JP7240038B1 - Baggage location management system - Google Patents

Abstract

Kind Code: A1 To provide a package position management system for easily grasping the accurate position of packages in a warehouse at a low cost. A forklift for transporting a placed pallet, comprising: a first imaging unit for reading code information for identifying a rack for storing the pallet; and a second imaging unit for detecting height information of the fork. and a repeater that receives beacon signals transmitted from wireless tags; a storage unit that stores position information of racks and package information of packages associated with ID information of wireless tags; Using the ID information and received radio wave intensity information of the beacon signal received by the repeater, the wireless tag and cargo being carried by the forklift are identified, and the code information of the rack where the pallet is stored and the code information when the pallet is stored. A position specifying unit that specifies the position of the rack in which the pallet is stored and the storage stage of the load in the rack using the height information of the fork. [Selection drawing] Fig. 1

Description

The present invention relates to technology for managing the location of baggage using wireless tags attached to the baggage.

In logistics, cargo is transported on pallets, racks, and other equipment for transporting goods, and the cargo is stored in warehouses while being placed on these pallets. A method has been proposed for managing the positions of packages by providing wireless tags on pallets and racks and reading identification signals transmitted by the wireless tags using a wireless tag reader installed on a forklift or the like.

For example, in Patent Document 1, a wireless tag is installed on each stage of a multi-stage rack, and a wireless tag is installed on a pallet on which cargo is placed. By associating the identification information of the wireless tag of the pallet with the identification information of the wireless tag of each stage, the positions of the packages stored in the multi-stage rack are managed.

JP 2017-201473 A

However, the management system of Patent Document 1 manages the position of packages by associating wireless tags installed on pallets with wireless tags installed on each level of multi-level racks in the warehouse. However, in order to grasp the detailed position of the pallet, it is necessary to install a huge number of wireless tags to identify the installation location of the package, which increases the operation and cost when building and maintaining the system. becomes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-described problems, and to provide a package position management system for realizing the accurate position of packages in a warehouse simply and at low cost. and

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the cargo position management system of the present invention is a forklift that carries a pallet on which cargo attached with a wireless tag is placed, in which the rack for storing the pallet is identified. a first imaging unit for reading the code information, a second imaging unit for detecting fork height information, and a repeater for receiving a beacon signal including the tag ID transmitted from the wireless tag. Using the forklift, the position information of the rack, the storage unit storing the package information of the package associated with the tag ID of the wireless tag, and the tag ID of the beacon signal received by the repeater, Identify the wireless tag and the package being transported by the forklift, and use the code information of the rack in which the pallet is stored and the height information of the fork when the pallet is stored, A position specifying unit for specifying the position of the rack in which the pallet is stored and the storage stage of the cargo in the rack.

When the repeater receives the beacon signal, the repeater measures the received power strength of the beacon signal, and the position specifying unit uses the tag ID and the received power strength of the beacon signal received by the repeater. , the package associated with the tag ID of the wireless tag of the beacon signal having the highest received power intensity may be specified as the package being carried by the forklift.

The repeater may be installed on a backrest that moves up and down in conjunction with the forks of the forklift.

The wireless tag may transmit the beacon signal in response to an activation signal transmitted from the repeater.

The second imaging unit acquires image information of a marker installed on a backrest that moves up and down in conjunction with the forks of the forklift, and the position specifying unit is specified based on the image information of the marker. The height information of the forks may be used to identify a stowage level of the load in the rack.

The second imaging unit is installed at least at the top or bottom of the mast of the forklift, and even if image information of the marker installed on the backrest of the forklift is acquired good.

The marker is a retroreflector marker that reflects incident light in a direction parallel to and opposite to the incident direction of the light, and the second imaging unit receives reflected light of the light irradiated toward the marker. and image information of the retroreflector marker may be obtained.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to grasp|ascertain the accurate position of the goods in a warehouse simply and at low cost.

