JP6724155B2 - Weight management system and weight management method - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a technique for assisting an operator in a warehouse to take in and out articles.

In the field of logistics, there is a work of distributing a product designated by a customer's order and sending it to the next delivery destination. Various equipment and facilities are used to perform the work quickly. Since the risk of a distribution error increases when the work is performed quickly, a method of detecting a weight change when distributing a product with a weight scale to prevent the distribution error has been devised and implemented. For example, Patent Document 1 describes that a picking support device is provided that includes a plurality of weighing units and detects the weight of an article in operation to improve the accuracy of the article sorting operation.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-1781

However, in the conventional method, since the types of products to be distributed and the weight scales are always one-to-one, when distributing one or more products, as many weight scales as the number of types of products are required. With this method, capital investment becomes expensive. In addition, although the amount of goods in a warehouse often fluctuates on a daily basis, the conventional method can always manage only a fixed type of goods, which causes a shortage during busy periods and waste of capital investment during off-season. There is.

A typical example of the present invention for solving the above problems is as follows. That is, a processor, a storage device accessed by the processor, a plurality of containers, a weighing scale for measuring the weight of the plurality of containers, and an access determination for determining storage and removal of an article in each of the plurality of containers And a storage unit for storing work instruction information indicating a weight of an article to be stored and taken out in each container, and the processor is configured to store the work instruction information by the access determination unit. Acquiring the determination result of storing and taking out the article in each container, and the amount of change in the weight of the plurality of containers measured by the weighing scale, the work instruction information, the determination acquired from the access determination unit Based on the result, and the amount of change in weight acquired from the weighing scale, the weight of the article to be stored or taken out in the container determined to have been stored or taken out, and the weighing scale is It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not the measured changes in the weights of the plurality of containers match, and the result of the determination is output.

According to one aspect of the present invention, by determining the work result using a single weighing scale, a system in which the number of weighing scales required is reduced without increasing or decreasing the weighing scale during the busy season and the off season. Can be provided. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the following description of the embodiments.

It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a structure of the weight management system which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the weight management terminal which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram showing an example of composition of a work information management server concerning Example 1 of the present invention. It is a flow chart which shows an example of processing from work information acquisition to work result judgment in the weight management terminal concerning Example 1 of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the work instruction information management database which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the work result management database which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a structure of the weight management system which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. It is a flow chart which shows an example of processing from acquisition of work information to work result judgment in the weight management terminal concerning Example 2 of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a structure of the weight management system which concerns on Example 3 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the work management terminal which concerns on Example 3 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the weight management apparatus which concerns on Example 3 of this invention. It is a flow chart which shows an example of processing from acquisition of work information to work result judgment in a work management terminal and a weight management device concerning Example 3 of the present invention.

Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. Further, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example.

Example 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the first embodiment, the present invention is applied to a picking work in the field of physical distribution, and an example is shown in which the number of products loaded on a weighing scale used during the work increases by one cycle work.

In the field of logistics, it is always required to shorten the delivery time of packages from the start of delivery to the arrival. The package being delivered is delivered to the next relay point near the destination while passing through the multiple relay points. At the relay point, there is the work of collecting (picking) the specified products from the warehouse, packing them into boxes, and sending them to the next delivery destination. In this work, a worker walks through a vast warehouse and collects desired products. Therefore, in order to shorten the moving time, there is a method in which boxes for a plurality of delivery destinations are placed on a cart and picked in a plurality of boxes in one cycle of warehouse movement. At this time, in order to prevent the mistake of picking differently from the instruction, a cart equipped with a weighing scale (weight inspection cart) has been devised and realized. By using the weight inspection cart, the weight change when the worker puts the picked product in the box and the weight of the product written in the work instruction information at that time are compared, and if the input weight is different from the instruction information, The operator can be notified of the picking error.

In the conventional weight inspection cart, the weighing unit and the boxes correspond to each other on a one-to-one basis, so the number of boxes that can be inspected at the same time is always constant. However, in a physical distribution warehouse, the quantity of goods varies depending on the customer's request. Therefore, if a large number of weighing units are prepared for a large quantity of goods, at least a part of them becomes redundant when the quantity of goods is small. On the other hand, if it is possible to inspect multiple boxes with one weighing unit, the number of boxes that can be picked in one warehouse movement will be variable, and this will be handled by increasing the number of simultaneous picking objects when the quantity is large. And, when the quantity is small, the capital investment can be saved.

In the present embodiment, a technique for enabling a picking operation that flexibly responds to changes in physical quantity by using a weight inspection cart that can easily change the number of boxes subject to weight inspection will be described.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of a weight management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The weight management system according to the present embodiment includes a worker 10, a weight management terminal 11, a network 12, a work information management server 13, a product storage shelf 14, a work cart 15, and one or more boxes 16. ..

