JPH06127634A - Article handling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an article handling method which can feed an article picked up by a surface unit picking device to the first storage device and the second storage device efficiently respectively. CONSTITUTION:A surface unit picking device 13 to pick up plural articles B laminated on a pallet in a plane form at the surface unit, a load uniforming place where the articles B are uniformed, and a storage device (a flowing shelf) to store the articles B are provided. And in an article handling method to feed the articles from the surface unit picking device 13 to the load uniforming place and the storage device, at least the first storage device 29A and the second storage device 29B are provided as the storage device 29, and the value to sum up the necessary number of articles to the load uniforming place, and the article feeding number to at least two storage devices 29A and 29B, is divided by the sum of the articles B composing the surface unit, and depending on the resultant value, the articles B are picked up by the surface unit picking device 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to a first storage facility and a second storage facility.
The article handling method for supplying articles to the assortment equipment such as a distribution center having the storage equipment and the assortment area (shipping area), more specifically, the article is provided to the first and second storage equipments. It also relates to supplying to the shipping area.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technique relating to a method of handling an article, "Unmanned Technology", May 1986, pages 74 to 7
The one and the like in “High-speed automatic picking system and development” (hereinafter referred to as Document 1) published on page 9 are known. Thus, the conventional article handling method described in the above-mentioned Document 1 is the face picker (face unit picking device), the case flow rack (first storage facility), the supply car (supply means), and the variable picking. It is described that a desired article is loaded by using a loading facility equipped with a system (second storage facility).

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional techniques have the following problems. That is, the article handling method described in Document 1 includes the quantity to be supplied to the empty space of the first storage facility by the surface unit picking device when the first storage facility has an empty space capable of supplying the article. It is possible to supply the goods to the shipping area and to supply the empty space of the first storage facility by taking out the goods by using the first storage facility, while the supply line of the goods to the second storage facility is the first storage facility. Therefore, the supply of goods to the second storage facility is restricted by the quantity of goods stored in the first storage equipment, and the quantity of goods stored in the first storage equipment is larger than the quantity of goods stored in the first storage equipment. Cannot be supplied.

Further, in the above-mentioned document 1, a value obtained by adding the quantity of goods supplied to the shipping area, the quantity of goods that can be supplied to the first storage equipment, and the quantity of goods that can be supplied to the second storage equipment is added. Based on the surface-based picking device, the articles are supplied to the shipping area, and the first storage facility and the second storage device are provided.
There is no description about the supply of goods to the storage facility of the above, and there is no suggestion.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to efficiently supply an article picked up by a surface unit picking device to each of the first storage facility and the second storage facility, and to handle the article to be supplied to the shipping area. To provide.

[0006]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a face-by-face picking device for taking out a plurality of face-to-face articles stacked on a pallet on a face-by-face basis; With storage equipment (fluid shelf) for storing
In the method of handling an article for supplying the article from the face-by-side picking device to the packing place and the storage facility, at least two storage facilities are provided, and the required quantity of the article to the packing place and the storage facility The surface-unit picking device is based on a value obtained by dividing the sum of at least two of the first storage facility and the second storage facility capable of supplying articles, by the number of the articles constituting the surface unit. The above object is achieved by providing a method for handling an article, characterized in that the above article is taken out.

[0007]

According to the present invention, after the articles are picked up in plane units by the plane unit picking device, the required number of articles are directly supplied to the packing place (shipping area) and the articles are supplied to the first storage facility. And, in parallel with this, the article can be supplied to the second storage facility.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention for supplying articles to the load arranging equipment shown in FIGS. 1 to 15 will be described below. In addition, in each figure, FIG.
3 is a flow chart showing the flow of articles in a distribution center equipped with a load-sorting facility suitably used for the method of handling articles of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the first floor of the distribution center shown in accordance with the flow chart of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the second floor of the distribution center shown in the flowchart of FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view showing the surface-unit picking device shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a front view showing the surface-unit picking device shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a side view showing the surface-unit picking device shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view showing a crossing state of the grip plates of the gripping device of the surface unit picking device shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a state in which the unit of the surface unit is transported by the transport conveyor of the load arranging facility shown in FIG. 9 is a side view showing the transportation state shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 10 is a side view showing a state in which face-by-face articles are cut out in columns, and FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a state in which face-by-face articles are cut out in rows. FIG. 12 is a side view of the state shown in FIG. 11, and FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 are operation explanatory diagrams showing states in which articles of different sizes are changed in direction by a turn device.

The load assembling equipment to which the method for handling articles according to the present invention is preferably applied handles boxes produced by factories produced in factories and the like and packed together as individual articles. The assortment equipment is integrated with an automated warehouse that operates in cooperation with this to form one distribution center. Therefore, a distribution center including a load sorting facility and an automated warehouse to which the present invention is preferably applied will be described with reference to FIGS.

