JP2527148B2 - Picking system - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an improvement in a picking system used in a distribution process of goods, and more particularly to a picking system that enables efficient picking work.

(Prior Art) In a distribution center for products for supermarkets and chain stores, so-called picking work is performed in which the required number of various products are prepared in response to the requests from each store. While walking around the warehouse while looking at the order slips that the worker had,
It was done by a manual method, such as collecting the required products in the required number. However, in such a method, since the worker has to remember the storage position of each product in the warehouse, a high degree of skill is required, and especially in recent years when a wide variety of products are used. It was difficult to process quickly. On the other hand, each store is also trying to reduce the product inventory, and from this point also, there is a strong demand for quick picking work or delivery.

In response to such a situation, a picking system as disclosed in, for example, JP-A-57-137203 is being put to practical use. This system provides a picking zone along a conveyor that conveys containers for each destination, installs a zone indicator for each zone, and has a large number of pockets for storing products for each item in the picking zone. When the provided product shelves are arranged and a number indicator is provided for each pocket on the product shelves, when a container for collecting products for A stores, for example, is conveyed to the picking zone by the conveyor, If there is an item for the A store in the zone, the zone indicator light of the zone display is turned on, and the number display on the product shelf of the corresponding zone displays the picked number of products to be picked this time for the A store, for example. It is also configured in.
Therefore, if the picking operator arranged in the picking zone picks up the number of products for which the number of picked items is displayed on the number indicator and collects them in the container, the container is discharged from the end of the conveyor. In this case, the products for the store A are collected in the required number for all the requested items.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Even in the above-described picking system, the work of taking out the product from the pocket of the product shelf and putting it in the container is manually performed. In that case, the number of items collected for each container is usually not constant for each picking zone,
In addition, even in one picking zone, the number of items of goods collected in the picking zone is different each time, and therefore, the picking operator must perform a different amount of picking work each time.

In such a situation, if the number of items to be processed in each picking zone is not clear, for example, even if the number of items to be processed is small, the picking operator may be mischievously given an unnecessary mental burden, or conversely, a large number of items will be processed. As a result of picking workers having too much room to handle items, work in other zones will be delayed and overall processing efficiency will be reduced, which will adversely affect workability. Is concerned.

In the picking system described in the above publication, the zone indicator lamp of the zone indicator installed in the picking zone is turned on to notify the picking operator that there is a picking request, and at the time of completion of picking, the zone indicator lamp. Although the number of items to be processed this time before starting the work and the number of remaining items in the middle of the work cannot be known, the above inconvenience cannot be eliminated.

The present invention addresses the above situation in such a picking system, and an object thereof is to improve work efficiency during picking work.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the picking system according to the present invention is characterized in that it is configured as follows.

That is, the present invention is arranged in a container carrying means for carrying a container according to each destination and a picking zone provided along the carrying path of the container by the carrying means, and a plurality of pockets are provided with goods for each item. The product shelf that stores the items and a number indicator provided on the product shelf and having a picking completion key, and the worker placed in the picking zone displays the items in each pocket on the number indicator. In a picking system configured to pick up as many pieces as possible and collect them in a container on the above-mentioned transportation means, in the above-mentioned picking zone, the number of unprocessed goods for each destination in that zone is displayed. While the device is provided, the corresponding item in the remaining item number display device is deleted based on the picking completion signal from the picking completion key, One, characterized in that a control means for controlling the remaining number of items display device to sequentially correspond to updated display the item unprocessed item into the picking work for each destination. In that case, the remaining item number display device is provided with a display section for displaying the number of each unprocessed item for each destination and the location of the pocket for storing the item on the item shelf, and controlling The means deletes the number display in the number display section and the location display in the location display section of the corresponding item based on the picking completion signal from the picking completion key, and the picking for each destination in the number and location display section. The remaining item number display device may be controlled so as to update and display the number and location of unprocessed items corresponding to the work.

