JP2021017317A - Transport facility - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a transport facility which has high convenience of work when transporting both of a container for which refilling work is performed and a container for which refilling work is not performed.SOLUTION: A transport facility comprises a transport unit for transporting a container, and a control device for controlling the transport device. The transport unit comprises a first transport part 34, a second transport part 35, and a third transport part 36. The control device stops an object first container 31T on a downstream end part of the first transport part 34, and after completion of refilling work of an article from an object second container 32T to an object third container 33T in a refilling work part, transports the object first container 31T to the third transport part 36 from the first transport part 34. In the third transport part 36, the transport unit is controlled so that the object first container 31T and the object third container 33T transferred to a transfer part 46 from the second transport part 35 are transported in a continuous state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a transport facility including a transport device for transporting a container and a control device for controlling the transport device.

As such a transport facility, for example, those described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-076500 (Patent Document 1) are known. Hereinafter, in the description of the background art, the reference numerals or names in parentheses shall be the reference numerals or names in the prior art documents. The transport device of the transport facility described in Patent Document 1 has a collection line 31A for transporting the first container (normal container 21A) to the loading area 16 and a transfer area for the second container (freezing container 21B). It includes a branch line 63 for transporting to 14, and a container transport line 67 for transporting a third container (frozen product transport container 26) from the transfer area 14 to the loading area 16.

In the transport equipment of Patent Document 1, the first container in which the article is placed in the picking work unit (picking area 13) is directly transported to the loading area 16 by the collection line 31A. Further, in the transfer equipment of Patent Document 1, the second container in which the article is put in the picking work unit is conveyed to the transfer area 14 by the branch line 63, and the article in the second container is transferred to the third container in the transfer area. Refilling work is performed. Then, the third container in which the article is placed is conveyed to the loading area 16 by the container transfer line 67 by this refilling operation.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-076500

In the above-mentioned transport equipment, the first container that has not been refilled and the third container that has been refilled are transported on separate lines, and these first and third containers are located at different positions. Since it is transported, it may be difficult to perform the work when the work is continuously performed on the first container and the third container.

Therefore, it is desired to realize a transport facility having high work convenience when transporting both a container that performs refilling work and a container that does not perform refilling work.

In view of the above, the characteristic configuration of the transport equipment includes a transport device for transporting the container and a control device for controlling the transport device, and information indicating an article group to be shipped by the transport device to one shipping destination. It is provided downstream of the picking work unit that performs the work of putting one or more articles shown in the order information into the container according to the order information.
The container includes a first container, a second container, and a third container, and the transport device includes a first transport unit for transporting the first container and a second transport unit for transporting the second container. The second transport unit is provided with a third transport unit that is installed in a state of being connected to the downstream end of the first transport unit and transports the container, and has been transported on the transport path of the second transport unit. A refilling work unit for performing refilling work for refilling the articles contained in the container into the third container is provided, and the third transporting unit includes a transfer unit for transferring the third container from the refilling work unit. When the first container and the second container contain the same articles included in the order information, the first container contains the articles included in the same order information. With the container and the second container as the target first container and the target second container, respectively, the target first container is stopped at the downstream end of the first transport unit, and the target second container in the refilling work unit is used. After the refilling work of the article into the target third container, which is one of the third containers, is completed, the target first container is transported from the first transport unit to the third transport unit, and the first container is transported. The point is to control the transport device so that the target first container and the target third container transferred from the second transport unit to the transfer portion are continuously transported in the three transport units.

According to this characteristic configuration, the target first container transported by the first transport unit is transported from the downstream end of the first transport unit to the third transport unit, and is provided on the transport path of the second transport unit. The target third container for which the refilling work has been performed in the refilling work section transfers from the refilling work section to the transfer section of the third transport section. Therefore, the target first container and the target third container in which the articles included in the order information are stored can be transported by the same third transport unit.
Then, the control device stops the target first container at the downstream end of the first transport unit, and after the refilling work for the target third container is completed, the target first container is moved from the first transport unit to the first container. 3 By controlling the transport device so as to transport to the transport unit, it is possible to ensure that the target first container and the target third container transferred from the second transport unit to the transfer section are continuously transported. .. By transporting the target first container in this way, regardless of the length of time required for the refilling work from the target second container to the target third container, the target first container and the target third container in the third transport unit It can be transported in a continuous state with the container. Therefore, it becomes easy to continuously perform the work on the target first container that has not been refilled and the target third container that has been refilled. Therefore, the convenience of the work can be enhanced when both the container for which the refilling work is performed and the container for which the refilling work is not performed are transported.

