JP2677096B2 - Instruction method of cargo handling work - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of instructing a cargo handling operation in which a management section for managing the entire cargo handling operation instructs each work content to each of a plurality of cargo handling vehicles using communication means. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a physical distribution system using a cargo handling vehicle, a host computer or the like is provided in a management unit for managing the entire cargo handling work. Then, when the host computer receives a request for a work instruction from each cargo handling vehicle, the content of the work is appropriately selected and an instruction is given to the cargo handling vehicle that has made the request. In this case, as a method of exchanging work requests and work instructions between the cargo handling vehicle and the management unit, for example, a wireless LAN (local area network) is adopted. For example, a wireless device and a data terminal are mounted on a forklift as a cargo handling vehicle, and the wireless device connected to the host computer of the management unit is arranged at an appropriate position in the premises. When the data of the work instruction request is sent from the forklift to the host computer, the data of the work instruction request is output from the data terminal of the forklift to the wireless device and transmitted via a radio wave. In the host computer,
When the work request data is received and the work content data is sent to the forklift, the work content data to be transmitted is output from the host computer to the wireless device and transmitted via radio waves.

Here, as a method of instructing individual work contents from the host computer to a plurality of forklifts, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, works related to all work contents registered in the memory storage area 30A of the host computer. With respect to the content table 31, as shown in FIG. 11, the number of the forklift in charge for each "type" of the load to be worked is predetermined as a type table 32 and registered in the memory storage area 30B. Then, when a work instruction is requested from the forklift, the host computer refers to the type table 32 for the type of load to be handled by the forklift. Next, the host computer selects an instruction of the work content for the “type” referred to in the type table 32 from the work content table 31 shown in FIG. And the host computer
The data of the selected work content is transmitted via the wireless device,
The request is sent to the data terminal of the forklift.

Alternatively, in the host computer, as shown in FIG.
With respect to the work content table 31 shown in FIG. 12, as shown in FIG. 12, the number of the forklift in charge for each "placement" of the load to be worked is predetermined as the placement place table 33 and registered in the memory storage area 30C. When receiving a request for a work instruction from each forklift, the work content is instructed to the requested forklift in a procedure similar to the above.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the "type" and "place" of the load to be worked out of all the work contents are different depending on the day, only the specific forklift is used. The work may be concentrated, and the busyness of the work may vary from one forklift to another. Also, for each "type" and "place"
If a part of the assigned forklift breaks down due to a breakdown, only the work corresponding to the assigned forklift remains. Therefore, on the day when some of the forklifts are removed, the contents of the work instructions for the remaining forklifts may be added or changed as soon as possible, or the remaining work contents may be postponed, and finally the remaining forklifts may be used artificially with the remaining forklifts. It had to be shared. Also, since some of the work contents are postponed, only the work contents are processed with a considerable delay, which has been a problem.

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned prior art, the operator of the forklift can obtain only the information of the work contents instructed at that time, and the remaining work contents and the work contents to be performed by the own vehicle remain. I could not figure out the amount. Therefore, each operator cannot adjust the work speed of the own vehicle according to his / her own judgment as necessary, and cannot contribute to improving the efficiency of the overall cargo handling work.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to prevent the work from being concentrated on a specific cargo handling vehicle and to automatically operate even when a part of the cargo handling vehicle is pulled out. Providing a method of instructing cargo handling work that can prevent the work from being left unprocessed and that each cargo handling vehicle can adjust the work speed to improve the efficiency of the whole cargo handling work To do.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the present invention, a communication means is used for each individual work content from a management unit for managing the overall cargo handling work to each of a plurality of cargo handling vehicles. In the method of instructing the cargo handling operation to selectively instruct, in the management unit, the place of placement of the load related to the overall cargo handling work is classified into a plurality of cargo handling zones and determined in advance,
Similarly, in the management unit, the priority order of the cargo handling zones to be in charge for each cargo handling vehicle is determined in advance for all the cargo handling zones, and the management unit specifies all the work contents of the loading place of the load as the target of the work. Depending on the difference, it is classified as multiple work sets for each cargo handling zone, and when the management unit receives a work instruction request from each cargo handling vehicle, the work instructions in each work set that are not empty The work content that has not yet been executed is selected from the work set corresponding to the cargo handling zone with the highest priority for the cargo handling vehicle for which the request is made, and at the same time, the management unit aggregates the remaining amount of other work content. The management unit uses the communication means to transmit the remaining amount of the selected work content and the remaining work content to the cargo handling vehicle that has requested the work instruction.

