JP5316059B2 - Sorting equipment and sorting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sorting facility capable of coping with a request for collecting a defective product from a customer and so forth by grasping to which sorting destination an article (a defective product) complained (claimed) from a sorting destination (such as a customer) is shipped. <P>SOLUTION: When inputting a number (a sorting destination) of the customer of making a complaint and a code of vegetables (article specific information on an article), a frontage of a flow rack allocated for the vegetables specified by the code of the vegetables is determined, and an original article receiving vessel replenished in this frontage and storing the vegetables sorted in an article collecting vessel allocated to the customer (a number) and an adjacent article receiving vessel positioned before and after this original article receiving vessel are determined, and the article collecting vessel of sorting the vegetables is determined from the determined original article receiving vessel and adjacent article receiving vessel, and the customer (the number) allocated to the determined article collecting vessel is determined. Thus, the sorting facility can cope with the request for collecting the vegetables of an object from the customer except for the complained customer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sorting facility and a sorting method, and more particularly to history management of articles shipped according to article request information of a sorting destination.

An example of the conventional sorting equipment is disclosed in Patent Document 1.
This patent document 1 is intended to reduce the workload of workers, manage history information without mistakes, and realize a good traceability system. The picking system disclosed in patent document 1 is a product whose producer is a producer. It is configured to be able to track or retroactively trace history information from when it reaches the consumer.

  That is, the recording means, the input means for recording the product history information in the container for storing the goods in the container for storing the goods to be sorted (sorting container), the installation position of the sorting container, and the sorting container Product position input means for associating and storing the stored goods with the recording means, and notification means provided for each installation position of the sorting container for notifying that the goods have been taken out from the sorting container during the picking operation; When there is a notification by the notification means, an output means for reading out history information of the product associated with the installation position of the sorting container provided with the notification means from the recording means, and a history read by the output means A label issuing means for printing information on a history information label and issuing the label is provided.

  When the operator uses the notification means to notify that the product has been taken out from the sorting container during the picking work, the history information of the product associated with the installation position of the sorting container provided with the notification means is recorded. A history information label printed with the history information (product code or shipping code) of the product is issued, and the issued history information label is attached to the taken out product for shipment.

  Therefore, the consumer can create a database built on the computer system of the seller via a computer network such as the Internet, based on the product code or shipping code written on the history information label affixed to the product. You can access and query and obtain various history information of the product such as production history and distribution history.

  As described above, a traceability system configured to manage history information without mistakes and to track or retroactively track history information until a product reaches a consumer from a producer is realized.

JP 2006-111417 A

  In the conventional traceability system for sorting equipment, it is necessary to affix a history information label for each product taken out, and there is a problem that the work efficiency of the worker is poor. In addition, in the sorting equipment that stores the picked-up products in a container and sorts them by sequentially transporting the containers, adopting a traceability system that involves attaching such a history information label because the overall sorting efficiency deteriorates. Was difficult.

  In addition, in the sorting equipment that sorts fresh foods such as vegetables received from various production areas, there were complaints from customers, such as rotting, scratches, smells of agricultural chemicals, etc. If you do not collect fresh foods shipped from the same place on the same day, you may lose the trust of other customers, and you need a traceability system.

  In addition, if there are multiple sorting containers that store the same type of fresh food that arrived from the same production area, it can be determined whether the sorting is from a sorting container that contains defective products that have been complained or sorted from a good sorting container. However, even if a non-defective sorting container can be identified, there is a problem that it cannot be sure whether the worker has sorted fresh food from the non-defective sorting container.

  Therefore, the present invention can grasp to which other sorting destination (customer, etc.) the article (defective product) complained from the sorting destination (customer, etc.) (complaint) was shipped, It is an object of the present invention to provide a sorting facility and a sorting method that make it possible to collect defective products from customers.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is characterized in that each of the above-described items is received from a plurality of receiving containers that have been stored and received according to goods request information of a sorting destination. A sorting facility having a sorting line for sorting the articles into the collection containers assigned to the sorting destination, wherein each of the receiving containers has article specifying information for specifying at least the articles stored in the receiving containers. A reading means for reading the article specifying information given to the receiving container, a plurality of the receiving containers capable of being stored in succession, and a frontage assigned to each of the articles specified by the article specifying information. A plurality of storage means, and a frontage for replenishing the arrival container based on the article specifying information read by the reading means, and a supplement for replenishing the arrival container to the frontage. And input means for inputting the article identification information of the sorting destination and the article, and when the article identification information of the sorting destination and the article is input by the input means, the input is specified by the article identification information inputted. For the original arrival, the frontage of the storage means to which the article is assigned is obtained, and the goods that are replenished by the replenishment means and stored in the collection container assigned to the input sorting destination are stored at the obtained frontage. Obtain the container and the adjacent receiving container located before and after the original receiving container, and obtain the collection container in which the articles are sorted from the obtained original receiving container and the adjacent receiving container, and assign to the obtained collecting container. It is characterized in that a new sorting destination is obtained.

  According to the above configuration, when the item identification information of the sorting destination and the item is input by the input unit, the front of the storage unit to which the article of the input item identification information is allocated is obtained, and the front is replenished by the replenishment unit. Then, an original receiving container that stores articles sorted into the collection container to which the input sorting destination is assigned, and adjacent receiving containers positioned before and after the original receiving container are obtained. Next, a collection container in which articles are sorted from the obtained original arrival container and the adjacent arrival container is obtained, and a sorting destination assigned to the obtained collection container is obtained.

  Therefore, in addition to the sorting destination input from the input means, the sorting in which the articles are sorted from these original receiving containers and the adjacent receiving containers from which the articles specified by the input means may have been taken out. The destination is required.

  In this way, when the customer name and the article name of the object for which the complaint is received are input by the input means, for example, the object article for which the complaint has been received is positioned not only from the arrival container in which the complaint is stored but also at the front and rear. A traceability system is realized by ascertaining to which customer other than the customer who made the complaint the goods sorted from the container for arrival, and the item for which the complaint is received from the found customer It is possible to take measures such as collecting the customer's money and obtain the trust of the customer.

  Further, the invention described in claim 2 is the invention described in claim 1, wherein each of the receiving containers is provided with receiving destination specifying information for specifying a receiving destination of the receiving container, and the adjacent receiving When the receiving destination specifying information of the receiving destination of the container is the same as the receiving destination specifying information of the receiving destination of the original receiving container, an adjacent receiving container positioned before and after the adjacent receiving container is further obtained. When the receiving destination identification information of the container receiving destination is the same as the receiving destination specifying information of the receiving destination of the original receiving container, it repeatedly asks for the adjacent receiving containers positioned before and after the adjacent receiving container. The distribution destination assigned to the collection container that sorts the items from the original arrival container and the adjacent arrival container obtained from the original arrival container and the adjacent arrival container whose arrival destination identification information and the arrival destination identification information are not the same. Characterized by seeking Is shall.

  According to the above configuration, the collection container in which the articles taken out from the arrival containers of different arrival destinations adjacent to the front and rear of these arrival containers as well as the arrival containers of the same arrival destination as the original arrival container are input. Is required.

  Therefore, for example, not only the customer (sorting destination) to which the article is shipped from the receiving container in which the article to which the complaint has been entered, which is input by the input means, is stored, but the complaint is sent at the time of sorting. In the unlikely event that the target item is shipped, there is a need for a possible sorting destination.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the replenishing means removes the receiving container when the opening for replenishing the receiving container is full. The reading means returns to a position where the article specifying information can be read.

  According to the above configuration, when the opening for refilling the receiving container is full, the receiving container is returned to a position where the article specifying information can be read by the reading means and refilled by the replenishing means.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a plurality of the sorting areas, and stored in the storing means of the sorting area where sorting is completed. The arrival container is returned to a position where the article specifying information can be read by the reading means.

  According to the above configuration, the receiving container in the sorting area where sorting has been completed is returned to a position where the article specifying information can be read, re-entered into another sorting area during sorting, and refilled by the refilling means. The

The article also invention described in claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, for identifying the container-specific information identifying the stock container, the stored article Identification means having identification information including identification information and the quantity thereof, and arrival destination identification information for specifying the arrival destination of the arrival container, and container identification of the collection container assigned to each sorting destination A first storage means for storing information, and for each article put in each collection container on the basis of the article request information, storing a loading order of articles from a frontage to which the goods are assigned; and in each frontage Stores the item specifying information of the allocated items, stores the container specifying information of the receiving containers replenished in order to each frontage, and based on the quantity of the items of the identification information, the items in these receiving containers are Take out from the frontage A second storage means for storing the order; the first storage means is searched by the sorting destination input by the input means to obtain container specifying information of the collection container assigned to the sorting destination; In the obtained container specifying information of the collection container, the order of loading the articles of the article specifying information input by the input means is obtained, and the second storage is performed by the article of the article specifying information input by the input means. By searching the means, the frontage assigned to the article is obtained, and input by the input means is performed by matching the order of taking out the goods in the frontage stored in the second storage means and the order of putting in the obtained goods. The container specifying information of the original receiving container that has stored the article of the specified article specifying information is obtained, and the obtained original receiving capacity is obtained from the container specifying information of the receiving container stored in the second storage means. The container specifying information of the adjacent receiving containers located before and after the container is obtained, the order of taking out the articles to be taken out from the original receiving container and the adjacent receiving container of the container specifying information is obtained, and the taking out order of the articles and the first memory are stored. By associating the loading order stored in the means, it is characterized in that the sorting destination of the collection container into which the article has been loaded is obtained from the original receiving container of the obtained container specifying information and the adjacent receiving container. .

  According to the above configuration, the order specified for the article specified by the article specifying information is determined by the order in which the article is taken out from the frontage where the article is assigned and the order in which the article is sequentially supplied to the collection container specified by the sorting destination. From which receiving container, to which collection container the article specified by the article specifying information is input is specified, and the sorting destination is specified from the specified collection container.

  Further, in the invention according to claim 6, at least article specifying information for specifying an article stored in the receiving container is assigned to each of the plurality of receiving containers that have received and received the article, and the receiving container A plurality of front doors to which articles specified by the article specifying information are assigned, and a storage means based on the article specifying information given to the receiving container. And a replenishing means for replenishing the container with a stocking container, and each of the assortments according to the goods request information of the sorting destination from the stocking container stored in each of the storage means. In the sorting method for sorting the articles into the previously assigned collection containers, when the sorting destination and the article specifying information of the articles are input, the items are specified by the input article specifying information. The storage unit to which the goods to be stored are assigned is determined, and the stocked goods stored in the collection container assigned to the input sorting destination are replenished by the replenishing means at the obtained frontage. The container and the adjacent receiving container located before and after the original receiving container are obtained, and the obtained collecting container in which articles are sorted from the obtained original receiving container and the adjacent receiving container is obtained, and the obtained collecting container is obtained. This is characterized in that the assigned sorting destination is obtained.

  According to the above method, when the item identification information of the sorting destination and the item is input by the input unit, the front of the storage unit to which the article of the input item identification information is allocated is obtained, and the front is replenished by the replenishment unit. Then, an original receiving container that stores articles sorted into the collection container to which the input sorting destination is assigned, and adjacent receiving containers positioned before and after the original receiving container are obtained. Next, a collection container in which articles are sorted from the obtained original arrival container and the adjacent arrival container is obtained, and a sorting destination assigned to the obtained collection container is obtained. Therefore, in addition to the sorting destination input from the input means, a sorting destination is obtained in which articles are sorted from the original receiving container and the adjacent receiving container.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 6, wherein each of the receiving containers is provided with receiving destination specifying information for specifying a receiving destination of the receiving container, and the adjacent receiving When the receiving destination specifying information of the receiving destination of the container is the same as the receiving destination specifying information of the receiving destination of the original receiving container, an adjacent receiving container positioned before and after the adjacent receiving container is further obtained. When the receiving destination identification information of the container receiving destination is the same as the receiving destination specifying information of the receiving destination of the original receiving container, it repeatedly asks for the adjacent receiving containers positioned before and after the adjacent receiving container. The distribution destination assigned to the collection container that sorts the items from the original arrival container and the adjacent arrival container obtained from the original arrival container and the adjacent arrival container whose arrival destination identification information and the arrival destination identification information are not the same. Characterized by seeking Is shall.

  According to the above method, the collection container in which the articles taken out from the arrival containers with different arrival destinations adjacent to the front and rear of these arrival containers as well as the arrival containers of the same arrival destination as the original arrival container are input. Is required.

  The sorting facility and sorting method according to the present invention stores, as the sorting destination and the article specifying information of the article, for example, when the customer name and the article code of the complaint are input, the article of the complaint is received. By ascertaining to which customer other than the customer that the complaint came, the items sorted from the incoming and outgoing containers, as well as from the incoming container, were shipped from these customers. It is possible to take measures such as collecting an object for which a complaint is received, and the customer's trust can be obtained.

It is a block diagram of the sorting equipment in embodiment of this invention. It is a control block diagram of the same sorting equipment. It is a figure which shows the collection container-customer data memorize | stored in the sorting equipment computer of the sorting equipment. It is a figure which shows the picking data memorize | stored in the sorting equipment computer of the sorting equipment. It is a side view of the picking area of the sorting equipment. It is a lamp layout diagram of the picking area of the sorting equipment. It is a figure which shows the frontage-receiving container data memorize | stored in the crane controller of the same sorting equipment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the complaint process in the sorting equipment computer of the sorting equipment in order. It is explanatory drawing explaining operation | movement of the complaint process in the sorting equipment computer of the sorting equipment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a sorting facility according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a transfer line (conveyance path) for continuously receiving the incoming containers 12 that have been received after storing vegetables (examples of articles) 11 that are fresh foods. 12 includes a container number (an example of container specifying information for specifying a receiving container) for identifying the receiving container 12, a vegetable code of the stored vegetable 11 (an example of article specifying information for specifying an article), and A barcode (identification) consisting of the quantity, the production area code that identifies the production area of the vegetable 11 (an example of arrival destination identification information that identifies the arrival destination of the arrival container), and the arrival date of the vegetable 11 A barcode label (identification means) 13 printed with an example of information) is attached.

  A bar code reader (an example of a reading unit) 14 that reads a bar code from a bar code label 13 of the receiving container 12 and a plurality of picking areas (an example of a sorting area) 16 are provided along the transport line 10. The receiving container 12 transported by the transport line 10 is transported to the target picking area 16 by the branching device 15.

  A return line 17 is provided for returning the incoming containers 12 carried out from each picking area 16 to the upstream side of the bar code reader 14 in the transport line 10, and the return lines 17 are provided with the returned incoming containers 12. Is joined to the return line 17 by reversing the direction of the bar code label 13.

  A branch controller 19 that drives the branch device 15 based on the vegetable code of the barcode read by the barcode reader 14 and preset branch data (described later) and branches the receiving container 12 to the picking area 16. (FIG. 2) is provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, there is provided a sorting equipment computer 20 having a first memory (an example of a first storage means) 20a and a second memory (an example of a second storage means) 20b, and supervising the sorting equipment. Yes.

  In this sorting equipment computer 20, order data from each customer (an example of a sorting destination) (vegetable code and quantity of each ordered vegetable 11; an example of article request information) is tabulated and input. The arrangement of the frontage 31 for each zone Z of the flow rack 22 and the vegetable code of the vegetable 11 assigned and stored in each frontage 31 are input in advance.

Based on these inputs, the sorting equipment computer 20 assigns a number for identifying each customer to a collection container (number) 50 that is sequentially inserted into a collection line 23 to be described later, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a group of a plurality of collection containers 50 (six in the embodiment) is formed in the order in which they are stored in the first memory 20a as container-customer data. Picking data that determines how many vegetables 11 are to be taken out from each frontage 31 of each zone Z to which a vegetable code is assigned for each number of collection containers 50 (an example of container specifying information for specifying a collection container) Is stored in the first memory 20a. Further, for each vegetable code, the number of vegetables 11 sequentially added from the frontage 31 to which the vegetables 11 are assigned to each collection container 50 is accumulated to determine the order of loading the vegetables 11 and added to the picking data. 1 is stored in the memory 20a.
[Picking area 16]
As shown in FIG. 1, each picking area 16 has an automatic replenishing device (an example of replenishing means) 21, a flow rack (an example of a storage means) 22, a collection line (sorting line) for the receiving container 12. And an empty return conveyor 24, and the flow rack 22 and the collection line 23 are divided into a plurality of zones Z (1) to (n) (n is an integer of 2 or more).
"Flow rack 22"
As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the flow rack 22 includes four (6) rows of frontage 31 that can store four (a plurality of examples) of receiving containers 12 in succession for each zone Z. 24) in total. Each frontage 31 is assigned with one kind of vegetable (hereinafter referred to as a single vegetable) 11 specified by the product name, and the single vegetable 11 is assigned to a picking controller 62 to be described later. It is registered.

Each frontage 31 is provided with a frontage display 32 and a full detector 33 (FIG. 2).
The frontage display 32 includes a three-digit digital quantity display 35 (display means) for displaying the quantity of vegetables 11 to be picked, and a completion pushbutton switch 36 (completion operation means with a red lamp operated when the picking operation is completed. ), And a shortage pushbutton switch (shortage operation means) 37 that is operated together with the completion pushbutton switch 36 when there is a shortage. The red lamp of the completion push button switch 36 blinks when there is a picking instruction.

The full detector 33 is a detector that detects that the frontage 31 is full with the four receiving containers 12 stored therein, and is composed of a photoelectric sensor.
In each zone Z, a blue bay work indicator light 39 is provided for each stage, and displays that there is a vegetable 11 picked from the front edge 31 of the stage.
"Automatic replenishment device 21 for receiving container 12"
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the automatic replenishing device 21 is automatically guided by a traveling rail 41 that forms a constant path formed along the inlet (inlet) side of the receiving container 12 of the flow rack 22. A stacker crane 42 that travels and replenishes (injects) the receiving container 12 into the opening 31 of the flow rack 22, and a loading conveyor 43 that delivers the receiving container 12 branched by the branching device 15 to the stacker crane 42. A stacker crane having a memory 45a, and an unloading conveyor 44 that is unloaded when the loading container 12 transported by the stacker crane 42 is full and the loading port 31 is full and cannot be loaded and is carried out to the merging device 18 of the return line 17. 42 crane controllers 45 (FIG. 2).

  The stacker crane 42 is configured to run while being guided by the travel rail 41, and a fork device (not shown) for taking in and out the receiving container 12 is provided in a liftable carriage (not shown). It has been. The warehousing conveyor 43 is provided with a barcode reader 46 for reading the barcode from the barcode label 13 of the branched container 12 for receiving goods.

  In addition, the crane controller 45 is connected to the barcode reader 46 of the warehousing conveyor 43 and the fullness detector 33 of each frontage 31, and the memory 45 a has a vegetable code and a frontage 31 formed based on the picking data. Supplementary data (FIG. 4) consisting of a number (an example of information for specifying a frontage) is stored in advance by the sorting equipment computer 20.

The crane controller 45 performs the following control.
1. When the barcode read by the barcode reader 46 is input, the supplement data stored in the memory 45a is searched by the vegetable code of the vegetable 11 specified by the barcode, and the branch data is branched to the warehousing conveyor 43. ) The number of the frontage 31 for replenishing the receiving container 12 is obtained.

2. Subsequently, it is checked whether the full detector 33 of the number of the frontage 31 obtained is operating, that is, whether it is full.
3. When it is not full, a transfer command including the obtained number of the frontage 31 is output to the stacker crane 42. In response to the transfer command, the stacker crane 42 transfers the receiving container 12 from the warehousing conveyor 43 to the frontage 31. Further, when full, a transfer command with the delivery conveyor 44 as the transfer destination is output to the stacker crane 42. In response to this transfer command, the stacker crane 42 transfers the receiving container 12 from the receiving conveyor 43 to the outgoing conveyor 44.

4). When the transfer of the receiving container 12 from the warehousing conveyor 43 to the frontage 31 is completed, the crane controller 45 replenishes the memory 45a for each frontage 31 to which the vegetable code of the vegetable 11 is assigned, as shown in FIG. Stores the barcode data (incoming container number, origin code, date of arrival, quantity) in the order of delivery of the received containers 12, and accumulates the quantity every time it is stored, and the order of picking up the vegetables 11 for each incoming container 12 Is stored as frontage-incoming container data.
"Empty return conveyor 24"
The empty return conveyor 24 is a roller-driven conveyor that carries out an empty receiving container 12 taken out from the front surface (exit; collection line 23 side) of the frontage 31 of the flow rack 22 from the picking area 16.
"Collection line 23"
The collection line 23 includes a picking conveyor 51 that conveys collection containers 50 for each customer (an example of a sorting destination), a preceding temporary placement table 52 provided for each zone Z, and a picking controller 62 ( 2).

  The picking conveyor 51 is arranged along the front surface (exit) side of the flow rack 22, is formed of a roller-driven conveyor that can move the collection container 50, and is grouped in each zone Z (the embodiment). The six collection containers 50 are configured to be transportable to the downstream zone Z for each tact.

  Further, the preceding temporary placement table 52 is arranged along the picking conveyor 51 and corresponds to each of the six collection containers 50 conveyed from the picking conveyor 51 to the sorting position (stop position) of each zone Z. A portion 53 is provided.

  The picking conveyor 51 is provided with a conveyor input indicator 55 for each zone Z corresponding to each of the six collection containers 50 conveyed to the sorting position of each zone Z. Each temporary placement unit 53 is provided with a preceding insertion indicator 56, and each zone Z is provided with a blue zone work indicator lamp 57 for indicating that there is a picking work in the zone Z.

  The conveyor loading indicator 55 is a pushbutton switch with a red lamp, and indicates the collection container 50 at the sorting position where the picking operation is performed. The collection container into which the vegetables 11 are loaded when the red lamp is lit. 50 indicates that sorting is completed by blinking, and turns off by operating the switch.

  The preceding input indicator 56 has a three-digit digital quantity indicator 59 (display means) for displaying the quantity of vegetables 11 to be picked ahead, and a completion pushbutton switch 60 (completion operation means) with a green-red switching lamp. Is provided. The green lamp of the completion pushbutton switch 60 blinks when there is a preceding picking instruction, and turns off when the completion pushbutton switch 60 is operated. The red lamp of the completion push button switch 60 blinks when there is an instruction to put the vegetables 11 picked in advance into the collection container 50 at the sorting position, and turns off when the completion push button switch 60 is operated.

  In addition, the picking controller 62 includes the display group (frontage display 32, bay operation indicator 39, conveyor input indicator 55, preceding input indicator 56, zone operation indicator lamp provided in the flow rack 22 and the collection line 23. 57), and the picking conveyor 51 is further controlled to execute the picking operation.

  The memory 62a of the picking controller 62 stores in advance picking data including the number of the zone Z and the picking quantity for each zone Z to be collected in the order of the collection containers 50 conveyed by the picking conveyor 51 from the sorting equipment computer 20. Stored.

The picking controller 62 performs the following operation.
1. A group of collection containers 50 is formed every six in the conveying order.
2. The picking operation is executed in each zone Z for each group.

3. When the picking operation for each zone Z is completed, each group is moved to the downstream zone Z.
The picking operation is performed as follows.

* Actual Picking As shown in FIG. 4, if the collection container 50 of the group (a) is in the zone (b + 1) and the collection container 50 of the next group (a + 1) is in the zone (b), Actual picking is performed on the collection container 50 of the group (a + 1) in the upstream zone (b) and the group (a) in the downstream zone (b + 1).

  In actual picking, the quantity of vegetables 11 designated by the frontage display 32 of the frontage 31 of the zone Z is taken out and sorted for each collection container 50 actually stopped at the sorting position based on the picking data.

  The picking controller 62 turns on the zone operation indicator lamp 57, turns on the red lamp of the conveyor loading indicator 55 of the collection container 50 into which the vegetables 11 are thrown, and displays the quantity of the vegetables 11 to be picked on the frontage indicator 32. Then, the red lamp of the completion push button switch 36 blinks, and the bay work indicator light 39 in the stage where the frontage 31 for executing the picking work is lit is turned on.

  The picking operator in each zone Z confirms that there is a picking work by lighting the zone work indicator lamp 57, and confirms the stage to be picked by the bay work indicator lamp 39, in accordance with the display on the frontage indicator 32 in order. The vegetable 11 is taken out from the receiving container 12 in the frontage 31, and the completion push button switch 36 is pushed, and it is put into the collecting container 50 in which the red lamp of the conveyor loading indicator 55 is lit.

  When the completion pushbutton switch 36 is operated, it is determined that the picking of the frontage 31 has been completed, the red lamp of the completion pushbutton switch 36 is turned off, the bay work indicator lights 39 at the stage where the picking has been completed are turned off, and all When the picking of the frontage 31 is completed, the red lamp of the conveyor loading indicator 55 of the collection container 50 blinks.

  The picking operator in each zone Z recognizes that the picking to the corresponding collection container 50 is completed by blinking the red lamp of the conveyor input indicator 55, and presses the conveyor input indicator 55 (push button switch).

  When the pushing operation of the conveyor loading indicator 55 is confirmed, the completion of picking of the corresponding collection container 50 is recognized, and an instruction to pick the next collection container 50 is instructed. Then, when the picking operation to the six collection containers 50 is completed, the standby state is set. That is, it waits for the actual picking in all the zones Z to end and the collection container 50 of the next tact to be conveyed from the upstream.

* Preceding picking If the picking operation in the other zone Z is delayed in the standby zone Z, the preceding picking is performed for the collection container 50 conveyed from the upstream in the next tact based on the picking data. I do. In the downstream zone (b + 1) shown in FIG. 4, the preceding picking is performed on the collection container 50 of the group (a + 1) to be transported next.

  The picking controller 62 turns on the zone work indicator lamp 57, turns on the green lamp of the preceding insertion indicator 56 of the temporary placement unit 53 for inserting the vegetables 11, and displays the quantity of the vegetables 11 to be picked on the frontage indicator 32. Then, the red lamp of the completion push button switch 36 blinks, and the bay work indicator light 39 in the stage where the frontage 31 for executing the picking work is lit is turned on.

  The picking operator in each zone Z confirms that there is a picking work by lighting the zone work indicator lamp 57, and confirms the stage to be picked by the bay work indicator lamp 39, in accordance with the display on the frontage indicator 32 in order. The vegetable 11 is taken out from the receiving container 12 in the frontage 31, and the completion push button switch 36 is pushed, and it is put into the temporary placement portion 53 where the green lamp of the advance loading indicator 56 is lit.

  When the completion pushbutton switch 36 of the frontage indicator 32 is operated, it is determined that the picking of the frontage 31 has been completed, the red lamp of the completion pushbutton switch 36 is turned off, and the bay operation indicator light 39 at the stage where the picking has been completed is turned off. When the lights are turned off and the picking of all the front doors 31 is completed, the green lamp of the preceding insertion indicator 56 of the temporary placement unit 53 blinks.

  The picking operator in each zone Z recognizes that the picking to the corresponding temporary placement unit 53 is completed by the blinking of the green lamp of the preceding insertion indicator 56, and presses the completion push button switch 60 of the preceding insertion indicator 56. .

  When the pressing operation of the completion push button switch 60 of the advance insertion indicator 56 is confirmed, the completion of picking of the corresponding temporary placement unit 53 is recognized, and the next temporary placement unit 53 is instructed to perform a picking operation. Then, when the preceding picking work for the six temporary placement units 53 is completed, the standby state is set.

  On the way, when the collection container 50 of the next tact is conveyed from upstream, the preceding picking is finished, and the vegetables 11 that have been previously picked are transferred from the temporary placement unit 53 to the corresponding collection container 50. . That is, the lamp of the preceding insertion indicator 56 of the temporary placement unit 53 that has executed the preceding picking is changed to red and blinks.

