JP3586639B2 - Delivery center - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
Field of application of the invention
The present invention relates to a distribution center, and in particular, to collection of a plurality of types of articles for each destination.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The delivery center takes out the articles from the case, stores them for each type, picks up the articles according to a shipping request from the delivery destination, and ships them. Picking many types of articles for many destinations is a daunting task.
[0003]
[Problems of the Invention]
A basic object of the present invention is to provide a delivery center that can efficiently pick up articles and collect and ship the articles to a large number of delivery destinations.
An additional object of the second aspect of the present invention is to make it possible to easily create a shipping specification, thereby facilitating the management of shipped items.
An additional object of the third aspect of the present invention is to make it possible to manage baggage items to a distribution center on a pallet basis, thereby facilitating the management of baggage items.
[0004]
Configuration of the Invention
In the delivery center of the present invention, a control unit for storing a shipping request from a delivery destination, a picking area for picking an article from a case to a transport container with an identifier, and a box for each delivery destination from the transport container and collecting goods area for collecting products by placing the article into, provided the box warehouses for storing said box, from the picking area for conveying articles along with the transfer container to the current product area a first conveying means, second conveying means for conveying the box from the box warehouse to the current product area, the current product area provided with reading means for reading the identifier of the transport container, wherein the control unit The picking area is instructed to pick, the identification data of the transport container and the picked article are linked and stored, and the collection area is read. Based on the identifier of the transport container read by taking means, searching for the box to be condensed product, constituting a transport to collecting item area of the box as indicated in the second conveying means (claim 1) .
[0005]
The control unit according to the present invention is not limited to a single physical entity, and may be a unit including all of the control units distributed and provided in a picking area, a collection area, a box warehouse, and the like. For example, a barcode is used as the identifier, and the identifier represents identification data, which is, for example, a number such as a transport container number, a box number, a pallet number, or an ID. The box is not limited to a box such as a cardboard box, but may be any box that can collect articles from the transport container and use the collected articles for shipping. The box warehouse may be a flat warehouse or the like in addition to the automatic warehouse shown in the embodiment.
[0006]
Preferably, an identifier is attached to the box, and the control unit is configured to store the details of the articles in the box, and a reading device for reading the identifier of the box after collection is provided. A shipping statement is created based on the data and put into a box (claim 2).
[0007]
Also preferably, the loaded goods are placed on the pallet provided with the identifier, a reading device is provided in the receiving area to read the pallet identifier, and the control unit stores the pallet identification data and the loaded goods in association with each other. (Claim 3).
[0008]
Function and Effect of the Invention
According to the present invention, the control unit stores a shipping request from a delivery destination, picks up an article from the case in the picking area in accordance with the request, and conveys the article to the collection area by a transfer container such as a tray with an identifier. Then, in the collection area, a box to be collected is searched from the identifier of the transport container, and the box is transported from the box warehouse to the collection area to be collected. Therefore, according to the data in the control unit, it is possible to easily and reliably perform the process from picking to collection, even when there are many destinations or when the transport container to the same destination is intermittently sent. Collection is not complicated, and collection can be performed by moving the articles in the transport container to the box. There is no need to collectively pick up articles for one delivery destination, and picking becomes easier (claim 1).
[0009]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the details of the articles in the box are stored in the control unit, and the shipping details are created based on the identifier of the box, and are put into the box. For this reason, the shipping details can be easily created, and inspection at the time of shipping, inspection at the delivery destination, and the like become easy.
[0010]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the articles are placed on the pallet when the goods arrive at the distribution center, the pallet identifier is read by the reader, and the pallet identification data and the baggage goods are linked and stored by the control unit. For this reason, it is possible to easily manage the received data on a pallet basis.
