JP4835271B2 - Part picking system and part picking method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a part picking system and a part picking method for supplying parts to an assembly line.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a system that transports parts supplied to an assembly line using an automated guided vehicle is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this system, the automated guided vehicle travels in a loop between the part picking area where the parts shelf is placed and the assembly line, thereby transporting the parts taken from the parts shelf to the assembly line from the parts picking area. Is configured to do.
JP 2004-1949 A

  By the way, in the system described in the above document, the traveling route of the automatic guided vehicle is set linearly in the component picking area, and the component shelves are arranged along the linear route. For this reason, an operator who takes out a part from the part shelf reciprocates in front of the part shelf in order to take out a desired part, and a return walking loss occurs.

  In the system, since one picking area is provided corresponding to one assembly line, it is necessary to assign the number of personnel obtained by rounding up the minimum necessary number of people to each picking area, and personnel formation loss. Will occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to improve return picking loss and personnel knitting loss and improve picking efficiency of parts.

  The parts picking system according to the present invention is arranged at a predetermined position in the picking area and travels along a preset traveling route, which is a parts shelf that accommodates a plurality of types of parts to be supplied to the assembly line, respectively. And an automatic guided vehicle for transporting the parts taken out from the parts shelf by the worker to a wholesale position for sending to the assembly line.

  There are a plurality of the assembly lines, a traveling route of the automatic guided vehicle is set in a loop shape in the picking area, and a plurality of the component shelves are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of assembly lines, The plurality of wholesale positions are respectively set at predetermined positions around the outer circumference of the loop-shaped path, and a plurality of wholesale positions are set on the loop-shaped path corresponding to the plurality of assembly lines.

  The component picking system further includes a loop-shaped route of the automatic guided vehicle including at least one component shelf and a route passing through a wholesale position according to a component supply status to each assembly line. The vehicle further includes travel route changing means for changing to the route.

  According to this configuration, since the traveling route of the automatic guided vehicle is set in a loop shape in the picking area, the operator takes out the desired part from each component shelf while circulating around the automatic guided vehicle in a loop shape. And return walking loss is eliminated.

  In addition, since a plurality of parts shelves storing parts to be supplied to each of the plurality of assembly lines are arranged for one loop path, each of the plurality of assembly lines can be simply rotated around the loop path. Parts will be supplied. In this way, by combining a plurality of picking zones corresponding to each of a plurality of assembly lines, personnel organization loss is reduced. In other words, for example, a picking zone that supplies parts to a specific assembly line requires 1.5 persons, and a picking zone that supplies parts to other assembly lines requires 2.5 persons. Assuming that there is a case, if these picking zones are individually configured, the number of persons must be rounded up, so 2 + 3 = 5 persons are required. On the other hand, as described above, in a configuration in which a plurality of picking zones are combined, 1.5 + 2.5 = 4 people can cope. Accordingly, it is possible to supply parts to a plurality of assembly lines with a minimum of personnel.

  Furthermore, by changing the loop-shaped path to another loop-shaped path according to the supply status of the parts to each assembly line, it becomes possible to flexibly cope with the change in the supply status of the parts. In addition, since the changed travel route is also set in a loop shape, the return walking loss is reduced as described above.

  The travel path changing means includes a path that passes through a parts shelf and a wholesale position corresponding to an assembly line in an operating state, and does not include a path that passes through a parts shelf and a wholesale position corresponding to a non-operating assembly line. It is good also as changing to a path | route.

  By doing so, as described above, it is possible to supply parts only to the assembly line in the operating state while reducing return walking loss and the like. In addition, since the route after the change does not include a route that passes through the parts shelf and the wholesale position corresponding to the assembly line in the non-operating state, the circulation distance is relatively shortened, thereby improving the efficiency. .

  In addition, various situations are conceivable as the parts supply status to each assembly line, for example, when a specific assembly line is stopped due to a failure, etc., when only a specific assembly line is operated for reasons such as overtime operation, etc. Can be considered.

  Each of the parts shelves may be arranged so as to extend in the traveling direction of the automatic guided vehicle, and the automatic guided vehicle may travel at a predetermined speed without stopping the route in front of the parts shelf.

