JP5614435B2 - Picking equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a picking facility for picking articles.

Collection and sorting of designated articles are performed at distribution centers and warehouses for various articles in logistics. For example, in a distribution center, a so-called picking operation is performed in which an article according to a customer order is picked and stored in a container which is a collection container.
A basic form of such picking work is to divide a collection container transport means such as a belt conveyor into a plurality of work zones along the moving direction of the transport means, and each work zone has another work zone. In addition to arranging storage shelves that store different types of articles, workers dedicated to each work zone are arranged, and each worker is instructed from the storage shelves of his work zone based on the picking instruction The operation of picking an article and storing it in a collection container conveyed by a belt conveyor is performed.
However, in the basic picking work as described above, troubles such as an operator making a mistake in the collection container or the article, or the collection container being transported before the article is stored may occur. Therefore, various picking facilities have been proposed and used so far in order to eliminate inconvenience such as wrong storage of articles.

The picking equipment disclosed in Patent Document 1 will be briefly described.
The picking facility disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided with a two-row order indicator having a plurality of guide lamps arranged at predetermined intervals along a belt conveyor, and arranged in each zone. When the collection container to be picked passes through its own zone, the guide lamps are turned on sequentially in synchronization with the movement of the collection container to allow the operator to recognize the collection container to be picked, and two rows The order display unit is configured to allow an operator in the downstream zone to recognize that the collection container to be picked is passing through the upstream zone by turning on the guide lamp. In addition, each zone has a bay indicator. When the bay indicator is lit, the operator is informed that picking is necessary in his / her zone, and an item indicator is provided at each front of the storage shelf. Is provided, and the operator is instructed to pick an article to be picked by blinking a lamp or the like.
In addition, a belt movement detector is provided on the belt conveyor, and the position information of each collection container on the belt conveyor is obtained from the detection signal from the belt movement detector, so that the position of each collection container is always grasped, and the zone at the movement position is obtained. To check whether or not to perform picking.
The operation in this picking facility will be outlined.

First, the bay indicator provided in each zone is lit, and the operator located in the zone is informed that picking is required in this zone, and at the same time, the item indicator lamp provided for each article The item to be picked is indicated by blinking or the like, and the quantity is displayed.
On the other hand, when the collection container to be picked is transported to its own zone, the order indicator in the first row is the number of guide lamps corresponding to the container length (length in the transport direction) of the collection container. The light is sequentially turned on in units of minutes and following the movement of the collection container to notify the operator. In addition, when the collection container to be picked is transported to its own zone in the downstream zone, the order indicator in the second row is set to the container length (length in the transport direction) of the collection container in the guide lamp. The corresponding number of units is used as a unit, and the lights are sequentially turned on following the movement of the collection container to notify the operator in the downstream zone.

  The operator recognizes the collection container to be picked by the order indicator in the first row, and picks the article from the storage shelf in the zone and stores it in the collection container according to the display on the item indicator. If the order indicator in the first row is not displayed and the order indicator in the second column upstream is displayed, your zone is displayed in the collection container displayed by the order indicator in the second row. Pick and store the items picked in By adopting the lamp tracking type picking method in this way, it is possible to prevent picking mistakes such as a misconception of a collection container and an error in the type and quantity of articles, and it is possible to perform advance picking.

Japanese Patent No. 2799445

  However, in the conventional picking equipment, the position information of each collection container on the belt conveyor must always be obtained from the detection signal from the belt movement detector, and the position of each collection container must be grasped. There is a problem that once the position information is lost during the movement of the collection container on the conveyor, the position of the collection container cannot be completely understood, and it takes a long time to recover. In addition, there is a problem that a large burden is imposed on the controller in tracking where the collection containers are located on the belt conveyor and always tracking them after being put on the belt conveyor.

  In the conventional picking equipment, when a target collection container is transported, the number of guide lamps corresponding to the container length of the collection container (the length in the transport direction) is taken as a unit, and the collection container Since the lights are sequentially turned on following the movement, it is difficult to see and there is a risk of misidentifying the collection container into which the picked article is put.

  The collection container transport means is constituted by a belt conveyor, and stops picking the conveyor belt and stops the entire collection container when picking to the collection container transported to the downstream end of the zone is not completed. Therefore, the picking delay in one zone leads to the entire stop, and the picking efficiency may be lowered.

  Therefore, the present invention can eliminate the need for tracking to always follow the position of the conveying means after each collecting container into which the picked article is put into the conveying means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a picking facility that is easy to move between input zones without being influenced by the above.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention includes a picking shelf having a plurality of article storage units that respectively store articles, and each of the sorting destinations along the picking shelf, Alternatively, a transport unit that transports a plurality of collection containers to which the article request information of the sorting destination is assigned, and the articles taken out from the article storage unit of the picking shelf according to the article request information of the sort destination are A picking facility for feeding into a product container, storing in the collection container the sorting destination assigned to the collection container, or the article request information of the sorting destination, and storing a predetermined number of items in the picking shelf For each article storage unit, a picking zone for performing an operation of taking out articles to be collected in the collection container is formed, and the transporting unit is configured to correspond to the picking zone, Forming an input zone for classifying a collection container into which an article taken out in the picking zone is to be input, and in the upstream part of each input zone, the sorting destination stored in the collection container or the article request of the sorting destination The information is read, the sorting destination read in each input zone, or the article request information of the sorting destination is sequentially stored, and the sorting request stored in each input zone or the article request information of the sorting destination is stored in the same zone. By moving to the downstream side, it is possible to identify the collection containers carried into the respective input zones, and to store and move the transport means for each collection container so that the collection containers do not collide with each other. Constructed by a conveyor designed to be accumulated in the storage zone, each collection zone can be packed downstream to store and move multiple collection containers, The collection container which is located at the most downstream of the input zone and is the target of input of goods in accordance with the item request information of the sorting destination in this input zone is the item request of the sorting destination from the picking zone corresponding to this input zone. Stops moving to the downstream loading zone adjacent to the downstream until the loading of the article according to the information is completed, and is located at the most downstream of each of the loading zones, and according to the article request information of the sorting destination in this loading zone A collection container that is not an object to be charged is moved to the downstream charging zone when there is a vacant space that can be transferred in the downstream charging zone.

According to the above configuration, for each input zone, the collection container is moved and packed downstream, and the collection container for which the picking operation has been completed in the input zone is moved to the downstream input zone. Therefore, the collection container is easily moved between the input zones without being affected by other input zones, and is efficiently moved to the collection container, so that the operator's ability can be maximized.
In addition, the most downstream collection container that has not finished picking work from the input zone is prevented from moving to the downstream input zone adjacent to the downstream, and the generation of collection containers with insufficient ordered items is prevented. The At this time, in the downstream charging zone and the charging zone located downstream of the downstream charging zone, the collection and movement of a plurality of collection containers are continuously performed as usual, and the collection containers are efficiently moved. The ability of the worker can be utilized to the maximum.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein a unique code is assigned to the sorting destination assigned to the collection container, or the article request information of the sorting destination, This unique code is stored in the collection container, and each collection container is provided with a loading indicator for displaying that it is a collection container to be loaded into which articles taken out from the article storage unit are loaded, Each loading indicator is provided with storage means for storing the unique code assigned to the collection container provided with the loading indicator, and stored in the storage means of the loading indicator upstream of each loading zone. A code reading means for reading the generated code is provided, the position of the code reading means can be moved, and the movement of the code reading means allows a range of the corresponding input zone on the transport means corresponding to the picking zone. It is characterized in that it has possible.

According to the above configuration, by setting the upstream end of each input zone according to the position of the code reading means, the range of the input zone can be varied by moving the code reading means. Therefore, the input zone can be widened or narrowed according to the ability of the operator.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upstream start position of each input zone is set in the transport direction of the collection container from the corresponding picking zone. It is characterized by shifting to the downstream side .

According to the above configuration, when the upstream start position of the charging zone shifts to the downstream side from the corresponding picking zone, the upstream charging zone shifts to the downstream side, and the corresponding charging zone shifts to the downstream side. Therefore, the distance that the worker moves to perform the picking work around the arranged picking zone is shortened, and the work efficiency can be improved.