  The picking operator in each zone Z transfers the vegetables 11 from the temporary placement unit 53 to the corresponding collection container 50 by the blinking of the red lamp of the preceding input indicator 56, and the completion push button switch 60 of the preceding input indicator 56. push.

  Upon confirming the pushing operation of the completion push button switch 60 of the advance insertion indicator 56, the transfer completion of the vegetables 11 is recognized from the corresponding temporary placement unit 53, the red lamp of the advance insertion indicator 56 is turned off, and the actual picking is performed. Migrate to

As described above, in the “collection line 23”, the picking operation to each collection container 50 is executed by a combination of actual picking and preceding picking.
Further, when all the picking operations are completed in each zone Z of each picking area 16 (collection line 23), the picking operator takes out the receiving container 12 in which the vegetables 11 still remain from the front opening 31 and inputs them to the return line 17. To do. As a result, the receiving container 12 in which the vegetables 11 remain is returned to the transport line 10 and re-inserted into the picking area 16 where the picking operation has not been completed.
"Data aggregation"
When the picking work to all the collection containers 50 is completed, the sorting equipment computer 20 specifies the shipping date and executes data aggregation.

That is, the frontage-arrival container data (information) stored in the memory 45a of the crane controller 45, that is, “the assigned vegetable code for each frontage 31, the container number in order of the replenished arrival container 12, the production area The “code, arrival date, quantity and order of removal” is sucked into the sorting equipment computer 20 and stored in the second memory 20b.
“Responding to customer complaints”
If the customer complains about the vegetable 11 being rotten or smelling a pesticide, the shipping date of the vegetable 11 corresponding to the complaint, the customer number, and The vegetable code is input to the sorting equipment computer 20.

Then, the sorting equipment computer 20 executes the following operation (see the flowchart in FIG. 8).
Step-1
Based on the input shipping date, the collection container-customer data and picking data of the first memory 20a and the front-receiving container data of the second memory 20b are specified.
Step-2
The identified collection container-customer data (FIG. 3) in the first memory 20a is searched by the entered customer number, and the container number of the collection container 50 of this customer number is obtained.
Step-3
Based on the obtained container number of the collection container 50 and the input vegetable code, the picking data (FIG. 4) of the determined first memory 20a is searched, and the order of loading the vegetables 11 of the input vegetable code is obtained.
Step-4
Next, the picking data is searched by the input vegetable code, and the frontage 31 in which the vegetable 11 of the input vegetable code is stored is obtained.
Step-5
The determined frontage-arrival container data of the second memory 20b is searched by the obtained frontage 31, and the frontage-arrival container data (FIG. 7) in the obtained frontage 31 is obtained. 2 and the order of loading of the vegetables 11 obtained in step 3 are matched, so that the receiving container 12 (container number; hereinafter referred to as the original receiving container) storing the vegetables 11 of the input vegetable code is stored. ) And the locality code.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the order (8) of the vegetables 11 for which a complaint has been received from the customer (number) E is matched with the order (1) to (16) of taking out the receiving containers 12 in the frontage 31, The receiving container (original receiving container) 12 in which the vegetables 11 that have received complaints are stored is obtained.
Step-6
Based on the obtained frontage-incoming container data at the frontage 31, the incoming containers 12 (container numbers; hereinafter referred to as adjacent incoming containers) before and after the obtained original incoming container 12A (container number) are specified.
Step-7
Next, from the frontage-arrival container data at the frontage 31 obtained, it is confirmed whether the production code of the adjacent arrival container 12B (container number) matches the production code of the original arrival container 12A. Confirm whether the production code of the front and rear receiving containers 12 (container number) matches the production code of the original receiving container 12A, and repeat this confirmation to confirm that the receiving container 12 (container number) does not match the production code. Is specified as the adjacent arrival container 12B.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, when there is a stock container 12 having the same origin code Q before and after the original stock container 12A, identified as the stock container 12 also raw stock containers 12A, these raw Before and after the arrival container 12A, the arrival container 12 that does not match the production area code Q is specified as the adjacent arrival container 12B.
Step-8
Based on the obtained frontage-incoming container data at the frontage 31, the extraction order connected to the entire original receiving container 12 </ b> A and the adjacent incoming container 12 </ b> B (container number) is obtained.
Step-9
The collection order 50 in which the vegetables 11 are introduced from the original arrival container 12A and the adjacent arrival container 12B by associating the obtained extraction order with the input order in the picking data (FIG. 4) of the input vegetable code. Ask for the number.

For example, in FIG. 9, when the extraction order connected to the entire original arrival container 12A and the adjacent arrival container 12B (container number) is (1) to (16), the number of the collection container 50, x (d1) to x (D6), x (e1), and x (e2) are obtained.
Step-10
The collection container-customer data (FIG. 3) is searched based on the obtained number of the collection container 50, and the number of the customer to whom the vegetables 11 are shipped from the original arrival container 12A and the adjacent arrival container 12B is obtained.

For example, in FIGS. 3 and 9, customer numbers A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H are obtained.
By such an operation, the collection container-customer data and picking data stored in the first memory 20a and the front-arrival container data stored in the second memory 20b are input from the input means. The collection container 50 that shipped the vegetables 11 to the customer (sorting destination) is specified, and the order of the vegetables 11 put into the collection container 50 {the vegetable code (article identification information) input from the input means] The order of loading from the frontage 31 of the vegetables 11 is determined, and the order of loading and the order of taking out the vegetables 11 from the frontage 31 (the order of taking out the frontage 31 from which the vegetables 11 of the input vegetable code are taken out) are determined. By combining them, the original arrival container 12A in which the vegetables 11 for which the complaint has come is sorted is specified.

  Then, the adjacent receiving containers 12B located before and after the original receiving container 12A are obtained based on the frontage-receiving container data, and the vegetables connected to the obtained original receiving container 12A and the adjacent receiving container 12B are obtained. 11, based on the picking data, the collection container 50 into which the vegetables 11 are input (sorted) from the original arrival container 12A and the adjacent arrival container 12B is specified, and the collection container-customer data Therefore, a customer number other than the customer input from the input means is obtained.

  Further, when the receiving containers 12 having the same production area code of the original receiving container 12A are continuous, the receiving containers 12 adjacent to these receiving containers 12 and having different production codes are obtained as the adjacent receiving containers 12B. Similarly, from the obtained extraction order connected to the original arrival container 12A and the adjacent arrival container 12B, the customer number for assorting the vegetables 11 is obtained based on the picking data and the collection container-customer data. Customers other than the customer input from the input means are required.

  That is, when the customer number (sorting destination) and the vegetable code of the vegetable 11 (article specifying information of the article) are input by the input means, the flow rack 22 to which the vegetable 11 specified by the input vegetable code is assigned. A frontage 31 is obtained, and a container 11 is stored in the frontage 31 by a stacker crane 42 and stores the vegetables 11 sorted into the collection container 50 assigned to the inputted customer (number). 12A and adjacent receiving containers 12B located before and after the original receiving container 12A are obtained, and a collecting container 50 that sorts the vegetables 11 from the obtained original receiving containers 12A and adjacent receiving containers 12B is obtained. The sorting destination assigned to the obtained collection container 50 is obtained.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the input unit inputs, for example, the customer number of the complaint and the vegetable code of the target vegetable 11 as the item identification information of the sorting destination and the item, the complaint is input. The customer 11 that is sorted not only from the original arrival container 12A in which the target vegetable 11 to which the object has been stored is stored, but also from the adjacent arrival container 12B located in front and back, is any customer other than the customer who received the complaint. By being tracked or ascertained, that is, by realizing a traceability system, it becomes possible to take measures such as collecting the target vegetables 11 for which complaints have been reliably received from these customers, and the trust of customers. Can be obtained. On the contrary, since it is not necessary to take a measure such as collecting all the target vegetables 11 for which a complaint has been made, the burden of expenses is reduced. The correspondence includes contacting a customer other than the customer who received the complaint not to eat the vegetables 11, sending another vegetable 11 by contacting this, and contacting the customer to return the price.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, not only the arrival container of the same production area (arrival destination) as the original arrival container 12A but also the arrival container 12 having different arrival destinations adjacent to the original arrival container 12A. A customer who may have been shipped the target vegetable 11 for which a complaint has been received by asking for a customer (sorting destination) of the collection container 50 that has sorted (input) the extracted vegetables 11 The customer's trust can be obtained by collecting the vegetables 11 subject to complaints from these customers, and conversely, the vegetables 11 subject to the complaints Since it is not necessary to collect everything, the cost burden can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the frontage 31 for replenishing the receiving container 12 is full, the receiving container 12 is loaded by the bar code reader 14 via the output conveyor 44 and the return line 17 by the stacker crane 42. By returning to the position of the conveyance line 10 where the code can be read and being conveyed by the conveyance line 10, the automatic replenishing device 21 can replenish.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the receiving container 12 in the picking area 16 that has been sorted (picking work) is put into the return line 17 and the bar code reader 14 can read the bar code. The vegetable 11 can be used without waste by being returned to the position of, re-introduced into the other picking area 16 by the transport line 10, and replenished by the automatic replenishing device 21.

  In the present embodiment, the article is a vegetable 11, but not limited to vegetables, but fresh fruits such as fruits, mushrooms, fish, meat, etc., or from a plurality of factories and workplaces. It may be the same part or device that is received.

  Further, in this embodiment, the receiving container 12 is used as an article to be stored, but it is not limited to a “container” and may be a “pallet” (incoming pallet). In addition, the collection container 50 is used as an item into which picked items are input, but the collection container 50 is not limited to a “container”, and may be a “pallet” (collection pallet).

  In the present embodiment, the flow rack 22 is used as the storage means. However, when the worker takes out the empty receiving container 12 at the outlet (collection line 23 side), a plurality of frontage 31 Any shelf that can move the receiving container 12 to the outlet (the collection line 23 side) may be used.

  In the present embodiment, the stacker crane 42 is used as the replenishing means. However, the stacker crane 42 is not limited to the stacker crane 42 and any means that can replenish the arrival container such as an overhead carriage.

  In the present embodiment, the sorting area (picking area 16) is configured to perform the picking operation using the collection line 23, but is not limited to such a configuration of the collection line 23, and picking is performed. It is good also as a structure which performs a picking operation | work using a cart and a handy terminal.

  In this embodiment, an example of a sorting destination is a customer. However, the customer is not limited to a customer, and may be a store such as a supermarket or a retail store, a distribution office that distributes goods that have been shipped, or the like.

10 Conveyance line 11 Vegetables (example of goods)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Receipt container 12A Original arrival container 12B Adjacent arrival container 13 Bar code label 14 Bar code reader 16 Picking area 17 Return line 20 Sorting equipment computer 20a 1st memory 20b 2nd memory 21 Automatic replenishment device 22 Flow rack 23 Collection Line 24 Empty return conveyor 31 Frontage 32 Frontage indicator 33 Full detector 39 Bay work indicator light 41 Traveling rail 42 Stacker crane 43 Entry conveyor 44 Delivery conveyor 45 Crane controller 46 Bar code reader 50 Collection container 51 Picking conveyor 55 Conveyor input indication 56 Pre-loading indicator 57 Zone work indicator light 62 Picking controller

Claims (7)

A sorting facility having a sorting area for sorting the articles into the collection containers assigned to the sorting destinations according to the article request information of the sorting destinations from a plurality of receiving containers that have been received and stored. Because
Each of the receiving containers is provided with article specifying information for specifying at least an article stored in the receiving container,
A reading means for reading the article specifying information given to the receiving container;
A storage means capable of storing a plurality of the containers for arrival in succession and having a plurality of frontage doors to which the articles specified by the article specifying information are respectively assigned;
Replenishing means for replenishing the loading container with the loading container based on the article specifying information read by the reading means;
Input means for inputting the item identification information of the sorting destination and the item,
When the article specifying information of the sorting destination and the article is input by the input means, the front of the storage means to which the article specified by the input article specifying information is assigned is obtained, and the replenishing means is obtained at the determined front. The original receiving container storing the articles sorted into the collection container assigned to the sorting destination that is replenished and input, and the adjacent receiving containers located before and after the original receiving container are obtained,
A sorting facility characterized by obtaining a collection container in which articles are sorted from the obtained original arrival container and the adjacent arrival container, and obtaining a sorting destination assigned to the obtained collection container. Receiving destination specifying information for specifying the receiving destination of the receiving container is given to each of the receiving containers,
When the receiving destination specifying information of the receiving destination of the adjacent receiving container is the same as the receiving destination specifying information of the receiving destination of the original receiving container, further determine adjacent receiving containers located before and after the adjacent receiving container, When the receiving destination specifying information of the receiving destination of this adjacent receiving container is the same as the receiving destination specifying information of the receiving destination of the original receiving container, it is necessary to further determine adjacent receiving containers positioned before and after the adjacent receiving container. Repeatedly, seek to the adjacent receiving container where the receiving destination specific information and the receiving destination specific information of the original receiving container are not the same,
2. The sorting facility according to claim 1, wherein a sorting destination assigned to a collection container in which articles are sorted from the obtained original receiving container and adjacent receiving container is obtained. The replenishing means returns the receiving container to a position where the reading means can read the article specifying information when the frontage for replenishing the receiving container is full and cannot be loaded. The sorting equipment according to claim 1 or claim 2. A plurality of the sorting areas are provided,
4. The receiving container stored in the storage means of the sorting area after the sorting is returned to a position where the article specifying information can be read by the reading means. The sorting equipment according to claim 1. Wherein the container-specific information for specifying the stock containers, and the article identification information and its quantity identifying the stored article, and identification information contains a stock destination specifying information for specifying the arrival destination stock container An identification means having
The container specifying information of the collection container assigned to each sorting destination is stored, and for each article input based on the article request information in each collection container, the introduction of the article from the frontage where the article is assigned First storage means for storing the order;
Stores article specifying information of articles assigned to each frontage, stores container specifying information of incoming containers replenished in order to each frontage, and stores the contents of the receiving containers based on the number of articles in the identification information. Second storage means for storing the order in which the articles are taken out from the frontage,
The first storage means is searched by the sorting destination input by the input means, the container specifying information of the collection container assigned to the sorting destination is obtained, the first storage means is searched, and the obtained collecting container In the container identification information, obtain the order of the articles of the article identification information input by the input means,
The second storage means is searched by the article of the article specifying information input by the input means, the frontage assigned to the article is obtained, the takeout order of the articles in this frontage stored in the second storage means, By associating with the order of loading of the obtained articles, the container identification information of the original arrival container storing the articles of the article identification information input by the input means is obtained,
From the container specifying information of the receiving container stored in the second storage means, the container specifying information of adjacent receiving containers located before and after the obtained original receiving container is obtained, and the original receiving container of these container specifying information and Find the order of picking up items to be taken out from adjacent receiving containers,
By associating the take-out order of this article with the order of entry stored in the first storage means, the sorting destination of the collection container into which the article has been introduced from the original arrival container and the adjacent arrival container of the obtained container specific information The sorting facility according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: For each of the plurality of receiving containers that have received and received the articles, at least article specifying information for specifying the articles stored in the receiving containers is given,
A storage means capable of storing a plurality of the containers for arrival in succession and having a plurality of frontage doors to which the articles specified by the article specifying information are respectively assigned;
Obtaining a frontage for replenishing the arrival container based on the article specifying information given to the arrival container, and replenishment means for replenishing the arrival container to the frontage,
From the receiving container stored in each frontage of the storage means, according to the article request information of the sorting destination, a sorting method for sorting the articles into the collection containers assigned to each sorting destination,
When the item identification information of the sorting destination and the item is input, the storage unit to which the item specified by the input item identification information is allocated is obtained, and the replenishment unit is replenished at the calculated interval. , The original receiving container storing the articles sorted into the collection container assigned to the input sorting destination, and the adjacent receiving containers located before and after the original receiving container,
A sorting method characterized by obtaining a collection container in which articles are sorted from the obtained original arrival container and the adjacent arrival container, and obtaining a sorting destination assigned to the obtained collection container. Receiving destination specifying information for specifying the receiving destination of the receiving container is given to each of the receiving containers,
When the receiving destination specifying information of the receiving destination of the adjacent receiving container is the same as the receiving destination specifying information of the receiving destination of the original receiving container, further determine adjacent receiving containers located before and after the adjacent receiving container, When the receiving destination specifying information of the receiving destination of this adjacent receiving container is the same as the receiving destination specifying information of the receiving destination of the original receiving container, it is necessary to further determine adjacent receiving containers positioned before and after the adjacent receiving container. Repeatedly, seek to the adjacent receiving container where the receiving destination specific information and the receiving destination specific information of the original receiving container are not the same,
7. The sorting method according to claim 6, wherein a sorting destination assigned to a collection container in which articles are sorted from the obtained original receiving container and adjacent receiving container is obtained.

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