  By performing the picking operation without stopping the automatic guided vehicle, the time required for the automatic guided vehicle to travel is shortened and the efficiency is improved.

  Each of the parts shelves stores a plurality of types of parts arranged in the traveling direction of the automatic guided vehicle, and the automatic guided vehicle has a traveling speed when traveling along a route in front of the parts shelf. It is good also as changing according to the kind of components accommodated in the components shelf.

  Although the time required for the picking work differs depending on the type of parts, the work efficiency is improved by controlling the traveling speed of the automatic guided vehicle according to the length of the work time.

  The parts picking method according to the present invention is such that a plurality of parts corresponding to each of a plurality of assembly lines and a plurality of parts shelves arranged at predetermined positions are located on the outer periphery so that the traveling route of the automatic guided vehicle is within the picking area. A route setting step for setting a plurality of wholesale positions for sending parts to the assembly line corresponding to each of the plurality of assembly lines on the loop-shaped route, and the unmanned conveyance A traveling process in which the vehicle travels along the loop-shaped route, a transportation process in which the automatic guided vehicle transports the parts taken out from the parts shelf by the operator to the wholesale position, and the assembly lines. A travel route changing step for changing the loop-shaped travel route to another loop-shaped route including a route passing through at least one component shelf and a wholesale position according to a component supply status; Including the.

  As described above, this configuration eliminates return walking loss and personnel organization loss, improves picking efficiency, and does not reduce picking efficiency with respect to changes in the supply status of parts to each assembly line. Can respond.

  The assembly line may include a vehicle instrument panel assembly line and a door assembly line.

  As described above, according to the parts picking system and the picking method of the present invention, parts are supplied to a plurality of assembly lines by one loop-shaped path set in the picking area. In addition to eliminating the knitting loss, etc., the efficiency is improved, and the parts are supplied to each assembly line by changing the loop path to a different loop path according to the parts supply status to each assembly line. It is possible to easily cope with changes in the situation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following description of the preferred embodiment is merely illustrative in nature, and is not intended to limit the present invention, its application, or its use.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of a picking area to which a component picking system S according to the present invention is applied. In the following, the upper side of FIG. 1 is referred to as “front”, the lower side as “rear”, the right side as “right”, and the left side as “left”.

  Although this component picking system S will be described in detail later, a travel route 4 of an automatic guided vehicle (hereinafter referred to as AGV) 1 is set in a loop shape in the picking area, and the loop shape The traveling route is characterized in that it is set so as to pass through each of a plurality of component shelves 21 to 25 that accommodates components supplied to each of a plurality of assembly lines (not shown). In the present embodiment, the plurality of assembly lines are an assembly line for the right door of the vehicle, an assembly line for the left door, and an assembly line for an instrument panel (hereinafter abbreviated as instrument panel). is not.

  In this component picking system S, a plurality of AGVs 1 (six AGVs 1 in the example) run on the loop-shaped route at the same time, and one worker M per AGV. , Move with AGV1. Each worker M performs a picking operation of taking out a desired part from each of the parts shelves 21 to 25 and placing it in the container 3 (see FIGS. 5 and 7) loaded on the AGV 1. Therefore, each AGV 1 and the worker M go around in the picking area along the loop-shaped route 4.

  In the picking area, as a parts shelf, one parts shelf (right door line parts shelf 21) for storing a plurality of kinds of parts to be supplied to the right door assembly line, and a plurality of kinds supplied to the left door assembly line 1 parts shelf (left door line parts shelf 22) for storing the parts, and 3 parts shelves (first to third instrument line parts shelf 23) for storing a plurality of types of parts supplied to the instrument panel assembly line A total of 5 to 25) are installed.

  The loop-shaped path 4 includes a front-side path 41, a rear-side path 42, a right-side path 43, and a left-side path 44, and is formed in a flat rectangular shape whose left-right direction is significantly longer than the front-rear direction.

  Each of the right door and left door line component shelves 21 and 22 is disposed at a predetermined position on the outer periphery of the loop-shaped path 4 in the right region of the flat rectangular travel path. That is, the right door line parts shelf 21 is arranged along the right side portion of the front side path 41 with the parts outlet facing the inside of the loop, and the left door line parts shelf 22 is arranged on the rear side path. A portion 42 is disposed along the right side portion 42 with the outlet of the component facing the inside of the loop.