Top view of the picking equipment according to the first embodiment Top view of the shipping unit according to the first embodiment The control block diagram in the first embodiment Flow chart of transport control in the first embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows transport operation of article in 1st Embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows transport operation of article in 1st Embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows transport operation of article in 1st Embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows transport operation of article in 1st Embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows transport operation of article in 1st Embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows transport operation of article in 1st Embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows transport operation of article in 2nd Embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows transport operation of article in 2nd Embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows transport operation of article in 2nd Embodiment

1. 1. First Embodiment A first embodiment of a picking facility provided with a transport facility will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the picking equipment includes a picking work unit 3 that performs a picking operation for putting an article 2 in a container 1, an automatic warehouse 4 that stores a container 1 in which the article 2 is stored by the picking operation, and a container 1. It includes a shipping unit 5 for shipping the stored article 2 and a transport conveyor 6 for transporting the container 1 so that the container 1 passes through the picking work unit 3.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the article 2 includes a room temperature article 2A that needs to be controlled at room temperature and a low temperature article 2 that needs to be controlled at a temperature lower than room temperature. Further, in this example, as the article 2 for low temperature, there are a refrigerating article 2B that needs to be managed by refrigeration and a freezing article 2C that needs to be managed by freezing. In this embodiment, as an example, the room temperature is 10 ° C to 30 ° C, the refrigeration is −5 ° C to 5 ° C, and the freezing is −10 ° C or lower. The article 2 is conveyed and stored in an area controlled at a corresponding temperature. For example, when the article 2 is conveyed in a container 1 by a conveyor 6, the article 2 corresponds to the article 2. It may be transported or stored outside the area controlled by the temperature at which it is used.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the container 1 includes a room temperature container 1A containing a room temperature article 2A, a refrigerating container 1B containing a refrigerating article 2B, and a freezing container 1C containing a freezing article 2C. There is a container 1C. As shown in FIG. 1, the picking work unit 3 includes a room temperature picking work unit 3A for performing a picking operation for putting a room temperature article 2A into a room temperature container 1A, and a picking operation for putting a refrigerating article 2B in a refrigerating container 1B. There is a refrigerating picking work unit 3B for performing the refrigerating work, and a freezing picking work unit 3C for performing the picking work for putting the refrigerating article 2C into the freezing container 1C. The automated warehouse 4 includes a room temperature automated warehouse 4A that stores a room temperature container 1A, a refrigerating automated warehouse 4B that stores a refrigerating container 1B, and a refrigerating automated warehouse 4C that stores a refrigerating container 1C. ..

The conveyor 6 includes a first main conveyor 10, a first sub-conveyor 11, a second sub-conveyor 12, a third sub-conveyor 13, and a fourth sub-conveyor connected to the first main conveyor 10. A unit 14, a fifth sub-conveyor unit 15, and a sixth sub-conveyor unit 16 are provided. The first main transport unit 10 is a transport unit that transports the normal temperature container 1A and the refrigerating container 1B toward the shipping unit 5. The first sub-conveyor unit 11 is a transport unit that transports the normal temperature container 1A so as to branch from the first main transport unit 10, pass through the room temperature picking work unit 3A, and then join the first main transport unit 10. .. The second sub-conveyor unit 12 is a transport unit that transports the refrigerating container 1B so as to branch from the first main transport unit 10, pass through the refrigeration picking work unit 3B, and then join the first main transport unit 10. .. The third auxiliary transport unit 13 is a transport unit that branches from the first main transport unit 10 and transports the normal temperature container 1A toward the room temperature automated warehouse 4A. The fourth auxiliary transport unit 14 is a transport unit that transports the normal temperature container 1A discharged from the room temperature automated warehouse 4A so as to join the first main transport unit 10. The fifth auxiliary transport unit 15 is a transport unit that branches from the first main transport unit 10 and transports the refrigerating container 1B toward the refrigerating automated warehouse 4B. The sixth auxiliary transport unit 16 is a transport unit that transports the refrigerating container 1B discharged from the refrigerating automated warehouse 4B so as to join the first main transport unit 10.

Further, the conveyor 6 includes a shipping conveyor 17 and a refilling conveyor 18. The shipping transport unit 17 and the refill transport unit 18 are connected to the downstream end of the first main transport unit 10, and the room temperature container 1A transported by the first main transport unit 10 is for shipping. The refrigerating container 1B transported by the transport unit 17 to the shipping unit 5 and transported by the first main transport unit 10 is transported to the shipping unit 5 by the refilling transport unit 18.

Further, the transport conveyor 6 is branched from the second main transport unit 20 for transporting the freezing container 1C toward the shipping unit 5 after passing through the freezing picking work unit 3C, and the second main transport unit 20 for freezing. The seventh sub-transport section 21 that transports the freezing container 1C toward the automated warehouse 4C and the eighth sub-transporting section 21 that transports the freezing container 1C discharged from the automated freezing warehouse 4C so as to join the second main transport section 20. It is provided with an auxiliary transport unit 22. The downstream end of the second main transport unit 20 is connected to the refill transport unit 18, and the freezing container 1C transported by the second main transport unit 20 is shipped by the refill transport unit 18. Transported to 5. Further, an article transport unit 23 is provided for the freezing picking work unit 3C. The article transport unit 23 conveys the box containing the freezing article 2C to the freezing picking work section 3C and also conveys this box from the freezing picking work section 3C.

