JP3386104B2 - Case automatic warehouse and case sorting method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a case automatic warehouse and a case sorting method for picking various goods in a predetermined shipping order and leaving them, and more particularly to improving shipping efficiency.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the increasing variety of products and the increasing frequency of delivery destinations, it is required to improve the efficiency of storage and sorting. Especially, the case automatic warehouse is used to temporarily store and sort packaged products in case units. ing. For example, the case automatic warehouse 7 shown in FIG.
0 is a pallet storage warehouse 7 that stores goods on a pallet basis
1 and replenishing conveyor 72, and pallet storage warehouse 7
The multi-tiered high-level shelves 73 arranged in a plurality of rows are used to store and sort the packaged products that are disassembled and sent in case units in 1.
And a stacker crane 74, a loading conveyor 75, and a shipping conveyor 76 provided in each row of the multi-tiered high-level shelf 73. Then, the storage shelves of the packaged products sent from the pallet storage warehouse 71 in units of cases are determined for each article by inventory management, and when the packaged products are sent from the pallet storage warehouse 71 in units of cases, the shelf passage of the storage conveyor 75 is used. It is transported to the entrance, and a stacker crane 74 is used to stack multi-tiered shelves 73.
Stored in a predetermined shelf. Further, the packaged goods to be delivered are conveyed from the corresponding shelf to the position of the delivery conveyor 76 by the stacker crane 74, and then sent to the shipping place 77 by the delivery conveyor 76 to be delivered. In order to improve the shipping efficiency, a plurality of case transfer devices may be provided on the same lane of the case storage rack.

[0003]

However, if a plurality of case transfer devices are provided on the same lane of the case storage rack in order to improve the delivery efficiency, it is necessary to prevent the case transfer devices from interfering with each other. However, complicated motion control is required. For this reason, it was very difficult to increase the delivery speed and to deliver in the order of delivery.

An object of the present invention is to provide a case automatic warehouse and a case sorting method capable of improving such disadvantages and efficiently leaving various products with simple control.

[0005]

A case automatic warehouse according to the present invention has a plurality of warehouse units, an incoming conveyor and an outgoing conveyor, each warehouse unit being arranged in parallel,
It includes a case storage shelf of a pair of high-rise for storing luggage such as packaging products and containers, and placed the case transfer means between the arranged case storage shelf in parallel, outgoing and receiving conveyor
Arranged in tandem or matrix along the conveyor
Packaged goods and containers such as containers are loaded into each warehouse unit.
When warehousing, make sure that you do not
The one with the earliest delivery order is the most downstream of the delivery conveyor
Store in the warehouse unit placed on the side, and according to the shipping order
Store in the upstream warehouse unit in order, with the latest shipping order
A warehouse unit with items placed on the most upstream side of the delivery conveyor.
Stored in each warehouse unit, and the packages stored in each warehouse unit are unloaded.
At the same time, the case transfer means of each warehouse unit can be operated in parallel at the same time.
Let's make it and put the luggage of the first delivery cycle on the delivery conveyor.
Pay out at the same time and transfer to the shipping conveyor according to the shipping order
Then, the parcels delivered from each warehouse unit are delivered to the delivery conveyor.
Once delivered, the delivery conveyor is driven to move the cargo downstream.
The feature is that the goods are shipped in a batch.

It is desirable to provide an entrance and an exit of each of the above-mentioned warehouse units at positions facing each other with the case transfer means interposed therebetween.

Further, it is preferable that the above-mentioned storage conveyor and output conveyor are each formed in a loop shape.

The case sorting method according to the present invention has a plurality of warehouse units, an entrance conveyor and an exit conveyor, and each warehouse unit is arranged in parallel to store a pair of high-rise items such as packaged goods and containers. A case storage shelf,
A case sorting method for a case automatic warehouse having case transfer means arranged between case storage shelves arranged in parallel and arranged in a column or matrix along a receiving conveyor and a discharging conveyor. By the receiving conveyor
Packaged goods and containers supplied from the upstream side
When warehousing, make sure that you do not
The one with the earliest delivery order is the most downstream of the delivery conveyor
Store in the warehouse unit placed on the side, and according to the shipping order
Store in the upstream warehouse unit in order, with the latest shipping order
A warehouse unit with items placed on the most upstream side of the delivery conveyor.
Stored in each warehouse unit, and the packages stored in each warehouse unit are unloaded.
At the same time, the case transfer means of each warehouse unit can be operated in parallel at the same time.
Let's make it and put the luggage of the first delivery cycle on the delivery conveyor.
Pay out at the same time and transfer to the shipping conveyor according to the shipping order
Then, the parcels delivered from each warehouse unit are delivered to the delivery conveyor.
Once delivered, the delivery conveyor is driven to move the cargo downstream.
The feature is that the goods are shipped in a batch.