  In the picking equipment of the present invention, the collection container is moved and packed downstream in each input zone, and the collection container that has completed the picking operation in the input zone is moved to the downstream input zone. The product container can be easily moved between the input zones without being affected by other input zones, and can be moved efficiently to the collection container. ing.

It is a lineblock diagram of the picking equipment in an embodiment of the invention. It is a principal part perspective view of the storage line of the picking equipment. It is a side view of the storage line of the picking equipment. It is a principal part top view of the storage line of the picking equipment. It is a perspective view of the collection container which attached the input indicator of the picking equipment. It is a figure of the input indicator of the picking equipment, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a control block diagram. It is a perspective view of the sealing area and refill area of the picking equipment. It is a control block diagram of the sealing area of the picking equipment. It is a control block diagram of the refill area of the picking equipment. It is a whole control block diagram of the picking equipment. It is a communication control block diagram with respect to the input indicator of the picking equipment. It is a figure regarding the display switching of the insertion indicator of the picking equipment, (a) is a control block diagram, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows display switching concretely. It is a figure which shows the whole picking data of the picking equipment. It is a control block diagram in each zone of the picking equipment. It is a control block diagram in the zone controller of the picking equipment. It is explanatory drawing of the movement of the collection container in each zone of the picking equipment. (A) is a figure explaining the work range of the operator of the storage line of the picking equipment, and (b) is an explanatory view when the input zone is shifted downstream by two collection containers. It is a figure regarding the tray in which the collection container of the picking equipment in other embodiment of this invention is mounted, (a) is a perspective view of a tray, (b) is an area which mounts a collection container with respect to a tray. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This picking facility is a picking facility that collects and delivers articles that have received orders (orders) from individual pre-registered users (an example of sorting destinations) to collection containers to which the user's orders are assigned.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a picking facility according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Picking equipment
A storage line A for storing storage boxes 12 (FIG. 2) for storing articles 11 (FIG. 2) to be collected;
A transport line B for circulating and transporting a collection container 10 for storing picked articles 11;
In the storage line A, a sealing area D for sealing the articles 11 in the collection container 10 that has been transported by the transport line B after the picking operation has been completed;
A refill area E in which the sealed article 11 (collected article 11) of the collection container 10 disposed downstream of the sealing area D and conveyed by the conveyance line B is refilled into a collecting box (shipping box) 13;
It is comprised from the bagging area F which bag-hangs the collection container 10 (the collection container 10 which became empty after completion | finish of the refilling of the articles | goods 11) conveyed by the conveyance line B from the refill area E.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the storage line A is composed of a flow rack (an example of a picking shelf) 15, and the flow rack 15 stores one type (one item) of articles 11. The shelf 17 having a plurality of rows of front doors 16 (an example of an article storage unit) on which the storage boxes 12 are placed (stored) is vertically arranged in a plurality of stages (in this embodiment, three stages; preferably three or more stages). A plurality of front doors 16 (in this embodiment, a total of 24 shelves with eight shelves and eight front doors), and the work of taking out the articles 11 to be collected into the collection container 10 is performed. A picking zone P to be executed is set (formed). For each picking zone P, one worker (picking worker) H who performs picking work is arranged, and a zone controller 24 (FIG. 14) is provided. The storage line A (flow rack 15) and the transfer line B (first straight transfer line 21A, which will be described later) are arranged on the opposite side with the worker H interposed therebetween.

  Further, at the front end of each shelf 17 of the flow rack 15 (the end portion of the worker H facing the transfer line B), on the front surface of each frontage 16, a quantity indicator 19A for displaying the quantity of articles 11 to be taken out, and a lamp A frontage indicator 19 composed of a complete pushbutton switch 19B having a section is provided, and the display direction of the frontage indicator 19 provided in the frontage 16 of the shelf 17 above the lowermost shelf 17 is the front (operator H-side surface), and the display direction of the frontage indicator 19 provided in the frontage 16 of the lowermost shelf 17 is the diagonally forward (conveyance line B side) direction, and the display directions differ from each other. It is said that. Further, the color of the lamp portion (lamp color) of the completion push button switch 19B is alternately different for each picking zone P (in this embodiment, the odd zone is red and the even zone is green). The storage box 12 is constituted by a box (box) whose upper surface is open and from which the article 11 can be taken out.

  Further, the flow rack 15 has a plurality of (in the present embodiment) each displaying the number of stages of the shelves 17 in which the frontage 16 in which the articles 11 (storage boxes 12) to be picked are stored is present at the upstream position for each picking zone P. In the embodiment, there is provided a bay indicator 20 in which three lamps 20A are arranged in the vertical direction because there are three shelves.

  The operator H identifies the number of steps of the shelf 17 in which the frontage 16 in which the article 11 (storage box 12) to be picked is stored is indicated by the display on the bay display 20, and displays the frontage according to the display on each frontage display 19. An article 11 is picked from 16 (storage box 12) and put into the collection container 10.

  “Conveying line B”; the conveying line B constitutes a circulation line for circulating the collection container 10 as shown in FIG. 1, and the first straight conveyance for conveying the collection container 10 along the flow rack 15. Line 21A, a second rectilinear transport line 21B that is parallel to the first rectilinear transport line 21A and whose transport direction is reversed, and a first end that connects the downstream end of the first rectilinear transport line 21A and the upstream end of the second rectilinear transport line 21B The first curve conveyance line 21C includes a second curve conveyance line 21D that connects the downstream end of the second straight conveyance line 21B and the upstream end of the first straight conveyance line 21A.

The first rectilinear transport line 21A and the second rectilinear transport line 21B excluding the periphery of the bag hanging machine 60 (described later) in the bag hanging area F are accumulator conveyors (accumulating and moving for each collection container. Each of the collection containers 10 is provided with an accumulation unit 22 that can accumulate and sequentially feed the collection containers 10. As is known, each of the units 22 has a function of feeding the collection container 10 forward when there is an empty accumulation unit 22 (the collection container 10 is not present).
Further, the two curve conveyance lines 21C and 21D and the second straight conveyance line 21B around the bagging machine 60 in the bagging area F are constituted by a drive roller conveyor.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, a plurality of collection containers that are to be charged with the articles 11 taken out in the picking zone P corresponding to each picking zone P are disposed on the first straight conveyance line 21 </ b> A. The charging zones Z for dividing 10 are set (formed), and for each charging zone Z, a plurality of the accumulating sections 22 are provided (six in the embodiment), that is, each charging zone Z has a maximum of six. Individual (a plurality of examples) collection containers 10 can be accumulated and sequentially fed. A tape switch 23 is provided for each loading zone Z.

  Further, as described above, the accumulation unit 22 has a function of feeding the collection container 10 forward. However, the accumulating unit 22 located at the most downstream side of each charging zone Z is given a permission condition for forward feeding. When there is an empty accumulation unit 22 in front and a forward feed permission signal (details will be described later) is received from the zone controller 24 provided in the picking zone P corresponding to the input zone Z that is located The collection container 10 is configured to be fed forward.

  In the present embodiment, each picking zone P of the storage line A and each input zone Z of the transport line B are arranged to be located in the same section arranged in the transport direction of the collection container 10, and The picking zone P and the input zone Z that are arranged facing each other are arranged without any deviation in the transport direction. Basically, the storage lines (located in the same section) are arranged in the respective input zones Z so as to face the input zones Z with respect to the collection containers 10 transported by the transport line B. The article 11 stored in the picking zone P of A is configured to be input and collected.

