JPH0657567B2 - Goods sorting equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides a container transport line for transporting containers for storing articles, which is provided with a shelf having a plurality of article storage zones in the width direction. Provided at the front side of the shelf, an instruction means for instructing information on taking out the article from the shelf by a display device, and a control means for managing the operation of the instructing means based on work data for article sorting work are provided. Related to the equipment for sorting goods. 2. Description of the Related Art An example of such an article sorting facility is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, an article taken out from the shelf 100 by the worker based on the article take-out instruction information displayed on the display device,
By accommodating in a container conveyed along the container conveyance line 102, a plurality of types of articles are accommodated in the same shipping destination container. By the way, in general, the shelf 100 is divided into a plurality of shelf portions along the conveying direction of the container conveying line 102, that is, along the width direction, and different kinds of articles are stored in the divided shelf portions. The articles are stored, and an instruction to take out the articles is given to each of the shelves. That is, a worker is separately arranged for each of the shelves, and while the container is transported from the shelf part on the upper transfer side to the shelf part on the lower transfer side, the shelf part handled by each worker. By taking out the articles from the container and storing them in the container, it is possible to store various kinds of articles in the same shipping destination container while reducing the content of one worker. When only one type of article is stored in each of the shelves, it is only necessary to indicate the amount of articles to be taken out, but when a plurality of types of articles are stored in one shelf, Will indicate the type and the amount to be taken out. In such an article sorting facility, in order to replenish the shelves 100 with articles that have been reduced due to the above-mentioned article taking-out, for example, articles that store various articles in a sorted state at the back side of the shelves 100. A plurality of replenishment vehicles 101 are provided so that a replenishment worker can supply the articles taken out from the article replenishment vehicle 101 to the shelves 100. Further, the replenishment worker also performs a work of exchanging the article replenishment vehicle 101 with a new article replenishment vehicle 101 when the article replenishment vehicle 101 becomes empty. However, in the illustrated example, two rows of shelves 100 are provided with their backs facing each other,
An article replenishing vehicle 101 is arranged between the shelves 100. By the way, in order to properly replenish the articles on the shelves, it is necessary to accurately grasp the remaining amount of the articles on the shelves and replenish them based on the information on the remaining amount. The remaining amount of articles on the shelf is managed on the assumption that the articles are taken out from the shelf according to the instruction of the instruction means. However, according to the prior art, for example, an article is not taken out instructed by an error of an operator (for example, an oversight of displayed instruction information). In this case, the amount of goods on the shelves has not changed, but the goods have been replenished to the shelves assuming that the quantity has decreased, and as a result, the goods are forced to dent each other or spilled from the shelves. There was a risk of problems such as the articles falling and being damaged. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to accurately grasp the remaining amount of articles on a shelf and appropriately replenish the articles to the shelf, thereby eliminating the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks. Is to let. The characteristic configuration of the article sorting facility according to the present invention is as follows: completion input means for inputting completion of article removal from the shelf according to an instruction from the instruction means; Replenishment means for replenishing is provided, and the control means associates the amount of articles remaining on the shelf with the type of article based on the work data for the article sorting work and the completion information of the completion input means. It is configured so that the replenishing means is operated so as to replenish the shelves with articles whose remaining amount is reduced based on the remaining article management information. According to the characterizing feature of the present invention, the completion inputting means inputs the completion information of the article take-out work from the shelf instructed by the instructing means, and the control means carries out work data for the article sorting work (for example, work data). , The quantity of goods for each kind of shelf at the beginning of the work) and the information on the completion of the input of the above-mentioned articles,
The quantity of articles remaining on the shelf is managed according to the type of article. Then, the control means operates the replenishing means for replenishing the shelf with the article based on the remaining article management information,
Replenish items with low remaining amount. Therefore, according to the characteristic configuration of the present invention, the completion of the article take-out work from the shelf is input by the completion input means such as a switch, and the amount of the remaining article on the shelf is based on the completion information. Is managed, the completion information is not input and the remaining quantity of goods is managed as no change, for example, when the worker makes a mistake and does not take out the ordered goods.