The storage entrance and the exit of each of the above-mentioned warehouse units are provided at positions facing each other with the case transfer means sandwiched between them, and the storage work from the storage entrance to the case transfer means and the exit work from the case transfer means to the exit opening It is desirable to carry out at the same time.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The case automatic warehouse of the present invention has a plurality of warehouse units. In each warehouse unit, a pair of high-layer case storage shelves for storing packages such as packaged goods and containers are arranged in parallel, and case transfer means is provided between the case storage shelves arranged in parallel. The warehouse units are arranged in a column or a matrix along the input conveyor and the output conveyor.

When a packaged product or a package such as a container is stored in each warehouse unit, the package supplied from an upstream device such as a face pick device and conveyed by a storage conveyor is arranged in a plurality of warehouse units arranged in an order of delivery. Store in a planned manner. This method of storing packages stores the packages with the earliest shipping order among the packages that correspond to the same shipping cycle in the warehouse unit located on the most downstream side of the shipping conveyor, and stores them in the upstream warehouse units in order according to the shipping order. The storage unit with the latest delivery order is stored in the warehouse unit arranged on the most upstream side of the delivery conveyor. The number of packages in the same shipping cycle is equal to or less than the number of warehouse units arranged in line. When unloading the parcels stored in each warehouse unit, the case transfer means of each warehouse unit are operated in parallel at the same time to deliver the parcels of the first unloading cycle to the warehousing conveyor all at once, and move them to the warehousing conveyor according to the warehousing order. List. When the parcels delivered from each warehouse unit are delivered to the delivery conveyor, the delivery conveyor is driven to deliver the parcels to the downstream patterner or shipping port at once. This process is repeated for each shipping cycle until one picking batch is completed.

As described above, since the case transfer means of each warehouse unit are simultaneously operated in parallel to deliver the packages to be delivered to the delivery conveyor all at once, the packages to be delivered can be promptly delivered. Further, since the parcels are stored in the warehouse unit according to the delivery sequence, the parcels to be delivered can be arranged on the delivery conveyor according to the delivery sequence.

Further, the entrance and exit of each of the above-mentioned warehouse units are provided at positions facing each other with the case transfer means sandwiched therebetween, and the work of entering from the entrance to the case transfer means and from the case transfer means to the exit are carried out. By performing the shipping operation at the same time, it is possible to efficiently store the parcels cut out from the upstream side and to eject the parcels to be delivered at a high speed in the order of the delivery.

Further, the loading conveyor and the loading conveyor are each formed in a loop shape so that the cargo can be circulated, and the cargo having the loading / unloading error is temporarily saved and reloaded as necessary.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the structure of a case automatic warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the case automatic warehouse 1 includes a plurality of, for example, 10 sets of warehouse units 2a to 2a.
j, a central warehousing conveyor 3 and a central warehousing conveyor 4. As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 2, each of the warehouse units 2a to 2j has a pair of high-level case storage shelves 7a and 7b arranged in parallel and having a plurality of trays 6 for storing packages 5 such as packaged goods and containers. , Case storage shelves arranged in parallel
It has a case transfer means 8 arranged between a and 7b, a storage conveyor 9 connected to the central storage conveyor 3 and a storage conveyor 10 connected to the central storage conveyor 4. Each of the trays 6 of the case storage shelves 7a, 7b is formed of a material having a smooth surface and excellent slidability, such as engineering plastic or stainless steel. The case transfer means 8 is mounted on the trolley 82, and a lifting body 81 that is moved up and down by a drive means such as a motor via a transmission means such as a chain or a belt, a carriage 82 that travels on the lift body 81 by a driving means such as a motor. It has a pair of left and right slide arms 83a and 83b that expand and contract in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the carriage 82, and rotary arms 84a and 84b that are provided at the tips of the slide arms 83a and 83b and that rotate in the vertical direction. The storage conveyor 9 is provided in the middle shelf or the upper and lower sides of one case storage shelf 7a, and the delivery conveyor 10 is provided in the middle shelf or the upper and lower sides of the other case storage shelf 7a. An entrance 9a connected to the transfer means 8 and an exit 10 connected to the case transfer means 8 of the exit conveyor 10.
a is provided so as to face each other with the case transfer means 8 interposed therebetween.