FIG. 1 is an example of a system configuration diagram of a baggage position management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an example of a functional block diagram of a wireless tag, a repeater, a wireless tag reader, and a baggage position management device that constitute the baggage position management system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of specifying the height of a load on a rack according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an example of management data of rack information and repeater information in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an example of rack information management data according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an example of management data of parcel position information in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an example of a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the baggage position management system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an example of a control flow chart in the baggage position management device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention can be implemented in various forms and is not limited to the embodiments described below.

<Configuration of baggage position management system>
FIG. 1 is an example of a system configuration diagram of a baggage position management system. Pallets 5 loaded with cargo 6 are stored in a plurality of multistage racks 2 installed at predetermined positions in a warehouse 1. - 特許庁A forklift 4 that transports and stores the pallets 5 in the warehouse 1 is used. A forklift 4 entering the warehouse 1 moves inside the warehouse 1 and stores the pallet 5 in a predetermined rack of the multistage racks 2.例文帳に追加

Each rack of a plurality of multistage racks 2 in the warehouse 1 is attached with a code 3 for identifying each rack. Each package 6 is attached with a wireless tag 10 associated with package information such as the content of the package, the origin of the package, and the serial number. The wireless tag 10 may be attached when the cargo 6 is carried into the warehouse 1. - 特許庁Since this wireless tag 10 is used only within the warehouse 1 and is removed when it is carried out of the warehouse 1, it is detachably attached to the luggage 6. - 特許庁

The forklift 4 includes a repeater 20 for receiving a beacon signal transmitted from the wireless tag 10 attached to the package 6, an imaging unit 40-1 (first imaging unit) for reading the code 3 of the rack 2, An imaging unit 40-2 (second imaging unit) is provided for detecting the height of the fork.

The cargo position management device 60 receives the beacon information of the wireless tag 10 received via the wireless tag reader 50, the code information of the rack 2 storing the pallet 5, and the height information of the forks when the pallet 5 is stored. are used to specify the position of the rack 2 in which the pallet 5 is stored and the stage in which the cargo 6 is stored in the rack 2 .

A repeater 20 for receiving a beacon signal transmitted from the wireless tag 10 is installed on the forklift 4 . The repeater 20 acquires the tag ID unique to the wireless tag included in the beacon signal transmitted from the wireless tag 10 . By using this tag ID, the tag ID of the pre-registered wireless tag and the package information for specifying the package 6 are associated and registered, so that the package 6 being transported can be specified.

A beacon signal including a tag ID transmitted from the wireless tag 10 is set to be transmitted at predetermined time intervals. In the warehouse 1, the loading and unloading of packages is frequently repeated. Therefore, in the package position management device 60, the tag ID included in the beacon signal is used to specify the package 6 being transported. It is set to be transmitted at short time intervals, for example, once every 30 seconds. A vibration sensor may be installed in the wireless tag to shorten the transmission interval of the beacon signal when the wireless tag is vibrating compared to when the wireless tag is stored in a rack and is stationary. .

Here, in order to reduce the power consumption accompanying the transmission of beacon signals, the beacon signal including the tag ID may be transmitted from the wireless tag 10 in response to the activation signal transmitted from the repeater 20 . The beacon signal in this case is transmitted from the wireless tag 10 when the passive element built in the wireless tag 10 detects the activation signal transmitted from the repeater 20 . This passive element is an element that operates by radio waves transmitted by an external device such as the repeater 20, and does not require power supplied from a power source such as a battery for its operation.

Since the reception gain of the passive element is small, it is not possible to detect the activation signal transmitted by the repeater 20 or the like installed at a distance. On the other hand, when the pallet 5 on which the cargo 6 with the wireless tag 10 is placed is loaded on the forks of the forklift 4 and the wireless tag 10 approaches the repeater 20, the passive element incorporated in the wireless tag 10 activates the repeater 20. It can be configured such that the wireless tag 10 is activated using radio waves of a signal and a beacon signal is transmitted from the wireless tag 10 that has detected the activation signal. By transmitting the beacon signal in response to the activation signal transmitted from the repeater 20, power consumption associated with transmission of the beacon signal can be reduced.

Here, since many wireless tags 10 are installed in the warehouse 1, the beacon signal transmitted from the wireless tag 10 other than the wireless tag 10 attached to the package 6 being transported by the repeater 20 may be received. obtain. When the repeater 20 acquires tag ID information of a plurality of wireless tags 10, based on the received power intensity information (RSSI) of the beacon signal, the wireless tags 10 attached to the cargo 6 being carried are identified. should be specified.

When the repeater 20 is installed on the fork of the forklift 4 or on the backrest that moves up and down in conjunction with the fork, the received power intensity of the beacon signal transmitted by the wireless tag 10 attached to the load 6 being transported in the repeater 20 is equal to that of the rack. is greater than the received power intensity of the beacon signal transmitted from the wireless tag 10 attached to the package 6 stored in the container, the beacon signal with the largest received power intensity information (RSSI) is attached to the package 6 being carried. can be identified as a beacon signal transmitted from the wireless tag.

The tag ID and received power intensity information acquired by the repeater 20 are collected by the wireless tag reader 50 and transmitted to the parcel position management device 60 via the network 100 . Although the repeater 20 may transmit all the tag IDs and received power intensity information of the received beacon signals to the wireless tag reader, the repeater 20 transmits the tag IDs and received power intensity information of the beacon signals whose received power intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold. You may do so. The parcel position management device 60 can identify the parcel 6 being transported by the forklift 4 by using the received power intensity information of the beacon signal transmitted from the wireless tag reader 50 .

The forklift 4 is provided with an imaging unit 40-1 for reading the code 3 attached to the rack 2. As shown in FIG. The imaging unit 40-1 may be attached to the top of the mast of the forklift 4, for example. The imaging unit 40-1 images the cords 3 of the rack 2 when the pallet 5 is stored in a predetermined rack of the multistage rack 2. FIG. By registering the position information of each rack in the warehouse 1 in advance in the cargo position management device 60, the rack on which the pallet 5 is installed can be specified by reading the code information of the code 3.

The forklift 4 is provided with an imaging unit 40-2 for detecting the height of the forks. When the pallet 5 is installed on a predetermined rack of the multi-stage rack 2, the height of the fork is detected using the image acquired by the imaging unit 40-2. To detect the height of the fork, the fork itself may be imaged, or the marker 30 that moves as the fork moves up and down may be imaged.

The marker 30 may be installed, for example, on the backrest of the forklift 4, and the imaging section 40-2 may be installed, for example, on the bottom of the mast of the forklift 4. By registering the corresponding relationship between the size of the fork or marker 30 and the height of each stage of the rack in advance in the cargo position management device 60, the pallet 5 is accommodated based on the size of the imaged marker 30 or the like. Rack 2 can be identified.

A retroreflector can be used as the marker 30 . Since the retroreflector can reflect incident light in a direction parallel to and opposite to the incident direction of the light, the light is emitted from the imaging unit 40-2 toward the marker 30, and the light reflected by the marker 30 is reflected. Image information for specifying the size of the marker 30 can be acquired by receiving the light. By using a retroreflector as the marker 30, even in the warehouse 1 where the brightness varies depending on the position of the rack 2, the height of the fork when the pallet 5 is installed can be specified reliably.

<Functional block diagram of each device>
FIG. 2 is an example of a functional block diagram of a wireless tag, a repeater, a wireless tag reader, and a baggage position management device that constitute the baggage position management system.

The wireless tag 10 is an active tag operated by a built-in battery 16 and attached to the cargo 6 placed on the pallet 5 . The wireless tag 10 includes an antenna 11 for transmitting a beacon signal including a tag ID, a wireless unit 12, a central processing unit 13 for controlling each unit, a memory 14, and a vibration sensor 15 for detecting vibration of the wireless tag. is composed of

The central processing unit 13 operates to transmit a beacon signal including a unique tag ID at predetermined intervals. When the vibration sensor 15 detects the vibration of the wireless tag 10, it may be configured to shorten the beacon signal transmission interval on the assumption that the wireless tag 10 is being transported by the forklift 4. FIG. Also, it may operate to transmit a beacon signal when an activation signal from the repeater 20 is detected.