The weight management terminal 11 is a device having a function of measuring weight, displaying work instruction information, and registering such information in another device. In this embodiment, an example in which the weight management terminal 11 is configured separately from the work cart 15 and mounted on the work cart 15 will be described. However, the weight management terminal 11 is integrated with the work cart 15. However, the effect obtained in this embodiment is the same.

The network 12 is, for example, the Internet, a local area network, USB (Universal Serial Bus), remote USB, wireless LAN, Bluetooth, infrared communication, IC tag function, TransferJET, LTE, HSPA (High Speed Packet Access), or EV-DO ( Evolution Data Only). The weight management terminal 11 and the work information management server 13 can be connected to each other via the network 12.

The work information management server 13 is, for example, a server computer, and is a device that manages products in a warehouse, generates work instruction information for a plurality of workers 10, and records work results. The work information management server 13 also has a function of sharing information with the weight management terminal 11 via the network 12.

The product storage shelves 14 are shelves for managing the products in the warehouse, and one or more are installed in the warehouse. A number (for example, A-1 to D-14) indicating the position of the shelf is assigned to each shelf.

The work cart 15 is a dolly on which one or more boxes 16 can be placed and moved.

The box 16 is a container that stores products for the next delivery destination, and is, for example, a cardboard paper or plastic container having a side surface that can be folded.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the weight management terminal 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The weight management terminal 11 includes a CPU 111, a communication unit 112, a display unit 113, an instruction symbol reading unit 114, an input unit 115, a power supply unit 116, a memory 117, a storage 118, a weight measuring unit 119, an access determination unit 120, and a bus 121. Equipped with.

The weight management terminal 11 stores the read processing unit 1171, the weight detection processing unit 1172, and the control processing unit 1173 in the storage 118, and the control processing unit 1173 loads the program module corresponding to the above processing unit from the storage 118. The processing of the weight management terminal 11 of the present embodiment is realized by developing the program in the memory 117 and executing the program module by the CPU 111.

These program modules may be stored in a storage in advance before the device is shipped, or may be stored in a medium such as an optical medium such as a CD (Compact Disk), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), and a BlueRay Disc, or a semiconductor memory. It may also be installed in the apparatus via a medium connection unit (not shown). It is also possible to download and install from the work information management server 13 via the network 12 via the communication unit 112.

The CPU 111 is a general term for a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), and the like, and executes a predetermined program.

The communication unit 112 includes wireless LAN, Bluetooth, infrared communication, IC tag function, TransferJET, LTE (Long Term Evolution), HSPA (High Speed Packet Access), EV-DO (Evolution Data Only), and wireless communication function. Alternatively, it has a wired communication function such as Ethernet and transmits and receives various kinds of information. The wireless communication function includes an antenna, a modulation/demodulation circuit, and the like. The wired communication function includes a connector, a modulation/demodulation circuit, and the like. Information is transmitted and received through network communication through a network and direct communication between devices without the network (for example, Bluetooth, wireless USB, Felica, ZigBee, Z-WAVE, visible light communication, infrared light). Communication or NFC (Near Field Communication) or the like can be appropriately switched and used. The communication unit 101 may be configured to support a plurality of communication methods.

The display unit 113 is configured by a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, a panel such as electronic paper, a driver circuit, or the like, and under the control of the control processing unit 122, arbitrary information (for example, a character or a still image). , And movies) are displayed. The display unit 113 may include a plurality of panels that can display different information.

The instruction symbol reading unit 114 is a device for an operator to read information associated with the work instruction symbol. Examples of the indicator symbols include a bar code, a QR code, and a marker. The instruction symbol reading unit 114 is, for example, a bar code reader and can read a bar code or a QR code. The instruction symbol reading unit 114 may be a camera, for example, and may identify the target by recognizing a specific graphic or character array as an image. The instruction symbol reading unit 114 may be included in the weight management terminal 11 or may be separated.

The input unit 115 includes, for example, one or more of a keyboard, a mouse, a cursor key, a ten-key pad, etc., receives a user's operation, and inputs an input signal based on the operation to the CPU 111. The input unit 115 may include a microphone or a camera, generate an input signal by voice recognition, image recognition, gesture recognition, or the like and input the input signal to the CPU 111. Further, like the touch panel, the display unit 113 and the input unit 115 may be integrally configured. Further, the input unit 115 is installed as a processing unit having a similar function in a place distant from the weight management terminal 11, and inputs an input signal based on the operation to the CPU 111 via direct communication between the network 12 or devices. You may do it.

The power supply unit 116 includes a battery, an AC adapter, a charging circuit, and the like, and supplies power to each unit of the weight management terminal 11 and charges the battery. Further, the power supply unit 116 confirms the remaining amount of the battery of the weight management terminal 11.