The central warehousing conveyor 3 conveys the parcel 5 supplied from the pallet storage device and the slicing device 11 on the upstream side to the warehouse units 2a to 2j, and the central warehousing conveyor 4 is cut out from the warehouse units 2a to 2j. The parcel 5 is transported to the downstream patternizer or shipping port 12. The central warehousing conveyor 3 and the central warehousing conveyor 4 are formed in a loop shape for temporarily evacuating a package having a warehousing error or a warehousing error and re-loading it as needed.

The case automatic warehouse 1 constructed as described above
The process of storing a package in each of the warehouse units 2a to 2j will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this explanation, the deadline for the order from the customer is until the day before the shipping date, and the case of the distribution / delivery center where the sorting and shipping work is performed in the daytime from the morning to the evening is shown.

First, the delivery order is determined from the order list containing orders up to the previous day, taking into consideration the shipping and rack delivery times (step S1). Next, a picking batch is generated from the determined delivery sequence (step S2).
Here, the picking batch is an order port that is grouped by delivery destination or by time. The total number of product-type units in the generated picking batch is calculated (step S3), and the calculated total number of product-type units and the warehouse units 2a to 2j have already been calculated.
Calculate the difference between the existing baggage, that is, the surplus baggage generated in the previous baggage replenishment process. The number of calculated differences is cut out from the upstream device (step S4). The upstream device referred to here is a face picking device that cuts out one surface of the loads 5 stored in a stacked state on a case accumulation conveyor, a case flow rack, or a pallet that stores and stores a case row for each product type. When the parcels 5 are cut out, each warehouse unit 2a is arranged for each parcel 5 according to the shipping sequence.
The storage destinations of 2j are assigned. Each of the parcels 5 cut out from the upstream device is assigned to the warehouse units 2a to 2
It is distributed to j and temporarily stored (step S5). At this time, in the parcels corresponding to the same shipping cycle, the warehouse units 2a arranged in the order from the earliest shipping order to the warehouse unit 2a arranged on the downstream side of the central shipping conveyor 4 are stored in order, and the goods in the latest shipping order are arranged on the upstream side. 2j. The excess baggage generated at this time is temporarily stored in one of the warehouse units 2a to 2j in consideration of the vacancy status and used in the next picking batch or later. FIG. 4 shows the generation of picking batches according to the delivery sequence and the allocation status to the warehouse units 2a to 2j. As shown in FIG. 4, the package 5 to be delivered in one delivery cycle is of type A,
In the order of product type G, product type C, product type F, product type F, product type E, product type H, product type D, product type B, product type C, the product type A with the earliest shipping order is placed on the most downstream side of the central shipping conveyor 4. Stored in the arranged warehouse unit 2a, sequentially stored from the warehouse unit 2b in the order of shipping order, and storing the product type C having the latest shipping order in the warehouse unit 2j arranged most upstream of the central shipping conveyor 4. This process is repeated for each shipping cycle.

Next, as described above, each warehouse unit 2
FIG. 5 shows a process when the parcel 5 stored in a to 2j is unloaded.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