(Operation) According to the above configuration, the remaining item number display device arranged in each picking zone is controlled by the control device to sequentially handle the picking work for each destination so that the number of products to be picked in the picking zone is unknown. Since the item of the processed product is updated and displayed, the worker in the zone, when starting the picking work for the new destination, the item of the unprocessed product updated and displayed on the remaining item number display device each time. You can make a guide for the picking order according to the required work time and the size and weight of the product by referring to the number and the number, and the picking completion signal from the picking completion key provided on the number display When it is output, the control device controls the remaining item number display device to erase the corresponding item on the display device. It is possible to accurately confirm the items and the number of unprocessed products at the time of.

Therefore, the worker can always accurately recognize the items and the number of unprocessed commodities of the destined destinations one after another, which allows, for example, the unprocessed items of the destined destination to newly start the picking work. If the number is small, picking can be done with a margin, and conversely, if the number of unprocessed items is large, picking can be carried out quickly depending on the situation.
The work efficiency of this kind of work is improved.

In such a case, for each unprocessed item for each destination, a display unit for displaying the number and the location of the pocket for storing the product on the product shelf can be provided in the remaining item number display device. In addition to being able to easily formulate the shortest route for picking products,
Not only the total number of products to be picked can be recognized based on the number displayed on the number display unit, but also the picked products can be inspected, and the work efficiency is further improved.

(Examples) Examples of the present invention will be described below.

First, the overall structure of the picking system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the picking system is constructed from a starting end portion 1a on which a container a is placed and supplied. Has a conveyor 1 for tact-transporting a plurality of containers a ... a to a terminating end 1b for discharging a plurality of picking zones 2 (2 ₁ to 2 ₁₀ ) on each side, 5 picking points in each case, totaling 10 picking points. ing.

In each of these picking zones 2 (2 ₁ to 2 ₁₀ ), product shelves 4, 4 are arranged in two rows in a direction orthogonal to the conveyor 1 with a central working space 3 interposed therebetween, and each zone 2 Remaining item number display devices 5 are arranged in the vicinity of the conveyor 1 in FIG. Also, the conveyor 1
A work control device 7 is arranged at a container supply position 6 near the start end 1a of the above, and a label printer 9 is arranged at a container discharge position 8 near the end end 1b. Here, the pitch of the tact transport container a ... a by conveyor 1, each intermediate stopping position between the starting end 1a and the terminal end 1b 1 ₁
~ ₁₅ are picking zones 21 on both sides of the conveyor ₁ ~
It has a pitch corresponding to 2 ₅ , 2 _{6 to} 2 ₁₀ . Then, as shown, and each picking zone 2 ₁ ... 2 _10, to the container supply position 6 and the discharge position 8, in the case of illustrated example, the total
Twelve workers b ... b are arranged.

On the other hand, each 2 in each of the above picking zones 2 ₁ ... 2 ₁₀
A large number of pockets 10 ... 10 for storing and storing products for each item are provided in the product columns 4 and 4 of the row, and as shown in FIG. … Each is equipped with 11. Each quantity indicator 11 has a display section 12 for digitally displaying the number of picked items, a picking instruction lamp 13, and a picking completion key 14, and, for example, m items c ... C in a certain pocket 10 should be picked. At this time, the picking instruction lamp 13 of the number indicator 11 in the pocket 10 is turned on, and at the same time, the number m is digitally displayed on the display unit 12. here,
When a plurality of products are picked in a case and a single product, the display unit 12 is configured to display the number of cases to be picked and the number of single products.

