JP6411204B2 - Projector-based picking device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a picking system in which goods (goods) are shipped in a merchandise distribution storage warehouse, and the goods are put into sorting containers according to shipping destinations, and more particularly to picking work assistance using a projector projection image.

  In general, in goods storage and storage warehouses, when goods are shipped, a large number of products are efficiently received or stored, and then those products are selected and taken out by ship-to destination and placed in containers by ship-to party. Sort out and ship. In particular, at the product distribution center, products to be shipped are placed on individual product shelves, and an operator selects and picks those products based on the shipping information, and puts them into containers by shipping destinations that flow on the conveyor. The collected containers are shipped to the customer. The operations of selecting individual products, sorting them by shipping destination, and putting them into containers are collectively referred to as picking operations.

The picking operation is a basic method in which an identification display such as a barcode attached to a product is read using a device such as a barcode reader, and is put into a shipping container, case or oricon according to the displayed shipping destination information. Since such an old method is a complicated operation, it has been reviewed by various technological developments. Currently, product delivery centers another worker in accordance with an instruction of the lighting display of lamps in conjunction with the shipping information entry and leaving management system and picking goods from shelf, similarly lamp lighting displayed shipped containers on the conveyor A simplified shipping system that minimizes the picking mistakes that are thrown into the machine is adopted.

  However, since the work of picking various types of products for each shipping destination involves manual work by an operator, it is a simple continuous work, but it is a simple input work (hereinafter referred to as “picking mistake”). .) Is also likely to occur. In recent years, various techniques for preventing picking mistakes have been developed, and various technical ideas have been proposed by the following references.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a fluorescent tube is installed and lit so as to surround a shelf opening with a product input container, so that an operator can input a shelf for each product shipping destination without making a mistake. The technical idea is disclosed. All of the above products have their shipping destinations set by barcodes, etc., and are managed by the information management device. Therefore, only the fluorescent tube at the container opening of the shipping destination of the products can be turned on, and the operator can According to the above. Further, since the quantity display etc. is also lit on the front face of the opening, the number of products to be introduced may be in accordance with the quantity display.

  However, in the case of such a system, it is necessary to install facilities such as lights that turn on all the input containers and a number of indicators, and all of these facilities must be linked with the storage management system. It goes without saying that introducing such a system involves enormous capital investment in a merchandise shipping and distribution center that is required to accurately select a large number of types of merchandise and accurately put them into customer-specific delivery containers.

  For example, in Patent Document 2, as a method of assisting device assembly work, a work support device that indicates the position of a component that an operator should take out from a work component storage box in accordance with the work order via an image projected from a projector. The technical idea is disclosed. A work support method for designating parts by video and instructing work via video is effective for avoiding a simple mistake of an operator.

However, in Patent Document 2, the determination as to whether or not the work has been performed accurately is based on a mechanism in which only the light shielding caused by the movement of the operator's hand during component removal is detected by the sensor. No mention is made of the accuracy of the product itself. In other words, the problem is limited to accurately taking out limited parts in the manufacturing process for assembling the apparatus, and does not support or pursue the accuracy of the assembly operation itself.

As described above, the object of the present invention is to support the accuracy of both the selective picking of a large number of types of goods at the merchandise distribution center and the appropriate picking of them into the delivery container (the above-mentioned work act itself). It can be said that

As described above, in the picking operation at the distribution base for delivering various types and types of products to the customer's destination, the required number of the selected products are accurately selected, picked, and on the conveyor. Therefore, there is a demand for assistive technology that allows a user to work quickly and continuously without causing a picking mistake, which is a simple mistake, for all the work actions of accurately putting it into a moving delivery container.

JP 2012-240765 A JP 2008-222386 A

  In this way, in picking work for each shipment destination when goods (goods) are shipped in a merchandise distribution storage warehouse, development of a picking system and apparatus for minimizing the operator's simple mistake while speeding up the work. Was desired.

It is easy for beginners to understand, and without mistakes, the necessary items are selected from the product shelves and taken out, and given to the customer's designated delivery container that flows on the conveyor, giving the operator the opportunity to think if possible. Therefore, there is a demand for an accurate support system that allows simple and continuous work without being interrupted. In addition, the work instruction must be part of a delivery management system for each customer based on the order shipment information in conjunction with the storage management system and warehouse storage management system in the commodity distribution center.