The transport conveyor 6 transports the container 1 to the picking work unit 3. In the present embodiment, in the transport conveyor 6, the room temperature container 1A is transported to the room temperature picking work unit 3A, the refrigeration container 1B is transported to the refrigeration picking work unit 3B, and the freezing container 1C is the freezing picking work unit. Transport to 3C. The picking work unit 3 performs a work of putting one or more articles 2 shown in the order information into the container 1 according to the order information to be shipped to one shipping destination. That is, the room temperature picking work unit 3A performs the work of putting the room temperature article 2A out of the articles 2 shown in the order information into the room temperature container 1A. The refrigerating picking work unit 3B performs a work of putting the refrigerating article 2B out of the articles 2 shown in the order information into the refrigerating container 1B. The freezing picking work unit 3C performs a work of putting the freezing article 2C out of the articles 2 shown in the order information into the freezing container 1C.

Then, the transport conveyor 6 transports the container 1 containing the article 2 to the automated warehouse 4 in the picking work unit 3. In the present embodiment, the transport conveyor 6 transports the room temperature container 1A containing the room temperature article 2A in the room temperature picking work unit 3A to the room temperature automated warehouse 4A, and the refrigerating article 2B in the refrigerating picking work unit 3B. The refrigerating container 1B containing the above is transported to the refrigerating automated warehouse 4B, and the freezing container 1C containing the freezing article 2C is transported to the freezing automated warehouse 4C in the refrigerating picking work unit 3C.

The automated warehouse 4A for normal temperature, the automated warehouse 4B for refrigeration, and the automated warehouse 4C for refrigeration carry out the containers 1 in the order of shipment based on a plurality of order information, and ship the containers 1 to the transport facility 7 provided in the shipping unit 5. The containers 1 are transported in the order of shipment so that the order is closer to the downstream side of the transport path. The normal temperature container 1A is transported to the shipping transport unit 17 in the order of shipment, and the refrigerating container 1B and the freezing container 1C are transported to the refilling transport unit 18 in the order of shipment. Then, in the shipping unit 5, the refrigerating article 2B stored in the refrigerating container 1B is replaced with the heat-retaining container 37, and the freezing article 2C stored in the freezing container 1C is replaced with the heat-retaining container 37. The replacement work is performed, and the shipping work is performed in which the normal temperature container 1A and the heat insulating container 37 containing the article 2 included in the same order information are placed on the same first basket car 26.

Next, the transport equipment 7 will be described.
The transport equipment 7 includes a transport device 30 (see FIG. 2) that transports the container 1 and a control device H (see FIG. 3) that controls the transport device 30. As shown in FIG. 1, the transport device 30 is provided downstream of the picking work unit 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the container 1 transported by the transport device 30 includes a first container 31, a second container 32, and a third container 33. Then, the transport device 30 is installed in a state of being connected to the first transport unit 34 that transports the first container 31, the second transport unit 35 that transports the second container 32, and the downstream end portion of the first transport unit 34. It is provided with a third transport unit 36 for transporting the container 1.

In the present embodiment, the transport device 30 is composed of a shipping transport unit 17 and a refilling transport unit 18 provided in the shipping unit 5. The shipping transport unit 17 constitutes the first transport unit 34 and the third transport unit 36, and the refill transport unit 18 constitutes the second transport unit 35. Further, the normal temperature container 1A corresponds to the first container 31, the refrigerating container 1B and the freezing container 1C correspond to the second container 32, and the heat insulating container 37 corresponds to the third container 33. That is, the first container 31 is a container 1 in which the article 2 managed at room temperature (article 2A for room temperature) is put in the picking work unit 3. The second container 32 is a container 1 in which the picking work unit 3 holds an article 2 that needs to be controlled at a temperature different from the normal temperature. In the present embodiment, the second container 32 is a container 1 in which the article 2 (refrigerating article 2B or freezing article 2C) that needs to be controlled at a temperature lower than room temperature is put in the picking work unit 3. Further, the third container 33 is a container having higher heat retention than the first container 31 and the second container 32. In the present embodiment, a foldable container is used as the first container 31 and the second container 32, and a styrofoam container with a lid is used as the third container 33. Of the first container 31, the second container 32, and the third container 33, the first container 31 and the second container 32 are containers 1 in which the article 2 is placed in the picking work unit 3.

The refilling transport unit 18 transports the containers 1 in a line. A refilling work unit 38 for performing a refilling operation of refilling the article 2 contained in the second container 32 that has been transported into the third container 33 is provided on the transport path of the refilling transport unit 18. In the present embodiment, the refilling work unit 38 refills the refrigerating article 2B stored in the transported refrigerating container 1B into the heat insulating container 37, and refills the transported freezing container 1C. The refilling work of accommodating the contained refrigerating article 2C in the heat insulating container 37 is performed.

