JPH04144807A - Automatic warehouse - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To save manhours of operators and prevent input errors by making an input means read a bar code which corresponds to a rack number in an receiving/delivery list and performing receipt/delivery of goods using a crane. CONSTITUTION:When a receipt/delivery list 25 and goods are received, an operator reads the first and second bar codes 26 and 27 in the receipt/delivery list 25 using a scanner 16 and enters the data into a control device 23. Having confirmed warehousing mode, the control device 23 makes a liquid crystal display device 15 display the warehousing mode and a rack number based on the second bar code signal, sends to a load handling device 5 a command signal for moving a truck to a loading position, and turns on an operation indicating lamp 21. The operator performs receiving work and operates a completion switch 19 after the end of the work. Having confirmed the operation signal of the completion switch 19, the control device 23, sends a warehousing command signal to the load handling device 5 and sends a warehousing command signal consisting of a rack number produced by the second bar code signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an automated system comprising a rack having a plurality of shelves and a crane that moves along the rack and loads cargo into and out of the shelves of the rack. It concerns warehouses.

Conventional technology The above-mentioned conventional automated warehouse will be explained based on the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a layout diagram of a conventional automated warehouse.

The automated warehouse consists of a rack 2 having a plurality of shelves 1, a cargo handling device 5 that receives and transfers cargo 4 to and from a cargo handling vehicle 3 such as a forklift, and a cargo handling device 5 that moves along the rack 2 and separates the shelves 1 of the rack 2. and a crane 6 for loading and unloading the load 4 to and from the load handling device 5;
Safety 1117 and crane 6 to ensure worker safety
It is composed of a control device 8 that sends and receives signals via an optical transmission device and controls the crane 6, and controls the entry and exit of such an automated warehouse by either a shelf number or a bar code as shown in Fig. 7. This is done using a shelf card 9 printed for each shelf 1. In addition, on the operation panel 8A on the surface of the control device 8,
As shown in FIG. 7, a mode switch 11 for switching between warehousing mode and warehousing mode, a completion switch 12 that is operated when work is completed, and a barcode reader 13 are installed.

The working procedure of an automated warehouse when inventory management is performed in an automated warehouse using a conventional host computer will be explained using FIG.

When the warehousing slip and the cargo 4 are sent, the worker sets the mode switch 11 to the warehousing mode.

When the control device 8 confirms the warehousing mode of the mode switch 11, it outputs a movement command to the cargo handling device 5 to the cargo handling position BP. When the worker moves to the cart of the cargo handling device 5 or to the cargo handling position BP, the worker uses the cargo handling vehicle 3 to move the cargo 4 to the cargo handling device 5.
Next, the shelf card 9 corresponding to the shelf number on the receipt slip is searched, and the barcode reader 13
The searched shelf card 9 is applied to the shelf number, and the shelf number is input into the control device 8.

When the completion switch 12 is operated, the control device 8 controls the cargo handling device 5 and the crane 6 to store the cargo 4 loaded on the cart of the cargo handling device 5 into the shelf l corresponding to the input machine number.

Inventory management in an automated warehouse is performed when a host computer outputs a receipt slip.

Further, when the worker receives the shipping slip, he sets the mode switch 11 to the shipping mode. When the control device 8 confirms the shipping mode of the mode switch 11, the control device 8 switches the cargo handling device 5.
A command to move to the loading/unloading position HP is output to ftHP, and the cart of the cargo handling device 5 is returned to the loading/unloading position ftHP. Next, the worker searches for a shelf card 9 corresponding to the shelf number of the delivery slip, places the searched shelf card 9 on the barcode reader 13, and inputs the shelf number into the control device 8. Based on this input, the control device 8 controls the crane 6 and the cargo handling device 5 to remove the cargo in the designated shelf bin.
The worker uses the cargo handling vehicle 3 to unload the cargo 4 that has been delivered to the cart of the cargo handling device 5, and then ships it. Then, the completion switch 12 is operated to input the completion of leaving the warehouse to the control device 8. Inventory management in an automated warehouse is performed when a host computer outputs a shipping slip.

In this way, the host computer performs inventory management, outputs the warehousing/output mode and storage number on the warehousing slip, the worker looks at this, sets the mode, searches the shelf card 9, and inputs it to the control device 8. and was carrying out stocking and unloading.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in conventional automated warehouses, workers have to search the shelf cards 9, which is time-consuming and prone to input errors. There was also a problem in that the host computer's inventory management went haywire, causing situations where the shelves for loading and unloading were overlapping.

The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and aims to provide an automated warehouse that reduces the labor required by workers and prevents input errors.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the automatic warehouse of the present invention includes a rack that grows a plurality of shelves, and a rack that moves by itself along the rack to carry goods in and out of the shelves of the rack. a computer that is equipped with a crane, performs inventory management, and outputs a warehouse entry/exit list with barcodes corresponding to the numbers of the machines that enter and exit the warehouse;
an input means for reading a barcode of the entry/issue list;
The present invention is characterized by comprising a control means for controlling entry and exit of the crane based on a shelf number code signal inputted from the input means.

Effect: With the configuration of the invention described above, the input means reads the barcode corresponding to the shelf number on the warehouse entry/exit list, and the crane is used to enter and exit the warehouse, so that the worker can search for shelf cards as in the past. This eliminates the need to do so, reduces effort, and prevents input errors.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. The structure of the automatic warehouse main body is the same as the structure of the conventional example shown in FIG. 6, so the same reference numerals will be used and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an operation panel of a control device for an automated warehouse in one embodiment of the present invention.

The operation panel 14 includes a liquid crystal display device 15 that displays status such as work mode and malfunctions, and a handy barcode reader (hereinafter referred to as a scanner) 1 that reads barcodes.
6. Work mode setting switch 17 and numeric keypad switch 1 used in manual mode when scanner 16 is not used
8. Completion switch 19 and scanner 16 operated at the time of completion
A changeover switch 20 for switching between an automatic mode in which the system is used and a manual mode in which it is not used, an operation indicator light 21, and an emergency stop switch 22 are provided.
As shown in the figure, it is connected to an automatic warehouse control device 23 consisting of a microcomputer. The control device 23 is
According to the operation signals of these switches 17, 18, 19, 20, 22 and the input code signal of the scanner 16, the crane 6 is controlled via the cargo handling device 5 and the optical transmission device 24, and the cargo 4 is loaded and unloaded. Display devices 15.21 are displayed.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the warehouse entry/output list 25 output from the host computer that performs inventory management.

The warehousing/discharging list 25 includes a first barcode 26 indicating the work mode of warehousing or warehousing, and a second barcode 27 corresponding to the number of the shelf l.

The work procedure and operation of the control device 23 with the above configuration will be explained with reference to the flowchart of the warehousing operation shown in FIG. 4 and the flowchart of the warehousing operation shown in FIG.

It is assumed that the automatic mode using the scanner 16 is selected by the changeover switch 20.

[Warehousing work]

When the loading/unloading list 25 and the cargo 4 are sent, the worker reads the first barcode 26 and the second barcode 27 of the loading/unloading list 25 using the scanner 16 and inputs them into the control device 23. When the control device 23 confirms the warehousing mode using the first barcode signal, the control device 23 displays the liquid crystal display device 1.
5 displays the storage mode and the shelf number based on the second barcode signal, outputs a command signal for moving the trolley to the cargo handling position BP to the cargo handling device 5, and lights up the operation indicator light 21. When the cart of the cargo handling device 5 moves to the cargo handling position BP, the worker uses the cargo handling vehicle 3 to load the cargo 4 onto the cargo handling device 5, and operates the completion switch 19 after completion.

