JPH07228335A - Picking control method using noncontact data carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the working efficiency by reading picking data from a data carrier installed on a container, and operating a picking equipment by branching off the container only when picking is practiced. CONSTITUTION:When an empty container is carried to a data writer W, a host computer HC writes picking data in a data carrier DC. Next, a first item packing picking equipment control panel P1 reads the picking data by a first data reader R1, and judges whether picking by a first picking device M1 is practiced or not by the reading data. When it is practiced, the control panel P1 outputs empty container branching indication to a first conveyor equipment B1, and branches off the empty container. Next, a delivery operation indicating signal is outputted to the first picking device M1, and picking work is practiced. When it is not practiced, the empty containe container is passed. Similar control is practiced in order on a second picking device M2... a<n> (n)th picking device Mn.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to pharmaceuticals, foods, electricity
The present invention relates to a picking control method using a non-contact data carrier when picking individual packaging from multiple types of original packaging in a shipping center handling other types of products such as electronic parts and assembling them for shipment. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional picking control method, picking data for each order is created by a host computer, and the picking data is transmitted to each individual picking machine through the communication line in the order. Each individual package picking machine issues the original package to each picking port in the order of received data, picks the first order at the picking port of the first machine, puts it in a container for assortment, and picks at the first machine. After all are completed, the container is transported to the second machine, the first order picking is performed, and the second order picking work is started in the first machine. After these operations are completed for all units, they are transported to the next process (usually the assortment inspection process). Therefore, after the inspection is completed, it is refilled in the shipping box, and a shipping label is attached to it before shipping.

[0003]

In the above control method, picking work does not always occur in all units in each order of picking data. However, in the conventional picking control method, data is transmitted to each of the picking equipment units in the order and the warehousing operation is executed in the order of the data. Therefore, in each machine, the order overtaking work cannot be performed, resulting in poor work efficiency.

An object of the present invention is to provide a picking control method using a non-contact type data carrier which improves work efficiency.

[0005]

According to the method of the present invention, an order number, a picking equipment number, an item code, a picking number, and a storage location data for one container are written on a data carrier attached to a picking container by a data writing device. The picking data is written, the container with the data carrier on which the picking data is written is conveyed, the picking data of the container conveyed before the picking area of each picking equipment is read, and the picking with that picking equipment is performed. If there is no data, the picking equipment is passed to read the picking data before the picking area of the next picking equipment, while if the picking data exists, the container is branched to the picking area and picked. When the goods are unloaded, the picking display panel displays the picking data to let the operator pick, and all the picking at the picking equipment machine is completed and the operator pushes the completion push button to move the container to the next picking equipment machine. When it is carried to the next step, the same operation as described above is repeated, and when all of these operations are completed for each picking equipment, it is carried to the next step by the conveyor.

According to the method of the present invention, the picking data including the order number, picking equipment number, item code, and picking number for one container is written in the data carrier attached to the picking container by the data writing device, When a container with a data carrier on which picking data is written is transported and the picking data of the container transported in front of the picking area of each picking equipment unit is read, and there is no picking data at that picking equipment unit, The picking data is read in front of the picking area of the next picking equipment after passing through the picking equipment number.On the other hand, if there is picking data, the container is branched to the picking area and the individual picking equipment inventory management computer is used. Searching for Kuratana with to perform the unloading operation to instruct the unloading operation the picking equipment Unit,
The storage location data is written in the picking data contents, and when picked goods are delivered, the picking data is displayed on the picking display board to let the worker pick, and all the picking at the picking equipment No. is completed and the worker is completed. When the push button is pressed and the container is transported to the next picking equipment, repeat the same operation as above,
When all of these operations are completed for each picking equipment unit, it is conveyed to the next process by a conveyor.

[0007]

In the method according to the present invention, the picking data is read from the data carrier attached to the container before the picking area of each picking equipment unit, and the picking equipment is operated by branching the container only when there is picking. If not, the work efficiency is improved because it passes through the container.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of an apparatus for carrying out the present invention. In FIG. 1, the transfer line L from the empty container input port S to the next process transfer port E has a first picking area A1 and a second picking area A that branch sideways.
2 ... The n-th picking area An (the reference numeral A is used in the following generic name, and the reference numeral without the suffix is used in the same manner hereinafter) is provided in order from the insertion port S side. The first picking equipment M1, the second picking equipment M2, ...
The n-th picking equipment Mn is provided, and the first data reading device R1 and the second data reading device R are provided near the upstream, respectively.
2. A second data reading device Rn is provided, and a data writing device W is provided on the empty container input port S side.

In FIG. 2, the first picking device M1, the first data reading device R1, the first conveyor equipment B1 for branching the carrying line L into the first picking area A1, and the first picking work display panel D1 are respectively the first It is connected to the individual package picking equipment control panel P1, and a similar n-th individual package picking equipment control panel Dn is provided and connected to each device (the suffix n is added to the reference numeral). Each of these control boards P1, P2, ... Pn is connected to an individual picking equipment inventory management computer SC, and this computer SC is connected to a host computer HC. The plug-in device W is connected. However, if the individual picking equipment inventory management computer SC is not provided, the control panel P
1, P2, ... Are directly connected to the host computer HC. The symbol DC in the figure is a data carrier.

In FIG. 2, the individual packaging equipment stock management computer SC does not necessarily have to be provided. In that case, when the picking data is written to the data carrier by the data writing device, the storage location data may be written in addition to the order number, the picking equipment number, the item code, the picking number and the like. In this way, if the stocking location data is directly instructed to the picking equipment without searching the inventory rack with the individual picking equipment inventory management computer, the time for searching the inventory shelf with the individual picking equipment inventory management computer SC Can be shortened.

Next, the control mode will be described with reference to FIG.

When an empty container is placed on the empty container inlet S of the transfer line L (step S1) and the empty container is transferred to the data writing device W (YES in step S2),
The host computer HC writes the picking data such as the order number, the picking equipment number, the item code, and the picking number in the data carrier DC (step S).
3). Next, the first individual-piece picking equipment control panel P1 reads the picking data with the first data reading device R1 (step S4), and determines whether or not there is picking with the first picking device M1 based on the read data (step S4). S5). In the case of NO, a control signal is output to the first individual picking equipment control panel P1 to deactivate the conveyor equipment B1 and pass an empty container through the first picking area A1 (step S6). In the case of YES, based on this read data, the control panel P1 outputs an instruction to branch the empty container to the first picking area A1 to the first conveyor equipment B1 and branches the empty container to the first picking area A1. (Step S7). Then, a picking operation instruction signal is output to the first picking equipment M1 to perform the picking work, and at the same time, the first picking work display panel D1.
The picking work instruction data signal is output to and the picking work is displayed, and the worker performs the picking work according to the display board D1 (step S8). Then, when the worker completes the picking work and presses a completion button (not shown) (YES in step S9), the control panel P1 instructs the conveyor facility L1 to start conveyance, and transmits the performance report data to the host computer HC (step S9). S10).

The above-mentioned control is performed by the second picking device M2 ...
-After sequentially executing the n-1th picking device Mn-1, the nth data reading device Rn reads the picking data (step S11), and then steps S5 to S.
After performing steps S12 to S17 similar to step 10,
The container is conveyed to the next process entrance E and the process ends (step S1).
8).

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, by reading the picking data of the data carrier attached to the container and branching the container to the picking area and operating the picking equipment only when there is a picking operation, Orders can be overtaken and work efficiency can be improved.

Further, the number of times of communication between the host computer and the individual picking equipment control panel can be reduced, and even when the communication line is abnormal, picking work can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of an apparatus for implementing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a control flowchart of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A ... Picking area B ... Conveyor equipment D ... Picking work display panel DC ... Data carrier E ... Next process carry-in port HC ... Host computer L ... Transport line M ... Picking equipment P ・ ・ ・ Individual picking equipment control panel R ・ ・ ・ Data reading device S ・ ・ ・ Empty container carry-in port SC ・ ・ ・ Individual picking equipment inventory management computer W ・ ・ ・ Data writing device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. The picking data including the order number, picking equipment number, item code, and picking number storage location data for one container is written to the data carrier attached to the picking container by the data writing device, and the picking data is written. The container with the data carrier installed is read and the picking data of the container that was transported before the picking area of each picking equipment unit is read, and if there is no picking data for that picking equipment unit, the picking equipment unit To read the picking data in front of the picking area of the next picking equipment, while
If there is picking data, the container is branched to the picking area, and when picked goods are released, the picking data is displayed on the picking display board to let the worker perform picking, and all picking at the picking equipment number is done. When the operator pushes the completion push button to complete and the container is conveyed to the next picking equipment machine, the same operation as above is repeated, and when all these operations are completed for each picking equipment machine, it is conveyed to the next process by the conveyor. Picking control method using contactless data carrier. 2. Data in which picking data including an order number, a picking equipment number, an item code, and a picking number for one container is written to a data carrier attached to a picking container by a data writing device, and the picking data is written. Transport the container with the carrier attached, read the picking data of the container transported before the picking area of each picking equipment unit, and if there is no picking data for that picking equipment unit, pass the picking equipment unit. Read the picking data in front of the picking area of the next picking equipment, on the other hand, if picking data exists, branch the container to the picking area and search the inventory shelf with the individual picking equipment inventory management computer to pick While instructing the equipment machine to perform the shipping operation and executing the shipping operation, write the storage location data in the picking data content, and when the picked product is shipped, display the picking data on the picking display board to let the worker pick. When all the picking at the picking equipment number is completed and the operator presses the completion push button and the container is transported to the next picking equipment number, the same operation as above is repeated, and when all these operations are completed for each picking equipment number, the conveyor A picking control method using a non-contact data carrier, characterized in that the picking control is carried to the next step.