Further, in the present embodiment, a first stop position P1 at which the second container 32 conveyed by the refill transfer unit 18 is stopped is set at the downstream end of the refill transfer unit 18. Further, a workbench 41 on which the heat insulating container 37 is placed is installed at a position adjacent to the downstream end of the refilling transport unit 18. In the present embodiment, the refilling work unit 38 includes a downstream end portion of the refilling transport unit 18 and a workbench 41, and the refilling work unit 38 is placed on the transport path of the refilling transport unit 18. Some are provided.

The refilling transport unit 18 is provided with a first receiving body 42 that regulates that the second container 32 is transported downstream from the first stop position P1. Further, the transfer equipment 7 is packed when the detection sensor 43 for detecting the presence or absence of the second container 32 at the first stop position P1 and the refilling work for the third container 33 in the refilling work unit 38 are completed. A completion switch 44 operated by the refilling worker M1 who performs the refilling work is provided. The completion switch 44 detects that the completion switch 44 has been operated as the completion of the refilling work. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the completion switch 44 corresponds to the refill completion detection unit that detects the completion of the refill work in the refill work unit 38.

The shipping transport unit 17 transports the containers 1 in a line. A second stop position P2 is set at the downstream end of the shipping transport unit 17. Further, a third stop position P3 is set on the upstream side of the second stop position P2 on the transport path of the shipping transport unit 17. In addition, the shipping transport unit 17 includes a transfer unit 46 to which the third container 33 transfers from the refill work unit 38. The transfer portion 46 is set between the second stop position P2 and the third stop position P3 on the transport path of the shipping transport unit 17. In the present embodiment, the transfer portion 46 is provided at a position adjacent to the downstream side with respect to the third stop position P3. In addition, "adjacent" means that the distance between these containers 1 is narrower than half of the length of the container 1 in the direction along the transport path when the containers 1 are located at each of the two locations. There is. Further, in the present embodiment, the portion of the shipping transport unit 17 on the downstream side of the third stop position P3 corresponds to the third transport unit 36, and the portion of the shipping transport unit 17 on the upstream side of the transfer portion 46 is Corresponds to the first transport unit 34. That is, the third stop position P3 is set at the downstream end of the first transport unit 34, and the transfer portion 46 is set at the upstream end of the third transport unit 36, and the third transport unit 46. The transfer portion 46 is provided on the 36.

The shipping transport unit 17 includes a second receiving body 47 that regulates that the first container 31 and the third container 33 are transported downstream from the second stop position P2, and the first container 31 is a third stop. A third receiving body 48, which regulates transportation to the downstream side from the position P3, is provided. The third receiving body 48 is in a regulated state that regulates the movement of the first container 31 from the third stop position P3 to the downstream side, and the first container 31 is moved to the downstream side from the third stop position P3. It is configured to change state to an acceptable allowable state. In the present embodiment, the third receiving body 48 moves up and down to a receiving position that protrudes upward from the transport surface of the shipping transport unit 17 and a retracted position that retreats downward from the transport surface of the shipping transport unit 17. It is configured to be possible. The state of the third receiving body 48 in the receiving position is the above-mentioned restricted state, and the state in the retracted position is the above-mentioned allowable state.

The transfer portion 46 is provided at a position adjacent to the workbench 41 in the width direction, with the direction orthogonal to the direction along which the transport path of the shipping transport unit 17 is along in the vertical direction as the width direction. In the present embodiment, the transfer unit 46 pushes the third container 33 mounted on the workbench 41 toward the transfer unit 46 by the refilling worker M1 to push the third container 33 from the workbench 41 to the transfer unit 46. It is configured so that it can be transferred to. In the illustrated example, the shipping transport unit 17 and the refill transport unit 18 are provided with their transport paths parallel to each other.

When the second container 32 is transported to the first stop position P1 by the refill transfer unit 18, the refill worker M1 uses the second container 32 at the first stop position P1 to the third container 32 on the workbench 41. A refilling operation is performed in which the article 2 is refilled in the container 33. Specifically, the refilling operation of refilling the refrigerating article 2B from the refrigerating container 1B at the first stop position P1 to the heat insulating container 37 of the workbench 41 by the refilling worker M1 and the first stop by the refilling worker M1. At least one of the refilling operations of refilling the refrigerating article 2C from the freezing container 1C at the position P1 to the heat insulating container 37 of the workbench 41 is performed. In addition, this refilling work is other than the case where the article 2 contained in one second container 32 (refrigerating container 1B or freezing container 1C) is refilled into one third container 33 (heat-retaining container 37). There are cases where two or more second containers 32 are refilled into one third container 33. Therefore, the volume of the third container 33 is larger than that of the first container 31 and the second container 32 so that the article 2 contained in the two or more second containers 32 can be put in the third container 33. A large container is used. As a refilling operation, the article 2 contained in the refrigerating container 1B and the article 2 contained in the freezing container 1C may be refilled into one third container 33.

The completion switch 44 is operated by the refilling worker M1 when the refilling work for the third container 33 mounted on the workbench 41 is completed. When the completion switch 44 is operated, if there is a first container 31 containing the article 2 included in the same order information as the article 2 stored in the third container 33, the first container 31 is the first transport unit. It is transported from 34 to the third transport unit 36 and is transported downstream from the transfer portion 46. Therefore, the refill worker M1 rides the third container 33 from the workbench 41 (refill work unit 38) onto the transfer unit 46 so that the third container 33 is located on the upstream side of the first container 31. Can be transferred.

Further, after the refilling work is completed, the refilling worker M1 removes the second container 32 at the first stop position P1 from the first stop position P1 and removes a new empty third container 33 from the workbench 41. Put on. The first container 31 transported by the shipping transport unit 17 and the third container 33 transferred to the transfer unit 46 are transported to the second stop position P2 by the shipping transport unit 17. These first container 31 and third container 33 are taken down from the second stop position P2 by the shipping worker M2 who performs the shipping work, and are placed on the first basket car 26 for shipping. The empty third container 33 is placed on the second basket wheel 27.

Next, the control device H that controls the transfer device 30 will be described. When the first container 31 and the second container 32 contain the article 2 included in the same order information, the control device H is the first container in which the article 2 included in the same order information is stored. The target first container 31T and the target second container 32T are set as the target first container 31T and the target second container 32T, respectively, and the target first container 31T is stopped at the downstream end (third stop position P3) of the first transport unit 34 and refilled. After the refilling work of the article 2 from the target second container 32T to the target third container 33T, which is one of the third containers 33, in the working unit 38 is completed, the target first container 31T is transferred from the first transport unit 34 to the first. 3 Transport to the transport section 36, and in the third transport section 36, the target first container 31T and the target third container 33T transferred from the second transport section 35 to the transfer section 46 are transported in a continuous state. Controls the transport device 30.

In the present embodiment, the control device H executes the first postponement control based on the operation of the completion switch 44 by the refilling operator M1. In the first postponement control, the control device H changes the state of the third receiving body 48 from the regulated state to the allowable state when the first container 31 at the third stop position P3 is the target first container 31T. Then, the shipping transport unit 17 transports the target first container 31T at the third stop position P3 from the third stop position P3 to the transfer unit 46 and further downstream from the transfer unit 46. To control. When there are a plurality of target first containers 31T, the control device H sequentially directs the plurality of target first containers 31T from the third stop position P3 toward the downstream side of the transfer portion 46 by executing the first postponement control. Transport. Further, in the first postponement control, the control device H controls the shipping transport unit 17 so as to transport the next first container 31 in the shipping transport unit 17 to the third stop position P3. After the target first container 31T has been transported as described above, the refill worker M1 transfers the target third container 33T from the workbench 41 to the transfer portion 46 so as to be continuous with the upstream side of the target first container 31T. Can be transferred. As a result, the target first container 31T and the target third container 33T are continuously transported by the third transport unit 36.

Further, the control device H executes the second postponement control based on the fact that the detection sensor 43 no longer detects the second container 32 at the first stop position P1. In the second postponement control, the control device H transports the second container 32 on the most downstream side of the second container 32 in the second transport unit 35 so as to transport the second container 32 to the first stop position P1. The unit 18 is controlled.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of the transport control process by the control device H as described above. That is, the control device H stands by when the completion switch 44 is not operated (S1: No) and the detection sensor 43 is detecting the second container 32 (S3: No). Then, the first postponement control is executed when the completion switch 44 is operated (S1: Yes) (S2). Further, when the second container 32 is no longer detected by the detection sensor 43 (S3: Yes), the second postponement control is executed (S4).

Next, the transport operation of the first container 31, the second container 32, and the third container 33 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10. In the example shown in FIG. 5, one first container 31 (container for normal temperature 1A) is used as the container 1 in which the article 2 included in the first order information, which is the order information with the earliest shipping order, is housed. There is one second container 32 (container for refrigeration 1B), and one first container 31 is a container 1 containing an article 2 included in the second order information whose shipping order is the next order information. There are (normal temperature container 1A) and two second containers 32 (refrigerating container 1B and freezing container 1C), and the article 2 included in the third order information whose shipping order is the next order information is accommodated. The case where there is one first container 31 (normal temperature container 1A) and one second container 32 (refrigerating container 1B) is shown as the container 1. In FIGS. 5 to 10, the container 1 containing the article 2 included in the first order information is marked with a circled “1”, and the article 2 included in the second order information is accommodated. A circled "2" is attached to the container 1, and a circled "3" is attached to the container 1 containing the article 2 included in the third order information.

