JP2022062751A - Automatic warehouse system, and method of coping with abnormality - Google Patents

Abstract

To cope with occurrence of abnormality in an automatic warehouse system.SOLUTION: An automatic warehouse system 100 comprises a station 130, an automatic warehouse 110, a conveyance device 120 for conveying a sorted baggage from the automatic warehouse 110 to the corresponding station 130, and a management device 140 for managing delivery of the automatic warehouse 110. The management device 140 comprises: an upper limit number acquisition unit 141 for acquiring an upper limit number set as an upper limit of the number of distribution in the station 130 and the conveyance device 120; a delivery instruction unit 142 for interrupting delivery instruction to the automatic warehouse 110 related to the sorted baggage whose number has reached the upper limit; an abnormality grasp unit 143 for grasping abnormality of the station 130; and an upper limit number update unit 144 for updating the upper limit number corresponding to the normal station 130 to a higher upper limit number.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an automated warehouse, an automated warehouse system including a plurality of stations and a transport device connecting the automated warehouse and the station, and a method for dealing with an abnormality when an abnormality occurs in a station of the automated warehouse system.

Conventionally, there has been an automated warehouse system in which luggage discharged from an automated warehouse is transported to a predetermined station among a plurality of stations by a transport device such as a conveyor or a transport trolley. Luggage delivered from the station is, for example, carried by a worker to a place designated for each station.

When an error occurs in one of the stations of such an automated warehouse system, instead of stopping the entire automated warehouse system, the luggage to be transported to the station in the abnormal state is allocated to the other station where the abnormality has not occurred. A technique has been proposed (eg, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-193110

If the goods to be transported from the automated warehouse to the transport device are unrestricted, the cargo to be transported to the station may be biased and the work efficiency after the station may be reduced. Therefore, a process is performed to limit the amount of cargo to be delivered from the automated warehouse.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and is an automated warehouse system that can deal with an abnormality that occurs in any of the stations in an automated warehouse system that limits the number of packages discharged from the automated warehouse. The purpose is to provide a method for dealing with abnormalities.

In order to achieve the above object, the automated warehouse system, which is one of the present inventions, has a plurality of stations, an automated warehouse for storing luggage, and the automated warehouse for classified luggage assigned to each of the stations. An automated warehouse system including a transport device for transporting from to the corresponding station and a management device for managing the delivery of the automated warehouse, wherein the management device is attached to at least one of the station and the transport device. An upper limit acquisition unit that acquires the upper limit set as the upper limit of the number of classified packages to be arranged, and a delivery instruction unit that suspends the delivery instruction to the automated warehouse for the classified packages that have reached the upper limit. An abnormality grasping unit that grasps the abnormality of each of the stations, and an upper limit number updating unit that updates the upper limit number corresponding to the station in which the abnormality has not occurred to a larger upper limit number based on the occurrence of the abnormality. Be prepared.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, another abnormality handling method of the present invention is a plurality of stations, an automated warehouse for storing luggage, and classified luggage assigned to each of the stations. This is an abnormality handling method in an automated warehouse system including a transport device for transporting from the automated warehouse to the corresponding station and a management device for managing the delivery of the automated warehouse. The upper limit acquisition unit acquires the upper limit set as the upper limit of the number of the classified packages arranged on at least one of them, and for the classified packages that have reached the upper limit, the delivery instruction to the automated warehouse is given. The unit is interrupted, the abnormality grasping unit grasps the abnormality of the station, and the upper limit number update unit updates the upper limit number corresponding to the station where the abnormality has not occurred based on the occurrence of the abnormality to a larger upper limit number. do.

According to the present invention, by limiting the number of packages to be delivered from the automated warehouse to each load transported to each station, it is possible to prevent the packages transported to a specific station from being unbalancedly delivered. .. In addition, even if an abnormality occurs in the station, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the number of packages to be delivered from the automated warehouse system as a whole.

It is a perspective view which shows the automated warehouse system. It is a top view which shows the automated warehouse system. It is a block diagram which shows the functional part of a management device. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of processing of a management apparatus.

Hereinafter, an automated warehouse system according to the present invention and an embodiment of an abnormality handling method will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments are intended to give an example for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. For example, the shape, structure, material, component, relative positional relationship, connection state, numerical value, mathematical formula, content of each stage in the method, order of each stage, etc. shown in the following embodiments are examples. May contain content not listed in. In addition, geometrical expressions such as parallel and orthogonal may be used, but these expressions do not indicate mathematical rigor and include substantially permissible errors and deviations. In addition, expressions such as simultaneous and identical also include a range that is substantially permissible.

Further, the drawings are schematic views in which emphasis, omission, or ratio adjustment is appropriately performed to explain the present invention, and are different from the actual shape, positional relationship, and ratio.