The memory 117 includes a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and the like, and is controlled by an instruction from the control processing unit 122. Functional units of the application program stored in the storage 118 are expanded in the memory 117.

The storage 118 is composed of a recording medium built in the weight management terminal 11, a removable external recording medium, an optical disc, or the like, and stores various kinds of information. For example, the storage 118 is controlled by an instruction from the control processing unit 122 and can store an application program. The storage 118 also stores various information created by the application program. For example, the storage 118 stores a work instruction information management database 1181 for managing work instruction information.

The weight measuring unit 119 measures the weight of the loaded object. The weight measuring unit 119 may mechanically measure the weight change, or may electrically measure the weight change using a sensor whose resistance value changes due to weighting.

The entrance/exit determination unit 120 determines the insertion (storage) of an article into each of the one or more boxes 16. The entrance/exit determination unit 120 may be, for example, a bar code reader attached to the inner circumference of each box 16 and reading a bar code displayed on an article entering/exiting each box 16, or attached near the box, It may be a camera that captures the entry/exit of an article in each box 16, or may be a sensor that detects the entry/exit of an article in each box 16. Whichever of these is adopted, the entry/exit of an article into/from each box 16 can be determined.

The bus 121 is a transmission path for each unit to transmit signals to each other.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the work information management server 13 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The work information management server 13 includes a CPU 131, a communication unit 132, a display unit 133, an input unit 134, a power supply unit 135, a memory 136, a storage 137, and a bus 138. Unless otherwise noted, the function of the part having the same name as the part of the weight management terminal 11 shown in FIG. 2 is the same as the function of the part of the weight management terminal 11, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

A work instruction information management database 1373 and a work result management database 1374 are stored in the storage 137. Furthermore, the work information management server 13 stores a work instruction creation processing unit 1381 and a control processing unit 1362 in the storage 137, and the control processing unit 1362 loads the program module corresponding to the above processing unit from the storage 137 into the memory 136. Then, the processing of the work information management server 13 of the present embodiment is realized by the CPU 131 executing the above program module.

In the present specification, the process executed by the CPU 111 or the CPU 131 based on the program module stored in the memory 117 or the memory 136 may be described as the process executed by the processing unit corresponding to the program module. For example, the processing executed by the control processing unit 1173 is actually executed by the CPU 111 according to the program module corresponding to the control processing unit 122 stored in the memory 117. The same applies to the other processing units.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing from acquisition of work information to work result determination in the weight management terminal 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

When the instruction symbol is read by the instruction symbol reading unit 114 (S201), the reading processing unit 1171 transfers the read information to the control processing unit 1173. Here, the instruction symbol reading unit 114 reads the instruction symbol when the worker 10 reads the bar code, the QR code, or the marker using the instruction symbol reading unit 114, and the same applies thereafter. ..

The control processing unit 1173 temporarily stores the read number in the memory 117 (S202). Next, when an instruction indicating completion is input from the instruction symbol reading unit 114 or the input unit 115 (Yes in S203), the control processing unit 1173 causes the work instruction information of the work information management server 13 via the communication unit 112. The work information is acquired from the management database 1373 and stored in the work instruction information management database 1181 (S204). When the instruction indicating completion is not input (No in S203), the processes of S201 and thereafter are executed again. As a result, when the worker 10 does not perform the completion operation and reads the instruction symbol a plurality of times, a plurality of boxes 16 for sending to the next delivery destination are prepared, and a product for a plurality of delivery destinations is produced in one cycle of work. Collection will be done.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the work instruction information management databases 1181 and 1373 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The work instruction information management databases 1181 and 1373 include information on a plurality of work instructions. Each work instruction is an instruction to one worker 10 for picking products of one or more items to be delivered to one delivery destination, and each record of the work instruction information management databases 1181 and 1373 includes one work instruction. An instruction for picking a product of one item to be delivered to one delivery destination is stored. Specifically, each record includes a sequence number 1441, a scheduled work date 1442, a work instruction number 1443, a product position 1444, a product name 1445, a box number 1446, a quantity 1447, a product weight 1448, and a product code 1449.

The sequence number 1441 is a number that identifies each record. The scheduled work date 1442 is the scheduled work date of the picking work corresponding to each record. The work instruction number 1443 is a number that identifies each work instruction. The product position 1444 indicates the position of the shelf in which each product to be picked is stored. The product name 1445 is the name of each product. The box number 1446 is a number that identifies the box 16 that stores each picked product. In this embodiment, one box 16 may correspond to one delivery destination (for example, one store), and one box 16 may store products of a plurality of items. The number 1447 is the number of products of each item that are picked and stored in each box 16. The product weight 1448 is the weight of each product of each item. In the example of FIG. 5, the product weight 1448 is the weight of each product of each item, and the weight of the number indicated by the number 1447 is calculated by the process described later, but instead, from the beginning The weight corresponding to the number indicated by the number 1447 may be stored in the product weight 1448. The product code 1449 is a code for identifying each product.