  “Collection container 10”; the collection container 10 is composed of a box-shaped container 25, and is a side surface in the short axis direction of the container 25 and facing the worker H of the storage line A as shown in FIG. Further, a loading indicator 26 for indicating that the collection container 10 is a loading target for loading the article 11 taken out in the picking zone P is attached, and in the bag hanging area F, the bag 27 is hung. It is transported to the storage line A by one straight transport line 21A. As shown in FIG. 4, each collection container 10 is arranged so that the long axis direction of the container 25 is in front of the conveyance direction and the input indicator 26 is located on the worker H side by the first straight conveyance line 21A. As described above, a plurality of collection containers 10 (up to six in the embodiment) for each charging zone Z can be accumulated and sequentially fed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the insertion indicator 26 is a first lamp arranged in order on the surface of the vertically long box-shaped display body 30 and the display body 30 in the long axis direction. Embedded in the display unit 30, a display unit (an example of upstream zone display means) 31, a digital display (an example of a display screen) 32 made of electronic paper, a second lamp unit (an example of its own zone display means) 33, and It consists of an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification; RF tag capable of writing / erasing data) 34, a display controller 35, a radio device (an example of a data receiver) 36 with a built-in antenna, and a battery 37. The digital indicator 32 is positioned at the center of the first lamp portion 31 and the second lamp portion 33 in the conveyance direction of the collection container 10 by the line 21A (hereinafter abbreviated as the container conveyance direction). , I.e. in the vessel conveying direction, the first lamp section 31 from the downstream side in this order, the digital display 32, and as the second lamp section 33 are arranged, it is attached to the current product container 10 (container 25). An order number (an example of a unique code) is written and stored in the RFID 34 (details will be described later). Further, by providing the input indicator 26 with the digital display 32, the order number or the like that can specify the collection container 10 can be displayed, and the collection container 10 can be specified.

The first lamp unit 31 and the second lamp unit 33 include a lamp 38 that can be lit and flashed in two colors and protrudes from the surface of the display unit body 30 and covers 39A and 39B that cover the lamps 38. The lamp 38 which is the display means of the first lamp unit 31 and the second lamp unit 33 uses the same lamp (including the lamp mounting bracket) and has a structure which can be replaced with each other. Thus, by using the same structure for the lamp 38 (including the lamp mounting bracket), it is possible to reduce the number of parts of the input indicator 26 and to manufacture it at low cost. Further, the cover 39A and the cover 39B are configured to be interchangeable and attachable.
The cover 39A is a cover that is open only in the container transport direction so that the lighting state of the lamp 38 can be recognized from the downstream side in the container transport direction and cannot be recognized from the front, and the cover 39B is conversely from the front. The front cover is open so that the lighting / flashing state of the lamp 38 can be recognized and cannot be recognized from the downstream side in the container transport direction.

Further, the lamp 38 of the lamp units 31 and 33, the digital display 32, the RFID 34, and the radio device 36 with a built-in antenna are connected to the display controller 35, and the display controller 35 is connected to the order number written in the RFID 34. Based on the number (described later) and instructions / data (details will be described later) received by the wireless device 36, the lamps 38 of the lamp units 31, 33 are turned on / flashing / turned off (no lighting), and the digital display 32 Is controlling the display. In the digital display 32, the storage line A is input by the first straight transfer line 21A, that is, the "order number" written in the RFID 34 or the wireless device 36 while the collection container 10 is moving. “END” is displayed according to the received data, and while moving in the sealing area D and the refill area E by the second straight conveyance line 21B, the collected data is collected in the collection container 10 by the data received by the radio 36. “Total number of articles 11” (inspection number; inspection quantity) is displayed (details will be described later).
The battery 37 supplies power to the lamps 38 of the lamp units 31 and 33, the digital display 32, the wireless device 36, and the display controller 35.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the loading indicator 26 is attached to the container 25 with a gap 41 between the side surface of the container 25 so that the bag 27 can be hung on the container 25 by the jig 40. ing. The jig 40 is U-shaped in a side view, and a part thereof is hooked on the side surface of the container 25, and the loading indicator 26 includes a first lamp portion 31 and electronic paper at the other end of the jig 40. The digital display 32 and the second lamp unit 33 are attached so as to be in an upward posture (or an obliquely upward posture).

"RFID reader / writer"; an RFID reader (an example of a code reading means) 42A for reading an ID written in an RFID 34 built in the display controller 35 is disposed along the first straight conveyance line 21A in the input zone Z. It is provided so as to be movable at each upstream end (between the input zones Z), and is provided at the upstream end of the refill area E along the second rectilinear transport line 21B.
An RFID writer 42B for writing an order number (to be described later) assigned to the collection container 10 to the RFID 34 or for erasing the written order number is provided along the second rectilinear transport line 21B. It is provided on the further downstream side and upstream of the bag hanging area F, and is further provided at a location extending from the downstream end of the second straight conveyance line 21B to the second curve conveyance line 21D.
As these RFID readers 42A and 42B, RFID reader / writers capable of simultaneously writing (IN) and reading (OUT) RFID are used.

  In the RFID 34 incorporated in the loading indicator 26, the order number is written at the time of picking start (before entering the storage line A) by the RFID writer 42B provided at the position corresponding to the second curve conveyance line 21D. At this time, the order number written in the RFID 34 by the display controller 35 is displayed on the digital display 32. The order number is deleted by the RFID writer 42B provided on the downstream side of the refill area E and on the upstream side of the bagging area F.

  Further, the order number written in the RFID 34 is read by each RFID reader 42A, whereby the position of the RFID 34, that is, the position of the input indicator 26 in which the RFID 34 is incorporated, that is, the collection container to which the input indicator 26 is attached. Ten positions are identified.

  “Antenna”: An antenna 43 (FIG. 11) for transmitting / receiving data to / from the radio device 36 of the input indicator 26 is installed above the first straight traveling line 21A and the second straight traveling line 21B. Has been.

  “Sealing area D”; in the sealing area D, as shown in FIGS. 1, 7, and 8, a sealing controller 49 composed of a computer connected to an RFID reader 42 </ b> A provided at the downstream end of the storage line A; A label printer 50 for issuing a label for identifying a user based on the label data output from the seal controller 49 is provided. Further, an RFID reader 42A is provided downstream of the label printer 50, and a barcode reader is provided downstream of the RFID reader 42A. 51 is provided. Further, in the sealing area D, two workers H along the second rectilinear transport line 21B are on the side opposite to the workers H disposed on the storage line A along the first rectilinear transport line 21A. Is arranged.

The first worker H is located upstream from the installation position of the label printer 50 and is the total number of articles 11 collected in the collection container 10 displayed on the digital display 32 of the loading display 26. (Details will be described later) and confirm whether or not the quantity of articles 11 in the collection container 10 matches (inspection), and when the inspection is good, fold the bag 27 hung on the collection container 10; An operation of wrapping the collected articles 11 is executed. Further, when the inspection is defective, the bag 27 is not folded and is flowed downstream without being opened.
In addition, the second operator H performs an operation of attaching the label issued by the label printer 50 to the bag 27. When the inspection is good, the bag 27 is sealed with a label, and when the inspection is defective, the bag 27 is simply attached to the bag 27.

As shown in FIG. 8, the sealing controller 49 includes an RFID reader 42 A at the downstream end of the storage line A, a label printer 50, an RFID reader 42 A arranged downstream of the label printer 50, and a barcode reader 51. It is connected.
The seal controller 49 also includes label data including a user assigned (linked) to an order number written in the RFID 34 built in the insertion indicator 26 in advance and a barcode assigned to each user. The seal controller 49 stores the order written in the RFID 34 built in the loading indicator 26 attached to the collection container 10 that has been conveyed by the RFID reader 42A provided at the downstream end of the storage line A. When the number is read, the user linked to the order number is searched, the searched user searches the label data set for this user, outputs the label data to the label printer 50, and the bar code A label with a label is issued.

  Further, the seal controller 49 inputs the order number written in the RFID 34 from the RFID reader 42A arranged downstream of the label printer 50, and inputs the bar code read by the bar code reader 51. It is confirmed whether the users assigned to the codes match each other, and it is confirmed whether the label is definitely attached to the bag 27 of the corresponding collection container 10. If it is confirmed that there is an error, error data including the order number is output to the refill controller 57 described later. Also, when the inspection is defective, a label is attached to the opened bag 27, and when the bar code cannot be read, error data including the order number is similarly output to the refill controller 57.

  Thus, the first worker H inspects and, when the inspection is good, folds the bag 27 hung on the collection container 10, wraps the collected article 11, and the second worker H Attaches the issued label to the collection container 10 which is sequentially conveyed by the second straight conveyance line 21B. When the label is sealed and conveyed downstream, it is confirmed whether the label is definitely attached to the bag 27.

  “Refilling area E”; In the refilling area E, as shown in FIGS. 1, 7, and 9, the first free conveyor 53 on which the empty box 13 is stacked and the collection transported by the transport line B A second free conveyor 54 for feeding a repacked box 13 filled with sealed articles 11 (collected articles 11) in a product container 10 and a label affixed to a bag 27 that encloses the articles 11 in the collection container 10 A bar code reader 55 that reads a bar code, a label printer 56 that is arranged downstream of the second free conveyor 54 and issues a shipping label, a refill controller 57 comprising a computer, and data output from the refill controller 57 A display (display screen) 58 for displaying the above is provided. In the refill area E, two workers H are arranged.

The first worker H is arranged at an upstream position of the second free conveyor 54, draws the empty box 13 from the first free conveyor 53 onto the second free conveyor 54, and delivers it to the box 13. Refill the sealed article 11 (collected article 11) in the collection container 10 according to the direction, read the barcode of the label attached to the bag 27 enclosing the final article 11 to be refilled by the barcode reader 55, downstream Perform the process of extruding. The replacement of the collection box 13 for each delivery direction can be determined by the lighting and color of the lamp 38 of the second lamp portion 33 of the loading indicator 26 attached to the collection container 10. That is, the lamp 38 of the second lamp section 33 is lit in green when the delivery direction is at the front end (lead), red when it is at the end of the delivery direction, and is otherwise turned off to display a break in the delivery direction (details are given below) This will be described later.
In addition, the second worker H performs the work of attaching the shipping label issued from the label printer 56 to the gathering box 13 which has been refilled and pushed out downstream, and ships. As a shipping operation, for example, it is loaded on a shipping cart or the like.

As shown in FIG. 9, a bar code reader 55, a label printer 56, and a display (display screen) 58 are connected to the refill controller 57, and are set in advance by a bar code assigned to the user. When the shipping label data is stored and the bar code of the label is read by the bar code reader 55, the shipping label data set in the bar code is searched, the shipping label data is output to the label printer 56, and the shipping label is output. Is issued. Further, when error data including an order number is input from the seal controller 49, an alarm indicating that an inspection failure including the order number or a labeling error has occurred is displayed on the display (display screen) 58, and the error is displayed in the sorting box 13. Stop refilling.
In this way, in the refill area E, the sealed articles 11 are refilled into the gathering box 13 and shipped.

“Bag-hanging area F”; in the bag-hanging area F, as shown in FIG. 1, the collection container 10 (refilled of the articles 11) transported by the transport line B from the refill area E has been emptied. The collection container 10) is provided with a bag hanging machine 60 for bagging, and the bag 27 is automatically hung on the container 25 by the bag hanging machine 60. At this time, since the gap 41 is provided between the side surface of the container 25 and the loading indicator 26, the bag 27 can be hung on the container 25 without any trouble.
In the bag hanging area F, the order number is deleted from the RFID 34 by the RFID writer 42B provided upstream of the bag hanging machine 60, and the RFID writer 42B provided downstream of the bag hanging machine 60 adds a new one to the RFID 34. The order number is written.

Due to the overall configuration of the picking equipment, the collection container 10 is circulated by the transport line B, and the collection container 10 itself is not shipped, and the bag 27 is placed in the empty collection container 10 in the bagging area F. The new order number is written in the RFID 34, and the collection of the article 11 stored in the storage line A is executed based on the order number. When the collection is completed, the inspection is performed in the sealed area D. Is executed, the bag 27 is folded and sealed, a label for identifying the user is attached, and in the refill area E, the sealed article 11 is refilled in the sorting box 13 according to the delivery direction and shipped. The collection container 10 that is empty after the sealed article 11 is taken out is loaded with a bag 27 in the bag hanging area F, and a new order number is written in the RFID 34, and the collection is executed.
In this way, all the collection containers 10 are circulated and reused many times a day, and a new order number is assigned each time they are circulated. Thus, in order to circulate, it is meaningful to provide an RFID 34 on the input indicator 26 and automatically rewrite the order number.

“Control Configuration”; FIG. 10 shows the control configuration of the picking equipment.
In addition to the zone controller 24 for each picking zone P, the sealing controller 49, and the refill controller 57, a general controller 62, a communication controller 63, and a display switching controller 64 are provided as control means for the picking equipment. .

  “Communication controller 63”: As shown in FIG. 11, the communication controller 63 is connected to a transmission / reception device 65 to which an antenna 43 is connected. The communication controller 63 is connected to the communication controller 63 via the antenna 43 and transmission / reception device 65. Data transmission / reception with the wireless device 36 of the display 26 is executed.

"Overall controller 62"; the overall controller 62 is connected to the zone controller 24 for each picking zone P, the sealing controller 49, the refill controller 57, the communication controller 63, and the display switching controller 64, and further proceeds in the first straight line The conveyance line 21A, the second straight conveyance line 21B, the first curve conveyance line 21C, the second curve conveyance line 21D, the bag hanging machine 60, and the bag hanging machine 60 are provided downstream (second curve conveyance). An RFID writer 42B (provided at a position corresponding to the line 21D) and an RFID writer 42B provided downstream of the refill area E and upstream of the bagging area F are connected.
In the overall controller 62, the following data is set in advance.
-A unique barcode assigned to each registered user for each delivery direction.
Array data of the frontage 16 of the picking zone P in which the articles 11 to be ordered are stored (data on the frontage 16 of the picking zone P corresponding to each product 11).

The overall controller 62 has the following functions.
(I). A work start command and an end command are output to the zone controller 24, the seal controller 49, the refill controller 57, and the communication controller 63 for each picking zone P.
(B). The first rectilinear transport line 21A, the second rectilinear transport line 21B, the first curve transport line 21C, the second curve transport line 21D, and the bagging machine 60 are activated and stopped.
(C). Orders from individual users registered in advance {order: an example of article request information from each sorting destination; consisting of information for identifying articles (for example, article type, article name, article code, etc.) and quantity (number) When the single or plural data} are received, as shown in FIG. 13, in the order of the registered users who have received the order, the user's order (or the user, that is, the sorting destination, or the article request information of the sorting destination). A continuous order number (an example of a unique code) is allocated, and the order quantity (picking quantity) is written in each frontage 16 of each picking zone P, and the picking data of the storage line A is formed. At this time, in the storage line A, when the picking for each user order is completed, the zone number at which the picking is completed is obtained and stored.
(D). The order number assigned to each user and the picking data of the formed storage line A (including the zone number at which picking is completed) are output to the zone controller 24 of each picking zone P.
(E). For each order number assigned to the user, the total number of articles 11 picked from the order data is obtained, and the total number of articles 11 of each order number is assigned to the order number assigned to the user and the user's delivery direction data. At the same time, it is output to the display switching controller 64.
(F). The order number and bar code assigned to the user are output to the sealing controller 49 and the refill controller 57.
(G). When the RFID 34 is detected by the RFID writer 42B provided in the downstream of the bagging machine 60 (provided at a position corresponding to the second curve conveyance line 21D), the RFID is assigned to the user's order in the order of the registered users. The received order number is output to the RFID writer 42B, and the order number is written in the RFID 34. Thereby, the order number is assigned to the collection container 10 to which the input indicator 26 is attached.

  As described above, when the general controller 62 starts and stops the lines 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D and the bag hanging machine 60, and further inputs an order from each user, the storage line A Picking data (picking data for each picking zone P) is formed, and data such as an order number is output to each controller.

  “Display switching controller 64”; The display switching controller 64 is connected to an RFID reader 42A provided at the downstream end of the storage line A and a communication controller 63 as shown in FIG. The total number of articles 11, the order number assigned to the user, and data on the user's delivery direction are input from the overall controller 62.