Further, in the following, a plurality of inventions may be comprehensively described as one embodiment. In addition, some of the contents described below are described as arbitrary components relating to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an automated warehouse system. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an automated warehouse system. As shown in the figure, the automated warehouse system 100 is a system that automatically sorts and ejects the automatically stored luggage 200, and is an automated warehouse 110, a transport device 120, a station 130, and a management device. It is equipped with 140.

The automated warehouse 110 is a warehouse that stores luggage 200 and can automatically issue and store cargo. The type of the automated warehouse 110 is not particularly limited, but in the case of the present embodiment, the automated warehouse 110 includes a rack 115, a first conveyor 116, an in-warehouse transport device 117, and a vertical conveyor 118. It is equipped with.

The rack 115 is a shelf for storing the luggage 200. In the case of the present embodiment, the rack 115 has a plurality of shelves in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction in the figure) for arranging the luggage 200 in the first direction (Y-axis direction in the figure) in the horizontal plane and holding the luggage 200 in a mounted shape. I have. Further, the automated warehouse 110 includes two racks 115 arranged side by side in parallel with the in-warehouse transport device 117 in the second direction (X-axis direction in the drawing) orthogonal to the first direction in the horizontal plane. The length of the rack 115 in the first direction is not particularly limited. In the figure, the length of the rack 115 is shown short, but this is for the sake of facilitation of illustration, and the rack 115 may be longer than that shown. Further, in the case of the present embodiment, the automated warehouse system 100 includes a plurality of automated warehouses 110 of the same type. The number of automated warehouses 110 included in the automated warehouse 110 is not limited. Further, the type and size of the automated warehouse 110 (the number of luggage 200 that can be stored) are not particularly limited, and the types and sizes of the plurality of automated warehouses 110 may be different from each other.

The in-warehouse transport device 117 is a device capable of transporting the load 200 held by the rack 115 and the first conveyor 116 to another location of the rack 115 and the first conveyor 116. The type of the in-warehouse transport device 117 is not particularly limited, and a stacker crane or the like can be exemplified. In the case of the present embodiment, the in-warehouse transport device 117 includes rails laid at positions corresponding to each stage of the rack 115, and trolleys arranged for each rail.

The rails are arranged along the rack 115 in the first direction up to the first conveyor 116, and the carriage reciprocates along the rails while holding the luggage 200. The dolly is equipped with a rack 115 and a transfer device capable of transferring the luggage 200 between the first conveyor 116 and the dolly. The transfer device can transfer the load 200 between the rack 115 adjacent to both sides of the warehouse transfer device 117 and the first conveyor 116.

The first conveyor 116 is arranged at a position corresponding to each stage of one rack 115, transports the luggage 200 along the first direction which is the extending direction of the rack 115, and transfers the luggage 200 to the vertical conveyor 118. To be posted. Further, the luggage 200 transferred from the vertical conveyor 118 is conveyed to a predetermined position in the first conveyor 116. The type of the first conveyor 116 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a roller conveyor and a belt conveyor.

The vertical conveyor 118 is provided with an elevating platform that moves up and down in each stage on which the first conveyor 116 is arranged, and vertically conveys the load 200 transferred from the first conveyor 116 in a predetermined stage to the transport device 120. Reprint.

The transport device 120 is a device that transports the luggage 200 discharged from the automated warehouse 110 to the station 130. The type of the transport device 120 is not particularly limited, and a combination of a plurality of types of devices may be used. In the case of the present embodiment, the transport device 120 can and receives the second conveyor 122 connected to the vertical conveyor 118 of each automated warehouse 110 and the luggage 200 transported by the second conveyor 122, respectively. It is equipped with a tracked carriage 121 that circulates the luggage 200 on an annular track and transports it to a target station 130.

The station 130 is a facility for receiving the luggage 200 transported by the transport device 120 and delivering it to the next work. In the case of this embodiment, the automated warehouse system 100 includes three stations 130. Hereinafter, when the three stations 130 are distinguished from each other, they may be described as the first station 131, the second station 132, and the third station 133.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional unit of the management device. The management device 140 is a device that manages the delivery of the luggage 200 to the automated warehouse 110, and as a processing unit realized by causing the processor to execute the program, the upper limit number acquisition unit 141, the delivery instruction unit 142, and the abnormality grasping. A unit 143 and an upper limit number update unit 144 are provided.

The upper limit number acquisition unit 141 acquires the upper limit number set as the upper limit of the number of classified packages arranged in at least one of the station 130 and the transport device 120, respectively. The acquisition destination of the upper limit number is not particularly limited, but in the case of the present embodiment, the upper limit number is acquired from the upper control device 210.