As shown in FIG. 5, first, the control device H first applies the first container 31 and the second container 32 containing the article 2 included in the first order information to the target first container 31T and the target second container, respectively. 32T, and the third container 33 placed on the workbench 41 is the target third container 33T. The refilling worker M1 performs a refilling operation of refilling the article 2 contained in the target second container 32T (refrigerating container 1B) into the target third container 33T. Then, when the refilling work for the target third container 33T is completed, the refilling worker M1 operates the completion switch 44. Further, when the refilling work is completed, the refilling worker M1 removes the target second container 32T from the first stop position P1 as shown in FIG.

The control device H executes the first postponement control in accordance with the operation of the completion switch 44, conveys the target first container 31T to the downstream side from the transfer portion 46 as shown in FIG. 6, and the second The shipping transport unit 17 is controlled so as to transport the first container 31 containing the article 2 included in the order information to the third stop position P3. Further, the control device H executes the second postponement control when the second container 32 at the first stop position P1 is no longer detected by the detection sensor 43, and obtains the article 2 included in the second order information. The refilling transport unit 18 is controlled so that the second container 32 to be accommodated is transported to the first stop position P1.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the refill worker M1 transfers the target third container 33T from the workbench 41 to the transfer portion 46 after the target first container 31T has passed through the transfer portion 46. By transferring the target third container 33T in this way, the target first container 31T and the target third container 33T are continuously arranged along the transport path in the third transport section 36 of the shipping transport section 17. It becomes a state. The control device H drives the shipping transport unit 17 in a state where the target third container 33T is transferred to the transfer unit 46 in this way, so that the target first container 31T and the target third container corresponding to the first order information correspond to the first order information. The container 33T and the container 33T are conveyed in a continuous state.

After the above operation, as shown in FIG. 8, the control device H has a first container 31 and a second container 32 (here, two second containers) in which the article 2 included in the second order information is housed. The container 32) is designated as the target first container 31T and the target second container 32T, respectively, and the new third container 33 placed on the workbench 41 is designated as the target third container 33T. The refilling worker M1 performs a refilling operation of refilling the article 2 contained in the target second container 32T into the target third container 33T. In this example, since there are two target second containers 32T, which are a refrigerating container 1B and a freezing container 1C, the refilling worker M1 changes from these two target second containers 32T to one target third container 33T. Refill article 2. Then, when the refilling work for the target third container 33T is completed, the refilling worker M1 operates the completion switch 44. Further, when the refilling work is completed, the refilling worker M1 removes the target second container 32T from the first stop position P1 as shown in FIG.

The control device H executes the first postponement control in accordance with the operation of the completion switch 44, conveys the target first container 31T to the downstream side from the transfer portion 46 as shown in FIG. 9, and the third The shipping transport unit 17 is controlled so as to transport the first container 31 containing the article 2 included in the order information to the third stop position P3. Further, the control device H executes the second postponement control when the second container 32 at the first stop position P1 is no longer detected by the detection sensor 43, and as shown in FIG. 10, the third order The refilling transport unit 18 is controlled so as to transport the second container 32 containing the article 2 included in the information to the first stop position P1.

Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the refill worker M1 transfers the target third container 33T from the workbench 41 to the transfer portion 46 after the target first container 31T has passed through the transfer portion 46. By transferring the target third container 33T in this way, the target first container 31T and the target third container 33T are continuously arranged along the transport path in the third transport section 36 of the shipping transport section 17. It becomes a state. The control device H drives the shipping transport unit 17 in a state where the target third container 33T is transferred to the transfer unit 46 in this way, so that the target first container 31T and the target third container corresponding to the second order information correspond to the second order information. The container 33T and the container 33T are conveyed in a continuous state.

2. 2. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the transport facility will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the refilling completion detection unit detects that the target third container has been transferred from the refilling work unit to the transfer unit as the completion of the refilling work. Hereinafter, the configuration according to the present embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. The points not particularly described are the same as those in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 11, in the present embodiment, the second detection sensor 50 that detects the third container 33 existing in the transfer portion 46 is provided. The second detection sensor 50 corresponds to a refill completion detection unit that detects that the target third container 33T has been transferred from the refill work unit 38 to the transfer unit 46 as the completion of the refill work. Then, the control device H controls the transport device 30 based on the detection result of the second detection sensor 50, and arranges the target first container 31T so that the target first container 31T is lined up on the upstream side of the target third container 33T. It is transported from the first transport unit 34 to the third transport unit 36. As a result, the target first container 31T and the target third container 33T are continuously transported by the third transport unit 36.

Next, the transport operation of the first container 31, the second container 32, and the third container 33 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13. In the example shown in FIG. 11, a case where there are containers 1 of the same type and number as in FIG. 5 for each of the first order information, the second order information, and the third order information is shown. There is.

As shown in FIG. 11, the refilling worker M1 performs a refilling operation of refilling the article 2 contained in the target second container 32T (refrigerating container 1B) into the target third container 33T. Then, when the refilling work for the target third container 33T is completed, the refilling worker M1 transfers the target third container 33T from the workbench 41 to the transfer unit 46 as shown in FIG. Further, when the refilling work is completed, the refilling worker M1 removes the target second container 32T from the first stop position P1 as shown in FIG.