It should be noted that the work instruction information management database 1373 of the work information management server 13 stores all the workers 10 who are scheduled to perform the work in a warehouse managed by the work information management server 13 during a certain period (for example, one day). Contains information on all work. On the other hand, it is sufficient that the work instruction information management database 1181 of each weight management terminal 11 includes information about the work performed by each worker 10 who uses each weight management terminal 11.

Next, the control processing unit 1173 outputs the instruction result to the display unit 113 (S205). For example, the control processing unit 1173 outputs information such as the product name 1445, the product position 1444, the box number 1446, and the number 1447 of any record in which the work is not completed, which is stored in the work instruction information management database 1181. You may. Looking at this output content, the worker 10 moves to the designated location (that is, the location of the shelf 14 indicated by the product location 1444) in order to obtain the product described in the output content.

Next, when the product code of the product taken out from the shelf 14 by the worker 10 is read using the instruction symbol reading unit 114 (S206), the reading processing unit 1171 transfers the read information to the control processing unit 1173. The control processing unit 1173 collates the read product code with the product code 1449 of the work instruction information management database 1181 and confirms the weight 1448 of the corresponding product (S207).

In S206, the instruction symbol reading unit 114 may read the shelf number for identifying the shelf 14 from which the worker 10 took out the product, instead of the product code. The control processing unit 1173 specifies the item of the product taken out from the shelf 14 by the worker 10 based on the work instruction information management database 1181 and confirms its weight, regardless of whether the product code or the shelf number is passed. be able to.

Next, when the worker 10 puts the product into the designated box 16, the entrance/exit determination unit 120 detects in which box 16 the product is placed, and the weight detection processing unit 1172 further causes the weight measurement unit 1172 to detect the weight. When the change in weight is detected via 119 (S208), the control processing unit 1173 acquires such information. The control processing unit 1173 inquires of the work instruction information management database 1181, compares the information read by the weight measuring unit 119 with the weight 1448 of the corresponding product, and further, the entry/exit determination unit 120 determines that the product has been loaded. The box 16 is compared with the box number 1446 of the corresponding product (S209).

For example, when the work instruction number 001-001 is read in S202, the work described in the record with the work instruction number 1443 001-001 stored in the work instruction information management database 1181 is performed. In this work, it is assumed that the product code of the retort curry is read in S203. At this time, the read product code is 43901211, as described in the product code 1449 of the work instruction information management database 1181, the product weight 1448 corresponding to this product code is 120 g, the number 1447 is 3, and the box The number 1446 is 001. In this case, the control processing unit 1173 collates the information read from the work instruction information management database 1181 as described above with the box number detected by the entry/exit determination unit 120 and the weight detected by the weight detection processing unit 1172. .. From the above, in S209, if the weight read by the weight detection processing unit 1172 is 360 g, which is equivalent to three retort curries, and the box number detected by the access determination unit 120 is 001, the control processing unit 1173 determines that the box number is 001. , It is determined that the product has been correctly inserted. At this time, a predetermined error may be allowed in the weight read by the weight detection processing unit 1172.

As a result of S209, when the comparison result does not match (No in S210), the control processing unit 1173 displays a message indicating that the product is wrong on the display unit 113. After that, the processing from S208 onward is executed again. For example, when the worker 10 who sees this message takes out the product put in the wrong box 16 and puts it in the correct box 16 again, the weight change is detected in S208, and the work result is determined in S209. As a result, it is determined in S210 that the comparison results match (that is, the product has been correctly inserted).

On the other hand, as a result of S209, when the comparison results match (Yes in S210), the reading processing unit 1171 determines whether the instruction symbol reading unit 114 has read the instruction symbol (S211). The instruction symbol here is, for example, a symbol indicating that the picking operation of the product from one shelf is completed, and when the worker 10 recognizes that the operation is completed, the instruction symbol reading unit 114 is operated. Then read. When the instruction symbol reading unit 114 has read the instruction symbol (Yes in S211) and when the instruction symbol reading unit 114 has not read the instruction symbol (No in S211), S211 is repeated until it is read.

After that, the reading processing unit 1171 transfers the read information to the control processing unit 1173. The control processing unit 1173 checks the work instruction information management database 1131, and if all the work corresponding to the work instruction number (for example, 001-001) read in S202 is completed, the processing of FIG. The result is transmitted to the work result management database 1374 of the management server 13 (Yes in S212). On the other hand, if there is any uncompleted work, the process returns to S202, and the processes after S202 are repeatedly executed until the uncompleted work is completed (No in S212).