The repeater 20 acquires the tag ID of the beacon signal by receiving the beacon signal transmitted by the wireless tag 10 attached to the package 6 being carried by the forklift 4 . Repeater 20 may measure the received power strength of the beacon signal. The acquired tag ID information is used to identify the package 6 being transported by the forklift 4 . The repeater 20 includes an antenna 21 for receiving a beacon signal transmitted by the wireless tag 10, a radio section 22, a central processing section 23 for controlling each section, a memory 24, and a battery 25 for supplying power to each section. It is configured.

The wireless tag reader 50 is a device that manages the packages 6 in the warehouse 1 by receiving beacon signals transmitted from the wireless tags 10 attached to the packages 6 stored in the racks in the warehouse 1 . The wireless tag reader in this embodiment has a function of collecting the tag ID and received power intensity information of the beacon signal received by the repeater 20 by receiving the beacon signal transmitted by the repeater 20 . The collected tag IDs and received power intensity information are transmitted to the parcel position management device 60 via the network 100 .

The wireless tag reader 50 includes an antenna 51 for receiving a beacon signal transmitted by the wireless tag 10, a wireless unit 52, a central processing unit 53 for controlling each unit, a memory 54, and a package location management device 60 via the network 100. It is configured including an I/F section 55 for connection.

The package position management device 60 receives the tag ID and received power intensity information of the wireless tag 10 received from the wireless tag reader 50 via the network 100, the code information of the rack 2 in which the pallet 5 is stored, and the information of the rack 2 in which the pallet 5 is stored. This device specifies the position of the rack 2 in which the pallet 5 is stored and the height of the load 6 on the rack 2 using the height information of the actual fork.

The code information of the rack 2 in which the pallet 5 is stored and the height information of the fork when the pallet 5 is stored may be transmitted to the cargo position management device 60 using the communication device installed in the forklift 4. Alternatively, after the packages 6 are stored in the rack 2, they may be collectively registered in the package position management device 60. - 特許庁

The parcel position management device 60 includes a central processing unit 61 that manages tag information and rack information, specifies the position of the rack 2 in which the pallet 5 is stored, and the height of the parcel 6 on the rack 2; It includes an I/F section 65 for receiving IDs and received power intensity information, and a storage section 66 for storing tag information, rack information and position information.

The central processing unit 61 operates as a tag information management unit that manages tag information, a rack information management unit that manages rack information, and a position specifying unit that specifies the position of a rack in which a pallet is stored and the stage in which a package is stored in the rack. . The storage unit 66 stores position information including the installation position of the rack 2 in the warehouse 1, the relationship between the tag ID of the wireless tag 10 and the package information of the package 6, and the storage position and height of the specified pallet. .

<Specification of the height of the load on the rack>
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of identifying the height of a load on a rack. In the embodiment of the present invention, fork height information is detected using the image information obtained by the imaging unit 40-2.

In FIG. 3, the storage stage of the load 6 in the rack 2 is identified using the marker 30 installed on the fork of the forklift 4 or the backrest that moves up and down in conjunction with the fork and the imaging unit 40-2 that captures the image of the marker 30. Explain the form.

When the forklift 4 approaches the rack 2 storing the load 6, the fork moves up and down according to which stage of the rack 2 the load is stored in. Therefore, the fork or the backrest that moves up and down in conjunction with the fork has a marker. 30 is installed, and based on the size of the marker 30 imaged by the imaging unit 40-2 installed on the forklift 4, the storage stage in which the load 6 is stored in the rack 2 is specified.

Based on the size of the image of the marker 30 imaged by the imaging unit 40-2 when the pallet 5 is stored in the predetermined storage stage of the multi-stage rack 2, the storage stage in which the pallet 5 is stored can be specified. FIG. 3 shows an example of specifying the storage stage of the pallet 5 when the number of stages of the rack 2 is two. In FIG. 3, if the size of the imaged marker 30 is large, it is determined that it is stored in the first stage, and if the size of the imaged marker 30 is small, it is determined that it is stored in the second stage. can do.