Further, the picking system is provided with a control system as shown in FIG. This control system has a sorting control device 15 connected to a host computer directly or via a terminal, and a data bus 16 extending from the sorting control device 15. The data bus 16 is connected to the work control device 7 as described above. each Picchi Tsu ring zone 2 ₁ ... 2 and a plurality of number display 11 ... 11 of the shelves 4, 4 at _10, also the number of remaining items display device in each picking zone 2 ₁ ... 2 ₁₀ 5
And the label printer 9 are connected to each other so as to exchange various signals between them.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the remaining item number display unit 17 for digitally displaying the number of unprocessed items of the products to be picked is provided in the above-mentioned remaining item number display device 5, and On the item number display device 5, a plurality of product code display parts 18 ... 18 for displaying product codes for each unprocessed item, a number display part 19 ... 19 for digitally displaying the number of picked items, and a location display indicating a location. A remaining item detail display area 21 including parts 20 ... 20 is additionally provided.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

First, the sorting control device 15 operates according to the flowchart of FIG.

In other words, the sorting controller 15, for example when the container a of A shop for goods have been transported by the conveyor 1, as shown in FIG. 1 at the first stop position 1 _1, first of all in step S _1, the 6 picking zones 2 ₁ , 2 ₆ product shelves 4
... to number display 11 ... 11 provided in the entire pocket 10 ... 10 4 together with this to send the count data to be picked, and transmits the unfinished data for the untreated material in step S ₂ to the remaining number of items display device 5 the number display 11 further in step S ₃
... 11 Picking completion key 14 ... Judges whether 14 is turned on. Then, when any one of the picking completion keys 14 ... 14 is turned on, after the sorted information about the item corresponding to the picking completion key 14 is stored, the picking of the item is performed in the corresponding pocket 10. A signal for confirming the completion is transmitted, and a signal for confirming the completion of the picking of the relevant item is also transmitted to the remaining item number display device 5 to judge whether the sorting unit is completed (step S ₄ ~). S ₇ ). Note that the sorting unit in this case, for example the 1, A in the sixth picking zone 2 _1, 2 ₆
It means the total items to be picked for the products for stores. That is, if it is determined that the sorting unit is completed,
The first, so that the picking is completed for all items to be picked in the sixth picking zone 2 _1, 2 _6. Time Therefore, if the judgment result of YES is obtained in step S _7, the return sorting controller 15 to step S _2, repeatedly executes the processing from step S ₂ to step S _7, it is determined that YES Then, the process proceeds to step S ₈ and a notice of completion of all picking processing in the corresponding picking zones 2 ₁ , 2 ₆ is transmitted to the remaining item number display devices 5, 5.

On the other hand, the pockets 10 provided on the product shelves 4 ...
The ten number indicators 11 ... 11 operate according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 during the picking operation.

That is, each quantity display 11 performs a predetermined initialization in step S ₉ , then temporarily blanks the quantity display in step S ₁₀ , and displays the display command from the sorting control device 15 in step S ₁₁ (step of FIG. 5). S ₁ and see step S ₅₎ determines whether receiving. When the display command is being received, the display command is performed first number displayed determines whether the data at step S _12, when a number display data, the number of pockets 10 the product is stored for this time picking displayed vessel 11 displays the picking number on the display unit 12 in step S _13. In this case,
The picking instruction lamp 13 is also turned on at the same time.

As a result, the workers b, b in the first and sixth picking zones can pick the picking indicator lamps 13 of the number indicators 11 ...
The pocket 10 in which 13 is lit ... The products in 10 are displayed on the display section 12 above.
... picked by the number displayed on the 12, although to put into a container a in a first stop position 1 ₁ of the conveyor 1, in which case the operator b, b is the number display when picking a product 11 Turn on the picking completion keys 14 and 14 of 11 and 11. In that case, the number display 11 confirms the ON operation of the completion key ₁₄ in step S ₁₄ , and then transmits the ON signal of the picking completion key 14 to the sorting control device 15 in step S ₁₅ (see FIG. 5). see step S _3).

On the other hand, when the display command in the above step S ₁₂ is determined not to be the number display data number display 11 performs a picking completion acknowledgment signal determines whether from the sorting control unit 15 in step S _16, erases the number display of the display unit 12 in step S ₁₇ when it is acknowledgment signal. Incidentally, when the NO coordination determination result is obtained in step S _16, the number display 11 performs other processing in step S _18.

