JPH04159901A - Picking directing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the picking work efficiency by switching a display section from the first display mode to the second display mode without erasing the numerical display on the numerical display section when a completion action piece is operated. CONSTITUTION:When indicator lamps of display units 151-15n are blinked, a picking worker performs the picking work extracting the objects stored at positions corresponding to the numerically displaying display units 151-15n by the directed quantity, and the worker pushes the completion buttons of the display units 151-15n under numerical display when the work is completed. Individual bay controllers 191-19n leave the numerical displays of the display units 151-15n as they are without erasing them and switch the indicator lamps of the display units 151-15n to the lighting drive. The picking worker can easily confirm the objects extracted during the work and the extraction number and the like on the spot. Picking errors are reduced, and the picking work efficiency is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an improvement in a picking instruction device that instructs the accommodation position and quantity of articles to be picked up in response to a request for picking up articles from the outside. .

(Prior Art) As is well known, a device has an inclined shelf board, and the shelves facing the front are used as storage positions for separate articles, and the inclination of the shelf is used to remove the article cases in front. Fluid shelving systems in which the new cases at the back come out to the front are becoming popular. Such floating shelf systems are installed in large numbers in storage locations such as warehouses, and are widely used in so-called order picking systems, in which workers take out a predetermined number of predetermined types of products one after another according to an order list. ing.

By the way, in conventional picking operations, workers have a list (slip) to pick and take out a predetermined number of predetermined items based on the list, which results in longer work time and more picking errors, which results in slower work. This has problems such as a decrease in efficiency.

Therefore, in recent years, a computer-based centralized management system has been introduced, and based on requests for retrieval of items from outside,
2. Description of the Related Art Picking systems that automatically display the storage position and quantity of articles to be picked up are being actively developed.

This type of picking system generally includes a plurality of display sections corresponding to each article storage position on a shelf to indicate the quantity of the article to be taken out. and,
Based on a request to take out an article from the outside, first, the display section corresponding to the storage position of one of the plurality of articles requested to be taken out is caused to indicate the quantity of that article to be taken out. Then, the picking worker starts a picking operation to take out the articles corresponding to one display section on which the quantity is displayed, in the quantity indicated on that display section.

After the picking task is completed, the picking worker operates the completion switch installed in parallel on the display section,
Notify the computer that the work is complete. Then, the display on the display section that previously indicated the quantity disappears, and instead, the quantity is displayed on the display section corresponding to the storage position of the next item to be taken out based on the preset order. Re,
Thereafter, similar operations are repeated to complete the picking operation.

However, there is still room for improvement in the technology that attempts to improve the efficiency of picking operations by centrally managing the picking system using a computer, and it is difficult to fully meet the needs of users in various respects. There is a strong demand for the development of such a picking system. In other words, in the conventional picking system described above, when the completion switch is operated, the quantity display on the display section is erased, so the picking worker must remove the item corresponding to the display section whose quantity display has already been erased, i.e. If a question arises as to whether there is an error in the item itself or the quantity taken out after it has been removed from the shelf, it is not possible to easily check on the spot, leading to a decrease in the efficiency of the picking operation. There is a problem.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, the conventional picking system based on centralized management has a problem in that it is difficult for picking workers to easily confirm on the spot the items they have taken out and the quantity of the items they have taken out. have.

Therefore, this invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and allows the picking worker to easily confirm on the spot the items taken out and the quantity taken out during work, thereby reducing picking errors. It is an object of the present invention to provide an extremely good picking instruction device that can contribute to improving the efficiency of picking operations.

(Means for Solving the Problems) A picking instruction device according to the present invention includes a shelf in which articles are stored, and a plurality of devices provided corresponding to each article storage position of the shelf, and for instructing the number of articles to be taken out. A quantity display section, a plurality of completion operators provided respectively corresponding to the plurality of quantity display sections, a plurality of display sections provided respectively corresponding to the plurality of quantity display sections, and an article retrieval request given from the outside. a first driving means for displaying the quantity to be taken out on a quantity display section corresponding to a storage position of the article to be taken out, and driving the display section corresponding to the storage position for the article to be taken out in a first display mode based on the first driving means; By operating the completion operator while the quantity display section and the display section are driven by the first driving means, the display section is moved to the first drive state while the quantity display section continues to display the quantity.
and a second driving means for driving in a second display mode different from the display mode.