  On the other hand, each of the three instrument panel line component shelves 23 to 25 is arranged at a predetermined position on the outer periphery of the loop-shaped route in the left region of the flat rectangular travel route. That is, the third instrument panel line component shelf 25 is along the left side portion of the front side path 41, the first instrument panel line component shelf 23 is along the left side portion of the rear side path 42, and the second instrument panel line component shelf 24 is Along the left-side passage 44, the respective parts are arranged with their outlets facing the inside of the loop.

  In the picking area, the traveling direction of the AGV 1 is set in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, and the left side of the right door line parts shelf 21 (the upstream position in the traveling direction) An empty container loading station 21a for setting an empty container into which the parts taken out from the right door line parts shelf 21 are placed on the AGV 1 is set. At a position downstream of the direction), an actual container wholesale station 21b for setting down an actual container in which parts taken out from the right door line parts shelf 21 are placed from AGV1 is set.

  Similarly, an empty container in which a part taken out from the left door line parts shelf 22 is placed at a position on the right side of the left door line parts shelf 22 (upstream side in the traveling direction) is AGV1. An empty container loading station 22a is set to be placed on the left door line parts shelf 22 and is removed from the left door line parts shelf 22 at a position on the left side of the left door line parts shelf 22 (a position downstream in the traveling direction). An actual container wholesale station 22b for setting down an actual container in which the parts are placed from AGV1 is set.

  Then, the parts taken out from the first to third instrument panel line parts shelves 23 to 25 are placed in the right side position (position on the upstream side in the traveling direction) with respect to the first instrument panel line parts shelf 23. An empty container loading station 23a for placing an empty container on the AGV 1 is set, and the first to first positions are located on the right side of the third instrument panel line component shelf 25 (downstream position in the traveling direction). An actual container wholesale station 25b is set for dropping the actual containers containing the parts taken out from the three instrument panel line shelves 23 to 25 from the AGV1.

  Then, the actual containers lowered at the actual container wholesale station 21b set on the right side with respect to the right door line parts shelf 21 are separately transported to the right door assembly line, and are then transferred to the left door line parts shelf 22. The actual containers dropped at the actual container wholesale station 22b set on the left side are separately transported to the left door assembly line, and at the actual container wholesale station 25b set on the right side with respect to the third instrument panel line parts shelf 25b. The lowered actual container is conveyed separately to the instrument panel assembly line.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each of the parts shelves 21 to 25 is configured in three stages of an upper stage, a middle stage, and a lower stage in the vertical direction, and is partitioned into a predetermined number for each stage in the traveling direction of the AGV1. As a result, a large number (36 in the example: 3 × 12 36) of storage parts 26 for storing various parts side by side in the traveling direction of the AGV 1 is provided.

  Here, each of the assembly lines is a mixed flow line for simultaneously assembling parts of a plurality of different car models, and each of the upper, middle, and lower stages in each of the parts shelves 21 to 25 corresponds to the car type (car type A, car type B). , And vehicle type C). By doing so, the parts to be picked are arranged in a straight line, and the worker M can easily find the parts to be picked and can shorten the work time. In addition, it is preferable that the parts of the vehicle type with a high production ratio are set to the middle stage where the worker M can easily take out (vehicle type B in the example in the figure), because the work load is reduced.

  In each stage, a part (for example, part 1) to be assembled later in the assembly line is stored in the storage part 26 on the upstream side in the traveling direction of AGV1, and the storage part 26 on the downstream side in the traveling direction of AGV1 is first in the assembly line. Parts to be assembled (for example, part 3) are stored, and as a result, as shown in FIG. 3, a part (part 1) to be assembled later in the assembly line is placed in the lower part of the container 3 loaded on the AGV 1. In the upper part of the container 3, a part (part 3) to be assembled first in the assembly line is placed. That is, by arranging the parts as described above in each of the parts shelves 21 to 25, the parts are arranged in the order of being taken out in each assembly line (in the example, in the order of parts 3, 2, and 1). In the container 3, it will be put from top to bottom.