  The present invention is intended to solve such problems in the prior art, and provides an article direct picking system capable of dramatically improving economic efficiency while dramatically improving the workability of picking work. The task is to do.

In order to solve such a problem, a projector-based picking device according to the present invention is:
A projection device (projector) that projects an image onto a picking object and / or a container into which the picking object is placed;
A product shelf of the picking object;
A shipping container into which the picking object is charged;
A conveyor on which a shipping container into which the picking object is charged is carried;
A shipping information processing apparatus for the picking object;
And a control device for the projection device linked with the picking object shipment information processing device.

  The video of the projector-based picking device according to the present invention is transmitted from the shipping information processing apparatus along with the shipment of the picking object, and is associated with the picking object specified by the control device of the projection apparatus. The projected image is projected onto the picking object and / or the product shelf near the picking object, and / or projected onto a shipping container into which the picking object is loaded, and / or the temporary storage shelf near the conveyor It is an image projected on the screen.

  The image of the projector-based picking device according to the present invention is an image that is a container into which the identified picking object is placed and is projected following the container that moves as the conveyor moves.

  Further, the video of the projector-based picking device of the present invention is an image of the picking object and / or an information video (identification mark, character, figure, symbol, color) for specifying the picking object, and the quantity, The size, color, shading, and blinking are selected, and a plurality of the picking objects are projected simultaneously.

  That is, in the projector-based picking device of the present invention, the control device of the projection device selects the image of the specific product according to the shipping instruction of the specific product issued from the shipping information processing apparatus, and the product shelf position information of the specific product At the same time, the image is transmitted to the projection device, and the image is projected onto a specific product on the product shelf. Similarly, the position information on the conveyor of the shipping container for the specific product is received, and an image of the specific product is projected onto the shipping container.

  For example, conventionally, it is necessary to install lighting lamps or display boards for each product or for each product category in the product shelf, and all of them need to be electrically connected to the shipping management information. Although the capital investment related to the whole was necessary, the projector-based picking device according to the present invention has only a small capital investment because it can cope with all of the image projection by the projector device. The number of projector devices may be increased as necessary.

  The shipping container has an identifier for each shipping destination, the position of the shipping container moving on the conveyor is recognized by the identifier image recognition device, and the position information is transferred to the control device of the projection device according to the set conveyor speed. In order to be transmitted, the image is moved and projected according to the shipping container moving with the conveyor. This technique can be sufficiently handled within the range of known techniques. The present invention is not limited to individual techniques for projection.

  The picking operator ends the picking operation only by selecting the product on which the image is projected from the product shelf and similarly putting it in the shipping container on which the image is projected. The instruction by the video is very simple and easy to understand for the operator and is strong and impressive information through the visual sense. Therefore, the picking mistake is drastically reduced and the continuous operation for a long time becomes easy.

  The video of the product is video information created in advance for each product, and there is no limitation on the content of the video including the identification mark, characters, graphics, and the like. You can also specify the number to pick. In addition, since the accompanying information of the specific product to be transmitted to the worker can be included in the video, any information that can be visually recognized can be transmitted and instructed to the worker.

  The video of the projector-based picking device according to the present invention includes video information for prompting an action of ending the picking work of the picking object and / or moving to the temporary table and / or loading the container. / Or individual product information is included.

  The image of the projector-based picking device according to the present invention is information on the completion of the picking work of the specific picking object and / or the movement work to the temporary table and / or the loading work into the container. After the image recognition apparatus and / or the voice recognition apparatus connected to the control apparatus of the apparatus and / or the projection apparatus recognize, the projection of the specific video is terminated.

  That is, in the video of the product, the method that the worker should take action at the time of the end of the work can be included as information. In each work such as product selection work, temporary placement work to adjust the conveyor waiting time, shipping container loading work, etc., the worker can recognize the action that the worker should send back at the end of the work through the video it can. And an operator should just perform the action after completion | finish of work. Of course, the action method may be an electric switch operation, voice transmission via a sound collecting microphone, wireless transmission means, or body action. These actions are detected by the projector-based picking device of the present invention, and the end of the work is recognized. A body action or the like can be dealt with by a known technique if the projector has an image recognition device (image capturing recognition device).

  Further, the projector-based picking device of the present invention can also be used in various different picking work sites that are restricted by the size of products to be handled, the size of the shipping and delivery center, and the like. For example, if the shipping container moves on a very long conveyor, the number of projectors corresponding to the shipping container may be added. Of course, all the instruction information of this system is connected, and a necessary projector may project an image within a necessary range.