(Function) According to the above configuration, even if the completion operator is operated, the display section is switched from the first display mode to the second display mode without erasing the quantity display on the quantity display section. Therefore, picking workers can easily check on the spot the items they have taken out and the quantity taken out during work, which reduces picking errors and improves the efficiency of picking work. It is.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a fluidized shelf system 11 to which the present invention is applied. This fluid shelf system 11 is
The first vehicle position is called pay, and there are a plurality of (three in the illustrated case) shelves 12, 12.
······have. And each column 12, 12.
・・・・・・ has cases 13 and 1 on the front according to type.
3. Articles 14, 14. ...
... is posted. Also, each case 13.13.
The same items 14, 14 are behind .
．． . . . Case 13° 13, . . . are arranged.

Here, the above-mentioned articles 14, 14.・・・・・・is shelf 12
゜12, . It is designed so that the extraction is carried out from . In addition, articles 14, 14. ...... is supplied on shelves 12, 12. New case 13 at the end of...
This is done by placing 1B,...

Here, the shelves 12, 12.・・・・・・Niha,
The shelves 12, 12. Case 13 placed on...
Indicators 15, 15, . ...... has been installed. These indicators 15, 15.・・・・・・ Part 1 is shown in Figure 2.
As shown in FIG.
A quantity display section 15a is provided to indicate the quantity to be taken out in four digits. And this display 15
On the left side of the quantity display section 15a in the figure, there is installed an out-of-stock button 15b, which is operated to suppress when an out-of-stock item occurs. Further, on the display 15, a completion button 15c is installed on the right side of the quantity display section 15a in the figure, which is pressed when the removal of the articles 14, 14, . . . is completed. Further, on the display 15, a red indicator light 15d, the details of which will be described later, is installed on the upper right side of the completion button 15c in the figure.

Further, the liquid shelf system 11 is provided with a completion box 16 for each pay. As shown in FIG. 3, this completion box 16 includes a completion indicator light 16a that lights up when a completion button 16c, which will be described later, is pressed, and each indicator 15, 15, . . . . indicates that even one of A completion buzzer 16d is provided, which is activated to sound when all the picking operations are completed.

Each of the above-mentioned indicators 15, 15 . . . . and the completion box 16 are controlled by a computer-based central management system. That is, as shown in FIG.
n and are configured to exchange data via the central control unit 18.

And each pay 111, 112. ......, 11n
are pay control units 191, 192 ., respectively.・・・・・・
.

19n, a centralized control section 18 and each pay control section 1.
91,192. ......, 19n, each pay 111゜112, .
..., 11n display 151, 152°...
..., 15n and completion box 161, 162゜...
..., 16n, etc. are controlled.

Note that each display 151, 152. . . , 15n are each provided with a CPU (central processing unit) 15e as shown in FIG.
a, the out-of-stock button 15b, the completion button 15c, the indicator light 15d, etc. are all connected to the CPU 15e. Also, this CP
U15e includes pay control units 191, 192 .・・・・・・
A signal transmitting/receiving section 15f for exchanging data with . and 19n, an electric whale section 15g, and a Hay control section 191,
192. .......

19n or indicators 151, 152. ..., 150 for each display 151, 152,
. . . Address setting section 15 to be set every 15n
h, and the clock oscillation unit 15i etc. are also connected.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when started (step Sl), the host computer 17 sends input picking data to the central control unit 18 in step S2.This picking data includes pay number 1 display number, quantity data, etc. Including, each pay 111.112. . . . are transmitted in batches every 11n. Then, in step S3, the centralized control unit 18 controls each pay control unit 191, 192°...
・, 19n, each pay 111, 112°...
, 11n, a plurality of items 14,1 requested to be taken out
4. Indicators 151, 152 .corresponding to the storage position of one of the articles 14 among... .......

15 n to indicate the quantity to be taken out of the article 14, and the display 151.15
2. −． The indicator light 15d of 15n is driven to blink.

Therefore, in step S4, the picking worker looks at the indicators 151, 152°, 15
A picking operation is carried out to pick out the specified quantity of articles stored in the position corresponding to n. When the picking operation is completed, in step S5, the display 151, 152... ..., 15n completion button 15C
Manipulate suppression.

Then, each pay control section 191, 192 . .......

19n displays the indicators 151, 152, . . . in step S6.
..., the quantity display of 15n is left as it is without being erased, and the indicator light 15d is switched to lighting drive.

After that, each pay control unit 191, 1.92.・・・・・・
.

19n displays the display devices 151, 152, . . . in step S7.
..., based on the operation status of the completion button 15c of 15n, the pay 111, 112° that you control...
, 110 is completed. And each pay control unit 191.192.・
..., 19n is the Hei 111,1 that you control.
12. ......, if it is determined that all the picking operations within 11n have not been completed, steps 83 to S6
The pay 111 that you control repeats the process.
, 112. .......

If it is determined that all the picking operations within the user 1n have been completed, in step S8, the user controls the pay 111,1.
12. ......, 11n completion box 161.1
62. ......, 16n completion buzzer 1, 6d sounds.

After that, the picking worker picks up the completion box 161, 162, ..., where the completion button f-16d is sounding.
Pay 111°112 corresponding to 16n,...
11n, it is determined that all picking operations have been completed, and in step S9, the picking operations for the pays 111, 112 .・・・
..., 11n completion box 16], 162.・・・
..., the completion button 16c of 16n is pressed. Then, the pay control units 191, 192. ......, 19n
In step S10, all the display devices 151, 152 .
.......

Turn off the quantity display of 15n and the lighting of indicator light 15d,
At this point, the picking work based on one piece of picking data is completed.

Then, in step Sll, the centralized control unit 18 determines whether or not the next picking data has been transmitted from the host computer 17. If it has been transmitted (YES), the process returns to step S3, and the process returns to step S3 to determine whether or not the next picking data has been transmitted from the host computer 17. If not (No
), the process ends (step 512).

Therefore, according to the configuration of the above embodiment, the display devices 151, 152 .・・・・・・Completion button 15c of 15n
Even when pressed, the indicator light 15d is switched from a blinking state to a lit state without erasing the quantity display, so that the picking worker can check the items 14 picked during work and the quantity taken out. Since this can be easily done on the spot, picking errors can be reduced and the efficiency of picking work can be improved.

By the way, in picking, although the types of articles 14 to be taken out vary, in most cases the quantity to be taken out is a specified quantity (for example, one item), and in rare cases, the number of items to be taken out is a specified quantity (for example, one item). There are cases where picking is required.In the case of picking of such a case, the display devices 151, 152, . . . , 15n
The quantity display section 15a indicates almost the same quantity, and very rarely a quantity greater than the specified quantity is indicated, which causes an inconvenience in that it is difficult for the picking worker to notice that the quantity display has changed.

Therefore, operations for dealing with such inconvenience will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. first,
Once started (step 813), the host computer 17 sends the input picking data to the central control unit 18 in step S14. This picking data is the pay number.

Includes display number and quantity data, etc., and each pay 11
1,112. . . . are transmitted in batches every 11n. Then, the centralized control unit 18 controls each pay control unit 191, 192 . ..., picking data is distributed to 19n, each pay control section 191°192, -,
19 n selects each Hay 111, 112 . . , based on the input picking data in step S15.・・・・・・
. , 110, a plurality of items 14 requested to be removed,
14. . . . It is determined whether the quantity of one of the articles 14 to be taken out is "2" or more.

Then, if the quantity to be taken out is “2” or more, (Y
ES), pay control unit 19 pieces, 192°..., 19n
In step S16, the display unit 15a of the display device 151, 152°, . 151,152.・・・・・・
・, 15n indicator lights 15d are driven to blink. Therefore, the picking worker, in step S17, displays the quantities displayed on the display 15], 152. . . . -, 15n, the picking operation is performed to pick out the specified quantity of articles 14, and when the operation is completed, in step S18, the display 15 displaying the quantity is executed.
1,152. . . . Press the completion button 15c of 15n. Then, each Hay control unit 191.192.・
..., 19n is displayed on the display 151 at step 519.
, 152. -----． The quantity display 15n is left as it is without being erased, and the indicator light 15d is switched to lighting drive.

Thereafter, in step S20, the picking worker selects the display device 151, 152°..., 1
By pressing the completion button 15c of 5n again, the pay control units 191, 192. .......