[0011]
【Example】
1 to 5 show the delivery center 2 of the embodiment and the processing there. FIG. 1 shows the layout of the delivery center 2 in the range from the receiving area 4 to the collection area 26, and FIG. 2 shows the layout from the automatic box warehouse 40 to the shipping area 60. The goods received in the receiving area 4 of the distribution center 2 by a truck or the like are placed on a pallet 6 with a bar code, and the portable terminal 7 inputs the article number, quantity and stacking pattern of the goods on the pallet. The barcode on the pallet 6 is read by a barcode reader (not shown) provided in the terminal 7 and transmitted to the physical distribution CPU (control processing unit) 50 as arrival setting data. The pallet 6 has a bar code coded with a pallet ID (pallet number).
[0012]
In the embodiment, the physical distribution CPU 50 performs the information processing in the distribution center 2 collectively. However, the physical distribution CPU 50 may be realized by being distributed to a plurality of control units. The logistics CPU 50 stores incoming goods in pallet units in association with pallet bar code data. The stored contents are, for example, pallet numbers, product numbers, quantities, packing patterns, receiving times, flat warehouses, automatic pallet warehouses, and incoming goods. The location of the pallet in the area or the like. The distribution CPU 50 instructs the pallet 6 on which the baggage articles are placed to enter the flat storage warehouse 12 or the pallet automatic warehouse 8, and enters the warehouses 8 and 12 with a forklift or the like. 9 and 10 are pallet automatic warehouse 8 stations. The distribution CPU 50 stores the shipment request from the delivery destination, makes a plan from depalletizing to picking in accordance with the request, instructs the pallet automatic warehouse 8 and the flat warehouse 12 to take out the goods, and the goods are sent to the depalletizer 14 in pallet units. Are depalletized into cases of articles such as cardboard.
[0013]
At the time of depalletizing, if the bar code of the pallet is read near the depalletizer 14, it can be confirmed whether or not the pallet is being depalletized as instructed. The logistics CPU 50 stores the pallet number and the stacking pattern in association with each other, so that the pattern in which the articles are stacked is, for example, four cases on one side and three stages in a total of 12 cases. It becomes clear from the barcode of the pallet. The depalletizer 14 depalletizes using this data. A bar code describing the case number is attached to the case of the article depalletized from the pallet 6, and the physical distribution CPU 50 transfers the stock from the pallet to the case by the depalletizing, and the case number and the article number and quantity of the article in existence. And memorize them.
[0014]
The physical distribution CPU 50 classifies the depalletized cases into those that are temporarily stored in the automatic case warehouse 16 and those that are immediately conveyed to the picking area 20 and immediately picked, and the picking area 20 and the case automatic are conveyed via the conveyors 21 and 22. The case is transported to the warehouse 16. Reference numerals 17 and 18 denote stations of the automatic case warehouse 16, and reference numeral 23 denotes a conveyor from the automatic case warehouse 16 to the picking area 20.
[0015]
The inventory management at the distribution center 2 starts by loading goods on the pallet 6 and setting the arrival at the portable terminal 7, and manages the inventory in units of the pallet 6 until depalletizing by the depalletizer 14. After being depalletized by the depalletizer 14, inventory is managed on a case-by-case basis, and when an article is picked from the case in the picking area 20, inventory is managed on a tray 38 on which the picked article is placed. The tray 38 is an example of a transport container, and a bar code indicating a tray number is attached to a side surface of the tray 38 or the like.
[0016]
In the picking area 20, goods are picked from the case for each required delivery destination (shipping destination) and transferred to the tray 38. The article number and quantity of the article to be picked are transmitted from the physical distribution CPU 50 to a terminal (not shown) and displayed, and a collection slip describing the article number and quantity of the article is issued at the same time as the picking, and is placed on the tray 38 together with the article. Then, in the picking area 20, the barcode of the tray 38 picked up with the articles is read by a barcode reader (not shown) and transmitted to the distribution CPU 50. The distribution CPU 50 transmits the barcode data (tray number) of the tray, the product number and the quantity. Is linked and stored. At this point, inventory management shifts from case to tray.
[0017]
The tray 38 is transported by the conveyor 30 to the collection area 26. Reference numeral 32 denotes a sorter provided on the conveyor 30 for sorting the trays 38 into individual work stations 28. Reference numeral 34 denotes a barcode reader, which reads the barcode on the tray 38 in front of the sorter on the most upstream side, and the distribution CPU 50 obtains data on the delivery destination from the barcode, and issues the collection box 44 to the corresponding delivery destination. The work station 28 which is convenient for the user is selected, and the tray 38 is sorted to the work station 28 by the sorter 32.
[0018]
Each work station 28 has a second barcode reader 35, which reads a barcode on the tray 38 sorted by the sorter 32 and transmits the barcode to the physical distribution CPU 50. In response, the distribution CPU 50 instructs the automatic box warehouse 40 to take out the corresponding collection box 44 to the picking conveyor 42. Further, the distribution CPU 50 transmits and displays the tray number and the number of articles on the tray to a work terminal (not shown) of the work station 28.
[0019]
At the work station 28, the worker checks the tray number and the number of items on the tray using a work terminal (not shown), and puts the items on the tray 38 into the collection box 44 delivered to the picking conveyor 42. The collection slip is for confirming the articles on the tray at the work station 28, and may be put into the collection box 44, but is discarded here. Note that collecting and collecting the articles in the collection box 44 may be referred to as inputting. When the loading of the articles into the collection box 44 is completed, the work station 28 reports the completion of the loading of the articles to the distribution CPU 50, and returns the empty trays as appropriate. In addition, the collection box on the picking conveyor 42 is re-entered in the automatic box warehouse 40.
[0020]
FIG. 2 shows the flow of goods from the automatic box warehouse 40 to the shipping area 60. The picking conveyor 42 and the position of the height level and the like are changed to provide an unloading conveyor 52, and the conveyor 54 collects the goods to the packing area 56. Transport boxes. A bar code reader (not shown) is provided in the packing area 56, and reads the bar code of the collection box and transmits the bar code to the distribution CPU 50. The logistics CPU 50 stores the results up to the loading of the items in the tray into the collection box as shipping details, and based on this, packs the shipping details including the list of the article number and quantity and the shipping destination. Transmit to area 56. In the packing area 56, a shipping label and a shipping label including a label indicating a delivery destination are printed, the shipping details are put into a collection box and packed, and the shipping label is attached to the outside of the collection box and shipped. It is transported to the area 60. For articles to be shipped in case units, the cases are transported from the stations 58, 59, etc. of the automatic case warehouse 16 to the shipping area 60, and similarly, a list of the product number and quantity of the shipping destination and the articles in the case is sent from the distribution CPU 50. And the data of the delivery destination, etc., print them, paste them on the outside of the case and ship them.
[0021]
3 to 5 show processes from arrival to shipment in the embodiment. In these figures, the components of the distribution center 2 use the reference numerals in FIGS. When the portable terminal 7 reports the article number and quantity of the incoming goods to the physical distribution CPU 50 for the articles received in the receiving area 4, the physical distribution CPU searches a list of the stacking patterns for the article numbers and determines the stacking pattern. The mobile terminal 7 is instructed. According to this instruction, articles are stacked on the pallet 6, the bar code of the pallet 6 is read by the bar code reader attached to the portable terminal 7, the pallet number is transmitted to the distribution CPU, and the arrival is set. On the other hand, the distribution CPU instructs the pallet stocking destination and adds the pallet for which the receiving setting has been made to the inventory data in pallet units.
[0022]
The pallets on which the articles are placed enter the pallet automatic warehouse or flat storage warehouse in accordance with the instruction from the distribution CPU, are transported to the depalletizer in accordance with the depalletizing instruction from the distribution CPU 50, and search for the stacking pattern from the bar code of the pallet. And depalletizing based on the data of the stacking pattern. After depalletizing, the inventory data is transferred from the pallet to the case, and the distribution CPU determines whether to store in the case automatic warehouse 16 or to immediately pick in the picking area 20 according to the delivery request data. Entry into the automatic warehouse or transport to the picking area is performed.
[0023]
Referring to FIG. 4, the physical distribution CPU instructs the automatic case warehouse to take out the goods to the picking area, and instructs the picking area of the article number and quantity of the article to be picked from the case. In the picking area 20, picking is performed from the case to the tray according to the instruction, a collection slip describing the product number and quantity indicated by the distribution CPU is set on the tray, the bar code of the tray is read with a bar code reader, and the tray number is read. To the physical distribution CPU. At this point, the inventory data is transferred to the tray.
[0024]
The tray on which the picked goods are placed is conveyed to a collection area by a conveyor, and in this process, a barcode is read, a work station is determined, and sorting is performed by a sorter. After sorting by the sorter, the barcode is read again by the barcode reader, the collection box corresponding to the read tray is taken out of the automatic box warehouse, and articles are loaded. At this time, the work station is instructed with the number of the tray and the number of articles to be input, and compares this with the collection slip on the tray, the actual article, and the like. Report to that effect.
[0025]
At this point, the inventory data is transferred to the collection box, and the collection box is re-entered into the automatic box warehouse. If the collection box is full or the deadline for shipping is approaching, the distribution CPU is packed. Instruct the collection box to be transported to the area. In the packing area, the barcode of the collection box is read, the box number is reported to the distribution CPU, and the distribution CPU transmits the shipping details data and the delivery destination. In accordance with this, in the packing area, shipping details are input, packed, a shipping label is attached, and delivered.
[0026]
Although a specific example is shown in the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a sorter may be used as long as it can sort articles from the conveyor 30 in FIG. 1 to the individual work stations 28. In the embodiment, the physical distribution CPU 50 performs the data management and the control collectively, but these may be performed in a distributed manner. The conveyor is a device for conveying articles, and is not limited to a normal conveyor such as a chain conveyor or a belt conveyor. The barcode may be a one-dimensional barcode, a two-dimensional barcode, or the like, and an ID tag may be used instead of the barcode.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a layout from a receiving area to a collection area in a delivery center according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a layout from an automatic box warehouse to a shipping area in a delivery center according to an embodiment; FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing from arrival to depalletizing in the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing from picking to collection in a collection box in the embodiment. Flow chart showing processing [Explanation of reference numerals]
2 Delivery center 4 Receiving area 6 Pallet 7 Mobile terminal 8 Pallet automatic warehouse 9,10 Station 12 Flat storage 14 Depalletizer 16 Case automatic warehouse 17,18 Station 20 Picking area 21-23 Conveyor 26 Collection area 28 Work station 30 Conveyor 32 Sorters 34, 35 Barcode reader 38 Tray 40 Box automatic warehouse 42 Picking conveyor 44 Collection box 50 Distribution CPU
52 Outgoing conveyor 54 Conveyor 56 Packing area 58,59 Station 60 Shipping area

Claims (3)

A control unit for storing a shipping request from a delivery destination, a picking area for picking up an article from a case to a transport container with an identifier, and an article from the transport container into a box for each delivery destination, Provide a collection area for collecting, and a box warehouse for storing the box,
First transport means for transporting an article together with the transport container from the picking area to the collection area, second transport means for transporting a box from the box warehouse to the collection area, and the collection area provided with reading means for reading an identifier of the transport container, the
The control unit instructs the picking area to pick, associates the identification data of the transport container with the picked article, stores the linked data, and collects the product based on the identifier of the transport container read by the collection unit reading unit. A delivery center configured to search for a box to be used and to instruct the second transport unit to transport the box to the collection area. Attaching the identifier to the box, the control unit is configured to store the details of the articles in the box, and a reading device for reading the identifier of the box after collection is provided, based on the read identification data. 2. The distribution center according to claim 1, wherein the delivery center is prepared and put into the box. Claims wherein the loaded goods are placed on the pallet with the identifier, a reading device is provided in the receiving area to read the pallet identifier, and the control unit stores the pallet identification data and the loaded goods in association with each other. Item 1. The delivery center according to item 1 or 2.

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