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the work result management database 1374 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the work result management database 1374, a sequence number 1451, a work date/time 1452, a worker ID 1453, a work instruction number 1454, and a product name 1455 are recorded for each work content.

Note that in S211, the instruction symbol reading unit 114 reads the instruction symbol to proceed to the next work flow, but the worker 10 may proceed to the work flow by pressing a switch of the input unit 115.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the entrance/exit determination unit 120 identifies the box 16 into which the product has been inserted from one or more boxes 16, but the product insertion/exit is performed without using the entry/exit determination unit 120. A method of identifying the separated box 16 is also conceivable. For example, the worker 10 may scan the product in the box 16 and then put the product in the box 16 in S206. At this time, for example, a tag is attached to each product, a sensor for reading the product tag is provided at the opening of each box 16, and each time the product is loaded into each box 16, the sensor of the box 16 is loaded. The box 16 in which the product is put in may be specified by reading the tag of the product. Alternatively, the camera provided in the weight management terminal 11 may photograph the products loaded in the respective boxes 16 and identify the boxes 16 into which the products are loaded based on the captured images. In this case, since the product is scanned in the box 16 (or when passing through the opening of the box 16) and then put in the box, it is not mistakenly put in another box. Thus, by clearly defining the work procedure, it is possible to reduce the entrance/exit determination unit 120 and manufacture the weight management terminal 11 at a lower cost.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, based on the weight change detected by the single weighing scale, the detection result of the box in which the product is loaded, and the work instruction information held by the work management server, the work is performed. It is possible to determine what kind of product a person put in which box. Further, according to this configuration, even when there is one or more boxes in one work cart in the picking work in which the products of the plurality of items sequentially taken out from the plurality of shelves are stored in the boxes on the work cart. , One scale is enough. Therefore, by increasing or decreasing the number of boxes without increasing or decreasing the number of weighing scales installed in the working cart, it is possible to construct a working cart suitable for the daily varying amount of material.

A second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Except for the differences described below, each part of the system of the second embodiment has the same function as each part of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. Is omitted.

In the first embodiment, the case where one or more boxes are placed on the single weighing scale and the value indicated by the weighing scale increases by picking the product has been described. The method of such work is also called a picking method. On the other hand, in the physical distribution field, there is a so-called seeding type sorting operation for distributing products to the next delivery destination. In this case, a single product is initially loaded in one box 16, an empty box is placed on a shelf in the warehouse, and the worker 10 puts the product taken out of the box 16 into the box on the shelf. The work proceeds accordingly. In this case, the products loaded in the box 16 will decrease as the work progresses. In such a work, as in the first embodiment, a mechanism in which a plurality of boxes 16 are installed on the work cart 15 and the worker 10 simultaneously carries a plurality of products and distributes them to respective shelves is considered. To be

In the present embodiment, a method of determining whether or not the work has been correctly performed when the value indicated by the weight scale decreases will be described.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the weight management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The weight management system according to the present embodiment includes a worker 10, a weight management terminal 11, a network 12, a work information management server 13, a work cart 15, one or more boxes 16, and a shelf 17 for a sorting destination. To be done.

The sorting shelf 17 is a shelf to which products are distributed. Codes such as “A-1”, “A-2”, “B-1”, and “B-2” indicating the respective arrangement locations are attached to each shelf 17, and the weight management terminal 11 By acquiring the placement code reading result and the collation result of the work information management server 13, it is possible to know the placement location of the shelf 17 for the sorting destination. In the following description, for example, the shelf 17 whose location is “A-1” is also simply referred to as the shelf A-1. The same applies to the shelves 17 at other locations.

In the present embodiment, each shelf 17 may have any shape as long as it is one divided area. That is, each shelf 17 may actually include a plurality of physical shelves, may include only one physical shelf, or may be one of the partitions obtained by further subdividing one physical shelf. It may be a movable rack such as a so-called basket cart, or a box-shaped compartment.

Since the configurations of the weight management terminal 11 and the work information management server 13 in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted. However, the work instruction information management database 1181 held by the weight management terminal 11 of this embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in the following points.

That is, in the first embodiment, one work instruction is an instruction for picking work of one or more items of products to be delivered to one delivery destination for one worker, but the work instruction of the second embodiment. Is different from that. For example, one work instruction in the second embodiment may be an instruction for one worker to sort the products of one item to a plurality of delivery destinations, or one work instruction for one worker. It may be an instruction of sorting work from a plurality of boxes 16 installed in the cart 15 to a plurality of delivery destinations. The work instruction number 1443 of the second embodiment identifies each such work instruction.

The product position 1444 in the second embodiment is not a shelf number but a number for identifying the box 16 in which products to be sorted are stored. In this embodiment, as a general rule, only one item of goods is stored in one box 16.