[0009]

According to the configuration of the invention described above, when the management unit receives a work instruction request from each cargo handling vehicle, it has the highest priority for the requested cargo handling vehicle among the respective work sets that are not empty sets. The work content is selected from the work set corresponding to the high cargo handling zone. At the same time, the remaining amount of other work contents is totaled. Then, the selected work content and the remaining amount of other work content are instructed and transmitted to the requested cargo handling vehicle.

Therefore, each cargo handling vehicle sequentially receives instructions from the work content corresponding to the cargo handling zone having a high priority to the work content corresponding to the cargo handling zone having a low priority. The work contents belonging to each cargo handling zone are sequentially processed by the cooperation of the individual cargo handling vehicles assigned with high priority, and the cargo handling zones with a large work content are also processed by other cargo handling vehicles. . Therefore, regardless of the presence or absence of some of the cargo handling vehicles, all the work contents are automatically and sequentially processed by each cargo handling vehicle.

Further, since the remaining amount of the other work contents is transmitted to the cargo handling vehicle, the remaining amount of the other work contents can be used in the cargo handling vehicle for adjusting the working speed of the own vehicle. Become.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the method of instructing cargo handling work according to the above-mentioned invention is embodied in a forklift physical distribution system using a wireless LAN will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a physical distribution system of a forklift truck using a wireless LAN. A plurality of (in this case, four) manned forklifts 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D as cargo handling vehicles are operated on the premises.

Each of the forklifts 1A to 1D is equipped with a radio device 2 as a communication means, a data terminal 3 and a printer 4, which constitute a mobile station as shown in FIG.
The mobile station-side wireless device 2 is a device that transmits and receives radio waves including desired data, and performs modulation and demodulation of signals for the transmission and reception. The wireless device 2 is connected to a data terminal 3 via a coaxial cable 5, and data is exchanged between the two. The data terminal 3 has an input / output interface for inputting / outputting various signals, and a central processing unit (C) for executing a predetermined operation / control based on the input signals.
PU), and a microcomputer including various memories for storing calculation results and the like in the CPU. The data terminal 3 includes a keyboard 6 for inputting data by an operator and a display 7 for displaying data. Further, the data terminal 3 has a control function for controlling the operation of the wireless device 2. At the same time, the data terminal 3 is connected to the printer 4 via a coaxial cable 8 so that the data input to the data terminal 3 can be output and printed by the printer 4.

On the other hand, in FIG. 1, wireless devices 9A, 9B and 9C as communication means which constitute a plurality of fixed stations (three in this case) are dispersedly arranged at appropriate positions near the ceiling in the premises. There is. Here, the fixed-station-side wireless device 9A
9C perform transmission and reception of radio waves including desired data, and also modulate and demodulate signals for the transmission and reception.
Also, radio waves to be transmitted from each of the wireless devices 9A to 9C are limited to weak radio waves in accordance with the provisions of the Radio Law.
In order to enable communication between the fixed station side and the mobile station side over the entire area of the wide premises, the radio equipment 9A to 9A at each fixed station side
The communicable range of C is superimposed on each other and is extended throughout the campus.

The wireless devices 9A to 9C on the fixed station side are connected to a wireless controller 11 via a coaxial cable 10,
The wireless controller 11 is connected via a coaxial cable 12,
It is connected to a host computer 14 installed in a command office 13. The wireless controller 11 and the host computer 14 include an input / output interface for inputting / outputting various signals, a CPU for executing predetermined arithmetic and control based on the input signals, and a C
It is constituted by a microcomputer provided with various memories for storing calculation results and the like in the PU. The wireless controller 11 and the host computer 14 constitute a management unit. The host computer 14 manages desired data to be sent to the data terminals 3 of the forklifts 1A to 1D, and the wireless controller 11 transmits the data by radio waves. The operation of the wireless devices 9A to 9C on each fixed station side is controlled in order to make the transmission via the wireless LAN.

Further, in this embodiment, the host computer 14 manages the entire cargo handling work performed by each of the forklifts 1A to 1D on the premises. The host computer 14 then uses the remaining amount of each work content and other work contents to the data terminal 3 of each forklift 1A-D by using the radio waves exchanged between the wireless devices 9A-9C and the wireless device 2. It is designed to selectively send instructions.

In this embodiment, the number ("A") indicating the "placement" of the load relating to the overall cargo handling work to be performed on the premises.
-01 to A-99 "," B-01 to B-99 "," C-
01-C-99 ") is pre-classified into a plurality (three in this embodiment) of cargo handling zones A, B, and C. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, those numbers are stored in the cargo storage zone table 16 in the memory storage area 15A of the host computer 14.
Is registered in advance. Further, in this embodiment, the cargo handling zone A to be in charge of each of the forklifts 1A to 1D.
The priority order of C, that is, “first priority”, “second priority”, and “third priority” is predetermined for all cargo handling zones A to C. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the priority order of them is the memory storage area 1 of the host computer 14.
5B is registered in advance as the priority table 17.

Further, in this embodiment, the data of all the work contents of the day to be performed on the premises are input to the host computer 14 by the floppy disk 18, as shown in FIG. Here, the data of all the work contents input to the host computer 14 are stored in the memory storage area 15 of the host computer 14 as shown in FIG.
C is registered as a work content table 19. In the work content table 19, each work content is classified by “work number”, and “type”, “quantity”, “place”, and “destination” of the load are provided for each “work number”. It is organized. Then, based on the data of the work content table 19, the host computer 14 converts all the work contents into a plurality of pieces for each of the above-mentioned cargo handling zones A to C according to the difference of the “place” of the load to be worked. 6 and are registered in the memory storage area 15D as zone-specific work content tables 20A, 20B, and 20C, as shown in FIG.

Further, in this embodiment, in order to request a work instruction from the forklifts 1A to 1D to the host computer 14 in the office 13, the operator operates the keyboard 6 of the data terminal machine 3 by keys. ing. When a key operation for requesting a work instruction is performed, the data terminal 3 drives the wireless device 2 to output a signal indicating a request for a work instruction, and transmits the signal to the fixed station side wireless devices 9A to 9A.
Send to C.

In response to this, the wireless devices 9A to 9C on the fixed station side output the signal to the host computer 14 via the wireless controller 11. Then, the host computer 14 receives the work instruction request signal and executes a processing operation for instructing the forklifts 1A to 1D that have requested the cargo handling operation.

When the host computer 14 sends to the data terminal 3 of each of the forklifts 1A to 1D the amount of work to be transmitted and the remaining amount of other work, the data is sent to the data terminal 3. Is to display those data on the display 7. Alternatively, when the key operation of the keyboard 6 is performed as necessary, the data such as the work content is output and printed on the printer 4.

Next, the processing operation of the method of instructing the cargo handling work executed by the host computer 14 in the physical distribution system configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

Here, the data of all work contents of the day to be performed on the premises have already been input to the host computer 14 and registered in the memory storage area 15C as the work contents table 19 as shown in FIG. And or,
Based on the data of the work content table 19, it is assumed that all the work contents are registered in the memory storage area 15D as zone-specific work content tables 20A to 20C as shown in FIG.

When the processing shifts to the routine of this flowchart, first, at step 101, a work instruction request comes from each of the forklifts 1A to 1D based on a signal received by each of the wireless devices 9A to 9C on the fixed station side. Wait for And when there is a request for the work instruction,
In step 102, the "first priority" cargo handling zones A to C for the requested forklifts 1A to 1D are referenced from the priority order table 17 shown in FIG. Subsequently, in step 103, "work numbers" corresponding to the "first priority" cargo handling zones A to C are selected in ascending order from the zone-specific work content tables 20A to 20C shown in FIG.

Then, in step 104, it is determined whether or not the "work number" has been selected. That is, the work content tables 20A to 20C for each zone are not empty sets,
It is determined whether or not the “work number” to be selected has been selected.

If the "work number" can be selected in step 104, the work content corresponding to the selected "work number" is selected in step 105 by referring to the work content table 19 shown in FIG. Check and confirm. That is, the “type”, “quantity”, “place”, and “destination” of the load corresponding to the “work number” are confirmed. next,
In step 106, the remaining contents of all work contents and the remaining contents of work contents by cargo handling zone are totaled from the work contents table 19 and the work contents tables for each zone 20A to 20C. Then, in the subsequent step 107, the confirmed work contents, the total work contents remaining amount and the work contents remaining amount according to the cargo handling zone are driven to the requested forklifts 1A to 1D by driving the respective wireless devices 9A to 9C. The data is transmitted, and the subsequent processing is temporarily terminated.

On the other hand, when the "work number" cannot be selected in step 104, the "second priority" cargo handling is performed for the requested forklifts 1A to 1D from the priority table 17 shown in FIG. 4 in step 108. Refer to zones A-C. Then, in step 109, the work content table 20A for each zone shown in FIG.
20C, “work numbers” corresponding to the “second priority” loading zones A to C are selected in ascending order.

Next, in step 110, it is determined whether or not the "work number" has been selected. If the "work number" can be selected here, the process proceeds to step 105 in the same manner as described above, and the steps 105 to 107 are executed.
By executing the process of "selected work number"
For each of the requested forklifts 1A to 1 for the work content, the total work content remaining amount, and the work content remaining amount for each cargo handling zone
It is transmitted to D, and the subsequent processing is once ended.

If the "work number" cannot be selected in step 110, then in step 111, the "third priority" cargo handling is performed for the requested forklifts 1A to 1D from the priority table 17 shown in FIG. Refer to zones A-C. Then, in step 112, the work content table 20A for each zone shown in FIG.
20C, the “work numbers” corresponding to the “third priority” loading zones A to C are selected in ascending order.

Then, in step 113, it is determined whether or not the "work number" has been selected. If the "work number" can be selected here, the process corresponding to the selected "work number" is performed by shifting to step 105 and executing the processing of steps 105 to 107 as described above. Forklifts 1A to 1D that requested the contents, the remaining amount of all work contents, and the remaining amount of work contents by cargo handling zone
To end the subsequent processing.

On the other hand, when the "work number" cannot be selected in step 113, it is assumed that the "work number" corresponding to the cargo handling zones A to C does not remain in the zone-specific work content tables 20A to 20C, that is, Assuming that the zone-specific work content tables 20A to 20C are empty sets, the process proceeds to step 114. And step 11
In 4, the data of "no work to be instructed" is transmitted to the requested forklifts 1A to 1D by driving the respective wireless devices 9A to 9C, and the subsequent processing is once ended.

