JP2889806B2 - Article loading method and apparatus - 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 and an apparatus for loading articles on a pallet in which a container of a fixed size and a case of a unique size are mixed and loaded on a pallet. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for loading articles to be loaded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-264116 discloses that when a large number of articles loaded on a delivery vehicle are sorted at a loading station, the number of delivery destinations per delivery by the delivery vehicle and each delivery destination are determined. A method is disclosed in which articles are sorted so that they can be sequentially loaded in a delivery vehicle after loading and unloading in accordance with a delivery type, a quantity, and the like.

[0003]

In the prior art, however, a plastic container of a fixed size containing a plurality of types of articles and a cardboard box of a single type containing an article and having a size uniquely determined by the type. And a case where they are mixed, sorted on a sorting conveyor by a sorting conveyor, and stacked on a pallet. In this case, there are the following problems.

[0004] When the container is loaded first, the case cannot be placed on the upper surface because the upper surface is open.

[0005] If the case is loaded first, and the container is placed thereon, the weak case will be damaged. In addition, since a hard container is placed on a soft case, the load easily collapses.

[0006] At the time of sorting, if a container is flowed behind the case, the soft case may be crushed. Further, if only the container is to be flown first, the picking of the case cannot be started until after all the loose picking of various articles into the container is completed, and the work efficiency is deteriorated.

[0007] Since the road is inclined to the outer edge of the traffic band of the vehicle for draining to the gutter (the left inclination on a left-hand traffic road as in Japan), the load loaded on the delivery vehicle is in the inclination direction. (Left side), it is easy to collapse during delivery.

When the load height of the load on the pallet is made random, the load height becomes uneven and the load easily collapses.

[0009] Since there is no consideration of loading the container so that the one to be delivered first is placed on top, it is difficult to take out the container at the destination after loading the container in the delivery vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to stabilize a stowed state of a pallet when containers and cases are mixedly loaded on the pallet.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of stowage by enabling parallel picking of containers and picking of cases to be performed in parallel.

Another object of the present invention is to make it easy to take out containers and cases loaded on a delivery vehicle at a delivery destination.

[0013]

According to the present invention, there is provided a container of a fixed size for storing a plurality of types of articles, and a size for storing a single type of articles and uniquely determined by the type. And the case are stacked on a pallet.
In the method of packing goods to be loaded on a delivery vehicle so as to keep the pallet packing , containers of a certain size are stacked in multiple layers near one side of the pallet, and then cases of different sizes are placed on the pallet. In the remaining space, the pallets will be piled up so that the heights will be almost uniform , and
And the container is moved in the direction of travel of the delivery vehicle.
Are placed near the outer edge of the traffic band .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect of the present invention, a container stowage line for stacking containers on the pallet and a case stowage line for stacking cases on the pallet are arranged in parallel. They are arranged.

[0015]

The present invention described in claim 3 provides the present invention as defined in claim 1 or
In the present invention described in Item 2 , further, among the containers, those having a later delivery destination are stacked closer to the outer edge of the traffic band of the delivery vehicle.

The present invention described in claim 4 provides the invention according to claims 1-3.
Further, in the present invention described in the above, the case is distributed to a plurality of packing conveyors installed respectively corresponding to the plurality of loading sections of the pallet, after packing, and then loaded on the pallet, The cases are distributed to the packing conveyor so as to be proportionately distributed to the remaining space of the pallet on which the containers are stacked.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for stacking articles on a pallet in which a plurality of containers are stacked, based on the number of containers to be stacked, the number of stacked layers of the containers, and the position of stacking on the pallet. Is determined, and the containers are stacked so that the one to be delivered first is up, up to the number of layers according to the above result, and the stacked containers are arranged from one side of the pallet to the other side in the order of destination. and, upon transferring the pallet, stowage number of containers Karaso
An arithmetic unit that determines the stowage pattern of
Lift up from the one delivered first and lift first
Container stacking the lower one in order under the container
A layer device, a conveyor for transporting the stacked containers,
A multi-rowing device for arranging the stacked rotenenas in a plurality of rows;
A transfer device that transfers containers arranged in a sequence to a pallet
And a container that transports the pallet
And a carrier.

[0019]

[0020]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the following :
Has the effect of The area for stacking containers on the pallet and the area for stacking cases do not overlap vertically. The container is a fixed size, even if the top surface is open,
Multiple containers can be stably stacked.

Since the container does not rest on the case, the weak case is not damaged by the weight of the container. Also, there is no hard container on the soft case, so the load does not collapse. Container is a delivery car
Near the outer edge of the traveling band of the delivery vehicle in the traveling direction of
(To the left on a left-hand road like in Japan)
Be killed. Therefore, roads will not be able to
If the vehicle is inclined to the outer edge of the traffic band (left inclined), the delivery vehicle
Container is tilted in the direction of its inclination (left side),
It is stable against the side wall of the delivery vehicle, and it is hard to collapse.
Containers are stable even when stacked, and
It is like a wall when stacked,
A stable high load by leaning against the container wall
Can be.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
Has the effect of Container stowage line and case stowage
The lines were arranged in parallel. Therefore, container stowage line
After storing loose picked items in a container,
Only tena is loaded directly on the pallet. And the case product
At the attachment line, the cases are sorted as usual
The pallets already loaded with containers.
Stack these cases in the rest of the pallet when you wear them.
It will add. That is, bulk picking into containers
And case picking can be processed in parallel, resulting in good work efficiency.
No.

[0023]

Claims According to the invention described in
Has the effect of In the above, the order of destination is later
Move the container closer to the outer edge of the traffic band of the delivery vehicle (Japan
On left-hand traffic roads).
Therefore, the side wall on the outer edge side of the traffic band of the delivery vehicle is more stable.
Leave the containers in the loading area later in the shipping order, so
Less likely to collapse during shipment.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the following operations are provided. Since the case is proportionally distributed to the remaining space after the containers are loaded on the pallet, the load height of the load on the pallet is substantially uniform, and the load is less likely to collapse.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the following operations are provided. The containers are stacked so that the one to be delivered first is on the top, and the stacked containers are arranged from one side of the pallet to the other side in the order of destination and loaded on the pallet. Therefore, by loading the pallet from one side to the other side in the front-rear direction of the carrier of the delivery vehicle, the container to be delivered first comes to the rear (door side) and the upper part of the carrier, so that it can be easily taken out at the delivery destination. .

[0027]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the entire stowage equipment, FIG.
Is a flow chart showing a pallet packing form forming flow, FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a pallet packing form, FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a container loading pattern, FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a loading direction on a delivery vehicle, and FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a container stowage plan, FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a case stowage plan, FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a container stacking apparatus, and FIG. Schematic diagram showing a transfer device,
FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing a container stowage process, and FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a case stowage apparatus.

[0028] The article stacking equipment 10 is a pallet 3 for storing a container 1 of a fixed size containing a plurality of kinds of articles and a case 2 containing a single kind of articles and having a size uniquely determined by the kind. Stow. Container 1 is made of plastic, metal, cardboard box, etc.
Is formed from a cardboard box or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, an article stowage facility 10 includes a container stowage line 10 </ b> A for stowing a container 1 storing various articles picked up by a loose picking facility 11 on a pallet 3, and a case picked up by a case picking facility 12. 2 and a case stowage line 10B for stacking them on the pallet 3 are arranged in parallel. And the container stowage line 10A
A pallet transfer line 10C for transferring the pallet 3 in which the containers 1 are stowed on the container stowage line 10A to the stowage station 13 of the case stowage line 10B is provided between the pallet 3 and the case stowage line 10B.

The container stowage line 10A has a container stowage device 21. Further, the case stacking line 10B includes a sorting conveyor 31 for sorting the cases 2 for each pallet 3, a loading conveyor 32 for distributing the cases 2 sorted after each pallet 3 to each stacking section of the pallet 3, The case stacking device 33 is provided. The pallet transport line 10C has a pallet transport cart 41 for transporting the pallets 3.

Hereinafter, (A) pallet packing style, (B) container loading pattern, (C) case loading position, (D) example of loading plan, (E) container loading device, (F) pallet transport cart ,
Each of (G) case stacking device and (H) pallet packing form forming flow will be described in detail.

(A) Pallet packing (FIG. 3) A pallet 3 is provided with a slip sheet 4 on which a container 1 and a case 2 are placed.

The pallet 3 has its front-rear direction (direction from one side to the other side) coincident with the longitudinal direction of the bed of the delivery vehicle 5,
And a plurality of pallets 3 (four in this embodiment)
A plurality of stowage sections corresponding to each of the set of loading arranging conveyors 32 are divided into a plurality of (four) in the front-rear direction of the pallet 3.

That is, the container 1 and the case 2 are placed on the pallet 3
The pallet is loaded on the delivery vehicle 5 via the slip sheet 4 so as to maintain the pallet packing.

The container 1 is located on the left side of the pallet 5 when viewed from the side of the loading door (the delivery vehicle 5 moves in the traveling direction of the delivery vehicle 5).
, The left side of the traffic band in Japan, the left side in Japan, so it will be closer to the left side here, but in the case of right side traffic, it will be closer to the right side). In addition, the case 2 is stacked on the remaining space of the pallet 3 after the container 1 is stacked so that the height is substantially uniform.

At this time, of the containers 1, the ones in the order of the destinations are stacked closer to the left side of the delivery vehicle 5.

The containers 1 are stacked so that the items to be delivered first are placed on top, and the stacked containers 1 are arranged in the front-rear direction of the pallet 3 in the order of destination (a, b, c...) It is stacked on the pallet 3. As a result, the containers 1 are loaded on the loading door side of the delivery vehicle 5 and on the upper side so as to load the items to be delivered first. In FIG. 3, the serial numbers a, b, c,... Assigned to each container 1 are written for the order of the destination, and are not necessary for the actual container 1. Each container 1 is attached with a label with a store number.