The warehouse units 2a to 2 according to the delivery sequence.
The parcel 5 stored in j is processed in units of one shipping cycle. The shipping cycle unit here is processed in units of a number corresponding to the number of units of the warehouse units 2a to 2j arranged in line, for example, 10 cases of luggage 5. Along with the issue command, the case transfer means 8 of each of the warehouse units 2a to 2j are simultaneously operated in parallel to issue the package 5 in the first issue cycle to the issue conveyor 10 and to the central issue conveyor 4 simultaneously (step S11, 12).
In this way, the case transfer means 8 of each of the warehouse units 2a to 2j are simultaneously operated in parallel to simultaneously deliver the packages 5 to be delivered to the central delivery conveyor 4, so that the packages to be delivered can be promptly delivered. Also, the warehouse units 2a to 2j
Stores luggage 5 according to the order of delivery,
The parcels 5 to be delivered can be arranged on the central delivery conveyor 4 according to the delivery sequence. Each warehouse unit 2a-2
When the parcel 5 is delivered to the central delivery conveyor 4 from j,
The central delivery conveyor 4 is driven to batch-deliver the parcel 5 to the downstream patternizer or the shipping port 12 (step S).
13). This process is repeated for each shipping cycle until one picking batch is completed. When one picking batch is completed, the loading process of the parcel 5 is performed again.

By repeating the warehousing process and the warehousing process of the package 5, the package 5 for which an order has been placed can be delivered at high speed in the required unloading order. Further, when an error occurs during the loading and unloading processing of the luggage 5, the central loading conveyor 3 and the central shipping conveyor 4 are formed in a loop shape, so that the luggage 5 is passed once again and temporarily saved. , When going around, warehouse units 2a to 2j
In order to deal with this problem, the stock is re-stored in a predetermined warehouse unit and then re-stocked.

Considering the average movement distance of the case transfer means 8 for carrying in and out the cargo 5, the entrance 9a and the exit 10a may be installed at the center of the warehouse units 2a to 2j. Although it is most desirable, it is not limited to this, and the entrance 9a and the exit 10a are set to the warehouse units 2a-2.
You may install in the end part of j and perform a loading / unloading operation in parallel.

In the above process, each warehouse unit 2a ...
The case where the series of warehousing processes for storing the parcel 5 in 2j is performed and the warehousing process is performed has been described, but the central warehousing conveyor 3 and the central warehousing conveyor 4 are independently provided, and the warehousing of each of the warehouse units 2a to 2j is performed. Since the entrance 9a connected to the case transfer means 8 of the conveyor 9 and the exit 10a connected to the case transfer means 8 of the exit conveyor 10 are provided to face each other with the case transfer means 8 in between. The warehousing process and the warehousing process for each of the warehouse units 2a to 2j may be simultaneously performed. In this case, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 6, the warehousing operation from the case moving means 8 to the warehousing port 10a is attached to the slide arms 83a and 83b of the case moving means 8 and the tips of the slide arms 83a and 83b. At the same time as the rotation arms 84a and 84b perform the storage operation from the storage port 9a to the case transfer means 8 picking means other than the slide arms 83a and 83b and the rotation arms 84a and 84b of the case transfer means 8, for example, a rod. The luggage 5 is pushed by the presser plate 86 attached to the press cylinder 85 to carry the luggage 8
By transferring the data to the upper side, the warehousing work can be performed in parallel without extremely hindering the warehousing work, and the efficiency of the warehousing / delivery work can be further improved.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case in which the inlet 9a and the outlet 10a connected to the case transfer means 8 are separately provided has been described. However, a stacker crane system and a shuttle server which are commonly used are used. It is also possible to arrange the warehouse units of the system in line and allocate the warehouse units to be temporarily stored according to the order of delivery.

In the above embodiment, the warehouse units 2a-2
Although the case where j is arranged in a column along the central receiving conveyor 3 and the central outputting conveyor 4 has been described, the warehouse units 2a to 2j are arranged in a matrix, and the central receiving conveyor 3 and the central outputting conveyor 4 are arranged between them. May be circulated and provided.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of warehouse units having a pair of high-rise case storage shelves for storing packages such as packaged goods and containers and case transfer means provided between the case storage shelves. When the packages stored in each warehouse unit are unloaded, the case transfer means of each warehouse unit are operated in parallel at the same time to load the items to be unloaded. I decided to pay all at once to the delivery conveyor,
It is possible to promptly pay out the parcel to be delivered.

In addition, when a packaged product or a package such as a container is stored in each warehouse unit, the package conveyed by the storage conveyor supplied from the upstream side device is stored in a plurality of warehouse units arranged in an aligned order. Therefore, the parcels to be delivered can be arranged on the delivery conveyor according to the delivery sequence, and the packages can be quickly delivered in accordance with the delivery sequence.