The remaining item number display device 5 according to the present embodiment is the seventh item.
It operates as follows according to the flowchart in the figure.

First, after a predetermined initialization in step S _19, with the remaining a number of items display portion 17 "0" displayed in step S _20, after the residual material item display area 21 and the blank displayed in step S _21, step S _{In step 22} , the sorting control device 15 waits for a display command (see steps S ₂ , S ₆ and S _{8 in} FIG. 5) to be transmitted.

Then, when the display command is received in step S _22, the remaining number of items display device 5 is first display command in step S ₂₃ performs the determination whether the incomplete data, stores material data when a incomplete data while, to check whether there is room for the material displayed on the remaining material item display area 21 (step S _24, S _25). After when the material display has an allowance, the remaining number of items display device 5 Display additional residual material item to the remaining material item display area 21 in step S _26, step
Is incremented display the number of remaining items on the remaining number of items display section 17 in S ₂₇ returns to step S _22. At the start of the picking work, the product code display portions 18 ... 18, the number display portions 19 ... 19 and the location instruction portions 20 ... 20 in the remaining item description display area 21 are basically fully displayed.

As a result, the workers b, b arranged in the first and second picking zones 2 ₁ , 2 ₆ receive the unprocessed items displayed on the remaining item number display section 17, 17 of the remaining item number display device 5, 5. Since it is possible to make a guideline for the required work time by referring to the number of items, it is possible to perform picking work according to the situation.
That is, when the number of items displayed on the remaining item number display section 17, 17 is small, picking can be performed with a margin. On the other hand, when the number of items displayed on the remaining item number display section 17, 17 is large, the picking can be completed quickly by performing the picking quickly.

In that case, since the product code display portions 18 ... 18 and the location instruction portions 20 ... 20 are provided in the remaining item detail display area 21 of each remaining item number display device 5, the shortest time for picking the product The route can be set easily and the picking work can be performed more efficiently.
Further, in the above-mentioned remaining item detailed display area 21, the number display portion 19
Since there are 19 ...
… By the display of the number displayed on 19, the above pocket 10…
It will be possible to judge in advance whether a sub-container is necessary when taking out the product from 10.

Then, when the display command indicating the picking completion signal is transmitted from the sorting control device 15, the remaining item number display device 5 deletes the corresponding item data, and then determines whether or not the unprocessed item remains (step S _24). , S ₂₅ , S ₂₈ ).
In this case, when there are unprocessed items, the remaining item number display device 5 sorts the remaining item data in step S ₂₉ , and displays the remaining item details resulting therefrom in the remaining item details display area 21 in step S _30. And step
Returns to step S ₂₂ after decrementing display the number of remaining items on the remaining number of items display section 17 in S _31.

Further, in step S ₂₂ described above, the sorting controller 1
When the display command received from 5 is other than incomplete data and picking completion data, the remaining item number display device 5 performs other processing corresponding to it in step S ₃₂ , and then returns to step S ₂₂ .

Then, when the determination result that there is no unprocessed item is obtained in the above step S ₂₈ , the remaining item number display device 5 returns to step S ₂₀ .

Note that for sorting the remaining item data in the above step S _29, from the top view of the location display part 20 ... 20, for example, as set to be counterclockwise shelves 4,4 Good. Then, the flow line of the worker is shortened and the picking time per one time is shortened.

As described above, the first for the container a of A shop for goods at the first stop position 1 ₁ of the conveyor 1, the picking operations in a sixth picking zone 2 _1, 2 ₆ completed. Then, the worker b at the container supply position 6 selects the sorting control device.
When confirming the completion of the work in both of the above zones by the work completion message transmitted from 15 to the work control device 7, the worker b displays the next end of the conveyor 1 at the beginning 1a of The container a is placed and the operation control device 7 starts the next picking operation. Thus, the container a second stop position 1 ₂ for A stores in the first stop position 1 ₁ of the conveyor 1, the container a of the B store is placed on the leading end 1a is the first stop position 1 ₁ each is conveyed, the second for the former container a, the seventh picking zone 2 _2, 2 _7, first for the latter container a, the sixth
Picking operations are performed in the same manner as each said picking zone 2 _1, 2 _6. By repeating this, so that the containers a picking operation is completed at all picking zones 2 ₁ to 2 ₁₀ and is discharged from the terminal end 1b of the conveyor 1. The worker b who discharges the container a from the end 1b of the conveyor 1 attaches the label issued by the label printer 9 to the container a.