When the order switching controller 64 inputs the order number written in the RFID 34 by the RFID reader 42A, the display switching controller 64 obtains the user based on the order number and obtains the total number of articles 11, and the user further determines the leading end (the top of the delivery direction). ) Or whether it is the end.
Then, the following data is output to the communication controller 63 and transmitted via the transmission / reception device 65 and the antenna 43. In the sealed area D downstream of the storage line A, since the first worker H is located on the opposite side of the worker H and the transport line B of the storage line A, the digital display of the input indicator 26 Data (display reverse direction command) for displaying the display in the reverse direction is output so that the display on the display (display screen) 32 is easy to see.
When the user is at the front end of the delivery direction, together with the order number, data for turning on the lamp 38 of the second lamp part 33 with the cover 39B in “green” and turning off the lamp 38 of the first lamp part 31; Data for displaying the total number of articles 11 in the reverse direction on the digital display 32 (an example of a display reverse direction command).
When the delivery direction is neither the front end nor the end: Along with the order number, the lamp 38 of the second lamp portion 33 and the first lamp portion 31 is turned off, and the total number of articles 11 is displayed on the digital display 32 in the reverse direction. Data to be executed (an example of a display reverse direction command).
At the end of the delivery direction: along with the order number, data for turning on the lamp 38 of the second lamp section 33 with the cover 39B “red” and turning off the lamp 38 of the first lamp section 31, and digital display Data for displaying the total number of articles 11 in the reverse direction on the container 32 (an example of a display reverse direction command).

When this data is received by the radio 36 of the input indicator 26, the display controller 35 confirms whether or not the received data is addressed to it by the order number of the received data. The lamps 38 of the second lamp unit 33 and the first lamp unit 31 are turned on / off, and the total number of articles 11 is displayed on the digital display 32 in the reverse direction.
Since the order number of the received data is that of the insertion indicator 26 that has passed through the downstream end of the storage line A, in the insertion indicator 26 that has passed through the downstream end, the lamp 38 of the second lamp section 33 is at the tip ( The first lamp is turned on in green, the terminal is turned on in red, otherwise it is turned off, and the lamp 38 of the first lamp unit 31 is turned off. In addition, instead of the displayed “order number” (or “END”), the “total number” (total number of articles 11) is displayed on the digital display 32 in the reverse direction.
Then, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), the break in the delivery direction is displayed by the color of the lamp 38 of the second lamp portion 33, and the article 11 collected in the collection container 10 for inspection. The total number is shown in the reverse direction, that is, the worker H arranged on the storage line A is indicated by the digital display 32 so that the first worker H in the sealed area D located on a different side of the transport line B is easy to see. It is.

  “Zone Controller 24”; As shown in FIG. 14, each zone controller 24 includes a frontage indicator 19, a bay indicator 20, and a self-picking zone P in charge picking zone (hereinafter referred to as self-picking zone) P in charge. A tape switch 23 in an input zone (corresponding input zone, hereinafter referred to as a self-injection zone) Z arranged in a face-to-face (corresponding), and a tape switch 23 in an upstream input zone Z adjacent to the upstream of the self-injection zone Z Further, the most downstream accumulation unit 22 of the self-injection zone Z, an RFID reader (abbreviated as an upstream zone RFID reader) 42A provided at the upstream end of the upstream input zone Z, and an RFID provided at the upstream end of the self-injection zone Z Reader (abbreviated as own zone RFID reader) 42A, above the downstream insertion zone Z adjacent to the own insertion zone Z downstream (Abbreviated as downstream zone RFID reader) RFID reader provided on an end 42A, and overall controller 62 are connected.

  In addition, each zone controller 24 is preset with a number that identifies the self-picking zone P and the self-insertion zone Z, and further, the arrangement of the frontage 16 of the self-picking zone P and the article 11 stored in each frontage 16. Data (array data) is set, and the order number assigned to the user by the general controller 62 and data of the article 11 taken out from each frontage 16 of the own picking zone P specified by each order number (picking data) ) Is entered.

“Control configuration of the zone controller 24”; the zone controller 24 picks up the article 11 from the front opening 16 of the own picking zone P and puts it into the collection container 10 being conveyed by the first straight conveyance line 21A. To control. A control configuration diagram of the zone controller 24 is shown in FIG.
The zone controller 24 stores the arrangement data, the order number assigned to each user, picking data (including the zone number at which picking is completed), and whether or not the picking work by the picking data has been completed. The order number written in the picking memory 71 and the RFID 34 of the loading indicator 26 attached to each of up to six collection containers 10 located (moving) in the upstream loading zone Z from upstream to downstream. Is stored in the upstream zone memory 72, the own zone memory 73 in which the same order number of each of up to six collection containers 10 located in the own input zone Z from upstream to downstream is stored, and the picking Assigned to the memory 71 to each user input from the general controller 62 Data processing unit 74 for storing the ordered number and picking data, upstream zone container detecting unit 75, own zone container detecting unit 76, upstream zone preceding display control unit 77, and own zone preceding display control unit 78 And a picking control unit 79 and a forward feed permission control unit 80.

  “Upstream Zone Container Detection Unit 75”; When the upstream zone container detection unit 75 inputs an order number from the upstream zone RFID reader 42 </ b> A, the upstream zone memory uses the order number as the order number of the most upstream collection container 10. 72, and the previously stored order number is sequentially moved downstream. When the order number is input from the self-zone RFID reader 42A, the order number is deleted from the upstream zone memory 72, and the previously stored order numbers are sequentially moved to the downstream side.

  “Own Zone Container Detection Unit 76”; When the own zone container detection unit 76 inputs an order number from the own zone RFID reader 42 A, the own zone memory is used as the order number of the most upstream collection container 10. 73, and the previously stored order number is sequentially moved to the downstream side. When the order number is input from the downstream zone RFID reader 42A, the order number is deleted from the own zone memory 73, and the previously stored order number is sequentially moved to the downstream side.

Thus, the upstream zone memory 72 and the own zone memory 73 store the order numbers of the collection containers 10 located in the upstream charging zone Z and the own charging zone Z from the upstream to the downstream and are updated. . Further, since the order number of the collection container 10 located in each input zone Z is stored by inputting the order number from the RFID reader 42A, the mounting position of the RFID reader 42A is set to the upstream side or the downstream side. By moving, the range of the input zone Z can be varied, and as shown in FIG. 17 (b), the mounting position of the RFID reader 42A is moved to the downstream side for a plurality of collection containers (two in the figure). The range of the input zone Z corresponding to each picking zone P can be shifted (moved) downstream by moving. As described above, the upstream charging zone Z shifts to the downstream side, and the self-loading zone Z shifts to the downstream side, so that the worker H moves to perform the picking work around the self-picking zone P. It becomes shorter and it becomes possible to improve work efficiency.

  “Own Zone Advance Display Control Unit 78”; The own zone advance display control unit 78 confirms the order number stored in the own zone memory 73, searches the picking memory 71 by each order number, and picks Presence / absence of data (whether there is an article 11 picked from the front opening 16 of the own picking zone P and put into the collection container 10 located in the own throwing zone Z; no picking data if the picking operation has been completed, To be considered).

  If there is picking data in the order number (if there is picking work), the order number is memorized, and the order number (collection container 10) at the most downstream is selected as the order number (collection object) for picking work. And the number of the self-injection zone Z is added to the order number and output to the picking control unit 79. In addition, the self-zone lighting data obtained by adding the number of the self-loading zone Z and the lighting signal to the other order numbers excluding the order number of the collection container 10 to be picked is output to the communication controller 63. To do. Based on the own zone lighting data, the lamp 38 of the second lamp unit 33 is turned on (described later).

  If there is no picking data in the order number by searching (if there is no picking work), the communication controller 63 receives the own zone turn-off data including the order number, the number of the self-insertion zone Z, and the turn-off signal. Output to. When there is no picking data, a no picking data signal is output to the upstream zone preceding display control unit 77. Based on the self-zone turn-off data, the lamp 38 of the second lamp unit 33 is turned off (described later).