  Each of the parts shelves 21 to 25 is provided with a picking instruction device 5 that instructs the worker M of a part to be picked. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the picking instruction apparatus 5.

  The picking instruction device 5 includes a lamp controller 51, a lamp switch 52 and a work completion button 53 connected to the lamp controller 51 via an input unit 54, and an output unit 57 to the lamp controller 51. And a display 55 and a lamp 56 connected to each other.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lamp controller 51 is attached to the upstream side portion in the traveling direction of the AGV 1 in each of the component shelves 21 to 25. The lamp controller 51 performs infrared communication with the wireless handy terminal 58 carried by each worker M, and performs display and lighting control for the display device 55 and the lamp 56.

  The lamp switch 52 is integrated with the lamp 56, and is attached to each storage portion 26 of the component shelves 21 to 25 as shown in FIG. The lamp 56 is lit to indicate the position of the part to be picked to the worker M, and the lamp switch 52 is pushed when the worker M takes out the part, and the operation signal Is output to the lamp controller 51.

  The work completion button 53 is a button that the operator M operates after the picking work is completed. As shown in FIG. 2, the work completion buttons 53 are provided on both the upstream side and the downstream side in the traveling direction of the AGV 1 in each of the component shelves 21 to 25. It is attached.

  The display 55 displays information such as the vehicle type and the number of lamps, and is attached to both ends of the upper surface of each of the component shelves 21 to 25 as shown in FIG.

  A LAN (Local Area Network) is laid in the factory where the component picking system S is installed, and a wireless antenna 59b is connected to the LAN via a hub 59a.

  The wireless handy terminal 58 can wirelessly communicate with the wireless antenna 59b, whereby the wireless handy terminal 58 receives vehicle type information, component information, etc. via the LAN, the hub 59a, and the wireless antenna 59b. Obtain production instruction information.

  The picking instruction apparatus 5 having this configuration operates as follows. That is, the worker M who moves with the AGV 1 places the wireless handy terminal 58 on the lamp controller 51 when reaching the front of the parts shelf. Thus, production instruction information acquired in advance is sent from the wireless handy terminal 58 to the lamp controller 51 by infrared communication between the wireless handy terminal 58 and the lamp controller 51.

  In accordance with the production instruction information, the lamp controller 51 causes the display unit 55 to display information such as the vehicle type and the number of lighting lamps via the output unit 57, and the lamp 56 of the storage unit 26 that stores the components to be picked. Light up.

  The worker M takes out the part from the predetermined storage portion 26 according to the display on the display 55 and the lighting of the lamp 56 while moving in front of the parts shelf together with the AGV 1 (in this case, the AGV 1 does not stop as will be described later). The operation of putting the parts into the container 3 loaded on the AGV 1 is sequentially performed. When the worker M takes out the part, the operator M pushes the lamp switch 52 of the taken-out storage unit 26. Thereby, the lamp 56 is turned off and the operation signal is input to the lamp controller 51 via the input unit 54.

  Further, the worker M picks all the instructed parts and presses the work completion button 53 when reaching the downstream position in the traveling direction of the parts shelf. Accordingly, an operation signal is input to the lamp controller 51 via the input unit 54, and the lamp controller 51 collates each input from the lamp switch 52 described above with the production instruction information. Then, it is determined whether the parts are picked correctly. If the result of the determination is that a picking error has occurred, an alarm is issued to the worker M.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, each AGV 1 has a vehicle body 11 a, a fixed wheel 11 b attached to the rear portion of the vehicle body 11 a in a state where the rotation shaft is fixed in the vehicle width direction, and the rotation shaft swings. The free wheel 11c attached to the front portion of the vehicle body 11a and the rotation shaft can be swingably attached to the vehicle body 11a between the fixed wheel and the free wheel. There are three types of wheels, ie, a drive wheel 11d that generates driving force independently from the left and right by a driving unit (motor) 19a that is omitted. Here, in this AGV1, it is set as the structure which turns a rudder by the rotation difference of the right-and-left drive wheel 11d, However, It is not limited to this.

  At the front end of the AGV1, an obstacle sensor 12a that detects an obstacle existing in front of the AGV1 and a safety bumper 12b that protrudes to the front end and detects a collision with the obstacle are attached. Further, as will be described later, a guide sensor 12c for detecting the traveling path 4 formed by the magnetic rod 6 is attached to the front side position of the drive wheel 11d, and the rear side position of the drive wheel 11d is described later. Further, an address plate sensor 12d for reading the address plate 46 arranged at a predetermined position along the travel route 4 is attached. Further, an emergency stop button 12e operated by the worker M is attached to the rear end of the AGV1.

  In addition, an accommodation box 13a in which a control unit (see FIG. 8) 13 is accommodated is disposed at the front of the AGV1, and a manual operation unit 13b is provided on the upper surface of the accommodation box 13a. Although not shown in detail in the manual operation unit 13b, each of a select switch that is a key switch for switching power on / off of the AGV1, a reset button, an emergency stop button, a start button, and a stop button is provided. A switch is disposed, and a battery voltage meter and a touch panel display are disposed. Reference numeral 19c is a signal tower, and reference numeral 13c is a battery.

  The vehicle body 11a of the AGV 1 has an upper stage 14 on which a relatively shallow container 31 is loaded and a lower stage 15 on which a relatively deep container 32 is loaded as loading stages on which the containers 3 are loaded. It is equipped with. Of these, the rear shelf 14b constituting the upper stage 14 is hinged to the vehicle body 11a as shown in FIG. 7, and the deep-bottom container 32 is raised from the shelf 14b. Is loaded on the lower stage 15. A roller 16 for moving the container 3 in the vehicle width direction of the AGV 1 is attached to each shelf plate 14 a, 14 b, 15 a constituting the upper step portion 14 and the lower step portion 15, and the shelf plates 14 a, 15 a Is provided with a mounting portion 17 for attaching a stopper 17a for preventing the container 3 from dropping.

  FIG. 8 shows a control block diagram of AGV1, and the emergency stop button 12e, safety bumper 12b, guide sensor 12c, address plate sensor 12d, obstacle sensor 12a are connected to the control unit 13 via the input unit 18a. And the signal from the manual operation part 13b is input. Based on those inputs, the control unit 13 outputs a control signal to the drive unit 19a, the stop brake 19b, the signal tower 19c, and the start / alarm buzzer 19d via the output unit 18b, and performs traveling control of the AGV1. .

  Specifically, the AGV 1 travels along the travel route 4 while detecting the travel route 4 by the guide sensor 12c, and the number arranged at a predetermined position along the travel route 4 as shown in FIG. Information on the base plate 46 is read by the address plate sensor 12d, and the traveling speed is changed to low speed, medium speed, high speed, and stop. Accordingly, the AGV1 basically has a medium speed (for example, about 30 m / min) in the front side road 41, the rear side road 42, and the left side road 44 (picking zone) that are paths passing in front of the parts shelves 21 to 25. In the right side road 43 (non-picking zone) where no parts shelf is arranged, the vehicle travels at a high speed (for example, about 42 m / min).

  Moreover, AGV1 travels at a low speed (for example, about 12 m / min) in each empty container loading station 21a to 23a. AGV1 travels at a low speed in each section before each actual container wholesale station 21b to 25b, and stops at each actual container wholesale station 21b to 25b.

  Further, in each path passing in front of the right door and left door line parts shelves 21 and 22, a section (in the center part of the parts shelves 21 and 22) that passes in front of the storage part 26 in which predetermined parts are stored. In the passing section), AGV1 travels at a low speed. The predetermined part here is specifically a door seal part. Since the door seal component is folded and accommodated in the container 3, it takes time for the picking operation. Therefore, the traveling speed of the AGV 1 is set to a low speed.

  As described above, in this component picking system S, each AGV 1 travels at a predetermined speed without stopping in front of each of the component shelves 21 to 25, and the efficiency of the picking work is improved accordingly. .

  As described above, the traveling route 4 of the AGV 1 is set in a single loop shape that passes through the plurality of component shelves 21 to 25 corresponding to each of the plurality of assembly lines. In this component picking system S, The loop path can be changed to another loop path as necessary.

  Specifically, as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1, a virtual branch that extends in the front-rear direction and connects the front side path 41 and the rear side path 42 to each other at a substantially central position of the front side path 41 and the rear side path 42. A road 45 is set, and a large loop travel route (large loop route 4a) shown by a solid line in FIG. 1, a small loop travel route (first small loop route 4b) shown by a solid line in FIG. 11, and FIG. The three traveling routes (second small loop route 4c) indicated by a solid line are set as the traveling routes of AGV1.

  As described above, the large loop path 4a includes the right door line parts shelf 21, its actual container wholesale station 21b, the left door line parts shelf 22, its actual container wholesale station 22b, and the first A traveling route including a route passing through the third instrument panel line parts shelves 23 to 25 and the actual container wholesale station 25b. On the other hand, the first small loop path 4b is a path that passes through the right door line parts shelf 21, its actual container wholesale station 21b, the left door line parts shelf 22, and its actual container wholesale station 22b. Is a travel route that does not include a route passing through the first to third instrument panel line parts shelves 23 to 25 and the actual container wholesale station 25b, and the second small loop route 4c 3 including instrument panel line parts shelves 23 to 25 and their actual container wholesale station 25b, right door line parts shelf 21, and its actual container wholesale station 21b, left door line parts shelf 22 And a travel route that does not include a route passing through the actual container wholesale station 22b. In other words, the large loop path 4a is a path in which the first and second small loop paths 4b and 4c are connected to each other.

  The component picking system S is configured such that the travel route of the AGV 1 can be selected from the large loop route 4a and the first and second small loop routes 4b and 4c. 9 and 10 is performed by changing the embedding position of the magnetic bar 6 as shown in FIGS.

  That is, the traveling path 4 of the AGV 1 is configured by embedding a magnetic bar on the floor surface of the factory. In this embodiment, the traveling path 4 includes a fixed path on which the magnetic bar is fixed, and a floor surface. And a desorption path in which the magnetic rod can be desorbed in the groove formed in the.

  Specifically, each of the right side road 43 and the left side road 44 is a fixed road. In addition, the sections other than the branch portions in the front side path 41 and the rear side path 42 (sections in front of the parts shelves 21 to 23 and 25) are also fixed paths, and the central section of the branch path 45 is also a fixed path. (See thick solid line in FIG. 9).

  On the other hand, on the floor corresponding to the connecting portion between the front side path 41 and the branch path 45, the left side portion and the right side portion of the front side path 41 are connected to each other (that is, the fixed paths are connected to each other). The connecting groove 61, the second connecting groove 62 that connects the right side portion of the front side path 41 and the branch path 45 to each other (similarly, the fixed paths are connected to each other), and the left side portion of the front side path 41 and the branch path 45 are connected. Third connection grooves 63 are formed to be connected to each other. As shown in FIG. 10, the first to third connection grooves 61 to 63 have a width and a depth that can accommodate the magnetic rod 6, and the magnetic rod 6 is attached to and detached from the grooves 61 to 63. It is possible. Each of the second connection groove 62 and the third connection groove 63 has a radius of curvature corresponding to the minimum rotation radius of the AGV 1.

  Further, on the floor corresponding to the connecting portion between the rear side passage 42 and the branch passage 45, the first connecting groove 61 for connecting the left side portion and the right side portion of the rear side passage 42 to each other, A second connection groove 62 that connects the right side portion of the side path 42 and the branch path 45 to each other, and a third connection groove 63 that connects the left side portion of the rear side path 42 and the branch path 45 to each other are formed. In addition, the magnetic rod 6 is detachable in the grooves 61 to 63. The section in which these first to third connecting grooves 61 to 63 are formed corresponds to the attachment / detachment path.

  With this configuration, when the magnetic rod 6 is mounted in the two first connecting grooves 61, the left side portion and the right side portion of the front side path 41 and the rear side path 42 are connected to each other, and the large loop path 4a is set. (See FIG. 1). When the magnetic rod 6 is mounted in the two second connecting grooves 62, the right side portions of the front side path 41 and the rear side path 42 and the branch path 45 are connected to each other, and the first small loop path 4b is set. (See FIG. 11). Further, when the magnetic rod 6 is mounted in the two third connecting grooves 63, the left side portions of the front side path 41 and the rear side path 42 and the branch path 45 are connected to each other, and the second small loop path 4c is set. (See FIG. 12).

  As described above, in this component picking system S, the traveling route 4 of the AGV 1 is set in a loop shape within the picking area. For this reason, the worker M can take out a desired part from each of the parts shelves 21 to 25 while circling in the picking area along the loop together with the AGV1, and the return walking loss is eliminated.

  In addition, since a plurality of component shelves 21 to 25 that store components to be supplied to each of the plurality of assembly lines are arranged in one loop-shaped path 4, a plurality of loops can be obtained simply by circling the loop-shaped path 4. Parts can be supplied to each assembly line. In this way, by combining a plurality of picking zones, it is possible to reduce personnel organization loss. That is, for example, a picking zone for supplying parts to the instrument panel assembly line requires 1.5 persons as a minimum personnel, and a picking zone for supplying parts to the left and right door assembly lines requires 2 persons as minimum personnel. Assuming that 5 people are required, if these picking zones are individually configured, 2 + 3 = 5 people are required. On the other hand, in a configuration in which a plurality of picking zones are combined, 1.5 + 2.5 = 4 people can cope. Accordingly, it is possible to supply parts to a plurality of assembly lines with a minimum number of personnel without rounding up personnel for each picking zone.

  Furthermore, for example, when the instrument panel assembly line or the right and left door assembly line is stopped due to a failure, or when only the instrument panel assembly line or the right and left door assembly line is operated due to overtime operation, etc. Can be changed from the large loop path 4a shown in FIG. 1 to the first or second small loop path 4b, 4c (see FIGS. 11 and 12). Thereby, it is possible to easily cope with a change in the supply status to the assembly line. In addition, since the travel routes 4b and 4c after the change are also in a loop shape, the return walking loss is reduced as described above.

  In addition, what is necessary is just to set the number of AGV1 suitably according to the full length of the driving | running routes 4a-4c, its driving speed, etc. FIG. Further, when the travel routes 4a to 4c are changed, the number of operating AGVs 1 may be changed according to the total length of the travel route after the change.

(Other embodiments)
In the above embodiment, the travel route is changed by attaching and detaching the magnetic rod 6 to and from the connecting grooves 61 to 63 formed in advance on the floor surface. For example, as shown in FIG. The travel route 4 can also be changed by moving the magnetic rod 6.

  That is, the first moving stage 71 in which the linear magnetic rod 6 for connecting the left side portion and the right side portion of the front side path 41 is embedded, and the curve for connecting the right side portion of the front side path 41 to the branch path 45. A second moving stage 72 in which a magnetic bar 6 is embedded and a third moving stage 73 in which a curved magnetic bar 6 for connecting the left side portion of the front side path 41 to the branch path 45 is embedded. Two moving stages are arranged at each branch portion, and each moving stage 71 to 73 is connected to a connecting position where the magnetic bars 6 connect the fixed paths to each other by an actuator 74 such as a piston / cylinder, for example. Enables reciprocation between the retraction positions where the fixed paths are not connected to each other (see the white arrows in the figure).

  Then, a manual changeover switch is provided on a control panel (not shown) for controlling the operation of each actuator 74, and each actuator 74 is expanded and contracted by operating the switch to move each moving stage 71-73. Let By doing so, the position of the magnetic bar 6 is changed, and the traveling path can be changed between the large loop path 4a, the first small loop path 4b, and the second small loop path 4c (illustration example). Shows a state in which the second small loop path 4c is set). In addition, you may attach a cover to the part to which the said movement stages 71-73 move as needed.

  Further, by changing the branch travel control of AGV1, the travel route may be changed between the large loop route 4a and the first and second small loop routes 4b and 4c. In this case, the magnetic rod 6 is fixed in all the connecting grooves 61 to 63 in the above-described embodiment to set an approximately 8-shaped path having branches in advance, and an address plate 46 is provided at each branch portion. Keep it. Further, each AGV 1 and the central control panel are configured to be capable of wireless communication. By doing so, when AGV1 reaches the branching portion and detects the address plate 46, it is possible to select a route by wireless communication between AGV1 and the central control panel, and AGV1 can travel on the selected route. Become. As a result, the traveling route of AGV1 can be changed between the large loop route 4a, the first small loop route 4b, and the second small loop route 4c.

  Note that the path 4 of the AGV 1 is not limited to the large loop path 4a, the first small loop path 4b, and the second small loop path 4c as in the above-described embodiment, and can be set as appropriate.

  In the above-described embodiment, the container 3 is loaded on the AGV 1. However, the AGV 1 may be configured to pull the cart on which the parts are loaded.

  As described above, the present invention can reduce return walking loss, knitting loss, and the like, and can easily cope with the supply status of parts to each assembly line, so that various products having a plurality of assembly lines can be assembled. It is useful as a part picking system and a part picking method in a factory.

It is a top view which shows the structure of the picking area to which the component picking system which concerns on embodiment of this invention was applied. It is a front view which shows an example of a structure of components shelf. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the accommodation order of the components to a container. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a picking instruction | indication apparatus. It is a side view of AGV. It is a top view of AGV. It is a side view of AGV of the state which loaded the container of the deep bottom. It is a control block diagram of AGV. It is a top view which expands and shows the structure of the branch part of a driving | running route. It is XX sectional drawing of FIG. It is a top view which shows the structure of the components picking area at the time of changing a driving | running route. It is a top view which shows the structure of the components picking area at the time of changing a driving | running route. It is a top view which expands and shows another structure of the branch part of a driving | running route.

Explanation of symbols

1 AGV (Automated guided vehicle)
21-25 Parts shelf 21b, 22b, 25b Actual container wholesale station (wholesale position)
4 travel route 4a large loop route 4b first small loop route 4c second small loop route 6 magnetic rod (travel route changing means)
61-63 1st-3rd connection groove (traveling route change means)
71-73 1st-3rd movement stage (travel route change means)
74 Actuator (travel path changing means)

Claims (6)

A parts shelf that is arranged at a predetermined position in the picking area and accommodates a plurality of types of parts to be supplied to the assembly line at predetermined positions,
A parts picking system comprising: an automated guided vehicle that travels along a preset travel route and transports parts taken out of a parts shelf by an operator to a wholesale position for sending to the assembly line. ,
There are a plurality of assembly lines,
The traveling route of the automatic guided vehicle is set in a loop shape in the picking area,
A plurality of the component shelves are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of assembly lines, and are arranged at predetermined positions on the outer periphery of the loop-shaped path,
A plurality of wholesale positions are set corresponding to each of the plurality of assembly lines on the loop-shaped route,
A travel route change that changes the loop-shaped route of the automatic guided vehicle to another loop-shaped route including a route that passes through at least one component shelf and a wholesale position in accordance with the component supply status to each assembly line. A component picking system further comprising means. The component picking system according to claim 1.
The travel path changing means includes a path that passes through a parts shelf and a wholesale position corresponding to an assembly line in an operating state, and does not include a path that passes through a parts shelf and a wholesale position corresponding to a non-operating assembly line. Parts picking system that changes to a path The component picking system according to claim 1 or 2,
Each of the component shelves is arranged extending in the traveling direction of the automatic guided vehicle,
The automated guided vehicle is a parts picking system that travels at a predetermined speed without stopping the route in front of each of the parts shelves. The component picking system according to claim 3.
Each of the parts shelves stores a plurality of types of parts arranged in the traveling direction of the automatic guided vehicle,
The automated guided vehicle is a component picking system that changes a traveling speed when traveling on a route in front of the component shelf according to the type of the component stored in the component shelf. While setting a traveling path of the automatic guided vehicle in a picking area in a loop shape so that a plurality of parts shelves corresponding to each of a plurality of assembly lines and arranged at predetermined positions are located on the outer periphery, A plurality of wholesale positions for sending parts to the assembly line corresponding to each of the plurality of assembly lines, a travel route setting step for setting on the loop-shaped route;
A traveling process in which the automatic guided vehicle travels along the loop-shaped route;
A transporting process in which the automatic guided vehicle transports the parts taken out from the parts shelf by the operator to the wholesale position;
A travel route changing step for changing the loop-shaped travel route to another loop-shaped route including a route passing through at least one component shelf and a wholesale position according to the parts supply status to each assembly line, Including parts picking method. The component picking method according to claim 5,
The assembly line includes a vehicle instrument panel assembly line and a door assembly line.

Images