In the above embodiment, the case where a plurality of picking zones are provided to perform the tact operation is described, but the present invention is not limited to this, for example, a small-scale system that forms one picking zone over the entire length of the conveyor. Can also be applied to.

(Effect of the invention) As described above, according to the present invention, the picking zone is provided along the conveying means for conveying the container for each destination.
In a picking system configured to pick up a product stored in each pocket of a product shelf according to a display of a number indicator provided on the product shelf in the picking zone, the picking zone is provided with a control unit for each destination. Since the remaining item number display device for updating and displaying the items of unprocessed commodities corresponding to the picking work for each destination is provided, the worker in the zone starts the picking work for the new destination. In each case, refer to the number of unprocessed products and the number of unprocessed products that are updated and displayed on the remaining item number display device each time, and make a guide for the picking order according to the required work time and the size and weight of the products. When the picking completion signal is output from the picking completion key provided on the number display, the control device Since more corresponding items of the remaining number of items display device is controlled the display device is erased, it is possible to check accurately the material and number of outstanding product at that time during the work.

Therefore, the worker can always accurately recognize the items and the number of unprocessed commodities of the destined destinations one after another, which allows, for example, the unprocessed items of the destined destination to newly start the picking work. If the number is small, picking can be done with a margin, and conversely, if the number of unprocessed items is large, picking can be done quickly depending on the situation, and work efficiency can be improved. There is an advantage of improving.

In such a case, for each unprocessed item for each destination, a display unit for displaying the number and the location of the pocket for storing the product on the product shelf can be provided in the remaining item number display device. In addition to being able to easily formulate the shortest route for picking products,
Based on the number displayed on the number display unit, not only the total number of products to be picked can be recognized, but also picked products can be inspected, which further improves the work efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 7 show an embodiment of a picking system according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic layout diagram of the picking system, and FIG. 2 is a partial front view showing the structure of a product shelf in the system. FIG. 3 is a control system diagram, FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the remaining item number display device, FIG. 5 is a flowchart diagram showing the operation of the sorting control device, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart diagram showing the operation of the number indicator. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the remaining item number display device. 1 ... container conveying means (conveyor), 2 ... picking zone, 4 ... commodity shelf, 5 ... remaining item number display device, 10
…… Pocket, 11 …… Number display, 18 …… Product code display, 20 …… Location display.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A container transporting means for transporting a container for each destination and a picking zone provided along a transporting path of the container by the transporting means, and a plurality of pockets for each item The product shelf that stores the items and a number indicator provided on the product shelf and having a picking completion key, and the worker placed in the picking zone displays the items in each pocket on the number indicator. In a picking system configured to pick up as many pieces as possible and collect them in a container on the above-mentioned transportation means, in the above-mentioned picking zone, the number of unprocessed goods for each destination in that zone is displayed. While the device is provided, the corresponding item in the remaining item number display device is deleted based on the picking completion signal from the picking completion key. And picking system, wherein a control means for controlling the remaining number of items display device is provided so as to sequentially correspond to updated display the item unprocessed item into the picking work for each destination. 2. The remaining item number display device is provided with a display section for displaying the number of each unprocessed item for each destination and the location of a pocket for storing the item on the item shelf. At the same time, the control means deletes the number display in the number display section and the location display in the location display section of the corresponding item based on the picking completion signal from the picking completion key, and the number and location display section display The picking system according to claim 1, wherein the remaining item number display device is controlled so as to update and display the number and location of unprocessed items corresponding to the picking work for each destination.