Merchandise produced in a factory or the like is transported as a commodity in the form of a carton box, grouped for each same type, loaded on a pallet, and transported to a distribution center. The goods transported to the distribution center are stored in the automatic warehouse after the product name, quantity, etc. are set in the computer as management data. On the first floor of the distribution center, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a receiving station 1 for receiving a predetermined number of articles B (see FIG. 4) stacked in a plane on a pallet P as a pallet load via a forklift or the like. And a unloading station 2 for unloading the palletized cargo and empty pallets P after depalletizing the articles as described later, and a loading / unloading station for loading / unloading the palletized cargo, which is connected to these loading / unloading stations 1, 2. Conveyor line 3, this entry / exit conveyor line 3, entry sub-line 4 and entry sub-line 5 branching from this entry / exit line 3, and entry / exit of these
The automated warehouse W is equipped with a high-rise rack 6 for storing pallet loads, and a stacker crane 7 for traveling between the high-rise racks 6 to store and retrieve pallet loads and the like. Has been done.

On the first floor of the distribution center, a computer control room equipped with a computer and various control devices for controlling the pallet loading / unloading and the article handling method of the present invention is provided. Further, on the second floor of the distribution center, as shown in FIG. 3, a supply line 9 for supplying a pallet load taken out from the high-rise rack 6 via a stacker crane 7 and a necessary quantity of articles from the pallet load are depalletized. The recovery line 10 for recovering the pallet load of the above to the high-rise rack 6 side and the rails arranged along the end of the supply line 9 and the recovery line 10 are unmanned to supply the pallet load,
And a traverser 11 for collecting.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, the load assembling equipment to which the present invention is preferably applied is constructed on the second floor of the distribution center in the present embodiment, and receives the pallet load at the traverser 11 of the automatic warehouse W. , It is configured to return the pallet load after depalletizing. That is,
As shown in FIG. 3, the load assembling equipment includes the traverser 1
1. A conveyor 12 for loading the pallet load in FIG. 1 and a face-by-face picking device 1 for taking out a predetermined number of articles from the pallet load carried in by the carry-in conveyor 12 in plane units.
3 and an empty pallet accumulating device for accumulating empty pallets P via a conveyor 15 and a unloading conveyor 14 for unloading the remaining pallet cargo from which a predetermined number of articles have been picked up by the surface unit picking device 13 to the automatic warehouse W. 1
6 and.

The surface-unit picking device 13 receives a picked-up article on a surface-by-plane basis as described later, and moves the receiving conveyor 17 up and down to pick up the article B on a surface-by-plane basis in two different directions. It is provided with a first carry-out conveyor 18A and a second carry-out conveyor 18B that carry out the unit as it is. Then, as will be described later, the first carry-out conveyor 18A is connected to a first storage facility (first storage facility) for storing the products shipped in bulk as articles in cardboard boxes, and the second carry-out conveyor. The conveyor 18B is connected to a second storage facility (second storage facility) that stores products (articles) shipped in cardboard box units.

Therefore, the surface-unit picking device 13 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, it is arranged on a rectangular frame 131 assembled on the floor surface of the second floor. The frame 13
In the inside of 1, the article conveyor B receives the article B together with the pallet P from the carry-in conveyor 12 and moves up and down between the receiving position and the depalletizing position, and the pallet P emptied by depalletizing as will be described later. Side conveyor conveyor 15 and a receiving conveyor 1 for carrying out the depalletized article B to the first carry-out conveyor 18A and the second carry-out conveyor 18B.
7 are provided. Then, the carry-in conveyor 13
2. Elevating devices 134 and 135 are provided on the lower surface of the receiving conveyor 17, respectively, and are configured to raise and lower the carry-in conveyor 132 and the receiving conveyor 17, as shown in FIGS.

A pillar 131 is provided above the frame 131.
Traveling rails 136 and 136 are provided on the upper surface of the frame member 131A positioned through B, 131B, 131B, and 131B. And these running rails 136, 1
A carriage 137 is movably arranged on the carriage 36, and a gripping device 138 is arranged on the carriage 137. The gripping device 138 includes two pairs of gripping plates 139, 140 and 141, 142 facing each other, as shown in FIGS.
Opposing gripping plates 139, 140 and 141, 142 are configured to expand and contract with respect to the center line of the carriage 137 as a reference point to grip and release a plurality of articles B in steps (planes). . That is, the gripping device 138 includes a pair of frame members 138A and 138 arranged on the carriage 137.
A, a pair of frame members 138B and 138B orthogonal to the frame members 138A and 138A, a cross-shaped connecting body 138C disposed at the reference point, and the frame members 138A and 1
38A and 138B, 138B, and the guide tubes 143, 14 connected between the respective inner surfaces and the connecting body 138C.
4 and 145, 146, and these guide tubes 143, 144
Slide bosses 147, 148 and 149, 150 slidably mounted on the slide bosses 145, 145, 146, and cylinders 151, 152, 153, 154 disposed above the slide bosses 147, 148, 149, 150. And these cylinders 151, 152 and 153,
One end of each of 154 is connected to the connecting body 138C, and each of the rods 151A, 152A, and 15
One end of 3A, 154A has the above-mentioned slide bosses 147, 14
8 and 149, 150 and the cylinders 151, 152 and 153, 154 connected to the upper side of the slide bosses 147, 148 and 149, 15
It is configured to slide 0.