Further, the box number 1446 of the second embodiment is a number that identifies not the boxes 16 installed in the work cart 15 but the boxes of sorting destinations installed in the shelf 17. In this embodiment, one sorting destination corresponds to one delivery destination (for example, a store). That is, in this embodiment, normally, a plurality of items of goods are sorted into one sorting destination box. When only one box is installed on one shelf 17, the box number 1446 may be a number that identifies the shelf 17.

Further, the entrance/exit determination unit 120 according to the second embodiment determines whether the product is taken out of the box 16.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing from acquisition of work information to determination of work result in the weight management terminal 21 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Since S301 to S305 of FIG. 8 are the same as S201 to S205 of FIG. 4, description thereof will be omitted.

When the worker 10 takes out the product from one of the boxes 16 designated by the product position 1444, the entrance/exit determination unit 120 detects the removal of the product, and the weight detection processing unit 1172 causes the weight measurement unit 119 to detect that the weight has changed. If there is (S306), the read information is passed to the control processing unit 1173.

Next, when the worker 10 distributes the products to the sorting shelves 17 and reads the instruction symbol attached to the sorting shelf 17 using the instruction symbol reading unit 114, the product code is read. The determination is made (S307), and the read processing unit 1171 transfers the read information to the control processing unit 1173. The control processing unit 1173 collates the read product code with the product code 1449 of the work instruction information management database 1181 and confirms the weight 1448 of the corresponding product (S308).

Next, the control processing unit 1173 makes an inquiry to the work instruction information management database 1181, compares the information read by the weight measuring unit 119 with the weight 1448 of the corresponding product, and further, that the product is taken out by the access determination unit 120. The determined box 16 is compared with the box number 1446 of the corresponding product (S309).

Since the processing from S310 to S312 is the same as the processing from S310 to S312 in FIG. 4, description thereof will be omitted.

Although it has been described that the instruction symbol reading unit 114 reads the instruction symbol to proceed to the next work flow in S307, the worker 10 may proceed to the work flow by pressing a switch of the input unit 115.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, based on the weight change detected by the single weighing scale, the detection result of the box from which the product is taken out, and the work instruction information held by the work management server, the work is performed. It is possible to determine which product is put on which shelf by a person. Further, with this configuration, even when there is one or more boxes on one cart 15 in the sorting work in which the products taken out from the boxes on the work cart 15 are sequentially stored in a plurality of shelves, the weight is increased. Only one total is needed. Therefore, by increasing/decreasing the number of boxes without increasing/decreasing the number of weighing scales installed in the working cart 15, it is possible to construct a working cart suitable for the daily varying amount of material.

A third embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Except for the differences described below, each part of the system of the second embodiment has the same function as each of the parts denoted by the same reference numeral in the first or second embodiment shown in FIGS. The description of is omitted.

In the first and second embodiments, the mechanism in which the weight management terminal 11 is installed in the work cart 15 and the work result is determined by the increase or decrease of the weight on the cart has been described.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, in the sorting work described in the second embodiment, a weighing scale capable of weighing the entire shelves for sorting destinations having a plurality of receiving ports is installed, and the work results of the sorting work depending on the weight change of the shelves. The mechanism for determining is explained.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the weight management system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

The system according to this embodiment includes a worker 10, a work management terminal 18, a network 12, a work information management server 13, a work cart 15, one or more boxes 16, a sorting shelf 19, and a weight management device 20. Composed of.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the work management terminal 18 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

The work management terminal 18 includes a CPU 111, a communication unit 112, a display unit 113, an instruction symbol reading unit 114, an input unit 115, a power supply unit 116, a memory 117, a storage 118, and a bus 121. The work instruction information management database 1181 is the same as that in the second embodiment. However, in this embodiment, as described later, it is assumed that a small and lightweight product is handled.

The sorting shelves 19 are shelves having one or more receiving ports, and the sections (20 sections from “A-1” to “D-5” in the example of FIG. 10) corresponding to the respective receiving ports, Used as a container to store sorted products. For example, this applies when the products handled are light and small, such as glasses and shelves for storing precision parts for medical devices. In such a case, since the weight of the shelf itself is light, the weight management device 20 can be easily configured.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the weight management device 20 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

The weight management device 20 includes a CPU 111, a communication unit 112, a display unit 113, an input unit 115, a power supply unit 116, a memory 117, a storage 118, a weight measuring unit 119, an access determination unit 120, and a bus 121. The weight measuring unit 119 measures the weight of the entire shelf 19 on which the products are put. The entrance/exit determination unit 120 detects in which receptacle of the shelf 19 the product has been inserted.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of processing from acquisition of work information to work result determination in the work management terminal 18 and the weight management device 20 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Since S401 to S405 are the same as S201 to S205 in FIG. 4, description thereof will be omitted.

