JP3462765B2 - Product sorting and packing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product sorting and assembling apparatus, and more particularly, to a store or a store when a large number of products are sorted and shipped to a large number of stores or users at a distribution center or the like. The present invention relates to a product sorting / sorting apparatus suitable for sorting products sorted by user for each same product type.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in product distribution, it is extremely important to sort the products delivered from the manufacturer by store or user. In order to cope with the recent mass consumption,
In order to facilitate the distribution of goods from manufacturers to retailers such as supermarkets, department stores, and retail stores, a distribution and distribution center is set up. The product type and quantity are checked, and the product type and quantity are sorted (sorted) according to the order of the delivery destination before shipment.

On the other hand, the retailer, who is the destination of the delivered goods, carries out an acceptance check as to whether or not there is an error in the type and quantity of the delivered goods, and then displays the goods on a display shelf or the like. I am trying.

An automatic sorting device is usually used for this product sorting work. The automatic sorting device reads the display of each product or the bar code attached to the cardboard box of the product on the supply / conveyance line. The products are sorted based on the sorting information for each store and user that has been input in advance.

Therefore, in the product sorting work, there are mainly a batch loading method in which products of the same product type are batch-transferred and sorted on the transfer line, and a product which is randomly loaded is checked one by one on the transfer line. It adopts one of the random input method that sorts by.

[0006]

However, in the former batch loading method, since the products of the same type are batch-loaded into the automatic sorting apparatus, the products of other types are loaded until the loading of the same type is completed. However, there is a problem in that the product has to wait in a state where it is loaded on a truck or the like, which requires a large waiting space and a long waiting time, and eventually the work efficiency of product sorting is significantly impaired.

On the other hand, in the latter random input method, as shown in FIG. 6, a wide variety of products (● marked products, ▲ marked products, ■
(Marked products) are randomly placed in parallel with each other, so there is no need to wait for products of different varieties, and the work efficiency of sorting at distribution centers etc. is improved at first glance, but at the retailer side of the delivery destination. Then, the variety of delivered products will be accepted in a random state, and not only the burden of checking the acceptance of the variety and quantity will increase, but also the burden of displaying and displaying the products for each same type on display shelves will increase. There was a problem.

Therefore, when a large number of various products are sorted and shipped to a large number of stores and users at a distribution and distribution center and the like, it is necessary to sort the products sorted by the stores and users by the same product type.

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to sort the products sorted according to the shipping destination for the same product type, yet to exhibit excellent sorting work efficiency, and to easily handle after shipping. An object of the present invention is to provide a product sorting and assembling device.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the product sorting and arranging device of the present invention is a product sorting and arranging device for arranging products sorted by each shipping destination for each same product type. Product supply means for sequentially supplying,
Product type recognition means for sequentially recognizing the product types supplied by the product supply means, shipment data storage means for storing the planned shipment type and the planned shipment quantity for each shipping destination, and the remaining quantity of the planned shipment quantity, and the shipping destination Sorting latest type storage means for storing the latest type sorted for each item, and sorting type determination means for comparing the type information of the products for which the type has been recognized with the type information in the shipping data storage means to determine the necessity of the sorting. , A sorting quantity determining means for determining whether or not there is a remaining quantity of the planned shipment quantity based on the remaining quantity information of the shipping data storage means for the goods that need to be sorted by the sorting type judgment means, and the remaining quantity of the planned shipment quantity. Regarding the numbered products, it is determined whether or not the goods can be sorted in the same kind by comparing them with the kind information of the sorting latest kind storage means. If there are a plurality of shipping destinations of the same product type load sorting determination means and products that can be loaded based on the determination result of the same product type load sorting determination means Shipping destinations are assigned in order, and if there is a singular item, it is assigned to the corresponding shipping destinations. For products that cannot be lined up, the shipping destinations are assigned in a predetermined order within all shipping destinations on the transport line. Pre-allocation deciding means, product delivery and delivery means for sequentially delivering and delivering the products to which the shipping destinations have been assigned by the shipping destination assignment deciding means, and shipment for storing the products delivered and delivered by the product delivery and delivery means The above-mentioned problem is solved by providing the product storage means according to the destination.