Unnecessary replenishment of goods will not occur. That is, in the case where the article is not taken out due to the mistake of the worker or the like, it is assumed that the article is taken out from the shelf according to the instruction of the instruction means as in the conventional case, and the quantity of the article in the shelf actually changes. Despite not decreasing (reducing), the above-mentioned problems (damage of articles, etc.) when replenishing articles forcibly are eliminated, and thus article sorting that is more reliable and enables good article sorting work The equipment was obtained. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the article sorting facility includes an article replenishing work area A and an article sorting work area B, and a pair of article transport lines 1 are provided between the work areas A and B. As shown in FIG. 6, in the article replenishment work area A, a plurality of article replenishment vehicles 3 for storing a plurality of kinds of boxed articles X sorted by type and an opened article Xa. And a storage stand 4 for storing them in a stacked state. Therefore,
The article replenishment worker located in the article replenishment work area A opens the article X on the article replenishment vehicle 3 and supplies it to the storage table 4.
Based on a replenishment command to be described later, the work of supplying the article Xa stored in the storage table 4 to the article transport line 1 and the operation of replacing the emptied article replenishment vehicle 3 with a new article replenishment vehicle 3 are performed. Will be done. However, reference numeral 2 in the figure is a main indicator light described later. As shown in FIG. 2, the article sorting workshop B has two rows of shelves 5 for accommodating a plurality of types of articles Xa.
Container conveyors 6 are arranged at the front sides of the shelves 5 and are arranged so that their backs face each other and serve as container transfer lines for transferring the containers Z for storing articles. Distributing / supplying means K is provided at each of the back side portions of the shelves 5, and further supplies and distributes the articles Xa conveyed on the article conveying line 1 to the article storage zones N arranged in the width direction of the shelves 5. There is. As shown in FIG. 3, the shelf 5 is formed in a so-called gravity rack type in which the load-carrying surface formed by the idler roller R is inclined so that it becomes lower toward the front side. Therefore, the article supplied to the back side can be moved to the front side by its own weight.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the shelves 5 are divided into a plurality of pieces along the conveying direction of the container conveying conveyor 6, that is, along the width direction, and each of the divided shelf portions 5A is divided. , The upper and lower two-stage loading portions 5a are provided, and each loading portion 5
Each of a has three article storage zones N along the width direction.
Is provided. Therefore, a plurality of article take-out workers are provided on the front side of the shelf 5 in a state where one person is provided for each of the shelf portions 5A, and the article take-out worker instructs the article take-out information described later. Based on the above, the work of storing the taken-out article in the container Z is performed. As shown in FIG. 2, the article conveying line 1 is provided with a pair of upper and lower belt conveyors 1A and 1A corresponding to the upper and lower two-stage load carrying portions 5a of the shelf 5, and conveys the belt conveyors 1A and 1A. A branch conveyor 1B, which is vertically swingable using a hydraulic cylinder or the like, is provided at the starting end portion.
Therefore, by swinging the branch conveyor 1B, it is possible to carry articles while switching between a state of carrying to the upper belt conveyor 1A and a state of carrying to the lower belt conveyor 1A. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the distribution / supply means K is a belt conveyor 1 in an article transfer line 1.
Each of a pair of upper and lower car bodies 19 movable in the transport direction of A,
It is configured by attaching an extruding tool 20 for extruding and supplying the article to the shelf side. The vehicle body 19 travels along a guide rail 21 having a U-shaped cross section, and is provided with propulsion wheels 23 and idle wheels 24 driven by an electric motor 22 in front and rear. A plurality of steady rest rollers 25 are provided. In addition, a current collecting unit 27 that comes into contact with a power feeding rail unit 26 attached to the guide rail 21 is provided. The push-out tool 20 is supported by a pair of front and rear chains 28. As the pair of chains 28 are synchronously driven, the push-out tool 20 protrudes to the front side of the cover 19A of the vehicle body 19 and is placed on a shelf. By translating to the side,
The article Xa is extruded and supplied to the shelf side, and the cover 19 is provided.
