyance conveyor 60 used. As shown in FIG. 1, the sorting path 61 is provided in each area in the order of the high frequency product picking area 11, the medium frequency product picking area 20, and the low frequency product picking area 30 from the upstream side. The sorting path 61 is along the downstream portion of the high frequency product storage area 14 in the high frequency product picking area 11, the flow rack 24 in the medium frequency product picking area 20, and the buffer conveyor 40 in the low frequency product picking area 30. , Provided in a straight line. That is, the sorting path 61 allows the workers H 1, 2, 4 to put the articles 90 picked from the most downstream end of the high-frequency product storage unit 14, the flow rack 24, and the buffer conveyor 40 into the collection container 91. Provided in position.
[Conveyance path 62]
The transport path 62 is a path for transporting the collection container 91 sent to the sorting path 61. That is, the transport path 62 is a path of the transport conveyor 60 that is provided on the upstream side of the sorting path 61 and transports the collection container 91 for transporting in the sorting path 61 in the direction of the sorting path 61. As shown in FIG. 1, the conveyance path 62 is provided in each area in the order of the low-frequency product picking area 30 and the medium-frequency product picking area 20 from the upstream side.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the conveyance path 62 is provided in parallel along the sorting path 61, and is hidden below the lowermost shelf 26 of the flow rack 24 in the medium frequency product picking area 20. And provided along the flow rack 24. That is, the transport path 62 is a space below the lowermost shelf 26 of the flow rack 24 in which the transport conveyor 60 is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the flow rack 24 and a plurality of flow racks 24 are arranged in series. It is provided so as to be inserted through the space below the flow rack 24 from one end side to the other end side.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the conveyance path 62 is provided so as to be orthogonal to the buffer conveyor 40 in a state in which the conveyance path 62 is hidden below the buffer conveyor 40 in the low-frequency product picking area 30. That is, the transport path 62 is arranged in the space below the belt conveyor 41 in the transport line 42 of the buffer conveyor 40 so as to be orthogonal to the transport line 42 of the transport conveyor 60, and a plurality of transport lines 42 are arranged in parallel. From the one end side to the other end side, it is provided so as to pass through the lower space of each transport line.
In this way, the conveyance path 62 is on the same side as the sorting path 61 (workers H1, H2, H4) with respect to the workers H1, H2, and H4 who put the articles 90 into the collection containers 91 that transport the sorting path 61. And the space below the lowermost shelf 26 of the flow rack 24 and the lower side of the buffer conveyor 40 are hidden, so that the empty space in the sorting equipment 10 is effectively used. Thus, the space for the sorting equipment 10 can be saved.
[Turning path 63]
The turning path 63 is provided between the sorting path 61 and the transport path 62 and is a path for sending the collection container 91 transporting the transport path 62 to the sorting path 61. That is, the turning path 63 is a path of the transport conveyor 60 that turns the path in which the collection container 91 is transported from the transport path 62 to the sorting path 61. As shown in FIG. 1, the turning path 63 has a most frequent product such that the most upstream end is connected to the most downstream end of the transport path 62 and the most downstream end is connected to the most upstream end of the sorting path 61. On the upstream side of the picking area 11 and the medium frequency product picking area 20, it is provided in a curved state. That is, the turning path 63 is provided in a curved shape so as to connect the respective ends of the sorting path 61 and the transport path 62 that are arranged in parallel to each other. The turning path 63 is formed so that the height of the conveying surface of the curved portion gradually increases from the upstream side toward the downstream side. That is, in the turning path 63, the transport surface of the collection container 91 gradually inclines so that the transport surface of the collection container 91 in the sorting path 61 is higher than the transport surface of the collection container 91 in the transport path 62. Formed. By forming the turning path 63 in this way, the height of the transport surface of the sorting path 61 is changed to be higher than the height of the transport surface of the transport path 62, and the transport surface of the sorting path 61 is the worker H1 who performs the sorting work. , H2 and H4 are suitable for sorting work.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the sorting path 61, the transport surface of the collection container 91 is lower than the lower surface of the lowermost shelf 26 of the flow rack 24, and the collection container 91 is placed on the transport surface. At this time, the collection container 91 does not block the opening 25 in the lowermost shelf 26 of the flow rack 24, and the upper surface of the collection container 91 placed on the transport surface is the lowermost stage of the flow rack 24. The shelf 26 is provided so as to have the same height as the frontage indicator 27 provided in the frontage 25.
Further, the transport path 62 has a transport surface of the collection container 91 lower than the transport surface of the collection container 91 in the sorting path 61, and the collection container 91 is placed when the collection container 91 is placed on the transport surface. The upper portion of 91 is provided at a height that does not collide with the lower surface of the lowermost shelf 2 of the flow rack 24 and the lower surface of the belt conveyor 41 in each transport line 42 of the buffer conveyor 40.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the transport path 62 for transporting the collection container 91 transporting the sorting path 61 is hidden below the lowermost shelf 26 of the flow rack 24 and below the buffer conveyor 40. The transport conveyor 60 can be provided by effectively using the empty space below the flow rack 24 and the buffer conveyor 40, and the transport path 62 and the peripheral space of the flow rack 24 and the buffer conveyor 40 can be provided. There is no need to provide a transfer conveyor 60. Therefore, the space of the entire sorting equipment 10 can be saved.

In the present embodiment, the transport path 62 is a path that is provided upstream of the sorting path 61 and transports the collection container 91 that is sent to the sorting path 61. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, for example, it may be a path that is provided on the downstream side of the sorting path 61 and that transports the collection container 91 that is sent from the sorting path 61. That is, the collection container 91 transported through the sorting path 61 is transported in the order of the high-frequency product picking area 11, the medium-frequency product picking area 20, and the low-frequency product picking area 30, but the low-frequency product picking area 30, The medium frequency product picking area 20 and the high frequency product picking area 11 may be conveyed in this order. In this case, the turning path 63 is a path of the transport conveyor 60 that turns the path through which the collection container 91 is transported from the sorting path 61 to the transport path 62.
In the present embodiment, the turning path 63 is provided on the upstream side of the high-frequency product picking area 11 and the medium-frequency product picking area 20, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the low-frequency product picking area 30 Is provided on the downstream side.
In the present embodiment, it is a route for the workers H1, H2, and H4 to put the article 90 into the collection container 91 (route for picking the article 90), but is not limited to this. For example, it may be a route (a route for performing an assorting operation of the articles 90) for the operator to put the articles 90 collected in the collection container 91 into the sorting shelf.
In the present embodiment, the transport path 62 is provided in a state where the lower part of the lowermost shelf 26 of the flow rack 24 and the lower part of the buffer conveyor 40 are hidden, but the present invention is not limited to this. The lower rack 26 of the flow rack 24 or the buffer conveyor 40 may be provided in a state where only the lower part is hidden. Further, the transport path 62 is provided so as to pass through the space below the flow rack 24 from one end side to the other end side where the plurality of flow racks 24 are arranged in series, but is not limited thereto. It is not intended to be provided, and it may be provided so as to be inserted from one end side of the plurality of flow racks 24 arranged in series and to be removed from the middle part (for example, the central part) of the plurality of flow racks 24 arranged in series. Absent.
In the present embodiment, the high-frequency product storage unit 14 is formed by the gate frame 15 and includes the mounting table 16 therein, but is not limited thereto. For example, You may comprise by the shelf similar to the flow rack 24 or the medium amount shelf 33. FIG.
In the present embodiment, the picking area 31 is provided on the upstream side of the buffer conveyor 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the buffer conveyor 40 is different from the low-frequency product picking area 30. The articles 90 sorted in this area may be conveyed.
In the present embodiment, the low frequency product picking area 30 is arranged on the downstream side of the high frequency product picking area 11 and the medium frequency product picking area 20 in the transport direction of the transport conveyor 60. The low frequency product picking area 30 may be arranged upstream of the high frequency product picking area 11 and the medium frequency product picking area 20 without being limited thereto.
In the present embodiment, the buffer conveyor 40 is used for conveying low-frequency articles 90, the flow rack 24 is used for storing medium-frequency articles 90, and the high-frequency article storage unit 14 is used for storing high-frequency articles 90. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and articles 90 having other frequencies may be conveyed or stored.
In the present embodiment, the transport conveyor 60 is configured by an accumulation conveyor, but is not limited thereto, and may be configured by a conventionally known conveyor such as a roller conveyor or a belt conveyor.

10 Sorting equipment 11 High-frequency product picking area (High-frequency product sorting area)
14 Storage section for high frequency products 20 Medium frequency product picking area (medium frequency product sorting area)
24 Flow rack (sorting shelf, sorting shelf for medium frequency products)
26 shelves 30 low frequency product picking area (low frequency product sorting area)
40 Buffer conveyor (article conveying means)
60 Conveyor (conveying means)
61 Sorting path 62 Transport path 63 Turning path 90 Article 91 Collection container (sorting container)
H1-H4 workers

Claims (6)

A sorting shelf in which a plurality of shelves for storing articles are arranged in the upper and lower stages, and a transport means for transporting the plurality of sorting containers, and sorting the articles between the sorting shelves and the sorting container A sorting facility in which an operator is arranged along the sorting shelf,
The conveying means is
A sorting path through which the worker sorts the articles with respect to the sorting container;
A transport path for transporting a sorting container for transporting the sorting path;
A turning path that is provided between the sorting path and the transport path and that turns the path through which the sorting container is transported to the sorting path or the transport path;
Consisting of
The sorting route is provided along the sorting shelf,
The sorting facility is characterized in that the transport path is provided along the sorting shelf in a state in which a lower part of a lowermost shelf of the sorting shelf is hidden. The height of a conveyance surface is changed in the said turning route or the said turning route side of the said conveyance route so that the conveyance surface of the said sorting route may become higher than the conveyance surface of the said conveyance route. Sorting equipment. The sorting shelf is a shelf for storing articles to be put into the sorting container,
The sorting route is a route through which the worker inputs an item picked from the sorting shelf to the sorting container,
The sorting shelf and the sorting path are arranged on the same side with respect to an operator who puts an article picked from the sorting shelf into a sorting container transporting the sorting path. The sorting equipment according to claim 1 or 2. A high-frequency product sorting area that sorts high-frequency items that are frequently requested from the sorting destination into the sorting containers among the items sorted by the entire facility in response to a request from the sorting destination;
Medium-frequency item sorting area for sorting intermediate-frequency items that are requested by the sorting destination to an intermediate frequency among the items sorted by the entire facility in response to a request from the sorting destination,
A low-frequency product sorting area that sorts low-frequency items that are less frequently requested from the sorting destination among the items sorted by the entire facility in response to a request from the sorting destination into the sorting container;
With
The sorting route is a route for putting articles picked from the sorting shelf into the sorting container,
The high-frequency product sorting area, the medium-frequency product sorting area, and the low-frequency product sorting area are arranged along the sorting route from the upstream side in the transport direction of the sorting container in the sorting route. The sorting equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The sorting route is a route for putting articles picked from the sorting shelf into the sorting container,
A storage unit for high-frequency goods that is provided independently of the sorting shelf and that stores high-frequency goods that are frequently requested from the sorting destination among the goods that are sorted by the entire facility in response to a request from the sorting destination. With
The sorting shelf includes a medium-frequency item sorting shelf that stores medium-frequency items that are intermediate in frequency requested from the sorting destination among the items sorted by the entire facility in response to a request from the sorting destination.
The sorting path and the high-frequency goods storage section are different from each other for an operator who puts an article picked from the high-frequency goods storage section into a sorting container transporting the sorting path. Arranged on the side,
The sorting path and the medium frequency goods sorting shelf are the same side with respect to an operator who puts an article picked from the medium frequency goods sorting shelf into a sorting container transporting the sorting path. The sorting equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sorting equipment is provided in any one of claims 1 to 4. Provided independently of the sorting shelf,
An article transporting means for transporting an article to be input to a sorting container for transporting the sorting path to the sorting path;
The sorting equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transport path is provided in a state in which a lower part of the article transport unit is hidden.

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