The method for determining the maximum number is not particularly limited. For example, the total transport time, which is the time until the luggage 200 discharged from the automated warehouse 110 is carried out from the station 130 via the transport device 120, and the number of luggage 200 to be carried out from the station 130 per unit time. It may be calculated from a certain number of requested shipments. Specifically, when the total transport time is 240 seconds and the required number of deliveries per unit time is 60 pieces / hour (3600 seconds), the upper limit number = 60 / (3600/240) = 4 can be calculated.

In the case of the present embodiment, the first baggage, the second baggage, and the third baggage exist as the classified baggage assigned to each of the first station 131, the second station 132, and the third station 133. The first load discharged from the automated warehouse 110 is carried out from the first station 131 via the transport device 120, and the second load delivered from the automated warehouse 110 is carried out from the second station 132 via the transport device 120. The third baggage carried out from the automated warehouse 110 and discharged from the automated warehouse 110 is carried out from the third station 133 via the transport device 120.

The maximum number is determined for each classified baggage. Specifically, the first upper limit is determined as the upper limit of the first baggage, the second upper limit is determined as the upper limit of the second baggage, and the third upper limit is determined as the upper limit of the third baggage. .. The upper limit number acquisition unit 141 acquires each upper limit number.

The delivery instruction unit 142 suspends the delivery instruction to the automated warehouse 110 for the classified packages that have reached the upper limit. For example, in a normal time when no abnormality has occurred in the station 130, the delivery instruction unit 142 acquires the number of first packages held in the transport device 120 and the first station 131, and the first package is the first upper limit. Outputs a shipping instruction indicating the shipping of the first baggage until the number is reached. When the number of first packages held in the transport device 120 and the first station 131 reaches the first upper limit, the delivery instruction unit 142 increases the number of first packages held in the transport device 120 and the first station 131. Suspends delivery instructions until is less than the first upper limit. In other words, no new shipping instructions are output until the number of first packages is less than the first upper limit. As a result, the number of first packages held in the transport device 120 and the first station 131 is maintained at the first upper limit number, and the first packages are carried out from the first station 131 with stable efficiency. The delivery instruction unit 142 executes the same processing for the second baggage and the third baggage.

The abnormality grasping unit 143 grasps each abnormality of the station 130. In the case of the present embodiment, the abnormality grasping unit 143 grasps the abnormality of each station 130 based on the signals from the sensors included in the first station 131, the second station 132, and the third station 133, respectively. Examples of the abnormality of the station 130 include jamming, non-operation of each device included in the station 130, and the like. Further, the abnormality grasping unit 143 may grasp the abnormality state based on the input of the operator.

The upper limit number update unit 144 updates the upper limit number corresponding to the normal station 130 in which the abnormality has not occurred based on the occurrence of the abnormality in any of the stations 130 to a larger number of upper limit numbers. The method by which the upper limit number update unit 144 updates the upper limit number is not particularly limited, but for example, the upper limit number update unit 144 has an abnormal state of the upper limit number corresponding to at least one normal station 130. It may be updated to the number obtained by adding the upper limit number corresponding to and a predetermined number (integer including 0). Specifically, when the first upper limit number of the first luggage transported to the first station 131 is 4, and the third upper limit number of the third luggage transported to the third station 133 is 7, the third If an abnormality occurs in station 133 and the third baggage cannot be carried out from the third station 133, the first upper limit is updated to 11 which is 4 plus (7 + 0). Note that 7 is the upper limit number set for the third baggage, and 0 is a predetermined number.

If an abnormality occurs in any of the stations 130, the delivery instruction unit 142 instructs the delivery so that the classified baggage to be transported to the station 130 in which the abnormality has occurred is transported to the normal station 130 whose upper limit has been updated. To update.

In addition, when the total transport time decreases due to an increase in the number of workers in charge of each station 130, the worker in charge of the station 130 in which the abnormality has occurred is added to the station 130 to update the upper limit. May be done. In such a case, for example, the first upper limit may be updated to 10 by adding (7 + (-1)) to 4. Note that 7 is the upper limit set for the third baggage, and (-1) is a predetermined number.

In addition, the total transport time of the station 130 for updating the upper limit is recalculated including the movement of workers. The calculation is performed by adding the requested number of unloading of the station 130 in which the abnormality has occurred to the requested unloading number of the station 130 for updating the upper limit. The upper limit may be calculated based on the total transport time after these recalculations and the required number of deliveries, and the upper limit may be updated.

Next, the processing flow of the management device 140 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the management device. The upper limit number acquisition unit 141 acquires the upper limit number set corresponding to each station 130 (S101). The delivery instruction unit 142 acquires the distribution amount of each classified baggage from the transport device 120 and each station 130, and suspends the delivery instruction to the automated warehouse 110 for the classified baggage that has reached the upper limit (S102: Yes). (S103). On the other hand, for classified packages (S102: No) that have not reached the upper limit, a delivery instruction is output to the automated warehouse 110 (S104).