It is adapted to return to the initial position by moving in parallel to the side away from the shelf 5 in the state of being retreated inward of A. A pair of pushing tools 20 are attached to the pair of chains 28. Each of the pair of chains 28 has an input gear 30 that rotates integrally with its drive sprocket 29.
By a gear transmission mechanism including a relay gear 31 that meshes with the input gear 30, a bevel gear 32 that rotates integrally with the relay gear 31, and a bevel gear 34 that meshes with the bevel gear 32 and is driven and rotated by an electric motor 33, It is linked to the motor 33 and is synchronously driven by the electric motor 33. Therefore, the distribution / supply means K moves the vehicle body 19 to a position corresponding to the desired article storage zone N, and in that state, operates the pushing tool 20 to
The article Xa is supplied to the shelf 5. Next, an instructing means D for instructing the information of taking out the article from the shelf 5, a remaining article managing means E for managing the quantity of articles remaining on the shelf 5 in correspondence with the type of article, and a remaining article managing means thereof. An informing means F for instructing the replenishment of an article whose remaining amount is reduced based on the information of E, a container conveying means G for driving the container conveying conveyor 6 to convey the container Z, and Each of the article replenishing means L for replenishing the shelf 5 with the articles Xa by driving the article conveying line 1 and the distribution and supply means K will be described. First, a schematic description will be given with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. When the contents of the order form 7 issued by a customer or the like are input to the host controller 8, the host controller 8 causes the order form 7 to be displayed. Purchase order 9 is created according to the contents of
The goods are purchased according to the contents of the purchase order 9.
Further, the host controller 8 creates work data based on the contents of the order sheet 7 input in advance, and outputs the work data to the work data storage means 10 for storing the work data in a storage medium such as a floppy disk. A work controller 11 having work data reading means 11A and an arithmetic processing unit 11B is provided corresponding to each of the shelves 5, and the work controller 1 is provided.
1, work data is input using the storage medium.
However, a management worker who manages the work controller 11 is provided, and the work of inputting work data to the work controller 11 and the work of supplying an empty container Z to the container transport conveyor 6 are performed by this management worker. Will be done. When the work data is input to the work controller 11 and the work preparation is completed, the starting light 12 (see FIG. 1) is turned on, and based on the lighting, the management worker causes the empty container to move as described above. As Z is supplied to the container transporting conveyor 6, the work controller 11 executes processing corresponding to each of the means D, E, F, G, and L. As shown in FIG. 1, the container transfer means G uses an electromagnetic operation type withdrawal stopper 13 for receiving the container Z at a position facing the front of each of the shelves 5A. For controlling each stopper 1
Based on the information of the photo interrupter type container detection sensor S located at the lower conveyance side of 3 to detect the passage of the container Z, and the reset switch 14 (see FIG. 7) provided on the display H described later, The work controller 11 operates the stopper 13 to move in and out. That is, while the container Z is received by the stopper 13, the article take-out worker stores the articles in the container Z based on the instruction from the display devices H, 15, 16 (see FIG. 2) of the instruction means D described later. When the work is performed and the reset switch 14 is operated upon completion of the article storage work, the stopper 13 is retracted and the container Z is sent to the lower side of the conveyance, and the container detection sensor S once detects the existence of the container. When the absence of the container is detected again, the stopper 13 is projected to receive the subsequent container Z. From the above, the reset input switch 14 inputs the completion of the article removal from the shelf 5 according to the instruction of the instruction unit D.
Make up 4. The container carrying conveyor 6 is constructed by using a roller conveyor which is constantly driven, and the stopper 13 is retracted and passed through between adjacent rollers. Further, 13a in the figure is on the shelf side, that is,
An electromagnetic operation type exit / return stopper that controls the transport of the container Z to the work section side, and is a photo interrupter type that is the container presence / absence information in the shelf portion 5A on the uppermost transport side and the transport lower side thereof. Based on the information of the container detection sensor Sa, the work controller 11 performs the withdrawal operation. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the indicating means D is provided with one main indicator lamp 15 arranged on the upper portion of each shelf portion 5A, and the load carrying portions 5a on the upper and lower two stages of each shelf portion 5A. A pair of upper and lower auxiliary indicator lights 16 are provided corresponding to the above, and an indicator H provided corresponding to each of different types of articles stored in the storage zone N of each shelf portion 5A. By lighting, it indicates that there is an article to be taken out on the shelf portion 5A, and by lighting the auxiliary indicator light 16, the load carrying portion 5 on either side of the upper and lower load carrying portions 5a, 5a.