The control device H executes the first postponement control when the second detection sensor 50 detects that the target third container 33T has transferred to the transfer unit 46, and as shown in FIG. 13, the transfer unit H executes the first postponement control. Together with the target third container 33T in 46, the target first container 31T is transported to the downstream side from the transfer portion 46. At the same time, the control device H controls the shipping transport unit 17 so as to transport the first container 31 containing the article 2 included in the second order information to the third stop position P3. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the control device H executes the second postponement control when the second container 32 at the first stop position P1 is no longer detected by the detection sensor 43, and is shown in FIG. As described above, the refilling transport unit 18 is controlled so as to transport the second container 32 containing the article 2 included in the second order information to the first stop position P1.

As described above, the control device H drives the shipping transport unit 17 in response to the transfer of the target third container 33T to the transfer unit 46, and sets the target first container 31T corresponding to the first order information. The transport device 30 is controlled so that the target third container 33T and the target third container 33T are continuously transported.

3. 3. Other Embodiments Next, other embodiments of the transport equipment will be described.

(1) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which a third container 33 is prepared separately from the second container 32, and the refilling operation of refilling the article 2 from the second container 32 to the third container 33 is performed. .. However, it is not limited to such a configuration. That is, when there are a plurality of second containers 32, one of the second containers 32 may be used as the target third container 33T, and the refilling operation for refilling the article 2 may be performed in the same manner as described above.

(2) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the second container 32 is a container 1 in which the article 2 that needs to be controlled at a temperature lower than room temperature can be put in the picking work unit 3. However, it is not limited to such a configuration. That is, the second container 32 may be a container 1 in which the article 2 that can be managed at room temperature is put in the picking work unit 3. Alternatively, the second container 32 may be a container 1 in which the article 2 that needs to be controlled at a temperature higher than room temperature can be put in the picking work unit 3.

(3) In the above embodiment, an example in which the refilling work unit 38 is configured as a place where the refilling worker M1 performs the refilling work has been described. However, it is not limited to such a configuration. That is, the refilling work unit 38 may be configured as a robot that performs the refilling work and a place where the robot is installed.

(4) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the refilling worker M1 moves the third container 33 from the refilling working unit 38 to the transfer unit 46. However, it is not limited to such a configuration. That is, a movement operation unit for moving the third container 33 may be provided, and the movement operation unit may be used to move the third container 33 from the refilling work unit 38 to the transfer unit 46. For example, a mechanism for moving the third container 33 from the refilling work unit 38 to the transfer unit 46 in response to the operation of the completion switch 44 by the refilling worker M1 may be provided as the moving operation unit. As the mechanism of such a moving operation unit, for example, a conveyor, a pusher, or the like can be used.

(5) The configurations disclosed in each of the above-described embodiments can be applied in combination with the configurations disclosed in other embodiments as long as there is no contradiction. With respect to other configurations, the embodiments disclosed herein are merely exemplary in all respects. Therefore, various modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

4. Outline of the above-described embodiment The outline of the transport equipment described above will be described below.

The transport equipment includes a transport device for transporting the container and a control device for controlling the transport device, and the order is made according to order information which is information indicating a group of articles to be shipped by the transport device to one shipping destination. It is provided downstream of the picking work unit, which performs the work of putting one or more articles indicated in the information into a container.
The container includes a first container, a second container, and a third container, and the transport device includes a first transport unit for transporting the first container and a second transport unit for transporting the second container. The second transport unit is provided with a third transport unit that is installed in a state of being connected to the downstream end of the first transport unit and transports the container, and has been transported on the transport path of the second transport unit. A refilling work unit for performing refilling work for refilling the articles contained in the container into the third container is provided, and the third transporting unit includes a transfer unit for transferring the third container from the refilling work unit. When the first container and the second container contain the same articles included in the order information, the first container contains the articles included in the same order information. With the container and the second container as the target first container and the target second container, respectively, the target first container is stopped at the downstream end of the first transport unit, and the target second container in the refilling work unit is used. After the refilling work of the article into the target third container, which is one of the third containers, is completed, the target first container is transported from the first transport unit to the third transport unit, and the first container is transported. In the three transport units, the transport device is controlled so that the target first container and the target third container transferred from the second transport unit to the transfer portion are continuously transported.

