JP2947834B2 - Picking method - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for picking from a pallet of mixed products discharged from an automatic warehouse or the like, and a system for loading a load on the mixed pallet. .

In the present invention, "picking" refers to taking out a load to be unloaded from a mixed pallet discharged from an automatic warehouse, or placing a load on the pallet to constitute a mixed pallet for entering the automatic warehouse. , Or any one of However, both are distinguished in the detailed description of the invention.

 In the present invention, the pallet includes a bucket.

[Conventional technology]

In a warehouse such as a three-dimensional warehouse or a rotating shelf using a stacker crane, pallets are loaded and stored.

The state of storing the load on the pallet includes a case where one type of load is placed on one pallet and a case where a plurality of loads are placed on one pallet. The latter is called a mixed pallet. In the mixed pallet method, the computer of the automatic warehouse stores the type and quantity of the load for each pallet. (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-2583
No. 05, JP-A-63-208409, JP-A-63-97505
In the mixed pallet method, when a delivery request is made, the corresponding mixed pallet is carried out to the exit. Then, the worker at the delivery port (picking work place) picks the component from the mixed pallet based on the name and quantity of the picking component (delivery component) in a picking instruction or the like. When the picking is completed, the pallet is returned to the entrance.

On the other hand, in the method of loading a load for the mixed loading pallet, a pallet having at least one empty storage area is conveyed by a conveyor line at a place where the load is loaded. The operator places a load in the empty storage area. If there are a plurality of empty storage areas, load one of them. The calculator has
The pallet and the type and number of loads are stored.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the above prior art, the work cannot be performed unless the picking worker is a person who is familiar with the picked parts and names.
They also had to find out where the parts were on the pallet, which was time-consuming and time-consuming to pick.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to improve the efficiency of a picking operation without requiring a picking operator to remember picking parts.

Another object of the present invention is to allow a load to be properly loaded in a predetermined storage area when loading a pallet.

[Means for solving the problem]

The above object of the present invention is a picking method for picking mixed loads from a pallet divided into a plurality of areas in order to enter or leave an automatic warehouse, and on a conveyor arranged on a transport line. When the pallet is transported, the computer selects one of the plurality of areas as a picking area, and the computer issues a display instruction to a display arranged near the transport line with the selected area. The object is achieved by instructing the irradiating means to irradiate the selected area, and moving the unselected area to a position provided with the picking preventing means.

When there is no load to be picked in the selected area and the picking end is input, and there is a load to be picked in another area on the same pallet, the computer changes the selected area and It is preferable that the pallet is rotated by the rotating means to move the changed selected area to the picking position.

More preferably, by rotating means that can rotate the pallet every 90 degrees or 180 degrees, moving the picking area selected from the plurality of areas to a picking position,
The picking number of the load is displayed together with the selected area on the display.

[Action]

In any case, the storage area to be targeted is visually indicated. For this reason, picking and a load can be placed without a doubt.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention for picking will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 shows a picking place. In front of the worker M, a pallet 40 discharged from the automatic warehouse is placed on the conveyor 10.
And stopped by the conveyor 11. Here, the picked load is put into the bucket 16 of the loading platform 15 for unloading. The bucket 16 of the carrier 15 is transported by a forklift or the like. At an easily visible position near the worker M, there are a display 30 and a commander 31 made of a CRT or the like. The display 30 may be installed at a position facing the worker M via the conveyor 11.

In FIG. 1, four projectors are provided above the conveyor 11.
There is an irradiator with 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d. Floodlights 21a-21
d can project visible light from above onto the load on the pallet 40 on the conveyor 11.

A computer (not shown) drives the irradiator 20 and the display 30 based on a command from the command device 31 or the like.

The pallet 40 is divided into four parts by a partition plate 41, and a load 45 is placed on each area. Even when there is no partition plate 41, a load is placed on the assumption of these four regions.