When the worker 10 puts the product in the designated position in the sorting shelf 19 according to the instruction displayed in S405, the weight detection processing unit 1172 detects a change in weight via the weight measuring unit 119 (Yes in S406). .. Further, the entry/exit determination unit 120 of the weight management device 20 detects at which position of the sorting shelf 19 the product has been loaded (S407), and passes the information read by the weight detection processing unit 1172 to the control processing unit 1173.

In the weight management device 20, the control processing unit 1173 uses the communication unit 112 to transmit the shelf number (that is, the number that identifies the receptacle into which the product has been inserted) and the weight value acquired in S406 and S407 to the work management terminal 18. Yes (S408).

In the work management terminal 18, the control processing unit 1173 receives the value transmitted in S408 (S409). After that, the processing from S410 to S414 is the same as the processing from S309 to S312 in FIG.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by providing a single weighing scale on the shelf, the weight change detected by the weighing scale, the detection result of the position where the product is loaded, and the work management server have Based on the work instruction information, it is possible to determine what product the worker put in which shelf. Further, with this configuration, the configuration of the work cart can be simplified and the usable place of the work cart can be generalized.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for better understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those including all the configurations of the description. Further, a part of the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, and the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of one embodiment. Further, with respect to a part of the configuration of each embodiment, other configurations can be added/deleted/replaced.

Further, the above-described respective configurations, functions, processing units, processing means, etc. may be realized by hardware by designing a part or all of them with, for example, an integrated circuit. Further, the above-described respective configurations, functions and the like may be realized by software by a processor interpreting and executing a program for realizing each function. Information such as programs, tables, and files for realizing each function is stored in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive, a storage device such as SSD (Solid State Drive), or a computer-readable non-readable memory such as an IC card, SD card, or DVD. It can be stored on a temporary data storage medium.

Further, the control lines and the information lines are shown as being considered necessary for explanation, and not all the control lines and the information lines in the product are necessarily shown. In practice, it may be considered that almost all configurations are connected to each other.

Claims (14)