A indicates whether or not there is an article to be taken out, and further, the display H indicates the article to be taken out and the taken-out amount thereof. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the display H is provided with a lamp 17 showing an article to be taken out, a numerical value display section 18 showing the taken-out amount of the article, and the reset switch 14 described above. As described above, the instruction means D indicates the information of taking out the article from the shelf 5 by the display devices H, 15, 16 including the display device H, the main indicator light 15 and the auxiliary indicator light 16. Further, the display devices H, 15, 16, that is,
Main and auxiliary indicator lights 15, 16 and the indicator H
Is operated by the work controller 11. That is, the work controller 11 manages the positions of the containers Z that are sequentially transported, and displays the main and auxiliary indicator lights 15 and 16 provided on the shelf portion 5A where each container Z is located, and the display H. It will operate based on work data. From the above, the work controller 11 causes the instructing means D based on the work data for the work for sorting articles.
It corresponds to the control means 11 that manages the operation of. It should be noted that the lamp 17 provided in each display H is turned off in accordance with the operation of the reset switch 14 provided in the display H, and the auxiliary display lights 16 are provided for all the articles in the corresponding loading section 5a. It will be turned off as the take-out is completed, and the main indicator lamp 15 will be turned off as all the articles in the corresponding shelf portion 5A are taken out. The remaining article management means E manages the difference between the storage amount of each article stored in the shelf 5 in advance and the removal amount of each article extracted from the shelf 5 by calculating for each article. It is a thing. That is, the remaining article management means E is configured by using the work controller 11 (see FIG. 8), and the work controller 11 includes
The amount of articles to be stored on the shelf 5 is pre-input for each article, and the work controller 11 inputs the pre-input storage amount and the take-out amount consumed with the work (this take-out amount is
And the completion of the work of taking out the product for which the taking-out amount is instructed by the instructing means D is confirmed by inputting the reset switch 14). From the above, the work controller 11, that is, the control means 11 associates the amount of articles remaining on the shelf 5 with the type of articles based on the work data for article sorting work and the completion information of the reset switch 14. It will be managed. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the notification means F is provided in correspondence with the main indicator light 2 provided in the article replenishment work area A and the plurality of types of articles stored in the storage table 4. And a display unit Ha, wherein the display unit Ha is
It has the same structure as the display H attached to the shelf 5.
Then, the main indicator lamp 2 is turned on to notify that there is an item to be replenished, and the indicator Ha informs the item to be replenished and the amount to be replenished. That is, FIG.