As shown in FIG. 3, there are four patterns for loading the pallet 40 based on the four areas A, B, C, and D. Pattern 1 is a case where the types of all loads are the same. Patterns 2 and 3 are for two types of loads,
The orientation of the arrangement is different. Pattern 4 is a case where there are four types of loads. Pattern 4 also includes a case where there are three types of loads. Of course, the areas A to D are also determined by the size (occupied area) of the load.

The computer stores the type of load for each pallet and its position (storage area) A, B, C, D.

The irradiator 20 has four light projectors 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d corresponding to the four regions, as shown in the pattern 4 in FIG. The light projectors 21a to 21d are arranged corresponding to the respective areas A to D, and irradiate the pattern 40 with visible light. For example,
The light projector 21a irradiates only the area A and does not irradiate the other areas B, C, and D.

 The picking operation will be described with reference to FIG.

When a retrieval request is issued, the computer retrieves the pallet from the automatic warehouse and transports the pallet to the picking work site via a conveyor line. Conveyor 11 in front of the picking station workers
When the pallet 40 arrives at this point, the transport of the pallet 40 is stopped, and FIG. 2 is executed. In FIG. 2, since the computer manages the tracking data, it is possible to know which pallet has arrived.

Step S11: The computer determines the position of the part to be picked (A to D)
Is output. Even if there are a plurality of loads to be picked on one pallet, the position corresponding to one type of component is notified. The irradiator 20 is based on this, and the
Light emission is instructed to 21a to 21d. In the case of pattern 1, all the projectors 21a to 21d emit light, in patterns 2 and 3, two projectors emit light, and in pattern 4, one projector emits light.

Further, the computer causes the screen of the display 30 to display the number of components to be picked. In addition, the position (area) of the target part
And display the part name. In addition, display of related information such as the destination of the picked component, related components, and a method of storing the components may be considered.

The worker M picks up components in the area irradiated by the light projectors 21a to 21d. The number of picking is the number displayed on the display 30.

Step S13 When the picking of the number displayed on the display 30 is performed, the worker M presses the button of the command device 31 and inputs the end of the picking.

Step S15 If there is a part to be further picked up on the pallet 40, the computer returns to step S11 and outputs the position and number of the next part to the irradiator 20 and the display 30. The same applies hereinafter.

On the other hand, if there are no parts to be picked, the conveyor 11
And the like to drive the pallet 40.

In the above embodiment, the number of picking can be indicated by an instruction. However, when the information is displayed on the screen, the number of picking parts in the previous time disappears. In addition, since the number of components is displayed large, recognition can be easily and reliably performed. Further, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of confirming the instruction.

In the above embodiment, the picking target storage area is illuminated. However, another picking target storage area may be irradiated to indicate the picking target storage area.

When the pallet 40 is divided in a cross shape as in the above-described embodiment, picking is easy from the two areas on the worker M side, but picking from the two areas on the back side requires reaching out. , Difficult to work.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 has been made in view of this point. The conveyor 11 in front of the worker M is a turntable
See on 12. The turntable 12 can be stopped every 90 degrees. The computer can recognize the positional relationship between the respective areas A to D of the pallet 40 on the conveyor 11 and the worker M. Although two areas are located on the worker M side of the pallet 40, the area picked by the worker M is only the left area on the near side in the drawing. If necessary, a simple cover 50 is provided to prevent access to other areas. For example, the cover 50 is made of a wire mesh, and is provided above the other three areas except the area to be picked on the front left side. Also, the cover 50a is located in front of the area on the front left side. This is because, for example, components are placed in each area, and picking can be performed each time a component in each area is located in the picking area. palette
Turntable 12 is lifted to facilitate rotation of 40
See page 13.

 The operation will be described with reference to FIG.

Step S21 When the pallet 40 arrives at the conveyor 11, the computer instructs the turntable 12 so that the picking target component is located on the front left picking target area. Thereby, the turntable 12 rotates the pallet 40 to a predetermined position. Of course, the conveyor 11 is raised and rotated by the lifter 13. Next step if you don't need to rotate
Move to S23.

Step S23 When the target component stops in the picking area, one of the projectors 21f provided above the area is turned on. Further, the number of picking is displayed on the display 30.