The determination that the pallet 5 has been stored in the rack 2 may be made based on the fact that the repeater 20 no longer receives the beacon signal from the wireless tag 10 or that the received power intensity of the beacon signal has decreased. Alternatively, it may be determined that the pallet 5 has been stored in the rack 2 based on the fact that the wireless tag 10 of the load 6 being transported is not vibrating.

Correspondence between the size of the marker 30 and the height of each stage of the rack 2 may be registered in the package position management device 60 in advance. By registering the correspondence relationship between the size of the marker 30 and the height of each storage stage of the rack in advance, even if the racks 2 of various stages are installed in the warehouse 1, the size of the imaged marker 30 can be determined. , it is possible to specify the storage where the pallet 5 is installed. For example, when the number of stages of the rack 2 is three or more, it is possible to specify the storage stage of the cargo 6 in the rack 2 using information on the correspondence relationship between the size of the marker 30 and each storage stage of the rack.

A retroreflector marker may be used as the marker 30 . A retroreflector marker is a marker that reflects incident light in a direction parallel to and opposite to the incident direction of the light. Image information for specifying the size of the marker 30 can be obtained by irradiating the light from the imaging unit 40-2 toward the marker 30 and receiving the light reflected by the marker 30. FIG. By using a retroreflector marker as the marker 30, even in the warehouse 1 where the brightness varies depending on the position of the rack 2, the height of the fork and the storage stage of the cargo when the pallet 5 is stored can be specified.

In FIG. 3, a configuration example has been described in which the marker 30 is installed on the backrest that moves up and down in conjunction with the fork, the imaging unit 40-2 is attached to the lowest part of the mast of the forklift 4, and the marker 30 is imaged from below. However, other configurations may be used as long as they allow the height of the forks to be specified. For example, the marker 30 installed on the backrest that moves up and down in conjunction with the fork may be imaged from above by the imaging unit 40-2 installed on the top of the mast of the forklift 4, or the imaging unit 40-2 may be used by the forklift. 4 may be attached to both the top and bottom of the mast, and the marker 30 installed on the backrest may be imaged from both above and below. By imaging the marker 30 from both above and below, the height of the fork can be specified more accurately.

<Management data>
FIG. 4 is an example of management data of rack information and repeater information. In FIG. 4, the position of each rack of the racks 2 in the warehouse 1 is stored for each rack. The cargo position management device 60 refers to the management data of FIG. can be specified. The positional information of the rack 2 may be absolute positional information or relative positional information in the warehouse 1 as long as the position of the rack 2 in the warehouse 1 can be specified.

In FIG. 4, as repeater information, the correspondence relationship between the repeater 20 installed on the forklift 4 and the imaging unit 40-1 for acquiring the code information of the rack 2, and the imaging unit 40-2 for detecting the height of the fork. is registered. The repeater information is used to associate the tag ID information transmitted from the repeater 20 with the code information and marker image information acquired by the imaging units 40-1 and 40-2.

FIG. 5 is an example of management data of tag information. In FIG. 5, the tag ID, which is identification information unique to the wireless tag 10, and the parcel information of the parcel 6 to which the wireless tag 10 is attached are associated and registered. In the parcel position management device 60, the tag ID included in the beacon signal of the wireless tag 10 acquired by the repeater 20 is used to refer to the management data shown in FIG. can.

When the tag IDs of a plurality of wireless tags 10 are acquired from the repeater 20, based on the received power intensity information (RSSI) of the beacon signal, the wireless tag that transmitted the beacon signal with the largest received power intensity information (RSSI) 10 is identified as the wireless tag 10 attached to the package 6 being carried.

FIG. 6 is an example of management data of package position information. 6 shows the position of the rack 2, the wireless tag 10 of the package 6 stored in the rack 2, the package information of the package 6 to which the wireless tag 10 is attached, and the height of the package in the rack 2 (storage stage). are associated and registered.

Package information is specified by the tag ID, the rack in which the package 6 is stored is specified by the code information of the rack 2 when the package 6 is stored in the rack 2, and the size of the marker 30 installed on the fork or the like identifies the rack. The storage stage in the rack in which the cargo 6 is stored is identified, and management data such as that shown in FIG. 6 can be constructed.

<Control sequence>
FIG. 7 is an example of a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the baggage position management system. Correspondence relationships between the positions of the racks 2 in the warehouse 1, the repeaters 20, and the imaging units 40-1 and 40-2 are registered in advance in the cargo position management device 60, as shown in FIG. A wireless tag 10 is attached to a package 6 carried into the warehouse 1 together with a slip describing package information. As shown in FIG. are registered in association with each other.

A forklift 4 carrying a pallet 5 on which a load 6 is placed starts moving toward a rack 2 storing the load 6, and while the forklift 4 is moving, a wireless tag 10 attached to the load 6 is removed. A beacon signal containing tag ID information is transmitted from.

The repeater 20 installed in the forklift 4 measures the received power intensity (RSSI) of the beacon signal when it receives the beacon signal transmitted from the wireless tag 10, and sets the tag ID and the received power intensity information of the received beacon signal to the repeater ID. together with the wireless tag reader 50 . The wireless tag reader 50 collects the tag ID and the received power intensity information transmitted from the repeater 20 for each repeater and transmits them to the baggage position management device 60 .

The package position management device 60 uses the tag ID received from the wireless tag reader 50 to refer to the management data in FIG. When a plurality of tag IDs are received from the repeater 20, the wireless tag having the tag ID of the beacon signal with the highest received power intensity is specified as the wireless tag 10 attached to the cargo 6 being carried.

When the forklift 4 arrives at the rack 2 storing the cargo 6, the imaging unit 40-1 mounted on the forklift 4 reads the code information of the rack 2 in which the cargo 6 is stored. The read code information is transmitted to the parcel position management device 60, and by referring to the management data in FIG. 4, the rack 2 in which the parcel 6 is stored is specified.

In the baggage position management device 60, since the baggage information of the baggage 6 being transported is specified by the tag ID, the baggage information and the position of the rack 2 are associated by associating with the rack 2 in which the baggage 6 is stored.

When the cargo 6 is stored in the rack 2 by the forklift 4, the image information of the marker 30 installed on the fork of the forklift 4 is acquired by the image pickup unit 40-2 mounted on the forklift 4, and the acquired marker image information is It is transmitted to the baggage position management device 60 . The height of the fork is determined based on the size of the image of the marker 30, and the storage stage of the luggage in the rack 2 is specified.

In the package position management device 60, the package information and the position of the rack 2 are associated with the tag ID and code information. , as shown in FIG. 6, related data in which the positions and heights of packages are associated and registered can be configured.

The rack information and marker image information acquired by the imaging unit installed in the forklift 4 may be transmitted to the cargo position management device 60 using the communication device installed in the forklift 4, or the cargo 6 may be stored in the rack 2. After that, the information may be collectively input to the baggage position management device 60 . When inputting after the cargo 6 is stored in the rack 2, the rack information and the time information when the marker image is read are also acquired, and the time information is used to associate with the tag ID information. You can do it.

<Control flow chart>
FIG. 8 is an example of a control flow chart in the baggage position management device. The flowchart of FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the baggage position management device 60 in the control sequence explained in FIG.

Rack position information and repeater information in the warehouse 1 are registered in advance in the package position management device 60 (S1-1). The wireless tag 10 is attached to the package 6 carried into the warehouse 1 together with a slip containing the package information, and the tag ID of the wireless tag 10 and the package information of the package to which the wireless tag is attached are registered in association (S1-2). .