On the other hand, the case 2 is distributed to a plurality of packing conveyors 32 installed corresponding to the plurality of loading sections 1 to 3 of the pallet 3, and the pallets 3 are sorted.
Will be stowed. At this time, the cases 2 are sorted into the loading conveyors 32 so that the cases 2 to be delivered first are stacked in the stowage sections corresponding to the loading door side of the delivery vehicle 5. Further, the distribution of the cases 2 from the sorting conveyor 31 to the respective loading arranging conveyors 32 is performed by proportionally distributing the remaining space of the pallets 3 on which the containers 1 are stowed, so that the height of the stowage of the loads on the pallets 3 is substantially reduced. It is made to equalize.

(B) Container stowage pattern (FIG. 4) The number of layers of containers 1 stacked on the pallet 3 and the stowage position (stowage pattern) on the pallet 3
Is determined from the number of containers 1 to be stowed.

The principle of the loading position is as follows. (A) To form the pallet packing form, (a) put the container 1 of the store to be delivered first on the loading door side and (b) put the container 1 on the left side of the loading platform.
(c) The container 1 of the store to be delivered later is stacked on the left side (for those having the same distance from the door side).

The number of stacking layers of the container 1 is, in principle, five by one, and only the last one is remaining (the number of less than five).
Stack. However, when the number of containers is 2 to 10, the stacking height is averaged in order to stabilize the load (for example, FIG.
(As shown in (B), the total of six containers 1 is three.)

The pattern table shown in FIG.
This is a stacking pattern according to the principle of the number of layers. In FIG. 4, the number assigned to the uppermost container 1 indicates the order of delivery.

In FIG. 4, for example, when the number of containers is 11, the number of containers in the first delivery order is 5, the number of containers in the second delivery order is 5, and the number of containers in the third delivery order is 1. Has become. When the number of containers is 41 to 45, in the same row (front-back direction of the loading platform), those with the lowest delivery order are placed on the loading door side, and in the same row (left-right direction of the loading platform), those with the lowest delivery order are placed on the right side. ing.

(C) Case loading position (FIG. 5) The principle of the case 2 loading position on the pallet 3 is as described above.
In order to form the pallet packing of (A), in the remaining space of the pallet 3 on which the container 1 is stacked, (a) the case 2 of the store to be delivered first is stowed on the loading door side,.
(B) Case 2 of the same product type for the same store is placed in the same stowage category ~ (If case 2 of the same product type for the same store is divided into different stowage categories, (C) To prevent this, (c) the total capacity of all cases 2 loaded on the pallet 3 is distributed proportionally to
Pile the cargo so that the loading height of the load is almost even.

(D) Example of stowage plan (FIGS. 6 to 8) In accordance with the above (B) container stowage pattern and (C) case stowage position principle, stowage for forming the pallet packing style of (A) above. A calculation example will be described.

(1) Dispense an order for one pallet. As shown in FIG. 7 (A), from the order, stores A arranged in the order of delivery
For each of the I stores, the order is separated into case units and bulk units (orders smaller than cases). For case orders,
Calculate the number of cases and the case capacity of each type. For bulk orders, calculate the capacity.

(2) Container 1 for storing bulk order items
Find the number of Divide the bulk order volume of the store by the storable amount of container 1 (here, 40 L) and calculate the number of containers 1 allocated to the store (rounded up)

The number of containers in each of A store to I store for one pallet is summed to obtain the total number of containers for one pallet.
Here, it is 43 pieces.

(3) A container stowage pattern is determined from the container stowage pattern table (FIG. 4).

When the total number of containers for one pallet is 43, an array of [41 to 45] (FIG. 7B) in the pattern table of FIG. 4 is selected.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 7 (C), each of the container groups of Nos. 1 to 8 has five containers 1 stacked,
The ninth container group in the delivery order is to stack the remaining three containers 1. In each container group, a store to be delivered first (store A is ahead of store B) is stacked on top.

(4) Each stowage classification on the pallet 3
Ask for the remaining space. As shown in FIG. 8 (A), in each of the remaining spaces of each of the stowage sections, as shown in FIG.
(0.8 m ³ ), 1/4 of the category (0.4 m ³ )
³ ), and the total remaining space of pallet 3 is 2.8 m ³ .

The total capacity of case orders for one pallet is obtained by summing the case capacities of the respective types obtained in FIG. 7A. Here, it is 2.01 m ³ (see FIG. 7).
(A)).

The total capacity of the case order (2.01 m ³ ) is proportionally distributed according to the size of the remaining space in each of the loading sections of the pallet 3. Here, 0.57 m ³ for each of the ~, is 0.3 m ³ the remaining space prorated amount for (FIG. 8 (A)).

(5) Determination of the sort destination of case 2 The case order for one pallet is determined by using the proportion of the remaining space proportionally allocated to the stowage categories obtained in (4) above as a guide. (FIG. 8B). In this allocation, the case capacity is integrated for each product type in order from the store to which the product is delivered first, and the product types up to the point where the integration result becomes closest to the remaining space proportional distribution amount of the relevant storage type are stored in the storage type. Assign to

As a result, in FIG. 5, among the four packing conveyors 32 corresponding to one pallet, the first (right-hand) packing conveyor 32 is provided with α for stores A to C.
8 products in total, 5 products in A store, 5 products in store, and 5 products in A store and B store
Individuals are sorted from the sorting conveyor 31 and packed. In FIG. 5, the case 2 loaded on the right side of the pallet 3 from the packing conveyor 32 on the right side is on the loading platform door side in a state where it is loaded on the delivery vehicle 5, and the order items from the A store to the C store delivered first. Are stacked and it becomes easy to take out at the delivery destination.

(E) Container stowage device (FIGS. 1, 9 to 11) The container stowage device 21 is a container loading conveyor 2
2, a barcode reader 23, a computing device 24, a container stacking device 25, a stacked container transport conveyor 26, a two-row device (double-row device) 27, a transfer device 28, and a pallet transport conveyor 29.

(E-1) Container Carrying Conveyor 22 The container carrying conveyer 22 has
Then, the container 1 containing a plurality of types of articles picked up in step 1 is carried in.

(E-2) Barcode reader 23 and arithmetic unit 2
4. Container 1 is provided with a barcode label, and the total number of containers to be stacked on one pallet together with container 1 is entered. The barcode reader 23 reads this barcode information on the entry side of the container stacking device 25.

The arithmetic unit 24 determines a container stowage pattern corresponding to the total number of containers from the pattern table shown in FIG. 4 based on the reading result of the barcode reader 23.

(E-3) Container Laminating Apparatus 25 (FIG. 9) The container laminating apparatus 25 stacks the containers 1 up to a predetermined number according to the stacking pattern determined by the arithmetic unit 24.

The container stacking device 25 includes a chain conveyor 51 for receiving the container 1 from the container carry-in conveyor 22, a lift device 52 for holding and lifting the container 1, a support device 53 for supporting the container 1 lifted by the lift device 52, and a lift. The device 52 has a container guide 54 that lifts up and holds the container 1 supported by the support device 53 from both sides.

The lift device 52 includes a motor 55, a driving shaft 56 rotated by the motor 55, and a driving shaft 5.
6, the right and left crank arms 57 fixed to 6, the right and left elevating frames 59 which are raised and lowered via connecting links 58 connected to the respective crank arms 57, and guide the respective elevating frames 59 along the guide rails 60 in the elevating direction. The left and right linear guides 61, the left and right container gripping arms 62 swingably connected to the respective lifting and lowering frames 59 and gripping the bottom of the container 1, and the left and right container gripping arms 62 disposed on the respective lifting and lowering frames 59 An open / close cylinder 63 that swings in and out of the gripping position with respect to the container 1. The lift device 52 enables the left and right container gripping arms 62 to move up and down from a lower position below the chain conveyor 51 to an upper position above the container carry-in area on the chain conveyor 51 by the rotation of the motor 55. As a result, the lift device 52 raises the left and right container gripping arms 62 set to the closed position by the opening / closing cylinder 63 from the lowered position to the raised position, and in the raising process, moves the container 1 on the chain conveyor 51 to the container. Lift up to the loading position. Then, the lifting device 52 lowers the left and right container gripping arms 62 set to the open position by the opening / closing cylinder 63 from the raised position, and does not interfere with the next container 1 already carried in on the chain conveyor 51. The grip arm 62 is returned to the lowered position. In addition, the lift device 52 receives the lowermost one of the plurality of containers 1 supported by the support device 53 on the left and right container gripping arms 62 set at the closed position,
By moving the gripping arm 62 from the raised position to the lowered position, the stacked containers 1 can be transferred to the chain conveyor 51.

The support device 53 includes left and right support rods 64.
And the support claws 65 pivotally attached to the support rods 64 and swing in a certain angle range, engage with the side wall recesses 1A of the container 1 to support the container 1, and engage the support claws 65 with the container 1. And a supporting claw release cylinder 66 which is moved in and out of the position. With the support claw 65 set to the engagement position with respect to the container 1 by the cylinder 66, the support device 53 is attached to the side wall of the container 1 that passes upward through the front surface of the support claw 65 in the process of lifting the container 1 with respect to the lift device 52. The container 1 swings so as to escape to the outside of the container 1, and immediately after the container 1 is lifted down by the lift device 52, engages with the concave portion 1A of the container 1 to swing and lock. Support in the air. The support device 53 holds the lowermost layer of the multi-stage container 1 supported by the support device 53 to the holding arm 6 of the lift device 52.
In the state where the container 1 is left, the support claws 65 are set to the non-engagement position with respect to the container 1 by the cylinder 66, and the stacked containers 1 can be lowered to the chain conveyor 51 side by the lift device 52.