“Upstream Zone Advance Display Control Unit 77”; The upstream zone advance display control unit 77 confirms the order number stored in the upstream zone memory 72, searches the picking memory 71 by each order number, and picks. Presence / absence of data (whether or not there is an article 11 picked from the front opening 16 of the own picking zone P and put into the collection container 10 located in the upstream loading zone Z; if the picking operation is finished, there is no picking data) To be considered).
If there is picking data in the order number (if there is picking work), the order number is stored, and then it is confirmed whether or not the picking data no signal is inputted from the own zone preceding display control unit 78. . When the no picking data signal is confirmed, the most downstream order number (collection container 10) is determined as an order number (collection container) to be picked, and the number of the upstream input zone Z ( 1 is subtracted from the number of the self-injection zone Z) and output to the picking control unit 79. Further, upstream zone lighting data including the number of the upstream input zone Z and the lighting signal is output to the communication controller 63 to the other order numbers excluding the order number of the collection container 10 to be picked. To do. If there is no picking data in the order number by searching (if there is no picking work), the upstream zone extinction data obtained by adding the number of the upstream input zone Z and the extinction signal to the order number is added to the communication controller 63. Output to. The lamp 38 of the first lamp unit 31 is turned on based on the upstream zone lighting data, and the lamp 38 of the first lamp unit 31 is turned off based on the upstream zone lighting data (described later).

“Picking control unit 79”; When the picking control unit 79 inputs the order number of the collection container 10 to be picked from its own zone preceding display control unit 78 or the upstream zone preceding display control unit 77, this order number Thus, the picking data in the picking memory 71 is searched. In addition, the self zone blink data or the upstream zone blink data obtained by adding the number of the self throw zone Z or the upstream throw zone Z and the blink signal to the input order number is output to the communication controller 63. Based on the own zone blink data, the lamp 38 of the second lamp unit 33 blinks, and on the basis of the upstream zone blink data, the lamp 38 of the first lamp unit 31 blinks (described later).
Subsequently, according to the picking data of the collection container 10 to be picked, the frontage display 19 displays the frontage 16 from which the articles 11 are taken out and the quantity of the articles 11 to be taken out, and the bay display 20 takes out the articles 11. The number of shelves 17 with the frontage 16 is notified. Then, the operation of the completion push button switch 19B of the frontage display 19 confirms the removal of the article 11 from the frontage 16, and the article 11 is loaded into the tape switch 23 in the own loading zone Z (the collection container 10 in the own loading zone Z). Or the operation of the tape switch 23 in the upstream charging zone Z (when the article 11 is loaded into the collecting container 10 in the upstream charging zone Z), the completion of the picking work to the collecting container 10 is confirmed. Upon confirmation, the picking data in the picking memory 71 that has been executed is terminated, the order number for which the picking operation has been completed is output to the forward feed permission control unit 80, and then the picking zone P is picked in the picking data. Check if the zone is set.
If the picking zone P is set as the picking end zone, the zone end is added to the order number by adding “END” (an example of the display of “article input end”) display command and turn-off signal. The extinguishing data is output to the communication controller 63.

  “Previous advance permission control unit 80”; The forward advance permission control unit 80 searches the picking data in the picking memory 71 based on the most downstream order number of the own zone memory 73 and confirms the presence or absence of the picking work. When no picking operation is performed, the forward feed permission signal is output to the most downstream accumulation unit 22. When there is a picking work, the picking control unit 79 waits until the order number for which the picking work has been completed is input, and the collection container 10 that has not finished the picking work is moved from the self-feeding zone Z to the downstream loading zone Z. When the order number is inputted, the order number is checked to see if it matches the most downstream order number in the self-zone memory 73. Output a forward feed permission signal.

  The communication controller 63 sends the above-described “order number, self zone input data including the number of the self input zone Z and the lighting signal”, or “order number, the number of the self input zone Z, and "Zone extinction data added to be extinguished signal", or "End number extinction data added to order number and" END "display command and extinguished signal" or "Order number, upstream "Upstream zone lighting data including addition zone Z number and lighting signal" or "Upstream zone lighting data adding upstream charging zone Z number and lighting signal to order number", Or “Add to the order number the number of the self-injection zone Z and the flashing signal. When “Own zone flashing data” or “Upstream zone flashing data obtained by adding the upstream input zone Z number and the flashing signal to the order number” is input, the data is transmitted via the transmission / reception device 65 and the antenna 43. .

When this data is received by the radio 36 of the input indicator 26, the display controller 35 confirms whether or not the received data is addressed to itself based on the order number of the received data. Accordingly, the “order number” is displayed on the digital display 32, or “END” is displayed on the digital display 32 when the zone end extinction data is displayed, and the second lamp section 33 and the first lamp section 31 are displayed as follows. The lamp 38 is turned on / flashes / off. It is assumed that red when the number of the input zone Z is an odd number and green when the number is even.
-Own zone lighting data: The lamp 38 of the second lamp section 33 is lit.
-Own zone turn-off data or zone end turn-off data: The lamp 38 of the second lamp section 33 is turned off.
-Own zone blink data: The lamp 38 of the second lamp section 33 blinks.
Upstream zone lighting data: The lamp 38 of the first lamp unit 31 is lit.
Upstream zone turn-off data: The lamp 38 of the first lamp unit 31 is turned off.
Upstream zone blinking data: The lamp 38 of the first lamp unit 31 blinks.

  As described above, the lamp 38 of the second lamp portion 33 of the loading indicator 26 attached to the collecting container 10 located in the self-loading zone Z is turned on / flashing / turned off, and is turned on so that the picking work scheduled to be picked. It is displayed that it is a container 10, blinks to indicate that it is a collection container 10 that is currently a picking work execution target, and is turned off to indicate that it is a collection container 10 that is not a target for picking work. Whether or not the collection container 10 located in the self-injection zone Z, to which the input indicator 26 is attached, by the two lamp unit 33 is a collection container to which the articles 11 taken out in the self-picking zone P are input Indicated.

In addition, the lamp 38 of the first lamp portion 31 of the loading indicator 26 attached to the collecting container 10 located in the upstream charging zone Z is turned on / flashing / turned off, and is lit, and the collecting container 10 scheduled for picking work. It is displayed that it is present, blinking, it is displayed that it is the collection container 10 that is the object of execution of picking work, and it is displayed that it is uncollected, that is, the collection container 10 that is not the object of picking work. 31 indicates whether or not the collection container 10 located in the upstream input zone Z, to which the input indicator 26 is attached, is an input target collection container for the article 11 taken out in the self-picking zone P.
The state of the lamp 38 of the second lamp portion 33 of the input indicator 26 (lighted / flashing / light-off state) is controlled by the own zone preceding display control portion 78, and the lamp 38 of the first lamp portion 31 is in the state described above. Since the state is controlled by the upstream zone preceding display control unit 77, when the collection container 10 is moved from the upstream charging zone Z to the downstream charging zone Z, the first lamp portion of the charging indicator 26 is displayed. 31 and the state of the lamp 38 of the second lamp unit 33 are reviewed at the same time, and the state of both the lamp 38 of the first lamp unit 31 and the second lamp unit 33 is updated simultaneously.

“Movement operation of the collection container 10 in the storage line A”; the movement operation of the collection container 10 for each input zone Z by the configuration of the first straight transfer line 21A and the configuration of the zone controller 24 is as follows. .
a. In the input zone Z, if there is an empty accumulation unit 22, it is pre-packed.
b. The movement over the input zone Z is unconditionally output from the zone controller 24 of the corresponding own picking zone P facing the own input zone Z when the collection container 10 is not a picking work target, When an empty accumulation unit 22 is generated upstream of the downstream charging zone Z, it moves.
c. The movement to the input zone Z is performed in the downstream input zone Z until the forward feed permission signal is output from the zone controller 24 of the input zone Z, that is, until the picking operation is completed, in the case of the collection container 10A to be picked. Even if an empty accumulator 22 is generated upstream of the container, it does not move and stops, and the most downstream collection container 10 that has not finished picking work is prevented from moving to the downstream charging zone Z. In response to the output of the forward feed permission signal, it moves to the downstream charging zone Z for the first time (provided that an empty accumulation unit 22 is generated upstream of the downstream charging zone Z).
As described above, when the collection container 10 capable of (permitted) crossing the input zone Z moves across the input zone Z, the downstream input zone Z is clogged (empty accumulation unit). If no vacant accumulation unit 22 is generated upstream of the downstream charging zone Z, the vehicle moves.

A specific example will be described with reference to FIG.
Six accumulation sections 22 are provided in each input zone Z, and as shown in FIG. 16A, the two downstream collection containers 10 in the zone 2 are not picking work targets but are adjacent to the downstream If there are two empty accumulation units 22 (without the collection container 10) upstream of the zone 3, as shown in FIG. 16 (b), two accumulations on the downstream side in the zone 2 are caused by the function of the accumulation conveyor. The goods container 10 is transferred to the adjacent downstream zone 3 and pre-packed. At this time, the collection container 10A to be picked in Zone 2 is transferred to the downstream end of the zone, but until the picking operation is finished and the forward feed permission signal is output from the zone controller 24 in the picking zone P, There is no transfer to zone 3.
As shown in FIG. 16 (a), if there is an empty (no collection container 10) accumulation section 22 in the zone 1, the upstream collection container 10 is pre-packed as shown in FIG. 16 (b). Further, as shown in FIG. 16B, when an empty accumulation unit 22 is generated by the transfer of the collection container 10 in the zone 2, the collection container 10 that is not the picking work target at the downstream end of the zone 1 is Transported to the front. At this time, the collection container 10A to be picked in Zone 1 is transferred to the downstream end of the zone, but until the picking work is finished and the forward feed permission signal is output from the zone controller 24 in the picking zone P, There is no transfer to zone 2.
In this way, the collection container 10 can partially move across the input zone Z downstream, so that the worker H can pick the collection container 10A to be picked in the movement range of the own input zone Z. Opportunities to perform work can be increased and work efficiency can be improved (the picking work can be performed in the upstream charging zone Z in advance, but the collection container 10A to be picked is placed in the self-charging zone Z) The work efficiency can be improved if it is transferred).
Further, the collection container 10A in which the picking operation is executed in the input zone Z can be prevented from being transferred to the downstream input zone Z until the picking operation in the input zone Z is completed, and the occurrence of a shortage can be prevented. it can.

“Picking Work”: The action of the configuration of the zone controller 24 will be described together with the picking work operation of the worker H arranged in the picking zone P.
As shown in FIG. 4, the lamp 38 of the second lamp portion 33 of the loading indicator 26 attached to the collection container 10 located in the self-loading zone Z is turned on, blinks, or turned off. The picking work is executed by blinking, and the absence of picking work is displayed by turning off the lights. At this time, the bay display 20 and the frontage displays 19 in the own picking zone P are displayed.
The worker H arranged in his / her picking zone P takes out the article 11 to be put into the collection container 10 from the storage box 12 based on the display on the bay display 20 and the display on each frontage display 19. Each time the completion pushbutton switch 19B of the frontage display 19 is pressed, the display of the frontage display 19 is confirmed to be turned off, the article 11 is taken out, turned around, and conveyed to the self-loading zone Z, and the second The lamp 38 of the lamp unit 33 is loaded into the collection container 10 to which the loading indicator 26 with the blinking lamp is attached (picking operation is executed). When all the articles 11 have been charged, the tape switch 23 in the self-loading zone Z is pressed, and the picking operation for the target collection container 10 is completed. As described above, the lamp 38 of the second lamp unit 33 can be seen only from the own picking zone P when the collection container 10 to which the loading indicator 26 is attached is located in the own loading zone Z. The self-zone lamp which makes possible is formed.
Further, the lamp 38 of the first lamp portion 31 of the loading indicator 26 attached to the collection container 10 located in the upstream loading zone Z (which can be seen only from the own picking zone P) is turned on, flashing, or turned off. When picked up, picking work is performed, when blinking, picking work is executed, and when no light is picked up, no picking work is displayed.

  When the lamp 38 of the first lamp unit 31 is blinking, the worker H arranged in the own picking zone P is based on the display of the bay display 20 of the own picking zone P and the display of each frontage display 19. Then, the collection container 10 to which the input indicator 26 in which the lamp 38 of the first lamp unit 31 is flashing is attached is taken out from the front opening 16 of the own picking zone P in the adjacent upstream input zone Z. Article 11 is loaded (advance picking work in the upstream zone is performed). When all the articles 11 have been charged, the tape switch 23 in the upstream charging zone Z is pressed, and the picking operation for the target collection container 10 is completed. As described above, the lamp 38 of the first lamp unit 31 can be seen only from the own picking zone P when the collection container 10 to which the loading indicator 26 is attached is located in the upstream loading zone Z. A leading zone lamp is formed to enable work.

As described above, the worker H can put the article 11 taken out from the own picking zone P into the collection container 10 being transported in the own throwing zone Z and the upstream throwing zone Z, as shown in FIG. Thus, for each worker H, a range in which the loading operation can be performed over two consecutive loading zones Z is formed. Further, as shown in FIG. 17 (a), except for the most downstream charging zone Z, a charging zone Z in which two people perform charging work into the collection container 10 continues from the upstream charging zone Z. Only the most downstream charging zone Z becomes the charging zone Z in which a single worker performs the charging operation into the collection container 10. That is, since the worker H can perform the picking work in the self-charging zone Z and the upstream charging zone Z, the charging zone Z in which each worker H can perform the picking work is excluded from the most downstream charging zone Z. Thus, the adjacent throwing zones Z are arranged so as to be continuously shifted and overlapped, and in each throwing zone Z, picking work is executed by two workers.
Further, as described above, even when the input zone Z is shifted to the downstream side with respect to the picking zone P, as shown in FIG. An input zone Z in which two people perform an input operation into the collection container 10 continues from the input zone Z of the input, and an input zone in which one operator performs an input operation into the collection container 10 only in the most downstream input zone Z Z.
Further, when the picking work to the collection container 10 is finished by the completion of the picking work, “END” is displayed on the digital display 32.
The digital indicator (display screen) 32 of the input indicator 26 is attached to the center of the lamp (own zone lamp) 38 of the second lamp section 33 and the lamp (leading zone lamp) 38 of the first lamp section 31. This makes it easier to see than an operator who puts the article 11 into the collection container 10 to which the loading indicator 26 is attached.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, for each input zone Z, the collection container 10 is moved and packed downstream by the accumulator 22, and the collection container 10 for which the picking operation has been completed in the input zone Z is completed. Is moved to the downstream charging zone Z, so that it can be easily moved between the charging zones Z without being affected by the other charging zones Z, and the collection container 10 is efficiently moved. You can make the most of your ability.
Further, according to the present embodiment, the collection container 10 (the collection container 10 at the most downstream side of the self-charging zone Z) that has not been picked up moves from the self-charging zone Z to the downstream charging zone Z. By being blocked, it is possible to prevent generation of the collection container 10 in which the ordered articles 11 are insufficient. Further, at this time, in the downstream charging zone Z and the charging zone Z located downstream of the downstream charging zone Z, accumulation and movement of a plurality of collection containers 10 are continuously performed as usual, and the collection containers 10 are moved. It is performed efficiently and can make full use of the operator's ability.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the range of the input zone Z can be made variable by setting the upstream end of each input zone Z depending on the position of the RFID reader 42A. The zone width can be made variable for each individual (the input zone Z can be widened or narrowed). Further, as the zone width of the input zone Z is changed, the input zone Z can be shifted from the position of the picking zone P (the opening 16 of the flow rack 15). Further, by shifting the input zone Z to the downstream side from the corresponding picking zone P, the upstream input zone Z is shifted to the downstream side, and the own input zone Z is shifted to the downstream side. As a center, the distance traveled to perform the picking work is shortened, and the work efficiency can be improved.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the input indicator 26 is conveyed along with the collection container 10 by the conveyance line B, and this collection container 10 is the collection object collection container into which the article 11 taken out from the frontage 16 is input. When the input indicator 26 indicates that the input indicator 26 moves together with the collection container 10 and the input indicator 26 indicates that it is a target of input, each picking zone P of the storage line A is displayed. The worker H arranged in can recognize the collection container 10 to be thrown in intuitively without misidentification, and can prevent the wrong throwing.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the input indicator 26 is provided with an RFID (tag) 34, and the user's order number assigned to the collection container 10 is stored (written) in the RFID (tag) 34. An RFID reader 42A for detecting the order number stored in the RFID (tag) 34 is provided at each upstream end of the zone Z, and the order number detected by the RFID reader 42A in each input zone Z is stored in order. Thus, it is possible to identify the collection containers 10 respectively carried into the respective input zones Z, and to perform the picking operation. Therefore, the position of each collection container 10 in the conveyance line B is determined by the conveyance line B. The tracking that is always followed after being put in can be made unnecessary, and even if the position information of each collection container 10 disappears once, it can be recovered It is easy, it can improve the efficiency of picking work. Further, by providing the insertion indicator 26 with the RFID (tag) 34, the unique order number corresponding to the user's order assigned to the collection container 10 can be easily rewritten.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the input indicator 26 is provided with the second lamp portion 33 for displaying the own zone and the first lamp portion 31 for displaying the upstream zone, and the second lamp portion 33 allows the picking zone to be displayed. The picking operation in the loading zone Z corresponding to can be executed, and the picking operation in the upstream loading zone Z located upstream adjacent to the loading zone Z corresponding to the picking zone is executed by the display of the first lamp unit 31 The picking operation can be performed in both the input zone Z and the upstream input zone Z.