The cargo position management device 60 receives the tag ID and received power intensity information of the beacon signal received by the repeater 20 installed on the forklift 4 (S1-3). The cargo position management device 60 identifies the cargo 6 being transported by the forklift 4 from the received tag ID (S1-5). When a plurality of tag IDs are received from the repeater 20, the wireless tag 10 having the tag ID with the highest received power intensity is identified as the wireless tag 10 attached to the cargo 6 being carried (S1-4).

When receiving the code information of the rack 2 in which the package 6 is stored (S1-6), the package position management device 60 specifies the rack 2 in which the package 6 is stored (S1-7). By associating with the rack 2 in which the package 6 is stored, the package information and the position of the rack 2 are associated (S1-8).

When the package position management device 60 receives the marker image information of the marker 30 when the package 6 is stored (S1-9), the fork height is determined based on the size of the received image of the marker 30 ( S1-10), the storage level of the package 6 in the rack 2 is identified.

In the parcel position management device 60, the parcel information and the position of the rack 2 are associated with the tag ID and code information. The management data in which the positions of the packages 6 and storage stages are associated and registered are configured (S1-11).

As described above, the parcel position management system of the present embodiment attaches a wireless tag to a parcel to be stored in a rack in a warehouse, associates the wireless tag with parcel information, and stores the parcel in the rack. , the code information of the rack in which the cargo is stored and the height information of the fork when the cargo is stored are used to specify the position of the rack in which the cargo is stored and the storage stage of the cargo in the rack. Therefore, it is possible to easily grasp the accurate position of a package in the warehouse at a low cost without installing a wireless tag on each stage of all the racks in the warehouse.

In particular, even when a series of packages using a plurality of pallets are scattered in the warehouse, it is possible to accurately grasp the position and storage level of each package constituting the series of packages. In addition, in this embodiment, since wireless tags are attached to packages carried into the warehouse, even packages placed on pallets without wireless tags can be accurately located in the warehouse. becomes possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Warehouse, 2... Multi-level rack, 3... Cord, 4... Forklift, 5... Pallet, 6... Baggage, 10... Wireless tag, 20... Repeater, 30... Marker, 40-1, 40-2... Imaging unit, 50 ... Wireless tag reader, 60 ... Package location management device, 100 ... Network.

Claims (7)

A forklift for transporting a pallet on which a package with a wireless tag is placed, the first imaging unit reading code information for identifying a rack for storing the pallet, height information of the fork and a forklift equipped with a repeater for receiving a beacon signal including a tag ID transmitted from the wireless tag;
a storage unit storing position information of the rack and package information of the package associated with the tag ID of the wireless tag;
The tag ID of the beacon signal received by the repeater is used to identify the wireless tag and the package being carried by the forklift, and the code information of the rack in which the pallet is stored and the pallet is A cargo position management system, comprising: a position identifying unit that identifies the position of the rack in which the pallet is stored and the stage in which the cargo is stored in the rack, using the height information of the fork when the pallet is stored. The repeater measures the received power strength of the beacon signal when receiving the beacon signal,
The position specifying unit uses the tag ID and the received power intensity of the beacon signal received by the repeater to determine the parcel associated with the tag ID of the wireless tag of the beacon signal having the highest received power intensity. as the load being carried by the forklift. The load position management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the repeater is installed on a backrest that moves up and down in conjunction with the fork of the forklift. The baggage position management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said wireless tag transmits said beacon signal in response to an activation signal transmitted from said repeater. The second imaging unit acquires image information of a marker installed on a backrest that moves up and down in conjunction with the forks of the forklift,
5. The position specifying unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the height information of the fork specified based on the image information of the marker is used to specify the storage stage of the luggage in the rack. Baggage location management system as described. The second imaging unit is installed at least at the top or bottom of the mast of the forklift, and acquires image information of the marker installed on the backrest of the forklift. 5. The baggage position management system according to 5. The marker is a retroreflector marker that reflects incident light in a direction parallel to and opposite to the direction in which the light is incident,
7. The baggage position management system according to claim 5, wherein the second imaging unit receives reflected light of light emitted toward the marker and acquires image information of the retroreflector marker.

Images