According to this configuration, the target first container transported by the first transport unit is transported from the downstream end of the first transport unit to the third transport unit, and is provided on the transport path of the second transport unit. The target third container for which the refilling work has been performed in the refilling work section transfers from the refilling work section to the transfer section of the third transport section. Therefore, the target first container and the target third container in which the articles included in the order information are stored can be transported by the same third transport unit.
Then, the control device stops the target first container at the downstream end of the first transport unit, and after the refilling work for the target third container is completed, the target first container is moved from the first transport unit to the first container. 3 By controlling the transport device so as to transport to the transport unit, it is possible to ensure that the target first container and the target third container transferred from the second transport unit to the transfer section are continuously transported. .. By transporting the target first container in this way, regardless of the length of time required for the refilling work from the target second container to the target third container, the target first container and the target third container in the third transport unit It can be transported in a continuous state with the container. Therefore, it becomes easy to continuously perform the work on the target first container that has not been refilled and the target third container that has been refilled. Therefore, the convenience of the work can be enhanced when both the container for which the refilling work is performed and the container for which the refilling work is not performed are transported.

Here, the refilling completion detecting unit for detecting the completion of the refilling work in the refilling work unit is provided, and the control device detects the completion of the refilling work by the refilling completion detecting unit. Based on this, it is preferable to control the transport device so that the first container is transported from the first transport unit to the third transport unit.

According to this configuration, the target first container is transported from the first transport unit to the third transport unit based on the detection of the completion of the refill work in the refill work unit by the refill completion detection unit. In the third transport unit, the target third container and the target first container that are transferred to the transfer unit after the refilling work is completed can be transported in a continuous state.

Further, the refill completion detection unit detects that the target third container has been transferred from the refill work unit to the transfer unit as the completion of the refill work, and the control device detects the refill completion. The transport device is controlled based on the detection of the unit, and the target first container is moved from the first transport unit to the third transport unit so that the target first container is lined up on the upstream side of the target third container. It is suitable to carry.

According to this configuration, based on the fact that the target third container has transferred from the refilling work section to the transfer section, the target first container is arranged from the first transport section to the first transfer section so as to line up on the downstream side of the target third container. 3 Transported to the transport section. Therefore, the timing at which the target third container is transferred from the refilling work unit to the transfer unit can be set to an arbitrary timing regardless of the transport status of the target first container. Therefore, the restriction on the refilling work from the target second container to the target third container can be relaxed.

Further, the second container is the container in which an article that needs to be controlled at a temperature different from normal temperature is put in the picking work unit, and the third container has higher heat retention than the first container. A container is preferable.

According to this configuration, in the refilling work unit, articles that need to be controlled at a temperature different from normal temperature can be stored in the target third container having higher heat retention than the target first container. Therefore, it becomes easy to transport articles that need to be controlled at a temperature different from room temperature while appropriately controlling the temperature in the third transport unit.

The technique according to the present disclosure can be used for a transport facility including a transport device for transporting a container and a control device for controlling the transport device.

1: Container 2: Article 3: Picking work unit 30: Conveying device 31: First container 31T: Target first container 32: Second container 32T: Target second container 33: Third container 33T: Target third container 34: 1st transport unit 35: 2nd transport unit 36: 3rd transport unit 38: Refill work unit 44: Completion switch (refill completion detection unit)
46: Transfer unit 50: Second detection sensor (refill completion detection unit)
H: Control device

Claims (4)

A transport device for transporting a container and a control device for controlling the transport device are provided.
The transport device is provided downstream of a picking work unit that performs an operation of putting one or more articles indicated in the order information into a container according to order information which is information indicating a group of articles to be shipped to one shipping destination. It is a transport facility that is
The container includes a first container, a second container, and a third container.
The transport device is installed in a state of being connected to a first transport unit that transports the first container, a second transport unit that transports the second container, and a downstream end portion of the first transport unit. With a third transport unit that transports
On the transport path of the second transport unit, a refill work unit for performing refilling work of refilling the transported articles contained in the second container into the third container is provided.
The third transport unit includes a transfer unit to which the third container transfers from the refill work unit.
When the first container and the second container contain the same articles included in the order information, the control device contains the first container containing the articles included in the same order information. And the second container as the target first container and the target second container, respectively, the target first container is stopped at the downstream end of the first transport section, and from the target second container in the refilling work section. After the refilling work of the article in the target third container, which is one of the third containers, is completed, the target first container is transported from the first transport unit to the third transport unit, and the third container is transported. A transport facility that controls the transport device so that the target first container and the target third container transferred from the second transport unit to the transfer section are continuously transported in the transport unit. A refill completion detection unit for detecting the completion of the refill work in the refill work unit is provided.
The control device conveys the target first container from the first transport unit to the third transport unit based on the detection of the completion of the refill operation by the refill completion detection unit. The transport equipment according to claim 1, which controls the transport device. The refilling completion detection unit detects that the target third container has been transferred from the refilling work unit to the transfer unit as the completion of the refilling work.
The control device controls the transport device based on the detection of the refill completion detection unit, and sets the target first container so that the target first container is lined up on the upstream side of the target third container. The transport equipment according to claim 2, wherein the transport equipment is transported from one transport unit to the third transport unit. The second container is the container in which an article that needs to be controlled at a temperature different from normal temperature is put in the picking work unit.
The transport equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the third container is a container having higher heat retention than the first container.

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