Further, the grip plates 139, 140 are provided below the slide bosses 147, 148 and 149, 150.
, 141 and 142 are connected to each other, and are configured to expand and contract the grip plates 139, 140 and 141, 142 by driving the cylinders 151, 152 and 153, 154, respectively, as described above.

Further, the grip plates 141 and 142 have two channel members 141A and 141A on both ends thereof, as shown in FIG.
141A and 142A, 142A are provided so as to be spaced apart from each other, and the other grip plates 139, 140 have two channel members 139A, 139A and 140A, which are different from the channel members 141A, 141A and 142, 142A, respectively. 140A is provided so as to project, and the grip plate 14 is provided.
1, 142 and the grip plates 139, 140 do not interfere with each other,
The plurality of articles B are configured so that the plurality of articles B can be gripped from four directions without hindrance in accordance with the dimension of each unit formed by the plurality of articles B.

Further, on the lower surface of the frame member 131A, the carry-in conveyor 1 which is elevated through the elevating device 134.
A pair of photoswitches PH for detecting the article B on 32
1. PH1 and PH2 are disposed so as to be positioned substantially above a pair of diagonally opposite corners of the carry-in conveyor 132, and the article B is lifted via the elevating device 134 to cause the article B to rise.
Interrupts the light beam between the photoswitches PH1 and PH2, and after a lapse of a certain time, stops the elevating device 134 and also the cylinders 151, 152 and 153, 154.
To drive the grip plates 139, 140 and 141, 1
By closing 42, the uppermost article B is configured to be gripped in plane units. In addition, the cylinder 15
A pressure switch (not shown) is arranged in the pipes leading to 1, 152, 153, and 154, and grips a plurality of articles B constituting the surface with a preset pressure (grip force), and the pressure switch has a predetermined pressure. When the gripping force is detected, the lifting device 13
4 is driven to lower the other article aggregates on the pallet P by a preset distance, and the articles B in plane units are transferred to the pallet P.
The trolley 137 is separated from the above-mentioned other article aggregate and
The drive device 155 arranged in the
7 is configured to run on the receiving conveyor 17 side.

Further, one corner portion of the carriage 137 on the receiving conveyor 17 side (downstream corner portion in this embodiment).
A limit switch LS1 is arranged on the lower surface. On the other hand, a dog D1 is arranged at a corner portion of the frame member 131A corresponding to the corner portion of the carriage 137. And
As described above, the limit switch LS1 detects the dog D1 and the drive unit 1 while the traveling dolly 137 is located right above the receiving conveyor 17.
55 is stopped to stop the truck 137. Also,
With the traveling of the dolly 137, the receiving conveyor 17
Is configured to drive the elevating device 135 of FIG. Therefore, the receiving conveyor 17 moves up and down between the first carry-out conveyor 18A connected to the first storage facility and the second carry-out conveyor 18B connected to the second storage facility by the driving of the elevating device 135. 18A and the second unloading conveyor 1
The article B can be transferred to each of the 8Bs in a face-to-face manner.

Further, on the lower surface of the frame member 131A, two pairs of photoswitches PH3, PH4 and PH are provided so that the light beam obliquely passes above the receiving conveyor 17.
5, PH6 is provided, and a pair of photo switches PH3,
PH4 is arranged above the other pair of photoswitches PH5 and PH6. Above photo switch PH
3, PH4 is lifted and lowered 13 when its light beam is blocked by the receiving conveyor 17 which rises as described above.
5, the position indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG.
8 is stopped at a position where it comes in contact with the lower surface of the gripped article B, and the cylinders 151, 152 and 153, 154 of the gripping device 138 are driven to move the gripping plates 14 respectively.
1, 142 and 139, 140 are opened to release the surface-unit article B held and delivered to the receiving conveyor 17. In addition, the lifting device 13
Reference numeral 5 denotes the receiving conveyor 1 from the gripping device 138.
When the article B in the unit of plane is received at 7, the first conveyer conveyor 18A and the second conveyer conveyor 18B are lowered to the respective levels as described above. The article B is configured to be delivered to the first carry-out conveyor 18A and the second carry-out conveyor 18B. Further, the receiving conveyor 17 descends and the upper surface of the article B reaches below the light beams of the lower photoswitches PH5 and PH6.
When the light blocking state between H5 and PH6 is released, the trolley 1
The gripping device 1 is driven by driving the driving device 155 of 37.
38 is configured to run toward the carry-in conveyor 132 side.

The limit switch L is provided at the corner of the carriage 137, that is, at the downstream side in the flow direction of the article B.
A limit switch LS2 is arranged at a corner portion opposite to the corner portion where S1 is arranged. On the other hand, the frame member 13
A dog D2 is arranged at a corner corresponding to the corner of the truck 137 of 1A. Then, when the limit switch LS2 detects the dog D2 in a state in which the carriage 137 traveling from the receiving conveyor 17 side is located right above the first conveyor 132 as described above, the drive device 155 is stopped. The carriage 137 is stopped.

In addition, the above-mentioned load arranging facility is also provided with a transfer device for connecting the first unloading conveyor 18A and the first storage facility 29A. As shown in FIG. 3, this transport device receives a first separating conveyor 19A for separating the surface-unit articles B carried out from the first discharging conveyor 18A into rows, and an article B separated by the first separating conveyor 19A. A row feed conveyor 20A that laterally feeds one row, and a direction changer 22A that cuts one row of articles B sent by the row feed conveyor 20A into individual articles B and positions them with an end stopper 22AA and then changes the feed direction by 90 °.
Transporting conveyor 21A for transporting to, and a turn device 23A and a turn conveyor 2 for sequentially turning the articles B, which have been turned by the turning device 22A, one by one in the longitudinal direction.
4A and a transfer line 26 for transferring the article B on the turn conveyor 24A to the supply conveyor 27A.

Further, the load arranging facility E includes a first feeder 28A for feeding the articles B on the feed conveyor 27A,
The first that receives the supply of the article B by the first feeder 28
It is provided with a storage facility 29A. This first storage facility 29
A has a plurality of storage fronts for storing the articles B in a matrix in the vertical and horizontal directions, an article outlet is provided on the front of the storage front, and an article supply port corresponding to the article outlet on the back. Is equipped with. Each storage front is formed by a (so-called) fluidized shelf in which a free roller conveyor is arranged so as to be inclined downward from the article supply port toward the article removal port. An article supply surface is formed by the plurality of article supply ports. Then, the first feeder 28A runs along the article supply surface and ascends and descends along the vertical article supply surface, so that the article B is delivered to the desired storage front of the first storage facility 29A via the article supply port. Is configured to supply.

Further, as is apparent from FIG. 3, the first storage facility 29A includes a partition 30 and the like for the first storage unit 2
9A ₁ and the second storage unit 29A ₂ , and the article supply surface is formed as an article supply surface smaller than that of the second storage facility 29B described later. Therefore, in taking out (supplying) the articles, first, the articles stored in the first storage section 29A ₁ of the first storage facility 29A are targeted, and
By picking up (supplying) in order of the storage frontage of the second storage facility 29B that supplies the same product as the product stored in the storage unit 29A ₁ , the surface unit picking device 13
When supplying the plurality of face-unit articles taken out by the first storage facility 29A, the first feeder 28A supplies the plurality of face-unit items to each storage unit 29A of the first storage facility 29A.
It may be supplied to the storage front in the article supply surface of A _{1, and then} the article stored in the second storage section 29A ₂ may be taken out (supplied) as described above. That is,
The first feeder 28A is frequently used in both storage units 29B ₁ and 29B.
Without going back and forth between the _two and supplying goods,
Since the traveling range is narrower than that of the second feeder 28B described later,
Even if the articles are supplied regardless of the storage front order of the storage sections 29B ₁ and 29B ₂ of the first storage facility 29A, the traveling distance of the situation is small and the articles can be efficiently supplied. Further, the article supply surface is formed small so as to do so.

The first storage facility 29A is, as described above,
The first storage unit 29A ₁ and the second storage unit 29A ₂ do not have to be defined by the partition 30 and the like, and the first storage is performed by a computer in a range having an article supply surface smaller than the article supply surface of the second storage facility 29B. The facility 29A may be divided into the first storage unit, the second storage unit, and further the third storage unit by setting the data.

The articles B stored in the respective storage fronts of the first storage facility 29A are the articles stored in the corrugated cardboard boxes, and the products in the respective articles B are stored in the respective storage fronts in order to accommodate small orders. While the worker M confirms the picking quantity displayed on the display device arranged in (1), the operator picks out the picking quantity by hand (varying picking).
Each product picked up from each storage front is sequentially put into the container carried by the carrying conveyor 31A and carried as a container storing a plurality of products according to each order, and the first floor portion shown in FIG. Are directly supplied to the shipping area on the first floor via the storage line 32A.

The load arranging facility is provided with a transfer device that connects the second unloading conveyor 18B, the second storage facility 29B, and the first floor of the distribution center. Specifically, the first carry-out conveyor 18A and the turn conveyor 24A
It has the same structure as that of the transport device that connects to and is located below it. That is, the second separating conveyor 19B that separates the articles B in plane units carried out from the second carrying-out conveyor 18B for each row, and further to the downstream side, the row feeding conveyor 20B, the conveying conveyor 21B, the direction changer 22B, the end stopper 22BB, Turn device 23B and turn conveyor 2
It has 4B. Further, this transport facility is provided with a branch facility 25 that branches the transport destination of the article B on the turn conveyor 24B, and the branch device 25 stores the article B to be stored in the second storage facility 29B. Instead, it is configured to sort the articles B to be directly shipped.

Further, a supply conveyor 27B for sequentially supplying the articles B to be stored sorted by the branching device 25 to the load arranging facility, and the supply conveyor 27B.
It is provided with a second supplier 28B for supplying the article B above and a second storage facility 29B for receiving the article B supplied by the second supplier 28B. As shown in FIG. 3, the second storage facility 29B is configured similarly to the first storage facility 29A, and the second feeder 28B supplies the article B from the article supply surface to the second storage facility 29B. It is configured. Then, the surface unit picking device 13 is controlled by the computer so as to take out the articles according to the storage frontage order of the articles stored in the second storage facility 29A, so that the traveling of the second feeder 28A is not wasted. Has been done.

Then, the articles B stored in the second storage facility 29B are taken out by the picking device 30 driven based on the instruction of the computer and supplied in a desired quantity to the transfer conveyor 31B connected to the shipping line. It is adapted to be transported from the transport conveyor 31B to the storage line 32B in the first floor portion shown in FIG. The article B conveyed from the second carry-out conveyor 18B
Of the two, the second is distributed by the branching device 25.
The articles B other than the articles B stored in the storage facility 29B are transported to the storage line 34 on the first floor shown in FIG. 2 via the transport conveyor 33 connected to the turn conveyor 24B.

As mentioned above, each of the storage lines 32 is
Items B stored by A, 32B and 34
And the containers are those storage lines 32A, 3
2B and 34 Main line 3 connected at the downstream end of each
After merging in 5, the plurality of sub-lines 36 branched from the main line 35 are sorted by the orderer, the delivery region, or the like via the sorting device 37 and shipped.

The plurality of articles B in plane units carried out from the second carry-out conveyor 18B are separated and arranged into individual articles B in the above-mentioned transport facility as shown in FIGS. That is, the second separating conveyor 19B has
As shown in FIG. 8, a photoelectric tube 41 that senses the movement of the article B and issues a command, and FIG. 9 and FIG.
0, a lifter 42 for moving the second separating conveyor 19B up and down is provided, and the turn device 23B has an arm 43 for stopping the conveyed article B and a tip roller 44, as shown in FIGS. 13 to 15. And are provided. Therefore, the plurality of articles B on a plane-by-plane basis are separated by the second separating conveyor 1.
9B, and when its tip is detected by the photoelectric tube 41, the lifter 42 is driven to drive the second separating conveyor 19B.
1 to the state shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 11, the articles B in a row move onto the second separating conveyor 19B, the remaining articles B are stopped at the step 19O, and the articles on the second separating conveyor 19B are conveyed downstream to the second separating conveyor. Until 19B descends
It stands by on the second carry-out conveyor 18B.

As described above, the articles B in one row are as follows.
It is conveyed downstream, is conveyed one by one to the turn conveyor 24B by the direction changer 22B, and is unified in direction by the turn device 23B. That is, the article B conveyed in the longitudinal direction goes straight as it is, and the article conveyed in the lateral direction collides with the arm 43 or the tip roller 44 of the turn device 23B and is turned in the longitudinal direction and conveyed. .

The turn device 23B receives the stroke information (protruding length) of the arm 43 for each product by a computer, and only the article B flowing in the lateral direction as shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 is the arm 43. Alternatively, the position of the tip roller 44 is moved by an appropriate amount using a pulse motor or the like so that it is stopped by the tip roller 44 and changes in the longitudinal direction indicated by the dotted line.

The construction and operation for the first separating conveyor 19A to separate the articles B in plane units in columns are the same as those in the second separating conveyor 19B described above, and the configuration and operation of the turn device 23A are also described above. It is similar to the turn device 23B. Further, the above-described conveyance can be performed by using a conventionally known depalletizer instead of the surface unit picking device 13.

Next, one embodiment of the method of the present invention using the above-mentioned load arranging equipment will be described. In this embodiment, picking data corresponding to orders for many kinds of products is first created. As the picking data, batch order picking data for an order of a cardboard box unit and single order picking data for an order of an individual unit are created. Here, batch order picking means summing up the orders of each store processed in one batch (picking unit) and picking the quantity for that batch for each product type. Also, single order picking means Picking the item B for each order at each store. Then, when the picking data of one batch is aggregated, emergency replenishment data, normal replenishment data and interruption replenishment data are further created so that picking data can be continuously picked without causing out of stock at the time of picking. Create in detail.

The above-mentioned urgent replenishment data is created by checking the replenished article B which is out of stock during the batch picking and which can be replenished before the start of picking. That is, the order quantity of the bulk picking of this batch is totaled, and each storage unit 29A of the first storage facility 29A is
₁ Check whether the quantity of the goods B stored in 29A ₂ is sufficient, and if there is not enough quantity, store one of the storage sections 29A ₁ and 29A ₂ for storing the goods. Check if there is a storage space for one item) and if there is a storage space, register it as “emergency replenishment data”.

Further, the above-mentioned normal replenishment data is for the article B that does not run out due to bulk picking in the batch.
From the state (storage quantity) of the first storage facility 29A before the start of picking, it is confirmed whether there is a storage space for one side in the corresponding storage front of the article B, and the storage space for one side is available. The replenishable item B is registered as “normal replenishment data”.

The processing is performed in the following order. The objects B stored in the storage unit 29A ₁ of the first storage facility 29A are targeted in the storage order of the items B stored in the second storage facility 29B. Then, the articles B stored in the storage section 29A ₂ of the first storage facility 29A are targeted in the storage order of the articles B stored in the second storage facility 29B.

Further, the interruption replenishment data is the article B which is out of stock during batch picking and cannot be replenished before the start of picking (a storage space for one surface is not available in the storage front). For item B,
Register as "interruption supplement data". After registering each of the above-mentioned picking data in the computer, a command based on each of the picking is transmitted from this computer, whereby taking-out of articles by the load-sorting facility is started.

Face-by-Side Picking Device 13 for Load Alignment Equipment
First, based on the emergency replenishment data, the first storage facility 29
In order to replenish the storage parts 29A ₁ and 29A _{2 of A} with the articles B, the articles B taken out from the high-rise rack 6 of the automatic warehouse W are taken out in plane units. The article B taken out is delivered to the first carry-out conveyor 18A via the receiving conveyor 17. The article B carried out by the first carry-out conveyor 18A includes a first separating conveyor 19A, a row feed conveyor 20A, a carrying conveyor 21A, a direction changer 22A,
It is conveyed to the supply conveyor 27A via the turn conveyor 24A and the conveyance line 26. This supply conveyor 27
The article B having reached A is supplied to the storage section 29A ₁ or 29A ₂ of the first storage facility 29A by the first feeder 28A. In this way, by urgently replenishing the first storage facility 29A with the article B, the worker M continuously and reliably picks up the articles in the article B continuously according to the display quantity of the display device without running out. be able to.

When the replenishment of the article B based on the emergency replenishment data is completed, the article B is taken out (picked) based on the picking data, and the article B is replenished based on the normal replenishment data. This replenishment is performed on the articles B to be stored in the first storage facility 29A and the second storage facility 29B. First, a case where normal replenishment is performed only in the second storage facility 29B will be described. For the picking of the article B in the corrugated cardboard box, how the surface unit picking device 13, the second feeder 28B, and the picking device 30 operate according to the order is determined by the following arithmetic expression (1) performed by the computer. It is done based on.

F = (O + S) / C ... (1) F; Number of picked-up faces (face) (decimal point cut-off) of face unit picking device O; Number of orders in cardboard box unit (case) S; Number of cases that can be supplied in the relevant storage front of the second storage facility (case) C; Number of corrugated cardboard boxes forming one surface (case / surface) There are the following four combinations of each device that operates in the above calculation (1).

Combination in which the surface unit picking device 13 and the picking device 30 operate Combinations in which the surface unit picking device 13 and the second feeder 28B operate Combining only the surface unit picking device 13 operates Only the picking device 30 operates In the case of a combination of combinations, for example, when the number of orders O of a certain product type is 10 cases, the number S of the second storage equipment 29B that can be supplied is 2 cases, and the number C of one surface configuration is 8 cases / surface, the calculation formula (1 ), The number of extraction surfaces F of the surface-unit picking device 13 is (10 + 2) /8=1.5, which is one surface.
Therefore, one surface (8
The case 2) is taken out, and the shortage 2 cases are taken out by the picking device 30.

The articles B stored in the respective storage fronts of the first pipe facility 29A are the articles for which small orders have been stored in cardboard box units, and the goods in the respective articles B are distributed to the respective storage fronts. While the worker M confirms the picking quantity displayed on the installed display device, the worker M manually picks up the displayed quantity. Each product picked up from each storage front is transported by the conveyor 31.
According to each order sequentially placed in the container transported by B, it is stored in the transport conveyor 31B as a container in which a plurality of goods are stored and delivered to the storage line 32B on the first floor shown in FIG. Has been done.

Of the articles B conveyed from the first carry-out conveyor 18A, articles B other than the articles B sorted by the branching device 25 and stored in the second storage facility 29B are stored in the turn conveyor 24. It is configured to be directly supplied to the shipping area on the first floor via the storage conveyor 34 on the first floor shown in FIG.

As described above, each of the storage lines 32 is
Items B stored by A, 32B and 34
And the container is supplied to the shipping area. This shipping area is supplied to the shipping areas connected at the downstream ends of the storage lines 32A, 32B, and 34, respectively. This shipping area includes a main line 35 where the above-mentioned articles B and containers join, a plurality of sub-lines 36 branching from this main line 35, and a sorting device 37 for delivering the above-mentioned articles B and containers to these sub-lines 36. In addition, each part B on the main line 35 and the container are distributed to each orderer, each distribution region, or the like.

In the case of the combination of, for example, the number of orders O is 10 cases and the number of supplies S of the second storage facility 29B is S.
Is 6 cases, and the number C of surface configurations is 8 cases / surface, the number of extraction surfaces F of the surface-unit picking device 13 is (10 + 6) /8=2.0 according to the arithmetic expression (1), and 2 surfaces are obtained. Is. Therefore, the face-side picking device 13 takes out two faces (16 cases), supplies the 10 ordered cases to the shipping area as they are, and supplies the excess 6 cases to the second feeder 2.
8B and the second storage device 2 is operated by the second feeder 28B.
Supply to 9B.

In the case of the combination of, for example, the number of orders O is 16 cases and the number of supplies S of the second storage facility 29B is S.
Is 6 cases, and the number C of surface configurations is 8 cases / surface, the number of extraction surfaces F of the surface-unit picking device 13 becomes (16 + 6) /8=2.75 by the arithmetic expression (1), and 2 surfaces are obtained. Is. Therefore, the surface unit picking device 13 takes out two surfaces (16 cases) and supplies all the quantities to the shipping area. In this case, since the picked-up quantity F = the ordered quantity O, the devices other than the face-unit picking device 13 do not operate.

In the case of the combination of, for example, when the order number O is 2, the supplyable number S of the second storage facility 29B is 2 cases, and the number C of the side surfaces is 8 cases / side, the arithmetic expression (1 ), The number F of extraction surfaces of the surface-unit picking device 13 is (2 + 2) /8=0.5, which is zero.
Therefore, the picking device 30 does not take out the case by the face unit picking device 13, and the picking device 30 takes out two cases of the ordered number.

As described above, when the articles B in cardboard box units are taken out, how each device is operated based on the supplyable quantity and the number of orders of the storage front of the relevant article B in the second storage facility 29B. A computer is used to determine whether or not to operate, and the device to be operated is determined. Then, the second storage facility 29B includes the surface unit picking device 13
It serves as a buffer for adjusting the excess and deficiency so that the quantity B of the goods B taken out in step S can be matched with the order quantity.

Further, the above calculation is performed on the article B in the corrugated box unit.
Is performed for all the articles B that have been ordered, the calculation order is the storage front order of the second storage facility 29B, for example, from the downstream side in the transport direction of the conveyor that transports the article B taken out by the picking device 30, and , The object B stored in the first storage unit 29A ₁ of the first storage facility 29A shown in FIG.

Before the above calculation, if the product to be calculated has "normal replenishment data", the computer uses the above formula (1) to calculate the quantity of the goods B to be supplied to the first storage facility 29A. Calculate by adding S '. That is, it is calculated by the following arithmetic expression (2). F = (O + S + S ') / C ... (2) F; Number of picked-up faces (faces) (decimal point cut-off) from face unit O; Number of orders in cardboard box unit (case) S; Second storage facility 29B Of the applicable storage front (case) S '; The number of supply of the corresponding storage front of the first storage facility 29A (normal replenishment data) [Case (surface unit)] C; Number of corrugated cardboard boxes forming one surface ( Case / Surface) The operation of the surface-based picking device 13 is such that when the article B having "normal replenishment data" is taken out, the taken-out article B is the supply line 27A of the first storage facility 29A.
Is unloaded to the first unloading conveyor 18A connected to.
The article B taken out for the order of the corrugated cardboard box is delivered by the branching device 25 to the second shipping conveyor 18B connected to the line for direct shipping and the supply line 27B of the second storage facility 29B.

In addition, the second storage unit 2 of the first storage facility 29A.
In the case of normally replenishing 9A ₂ with the article B, after the replenishment of the first storage section 29A ₁ is completed, the replenishment of the article B is similarly performed by a computer command based on the result obtained by the above calculation. To be done. Then, as described above, during picking and normal refilling,
When the storage space for one surface of the article B stored in any of the storage sections 29A ₁ and 29A ₂ of the first storage facility 29A becomes empty, the computer issues a command based on the "interruption replenishment data". Then, interrupt replenishment is performed to the storage unit 29A ₁ or 29A _{2 in} which the storage space for one surface is vacant. That is, the computer is the first storage facility 2
We are always aware of the inventory of each storage front of 9A, and when picking up the order of what number store, "interruption replenishment"
It is calculated in advance whether it will be possible. "Interruptive replenishment" is possible when the empty space (the number that can be supplied) at the relevant storage front has become equal to or more than one side, and the picking of the order at the relevant store has been completed (the container having the relevant container number has passed the specified position Is detected by the computer. After detection, the computer is
o. Based on the above, the item B corresponding to the item B is searched from the "interruption supplementary data". Then, the article B corresponding to the stacker crane and the surface unit picking device 13 of the automatic warehouse W
Instruct to take out. However, in order not to basically perform "interruption replenishment" to the storage unit 29A ₁ of the first storage facility 29A, the articles B having a small shipment quantity are stored, or the storage capacity of the storage front is increased. It is desirable to set it.

Thus, the articles B stored in the first storage section 29A ₁ or the second storage section 29A ₂ of the first storage facility 29A are processed in the order of the storage frontage of the second storage facility 29B. Then, each device operates in that order. That is, the surface unit picking device 13 and the picking device 30 are the first storage unit 29A ₁ or the second storage unit 2 of the first storage facility 29A.
Second storage facility to the subject an article B stored in 9A ₂ 2
The desired articles B are taken out and shipped in the order of the storage front 9B, and the first feeder 28A and the second feeder 28B supply the articles B taken out by the surface unit picking device 13 to the desired storage front in order.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
Article B picked up by the surface unit picking device 13
Is directly supplied to the shipping area and the first storage facility 2
9A and second storage facility 29B each have a shortage of inventory
It can be efficiently supplied without causing it. still,
In the above embodiment, the first storage facility 29A has two storage parts.
29A₁, 29A ₂About having side by side
As explained, each storage unit 29A₁, 29A ₂Apart
Also, the storage is not limited to two locations.
In short, the article supply side of the first storage facility is
Anything smaller than that is acceptable.

Further, as the surface unit picking device 13, only the four-face gripping type has been described. However, the surface unit picking device used in the present invention is a roller having a rubber lining or the like at the end of the conveyor. It suffices that the roller B be provided and the roller be rotated to the side of the corrugated cardboard box so that the article B can be taken out face by face.

[0057]

According to the method of handling articles of the present invention,
The article taken out by the face-by-side picking device can be efficiently supplied to each of the first storage facility and the second storage facility, and can be directly supplied to the shipping area.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the flow of articles in a distribution center equipped with a load arranging facility that is preferably used in the article handling method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a first floor portion of the distribution center shown in FIG.

3 is a plan view showing a second floor portion of the distribution center shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing, in an enlarged manner, a surface unit picking device of the load arranging facility shown in FIG.

5 is a front view showing the surface unit picking device shown in FIG. 4. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the surface unit picking device shown in FIG. 4;

7 is a partially enlarged view showing a crossing state of grip plates of the grip device of the surface unit picking device shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a state in which plane-by-plane articles are conveyed by the conveyance computer of the load arranging facility shown in FIG.

9 is a side view showing the carrying state shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a state where articles in plane units are separated in row units.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a state in which articles in plane units are separated in columns.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the state shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is an operation explanatory view showing a state in which articles of different sizes change their directions by the turn device.

14 is a view showing a state different from the state shown in FIG.
It is a figure equivalent to.

FIG. 15 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 13 showing a state different from the states shown in FIGS. 13 and 14;

[Explanation of symbols]

13 face unit picking device 28A 1st feeder 28B 2nd feeder 29A 1st storage facility (1st storage facility) 29B 2nd storage facility (2nd storage facility) 29A ₁ , 29A ₂ storage part

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A face-by-face picking device for picking up a plurality of products stacked in a plane on a pallet on a face-by-face basis, an arranging place for arranging the products, and a storage facility for storing the products (fluid shelf) ) And a method of handling an article for supplying the article from the surface unit picking device to the packing place and the storage facility, at least two storage facilities are provided, and , A value obtained by summing at least two first storage facilities out of the storage facilities, the respective supplyable quantities of the articles to the second storage facility, on the basis of a value obtained by dividing by the quantity of the articles constituting the surface unit, An article handling method, characterized in that the article is taken out by the surface-based picking device. 2. The step amount of the surface of the article taken out by the surface-by-plane picking device is the quantity of articles supplied to the yard, the quantity of articles that can be supplied to the first storage facility, and the storage second storage facility. 2. The method for handling an article according to claim 1, wherein the total quantity of the article and the quantity that can be supplied is obtained by dividing the total quantity by the quantity of the articles constituting the surface unit. 3. The method for handling an article according to claim 1, wherein the articles are supplied in the order of the yard, the first storage facility, and the second storage facility. 4. The method of handling an article according to claim 1, wherein the first storage facility and the second storage facility are fluidized shelves.