JPH06156644A - Article picking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To embody an article picking device high in the freedom of system scale change and capable of performing efficient picking work. CONSTITUTION:An article picking device is formed of a stock shelf 4 having numerous sections for stocking plural kinds of articles individually and divided into plural areas at the unit of plural sections; display mechanism 6 for displaying the picking stand-by state of the head area of the stock shelf 4; display mechanism 6 provided at each section of the stock shelf 4 so as to be driven one by one selectively area by area according to picking commands; a switch provided at each section of the stock shelf 4 so as to inform the termination of picking based on the picking command to that section; and controllers 3 matrix-connected to the respective display mechanism and switches of the stock shelf 4 so as to receive/transmit signals. This constitution enables simultaneous parallel picking in the respective areas of the stock shelf 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article picking apparatus, and more particularly, to an improvement of an apparatus which has a high degree of freedom in changing the system scale and enables efficient picking work.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in the production of a measuring instrument, necessary parts corresponding to the type of product to be assembled from a shelf in which parts are stocked are picked into a parts box, and the parts box in which the parts are picked is assembled. It is being sent to the process. Traditionally, the picking of such parts is
Use a stock shelf that is divided into multiple compartments so that multiple types of electronic parts can be stocked by type, attach a color label according to the model to each compartment, enter the required number, and pick according to the model. In accordance with the directive, it has been practiced to pick up the required number of required components from the compartment to which the corresponding color label is attached to the component box one after another.

[0003]

However, according to such a conventional configuration, the picking operator must always read and confirm the color label and the required number of each section based on the picking instruction sheet, so that a picking error can occur. Is likely to occur and work efficiency is poor. Also, as the number of types of color labels to support mixed production of multiple models increases, the frequency of picking errors also increases.Therefore, when sharing stock shelves, there is no choice but to limit the number of models, and if the number of production models increases Since the number of shelves must be increased, the flexibility of changing the system scale is low.

Further, when a plurality of workers try to pick a plurality of models from a stock rack of one system at the same time, a succeeding worker may have to overtake a preceding worker due to a difference in required parts depending on the model. However, as a general rule, picking work on a stock shelf of one system must be done by one person in the end, and the efficiency of using the stock shelf placement space is relatively high. Low.

The present invention solves such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to realize an article picking apparatus which has a high degree of freedom in changing the system scale and enables efficient picking work.

[0006]

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention has a large number of compartments in which a plurality of types of articles are individually stocked, and a plurality of compartments in units of a plurality of compartments are provided. A divided stock shelf, a display mechanism that displays the picking standby state of the leading area of the stock shelf, and a display mechanism that is provided in each of the sections of the stock shelf and that is selectively driven one by one in each area according to a picking command And a switch which is provided in each of the compartments of the stock shelf and notifies the end of picking based on a picking command for the compartment, and a controller which is matrix-connected with each display mechanism and switch of the stock shelf to exchange signals, The present invention is characterized in that simultaneous parallel picking in each area of the stock shelf is enabled.

[0007]

[Function] The picking operator confirms that the leading area is in the picking standby state according to the display state of the display mechanism provided for each stock shelf, and sequentially enters the leading area of the stock shelf to After the picking is performed according to the display of the display mechanism provided in each of them, the switch provided in each of the sections of the stock shelf is operated to notify the controller of the completion of the picking.

[0008] With this, the operator can perform picking according to the display of the display mechanism provided in each of the compartments of the stock shelf and operate the switch, so that a picking mistake can be largely made irrespective of the proficiency level of the work. The number can be reduced and the picking work can be performed efficiently. Further, it is possible to perform parallel and parallel picking in each area of the stock shelf, and space utilization efficiency is improved.

Further, since the display mechanisms and switches of the stock shelves are connected in a matrix to transmit and receive signals between the display mechanisms and switches of the stock shelves and the controller, the system scale is changed. Can be done relatively easily.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a system configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a working state. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a host computer, to which one main computer 2 is connected via a bus. A plurality of sub-computers 3 are connected to the main computer 2 via a bus. These sub-computers 3 function as controllers of the stock shelves 4, and each sub-computer 3 has a matrix of display mechanisms and switches of the stock shelves 4 in one row. In addition, these sub-computers 3 do not have a keyboard or a CRT,
Some of the sub-computers 3 are provided with a bar code reader 5 for reading the start tag 8 in which the model name of the product is bar coded.

The stock shelf 4 is provided with a large number of compartments for individually stocking a plurality of types of articles such as electronic parts, and is divided into a plurality of areas in units of the plurality of compartments. For example, the entire 540 sections are divided into 10 areas in units of 54 sections of 6 rows and 9 columns. A sign lamp 6 used as a display mechanism for displaying the picking standby state is attached to the top of the leading area of the stock shelf 4. Then, in each of the sections of the stock shelf 4, a lamp functioning as a display mechanism that is selectively driven one by one in each area according to a picking command from the controller 3,
A switch for notifying the end of picking based on a picking command for the section is provided as the display unit 7.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an example of the flow of the operation of such a system, and shows an example of picking parts by one operator A for assembling the measuring instrument. By inputting the model name and the number of products to be manufactured on the day of the day into the host computer 1 (step 1), the host computer 1 preliminarily reads from the database according to the kind and quantity of parts used in the product and the kind of parts in advance. Parts data such as the address of the allocated section of the stock shelf 4 is extracted (step 2), and these parts data are downloaded to the main computer 2 (step 3). At the same time, the construction tag 8 in which the model name of the product is bar-coded is printed and issued. It should be noted that each of the sections of the stock shelf 4 is pre-stocked in accordance with the address of the section to which the predetermined number of parts necessary for picking in one day of work on the stock shelf 4 are allocated. And