The container stacking device 25 has a carry-in container number counting device (photo switch) 67 installed on the input side of the chain conveyor 51.

Accordingly, the operation of stacking the containers 1 by the container stacking device 25 is performed as follows.

(1) First, the lifting frame 59 is set to the lowered position by the lifting device 52 and the container gripping arm 6
2 is hidden under the chain conveyor 51.

(2) After the first container 1 is loaded, the lifting frame 59 is lifted, and the container 1 is lifted.

(3) Since the container supporting claws 65 are hooked on the concave portion 1A of the container 1 near the rising end of the lifting frame 59, the gripping arm 62 is opened by the opening / closing cylinder 63, and the lifting frame 59 is lowered.

The lifting operation is performed by rotating the driving shaft 56 by the motor 55 after detecting that the container 1 has been carried in.

(4) The container 1 is supported by the container support claws 65 and is held above the conveyor 51.

(5) After the lifting frame 59 reaches the rising end, the second container 1 is loaded in parallel with the opening / closing operation.

At this time, since the container gripping arm 62 is open, it does not hit the second container 1 even if it descends.

(6) Like the first container 1, the second container 2 is lifted, and the first container 1 is pushed up. This time, the second container 1 is supported by the container support claws 65.

(7) The number of containers is counted by the container number counting device 67, and when the number of containers reaches a predetermined number, the gripping arm 62 is not opened at the rising end, and the claw 65 is opened by the container supporting claw release cylinder 66.

The elevating frame 59 is lowered as it is, and the stacked containers 1 are lowered onto the conveyor 51 and carried out.

(E-4) Stacked Container Transport Conveyor 26, 2
Rowing device 27 (FIG. 1) The containers 1 stacked by the container stacking device 25 are transported by a stacking container transport conveyor 26, and if necessary according to the palletizing pattern, by the double rowing pushers 27 A of the double rowing device 27. Is transferred to a two-row conveyor 26A adjacent to the stacked container transport conveyor 26. Thus,
The arrangement of the container stacking group of 2 rows × 2 rows is changed to the conveyor 26, 2
6A on the outlet side.

(E-5) Transfer Device 28 (FIGS. 1 and 10) The transfer device 28 is constituted by the transfer pusher 28A on the exit side of the stacked container transport conveyor 26 and the two-row conveyor 26A. The container stacking group of 2 rows × 2 rows is transferred from the side of the two-row conveyor 26A to the pallet transport conveyor 29.
Transfer to pallet 3 above. Since there is a gap between the double-row conveyor 26A that transports the double-row containers 1 and the pallet 3 on the pallet transport conveyor 29, a flexible type that closes the gap on the side of the double-row conveyor 26A. Is provided to prevent stumbling of the container 1. When the container 1 is not formed, the transfer plate 68 is flipped up by a spring as shown in FIG.
Is pushed down by the container 1 at the time of transfer.

(E-6) Pallet Transport Conveyor 29 (FIG. 1) The pallets 3 are stacked in multiple layers on the pallet stacker 69 and stocked, and are taken out from the bottom one by one to the pallet transport conveyor 29 as needed. .

The 2 × 2 container stacking group transferred by the transfer device 28 to the pallet 3 on the pallet transport conveyor 29 is パ レ ッ ト of the area of one pallet, and has a length of one pallet in the front-rear direction. It is 1/2. Therefore, the pallet transport conveyor 29 first positions the first half of the pallet 3 on the side of the two-row conveyor 26A, and transfers the container 1 to this first half. Next, the pallet transport conveyor 29 transports the pallet 3 by half, and adds the next container 1 to the rear half thereof.

(E-7) Example of Step of Stowing Container 1 on Pallet 3 (FIG. 11) In the case of the stowage plan example (D) shown in FIG. Will be described.

(1) Each container group in the delivery order 1 to 9 of the container stowage pattern of FIG.
5, and are carried out to the stacked container transport conveyor 26 (FIG. 11A).

(2) The first stacked container group in the delivery order is transferred from the stacked container transport conveyor 26 to the second
Extrude onto rowing conveyor 26A. Similarly, the container stacking group in the second order in the delivery order is also extruded from the stacking container transport conveyor 26 to the double-row conveyor 26A by the double-row device 27. The two-row conveyor 26A is automatically driven when the container 1 is loaded, and the first container 1 in the delivery order is placed at a position where the first container 1 in the delivery order hits the front end stopper of the two-row conveyor 26A. Is positioned on the tip side of the two-row conveyor 26A (FIG. 11B).

(3) The third and fourth containers 1 in the delivery order are not pushed out to the two-row conveyor 26A, and the third container 1 in the delivery order is brought into contact with the stopper on the leading end side of the stacked container transport conveyor 26. , The fourth container 1 is positioned at the tip end of the stacked container transport conveyor 26 (FIG. 11).
(C)).

(4) The pallet transport of the 2 × 2 row container stacking group of the delivery order Nos. 1 to 4 configured on the exit side of the stacked container transport conveyor 26 and the double row conveyor 26 A by the transfer device 28. It is transferred to the pallet 3 on the conveyor 29 (FIG. 11D).

(5) Since the pattern of the first half of the pallet 3 is completed by the above (4), the pallet 3 is transported by a half length by the pallet transport conveyor 29 (FIG. 11).
(E)).

(6) In parallel with the above (5), the above-mentioned (2) is placed on the stacked container transport conveyor 26 and the two-row conveyor 26A.
In the same manner as in (3), patterns 5 to 7 are arranged in the order of delivery, and the patterns are transferred to the rear half of the pallet 3 on the pallet transport conveyor 29 by the transfer device 28 (FIG. 11).
(E), (F)).

(7) Subsequently, the stacked container transport conveyor 2
In the same manner as in (3) above, the remaining patterns of Nos. 8 and 9 are arranged on the pallet 6 and transferred by the transfer device 28 in the rear half of the pallet 3 on the pallet transport conveyor 29.
To the left of the 7th pattern (Fig. 11 (F),
(G)).

(F) Pallet transport cart 41 (FIG. 1) The pallets 3 loaded with the containers 1 are transferred by the pallet transport conveyor 29 to the direction changing device 71 on the exit side. The direction changing device 71 turns the pallet 3 by 90 degrees, and transfers the pallet 3 to the pallet carrier 41. The pallet transport cart 41 travels along the rail 72 and transports the pallet 3 to the pre-planned loading station 13.

In FIG. 1, the loading station 1
In the present embodiment, there are four pallets 3, and the pallets 3 on the pallet transport cart 41 are positioned at the loading position by the pallet transport conveyor 73 of the loading station 13. Each of the four stowage stations 13 has a 4
The setting is made so as to correspond to each of the sets of the loading assortment conveyors 32 that make up one set. In the present embodiment, four sets of the packing conveyors 32 (a total of 16) are arranged in parallel.

(G) Case stacking device 33 (FIG. 1, FIG. 1)
2) The case stacking device 33 has a stacking conveyor 81. The loading conveyor 81 can be connected to the discharge end of each loading conveyor 32, and can carry in the case 2 temporarily stored in each loading conveyor 32 and transport it to near the loading position of the pallet 3.

As described above, the number of the loading conveyors 81 is four.
A traveling frame 83 disposed on rails 82 extending along the front surface of all the sets of the loading conveyors 32; And a traveling device 84 that can travel along the front surface. The loading operator is the loading conveyor 3
In view of the accumulation condition of the case 2, the loading conveyor 32 to start loading is selected, and the loading conveyor 81 is moved to the rail 8.
2 and is positioned at the facing position of the selected loading conveyor 32. Further, in the loading conveyor 81, the operator moves the conveyor 81 so as to be positioned on any one of the pallets 3 of the four loading stations 13 described above.

After the loading conveyor 81 is positioned at the position opposite to the selected loading conveyor 32, the loading conveyor 81 supports the discharge of the case 2 on the side of the loading conveyor 32 and receives the case 2.

[0093] The loading conveyor 81 is a loading conveyor 3
The case 2 discharged from the container 2 is conveyed to the leading end by the belt conveyor 85. At this time, the loading conveyor 81
Makes the belt conveyor 85 swingable and extendable, and conveys the case 2 at a tip end thereof slightly before the stowage division position defined on the pallet 3.

The stow conveyor 81 has a traveling frame 83.
The swing frame 86 is swingably supported via a swing support shaft, and a chain connected to a pull-up frame 87 connected to an intermediate portion of the swing frame 86 is wound by a swing winding motor 88. As a result, the swing frame 8
6 is pivoted about the pivot shaft, and as a result, the conveyance path angle of the belt conveyor 85 can be pivoted appropriately.

The loading conveyor 81 has a swing frame 86.
The telescopic frame 89 is supported so that it can run. The telescopic frame 89 is supported by the swing frame 86 so as to be able to expand and contract. Then, the swing frame 86 transmits the telescopic driving force of the telescopic drive motor to the telescopic frame 89,
Is caused to travel along the guide rails of the swinging frame 86 to expand and contract the extendable frame 89, and as a result, the transport path length of the belt conveyor 85 can be appropriately expanded and contracted.

The stow conveyor 81 has a telescopic frame 89.
The delivery table 91 is tiltably and slidably supported at the tip of the. The delivery table 91 has an article sliding surface 92 made up of a number of ball casters on the upper surface. This allows
The case 2 conveyed from the belt conveyor 85 slides in the direction of the loading position on the article sliding surface 92 without losing its transport inertia force, and rotates slightly while being guided to the loading position by the operator. By simply applying an operation force, the posture of the article on the sliding surface 92 can be easily adjusted to a direction suitable for stacking.

The delivery table 91 is maintained by the attitude control device so that the article sliding surface 92 is slightly downward with respect to the horizontal (an angle at which the flow of the case 2 can be improved, for example, 0 to 2 degrees) in a substantially constant attitude.

The delivery table 91 is slidable in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the loading conveyor 81, and the operator can move the case 2 on the delivery table 91 from the direction of avoiding the obstructed case already loaded on the pallet 3. It can lead to the upper stowage section position.

However, the case 2 conveyed to the delivery table 91 at the tip of the loading conveyor 81 is handled by the operator as follows.
As shown in (1) to (3), the pallet 3 is stowed at the stowage division position.

(1) The worker guides the case 2 to the stowage division position by using the conveying inertia force imparted by the belt conveyor 85. It is convenient to place your hand lightly on the rear part of the case 2 so that the case 2 can jump to the loading position. At this time, if the case 2 is regulated along the front part of the case 2 so as to stop at the desired position, the work can be performed quickly.

(2) The worker can easily place the case 2 on the sliding surface 92 by applying a slight rotating force to the case 2 on the article sliding surface 92 while guiding the case 2 to the loading section position. Can be oriented appropriately.

(3) By sliding the unloading table 91 in the horizontal direction, stacking can be performed avoiding the obstructive preceding case already stacked.

(H) Pallet packing form (FIGS. 1 and 2) The pallet packing by the article stacking equipment 10 is formed as follows.

(1) Stowage of Container 1 In the container 1, the bulk goods picked up by the bulk picking equipment 11 in the previous process are stored, and are grouped by the same delivery person, and are sequentially delivered from the container 1 to which the goods are delivered first. It is transported (one delivery vehicle is loaded with one, one and a half or two pallets, depending on its body size).

The container 1 is provided with a barcode label, and the total number of containers to be stacked on the pallet 1 is entered. This barcode information is read by the barcode reader 23 in front of the container stacking device 25, and a stowage pattern (number of stowage, arrangement) corresponding to the number of containers is determined from the container stowage pattern table (FIG. 4) by the arithmetic unit 24. I do.

Based on the result, the container laminating apparatus 2
5, the container 1 is stacked up to a predetermined number of stages.

The loaded containers are conveyed by the conveyor 26, and if necessary, are transferred to the adjacent conveyor 26A by the two-row unit 27 according to the palletizing pattern. In this way, an array of up to 2 rows × 2 rows is formed and the load is transferred to the pallet 3.

[0108] 2 rows x 2 rows is 1 / the length of the pallet in the front-rear direction.
Two hits. First, transfer the container 1 to the first half of the pallet 3, then move the pallet 3 by half the pallet,
Add to the back half.

The pallets 3 are stacked in a plurality of stages and held in the pallet stacker 69, and are taken out one by one from the bottom as needed.

The pallet 3 loaded with the container 1 is turned 90 degrees by the direction changing device 71,
To each loading station 13. Which loading station 13 is to be transported is planned in advance.

(2) Stowage of Case 2 In parallel with stowage of the container 1, the case 2 is sorted into the loading conveyor 32 corresponding to the stowage station 13 where the pallet 3 is conveyed.

In case 2, orders for a plurality of pallets are put together, taken out for each product type by the case picking equipment 12 (batch picking), and distributed to the packing conveyor 32 corresponding to each loading station 13 by the sorting conveyor 31.

[0113] The four packing conveyors 32 correspond to one pallet 3. The cases 2 packed on each of the packing conveyors 32 are taken out by the case stacking device 33 and stacked around the facing portion of the pallet 3. In FIG. 5, the articles to be delivered first are sorted on the right packing conveyor 32 (at the loading station 13, the right side of the pallet 3 corresponds to the rear part of the carrier of the delivery vehicle 5).

The distribution amount of the case 2 to each of the packing conveyors 32 is distributed in proportion to the remaining space after the containers 3 are stacked. For example, in the case of the stowage plan example in (D) above, stowage category ~ is 2/7, and stowage category is 1
The articles are distributed to the loading conveyors 32 so as to have a capacity of / 7 (FIG. 8).

The pallets 3 on which the cases 2 are stacked are taken out by the forklift 101 and loaded on the delivery vehicle 5. At this time, the container 1 is loaded so as to be on the left side in the traveling direction of the delivery vehicle 5.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The stacking area of the container 1 on the pallet 3 and the stacking area of the case 2 do not overlap vertically. The container 1 has a fixed size, and a plurality of containers 1 can be stably stacked even if the upper surface thereof is open.

Since the container 1 does not rest on the case 2, the weak case 2 is not damaged by the weight of the container 1. Further, since the hard container 1 is not placed on the soft case 2, the load does not collapse.

A container stowage line 10A and a case stowage line 10B were arranged in parallel. Therefore, in the container stowage line 10A, bulk picked products are
Then, only the container 1 is directly loaded on the pallet 3. Then, in the case stacking line 10B, the case 2 is sorted by the sorting conveyor 31 as in the conventional case,
When the pallet 3 already loaded with the container 1 arrives, these cases 2 are added to the remaining space of the pallet 3. That is, the picking of the bulk into the container 1 and the picking of the case can be performed in parallel, and the work efficiency is good.

The container 1 is stacked near the outer edge of the traveling band of the delivery vehicle 5 in the traveling direction of the delivery vehicle 5 (on the left side on a left-hand traffic road as in Japan). Therefore, when the road is inclined to the outer edge side of the traffic band of the vehicle for draining into the gutter (to the left), the container 1 is kept in the delivery vehicle even if the carrier of the delivery vehicle 5 is inclined to the inclination direction (to the left). Stable against the side walls of Further, since the containers 1 are stable even when they are stacked and have a fixed size, they become like a wall when they are stacked, and the case 2 can lean against the wall of the container 1 and can be stably stacked high.

In the above description, the containers 1 whose delivery order is later are stacked closer to the outer edge of the traffic band of the delivery vehicle 5 (to the left of a left-hand traffic road as in Japan). Therefore, since the container 1 in the more stable loading area on the side wall on the outer edge side of the traffic band of the delivery vehicle 5 is left later in the delivery order, the cargo is less likely to collapse during delivery.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the following operations are provided. Since the case 2 is proportionately distributed to the remaining space after the container 1 is stacked on the pallet 3, the load height of the load on the pallet 3 is substantially uniform, and the load is less likely to collapse.

The containers 1 are stacked so that the one to be delivered first is placed on top, and the stacked containers 1 are arranged from one side of the pallet 3 to the other side in the order of destination, and are stacked on the pallet 3. . Accordingly, by loading the pallet 3 from one side to the other side in the front-rear direction of the carrier of the delivery vehicle 5, the container 1 to be delivered first comes to the rear part (door side) and the upper part of the carrier. Easy to take out.

[0123]

As described above, according to the present invention, when containers and cases are mixedly loaded on a pallet, the packaging of the pallet can be made orderly and the stowed state can be stabilized.

Further, according to the present invention, the picking of the bulk into the container and the picking of the case can be performed in parallel, so that the efficiency of the stowage operation can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, the containers and cases loaded on the delivery vehicle can be easily taken out at the delivery destination.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the entirety of a stowage facility.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a pallet package appearance forming flow.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a pallet packing appearance.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a container stow pattern.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a direction of loading a delivery vehicle.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a pallet loading plan flow;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a container stowage plan.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a case packing plan;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a container laminating apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a container transfer device.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing a container loading step.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a case stacking device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 2 Case 3 Pallet 4 Slip sheet 5 Delivery vehicle 10 Article loading equipment 10A Container loading line 10B Case loading line 21 Container loading device 24 Arithmetic device 25 Container stacking device 26 Stacked container transport conveyor 27 Double row device ( Double rowing device) 28 Transfer device 29 Pallet transport conveyor 31 Sorting conveyor 32 Packing conveyor 33 Case stacking device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B65G 67/00-67/56 B65G 57/00-57/32 B65G 61/00

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A housed a plurality of fixed size that article was housed varieties containers, articles of a single variety, stowage and uniquely-determined size of the case, to the pallet by breed, the pallet packing In a method of packing goods to be loaded on a delivery vehicle so as to maintain the same size, containers of a certain size are stacked in multiple layers near one side of the pallet, and then cases of different sizes are placed in the remaining space of the pallet. The pallets are stacked so that they are almost even in height to form a pallet package , and the containers are moved in the direction of travel of the delivery vehicles.
A method for packing articles, wherein the articles are stacked near the outer edge of the row band . 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a container stacking line for stacking containers on the pallet and a case stacking line for stacking cases on the pallet are arranged in parallel. 3. An article stowage method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein those shipping order is later more, and wherein the attaching more product to the passage band edge side of the delivery vehicle of the container. 4. The case according to claim 1, wherein the case is distributed to a plurality of loading conveyors installed corresponding to the plurality of loading sections of the pallet, and the cases are loaded on the pallet. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the cases are distributed so as to be proportionally distributed to the remaining space of the pallet on which the containers are loaded. 5. An apparatus for stacking articles on a pallet in which a plurality of containers are stacked, wherein the number of containers to be stacked and the stacking position on the pallet are determined from the number of containers to be stacked. Up to the number of stacks according to the result of the above, the items to be delivered first are stacked up, and the stacked containers are arranged from one side of the pallet to the other side in order of destination and transferred to the pallet At this time, the stowage pattern is determined from the number of stowed containers.
Computing device and the container are sequentially lifted from the one delivered first,
Laminate the next one in order under the container you lifted earlier
Container stacking apparatus, a conveyor for transporting stacked containers, a multi-row apparatus for arranging the stacked containers in a plurality of rows, and a transfer apparatus for transferring the containers arranged in a plurality of rows to a pallet.
And a conveyor for transporting the pallets on which the containers have been transferred.
An article stowage apparatus comprising: