JP6183279B2 - Article supply method, support dividing method, and picking work execution method in picking equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is based on a picking order that specifies the type and quantity of an article to be put into a collection container, and takes out the article to be thrown out from the article support that supports the article for each type, In the picking work, the picking work having the picked-up article into the collection container to be thrown in for each type is automatically determined the order of placing the plural types of goods thrown in the throwing work product supply method in picking equipment using Sequencing how by parts, support division method, and picking operations performed method.

  For example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-41126 (Patent Document 1), picking work from different article supports for a plurality of kinds of articles has conventionally been performed on a single collection container. There is a picking facility configured to repeatedly execute a plurality of times and to pack a plurality of types of articles in the single collection container. In the picking equipment disclosed in Patent Document 1, a plurality of instruction information corresponding to a plurality of picking orders is displayed on the input indicator in a form in which instruction information such as the type and quantity of the article designated in the picking order is displayed on the input indicator. Display sequentially. The picking operator performs an extraction operation and an input operation for the type and quantity of articles displayed on the input indicator.

  Although it is not specified in Patent Document 1, the order of instruction information displayed on the input indicator sequentially with respect to the single collection container, that is, the input of plural types of articles input in the input operation The order is usually determined based on the order in which the picking order is generated based on the request information from the customer.

JP2012-41126A

  In the conventional picking operation, the plurality of types of articles put into one collection container are all handled in the same way in that they are articles put into the collection container. For this reason, a plurality of articles are put into the collection container. However, due to the mutual relationship between a plurality of types, there is a possibility that inconveniences such as damage to the articles after throwing may occur. As described above, in the conventional input order determination method, the mutual relationship between the articles to be input is not considered, and the input order of plural types of articles to the collection container is not always appropriate. .

Therefore, it is desired to realize an article supply method that allows a plurality of types of articles to be put into a collection container in an appropriate order in a mutual relationship between different types of articles in a picking facility .

An article supply method in a picking facility according to the present invention for solving the above-described problem is an article support for supporting an article for each type based on a picking order that specifies the type and quantity of the article to be put into a collection container. In a picking operation having a take-out operation for taking out an article to be thrown out from a container, and a throw-in work for putting the article taken out in the take-out work into a collection container to be put into each type, It uses a loading order determination method by a loading order determination unit that automatically determines the loading order of articles of type, and the charging order determination method is:
The articles specified in the picking order are managed based on the type attribute set for each type based on the attribute of the article, and the input order determining unit is put into the collection container in the input operation the order of feeding the types of articles that determine on the basis of the type attribute.

For example, if there is an article that is easily damaged or difficult to damage when it interferes with another article, put the easily damaged article into the collection container first, and then put the article that is difficult to damage into the collection container. In such a case, an easily damaged article may be damaged by interference with an article that is difficult to damage. In such a case, it is preferable to put an article that is not easily damaged into the collection container first and an article that is easily damaged after that. Therefore, by determining the input order of multiple types of articles to be input into the collection container in the input operation based on the type attribute, multiple types of articles having different appropriate input orders into the collection container as described above can be obtained. In addition, the collection containers can be loaded in an appropriate loading order in the mutual relationship of the types of articles to be loaded.
As described above, according to the loading order determination method used in the article supply method in the picking facility according to the present invention, it is possible to load a plurality of types of articles into the collection container in an appropriate order in the interrelationship of different types of articles. can Ru.

In the article supply method in the picking facility according to the present invention, in the picking facility using the above-described ordering method, there are provided a plurality of picking stations for performing the picking-up operation, and the picked-up items are picked up by the picking station. A plurality of input points to be introduced into the container are provided corresponding to the plurality of picking stations, and a plurality of the article supports for a plurality of types of articles specified in the picking order are distributed and supplied to the plurality of picking stations. A distribution supply unit is provided, and a collection transport unit that transports the collection container to be loaded through the plurality of loading points is provided, and the loading order determination unit is provided for the plurality of loading points. According to the input order to be determined, the type of article specified in the picking order is The picking station that sequentially assigns the article support for the type assigned to each of the plurality of input locations, corresponding to the assigned input location, sequentially assigned from the most upstream input location in the conveyance direction of the product collection transport unit It is characterized in that a distribution transfer process corresponding to the loading order is performed.

In other words, since there are a plurality of picking stations that perform pick-up work, and there are pick-up locations corresponding to each picking station, pick-up work at each of the different picking stations is performed in a distributed manner, and the pick-up work at different pick-up locations is performed sequentially. Is called.
In addition, the collection container is transported by the collection transport unit from the input location upstream of the sun through a plurality of input locations in sequence, so that multiple types of articles are placed in the collection container in the order of the input locations. That is, they are loaded in an order corresponding to the order of the picking stations. Then, the types of articles specified in the picking order are allocated and assigned to the plurality of picking stations arranged in correspondence with the order of loading into the collection container as described above according to the loading order determined by the loading order determination unit. By distributing and transporting the article support for each type to the picking station, a plurality of types of articles having different appropriate input orders into the collection container can be arranged in an appropriate input order in the interrelationship of the types of articles to be input. Can be put into a collection container.
Therefore, by simply taking out the article from the article support conveyed to the picking station at each picking station, a plurality of types of articles are sequentially put into the collection container according to the loading order determined by the loading order determining unit. The Therefore, the work at the picking station can be simplified.

In the picking equipment according to the present invention, based on an order arrangement in which a plurality of the picking orders are arranged, the picking orders are processed in the order arrangement order,
Based on the order arrangement in which a plurality of the picking orders are arranged, the picking orders are processed in the order of arrangement in the order arrangement,
When the total number of article supports that support articles of the same type as the article supports supplied to the picking station based on the picking order satisfies the set support number condition, the picking orders in the order arrangement order. Articles more than the quantity specified in one or a plurality of picking orders to be processed after are taken out from the article support corresponding to the picking orders, and the removed articles are different from the article support. It is preferable to perform a support splitting process that increases the quantity of the article support that supports the type of article stored in the storage unit in a form of transfer to the support.

In the picking equipment, for example, a storage unit for storing the article support is provided, the article support is taken out from the storage unit and supplied to the picking station, and the article support that has been picked at the picking station is stored in the storage unit. It is conceivable as a preferable form to enter the warehouse.
However, if the number of article supports that support articles of the same type as the article supports supplied to the picking station based on the picking order is small, a plurality of orders specifying the articles of that type are arranged in the order of arrangement in the order array. In the case where the picking stations are arranged close to each other, the supply to the picking station may not be in time until the start of the picking work, and the picking work at the picking station may be delayed.
For example, if there is only one article support that supports an article of a certain type, the next picking is performed until the article support for that type is once stored in the storage unit and then discharged again and supplied to the picking station. Unable to perform the take-out work related to the order.

  Therefore, when the number of article supports that support an article of the same type as the article support supplied to the picking station based on the picking order satisfies the set support number condition (for example, one), the picking is performed. More than the quantity specified in one or more picking orders processed after the order is removed from the article support corresponding to the picking order, and the removed article is different from the article support. It is transferred to the article support. Thereby, the quantity of the said article support body which supports the said kind of article | item can be increased, and the article support body used as the object of taking-out work in the picking order processed after the said picking order is carried out at an appropriate timing. It will be easy to supply to the picking station.

In the picking equipment according to the present invention, based on an order arrangement in which a plurality of the picking orders are arranged, the picking orders are processed in the order arrangement order,
Based on the order arrangement in which a plurality of the picking orders are arranged, the picking orders are processed in the order of arrangement in the order arrangement,
When the total number of the article supports that support the same type of article as the article support for which the picking operation has been completed satisfies the set support number condition, and is next to the picking order corresponding to the picking operation If the picking work amount, which is the work amount of the picking order planned up to the nearest picking order that is the picking order in which the article of the type is included, satisfies the set work amount condition, the order arrangement of the nearest picking order It is preferable to perform a carry-up process that raises the ranking in (1).

  In other words, the picking order in the latest picking order can be processed subsequent to the picking order in the picking order by raising the rank in the order arrangement of the picking order next to the picking order corresponding to the picking work. Since it is not necessary to supply the article support again to the picking station for the processing of the take-out work related to the latest picking order, the situation where the picking work of the latest picking order is delayed can be suppressed as much as possible.

Overall perspective view of picking equipment Plan view of the main part of the picking equipment Perspective view of main part of automated warehouse for storage Functional block diagram of picking equipment The perspective view which shows the structure of a picking station Control block diagram Flow chart of control by control unit

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the picking facility directs the automatic storage warehouse R1 and the original packed case Cm delivered from the storage section R1S (see FIG. 3) of the automatic storage warehouse R1 to the picking station ST. The transporting part 31a of the main transporting conveyor 31 for transporting, the transporting part 31c of the main transporting conveyor 31 for transporting the original packing case Cm from the picking station ST to the automatic storage warehouse R1, and the original packing case to be stored In order to replenish Cm to the storage automatic warehouse R1, a replenishment transfer conveyor 38 (see FIG. 4) for conveying the original packed case Cm from the outside to the storage automatic warehouse R1 is provided.
In the picking station ST, based on a picking order that specifies the type and quantity of articles to be put into the original packaging case Cm, the picking operator takes out the articles to be thrown from the original packaging case Cm that supports the articles for each type. This is the place where the extraction work is performed. In the picking equipment of the present embodiment, the take-out work is performed at the picking station ST, and the input work is performed at the input location.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the automatic storage warehouse R1 includes a plurality of shelves R1Ta in which the storage units R1S for storing the original case Cm are arranged in a row in the horizontal direction in the vertical direction. The multi-stage racks R1T each having a transport carriage M corresponding to the above are arranged in a plurality of rows. In addition, a warehousing layer conveyor R1Ci is provided on one end side of the shelf portion R1Ta so that the original packing case Cm can be freely transferred to and from the transport cart M, and is packed on the other end side with the transport cart M. An unloading-side layer conveyor R1Co that can freely transfer the case Cm is provided. In addition, the end of the warehousing layer conveyor R1Ci opposite to the shelf R1Ta is provided with a warehousing side lifter R1Li that can transfer the original packaging case Cm to and from the warehousing layer conveyor R1Ci. An exit side lifter R1Lo is provided at the end opposite to the shelf part R1Ta in order to deliver the original packaging case Cm to and from the delivery side layer conveyor R1Co. The warehousing side lifter R1Li is configured to receive the original case Cm from the warehousing transport portion 31c of the main transport conveyor 31. The unloading side lifter R1Lo is configured to be able to deliver the original case Cm to the unloading transport portion 31a of the main transport conveyor 31.

  For example, the original packaging case Cm is an original packaging case in which an upper part of a cardboard case received from the manufacturer is opened and opened upward, or a plurality of articles accommodated in the cardboard case received from the manufacturer are repeatedly used. A single type of article is supported by the same original case Cm. In the present embodiment, the original case Cm corresponds to the article support in the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main transport conveyor 31 includes an upper layer main transport conveyor 31u (31ua, 31uc) and a lower layer main transport conveyor 31d (31da, 31dc).
As the picking station ST, the first picking station ST1, the second picking station ST2, and the third picking station ST3 are sequentially arranged from the upstream side in the transport direction of the upper layer main transport conveyor 31u along the transport path of the upper layer main transport conveyor 31u. Are arranged side by side in a separated state. In addition, the fourth picking station ST4, the fifth picking station ST5, and the sixth picking station ST6 are separated from each other in order from the upstream side in the transport direction of the lower layer main transport conveyor 31d along the transport path of the lower layer main transport conveyor 31d. Are arranged side by side.
A seventh picking station ST7 for manual operation is provided on the downstream side of the third picking station ST3 along the transfer path of the upper-layer main transfer conveyor 31u. The manual picking station ST7 is used to manually put articles into the collection case Cs. In addition, an eighth picking station ST8 for manual operation is provided on the downstream side of the sixth picking station ST6 along the transfer path of the lower layer main transfer conveyor 31d, and the manual operation for manually loading the articles into the collection case Cs is performed by the operator. It has been.
In the present embodiment, the first picking station ST1 to the sixth picking station ST6 correspond to the picking station of the present invention.
That is, a plurality of picking stations (first picking station ST1 to sixth picking station ST6) for performing the take-out operation are provided.

  The fourth picking station ST4 is located downstream of the third picking station ST3 in the transport direction of the upper layer main transport conveyor 31u and the lower layer main transport conveyor 31d. The seventh picking station ST7 is the upper layer main transport conveyor 31u and the lower layer main transport conveyor. The eighth picking station ST8 is positioned downstream of the sixth picking station ST7 in the transport direction of the upper layer main transport conveyor 31u and the lower layer main transport conveyor 31d in the transport direction of the conveyor 31d. Is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, each of the first picking station ST1 to the sixth picking station ST6 is disposed along a direction orthogonal to the main transport conveyor 31 in plan view. A first conveyor 32A provided with a transport roller 32R1 for transporting the received original packaging case Cm, and an original packaging case disposed along the direction orthogonal to the main transport conveyor 31 in plan view, toward the main transport conveyor 31 A third conveyor 32C having a conveyance roller 32R1 for conveying Cm, and a first conveyor 32A and a third conveyor 32C that are disposed along a direction orthogonal to the first conveyor 32C in plan view, and the downstream end of the first conveyor 32A A transport that is connected to the upstream end of the third conveyor 32C and conveys the original case Cm received from the first conveyor 32A toward the third conveyor 32C. Picking conveyor 32 comprising a second conveyor 32B having a roller 32R2, a is provided.

The connecting part of the main transport conveyor 31 with the first conveyor 32A and the connecting part of the main transport conveyor 31 with the third conveyor 32C are composed of, for example, a chain transformer, and the transport direction of the original case Cm is changed. A transport direction changing device is provided.
As a result, the original packed case Cm being transported by the main transport conveyor 31 is switched between being transferred to the first conveyor 32A or transported as it is by the main transport conveyor 31, and is transported by the third conveyor 20C. The original packaging case Cm can be delivered to the main transport conveyor 31.

The seventh picking station ST7 is provided with a station storage conveyor 33A that holds a number of original packed cases Cm by branching and joining from the upper-layer main transport conveyor 31u and meandering therebetween.
In addition, the eighth picking station ST8 is provided with a station storage conveyor 33B that holds a large number of original packed cases Cm by branching and joining from the lower layer main transport conveyor 31d and meandering therebetween.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the original packing case Cm supported by the second conveyor 32 </ b> B is provided below the second conveyor 32 </ b> B in each of the first picking station ST <b> 1 to the sixth picking station ST <b> 6. There are provided three pick-feed conveyors 36 that transport the articles taken out from the pick-up conveyors 35 toward the collection conveyor 35 per picking station ST.
Further, a completion input button 48 for notifying the control unit H <b> 1 (to be described later) of the completion of the picking work is provided corresponding to each of the picked goods feed conveyors 36.

A chute part 35S is provided at the downstream end of the pick product feed conveyor 36 in the transport direction to drop the article transported by the pick product feed conveyor 36 downward. A collection conveyor 35 for conveying a collection case Cs for collecting items is provided.
Then, the collection case Cs conveyed by the collection conveyor 35 is a chute portion of the pick product conveyance conveyor 36 in each of the first picking station ST1 to the sixth picking station ST6 arranged along the conveyance direction of the main conveyance conveyor 31. The lower part of 35S is conveyed via the arrangement order. The chute 35S is configured to include an opening / closing mechanism that is opened only when the collection case Cs is positioned directly below and drops the article downward.
In the present embodiment, the chute portion 35S corresponds to the input portion of the present invention, and the collection conveyor 35 corresponds to the collection conveyance portion of the present invention. That is, a plurality of chute portions 35S are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of picking stations ST. Further, a collection conveyor 35 is provided that conveys the collection case Cs to be thrown through the plurality of chute portions 35S.

The seventh picking station ST7 and the eighth picking station ST8 are provided with a collection loop conveyor 35L that branches and merges in a “U” shape from the collection conveyor 35. Thus, the collection case Cs can be transported to the picking work position STb in the seventh picking station ST7 and the eighth picking station ST8.
In the seventh picking station ST7 and the eighth picking station ST8, the worker directly puts the articles taken out from the original packaging case Cm into the collection case Cs transported to the picking work position STb.

On the downstream side of the junction with the station storage conveyor 33A in the upper-layer main transfer conveyor 31u, there is an entrance of the auxiliary storage automatic warehouse R2 provided to store the original packed case Cm separately from the storage automatic warehouse R1. An auxiliary warehousing conveyor 31i for conveying articles is connected.
In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, the auxiliary | assistant warehousing conveyor which conveys an article to the warehousing port of auxiliary | assistant storage automatic warehouse R2 is connected also to the downstream of the confluence | merging location with the station storage conveyor 33B in the lower layer main conveyance conveyor 31d. Yes.

The auxiliary storage automatic warehouse R2 includes an article storage rack R2T including a plurality of auxiliary storage portions R2S for storing the original packaging case Cm vertically and horizontally, and a stacker crane R2ST that travels in front of the article storage rack R2T. It is configured.
The auxiliary storage portion R2S in the article storage rack R2T is in a form along the direction in which the picking stations ST (first picking station ST1 to eighth picking station ST8) are arranged, and the picking station ST does not exist with respect to the traveling rail of the stacker crane R2ST. On the side.

  Further, on the side where the picking station ST is present with respect to the traveling rail of the stacker crane R2ST, corresponding to each of the first picking station ST1 to the eighth picking station ST8, the original packed case Cm received from the stacker crane R2ST is supported. Auxiliary delivery conveyors 53 that can be transported to the picking station ST are provided for each of the picking stations ST. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the auxiliary delivery conveyor 53a to the auxiliary delivery conveyor corresponding to each of the first picking station ST1 to the third picking station ST3 and the seventh picking station ST7 corresponding to the upper-layer main transfer conveyor 31u. 53d is illustrated, but auxiliary delivery conveyors 53 are also provided for each of the fourth picking station ST4 to the sixth picking station ST6 and the eighth picking station ST8 corresponding to the lower layer main transfer conveyor 31d. It has been.

The auxiliary delivery conveyor 53a is supplied to the picking conveyor 32 for the first picking station ST1 in the upper-layer main transfer conveyor 31u so that the original packed case Cm delivered from the auxiliary storage automatic warehouse R2 can be supplied to the first picking station ST1. Is connected to the upstream side of the branch portion.
Similarly, the auxiliary delivery conveyors 53 corresponding to the other picking stations ST are connected to the upstream side of the branching portion to the picking conveyor 32 of the corresponding picking station ST.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the basic transport mode of the original packaging case Cm in the picking facility of the present embodiment is that the original packaging case Cm delivered from the storage unit R1S in the automatic storage warehouse R1 is the main conveyor 31 (for delivery). When the delivery part 31a) leaves the picking station ST (shipping process) and the picking work is completed at the picking station ST, the original packed case Cm is stored in the automatic storage warehouse R1 by the main transporting conveyor 31 (the incoming transport part 31c). It is the form which enters into storage part R1S in (storage process).

In the automatic storage warehouse R1, in addition to the above-described delivery process and incoming process, the automatic storage warehouse is supplied from the outside by the replenishment transport conveyor 38 to replenish the storage automatic warehouse R1 with the original packaging case Cm to be stored. A replenishment process for transporting the original packaging case Cm to R1 is performed. For this reason, when the conveying process by the conveying cart M is concentrated on the same stage, the conveying process is likely to be congested, and the warehousing process of the original packaging case Cm may be delayed.
In such a case, the original packed case Cm that has been picked at the picking station ST is transported to the auxiliary storage automatic warehouse R2 by the auxiliary storage conveyor 31i, and the original packed case Cm is next transferred by the stacker crane R2ST. When storing the original case Cm to be used for the next picking work at the picking station ST by storing it in the vicinity of the auxiliary shipping conveyor 53 corresponding to the picking station ST required for the picking work of As in the case of the automatic storage warehouse R1, the original case Cm can be quickly supplied to the picking station ST without being affected by the delay in warehousing.

Next, based on FIG. 6, the control configuration of each device of the picking facility will be described.
The control unit H1 is configured by a general-purpose computer such as a personal computer or a PC server provided with a central processing unit and a storage device such as a hard disk.
The control unit H1 includes a transport carriage M, a lifter R1L, a layer conveyor R1C, a main transport conveyor 31, a stacker crane R2ST, an auxiliary storage conveyor 31i, an auxiliary storage conveyor 53, a picking conveyor 32, a collection conveyor 35, and a collection loop conveyor. In order to operate 35L, the pick product feed conveyor 36, the replenishing transport conveyor 38, and the like, a controller for controlling them is communicatively connected.
The control unit H1 is connected to a completion input button 48 for an operator to input the completion of the picking work, and information on pressing the completion input button 48 can be input.

  Further, the control unit H1 creates, based on the request information of the customer of the delivery destination, a picking order that specifies the type and quantity of articles included in the request information based on the request order of the customer. Is connected.

The control unit H1 generates a plurality of picking orders by giving a picking order number based on the request order to the picking order created by the host management device H0 based on the request order of the customer as shown in Table 1 below. An order management unit H1a that manages them in order is provided. In addition, the control unit H1 includes a database H1b that manages articles based on strength attributes set for each type based on the attributes of the articles. In the database H1b, as shown in Table 2 below, the article type (managed by the type number), the packing form, dimensions, weight, and strength attributes are managed in association with each other. In the present embodiment, the strength attribute has three attributes: an easily damaged product that is easily damaged when interfering with other articles, an easily damaged product, and a normal product that is easily damaged between the easily damaged product and the damaged product. Although managed separately, you may manage by dividing into two or four or more attributes. When thrown into the collection case Cs, in order to prevent damage to the thrown-in article, a plurality of types of articles are thrown in the order of damage product, normal product, and easy-to-damage product.
In the present embodiment, the intensity attribute corresponds to a type attribute in the present invention. That is, the articles specified by the picking order are managed based on the strength attribute set for each type based on the attributes of the articles.

  For a series of picking orders (referred to as an order group for each collection case) in which articles are to be input into a single collection case Cs, the control unit H1 sets the input order to the strength attribute of the articles (an example of a type attribute). The attribute-corresponding sort process to sort based on is executed, and the picking order processing order is determined. A plurality of picking orders arranged in the processing order is referred to as an order arrangement. Hereinafter, the attribute correspondence sorting process will be described based on Tables 3 and 4.

  In a plurality of picking orders shown in Table 1, the order group for each collection case corresponding to the collection case Cs of the collection case number 0001 is as shown in Table 3. When the articles are put in the order shown in Table 3, they are put into the collection case Cs in the order of normal products, easily damaged products, normal products, normal products, and damaged products.

  In order to avoid such a situation, the control unit H1 sorts the order of picking orders to be processed based on the strength attribute, as shown in Table 3 below, for each collection case order group. I do. Thereby, the arrangement order in the order arrangement becomes the expected insertion order based on the strength attribute.

When the articles are put in the order shown in Table 3, they are put into the collection case Cs in the order of the damaged product, the normal product, and the easily damaged product. That is, a plurality of types of articles are put into the collection case Cs in the order of loading expected based on the strength attribute.
The control unit H1 allocates the original packaging case Cm that supports the articles of the type corresponding to the sorted picking order number in order from the picking station ST corresponding to the most upstream chute unit 35S in the transport direction of the collection conveyor 35. The operation of each transfer device is controlled so as to transfer the assigned original case Cm to the corresponding picking station ST.

In the examples of Tables 1 and 2, the case where the order group for each collection case is 5 orders is illustrated. In this case, only one of the pick product feed conveyors 36 is used in each of the first picking station ST1 to the fifth picking station ST5 among the three pick product feed conveyors 36 provided in each picking station ST.
For example, when the order group for each collection case is 10 orders, the first picked goods feed conveyor 36 of the first picking station ST1 to the sixth picking station ST6 and the first picking station ST1 to the fourth picking station ST4 2 A first pick-feed conveyor 36 is used. Since each picking station ST is provided with three pick-feed conveyors 36, a total of up to 18 orders can be processed in the first picking station ST1 to the sixth picking station ST6.
When the order group per collection case exceeds 18 orders, the order group per collection case is divided so that the order group per collection case is 18 orders or less, and the collection case Cs Order split process to assign
In this case, with respect to the picking order, it is sufficient that the attribute-corresponding sort process is performed in one collection case Cs. That is, it is not necessary to perform the attribute correspondence sort process over the picking orders corresponding to the plurality of collection cases Cs.

In the present embodiment, the control unit H1 corresponds to the input order determination unit of the present invention. In other words, a control unit H1 that automatically determines the order in which a plurality of types of articles to be input in the input operation is automatically provided, and the control unit H1 inputs the plurality of types of articles to be input into the collection case Cs in the input operation. Is determined based on the intensity attribute.
In the present embodiment, the picking conveyor 32 corresponds to the distribution supply unit of the present invention. That is, there is provided a picking conveyor 32 that distributes and supplies a plurality of original packaging cases Cm for a plurality of types of articles designated in the picking order to a plurality of picking stations ST.
Further, the control unit H1 sets the type of the article specified by the picking order in the conveying direction of the collection conveyor 35 to the plurality of chute units 35S according to the loading order determined by the control unit H1. Of the main transfer conveyor 31 and the picking conveyor 32 in order to distribute and transfer the collection cases Cs for the types assigned to each of the plurality of chute portions 35S to the picking stations ST corresponding to the assigned chute portions 35S. A distribution transfer process corresponding to the loading order for controlling the operation is performed.

Next, a flowchart of control of each transport device by the control unit H1 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
First, the control unit H1 reads an order group for each collection case from the order management unit H1a (step # 1), and executes an attribute correspondence sort process for the order group for each collection case (step # 2). Subsequently, the control unit H1 performs the above-described loading order corresponding distribution transport process (step # 3). Subsequently, when the control unit H1 detects the input information of the completion input button 48 indicating that the take-out operation from the original packing case Cm conveyed in the loading sequence corresponding distribution conveyance process is completed, the storage automatic warehouse R1 or It is determined whether or not there is one original case Cm that supports the same type of article stored in the auxiliary storage automatic warehouse R2 (step # 5). If “Yes” is determined in step # 5, it is subsequently determined whether or not the number of picking orders scheduled by the latest picking order is 100 orders or less (step # 6). When it is determined Yes in step # 6, the control unit H1 moves up the rank in the order arrangement of the latest picking order to the picking order to be processed next (step # 7). If NO is determined in step # 6, the quantity of articles necessary for the latest picking order is taken out and transferred to an empty original packaging case Cm stocked near the picking station ST (step # 8). When the process of step # 8 is completed, or if it is determined No in step # 5, it is determined whether or not the processed order arrangement is final (step # 9), and if not final (step # 9: No) returns to step # 1, and if it is final (step # 9: Yes), the process is terminated.

In this embodiment, the process of step # 7 corresponds to the carry process of the present invention, and the process of step # 8 corresponds to the support dividing process of the present invention.
That is, the total number of original packaging cases Cm that support articles of the same type as the original packaging case Cm supplied to the picking station ST based on the picking order satisfies the set support number condition (the number is one). In this case, a quantity of articles specified by one picking order processed after the picking order is taken out from the original packing case Cm corresponding to the picking order, and the taken-out article is referred to as the original packing case Cm. Is a support that increases the quantity of the original packaging case Cm that supports the article of the type stored in the automatic storage warehouse R1 or the auxiliary storage automatic warehouse R2 in a form that is transferred to a different original packaging case Cm. Split processing is performed.
In addition, the total number of original packaging cases Cm that support articles of the same type as the original packaging case Cm supplied to the picking station ST based on the picking order satisfies the set support number condition (the number is one). The picking work amount, which is the work amount of the picking order scheduled up to the most recent picking order that is the picking order that includes the article of the type next to the picking order corresponding to the picking work, is set When the work amount condition is satisfied (the order is 100 orders or less), carry-up processing for raising the rank in the order arrangement of the latest picking order is performed.

[Another embodiment]
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the type attribute set for each type based on the attribute of the article is set as the strength attribute based on the strength of the article, but is not limited to such a configuration. The type attribute may be, for example, any attribute of various attributes based on the packing form, size, weight, or the like of an article, or an attribute that combines any or all of various attributes.

(2) In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the picking stations ST are arranged along the conveyance direction of the collection conveyor 35 is exemplified, but the configuration is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the collection conveyance unit may be configured by a conveyance cart that travels on a set travel route, and the conveyance cart that supports the collection case Cs may travel via a plurality of input points. Good. In the above embodiment, the picking station ST is arranged side by side along the conveyance direction of the collection conveyor 35. However, the lifting and lowering conveyance device that conveys the collection case Cs along the vertical direction of the collection conveyance unit. The picking station ST may be arranged in the vertical direction along the lifting and lowering conveying device.

(3) In the above embodiment, as the support dividing process, a quantity of articles specified by one picking order processed after the picking order is taken out from the original packaging case Cm corresponding to the picking order and taken out. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and a plurality of picking orders to be processed after the picking order are configured to be transferred to another original packing case Cm different from the original packing case Cm. The article specified in the above or a quantity larger than that is taken out from the original packaging case Cm corresponding to the picking order, and the removed article is put in another original packaging case Cm different from the original packaging case Cm. You may make it transfer.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the number of set support members is one has been described. However, the set support member number condition may be two or more, and an arbitrary number can be set.
In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the set work amount condition is set to 100 orders is exemplified, but the set work amount condition may be 99 or less or an arbitrary number of 101 or more. Further, the set work amount condition is not the number of orders but the number of articles to be picked or the time estimated from the number of orders, and the set work amount condition is the work amount of the picking work at the picking station ST. It can be set by a parameter indicating the corresponding amount.

(5) In the above embodiment, the control unit H1 is the same as the original packaging case Cm supplied to the picking station ST based on the picking order stored in the automatic storage warehouse R1 or the auxiliary automatic storage warehouse R2. When the total number of the original packaging cases Cm that support the type of articles satisfies the set number of support bodies, the support body dividing process is performed, and the picking work stored in the automatic storage warehouse R1 or the auxiliary storage automatic warehouse R2 Is the case where the total number of original packaging cases Cm that support articles of the same type as the original packaging case Cm satisfying the set support body number condition, and the type next to the picking order corresponding to the picking work The picking work amount that is the work amount of the picking order scheduled up to the most recent picking order that is the picking order that contains the goods of When the set work amount condition is satisfied, the carry-up process is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and either one of the support splitting process and the carry-up process is not performed, or both It is good also as a structure which does not perform.

(6) In the above embodiment, the example in which the distribution supply unit is configured by the picking conveyor 32 branched from the main transport conveyor 31 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. It is good also as a conveying apparatus (conveyor, STV, etc.) for the original packing case Cm provided separately between warehouse R1 and each picking station ST.

(7) In the above-described embodiment, a configuration including a plurality of picking stations ST has been described. However, a configuration including only one picking station ST may be used.
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the three pick product feeding conveyors 36 are provided for one picking station ST has been described. However, the number of the pick product feeding conveyors 36 provided for one picking station ST is three. It is not limited and it is good also as 1, 2, or 4 or more.
Furthermore, in the said embodiment, the structure provided with the chute | shoot part 35S provided with the opening-and-closing mechanism which drops an article | item downward only when the input location is in the edge part of the pick goods conveyance conveyor 36, and the collection case Cs is located in the direct downward direction. Although explained, it is good also as composition which is not provided with the above-mentioned chute part 35S in the end of pick goods feeding conveyor 36, and is dropped directly from pick goods feeding conveyor 36.

(8) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the worker performs the extraction work at the picking station ST is exemplified. However, the robot may perform the extraction work at the picking station ST.

32 Distributing and supplying section 35 Collecting and transporting section 35S Loading location Cm Article support Cs Collection container H1 Loading order determining sections R1 and R2 Storage section ST Picking station

Claims (3)

Based on a picking order that specifies the type and quantity of an article to be put into a collection container, the take-out work for taking out the article to be thrown from the article support that supports the article for each type, and the article taken out by the take-out work In a picking operation having a loading operation for each of the types into a collection container to be loaded, a loading sequence by a loading sequence determination unit that automatically determines a loading sequence of a plurality of types of articles to be loaded in the loading operation In picking equipment that uses the determination method :
The article specified in the picking order is managed based on a type attribute set for each type based on the attribute of the article,
The charging order determination unit determines a charging order of a plurality of types of articles to be input into the collection container in the charging operation based on the type attribute ,
There are provided a plurality of picking stations for performing the take-out operation,
A plurality of input points where the articles taken out at the picking station are input into the collection container are provided corresponding to the plurality of picking stations,
A distribution supply unit that distributes and supplies a plurality of the article supports for a plurality of types of articles specified in the picking order to the plurality of picking stations;
A collection transport unit is provided for transporting the collection container to be thrown through the plurality of input locations,
For the plurality of input locations, according to the input order determined by the input order determination unit, the types of articles specified in the picking order are sequentially assigned from the input location that is the most upstream in the conveyance direction of the collection conveyance unit. An article in a picking facility that performs a delivery order-corresponding delivery process for delivering the article support for the type assigned to each of the plurality of input locations to the picking station corresponding to the assigned input location. Supply method. In the picking equipment using the article supply method of claim 1 ,
Based on the order arrangement in which a plurality of the picking orders are arranged, the picking orders are processed in the order of arrangement in the order arrangement,
When the total number of article supports that support articles of the same type as the article supports supplied to the picking station based on the picking order satisfies the set support number condition, the picking orders in the order arrangement order. Articles more than the quantity specified in one or a plurality of picking orders to be processed after are taken out from the article support corresponding to the picking orders, and the removed articles are different from the article support. A support splitting method in a picking facility that performs a support splitting process that increases the quantity of the article support that supports the type of article stored in the storage unit in a form that is transferred to the support. In the picking equipment using the article supply method of claim 1 ,
Based on the order arrangement in which a plurality of the picking orders are arranged, the picking orders are processed in the order of arrangement in the order arrangement,
When the total number of the article supports that support the same type of article as the article support for which the picking operation has been completed satisfies the set support number condition, and is next to the picking order corresponding to the picking operation If the picking work amount, which is the work amount of the picking order planned up to the nearest picking order that is the picking order in which the article of the type is included, satisfies the set work amount condition, the order arrangement of the nearest picking order Picking work execution method in picking equipment that carries forward processing to raise the ranking in

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