As shown in FIG. 2A, the worker A starts the picking work by reading the bar coded start tag 8 with the bar code reader 5 of the sub computer 3 (step 4). In response to the reading by the barcode reader 5, the component data is downloaded from the main computer 2 to the sub computer 3 (step 5). The sub computer 3 stores the arrangement of the component data downloaded from the main computer 2 in the stock shelf 4
Process so as to match the sequence of each section. That is, the display mechanism 6 is driven to light to indicate that the picking operation is being performed in the corresponding leading area of the stock shelf 4 corresponding to the product designated by the start tag 8, and at the same time, the buzzer is also sounded. Then, the lamp of the display unit 7 which indicates the first picking component section is blinked and turned on at a relatively fast cycle (step 6). The worker A pushes the switch of the display unit 7 of the section to inform that picking of one section is completed after taking out one part from the section (step 7).

When a plurality of parts are picked from the section, the processes of step 6 and step 7 are repeated for the number of parts (step 8). However, the lighting cycle of the lamp becomes slower than the first picking display.
After that, until all parts have been picked,
As shown in (b), the processing from step 6 to step 8 is repeatedly executed (step 9). In this case as well, the lighting cycle of the lamp becomes slower than the first picking display.

When the picking of all the parts is completed, the sub computer 3 notifies the main computer 2 of the completion of the work by sounding a buzzer that the series of parts picking by the worker A is completed ((2)). Step 10). The main computer 2 outputs a detailed list of picked parts in response to the signal that the work is completed (step 11).

The main computer 2 judges whether or not the work for one day has been completed (step 12). When the work is completed, the picking work for one day is totaled by parts and transmitted to the host computer 1. (Step 13) The work for one day is completed. If the work has not been completed, the processes after step 4 are repeatedly executed. Simultaneous parallel picking on the same stock shelf 4 by a plurality of workers will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2A shows a state in which the preceding first worker A has started the work of reading the start tag 8 with the bar code reader 5. FIG. 2B shows a state in which the preceding first worker A is performing a picking operation in the leading area of the stock shelf 4. In these states (a) and (b), the second worker B who follows cannot perform the picking work on the same stock shelf 4. Therefore, the display mechanism 6 is driven to light to indicate that the picking operation is being performed in the corresponding leading area of the stock shelf 4.

FIG. 2 (c) shows a state in which the preceding first worker A finishes the picking work in the leading area of the stock shelf 4 and moves to the next area to perform the picking work. In this state, since the leading area of the stock shelf 4 becomes empty, the picking work by the subsequent second operator B in the same leading area of the stock shelf 4 as the first operator A becomes possible. The mechanism 6 is turned off. The second worker B confirms that the display mechanism 6 is turned off,
As shown in FIG. 2D, the work tag 8 is read by the barcode reader 5 to start the work. As a result, the display mechanism 6 is driven to turn on again.

FIG. 2 (e) shows a state in which the first worker A and the second worker B are simultaneously performing the picking work in parallel in the adjacent areas of the same stock shelf 4. Here, since the second worker B is performing the picking work in the leading area of the stock shelf 4, the display mechanism 6 is driven to light. Even if the third worker C tries to start the work by reading the start tag 8 with the barcode reader 5 in this state, since the second worker B is performing the picking work in the leading area of the stock shelf 4, The sub-computer 3 sends a signal to the third worker C, "Picking work in leading area".

In such a series of work flow, the sub-computer 3 selectively drives only one display mechanism for displaying picking articles for one worker. That is, the display mechanism provided in each section is selectively driven one by one in each area. As a result, simultaneous parallel picking work by a plurality of workers on the same stock shelf, which has been impossible in the past, can be smoothly performed.

In the picking operation, the instruction of the display mechanism may be followed, and an efficient work result can be obtained with almost no individual differences such as the work amount and picking mistakes. To increase or decrease the types of picking articles,
It suffices to increase or decrease the combination of sub-computers, stock shelves, sections, and display units provided in the sections. Each stock shelf display mechanism and switch is connected in matrix to each stock shelf display mechanism, switch, and sub computer. Since signals are transmitted and received between and, the system scale can be changed relatively easily.

It is also possible to provide a plurality of rows of stock shelves having the same article arrangement and to sequentially access the vacant stock shelves. Further, in the above embodiment, the picking of electronic components in assembling the measuring device has been described, but it is also effective in picking various articles in a physical distribution system. In addition, a total management system can be constructed by connecting the host computer with a system for receiving orders, placing orders, and receiving inspections.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to realize an article picking device that has a high degree of freedom in changing the system scale and can perform a picking operation efficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a work state of FIG.

3 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of operations of the system of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Host computer 2 Main computer 3 Sub computer 4 Stock shelf 5 Bar code reader 6 Display mechanism 7 Display unit 8 Start tag

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Masaaki Kumeda 2-3-9 Nakamachi, Musashino City, Tokyo Yokogawa Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A stock shelf having a large number of compartments in which a plurality of types of articles are individually stocked and divided into a plurality of areas in units of a plurality of compartments, and a picking standby state of the leading area of the stock shelf is displayed. A display mechanism, a display mechanism provided in each of the compartments of the stock shelf and selectively driven one by one for each area according to a picking instruction, and a picking provided in each of the compartments of the stock shelf based on a picking instruction for the compartment It is composed of a switch for notifying the end and a controller for transmitting and receiving signals by matrix connection with each display mechanism and switch of the stock shelf, which enables simultaneous and parallel picking in each area of the stock shelf. Article picking device.