Further, the entrance and exit of each of the above-mentioned warehouse units are provided at positions opposite to each other with the case transfer means sandwiched therebetween, and the work of entering from the entrance to the case transfer means and from the case transfer means to the exit is carried out. By performing the shipping operation at the same time, it is possible to efficiently store the parcels cut out from the upstream side and to eject the parcels to be delivered at a high speed in the order in which they are delivered.
It is possible to carry out the loading and unloading work efficiently.

Further, the loading conveyor and the loading conveyor are each formed in a loop shape so that the luggage can be circulated, and the luggage having the loading / unloading error is temporarily saved and reloaded as necessary, so that the loading / unloading difference is caused. You can improve your reliability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of a case automatic warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a warehouse unit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a warehousing process.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of allocation to each warehouse unit during a warehousing process.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a shipping process.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a loading / unloading operation by the case transfer means.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a conventional case automatic warehouse.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 case automatic warehouse 2 warehouse units 3 Central receiving conveyor 4 Central shipping conveyor 7a, 7b Case storage shelves 8 Case transfer means 9 Conveyor for warehousing 10 Delivery conveyor 9a entrance 10a Exit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shinichiro Eto 1-2-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Japan Steel Pipe Co., Ltd. (72) Haruki Takeuchi 1-2-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Steel Pipe (56) References JP-A-8-225117 (JP, A) JP-A-5-246505 (JP, A) JP-A-5-208705 (JP, A) JP-A-57-175606 (JP, A) (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 1/00 B65G 1/137

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of warehouse units, a receiving conveyor and a shipping conveyor, each warehouse unit being arranged in parallel, and a pair of high-rise case storage shelves for storing packages such as packaged goods and containers, and a parallel And a case transfer means arranged between the case storage shelves arranged in the
Arranged in columns or in a matrix to store packages such as packaged goods and containers in each warehouse unit
Of the packages that correspond to the same shipping cycle,
Place the earliest storage order on the most downstream side of the output conveyor.
Stored in the placed warehouse unit and moved up in order according to the shipping order.
Store in the current warehouse unit and store the latest
The warehouse unit is located on the most upstream side of the delivery conveyor.
When you deliver and leave the parcel stored in each warehouse unit,
Operate the case transfer means of each warehouse unit in parallel at the same time
And simultaneously deliver the packages of the same shipping cycle to the shipping conveyor.
Put out and transfer to the delivery conveyor according to the delivery order,
Luggage leaving the unit is delivered to the delivery conveyor
Drive the unloading conveyor to batch out the packages to the downstream side.
An automated warehouse for cases. 2. The storage entrance and the exit of each of the warehouse units are provided at positions facing each other with the case transfer means interposed therebetween.
Case automatic warehouse described. 3. The automatic case storage warehouse according to claim 1, wherein the input conveyor and the output conveyor are each formed in a loop shape. 4. A pair of high-rise case storage shelves having a plurality of warehouse units, an entrance conveyor and an exit conveyor, each warehouse unit being arranged in parallel and storing packages such as packaged goods and containers. A case sorting method of a case automatic warehouse having a case transfer means arranged between arranged case storage shelves and arranged in a column or a matrix along a receiving conveyor and a discharging conveyor. Packed products and products supplied from the upstream side by the storage conveyor
When loading luggage such as antennas, use the same shipping cycle
Among the applicable packages, the one with the earliest shipping order is the shipping
Stored in the warehouse unit located on the most downstream side of Nbeya,
Store in the upstream warehouse unit in order according to the shipping order, and
The one with the latest storage order is placed on the most upstream side of the output conveyor.
Stored in each warehouse unit
When transferring the loaded luggage, the case transfer hands of each warehouse unit
Simultaneously operate the stages in parallel to load the same cargo
All the items are delivered to the warehouse conveyor at the same time and delivered according to the delivery order.
The cargo to be transferred to the Nveya and delivered from each warehouse unit
Once delivered to the warehouse conveyor, drive the warehouse conveyor to load
A case-sorting method characterized in that all items are shipped to the downstream side . 5. A warehouse entrance and a warehouse exit of each of the warehouse units are provided at positions facing each other with a case transfer means interposed therebetween, and a warehouse work from the warehouse entrance to the case transfer means and a case transfer means to the warehouse exit. The case sorting method according to claim 4, wherein the shipping operations are performed simultaneously.