Since the light projector 21f indicates that picking is possible, it is not necessary to emit light to the components, and the cover 50 may be provided with a weakly emitting lamp 21g. Also, conversely,
The light may be turned off when picking is possible.

 The following steps are the same as in the embodiment of FIG.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, if the size of the component occupies two regions and the component cannot be picked up from only the picking region on the front left side, the cover on the front right side is removed. In addition, the upper cover in the area on the right side is removed. In the case of a component occupying three or more areas, the cover 50 itself is excluded.

According to this embodiment, since the picking can be performed from the front, the picking operation can be simplified. Also,
Even without the cover 50, the picking area can be fixed by prior education and experience, so that poor picking can be prevented.

In the above embodiment, the turntable 12 is stopped every 90 degrees, but may be stopped every 180 degrees. In this case, a lamp is provided on the projector or the cover 50 in each of the two storage areas of the two storage areas in front, and which storage area is to be picked from is displayed.

 The embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 will be described.

In FIG. 7, when the worker M faces the conveyor 11, a display 30a is provided on the facing surface of the worker M via the conveyor 11 toward the worker M. On the display 30a, in addition to the picking number N, four storage areas P of the pallet are displayed on the screen as shown. The area to be picked is displayed in a color that can be identified (indicated by hatching in the drawing). The command device 31 is placed near the worker M. The display 30 may be a television or a display in which a number of light emitters are arranged.

 The operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Step S31 When the pallet 40 stops on the conveyor 11, the picking area and the number of picking are output to the display 30a. The display displays the picking area and the number of picking on the screen.

 The following steps are the same as in the embodiment of FIG.

Next, a description will be given of an embodiment in which the mixed pallet 40 is constructed. 1 and 4, each device may be read as follows. Reference numeral 16 denotes a bucket in which a load is to be placed on the pallet 40. If necessary, there are a number of buckets 16 corresponding to several types of loads. Reference numeral 10 denotes a conveyor line whose downstream side connects to the entrance of an automatic warehouse. display
Numeral 30 indicates the number of loads to load the loads of the bucket 16 on the pallet 40. The type of load on the display is also displayed as necessary. 31
Is a display for inputting the end of the transfer. Irradiator
Numeral 20 emits light to the storage area for loading.

As described above, the operation of each device is as shown in FIG. However, "picking" should be read as "mixed loading of pallets 40".

The computer determines the content of the consolidation in advance and executes it. In addition to being applied to a new pallet, it can also be used for replenishing a pallet that has an empty storage area due to picking.

Therefore, the picking method and apparatus in each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 can also be used for the method and apparatus for loading loads on pallets. This mixed loading includes the pattern 1.

〔The invention's effect〕

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, since it suffices to perform work visually irrespective of the skillful judgment of the operator for picking and consolidation, quick and accurate picking and consolidation are possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a mixed loading state of pallets, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a flowchart for FIG. 4, FIG. 7 is a front view of another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a flowchart for figures. 11 Conveyor, 12 Turntable, 13 Lifter, 20 Irradiator, 21a to 21f Projector, 20g Lamp, 30, 30a Display, 31 Display commander, 40 …palette

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

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A picking method for picking mixed loads from a pallet divided into a plurality of areas to enter or leave an automatic warehouse, wherein the pallets are placed on a conveyor arranged on a transport line. Is transported, the computer selects one of the plurality of regions as a picking region, and the computer issues a display command to a display arranged near the transport line to display the selected region, and A picking method comprising: instructing the means to irradiate the selected area; and moving an unselected area to a position provided with the picking prevention means. 2. A picking area selected from the plurality of areas is moved to a picking position by a rotating means capable of rotating the pallet at every 90 ° or 180 °. Picking method. 3. The picking method according to claim 1, wherein the picking number of the load is displayed together with the selected area on the display. 4. When the picking end is inputted when there is no load to be picked in the selected area,
When there is a load to be picked in another area on the same pallet, the computer changes the selected area and rotates the pallet by the rotating means to move the changed selected area to the picking position. 3. The picking method according to claim 2, wherein: