JP2654844B2 - Goods sorting equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a sorting section for sorting articles received in a state in which a plurality of types of articles are mixed for the same destination, and an article sorted by the sorting section. The present invention relates to an article sorting facility provided with a storage unit for storing in the same destination for each destination.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, a worker who sorts the articles received by the sorting unit also performs a work of storing the sorted articles.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, as the types and sorting destinations of goods increase,
Even if means for displaying and indicating the correspondence between an article and its destination, that is, the storage position, is provided, the amount of work performed by one worker increases, and the correspondence between the article and its destination (storage position) increases. The probability of making a mistake increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
It is an object of the present invention to efficiently perform an operation of sorting received articles in which a plurality of types of articles are mixed for the same destination and an operation of storing the articles sorted for the same destination.

[Means for solving the problem]

An article sorting facility according to the present invention stores a sorting unit that sorts articles received in a state where a plurality of types of articles are mixed in the same destination, and stores the articles sorted by the sorting unit in the same destination. The first characteristic configuration is as follows.

That is, the sorting unit is provided with a sorting unit that sorts the plurality of types of articles into the same type, and a temporary placement unit that temporarily places articles sorted by the sorting type in the same type. The sorting section is provided with article information input means for inputting destination information of the articles to be sorted, and the temporary placing section is provided with completion information input means for inputting the sorting completion information of the articles; Storage position instructing means for instructing the storage position information of the storage section based on information of the input means and information of the article information input means, provided in the storage section; The point is that display means for displaying the position is provided.

Further, the second characteristic configuration specifies a preferable configuration when the first characteristic configuration is implemented, and the storage section has an article storage position corresponding to each of a plurality of storage positions. Container and container replacement information input means for inputting replacement information of the container are provided, and the article information input means is configured to be able to input information on the type and number of articles, and the container replacement information input means Management means for managing the type and number of articles stored in the container based on the information of the article and the article information input means.

(Operation)

According to the first feature configuration, a plurality of types of articles received by the sorting unit are sorted by the sorting unit for each type, and destination information of the sorted articles is input, and the sorting is performed for each type. It is stored temporarily in the state where it was set. Then, when the sorting completion information is input in the temporary storage section, the storage position information of the storage section is instructed in the temporary storage section based on the sorting completion information and the destination information of the article previously input. At the same time, the storage position indicated by the storage position information is also displayed in the storage unit, and the articles in the sorted state specified by the temporary storage unit are stored in the storage position displayed by the storage unit.

Such a sorting operation can be performed by allocating a dedicated worker to the sorting unit and allocating a dedicated worker to the storage unit, and can be efficiently performed by a plurality of workers without error. .

In other words, the separation of the received article and the storage of the sorted articles can be performed separately, so that each of the plurality of workers can concentrate on the work in charge and simplify the work in charge. Can be achieved.

According to the second characteristic configuration, information on the type and number of articles classified by the same type in the sorting section is input, and the article storage container placed in each of the plurality of storage positions of the storage section is selected. At the time of replacement, container replacement information is input, and the type and number of articles stored in the container are managed based on the container replacement information and information on the type and number of sorted articles. In other words, until the container replacement information is input, the container indicated by the input information of the type and the number of sorted articles is stored in the container currently placed at the storage position. The type and number of articles stored in each container are managed so that the next container placed at the position stores the article indicated by the input information next to the type and number of sorted articles.

〔The invention's effect〕

Therefore, according to the first characteristic configuration, a work error is less likely to occur by separating the work of sorting mixed articles into the storage unit for the same type and the work of storing articles sorted into the same type by the same kind, and In addition, work efficiency can be improved by parallel work by a plurality of workers.

Further, according to the second characteristic configuration, information on the type and number of articles stored in each container for storing articles is clarified, so that a list of the articles stored in each container can be issued, for example. Sorting equipment can be used more conveniently.

〔Example〕

An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an article sorting facility for sorting a plurality of types of articles returned from a plurality of return sources for each return destination will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, in a state where a plurality of types of articles are mixed, a sorting section (2) for sorting articles received via a receiving roller type conveyor (1) for each same destination is provided by the conveyor ( A plurality of storage sections (3) provided at the end of (1) for storing the articles sorted by the sorting section (2) in a state where the articles are sorted for the same destination are provided around the sorting section (2). It is provided in a surrounding state.

