JP5154158B2 - Conveying device and picking equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport apparatus and picking equipment that can prevent an operator from placing an article on an incorrect article placement position.

  Conventionally, for example, a picking facility described in Patent Document 1 below is known. This picking facility includes an article storage device for storing articles, and a plurality of input devices for placing articles taken out of the article storage apparatus according to order information and automatically loading and placing the placed articles. And an order unit transport apparatus for receiving articles from a plurality of transport apparatuses and placing the received articles in a collection container and transporting them in order units.

Further, in this picking facility, an input indicator is provided above each conveying device including a resin roller, a lid, and the like toward the picking shelf of the article storage device. Each input indicator has a lamp for instructing transfer of the article to the transfer device, a digital display for displaying the amount of the article to be transferred to the transfer device, and the like.
JP-A-2005-75635

  However, in the above-described conventional picking equipment, the worker who performs the picking work looks at the lamp of the input indicator located away from the transport device above the transport device and transfers the product to the transport device. There is a possibility that the article placement position to be placed is mistaken.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a transport apparatus and a picking facility that can prevent an operator from placing an article on an incorrect article placement position.

Conveying apparatus 請 Motomeko 1 described, a device body having a conveying surface for conveying the mounted article is placed article, to workers by emitting light from a portion of the conveying surface and a light source which directs an article placement position on the conveying surface, the apparatus main body has an endless translucent carrier having a conveying surface on the upper surface of the forward face portion, said light source, said translucent It is arrange | positioned between the outward path | surface part and return path | route surface part of a sex conveyance body.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the conveyance device according to the first aspect, the light source indicates a plurality of article placement positions at which articles are placed one by one.

The picking equipment according to claim 3 is configured to place an article storage device for storing the article and an article taken out from the article storage apparatus according to the order information, and temporarily put the placed article on standby. 3. A plurality of transport apparatuses according to claim 1 or 2 for transporting the articles after receiving, and an order unit transport apparatus for receiving articles from the plurality of transport apparatuses and transporting the received articles in order units corresponding to the order information. To do.

According to the invention of 請 Motomeko 1, since the article loading position on the conveying surface light from a portion is emitted in the conveying surface by the light source is indicated, the article to the article loading position where the worker is wrong It can be prevented from being placed, and the light source can be protected by arranging the light source between the forward path surface part and the return path surface part of the translucent carrier, and it is also necessary to secure a dedicated space for installing the light source. Absent.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the operator can place a desired number of articles by placing one article at each article placement position instructed by the light source without mistaken the number of articles to be placed. Can be placed on the conveyance surface, and a display device for displaying the number of articles to be placed is not required, and the configuration can be simplified.

According to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to prevent an operator from placing an article at the wrong article placement position, and a picking operation can be performed accurately and efficiently.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a picking facility. The picking facility 1 includes an article storage device 2 that is disposed to be spaced apart from each other and stores articles W such as food, and both the article storage devices. And an article conveying device 3 disposed between the two. In addition, there is a work space for the worker A who performs a picking-up work that is a picking work according to the order information, between the article storage device 2 and the article transporting device 3.

  The article storage device 2 has a frame 5. The frame 5 is provided with a plurality of storage units (product shelves or the like) 6 in which a plurality of articles W are stored in a case K. Each storage unit 6 is configured by, for example, an inclined free roller conveyor 7 that inclines downward toward the article conveying device 3 side, and is stored in contact with the leading case K at the conveyance end portion of each free roller conveyor 7. A stopper (not shown) for restricting the movement of the case K is provided. When the top case K that has been emptied by removing the article W is removed from the storage unit 6, the subsequent case K moves on the free roller conveyor 7 by its own weight. A case K containing an article W is manually supplied by the operator B to the conveyance start end of each free roller conveyor 7.

  A plurality of preset storage units 6, that is, for example, a total of 20 storage units 6 in 5 rows and 4 rows, form a picking area (picking zone) where one worker A is in charge of picking work. Yes. A plurality of picking regions are arranged side by side along the conveying direction on both sides of the article conveying device 3.

  In addition, the article storage device 2 has a plurality of storage side lamps 8 provided corresponding to the plurality of storage units 6. That is, one storage side lamp 8 is provided for each storage unit 6. The storage side lamp 8 is provided in a state facing the operator A on the front surface portion of the corresponding storage portion 6, that is, the lower end portion which is the transfer end portion of the free roller conveyor 7, for example. Each storage side lamp 8 is a lamp as a light source for instructing the storage unit 6 that instructs the storage unit 6 in which the article W to be taken out next by the worker A is stored. That is, each storage lamp 8 instructs the worker A to the storage unit 6 from which the article is to be taken out.

  A take-out detecting means (not shown) for detecting that the article W has been taken out from the storage unit 6 is provided for each storage unit 6. A quantity indicator indicating the quantity of articles W to be taken out from the storage unit 6 is provided in the vicinity of the storage side lamp 8 as necessary.

  The article transport device 3 is loaded with a plurality of inputs that guide the transport after the article W taken out from the storage unit 6 of the article storage device 2 according to the order information is placed and the placed article W is temporarily put on standby. Conveyance device 11 as a guide body as an apparatus, and order unit conveyance that is one center conveyance unit that accepts articles W from these plurality of conveyance devices 11 and conveys the accepted articles W in order units corresponding to order information Device 12.

  For example, the order unit transporting device 12 is centered while transporting in the horizontal transport direction (right direction in FIG. 2) with the article W in the order unit placed directly on the substantially V-shaped transport surface 13 in front view. Ring. The order unit conveying device 12 is composed of a plurality of pairs of inclined driving conveyors 14, and each inclined driving conveyor 14 has an endless conveying belt 15 for conveying an article W. The conveyor belt 15 is slidably wound around a plurality of rollers 17 supported by the conveyor frame 16, and is rotated by power from a drive source (not shown) such as a motor to convey the article W.

  Note that the transport surface 13 of the order unit transport device 12 is divided for each order unit according to the order information. That is, the transport surface 13 is composed of a plurality of order unit zones arranged in the transport direction of the order unit transport device 12. The order unit includes a batch unit, and the transport surface 13 may be composed of one order unit zone.

  The transport device 11 is disposed above both sides of the order unit transport device 12 in the transport direction. That is, for example, for each picking area, a plurality of, for example, five transfer devices 11 are arranged as a set.

  Each transport device 11 has, for example, a driving conveyor with a built-in lamp, and the like. The horizontal transport surface 21 that guides transport after the article taken out from the storage unit 6 is directly placed and the placed article W waits is placed on the upper surface. The apparatus main body 22 and a part of the conveyance surface 21 of the apparatus main body 22 emit light to the worker A on the conveyance surface 21 on which one article W corresponding to the worker A is placed. And a light source 23 for instructing the article placement position.

  Here, the apparatus main body 22 has an endless translucent transport body 25 that transports and guides the article W. The translucent transport body 25 is rotated around a plurality of rollers 26 supported by a conveyor frame 27. The article W is suspended so as to be able to travel, and is rotated by power from a drive source (not shown) such as a motor to guide the article W in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the order unit transport device 12. The translucent transport body 25 is constituted by, for example, a mesh member having a large number of holes, and the upper surface of the forward path surface portion 25a of the translucent transport body 25 is a transport surface 21. That is, when the light source 23 is turned on, light is emitted from a hole (a part of the conveyance surface) formed in the conveyance surface 21 of the translucent conveyance body 25, and the article placement position is indicated on the conveyance surface 21 by this light. The

  A light source 23 that emits light inside each translucent transport body 25, that is, between the forward path surface portion 25a on the upper side of the translucent transport body 25 and the lower return path surface portion 25b that is spaced apart from the forward path surface portion 25a. A storage arrangement is provided. That is, for example, one light source 23 is accommodated in the approximate center of the transport device 11 between the forward path surface portion 25a and the return path surface portion 25b of the translucent transport body 25 of the transport device 11 on one side of the order unit transport device 12. A plurality of, for example, two light sources 23 are spaced in the transport direction of the transport device 11 between the forward path surface portion 25a and the return path surface portion 25b of the translucent transport body 25 of the transport device 11 on the other side of the unit transport device 12. They are stored side by side.

  Each of the light sources 23 instructs the operator A on the article placement position on the conveyance surface 21 by illuminating a part of the conveyance surface 21 of the translucent carrier 25 with, for example, a light emitting diode. Further, a placement detection means (not shown) for detecting that the article W is placed at the article placement position on the transport surface 21 is provided for each light source. Each placement detection means is, for example, a sensor that is attached to the light source and detects the placement of the article W based on the reflectance of light from the light source in conjunction with the light source during operation of the light source.

  Next, the operation of the picking facility 1 will be described.

  The worker A takes out only one or two articles W from the storage unit 6 corresponding to the storage-side lamp 8 that is lit among a plurality of, for example, 20 storage-side lamps 8 in the picking area that he / she is in charge of. The take-out detecting means detects that the article W has been taken out.

  Next, the worker A who picks up one article W turns around to the article transport device 3 side, and then turns on the light source 23 in a plurality of, for example, five transport devices 11 that he / she is in charge of as shown in FIG. A single article W is placed at the article placement position where light is emitted from a part of the conveyance surface 21 and is shined. The article W shines on the conveyance surface 21 with the article W. Cover all or part of the light emitting part. When the placement detecting means detects that the article W is placed at the article placement position, the storage side lamp 8 and the light source 23 that have been turned on are turned off, and the next storage side lamp 8 and the light source 23 are turned on. Light.

  The worker A who picks up two articles W turns to the article transport apparatus 3 side, and then turns on the light source 23 in a plurality of, for example, five transport apparatuses 11 that he / she is in charge of as shown in FIG. By looking at the two article placement positions where light is emitted from a part of the conveying surface 21, one article W is placed at each of the article placement positions. Covers all or part of the light emitting portion of the transport surface 21 that has been illuminated. When the placement detecting means detects that the article W is placed at the article placement position, the storage side lamp 8 and the light source 23 that have been turned on are turned off, and the next storage side lamp 8 and the light source 23 are turned on. Light.

  Then, when the order unit zone, which is a desired area of the transport surface 13 of the order unit transport device 12, reaches the corresponding position of the transport device 11, the translucent transport of the apparatus main body 22 is performed based on the operation of a drive source such as a motor. Body 25 turns around.

  When the translucent transport body 25 turns, the article W placed at the article placement position on the transport surface 21 is guided to be transported on the transport surface 21 and placed on the transport surface 13 of the order unit transport device 12. Drop and change. That is, the article W is automatically put on the transport surface 13 of the order unit transport device 12 by the transport device 11. In this way, the articles W for each order unit taken out from the storage unit 6 are centered while being transported on the transport surface 13 in a state of being directly placed on the transport surface 13 of the order unit transport device 12, Then, after passing through a predetermined process, it is shipped.

  According to such a picking facility 1, light is emitted from a part of the conveying surface 21 of the apparatus main body 22 by turning on the light source 23, so that only one article W corresponding to the worker A is provided. Since the article placement position on the carrying surface 21 to be placed is instructed, it is possible to prevent the worker A from placing the article W at the wrong article placement position, and thus the picking operation can be performed with high accuracy. .

  In addition, the worker A conventionally has to shift his / her line of sight from the display to the article placement position when the article W is placed. In the picking facility 1, the article on the conveying surface 21 that is illuminated when the article W is placed. It is only necessary to focus on the mounting position, and the efficiency of picking work can be improved.

  Furthermore, the worker A does not need to check the number of articles on the display, and loads one article at each article placement position designated by the light source 23 in the transport device 11 having a plurality of light sources 23. A display device that can place a desired number of articles W according to the order information on the conveyance surface 21 and displays the number of articles to be placed without having to mistake the number of articles to be placed. Can be eliminated, and the configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

  In addition, the light from the light source 23 illuminates a part of the transport surface 21 of the translucent transport body 25 of the apparatus main body 22 so that the operator can appropriately indicate the article placement position to the worker A. The light source 23 can be protected by covering the light source 23 by arranging the light source 23 between the forward path surface portion 25a and the return path surface portion 25b of the conductive transport body 25, and there is no need to separately secure a dedicated space for installing the light source 23. .

  In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the transport device 11 includes one or two light sources 23 for instructing the article placement position has been described. However, the number of the light sources 23 is three, four, or five. That's all. That is, for example, the transport apparatus 11 shown in FIG. 5 includes two light sources 23 arranged in the transport direction and two light sources 23 arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction. When the article placement position is instructed by the two light sources 23 arranged in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, the two articles W are perpendicular to the conveyance direction on the conveyance surface 21. When the article placement position is instructed by the two light sources 23 arranged in the transport direction, the two articles W are placed on the transport surface 21 in the transport direction. Is done. As described above, depending on the arrangement of the plurality of light sources 23, it is possible to instruct the conveying device 11 to place the article W, such as placing two vertically or two horizontally.

Also, in one side of the number and different arrangement of the light source 23 on the other side each of the conveying device 11 having the order unit carrying device 12 of the light source 23 of the transfer unit 11 of the order unit carrying device 12, in the same configuration For example, all the transport apparatuses 11 may have a configuration having one light source 23 or a predetermined number.

  Further, the placement detection means detects that the detection light from the detection light source provided separately from the light source 23 for indicating the article placement position, for example, is blocked by the article W placed at the article placement position. An optical system sensor, a limit switch that operates according to the weight of the article W placed at the article placement position, a weight sensor, or the like may be used.

  Further, the take-out detection means and the placement detection means may be buttons that are turned on by the worker A.

  Furthermore, the number of one set of transport apparatuses 11 provided for each picking area that the worker A is in charge of is not limited to five, and may be four or less, or six or more, for example.

Further, the transport surface 21 of the transport device 11 is not limited to the one configured by the upper surface of the forward path surface portion 25a of the translucent transport body 25 made of a mesh-like member having a plurality of holes, for example, a flexible belt-like shape The end face of the endless translucent carrier made of a light transmissive member may be the upper surface of the forward path surface. In this case, the entire upper part of the light source is covered with the transport surface, and the light source is turned on. By this, light is emitted from a part of the conveying surface to indicate the article placement position .

Et al is, the article W is for example not limited to one as a product, may be one of those such as multiple products are packed.

  In addition to the picking facility 1, the transport device 11 can be applied to a sorting device that sorts the articles W.

It is a front view of the picking equipment concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of a picking equipment same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a picking installation same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a picking installation same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the conveying apparatus of the picking equipment which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

1 Picking equipment 2 Goods storage device
11 Transport device
12 Order unit conveyor
21 Transport surface
22 Main unit
23 Light source
25 Translucent carrier
25a Outward surface
25b Return road surface W Goods

Claims (3)

An apparatus body having a conveying surface on which the article is placed and which carries the placed article;
A light source that directs the article placement position on the transport surface to an operator by radiating light from a part of the transport surface;
The apparatus main body has an endless translucent transport body having a transport surface on the upper surface of the forward path surface portion,
The light source conveyance device you characterized in that disposed between the forward surface and the backward surface of the transparent carrier. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the light source indicates a plurality of article placement positions on which articles are placed one by one. An article storage device for storing articles;
A plurality of conveying devices according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein an article taken out according to the order information from the article storage device is placed, and the placed article is temporarily transported after waiting.
A picking facility comprising: an order unit transport device that receives articles from the plurality of transport apparatuses and transports the received articles in order units corresponding to the order information.

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