JP2751904B2 - Logistics control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a physical distribution control device used in a physical distribution system, and more particularly, to a bar attached to an article conveyed by conveyance means such as a conveyance conveyor and indicating the type of the article. Based on an ID code such as a code and an ID code of an article that is scheduled to pass in front of the ID code reader that reads the ID code, based on a scheduled passage table in which the ID codes are stored in the expected order of passing. The present invention relates to a distribution control device having a function of specifying whether or not an article is an article to be passed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Printing or attaching an ID code to an article to specify the article is not limited to a physical distribution system but is generally performed. Here, the ID code is, for example, a barcode or an IC card.

[0003] In commodity sales, etc., it is sufficient that the type of article can be specified. However, in the case of a physical distribution system, it is necessary to perform destination control or the like for each article conveyed by the conveying device, and therefore, the articles are individually recognized. It becomes necessary.

[0004] However, the ID code assigned to an article generally specifies the type of the article like a commodity bar code, and is not unique for each article.

For this reason, in the physical distribution system, an ID attached to the conveyed article and indicating the type of the article is provided.
The code is read by the ID code reader, and the read ID code and the ID code of the article scheduled to pass in front of the ID code reader are stored in the scheduled passage table in the order of the scheduled passage. A tracking technique has been used in which the ID of an entry pointed to is matched with an ID code to specify whether or not the passed article is an article to be passed. Here, the pointer is incremented by one each time a match is made. Then, various physical distribution controls are performed according to the specified result. For example, when articles are sorted by destination, destination information of the articles is stored in a scheduled passage table in combination with an ID code, and the managed ID code and the ID code read by the ID code reader are stored. Are matched, that is, when it is specified that the passed article is the article to be passed, sorting is performed according to the paired destination information.

[0006]

The tracking technique is based on the premise that the articles always pass in front of the ID code reader in a predetermined order, so that the articles may drop from the transport path or be manually input, If the number of articles passing through the front of the ID code reader becomes different from the expected number due to being extracted or the like, a difference occurs between the actual passing order and the expected passing order. When this happens,
Conventionally, normal distribution control cannot be performed. Conventionally, measures such as manually removing an unscheduled article, inserting a scheduled article, or changing a pointer are performed. For this reason, when there is a difference between the actual passing order and the expected passing order of the articles, there is a problem that the difference cannot be quickly corrected. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-59509 describes a technique for detecting a shift between an article actually conveyed and a scheduled article, but does not describe a technique for automatically correcting the shift.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method in which the number of articles passing in front of an ID code reader is larger than a predetermined number,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a distribution control device capable of automatically and quickly correcting a difference between an actual passage order and a planned passage order of articles due to a decrease.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ID code which is read by an ID code reader and indicates a type of an article attached to an article to be conveyed by a conveying means; The ID code attached to the article that is scheduled to pass the reading position where the ID code is read by the code reader is actually passed through the reading position based on the scheduled passing table stored in the scheduled passing order. In a physical distribution control device having a function of specifying whether or not the received article is an article to be passed, a tracking pointer pointing to one of the entries in the above-mentioned passage table, and a And a tentative tracking pointer that points to one of the following, and is scheduled to pass next through the reading position of the ID code reader. An entry in which the ID code of the article is stored is managed, and when the ID code in the managed entry matches the ID code read by the ID code reader, the article passing through the reading position is scheduled to pass. The entry that is specified and managed as an article is advanced to the next entry, and if they do not match, the tracking pointer is set to point to the managed entry, and the temporary tracking pointer is set to
An entry ahead of the managed entry and pointing to the next entry after the entry storing the same ID code as the ID code read by the ID code reader. The ID code in the entry pointed to matches the ID code read by the ID code reader
R>, the tracking pointer is advanced, and I in the entry pointed to by the temporary tracking pointer is
When the D code matches the ID code read by the ID code reader, the process of advancing the temporary tracking pointer is performed by the ID code in the entry pointed to by the tracking pointer and the ID code read by the ID code reader. Or the ID code read by the ID code reader and the ID code in the entry pointed to by the temporary tracking pointer.
Repeatedly until the number of consecutive matches with the code reaches the predetermined number of times, and the ID code reader reads the entry of the tracking pointer and the temporary tracking pointer which is indicated by the one where the number of consecutive matches reaches the predetermined number of times. And control means for managing the ID code of the article scheduled to pass through the position next as an entry.

[0009] In the above configuration, the intended article is identified by an ID.
When passing through the reading position of the code reader, the ID code in the entry managed by the control means matches the ID code read by the ID code reader, so that the passed article is identified as the article to be passed. As well as
The entry to be managed is made the next entry.