In this way, the host computer 14 executes the processing operation of the method for instructing the cargo handling work. In each of the forklifts 1A to 1D, the wireless device 2
Receives the signal including the work content, the total work content remaining amount, and the work content remaining amount for each cargo handling zone transmitted from each of the wireless devices 9A to 9C, and outputs the signal to the data terminal device 3. And
In response to the signal, the data terminal device 3 receives data indicating that the work content data includes "type", "quantity", "placement" and "movement destination" corresponding to the "work number". The data is output and displayed in the left area of the display 7, respectively. In addition, in the right side area of the display 7,
The data of the remaining amount of work contents and the remaining amount of work contents for each cargo handling zone are output and displayed as the data of the quantities corresponding to the "cargo handling zone" and the "total system", respectively. Therefore, the operator is informed of the data of the work content to be instructed, the total work content remaining amount, and the work content remaining amount by cargo handling zone. Therefore, the operator operates the vehicle based on the work content data, the total work content remaining amount, and the work content remaining amount data for each cargo handling zone, whereby the cargo handling work related to the instructed work content is performed.

As described above, according to the cargo handling work instruction method in this embodiment, when the host computer 14 in the office 13 receives a work instruction request from each of the forklifts 1A to 1D, each of them is not an empty set. Of the “work numbers” in the zone-specific work content tables 20A to 20C, the cargo handling zones A to C having the highest priority for the requested forklifts 1A to 1D, that is, the cargo handling zone A to which the “first priority” corresponds. "Work number" in order from C
Is selected. Further, the work content corresponding to the selected “work number” is referred to from the work content table 19.
Then, the data of the referenced work content is transmitted as the work content to be instructed to the requested forklifts 1A to 1D through the wireless devices 9A to 9C on the fixed station side and the wireless device 2 on the mobile station side.

Therefore, each of the forklifts 1A-1D
Then, the "first priority" cargo handling zones A to C with high priority
"3rd priority" with lower priority from the work content corresponding to
Are sequentially received to work contents corresponding to the cargo handling zones A to C. The work contents belonging to each of the cargo handling zones A to C are sequentially processed by the individual forklifts 1A to 1D assigned with “first priority”. For this reason, for the cargo handling zones A to C with many work contents,
In addition to the forklifts 1A to 1D assigned by "first priority", the processing is also performed by cooperation of other forklifts 1A to 1D assigned by "second priority" or "third priority".

Therefore, all the work contents are for each forklift 1
A to 1D automatically share and are sequentially processed by cooperation of the forklifts 1A to 1D. Then, depending on the day, the “type” of the load that is the target of the work for all the work contents and the “place” of the load that is the target of the work
Even if they are different, all the work content is
Since the processes are sequentially performed by the cooperation of A to 1D, it is possible to prevent the work from being concentrated only on the specific forklifts 1A to 1D, and to eliminate the variation in the busyness of the work among the forklifts 1A to 1D. be able to.

Further, even if a part of each of the forklifts 1A to 1D fails and comes out, the work content corresponding to the failed forklift 1A to 1D is automatically assigned to the remaining forklifts 1A to 1D. And are processed sequentially by their cooperation. Therefore,
Unnecessary addition of the contents of the work instruction to the remaining forklifts 1A to 1D without any emergency change can prevent the remaining work. Alternatively, the leftover work can be postponed, and the remaining work can be prevented without being artificially allocated and shared by the remaining forklifts 1A to 1D. In other words, some forklifts 1
Even if A to 1D is missed, it is possible to automatically cope with that and prevent the work from being left behind.

Further, even if some of the forklifts 1A to 1D come out, all the work contents can be automatically assigned to the remaining forklifts 1A to 1D and can be processed sequentially. The number can be increased or decreased arbitrarily.

Further, in this embodiment, since the data of the total work content remaining amount and the work content remaining amount according to the cargo handling zone are notified to the operator, the operator can obtain the data of each work content remaining amount by the work of the own vehicle. It can be used to adjust the speed.

Therefore, as an operator of each of the forklifts 1A to 1D, in addition to the work content data instructed to the vehicle at that time, the remaining work content remaining amount and the work content remaining for each cargo handling zone to be performed by the own vehicle. You can figure out the quantity. As a result, each operator can adjust the work speed of the own vehicle as necessary while considering the distribution of work time. Therefore, the individual forklifts 1A-1D
The work efficiency can be improved, and thus each of the forklifts 1A to 1D can positively contribute to further improve the efficiency of the overall cargo handling work. Further, from this effect, it is possible to prevent the delay of the entire cargo handling work.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be implemented as follows with a part of the configuration appropriately modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. (1) In the above embodiment, the case where four forklifts 1A to 1D are used as the physical distribution system has been embodied.
The number of forklifts can be appropriately changed in advance.

(2) In the above-mentioned embodiment, the places for placing the loads involved in the entire cargo handling work are divided into three cargo handling zones A to C in total, but the number of cargo handling zones may be changed appropriately. . However, when the number of the cargo handling zones is changed, the number of the priority of the cargo handling zones to be assigned to each forklift increases or decreases accordingly.

(3) In the above embodiment, as the remaining amount of the other work contents, the data of the total work amount remaining amount and the work content remaining amount for each cargo handling zone are sent to the forklifts 1A to 1D. Only one of the data may be sent to each forklift 1A-1D.

(4) In the above embodiment, the physical distribution system using the manned type forklifts 1A to 1D as the cargo handling vehicle is embodied. However, the physical distribution system using the automatically operated unmanned forklift and the automatic guided vehicle. May be embodied in.

[0045]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, since the work contents corresponding to each cargo handling zone are processed by the cooperation of each cargo handling vehicle, the work is concentrated only on a specific cargo handling vehicle. It is possible to prevent the above, and it is possible to prevent the unfinished work by automatically dealing with it even when a part of the cargo handling vehicle comes off. At the same time, since the remaining amount of other work content is transmitted to each cargo handling vehicle, the excellent effect that each cargo handling vehicle can adjust its work speed to further improve the efficiency of the overall cargo handling work Exert.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a physical distribution system of a forklift truck using a wireless LAN in an embodiment embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a data terminal device, a wireless device, a printer, and the like mounted on each forklift according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a cargo handling zone table registered in a memory storage area of a host computer in an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a priority order table registered in a memory storage area of a host computer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a work content table registered in a memory storage area of a host computer in an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a zone-specific work content table registered in a memory storage area of a host computer in an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of a cargo handling instruction method executed by a host computer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a continuation of the processing operation of the cargo handling work instruction method executed by the host computer in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a display in a data terminal according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a work content table registered in a memory storage area of a host computer in a conventional example.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a type table registered in a memory storage area of a host computer in a conventional example.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a storage location table registered in a memory storage area of a host computer in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1A to 1D: Forklift as cargo handling vehicle, 2, 9
A to 9C: wireless devices constituting communication means, 11: wireless controller, 14: host computer (11 and 14 constitute a management unit), 17 ... priority table, 1
9, 21, 22, ... work contents table, 20A to 20C ...
Zone-specific work content tables, A to C ... cargo handling zones.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cargo handling instruction method for selectively instructing each of a plurality of cargo handling vehicles to each of a plurality of cargo handling vehicles by using a communication unit from a management unit that manages the entire cargo handling work. In the same manner, in the management unit, the priority of the cargo handling zone to be assigned to each cargo handling vehicle is determined by the entire cargo handling area. Zones are determined in advance, and the management unit classifies all work contents as a plurality of work sets for each of the cargo handling zones according to a difference in a place where a load to be processed is placed. The unit, when receiving a request for a work instruction from each of the cargo handling vehicles, corresponds to a cargo handling zone having the highest priority for a cargo handling vehicle that has requested the work instruction among the work sets that are not empty sets. Do The work content that has not been executed is selected from the business group, and at the same time, the management unit aggregates the remaining amount of the other work content, and the management unit determines the selected work content and the other work content. A method of instructing a cargo handling operation, wherein the remaining amount is instructed and transmitted to the cargo handling vehicle that has requested the work instruction using the communication means.