When the abnormality grasping unit 143 grasps the abnormality of any station 130 (S105: Yes), the upper limit corresponding to the station 130 in which the abnormality has not occurred is increased to a larger upper limit based on the occurrence of the abnormality. The number update unit 144 updates (S106). Further, the delivery instruction unit 142 transfers the classified baggage transported to the station 130 in which the abnormality has occurred to the station 130 for updating the upper limit number (S107).

According to the automated warehouse system 100 according to the above embodiment, the number of classified packages to be delivered from the automated warehouse 110 is regulated by using the upper limit set based on the carrying capacity from each station 130 and the like, so that they are the same. It is possible to prevent uneven delivery of classified packages of different types, and it is possible to appropriately manage the number of packages 200 carried out from each station 130.

In addition, even if an abnormality occurs in the station 130, it is possible to carry it out from the normal station 130 without delay, including the classified luggage to be transported to the station 130 in which the abnormality has occurred, just by updating the upper limit number. Become.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, another embodiment realized by arbitrarily combining the components described in the present specification and excluding some of the components may be an embodiment of the present invention. The present invention also includes modifications obtained by making various modifications that can be conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the gist of the present invention, that is, the meaning indicated by the wording described in the claims, with respect to the above-described embodiment. Will be.

For example, in the above embodiment, the upper limit number update unit 144 has been described as updating the upper limit number corresponding to any one station 130 in which no abnormality has occurred, but the upper limit number update unit 144 has an abnormality. The upper limit corresponding to all stations 130 that have not occurred may be updated. In this case, the upper limit number corresponding to the station 130 in which the abnormality has occurred may be equally shared among the normal stations 130.

Further, although the management device 140 has been described as acquiring the upper limit number by the upper limit number acquisition unit 141, the upper limit number calculation unit in which the management device 140 calculates the upper limit number based on the total transport time and the requested number of carry-outs per unit time. It does not matter if it is equipped with. The upper limit number calculation unit may acquire a change in the number of workers in charge of each station 130 based on the input of the workers.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for an automated warehouse system in which luggage discharged from an automated warehouse is delivered from any of a plurality of stations via a transport device.

100 Automated Warehouse System 110 Automated Warehouse 115 Rack 116 First Conveyor 117 In-Warehouse Conveyor 118 Vertical Conveyor 120 Conveyor 121 Tracked Cart 122 Second Conveyor 130 Station 131 First Station 132 Second Station 133 Third Station 140 Management Device 141 Upper limit number acquisition unit 142 Delivery instruction unit 143 Abnormality grasping unit 144 Upper limit number update unit 200 Luggage 210 Upper control device

Claims (5)

It manages a plurality of stations, an automated warehouse for storing luggage, a transport device for transporting classified luggage assigned to each of the stations from the automated warehouse to the corresponding station, and delivery of the automated warehouse. An automated warehouse system equipped with a management device,
The management device is
An upper limit number acquisition unit for acquiring an upper limit number set as an upper limit of the number of the classified packages arranged in at least one of the station and the transport device, and
For the classified luggage that has reached the upper limit, the delivery instruction unit that suspends the delivery instruction to the automated warehouse and the delivery instruction unit
An abnormality grasping unit that grasps the abnormality of each of the stations, and
An automated warehouse system equipped with an upper limit number update unit that updates the upper limit number corresponding to a station in which an abnormality has not occurred based on the occurrence of an abnormality to a larger upper limit number. The upper limit number update unit is
The automated warehouse system according to claim 1, wherein the number is updated by adding the upper limit number and the predetermined number corresponding to the stations in an abnormal state. When the automated warehouse system has three or more stations,
The upper limit number update unit is
The automated warehouse system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the maximum number corresponding to any one station in which an abnormality has not occurred is updated. When the automated warehouse system has three or more stations,
The upper limit number update unit is
The automated warehouse system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the maximum number corresponding to all stations in which an abnormality has not occurred is updated. It manages a plurality of stations, an automated warehouse for storing luggage, a transport device for transporting classified luggage assigned to each of the stations from the automated warehouse to the corresponding station, and delivery of the automated warehouse. It is a method of dealing with abnormalities in an automated warehouse system equipped with a management device.
The upper limit number acquisition unit acquires the upper limit number set as the upper limit of the number of the classified luggage arranged in at least one of the station and the transport device, respectively.
For the classified luggage that has reached the upper limit, the delivery instruction section suspends the delivery instruction to the automated warehouse.
The abnormality grasping unit grasps each of the abnormalities of the station and
Anomaly response method in which the upper limit update unit updates the upper limit corresponding to stations that do not have an error based on the occurrence of an error to a larger upper limit.

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