A processor, a storage device accessed by the processor, a plurality of containers, a weight scale that measures the weight of the plurality of containers, and an access determination unit that determines storage and removal of an item in each of the plurality of containers. A weight management system having:
The storage device holds work instruction information indicating a weight of an article to be stored and taken out in each container,
The processor is
Acquiring the determination result of storage and removal of the article in each container by the entrance and exit determination unit, and the amount of change in the weight of the plurality of containers measured by the weighing scale,
Based on the work instruction information, the determination result acquired from the entrance/exit determination unit, and the amount of change in weight acquired from the weighing scale, storage or removal in a container determined to store or remove the article The weight management characterized by determining whether or not the weight of the target article and the amount of change in the weight of the plurality of containers measured by the weighing scale match, and outputting the result of the determination. system. The weight management system according to claim 1, wherein
The worker further has a reading unit for reading information identifying the item of the article on which the work is performed,
The work instruction information includes the quantity of each item of the article to be stored in each container, and the weight of the article of each item,
The processor is
Based on the work instruction information, output information indicating the number of articles of the item to be stored and the container to be stored of the article,
From the reading unit, obtain information specifying the item of the article,
From the access determination unit, obtain the determination result of the storage of the article in each container,
The item is stored based on the work instruction information, the determination result acquired from the entrance/exit determination unit, the amount of change in weight acquired from the weighing scale, and the information specifying the item of the item acquired from the reading unit. Whether the weight of the storage target quantity of the item of the storage target item in the container determined to have been matched with the increase amount of the weight of the plurality of containers measured by the weighing scale is the same or not. A weight management system characterized by determining whether or not. The weight management system according to claim 2, wherein
The weighing scale and the plurality of containers are installed on a dolly carried by an operator,
Each of the containers corresponds to the delivery destination of each of the items,
The work instruction information includes information identifying each shelf in which the articles of each item are stored,
The weight management system, wherein the articles stored in each of the shelves are stored in each of the containers by a picking operation based on the work instruction information. The weight management system according to claim 2, wherein
Each of the containers is a shelf corresponding to the delivery destination of each of the items,
The work instruction information includes information specifying a box in which the articles of each item are stored,
The weight management system, wherein the articles stored in the boxes are stored in the containers by a sorting operation based on the work instruction information. The weight management system according to claim 1, wherein
The work instruction information includes the quantity of each item of the article to be taken out in each of the containers, and the weight of the article of each item,
The processor is
Based on the work instruction information, output information indicating the number of articles of the item to be taken out and the container to be taken out of the article,
From the access determination unit, obtain the determination result of the removal of the article in each container,
Based on the work instruction information, the determination result acquired from the access determination unit, and the amount of change in weight acquired from the weighing scale, the item to be taken out of the container in which the item is determined to be taken out. A weight management system for determining whether or not the weight of the quantity of the article to be taken out and the reduced amount of the weight of the plurality of containers measured by the weighing scale match. The weight management system according to claim 5, wherein
The weighing scale and the plurality of containers are installed on a movable carriage,
Items of the respective items are stored in the respective containers,
The work instruction information includes information identifying each shelf corresponding to the delivery destination of each of the articles,
A weight management system wherein articles stored in each of the containers are taken out and stored in each of the shelves by a sorting operation based on the work instruction information. The weight management system according to claim 1, wherein
The entry/exit determination unit reads a barcode of an article stored and taken out in each of the plurality of containers, a barcode reader, a camera for photographing the storage and removal of the article in each of the plurality of containers, and A weight management system comprising any of sensors for detecting storage and removal of an article in each of a plurality of containers. A processor, a storage device accessed by the processor, a plurality of containers, a weight scale that measures the weight of the plurality of containers, and an access determination unit that determines storage and removal of an item in each of the plurality of containers. A weight management method executed by a weight management system having:
The storage device holds work instruction information indicating a weight of an article to be stored and taken out in each container,
The weight management method,
A first procedure in which the processor acquires a determination result of storage and removal of an article in each container by the access determination unit, and a change amount of the weight of the plurality of containers measured by the weight scale,
A container in which the processor is determined to have stored or taken out the article based on the work instruction information, the determination result acquired from the access determination unit, and the amount of change in weight acquired from the weighing scale. The second procedure of determining whether or not the weight of the article to be stored or taken out in step S1 and the change amount of the weight of the plurality of containers measured by the weighing scale match, and outputting the result of the determination. And a weight management method comprising: The weight management method according to claim 8, wherein
The weight management system further includes a reading unit that reads information that identifies an item of an article on which the worker has worked,
The work instruction information includes the quantity of each item of the article to be stored in each container, and the weight of the article of each item,
The weight management method,
The processor, based on the work instruction information, a procedure for outputting information indicating the number of articles of the item to be stored and the container to be stored of the article,
The processor further includes a step of acquiring information specifying an item of the article from the reading unit,
In the first procedure, the processor acquires a determination result of storage of articles in each container from the access determination unit,
In the second procedure, the processor identifies the work instruction information, the determination result acquired from the access determination unit, the amount of change in weight acquired from the weighing scale, and the item of the article acquired from the reading unit. Based on the information to be stored, the weight of the number of items to be stored of the item of the item to be stored in the container determined to store the item and the weight of the plurality of containers measured by the weighing scale. The weight management method is characterized by determining whether or not the increase amount of the height matches. The weight management method according to claim 9,
The weighing scale and the plurality of containers are installed on a dolly carried by an operator,
Each of the containers corresponds to the delivery destination of each of the items,
The work instruction information includes information identifying each shelf in which the articles of each item are stored,
The weight management method is characterized in that the storage determined in the second procedure is performed by a picking operation for storing the articles stored in each of the shelves in each of the containers based on the work instruction information. The weight management method according to claim 9,
Each of the containers is a shelf corresponding to the delivery destination of each of the items,
The work instruction information includes information specifying a box in which the articles of each item are stored,
The weight management method is characterized in that the storage determined in the second procedure is performed by a sorting operation in which the articles stored in the boxes are stored in the containers based on the work instruction information. The weight management method according to claim 8, wherein
The work instruction information includes the quantity of each item of the article to be taken out in each of the containers, and the weight of the article of each item,
The weight management method,
The processor further includes a step of outputting information indicating the number of articles of an item to be taken out and a container to be taken out of the article based on the work instruction information,
In the first procedure, the processor acquires a determination result of taking out an article from each container from the access determination unit,
In the second procedure, the processor determines that the article is taken out based on the work instruction information, the determination result acquired from the access determination unit, and the amount of change in weight acquired from the weighing scale. It is determined whether or not the weight of the item of the item to be taken out in the container and the weight reduction amount of the plurality of containers measured by the weighing scale match. A weight management method characterized by the above. The weight management method according to claim 12,
The weighing scale and the plurality of containers are installed on a movable carriage,
Items of the respective items are stored in the respective containers,
The work instruction information includes information identifying each shelf corresponding to the delivery destination of each of the articles,
The weight management characterized in that the taking-out determined in the second procedure is carried out by a sorting operation in which the articles stored in the respective containers are taken out and stored in the respective shelves based on the work instruction information. Method. The weight management method according to claim 8, wherein
The entry/exit determination unit reads a barcode of an article stored and taken out in each of the plurality of containers, a barcode reader, a camera for photographing the storage and removal of the article in each of the plurality of containers, and A weight management method comprising: a sensor for detecting storage and removal of an article in each of a plurality of containers.

Images