  According to the present invention, in a picking operation at a distribution base for delivering various types and types of products to a customer's destination, a picking operator appropriately selects a necessary number of specified products and picks In addition, it is possible to continue working quickly and continuously without causing any simple picking mistakes with respect to all the work activities of accurately putting into a delivery container moving on a conveyor.

  In addition, there is no need for capital investment such as individual lamp lighting equipment linked to the shipping management system in the product shelf, conveyor adjacent area, etc., and safety efficiency and workability will be greatly improved, while economic efficiency will be greatly improved. A possible product shipping system is realized.

1 is a perspective conceptual diagram showing an overall image of a projector-based picking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective conceptual diagram which showed the merchandise shelf projection image of the projector utilization picking apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the conceptual diagram which showed the projection image to the conveyor side shipping container of the projector utilization picking apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the conceptual diagram which showed the projection image of the several image | video to the shipping container of the projector utilization picking apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which comprises the projector utilization picking apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, the range necessary for the description for achieving the object of the present invention is schematically shown, and the range necessary for the description of the relevant part of the present invention will be mainly described. According to a known technique.

FIG. 1 is a perspective conceptual view showing an overall image of a projector-based picking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, in general, at a picking work site, a conveyor 13 that flows together with a shipping container 14 is arranged in front of a product shelf 16 where various types of shipping products are arranged for each individual product 17. During which the operator 15 to perform the pitch key ring operation is interposed. In the projector utilizing the picking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the projector 11 is a projection apparatus in front top is installed, the projector 11 is controlled by the projector control unit 12.

  The individual product 17 of the product shelf 16 is determined according to its identification ID (for example, identifier information such as a barcode), and all the front doors and serving positions (storage addresses) of the product shelf 16 are determined. In addition, the individual shipping containers 14 that flow through the conveyor 13 are all determined in advance according to their identification IDs (for example, identifier information such as barcodes).

  As shown in FIG. 1, various images are projected from the projector 11 toward the individual products 17 in the product shelf 16 and the shipping containers 14 that flow on the conveyor 13. The projected image on the individual product 17 may be a direct projection on the product or a product shelf front in the vicinity of the product. The projected image 19 projected on the shipping container 14 moves so as to track the shipping container 14 as the conveyor 13 and the shipping container 14 move.

  As will be described in detail later, the projector control device linked to the product receipt / shipment management information system of the product distribution center projects individual images onto the individual products 17 of the product shelf 16 to be picked by the worker, and the worker 15 Pick. Similarly, the projector control device 12 linked to the merchandise receipt / shipment management information system of the merchandise delivery center projects an individual image on the shipping container 14 to which the individual merchandise is to be put, and the operator 15 places the merchandise in the container. In

  The projection image 19 projected on the shipping container 14 is transmitted to the projector control device 12 via the commodity receipt / shipment management information system by the conveyor speed and the individual shipping container ID recognition device. Therefore, according to the information, the projector 11 moves the projected image 19 onto the individual shipping container at the same speed, so that the same projected image is tracked and projected onto the shipping container.

  The operator may select and pick a product from the product shelf according to the instruction of the projection image, and put the product into the shipping container according to the instruction of the projection image. Since the video information is easy for the operator to visually recognize, easy to understand, and impressive and remains in consciousness, the work is very simple and easy to understand. The occurrence of picking mistakes can be drastically reduced.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective conceptual view showing a product shelf projection image of the projector-based picking device according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the projector 11 installed on the upper part projects a projection image 19 on the individual product 17 of the product shelf 16. The projected image may be directly projected on the product to be picked, or may be projected on a front door in the vicinity thereof. The projected image 19 of the individual product is sequentially moved and projected on the shelf position where the product is arranged according to the product individual identification ID information according to the approach timing of the shipping container 14 flowing on the front conveyor 13.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the projector 11 may use a system that changes the direction and position via the support column 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the projector 11 may be installed above the product shelf 16, or may be installed above the front surface on the conveyor side as shown in FIG. A plurality of projectors 11 may be operated in parallel specifications. These can be dealt with by conventional techniques.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the projected image projected from the projector is drawn in the figure so that the image is projected only on the individual product. For example, the projected image is all on the front side of the front of the product shelf 16. Projecting as a screen, only individual product parts are necessary images, and the other parts may be projections without images such as white, colorless, and black. These are problems in the selection of the prior art of the projector projection method, which are all included in the technical idea of the present application. In addition, the feature of the present application is to project the image for clearly indicating the position of the individual product as product position information together with necessary information to show the worker.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an image projected onto the conveyor-side shipping container of the projector-based picking apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the projector 11 projects a projection image 19 onto a shipping container 14 that flows on the conveyor 13. The operator 15 who picks an individual product from the product shelf 16 puts the product into the shipping container 14 on which the projected video 19 to which the product is to be put is projected. Each projected image is a different individual image for each individual work, and the operator does not mistake the work. Of course, the priority of work is also included in the video information.