In the above embodiment, the input indicator 26 is attached to the collection container 10, but as shown in FIG. 18, the input indicator 26 is provided on a tray 85 on which the collection container 10 is placed, The input indicator 26 may be provided in the collection container 10 via the tray 85 (correspondingly). Further, a plurality of such trays 85 with the loading indicator 26 are circulated by the conveying line B, and the collection container 10 can be automatically loaded into the circulating tray 85 and automatically dispensed. .
In the present embodiment, a continuous order number is assigned to a user's order (or user) and written in the RFID 34, whereby an order number is assigned to the collection container 10 to which the input indicator 26 is attached. However, the user or the user's order, that is, the sorting destination or the article request information of the sorting destination is directly written in the RFID 34, and thus the sorting container or the sorting destination is put in the collection container 10 to which the input indicator 26 is attached. It is also possible to assign the article request information.

In the present embodiment, a container is used as the collection container 10. However, the collection container 10 can be attached to the input indicator 26 with the jig 40 and can store the article 11 temporarily. For example, cardboard or the like can be used.
In the present embodiment, numbers (order numbers) are used as unique codes for specifying the user's order, but characters such as barcodes and alphabets, pictograms, and the like can also be used. At this time, the order of barcodes, characters and pictograms is determined, assigned to the user's order in that order, and written to the RFID 34 by the RFID writer 42B.
In the present embodiment, one worker H is arranged in each picking zone P. However, a plurality of (for example, two) workers H are arranged in each picking zone P. You can also. Accordingly, even when the collection container 10 to be picked into the input zone Z is carried in without any gap, the work speed in the input zone Z is improved. The possibility that 10 may stay can be reduced, and the efficiency of picking work can be improved. In addition, the worker H in the picking zone P has put the picked article 11 directly into the collection container 10 (manually put in), but for each picking zone P, on the first straight transport line 21A. It is also possible to arrange an automatic loading device for automatically loading the article 11 into the collection container 10 so that the article 11 is automatically loaded.
Further, in the present embodiment, the color of the lamp that is lit for each of the picking zone P and the input zone Z (the lamp of the completion push button switch 19B of the frontage indicator 19 and the first lamp unit 31 and the second lamp unit of the input indicator 26 By changing the color of the 33 lamps 38), the worker H does not mistake the collection container 10 into which the article 11 taken out from the picking zone P is put. Any method may be used as long as the container 10 is not mistaken, for example, a method of changing the light intensity of the lamp. The colors of the lamps are two (red and green), but the number of colors is increased to three, so that the colors change alternately by designating colors for each of the three picking zones P and the input zones Z. You can also
Moreover, in this Embodiment, although the conveyance line B is comprised from the accumulation conveyor and the drive roller conveyor, it is also possible to comprise by a free conveyor.
Further, in the present embodiment, the flow rack 15 and the first straight transport line 21A are arranged on the opposite side across the worker H, but the storage line A (flow rack 15) and the worker H are The transport line B (first straight transport line 21A) may be arranged on the same side. Thereby, the article 11 taken out from the frontage 16 can be put into the collection container 10 that has been transported to the loading zone Z as it is (picked) in the path of the picked-up hand (picking operation is performed), Workability can be improved.
In the present embodiment, the flow rack 15 is arranged along the first rectilinear conveyance line 21A. However, the frontage (article storage unit) 16 may be arranged for each picking zone P, and for each picking zone P. In addition, the first straight traveling line 21 </ b> A may be arranged at a right angle.
In the present embodiment, the transport line B is constituted by one circulation line. However, it is also possible to constitute a plurality of, for example, two circulation lines, and the collection containers 10 of these circulation lines. It is also possible to change the height of the transport surface.
In the present embodiment, the flow rack 15 is used as the picking shelf, but a general shelf on which the article 11 or the storage box does not move can also be used.
Further, in the present embodiment, the articles 11 placed on the shelves 17 of the flow rack 15 are stored in the storage box 12, but can be made in units of pieces, and the number of the shelves 17 can be increased. Is possible.
Further, in the present embodiment, each shelf 17 of the flow rack 15 is fixed, but it may be configured such that it can be arbitrarily moved and adjusted back and forth (in the direction of the first rectilinear transport line 21A).
Further, in the present embodiment, the tape switch 23 is used with the completion of the article 11 in the collection container 10 as an input means. However, the switch is simply a switch for inputting completion, and may be a simple push button switch.
In this embodiment, the sorting destination is classified by user. However, the sorting destination is not limited to the user, and may be classified by store, by category or category such as products, by region, by transport truck, and the like.

A storage line B transfer line P picking zone H worker Z input zone 10 collection container 11 article 15 flow rack 16 frontage 21A first straight transfer line 22 accumulator 26 input indicator 31 first lamp 32 digital display 33 first 2 lamp section 34 RFID
36 Radio 42A RFID reader 42B RFID writer 43 Antenna 65 Transmitter / receiver 85 Tray

Claims (3)

A picking shelf having a plurality of article storage units each storing articles;
Along with the picking shelves, each of the sorting destinations, or a transport means for transporting a plurality of collection containers to which the goods request information of the sorting destination is assigned,
In accordance with the article request information of the sorting destination, a picking facility that puts the articles taken out from the article storage unit of the picking shelf into the collection container,
In the collection container, the sorting destination assigned to each of the collection containers, or the article request information of the sorting destination is stored.
In the picking shelf, a picking zone for performing an operation of taking out articles to be collected in the collection container is formed for each predetermined number of article storage units,
In the conveying means, corresponding to the picking zone, forming an input zone for sorting collection containers to be input of articles taken out in the picking zone,
In the upstream part of each input zone, the sorting destination stored in the collection container or the article request information of the sorting destination is read, and the sorting request or the article request information of the sorting destination read in each input zone Are stored in order, and the collection container stored in each input zone, or the article request information of the distribution destination is moved to the downstream side of the same zone, thereby identifying the collection container respectively carried into each input zone. ,
The conveying means is constituted by a conveyor that can be accumulated / moved for each collection container, and the collection containers are designed to accumulate without colliding with each other, and is packed downstream in each input zone. It is possible to store and move multiple collection containers,
A collection container, which is located at the most downstream of each of the input zones and is an object to be input according to the item request information of the input destination in the input zone, is the destination of the sorting destination from the picking zone corresponding to the input zone. Stop moving to the downstream loading zone adjacent to the downstream until the loading of the article according to the article request information is completed,
A collection container that is located on the most downstream side of each of the input zones and that is not a target for input of articles according to the item request information of the sorting destination in the input zone has a vacant space that can be transferred to the downstream input zone. The picking facility is characterized in that it moves to the downstream input zone. Assigning a unique code to the sorting destination assigned to the collection container, or the item request information of the sorting destination, and storing the unique code in the collection container,
Each collection container is provided with a loading indicator for displaying that it is a collection container to be loaded for loading articles taken out from the article storage unit,
Each charging indicator is provided with a storage means for storing the unique code assigned to the collection container provided with the charging indicator,
A code reading means for reading the code stored in the storage means of the input indicator is provided upstream of each input zone,
The position of the code reading unit is movable, and the range of the corresponding input zone on the transport unit corresponding to the picking zone can be changed by moving the code reading unit . Picking equipment. The upstream start position of each input zone is set to the collection volume from the corresponding picking zone.
The picking equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the picking equipment is shifted to the downstream side in the conveying direction of the container.

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