19n, in step S21, displays 151°152,
. . . , the quantity display of 15n and the lighting of the indicator light 15d are turned off, and the picking operation for taking out "2" or more of one article 14 is completed here.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S15 that the withdrawal quantity is not "2" or more (No), the pay control units 191, 19
2. ..., 19n are the indicators 151, 152 . . . corresponding to the accommodation position of the article 14 in step S22.
. . . , instructs the quantity display section 15a of 15n to indicate the number j1 rlJ of the article 14 to be taken out, and
The indicator lights 15d of the indicators 151, 152°, . . . 115n are driven to blink.

Therefore, in step S23, the picking worker selects the display units 151, 152°..., which are displaying the quantity.
A picking operation is carried out to pick out a specified quantity of the articles 14 stored in the position corresponding to 15n, and when the operation is completed, in step S24, the display 151, 152, . . . , 15n completion button 15
Press c. Then, the pay control units 191, 192
．． .......

19n, in step S21, displays 151°152,
. . ., the quantity display 15n and its indicator light 15d are turned off, and the picking operation for taking out a specified quantity of one article 14 is completed.

And the above operation is pay 111, 112°...
, 11n is repeated until all the picking operations are completed, the central control unit 18, in step S25,
Determine whether the next picking data has been sent from the host computer 17, and if it has been sent (YES)
, the process returns to step S15, and if it has not been transmitted (NO), the process ends (step 526).

According to the above-mentioned operation, if you want to take out a specified quantity of articles 14, the quantity display will disappear by operating the completion button 15c once, but if you want to take out more than the specified quantity of articles 14, press the completion button 15c. Since the quantity display does not disappear unless the operation is performed twice, the display 151, 152.・・・・・・
, 15n, when a quantity greater than the specified quantity is displayed on the quantity display section 15a, the picking operator can be alerted, and picking errors can be prevented.

In addition, each display 151, 152 . ......, 15n
The quantity display section 15a is the out-of-stock button 15b or the completion button 15.
It can be used for instructions when an abnormality occurs in c. That is, the pay control units 191, 192. -==, 19n
Or, it is detected by detecting that the signal generated when the out-of-stock button 15b or the completion button 15c is operated continues for a predetermined period of time or more, and if the completion button 15c is abnormal, the indicator 151,152. .......

The quantity display section 15a of each item 15n displays the display shown in FIG. ,..., 15n quantity display section 1
5a to display the display shown in FIG. 5(b), it is possible to notify the operator of an abnormality in the out-of-stock button 15b or the completion button 15c.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the gist thereof.

(Effects of the Invention) As detailed above, according to the present invention, it is possible for the picking worker to easily confirm on the spot the items taken out during work, the quantity taken out, etc., thereby reducing picking errors. Therefore, it is possible to provide an extremely good picking instruction device that can reduce the number of times and contribute to improving the efficiency of picking operations.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the picking instruction device according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an external view showing a fluidized shelf system, and FIG. 2 is a front view showing details of a display used in the fluidized shelf system. Figure 3 is a front view showing the details of the completion box used in the fluid shelf system, Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the central management system that manages multiple fluid shelf systems, and Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the central management system that manages multiple fluid shelf systems. FIGS. 6 and 7 are a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the display, and FIGS.
The figure is a front view for explaining abnormal display of an out-of-stock button and a completion button provided on the display. 11... Fluid shelf system, 12... Shelf, 13...
Case, 14... Article, 15... Display, 16...
・Completion box, 17...Host computer, 18
... central control section, 19... pay control section. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue 2rg Figure 5'#I6 Figure 7 (a) (b) Figure 8

Claims (1)

[Claims] A shelf where articles are stored, a plurality of quantity display sections provided corresponding to each article storage position of the shelf, a plurality of quantity display sections for indicating the quantity of articles to be taken out, and a plurality of quantity display sections provided respectively corresponding to the plurality of quantity display sections. a plurality of completion operators, a plurality of display sections provided respectively corresponding to the plurality of quantity display sections, and the quantity display section corresponding to the storage position of the article to be taken out based on an article takeout request given from the outside. a first driving means for displaying the quantity to be taken out and for driving the display part corresponding to the storage position of the article to be taken out in a first display mode; and the quantity display part and the display by the first driving means. When the completion operator is operated in the drive state of the unit, the display unit is driven in a second display format different from the first display format while the quantity display unit continues to display the quantity. 2. A picking instruction device comprising: 2 driving means.