  The position of the individual shipping container on the conveyor 13 and the speed of the individual shipping container are determined based on information such as a conveyor operating system linked to the goods storage / retrieval management information system and a fixed position identification reading of the individual shipping container ID attached to the shipping container 14. The position information of the individual shipping container, such as whether it is moving, is transmitted to the projector control device. Based on the information, the projector 11 tracks and projects the individual video of the product to be thrown on the individual shipping container 14.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image projected from the projector 11 is in accordance with the identification ID and shipping container identification ID of the individual product, the position and time of the product to be picked, the projection image of the individual product to be projected, and the work to be performed. Since the person 15 is determined, the projector control device 12 and the projector 11 project an image according to the information. A plurality of projected images of a plurality of individual commodities can be projected onto a plurality of shipping containers in parallel to a plurality of workers.

  Moreover, it is also possible to project individual projection images of a plurality of individual products onto a plurality of shipping containers for the same worker. For the plurality of projection images, for example, the work order can be instructed to the operator by the color, shading, number display, etc. of the projection image. In addition, in order to effectively use the arrival waiting time of the shipping container, a temporary placement instruction for temporarily placing the product on the temporary temporary shelf 18 can be displayed. It is also possible to put a plurality of products into the same shipping container by using the number display on the projected image.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a projected image of a plurality of images onto a shipping container of the projector-based picking device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a projected image 19 is projected on the shipping container 14 that flows on the conveyor 13. For example, the projected image 19 is an image of a specific product projected on the individual shipping container 14 for which the shipping destination has been determined, and the projected image 19a projected on the product shelf 16 is on or near the specific product. It is the projection image | video for picking up the specific goods projected on.

For example, when the shipping container 14 into which the specific product is to be placed is upstream of the conveyor 13, a projection image (projection image on the shipping container having a waiting time) 19c of the specific product is also projected onto the shipping container. . Then, the specific product to be put in the projected image 19c on the shipping container having a waiting time is temporarily projected on the temporary shelf 18 and the projected image 19b is projected on the temporarily placed shelf 18, and the shipping container having the waiting time by the operator. Is temporarily placed until the shipping container on which the projected image 19c is projected (temporary placement work). The numerical value “3” projected on the projected image 19 a projected onto the specific product on the product shelf is, for example, the number of specific products to be picked, and two are input according to the numerical value “2” of the projected image 19. The numerical value “1” of the projected image 19c is the number of specific products to be put into the shipping container, and one is temporarily placed on the temporary storage shelf according to the instruction “1” of the projected image 19b of the throwing temporary storage shelf 18. .

  As described above, according to the projector-based picking device according to the embodiment of the present invention, not only the product to be picked by the projected image and the number of products, but also an instruction for special work such as temporary placement can be easily transmitted to the operator. it can. Details of these instructions can be incorporated in the projected image. That is, various information and instructions can be transmitted to the operator by using the difference in characters, figures, symbols, image shapes, patterns, colors, shades, and the like of the projected video. The operator can perform the picking operation logically earliest by executing the simple operation in accordance with the projection image instruction and the instruction order so that there is no mistake. That is, all work orders and work combinations can be logically set in advance so that the work loss time of the worker is minimized. Of course, the work distribution among the workers can be set in advance according to the skills of the workers, and therefore can be logically handled in the same manner.

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the projector-based picking device according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the present system is linked to a merchandise delivery center management system 101 that comprehensively manages entry / exit management of merchandise delivery centers. The product shipping management information system 110 includes shipping product ID information 111, shipping container ID information 112, and product shelf information 113. The product container ID information 112 is connected to the shipping container conveyor position information 150. In addition, it is linked with systems such as the individual product projection video information 120, the picking work program 160, the special work program 130 such as temporary placement, and the end information recognition system 140.