Further, the product sorting and assembling apparatus of the present invention is
A product returning unit is provided for returning to the product supply unit a product for which sorting by the sorting product type determining unit is unnecessary, and a product for which there is no remaining quantity to be shipped by the sorting amount determining unit. By the above, the said subject was solved further.

Further, the product sorting and assembling apparatus of the present invention is
The above-described problem is further solved by providing the product transfer and delivery means including a cart conveyor with tilting trays connected in large numbers along the product transfer line.

Here, the "commodities of different types" that can be handled by the commodity sorting and assembling apparatus of the present invention mean products having at least one of different shapes, structures, sizes, weights and the like.

The product supply means may be any as long as it can efficiently supply a large amount of products of various kinds, but from the viewpoint of work load and work efficiency on the product supply side, etc. It is preferable that a plurality of shoots for exclusive use of the same product type can independently supply and join each product of the same product type.

Further, the product transportation / delivery means for supplying a large amount of various products can be either a circulation transportation path or a non-circulation transportation path, but from the viewpoint of work efficiency, work space, etc. It is preferable to employ a non-circulating conveyance path that can be transferred from the storage side to the product storage side. Further, this product transport / delivery means is a trolley conveyor with tilting trays connected in a large number along the product transport line, so that the product storage means by shipping destination is either right or left in the product transport direction. Although it is possible to simply dispense the product to the shipping destination, any other product can be dispensed as long as it can be easily dispensed to the product storage means by shipping destination. Absent.

As for the product type recognizing means, any kind of recognizing device such as a bar code reading device and a voice input device may be used as long as it can accurately and quickly recognize the product type.

The assortment quantity determining means determines the products recognized by the product type recognizing means by the shipping data storage means for each shipping destination and for each shipping product to be sorted for each shipping destination based on the planned shipping product type for each shipping destination. A sorting residual number calculating means for calculating the residual number is included.

The "predetermined sequence" used when allocating the shipping destinations by the shipping destination allocation determining means in the product sorting and assembling apparatus according to the present invention is a work layout factor such as the arrangement and arrangement of the shipping destination-specific product storing means. It is an order determined as appropriate according to customer factors such as shipping volume and shipping frequency.

[0019]

The product sorting and assembling apparatus of the present invention first sequentially recognizes the product types of a large variety of supplied products, determines the necessity of the sorting by comparing it with the product information of the shipping data, and then sorts. For products for which the required shipping quantity is remaining, the presence or absence of the remaining shipping quantity is determined, and for the products for which the remaining shipping quantity is determined, the latest product type information sorted by shipping destination is compared. And whether or not the goods can be sorted by the same type.

Then, when there are a plurality of shipping destinations for the goods that can be sorted based on the determination result, the shipping destinations are assigned in a predetermined order, and when the shipping destination is singular, the shipping destinations are assigned to the corresponding shipping destinations. For products that cannot be sorted, the shipping destinations are assigned in a predetermined order among all the shipping destinations on the transportation line. After that, the products to which the shipping destinations are assigned are sequentially conveyed, paid out and stored for each shipping destination.

The product sorting and assembling apparatus of the present invention is
Products that do not need to be sorted and products that have no planned remaining shipment quantity are returned to the product supply line.

Further, the product sorting and assembling apparatus of the present invention is
The product is delivered to the right side or the left side of the product delivery line by a product delivery / delivery means composed of a trolley conveyor with tilting trays connected in large numbers along the product delivery line.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 relate to a sorting and arranging apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a sorting and arranging apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention.

The sorting and arranging apparatus of this embodiment comprises a product supply means 1 composed of supply-only chutes arranged for each same product type, and a shipping destination-specific product storage means 2 composed of unload-only chutes arranged for each shipping destination, Merchandise delivery / delivery means 3 consisting of a trolley conveyor with tilting trays, which are connected to each other along the transportation line between the merchandise supply means 1 and the merchandise storage means 2 for each shipping destination, merchandise that does not require sorting A product return unit 4 for returning the product to the unit 1 is provided, and the product supply unit 1, the product storage unit according to the shipping destination 2, the product transport / delivery unit 3, and the product return unit 4 are drive-controlled by a product control device 10. To be done.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram schematically showing the commodity control device 10 of the sorting and arranging device shown in FIG. First, the product control device 10 is a workstation or a personal computer, and is provided with the following means for achieving the sorting and sorting function.

The product type recognizing means 11 is a bar code reader, which reads at least the product type of the supplied product and inputs data.

The shipment data storage means 12 is calculated by, for example, at least the planned shipment type and the planned shipment quantity for each shipping destination, which are separately input based on the order form from the customer, and the sorting residual quantity calculation means 14a described later. It is a data management file that can store the remaining quantity of the planned shipping quantity and can be read and written as necessary.

The sorting type discrimination means 13 determines whether or not the sorting of the merchandise of which the type is recognized by the type recognition means 11 is compared with the type information of the shipping data storage means 12. That is, in comparison with the product type information of the shipping data storage means 12 for the product of which the product type is recognized, it is determined that “sorting is required” when the product product is scheduled to be shipped, and is not the product product scheduled to be shipped. Determines that "sorting is not necessary" and issues an instruction signal for returning the product to the product returning means 4.

The sorting quantity determination means 14 determines whether or not there is a remaining quantity of the planned shipping quantity of the products determined by the sorting product type determination means 13 as "sorting required". That is, if there is a remaining quantity of the planned shipping quantity, it is determined that "sorting is necessary", and if there is no remaining quantity of the planned shipping quantity, it is determined that "sorting is not necessary" and an instruction signal for returning to the product returning means 4 is given. Emit. The sorting quantity determination means 1
In FIG. 4, the remaining number of each product classified by each shipping destination is calculated based on the planned shipping product for each shipping destination and the shipping planned quantity of the product recognized by the product recognizing unit 11 stored by the shipping data storage unit 12. Sorting residual number calculation means 14
a (not shown) is included.

The latest sorting product storage unit 15 updates the data for storing the latest product type information sorted for each shipping destination based on the shipping destination assignment data transferred from the shipping destination assignment determining unit 17, which will be described later. It is an update data file that can That is, the sorted latest product type storage means 15 keeps track of the latest product storage status in the shipping destination-specific product storage means 2.

The same product type assortment judging means 16 sorts the latest sort product storing means 15 for the products for which the sorting quantity judging means 14 determines that the remaining quantity of the planned shipping quantity is present.
This is to judge whether or not the goods can be sorted in the same kind by comparing with the item information of (1).

The shipping-destination allocation determination means 17 can carry out a plurality of shipments if the shipping destinations of the commodities can be arranged on the basis of the judgment result of the same-type product arrangement judgment means 16 if there are a plurality of shipping destinations. Allocate the shipping destination in a predetermined order within the destination, and if it is singular, assign it to the corresponding shipping destination, and for products that can not be packed together, ship in the prescribed order within all the shipping destinations on the transport line Is to be allocated. The shipping destination allocation determining means 1
The "predetermined order" when assigning shipping destinations in 7 is an order that can be appropriately determined according to work layout factors such as the arrangement and arrangement of the shipping destination-specific product storage means 2 and customer factors such as shipping amount and shipping frequency. However, in the present embodiment, in the state in which the shipping-only chutes for each shipping destination that make up the shipping destination-specific product storage means 2 are arranged,
That is, it is the allocation order that prioritizes the carry-out chute closer to the supply side.

The operation of the product control device used in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First,
In step 10, whether or not it is necessary to sort the recognized products by comparing the types of the products recognized by the barcode or the like with the types of the shipping data as shown in FIG. Determine whether or not. In this embodiment, the types of shipping data shown in FIG. 4 (A, B, C, D)
If the item contains the recognized product type (for example, A), it is determined that it is necessary to sort the items, and step 2
0, the product type (A, B, C,
If the recognized product type (for example, E) is not included in D), it is determined that it is not necessary to sort, and a return signal is issued to the product return means 4.

Next, in step 20, it is checked whether or not there is a remaining quantity of the planned shipping quantity of the commodities required to be sorted in step 10. Then, in step 10, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to further sort the products for which sorting is required, that is, whether or not sorting is necessary. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the planned shipment quantity (1) of the product that needs to be sorted in step 10 (for example, A) (1
The remaining number of 0 + 5 + 0 = 15) is 9 + 1 +
Since 0 pieces = 10 pieces, it is determined that it is necessary to sort, and the process proceeds to step 30. Here, temporarily, 0 pieces + 0 pieces +
When it is 0 = 0, it is not necessary to sort, that is, it is determined that the planned number of sortings has been achieved, and a return signal is issued to the product return means 4.

Then, in step 30, it is determined whether or not it is possible to sort the goods for which the remaining quantity of the planned shipping quantity is present in the same kind by comparing with the latest kind information sorted by each shipping destination. Determine whether the goods can be sorted. In the present embodiment, as shown in the latest sort product file of FIG. 5, the latest sort product at the shipping destinations 1 and 2 is A, and the latest sort product at the shipping destination 3 is B.
Products with 0 remaining shipment quantity (for example,
A or B) is determined to be able to be loaded together at the shipping destination 1 and the shipping destination 2 or the shipping destination 3, and a product (eg C ) Cannot be lined up with any of the shipping destinations, so the shipping destinations should be based on a predetermined rule (for example, the arrangement order of the storage containers) within all the shipping destinations on the transport line, without being particular about the sorting. Is determined.

Then, in step 31, if the number of the shipping destinations of the products determined to be load-sortable in step 30 is one, the corresponding shipping destinations are assigned and the shipping destinations of the load-sortable products are determined. When there are a plurality of shipping destinations, the shipping destinations are assigned in a predetermined order within the plurality of shipping destinations that can be sorted. In the present embodiment, as shown in the latest sorting product file of FIG. 5, the products (eg, A) that can be assigned to the shipping destination 1 and the shipping destination 2 are arranged in the young order of the shipping destinations, that is, by the supply side. A product (for example, B) that can be assigned to the shipping destination 1 preferentially assigned to the shipping destination 1 belonging to the close-out shipping chute and assigned to only the shipping destination 3 is assigned to the corresponding shipping destination 3 as it is.

In this way, the products to which the shipping destinations are assigned are paid out to the right or left side of the product carrying line by the product carrying and paying-out means 3 composed of a trolley conveyor with tilting trays connected in large numbers along the product carrying line. As shown in FIG. 1 in which the shipments are sorted by shipping destination, the product storage means 2 is arranged in the same manner (● marked products, ▲ marked products, and ■ marked products). It is possible to arrange the goods, and the work efficiency of the excellent sorting is demonstrated, and the handling after shipping becomes simple.

[0038]

Since the sorting load arranging apparatus of the present invention has the above-mentioned structure, the following effects can be obtained. That is, (1) When a large amount of various products are sorted and shipped to a large number of stores or users at a distribution center or the like for shipping work, the products sorted by each store or user are packed and shipped for each same product type. Since it is possible to reduce the burden of checking acceptance of the types and quantities of the products delivered at each shipping destination, it is possible to reduce the burden of displaying and displaying the products for each same type on display shelves. .

(2) When performing product sorting work at a distribution / delivery center or the like, it is possible to sort products sorted by store or user for the same product type, so that products of multiple product types can be run in parallel with each other. It can be randomly added to the product supply line, does not require a temporary waiting space for products and long waiting time as in the past, and can significantly improve the work efficiency on the product supply side in product sorting work. it can.

(3) Merchandise for which sorting by the sorting product type discrimination means is unnecessary, and products for which there is no remaining quantity to be shipped by the sorting quantity discrimination means to the commodity supply means By providing a return means, goods that cannot be sorted on the transfer line can be returned quickly without staying indefinitely.
Moreover, it is possible to employ a non-circulating conveyance path having a good layout space and working efficiency, in place of the loop-shaped circulation conveyance path that requires a wide working space and a large conveyance driving force as in the conventional case.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a sorting and arranging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of a sorting and arranging device that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a sorting / sorting control procedure of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a chart showing an outline of a shipping data file used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a chart showing an outline of a sorted latest product type file used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a conventional sorting / sorting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ・ ・ ・ Product supply means 2 ... Product storage means by shipping destination ・ ・ ・ Merchandise delivery and payment means 4 ... Product return means 10 ... Product control device 11 ・ ・ ・ Product type recognition means 12 ... Shipping data storage means 13 ・ ・ ・ Sorting type discrimination means 14 ... Sorting quantity determination means 15 ... Sorting latest product storage means 16 ・ ・ ・ Same-type assortment identification means 17 ・ ・ ・ Shipping destination allocation determining means

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --- Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-10-120164 (JP, A) JP-A-50-42569 (JP, A) JP-A-1-303208 (JP, A) JP-A-3- 162301 (JP, A) JP-A 8-225120 (JP, A) JP-A 63-97508 (JP, A) JP-A 10-77107 (JP, A) JP-A 61-243701 (JP, A) JP-A-6-298348 (JP, A) JP-A-57-1115 (JP, A) JP-A-60-228303 (JP, A) Actual opening 60-173519 (JP, U) Actual opening 7-40613 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 47/50 B65G 1/137

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. In a product sorting and assembling apparatus for assembling products sorted by shipping destination by the same product type, a product supply means for sequentially supplying a large number of products of different kinds, and the product supply means. Product type recognition means for sequentially recognizing product types, shipment data storage means for storing the planned shipment type and planned shipment quantity for each shipping destination, and the remaining quantity of the planned shipping quantity, and the latest type sorted for each shipping destination The latest sorting product storing means for storing the sorting product, and sorting product determining device for comparing the product of which the product is recognized with the sorting information of the shipping data storing device to determine the necessity of sorting.
Assortment quantity determination means for determining whether or not there is a remaining quantity of the planned shipment quantity based on the remaining number information of the shipment data storage means for the goods that need to be classified by the classification product determination means, and the remaining quantity of the planned shipment quantity. With respect to the products determined to have the same product type assortment determining means for determining whether or not the product can be sorted in the same product type by comparing with the product type information of the sorting latest product type storing means, If there are multiple shipping destinations for products that can be sorted based on the determination result of the product type sorting method, the shipping destinations are assigned in a predetermined order within the shipping destinations that can be sorted, and If there is a product, it is assigned to the corresponding shipping destination, and for products that can not be packed together, the shipping destination is assigned in a predetermined order within all shipping destinations on the transportation line. Setting means, product transportation and delivery means for sequentially transporting and delivering the products to which the shipping destinations have been assigned by the shipping destination assignment determination means, and shipping destinations for storing the products delivered and delivered by the product transportation and delivery means A product sorting and assembling device, comprising: a product storing means. 2. A product for returning to the product supply unit a product for which sorting by the sorting product type determining unit is unnecessary, and a product for which there is no remaining quantity to be shipped by the sorting amount determining unit. The product sorting and arranging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a returning means. 3. The product sorting and arranging device according to claim 1, wherein the product transport / delivery means is a trolley conveyor with tilting trays, which are connected to each other along a product transport line.