[0010] If the article that has actually passed is different from the article that is to be passed, an ID code mismatch will occur. And the ID
When a code mismatch occurs, the tracking pointer
The temporary tracking pointer is an entry ahead of the managed entry, and stores the same ID code as the ID code read by the ID code reader. To the next entry after the entry in question.

If the mismatch between the ID codes is due to the mixing of an unexpected extra article, the ID code read by the ID code reader when the intended article has passed is:
It matches the ID code in the entry pointed to by the tracking pointer. When the ID code in the entry indicated by the tracking pointer matches the ID code read by the ID code reader, the tracking pointer is changed to indicate the next entry.

[0012] If the ID code mismatch is due to a missing article that is expected, the ID code read by the ID code reader when the next article passes is the ID code in the entry pointed to by the temporary tracking pointer. Matches the code. When the ID code in the entry indicated by the temporary tracking pointer matches the ID code read by the ID code reader, the temporary tracking pointer is changed to indicate the next entry.

The number of consecutive matches between the ID code in the entry pointed to by the tracking pointer and the ID code read by the ID code reader, or the ID code in the entry pointed to by the temporary tracking pointer and the ID code read by the ID code reader. When the number of consecutive matches with the ID code reaches the predetermined number, the entry pointed to by the one having the predetermined number of consecutive matches between the tracking pointer and the temporary tracking pointer is set next to the reading position of the ID code reader. It is managed as an entry in which the ID code of the passing article is stored.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the position of a distribution control apparatus 1 according to the present invention in a distribution system. As shown in the figure, the physical distribution system includes a physical distribution control device 1, an ID code reader 2, a sorting device 3, and a transport conveyor 4 for transporting an article 5 with an ID code 6. The ID code 6 indicates the type of the article.

When the article 5 conveyed by the conveyor 4 passes the reading position, the ID code reader 2 reads the ID code 6 attached thereto and sends a signal 9 indicating the read content to the physical distribution controller 1. It has the function of outputting to When the ID code reader 2 cannot detect the ID code 6 but can detect that the article 5 has passed the reading position, the signal 9 indicating the fact is detected.
To the physical distribution control device 1.

The sorting device 3 controls the branch of the transport conveyor 4 according to the transport control signal 7 from the physical distribution control device 1,
It has a function of sorting the articles 5 to destinations indicated by the transport control signal 7.

As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the physical distribution control device 1 includes a passing schedule table 11, a tracking pointer 12, a temporary tracking pointer 13, a first counter 14, a second counter 15, And control means 16.

The passing schedule table 11 stores ID codes of articles scheduled to pass the reading position of the ID code reader 2 and accompanying information for specifying the articles in the order of passing. The accompanying information is uniquely attached to each article, and includes, for example, destination information of the article. Information stored in the passage schedule table 11 is as follows:
The control means 16 receives the passing order scheduled signal 8 from the outside.
Is sent, the content indicated by the message is added to the scheduled passage table 11.

The tracking pointer 12 and the tentative tracking pointer 13 are pointers indicating the entry in which the ID code and the accompanying information of the article to be passed next among the entries of the passing schedule table 11 are stored. . In the initial state, the tracking pointer 12 and the temporary tracking pointer 13 point to the entry in which the ID code of the article scheduled to pass the reading position of the ID code reader 2 first and the accompanying information are stored. It has become.

In the first counter 14, the number of consecutive matches between the ID code in the entry pointed to by the tracking pointer 12 and the ID code read by the ID code reader 2 is set. In the initial state, 0 is set.

The second counter 15 sets the number of consecutive matches between the ID code in the entry pointed to by the temporary tracking pointer 13 and the ID code read by the ID code reader 2. In the initial state, 0 is set.

The control means 16 controls the content of the passage schedule table 11 and the signal 9 from the ID code reader 2 based on
A function of determining whether or not the article that has passed the reading position of the ID code reader 2 is a scheduled article, a function of managing the tracking pointer 12 and the temporary tracking pointer 13, and management of the first and second counters 14 and 15 The ability to
It has a function of outputting a transport control signal 7 to the sorting device 3 and the like.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing an example of the processing of the control means 16. The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

When the article 5 passes the reading position of the ID code reader 2, the ID code reader 2 reads the ID code 6 attached thereto and outputs a signal 9 indicating the content to the physical distribution control device 1. When the ID code 6 cannot be read, but it is detected that the article 5 has passed the reading position, a signal 9 indicating this is output to the physical distribution control device 1.

The control means 16 in the physical distribution control device 1 has an ID
When the signal 9 is sent from the code reader 2, it is I
It is determined whether it indicates a D code or simply indicates that an article has passed (S1).

If it is determined that the ID code is indicated (YES in S1), it is determined whether the valid flag is ON (S2). Here, the valid flag indicates whether or not the tracking pointer 12 is valid. In the initial state, the valid flag is ON, indicating that the tracking pointer 12 is valid.

If the valid flag is ON, the I in the entry pointed to by the tracking pointer 12
It is determined whether the D code matches the ID code read by the ID code reader 2 (S3).

The scheduled article is an ID code reader 2
Is passed, the determination result of S3 is Y
It becomes ES and the processing of S4 is performed. In S4, the control means 17 outputs the transport control signal 7 for sorting the articles to the destination indicated by the destination information included in the accompanying information in the entry pointed to by the tracking pointer 12.
Upon receiving the transport control signal 7, the sorting device 3 sorts the articles 5 flowing on the transport conveyor 4 according to the transport control signal 7.

Thereafter, the control means 16 advances the tracking pointer 12 and the temporary tracking pointer 13 by one (S5), and further increases the first and second counters 14 and 15 by +.
1 (S6). The items to be scheduled are I
While passing the reading position of the D code reader 2,
The above processing is repeatedly performed.

If an article other than the intended article has passed the reading position of the ID code reader 2, the determination result in S3 is NO, and the processing in S9 is performed. The result of the determination in S3 is NO, because the unplanned article is put into the conveyor 4 or the planned article is
This is the case when it is extracted from

If the intended article is taken out of the conveyor 4, there must be an entry in which the ID code and associated information of the article are stored before the entry pointed to by the tracking pointer 12. Therefore, assuming that, the passage schedule table 11 is forward-referenced within a certain range (for example, three entries) from the entry pointed to by the temporary tracking pointer 13 (S).
9).

If an entry storing the same ID code as the ID code read by the ID code reader 2 is found (YES in S10), the temporary tracking pointer 13 is changed to the one pointing to the next entry after the above entry. It changes (S11). At this time, the tracking pointer 12 is not changed. Next, the control means 16 clears the first and second counters to 0, outputs a transport control signal 7 indicating destination unknown to the sorting device 3 (S12, S13), and further turns off the valid flag. (S14). Upon receiving the transport control signal 7 indicating the unknown destination, the sorting device 3 sorts the articles transported on the transport conveyor 4 into the unknown destination chutes.

Thereafter, when the next article passes the reading position of the ID code reader 2, the ID code attached to the article is read by the ID code reader 2 and a signal 9 indicating the content is sent to the control means 16. Come.

When the signal 9 indicating the ID code is sent, the control means 16 indicates that the ID code indicated by the signal 9 and the tracking pointer 12 indicate the valid flag is currently OFF (S2). It is determined whether the ID code in the existing entry matches (S15 in FIG. 4).

If the difference between the article to be passed and the article actually passed is caused by the insertion of one unplanned article, the judgment result in S15 is YES.

If the determination result in S15 is YES, the control means 16 outputs the transport control signal 7 indicating the unknown destination to the sorting device 3 (S16), and advances the tracking pointer 12 by one (S17). , The first counter 14 is incremented by 1, and the second counter 15 is cleared to 0 (S18).

Thereafter, the control means 16 determines whether or not the value of the first counter is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value (for example, 3) (S19). Is changed to indicate the same entry as the entry indicated by the tracking pointer (S
20) Then, the valid flag is turned ON (S21).
That is, the ID code in the entry pointed to by the tracking pointer 12 and the ID read by the ID code reader 2
If the number of consecutive matches with the code exceeds the reference value,
It is determined that the tracking pointer 12 is valid, and thereafter the processing is continued with the entry pointed to by the tracking pointer 12 as the entry storing the ID code of the article to be passed next and the accompanying information. is there.

If the difference between the article to be passed and the article actually passed is caused by the addition of a plurality of unplanned articles, the article to be passed is identified by the ID.
When the vehicle passes the reading position of the code reader 2, the determination result in S15 becomes YES, and the same processing as described above is performed.

On the other hand, if the difference between the article to be passed and the article actually passed is caused by the removal of the article to be passed, the determination result in S15 is NO.

When the result of the determination in S15 is NO, the control means 16 determines whether or not the ID code read by the ID code reader 2 matches the ID code in the entry pointed to by the temporary tracking pointer 13. (S2
2). In this case, the temporary tracking pointer 13 points to the entry in which the ID code of the article expected to pass next and the accompanying information are stored when the ID code mismatch occurs because the article to be passed has been removed. Therefore, the determination result in S22 is YES.

When the result of the determination in S22 is YES, the control means 16 outputs the transport control signal 7 indicating the unknown destination to the sorting device 3 (S23), advances the temporary tracking pointer 13 by one (S24), A process of clearing the first counter 14 to 0 and incrementing the second counter 15 by 1 is performed (S25).

Thereafter, the control means 16 determines whether or not the value of the second counter is equal to or more than a reference value (for example, 3) (S
26). And when it is judged that it is equal to or more than the reference value,
The entry pointed to by the tracking pointer 12 matches the entry pointed to by the temporary tracking pointer 13 (S27), and then the valid flag is turned on (S2).
8). That is, when the number of consecutive matches between the ID code in the entry indicated by the temporary tracking pointer 13 and the ID code read by the ID code reader 2 is equal to or greater than the reference value, it is determined that the temporary tracking pointer 13 is valid, Thereafter, the process is continued with the entry pointed to by the temporary tracking pointer 13 as the entry storing the ID code of the article to be passed next and the accompanying information.

When the result of the determination in S22 is NO, that is, when a plurality of unscheduled articles are continuously input, there is a difference between the articles to be passed and the articles actually passed. In such a case, or when the scheduled article is skipped, the processing of S9 in FIG. 3 is performed.

When the result of the determination in S1 of FIG. 3 is NO, that is, although the ID code attached to the article 5 cannot be read by the ID code reader 2, it can be detected that the article 5 has passed. If so, a transport control signal 7 indicating an unknown destination is output to the sorting device 3 (S7), and thereafter, the tracking pointer 12, the temporary tracking pointer 13
Is advanced by one (S8). In this way, if the article to be passed next passes, correct collation continues.

[0046]

As described above, the present invention is provided with a tracking pointer and a temporary tracking pointer, and is stored in the entry in the passage schedule table corresponding to the article to be passed next managed by the control means. ID
If the code does not match the ID code read by the ID code reader, the tracking pointer is set to point to the entry managed by the control means, and the temporary tracking pointer is set to an entry ahead of the managed entry. And I read by the ID code reader
The ID code is changed to the one that points to the next entry after the entry storing the same ID code as the D code, and the ID code and the ID code in the entry pointed to by the ID code reader are read out of the tracking pointer and the temporary tracking pointer. Since the entry pointed to by the person who has reached the predetermined number of consecutive matches with the ID code is managed as the entry storing the ID code of the article to be passed next, the ID code If the number of articles passing in front of the reader becomes more or less than the expected number, and the actual order of the articles and the expected passing order are shifted, the shift is automatically corrected. It can be corrected quickly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a position of a physical distribution control device in a physical distribution system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a physical distribution control device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of a control unit 16;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing example of a control means 16;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Distribution control device 2 ... ID code reader 3 ... Sorting device 4 ... Conveyor 5 ... Article 6 ... ID code 11 ... Scheduled passage table 12 ... Tracking pointer 13 ... Temporary tracking pointer 14 ... First counter 15 ... Second Counter 16: Control means

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ID code, which is read by an ID code reader and indicates a type of an article attached to an article conveyed by a conveyance unit, and passes through a reading position where the ID code is read by the ID code reader. Based on the passing schedule table in which the ID codes attached to the articles scheduled to pass are stored in the passing schedule order.
In a physical distribution control device having a function of specifying whether or not an article that has actually passed the reading position is an article to be passed, a tracking pointer that indicates one of the entries of the scheduled passage table; Manages and manages an entry in which a provisional tracking pointer that points to one of the entries in the passing schedule table and an ID code of an article that is to be passed next by the reading position of the ID code reader are stored. If the ID code in the entry being read matches the ID code read by the ID code reader, the article that has passed the reading position is identified as the article to be passed, and the entry being managed is changed to the next entry. Advance to the entry, and if they do not match, change the tracking pointer to one that points to the managed entry. Together, the temporary tracking pointer, a forward entries than entries that the management,
The next entry after the entry in which the same ID code as the ID code read by the ID code reader is stored is indicated, and thereafter, the ID code in the entry indicated by the tracking pointer and the ID
If the ID code read by the code reader matches, the tracking pointer is advanced, and if the ID code in the entry pointed to by the temporary tracking pointer matches the ID code read by the ID code reader, the temporary pointer The process of advancing the tracking pointer is performed by the number of consecutive matches between the ID code in the entry pointed to by the tracking pointer and the ID code read by the ID code reader, or the ID in the entry pointed to by the temporary tracking pointer.
Repeatedly until the number of consecutive matches between the code and the ID code read by the ID code reader reaches a predetermined number,
The ID code of an article that is scheduled to pass through the reading position of the ID code reader next to the entry pointed to by the one whose number of consecutive matches has reached the predetermined number of times between the tracking pointer and the temporary tracking pointer. And a control means for managing the entry as a stored entry. 2. The information stored in the entry of the scheduled passage table is a pair of an ID code assigned to an article scheduled to pass the reading position and accompanying information indicating a destination of the article. If the control means specifies that the article that has passed the reading position of the ID code reader is an article to be passed, the control means sorts the articles conveyed by the conveyance means according to destinations. 2. The physical distribution control device according to claim 1, further comprising a configuration for outputting a transport control signal according to accompanying information of the article that has passed the reading position. 3. The physical distribution control device according to claim 2, wherein the ID code is a bar code.