  In the projector-based picking apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the specific shipment product ID in the shipment product ID information 111 and the shipment container ID information 112 in the shipment product ID information 112 based on the product shipment information in the product shipment management information system 110. The specific shipping container ID and the product shelf information 113 (specific product position information) are linked. The shipping container conveyor position information 150 flowing on the conveyor is similarly linked. A specific product projection image is selected from the individual product projection video information 120 based on the specific shipping product ID. By the picking work program 160 and the special work program 130 such as temporary placement, image information projected on the picking work site is transmitted to the projector control device 12, and the projector 11 projects the instructed projection image.

  The end information recognition system 140 obtains end information of each work action of the picking work, instructs the projector control device 12 to end the projection of the projection video related to each work, and ends the projection of the projection video. In a special operation such as picking a product from a product shelf by a worker, putting a product into a shipping container, and temporary work, etc., when the worker finishes the work, the worker uses the projector-based picking device To communicate.

  The method for transmitting the end information may be, for example, voice information input using a microphone worn by an operator, or switch input of a portable communication device similarly worn. Alternatively, it may be a button switch or a foot switch in the vicinity of the product shelf or conveyor. Alternatively, a method may be used in which a specific work action is recognized by an image recognition device provided in the projector 11.

  Obtaining such end information, a projection image for the next work instruction is projected from this system. Further, the merchandise distribution center management system 101 recognizes that the specific merchandise as instructed has been put into the specific shipping container, and the delivery procedure proceeds to shipment of the merchandise. All of these series of operations can be managed by the commodity distribution center management system 101.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented with various modifications within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, and within the scope equivalent to the scope of claims. All changes are intended to be included. For example, when the shipping container flows on a plurality of conveyors, when it is thrown into a special container, or when it is thrown (arranged) at a specific position on a conveyor without a shipping container, all of these can be handled by this system. All of these are part of this technical idea.

  As described above, according to the invention relating to the picking apparatus using the projector, the product picking work of the worker at the product distribution center which is an intermediate distribution base is remarkably quick and work mistakes are drastically reduced, so that the economic efficiency is remarkably improved. It is possible to make it.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the product picking operation, and can be used and applied to any goods picking application. Therefore, the present application brings great benefits to various industries such as the manufacturing industry and the service industry in addition to the commodity logistics industry, and the applicability of the industry is very large.

1 Picking device using a projector 11 Projector (projection device)
12 projector control device 13 conveyor 14 shipping container 15 worker 16 product shelf 17 individual product (frontage)
18 Temporary shelf 19 Projected image 19a Projected image 19a Projected image 19b Projected image 19c Temporary shelf 19c Projected image 20

Claims (6)

Projecting a first image for identifying an object to be on at least one for picking the vicinity of picking the object and the picking object identifier information of the individual article is assigned, the picking object turned second the a projection device for projecting an image of the first and second direction of the projection of the image for the container identifier identifies the shipping container to be charged with the object for the container granted And a projection device capable of changing the position of the device alone,
An identifier recognition device for obtaining container position information by reading position information of the container identifier;
While controlling the projection of the first and second images by the projection device, the second image is moved and projected following the movement of the container based on the container position information read by the identifier recognition device. And a control device for controlling the projection device so as to vary the projection direction and position of the projection device. The projection device further projects a third image on a temporary placement table for temporarily placing the picking object.
The projection device-based picking device according to claim 1, wherein the control device controls projection of the first, second, and third images by the projection device.   The projection device-based picking device according to claim 1, wherein the first and / or second image is a linked image for specifying the picking object instructed by the control device. .   The first and / or second image is image information including at least one of an image of the picking object and / or an identification mark, a character, a figure, a symbol, and a color for specifying the picking object. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of quantity, size, color, shading, and blinking is selected, and the plurality of picking objects are simultaneously projected. Projector-based picking device.   The first and / or second video includes video information and / or individual product information for prompting an action to end the picking work of the picking object and / or the loading work into the container. The projection apparatus utilization picking apparatus of any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4. An image recognition device and / or a voice recognition device connected to the control device;
For the first and / or second video, information on the completion of the picking work of the specific picking object and / or the loading work into the container is used as the control device and / or the image recognition device and / or the sound. 6. The projection device-based picking device according to claim 1, wherein the projection is terminated after the recognition device recognizes the projection device.