The sorting unit (2) includes a sorting unit (2A) for sorting the plurality of types of articles for each same type, and a sorting unit (2A).
A temporary placement section (2B) is provided for temporarily placing the articles sorted in A) in a state of being sorted for each type. That is, the received articles are sorted into the same kind by the sorting section (2A), temporarily placed in the temporary placement section (2B), and the articles are transferred from the temporary placement section (2B) to the storage section (3). Is moved so that the sorting operation and the storing operation can be performed separately. However, in order to be able to receive and sort articles in parallel,
Two sorting sections (2A) are provided for the article receiving conveyor (1), and the temporary placing section (2B) temporarily places articles sorted from any of the two sorting sections (2A). Six are provided in a state where they can be provided, and one worker is arranged in each of the sorting sections (2A), and two workers are arranged in the temporary placing section (2B).

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
In A), a setting device (4) provided with a barcode reader, a keyboard, and the like is provided as an item information input unit for inputting destination information of the items to be sorted, which will be described later in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the temporary placing part (2B)
Each of them has a container (5) for storing articles to be temporarily placed, and a push button as a completion information input means for inputting information on sorting completion of articles on a lateral side of the container (5). A storage switch that indicates storage position information of the storage unit (3) based on a switch-on completion switch (6) of an illuminated type, and information on the switch-on completion switch (6) and information on the setting unit (4). Two sorting lamps (7
A) and (7B) are provided. However, in order to easily identify which one is on, the display color of the closing switch (6) is set to white, and the display colors of the two sorting lamps (7A) and (7B) are , Are set to different colors of red and blue. The use of the display colors of the two sorting lamps (7A) and (7B) will be described later.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a plurality of types of articles can be received in the same mixed loading case (8A) in the same return case, or a plurality of Individuals will be accepted in a state packed together in a regular case (8B).

Each of the cases (8A) and (8B) is attached with a return label (9) for displaying information on the return source of the article by a bar code or the like. In addition, information on the name of each article is individually displayed on each article using a bar code or the like.

Therefore, in the setting device (4), information is input to the return source label (9) or a bar code reader for reading the information of the article name, and if there is no bar code, information is returned to the return source or the article name. Keyboard and the like are provided. The keyboard is also used as a means for inputting the number of received articles.

The information of the return source, the name of the article, and the information of the number input by the setting device (4) are transmitted to the controller (10), and are used as information for charge settlement and totaling of the returned goods, or The information is used as information for specifying the return destination, that is, the destination of the received article based on the name.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the storage section (3)
Means a plurality of shelves (3
A), and each shelf portion (3A) forms a plurality of storage positions. In each shelf (3A), a plurality of shipping cases (11) as containers for storing articles at the same destination are stored in a state of being aligned in the front-rear direction. However, in the shipping case (11), a plurality of articles having the same destination are stored, but a plurality of types of articles may be stored in a mixed state.

Each of the shelf portions (3A) has two illuminated sort completion switches (12A) and (12B) of the same color as the sort lamps (7A) and (7B) provided in the temporary placing portion (2B). When the shipping case (11) stored in the shelf portion (3A) is full, that is, the shipping case (11) is instructed by the sorting lambs (7A), (7B) and the like. A push button type full switch (13) as container replacement information input means for inputting container replacement information to the controller (10) for replacing the case (11) with the next case (11) when articles cannot be stored. ) Are provided.
It should be noted that the controller (10) controls the articles stored in each case (11) based on the information on the articles input by the setting device (4) and the container replacement information input by the full switch (13). It also functions as a management unit that manages the type and number of. The management information is used as information for issuing a list that clarifies the contents of the article for each case (11).

That is, the two sorting lamps (7A) and (7B) of the temporary storage part (2B) and the two sorting completion switches of the storage part (3) which is the storage position of the articles of the temporary storage part (2B). (12
A) and (12B), each of which has the same color, is turned on, so that the worker arranged in each of the temporary placing portions (2B) can determine the name and the number of the receiving articles. Without knowing, it is possible to easily know which temporary storage section (2B) should be moved to which storage section (3) the article should be moved.

The reason why the two sorting lamps (7A) and (7B) and the sorting completion switches (12A) and (12B) are provided so as to display different colors will be described. (2A) and one worker each are placed in the temporary storage section (2B), and sorting work is performed by two sets of workers. For example, a lamp or a switch is displayed for each sorting work. By making the colors different, even if two sets of sorting work are performed simultaneously and in parallel, it is possible to prevent mixing of articles of different destinations and to work efficiently.

Therefore, the controller (10) determines which of the received articles is based on the information of the received articles input by the setting unit (4) and the information such as a collation list of the article name and the return destination set and stored in advance. It is determined whether or not it corresponds to the destination.

When the destination of the received article is determined, the storage position of which of the plurality of storage sections (3) is to be stored is determined based on the determination information, and the storage position of the plurality of temporary storage sections (2B) is determined. One of the sorting lamps (7A) and (7B) in the empty area is turned on to indicate the temporary placement position and instruct the worker. However, although not described in detail, the lighting color is changed alternately so that the lighting color is different from the color of the lamp lit last time, or the lighting color corresponding to each of the two sets of workers. Or to set.

Next, the completion of the temporary storage of the articles in the temporary storage section (2B) instructed based on the information of the input completion switch (6) is determined, and the temporarily stored articles are stored in any of the storage sections (3). Among the two sorting completion switches (12A) and (12B) of the storage unit (3) determined based on the input information of the setting device (4) to indicate whether the storage should be stored, the lit sorting unit One of the same colors as the lamps (7A) and (7B) is turned on to display the storage positions of the sorted articles.

From the temporary setting part (2B) where the sorting lamps (7A) and (7B) are lit, the sorting completion switch (12A) of the same color,
When the article storage in the shelf portion (3A) of the storage section (3) in which (12B) is lit is completed, the sorting completion switch (12A) in which the worker in the temporary storage section (2B) is lit, ( Press 12B) to store the storage completion information in the controller (10).
Will be entered.

The controller (10) determines whether or not there is a next operation when the article storage operation in the storage section (3) is completed. The above-described processes are repeatedly executed as the closing switch (6) is pressed.

Therefore, the worker of the sorting section (2A) can concentrate on the sorting work of the received articles, and the worker of the temporary placing section (2B) can concentrate on the storing work of the sorted articles. , The operation can be simplified. As a result, work errors can be reduced and work efficiency can be improved.

(Another embodiment)

In the above embodiment, the lighting of the lamp of the temporary storage part (2B) and the lamp of the storage part (3) are made the same color, so that the article is transferred from any temporary storage part (2B) to any storage part (3). The case where the user is instructed whether to store the information is exemplified, but for example, the storage position information of the storage unit (3) such that the display number and the display character are made the same using a display device such as a number or a character. The specific configuration of the storage position instructing means for instructing the storage position and the display means for displaying the storage position instructed by the storage position instructing means can be variously changed.

Also, in the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to an article sorting facility for sorting articles returned from different return sources for each return destination is exemplified. The present invention can also be applied to an article sorting facility for sorting into various types, and the specific configuration of each unit can be variously changed.

In the claims, reference numerals are provided for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the structure shown in the attached drawings.

[Brief description of the drawings]

Drawings show an embodiment of the article sorting equipment according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control configuration, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a layout of the equipment, FIG.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the storage unit, FIG. 5 is a side view of the same, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are explanatory views of an article receiving state. (2) ... Sorting section, (2A) ... Sorting section, (2B) ...
Temporary placement part, (3) ... storage part, (4) ... article information input means, (6) ... completion information input means, (7A), (7B) ...
... storage position indicating means (10) ... management means (11) ...
Container, (12A), (12B) ... display means, (13) ... container replacement information input means.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A sorting unit (2) for sorting articles received in a state in which a plurality of types of articles are mixed for the same destination;
An article sorting facility provided with a storage section (3) for storing articles sorted by the sorting section (2) in a state where the articles are sorted for the same destination, wherein the sorting section (2) includes the plurality of types. Sorting section (2
A) and a temporary placement section (2B) for temporarily placing articles sorted by the sorting section (2A) in a state where the articles are sorted by the same type, and are sorted in the sorting section (2A). An article information input means (4) for inputting destination information of the article is provided, and the temporary storage section (2B) includes a completion information input means (6) for inputting the sorting completion information of the article; Storage position indicating means (7A) and (7B) for indicating storage position information of the storage section (3) based on information of the means (6) and information of the article information input means (4); An article sorting facility in which the storage section (3) is provided with display means (12A) and (12B) for displaying storage positions designated by the storage position indicating means (7A) and (7B). 2. A container (11) for accommodating articles to be placed corresponding to each of a plurality of storage positions, and container exchange information input for inputting exchange information of the container (11) in the storage section (3). Means (13) is provided, wherein the article information input means (4) is configured to be able to input information on the type and number of articles,
Management means (10) for managing the type and number of articles stored in the container (11) based on the information of the container exchange information input means (13) and the article information input means (4) is provided. The article sorting equipment according to claim 1.