As shown in 0, the work controller 11 operates the main indicator lamp 2 and the indicator Ha when the remaining product amount is small while determining the calculation result by the remaining product management means E, that is, the remaining product amount. And each display unit H
When it is determined that all the replenishment is completed based on the replenishment completion information from the respective a, the operation of the main indicator lamp 2 is stopped. However, in order to operate the notification means F, the storage work for one container Z is handled as one order, and is performed every time a set value order, for example, 100 orders, is completed. Further, in order to inform the articles to be replenished and the amount to be replenished by the display Ha, the notifications to the respective article storage zones N arranged along the conveyance direction of the belt conveyor 1A in the article conveyance line 1 are separately and in the conveyance direction. The steps are performed in order from the article storage zone N on the upper side to the article storage zone N on the lower side in the transport direction. The article replenishing means L actuates the article transport line 1 quantitatively at regular time intervals, so-called tact feeding, while moving the vehicle body 19 quantitatively toward the lower side of transport, and the pushing tool 20. Is operated to sequentially distribute and supply the articles Xa from the article storage zone N on the upper conveyance side to the article storage zone N on the lower conveyance side, and when the distribution and supply work is completed, the vehicle body 19 is conveyed on the upper conveyance side. The work controller 11 gives a start command and a stop command to the transfer line 1, and the work controller 11 moves the vehicle body 19 using the power supply rail unit 26. The operation of the extrusion tool 20 will be controlled. However, in order to replenish the articles on the loading sections 5a provided in plurals on the upper and lower sides of the shelf 5, after the articles are replenished to the plurality of loading sections 5a on the upper side or the lower side, the other side is loaded. The branch conveyor 1B is oscillated by a command from the work controller 11 so as to replenish the plurality of load placement parts 5a. Therefore, the notification means F also completes the notification processing for the plurality of upper or lower load carrying sections 5a and then performs the notification processing for the other plurality of load carrying sections 5a. From the above, the notifying means F and the article replenishing means L are replenishing means F for replenishing the shelf 5 with articles,
The work controller 11 (i.e., the control means 11) constitutes an L, and the articles whose remaining amount is reduced based on the remaining article management information by the remaining article management means E are stored in the shelf 5
In order to replenish, the replenishing means F and L are operated. It is needless to say that the tact feed of the article carrying line 1 is carried out by using information from a sensor for detecting the sending amount, a timer for deciding the carrying stop time, and the like, and for operating the vehicle body 19 quantitatively. Is performed using information from a sensor that detects the amount of movement of the vehicle body 19 or a sensor that detects the position of the vehicle body 19 with respect to the shelf 5.
In addition, in order to operate the push-out tool 20, it may be operated after a set time has elapsed after the vehicle body 19 is stopped, or may be operated based on the detection information of the article presence / absence detection sensor 35 (see FIG. 5). Good. [Other Embodiments] In practicing the present invention, the specific structure of the shelf 5 and the container transfer line 6 (that is, the container transfer means G).
Specific configuration, specific configuration of instruction means D, completion input means 14
The specific configuration and the like can be variously changed according to the purpose of use and the like. Further, the concrete structure of the article conveying line 1 constituting the article replenishing means L can be variously changed according to the configuration of the shelves 5, and the configuration of the distribution and supply means K can be, for example, each article storage zone N. Pusher 20 corresponding to each of the
It is possible to make various changes such as provision of Further, in the above embodiment, the notifying means F instructs the replenishment worker to perform replenishment, and the replenishment means F and L are provided so that the replenishment worker manually supplies the replenishment article to the article conveyance line 1. However, the configuration of the replenishing means F and L is not limited to this, and may be an automatic replenishing device or the like. It should be noted that reference numerals are added to the claims for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the structures of the accompanying drawings by the entry.

[Brief description of drawings] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an entire article sorting facility. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a shelf. FIG. 3 is a partial schematic rear view of the replenishing means. FIG. 4 is a partial schematic rear view of the replenishing means. FIG. 5 is a partial schematic rear view of the replenishing means. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an article storage state FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a display device. FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a control configuration. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control operation. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a notification processing operation. FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of a conventional example. [Explanation of symbols] N article storage zone 5 shelves Z container 6 container transfer line H, 15,16 display device D indicating means 11 Control means 14 Completion input means F, L replenishing means

Claims (1)

A shelf (5) provided with a plurality of article storage zones (N) in the width direction is provided, and a container transport line (6) for transporting a container (Z) for storing articles is provided with the shelf (5). Instructing means (D) provided at the front side portion of 5) for instructing the information of taking out the article from the shelf (5) by the display device (H, 15, 16).
And a control means (11) for managing the operation of the instructing means (D) on the basis of work data for article sorting work, the article sorting facility comprising: Completion input means (14) for inputting completion of taking out articles from the shelf (5), and replenishing means (F, L) for replenishing articles to the shelf (5).
And the control means (11) determines the amount of articles remaining on the shelf (5) based on the work data for the article sorting work and the completion information of the completion input means (14). The replenishing means (F, L) is operated so as to replenish the shelf (5) with an article whose remaining amount is reduced based on the remaining article management information. Goods sorting equipment.