When the control device 8 confirms the operation signal of the completion switch 19, it outputs a warehousing command signal to the material handling device 5, and sends a warehousing command signal to the crane 6 via the optical transmission device 24, which consists of a shelf number based on a second barcode signal. Output. Then, when a warehousing end signal is input from the crane 6 via the optical transmission device 24, the operation indicator light 21 is turned off and the warehousing operation is completed. Inventory management in the automated warehouse is performed when the host computer outputs the warehouse entry/output list 25.

[Delivery work]

When the worker receives the warehouse entry/exit list 25, the worker reads the first barcode 26 and second barcode 27 of the warehouse entry/exit list 25 using the scanner 16, and inputs the read barcodes to the control device 23. The control device 23 uses the first barcode signal to
When the unloading mode is confirmed, the unloading mode and the shelf number based on the second barcode signal are displayed on the liquid crystal display device 15, and an unloading command signal is output to the cargo handling device 5, and the unloading command signal is output to the crane 6 via the optical transmission device 24. An output command signal consisting of a shelf number based on a barcode signal of No. 2 is output, and an operation indicator light 21 is turned on.

The worker uses the cart of the cargo handling device 5 to move the cargo 4 to the cargo handling position BP.
When the products are delivered to the warehouse, the cargo handling vehicle 3 is used to carry out the delivery work and the products are shipped. Then, the completion switch 19 is operated. When the control device 8 confirms the input of the completion switch 19, the control device 8 turns off the operation indicator light 21 and ends the unloading operation. Inventory management in an automated warehouse is performed when a host computer outputs a shipping slip.

In this way, the worker can set the control device 23 by simply reading the barcodes 26 and 27 of the warehouse entry/exit list 25 output from the host computer with the scanner 16 and inputting them into the control device 23. You can enter and exit the warehouse. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to search for shelf cards as in the past, which saves time and effort, improves work efficiency, and prevents input errors. Furthermore, since the inventory is managed by the host computer, the control device 23 can be easily configured by simply controlling the cargo handling device 5 and the crane 6.
Furthermore, even if an automated warehouse is introduced into a place where inventory management has traditionally been carried out using a host computer, it is possible to reduce the amount of modification of the host computer's software.

In addition, when the emergency stop switch 22 is operated during loading and unloading operations, or when a failure occurs in the cargo handling device 5 or the crane 6, the control device 23 stops all operations; The contents are displayed on the liquid crystal display device 15 until the failure occurs or the system is restored. The operation in the manual mode in which the scanner 16 is not used is not an important part of the present invention, so a description thereof will be omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a crane can be used to carry out warehouse loading and unloading simply by having the input means read the barcode corresponding to the shelf number on the loading and unloading list. , it is no longer necessary to search for shelf cards as in the past, reducing time and effort, improving work efficiency, and preventing input errors. Furthermore, since the inventory is managed by a computer, the control means can be easily configured by simply checking the loading and unloading of cranes. Even with the introduction of automated warehouses, it is possible to reduce the amount of modification required to the computer software.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an operation panel of an automated warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the automated warehouse, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the warehouse entry/exit list, 4
5 and 5 are flowcharts for explaining the work procedure of the automated warehouse, FIG. 6 is a layout diagram of a conventional automated warehouse, and FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the use of shelf cards in a conventional automated warehouse. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the work procedure of a conventional automated warehouse. l... Shelf, 2-... Rack, 4... Load, 6... Crane, 16... Scanner (input means), 23...
Control device, 25... Input/output list, 26.27...
barcode.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Equipped with a rack having multiple shelves and a crane that moves along the rack and carries out loading and unloading of goods to and from the shelves of the rack, inventory management is carried out and corresponds to the number of the shelf that carries out loading and unloading. a computer that outputs a loading/unloading list with a barcode on it; an input means for reading the barcode of the loading/unloading list; and a control means for controlling loading/unloading of the crane based on a shelf number code signal input from the input means. Automatic warehouse equipped with