JPH07237716A - Good assorting method and assorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve layout performance of a delivery system as well as to improve efficiency of assorting work in the delivery system wherein the assorting work is performed by human hands. CONSTITUTION:A conveying vehicle 2 allotted to every destination is transferred so as to pass an assorting station 5 provided along an assortment line, and assorted goods are collected to the conveying vehicle 2 when the conveying vehicle 2 reaches the assorting station 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sorting method and sorting device used in a product delivery system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a production center for perishable daily foods, a delivery system is provided for sorting various products delivered from a production line for each destination and shipping them to each destination. There is.

As a sorting device used in this type of delivery system, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-233404, a sorting work area provided on both sides of a transport path of a belt conveyor for transporting products and the like. A collection shelf with a large number of pockets is installed in the container, and a quantity indicator is provided in association with the above-mentioned pockets, and when a product is specified, the order quantity for each destination related to the product is associated with each pocket. There are some that are displayed on the number display. According to this, when the designated products are transported to the pockets according to the display of the number indicator while being transported through the transport route, the ordered products for each destination are sorted by the ordered number in each pocket. Become.

Further, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2-158515, empty transport vehicles are installed at a plurality of sorting stations scattered in a sorting work area, and attached to a transport vehicle storing products before sorting. By reading the assortment data stored in the IC card into a card reader, information for assortment is displayed on a display provided corresponding to the empty transport vehicle.
According to this, when moving the collected goods to the shipping place, it is possible to move them together with the transport vehicle, so that it is not necessary to reload the goods and there is an advantage that the efficiency of delivery work is improved.

[0005]

However, in any of the prior arts described in the above publications, since the worker goes around the sorting work area to sort the products, the sorting work is speeded up. However, there is a problem that the installation condition of the sorting device or the delivery system is restricted because it requires a large work space.

The present invention addresses the above-mentioned problems in the case where the sorting work is performed manually, and it is possible to improve the efficiency of the sorting work and further improve the layout of the sorting device or the delivery system. To aim.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] That is, a product sorting method according to claim 1 (hereinafter referred to as a first invention) of the present application is
A transport vehicle associated with each destination is transferred so as to pass through a sorting station provided along a sorting line, and when the transport vehicle reaches the sorting station, sorting products are delivered to the transport vehicle. It is characterized by collecting.

On the other hand, a product sorting apparatus according to claim 2 of the present application (hereinafter referred to as the second invention) passes a transport vehicle associated with each destination through a sorting station provided along a sorting line. Guide means for guiding the vehicle to
A number display means for displaying the number of products sorted to the carrier, and a sort for recognizing that the carrier has arrived at the sorting station and displaying the number of products sorted for the carrier on the number display means. A control means is provided.

Further, a product sorting apparatus according to claim 3 of the present application (hereinafter referred to as the third invention) is characterized in that, in the configuration of the second invention, a plurality of sorting stations are provided along the sorting line. And

In addition to the structure of the second and third inventions, the product sorting apparatus according to claim 4 of the present application (hereinafter referred to as the fourth invention) is from the downstream end side to the upstream end side of the sorting line. It is characterized in that a circulation line for circulating the transport vehicle is provided.

Further, in addition to the constitutions of the above second to fourth inventions, the product sorting apparatus according to claim 5 (hereinafter referred to as the fifth invention) of the present application ships a carrier vehicle to the downstream end side of the sorting line. It is characterized by connecting a shipping line that guides you to the venue.

[0012]

According to the above construction, the following operation can be obtained.

According to the first aspect of the invention, since the transport vehicle is moved to the sorting station, it is not necessary for the worker to move around during the sorting work, and the work space is reduced accordingly and the sorting device or This will improve the layout of the delivery system and improve the efficiency of sorting work.

Moreover, since the sorting station is fixed to the sorting line, there is an advantage that, for example, the production line can be directly connected to the sorting line.

On the other hand, according to the second invention, the same operation as that of the first invention can be obtained.

In addition, since the number of assorted products to the destination corresponding to each carrier is accurately displayed for the carriers that sequentially arrive at the sorting station, work errors can be prevented. .

Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, since the sorting line is provided with a plurality of sorting stations, the sorting work can be performed in parallel, and the work efficiency is further improved. .

Further, according to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the transport vehicle is circulated from the downstream end side to the upstream end side of the sorting line, one sorting station can continuously sort a plurality of items. This makes it possible to shorten the total length of the sorting line and further improve the layout of the sorting device or the delivery system.

Further, according to the fifth aspect of the invention, since the shipping line for guiding the guided vehicle to the shipping site is connected to the downstream end of the sorting line, the shipping operation can be performed quickly and the layout of the delivery system can be improved. It will be further improved.

[0020]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below.

First, the overall configuration of the delivery system according to the embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sorting work area 1 is provided with a sorting line 3 for transporting a plurality of transport vehicles 2 ... 2 in a row, and is provided on one side of the sorting line 3. In the sorting area 4, a plurality (three in the illustrated example) of sorting stations 5 ... 5 (5a, 5a,
5b, 5c) are provided.

On the downstream end side of the sorting line 3, a circulation line 6 for circulating the transport vehicle 2 is connected to the upstream end side of the line 3. The circulation line 6 is branched into a plurality of (five in the illustrated example) standby lines 6a to 6e which are parallel to each other at an intermediate portion thereof, and these standby lines 6a to 6e are gathered again into one line. , Is connected to the upstream end side of the sorting line 3. Where sorting line 3
As shown in the figure, the carrier 2 sequentially carried out to the circulation line 6 from the first carrier line 2 is adjacent to the upstream end of the first waiting line 6a where the first carrier line 2 is located on the right end side in the drawing. When the fifth carrier 2 is carried to the upstream end of the fifth waiting line 6e located on the leftmost side, the second waiting line 6b is brought to the upstream end of the second waiting line 6b And is stored in each of the standby lines 6a to 6e. And these standby lines 6a-
The plurality of guided vehicles 2 ... 2 stored in 6e are returned to the circulation line 6 as a set of five, and then the first waiting line 6a.
Then, they are sequentially loaded into the sorting line 3. Therefore, the carrier vehicle 2 carried out from the downstream end side of the sorting line 3 to the circulation line 6 is carried in again to the upstream end side of the sorting line 3 without changing its order.

Further, the sorting work area 1 is provided with a storage area 7 for storing the transport vehicles 2 ... 2 supplied to the sorting line 3. This storage area 7 is provided with a plurality of (five in the illustrated example) guide lines 8 ... 8 parallel to each other, and a plurality of transport vehicles 2 stocked in these guide lines 8 ... A set of five pieces is supplied to a supply line 9 led to the upstream part of the sorting line 3.

Supplying conveyors 10 ... 10 for supplying commodities for each item from a commodity production line (not shown) are guided to the sorting stations 5 ... 5, respectively. In that case, the goods carried out from each supply conveyor 10 are stored on the turntable 11 as shown in FIG. A sorting console 12 is installed near the turntable 11.

Further, a work shelf 13 is arranged above the transport vehicle 2 guided through the sorting line 3 and a plurality of containers X ... X are placed thereon. Display units 14 ... 14 are installed at positions corresponding to the stations 5 ... 5, respectively. Each display unit 14
Has a display section 14a for digitally displaying the number of assorted products and a assortment lamp 14b for instructing the assortment work. For example, m products are sorted into the transport vehicle 2 passing through the first sorting station 5a located on the upstream side. When it should be, the sorting lamp 1 of the display unit 14 corresponding to the station 5a.
Simultaneously with the lighting of 4b, the number m is digitally displayed on the display unit 14a.

Here, the structure of the carrier vehicle 2 in this embodiment will be specifically described.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the transport vehicle 2 has a box shape with one side surface opened, and casters 15 ... 15 are attached to the lower surface thereof, and front and rear 2 are provided on the upper surface thereof. Induction pins 16 and 16 are provided at the points so as to project. Further, in the hollow portion of the transport vehicle 2, the containers X ... X inserted from the opening are stored in a stacked state. A delivery label 18 for each destination is attached to the display plate 17 fixed to the upper side of the opening of the transport vehicle 2. In that case, the delivery label includes a store code corresponding to the store number in the form of a bar code along with character information such as date, flight number, delivery route, road order (delivery order), store number, store name, and the like. Is displayed.

Then, the first driven by appropriate means
A pair of front and rear locking members 20a, 20b provided on the conveyor 19 (see FIG. 1) are engaged with the guide pins 16, 16 projecting upward of the transport vehicle 2 so that the transport vehicle 2
Are guided along the movement path of the conveyor 19. In that case, the 1st conveyor 19 is comprised so that each conveyance vehicle 2 ... may be conveyed at a predetermined pitch.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the first conveyor 19 has the first to fifth standby lines 6a.
~ 6e is separated from the circulation line 6 on the upstream side, and is joined again to the circulation line 6 on the downstream side of the first to fifth standby lines 6a to 6e.

On the side of the sorting line 3, there is installed an auto-labeler 21 which is located upstream of the first sorting station 5a and which issues the delivery label and attaches it to the transport vehicle 2. A first store code reader 22 that reads the store code of the delivery label attached to the carrier 2 is installed further upstream than the auto-labeler 21.

Further, the delivery system is provided with a shipping line 24 for guiding the transport vehicle 2 containing the products to the shipping area 23. The upstream end side of the shipping line 24 is connected to the downstream end side of the sorting line 3 by a path switching device 25.
The transfer vehicle 25, which is transferred through the sorting line 3, is carried out to the shipping line 24 by the operation of the switching device 25. Then, the transport vehicle 2 carried out to the shipping line 24 is transferred by the second conveyor 26 having the same configuration as the first conveyor 19. In that case, the second conveyor 26 is driven in synchronization with the first conveyor 19.

Here, the shipping area 23 is provided with the first to fourth shipping standby booths 27a to 27d corresponding to the delivery routes, and the standby booths 27a to 27d are provided downstream of the shipping line 24. Correspondingly provided first
-The 4th distribution apparatus 28a-28d WHEREIN: The 1st-4th carrying-out line 29a extended to each standby booth 27a-27d.
.About.29d are connected.

A second store code reader 30 for reading the store code of the delivery label attached to the carrier 2 is installed on the upstream side of the first sorting device 28a.

In the sorting work area 1, a work management table 31 is installed near the upstream portion of the sorting line 3 for comprehensively managing delivery work including sorting work.

Next, the control system of the delivery system will be described with reference to FIG. 3. This control system has a system controller 33 connected to a host computer 32 provided in the center. Then, the multiplex transmission line 34 connected to the system controller 33
In addition, the work management console 31, the sorting operation consoles 12 ... 12 provided in the first to third sorting stations 5a, 5b, 5c, respectively, and the sorting stations 5a, 5 similarly.
The display units 14 ... 14 provided in b and 5c, respectively
An automatic labeler 21 for issuing a delivery level, a first store code reader 22 installed on the upstream side of the automatic labeler 21, and a route switching device 25 for switching the sorting line 3 from the circulation line 6 to the shipping line 24. And the first to fourth sorting devices 28a to 28 provided on the shipping line 24.
d is connected to the second store code reader 30 installed on the upstream side of the first distribution device 28a. Further, in this embodiment, the first to third sorting stations 5 are used.
35, which detect the presence or absence of the carrier 2 in a, 5b, and 5c, and a route changeover switch 36 forcibly switching the route changeover device 25 are connected to the multiplex transmission line 34. . The path changeover switch 36 is installed, for example, in the third sorting station 5c.

The work management table 31 is connected to a vehicle supply instruction lamp 37 for instructing the supply of the vehicle 2 to the sorting line 3, and the sorting operation tables 12 ... 12 have bar code scanners 38 ... 38. Are connected respectively.

Next, an example of operation of this delivery system will be described.

First, when a worker a disposed on the upstream side of the sorting line 3 inputs a work start command from the work management console 31, the delivery data for the current day is transferred from the host computer to the system controller 33. This delivery data includes shipping information such as the route number of each delivery route, the store number of each delivery route, and the sorting information such as the ordered product for each destination and the number of orders. The system controller 33 generates a delivery file using the store code as a key item based on the shipping information, and also generates a sorting management file using the store code as a key item based on the sorting information, and then displays it on the work management desk 31. The attached vehicle supply instruction lamp 37 is turned on. When the worker a confirms that the transport vehicle supply instruction lamp 37 is turned on, the worker a takes out the transport vehicle 2 from the storage area 7 and supplies it to the sorting line 3. The transport vehicle 2 supplied to the sorting line 3 is captured by the first conveyor 19 and transported to the downstream side, and when passing through the first store code reader 22, the store code of the delivery label is read. However, immediately after the supply, since the delivery label is not attached to the display plate 17 of the transport vehicle 2, it becomes unreadable. Upon receiving this signal, the auto-labeler 21 looks up the assortment management file of the system controller 33 to issue the delivery label for the first destination, and then when the transport vehicle 2 passes the label. Then, it is automatically attached to the display plate 17 of the carrier 2.
In the system controller 33, the store code of the destination is set in the head shift register. Then, when the transport vehicle 2 next supplied by the worker a is captured by the first conveyor 19 and reaches the auto-labeler 21, the delivery level for the second destination is issued. At that time, the store code for the first destination set in the first shift register is shifted to the next shift register, and the store code for the second destination is set in the first shift register. It

In this way, when the transport vehicles 2 ... 2 sequentially supplied to the sorting line 3 are captured by the first conveyor 19 and pass through the auto-labeler 21, the delivery label for each destination is automatically attached. At the same time, the store code for each store is sequentially shifted in the shift register in the order of delivery label issuance.

When these transport vehicles 2 pass through the first to third sorting stations 5a, 5b, 5c, the store code set in the shift register associated with each station 5a, 5b, 5c. The number of assorted products for the destination corresponding to the
14 are provided on the display units 14 ... 14 provided on the b, 5c, and the sorting work is performed in parallel by the workers b ... B arranged at the stations 5a, 5b, 5c.

In this case, in this embodiment, the sorting work for each destination is performed as follows according to the flowchart of FIG.

That is, the carrier a supplies the carrier 2 to the upstream side of the sorting line 3, and the delivery label for the destination issued by the auto-labeler 21 is automatically attached (steps S1 and S2). . of course,
The delivery label may be manually attached.

When the carrier 2 arrives at the first sorting station 5a, the worker b placed at the station 5a.
After setting an empty container, reads the product code of the product on the turntable 11 using the barcode scanner 38 (steps S3 and S4). The system controller 33 compares the product code transferred from the bar code scanner 38 with the assortment management file to determine whether or not the requested product of the destination matches, and determines that the product is present. 14a of the display unit 14 installed in the first sorting station 5a
The number of assortments is displayed on and the assortment lamp 14b is turned on at the same time (steps S5 and S6).

In that case, the system controller 33
Monitors the signal from the vehicle detection sensor 35, operates the display unit 14 at the timing when the front end of the vehicle 2 reaches below the display unit 14 as shown in FIG. The operation of the unit 14 is stopped when the rear end passes. As a result, it is possible to prevent the situation where the worker b mistakenly sorts the products to the adjacent transport vehicle 2.

The second and third sorting stations 5b,
Also in 5c, similar sorting work is performed in parallel for products having different items.

Next, it is judged whether or not the container is full, and if it is full, an empty container is added, and the number of products displayed on the display unit 14 is put in. The product is additionally input (steps S7 to S9). In that case, the assortment management file is erased in the system controller 33.

Then, it is judged whether or not the sorting of the ordered products of the destination is completed for all the items, and if not completed, it is judged whether or not the carrier 2 is full of the containers storing the products ( Steps S10 and S11).

Whether or not the transport vehicle 2 is full is determined by the operator b of the third sorting station 5c. When the operator b is determined to be full, the route changeover switch 36 is turned on. As a result, the route switching device 2 is reached at the timing when the transport vehicle 2 reaches the branch point to the shipping line 24.
When 5 is operated, the trapped state by the first conveyor 19 is released and the sheet is carried out to the shipping line 24 (step S12). In this case, the carrier supply instruction lamp 37 lights up and the operator a who confirms this lighting state
As a result, an empty carrier 2 taken out from the storage area 7 is supplied to the sorting line 3 in a state where the re-carrying-in of the carrier 2 from the circulation line 6 to the sorting line 3 is stopped once. Then, when the carrier 2 passes through the auto-labeler 21, a delivery label is attached, and at the timing when the carrier 2 subsequent to the store code passes the first store code reader 22, the shift register is added to the head of the shift register. Will be set.

On the other hand, if the transport vehicle 2 is not full, it is sent to the circulation line 6 after passing through the third sorting station 5c, and is re-introduced to the upstream side of the sorting line 3 for the first to the first. Sorting work for the next item is performed in the three sorting stations 5a, 5b, 5c. Even in this case, the store code read when the transport vehicle 2 passes through the first store code reader 22 has the following store vehicle code.
Is set at the head of the shift register at the timing of passing through the first store code reader 22.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S10 that the sorting of the ordered products of the destination is completed,
The route switching device 25 operates at the timing when the transport vehicle 2 reaches the branch point to the shipping line 24, so that the catching state by the first conveyor 19 is released and the transportation is carried out to the shipping line 24 to the destination. Sorting work is completed.

The transport vehicle 2 carried out from the sorting line 3 is
While being transferred to the shipping area 23 while being captured by the second conveyor 26, the store code of the delivery label is read by the second store code reader 30 installed on the upstream side of the first sorting device 28a, System controller 33
Transferred to. In the system controller 33,
The transferred store code is then checked against the delivery file to determine the shipping standby booths 27a to 27d corresponding to the delivery route of the destination. In this case, the shipping standby booths 27a to 27 corresponding to the delivery route
When d is, for example, the fourth standby booth 27d, the fourth distribution device 28a operates at the timing when the transport vehicle reaches the branch point to the fourth unloading line leading to the fourth standby booth, so that the transport vehicle is operated. Will be unloaded to the fourth unloading line 29d. Then, the worker c placed in the shipping area 23 moves the worker to a predetermined position.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
Since the transport vehicle 2 sequentially moves to the first to third sorting stations 5a, 5b, 5c provided along the sorting line 3, it is not necessary for the workers b ... b to move around during sorting work. The work space is reduced accordingly, the layout of the delivery system is improved, and the efficiency of sorting work is improved.

Further, the first to third sorting stations 5a,
Since the sorting work is performed in parallel in 5b and 5c, the work efficiency is further improved.

Moreover, each sorting station 5
a, 5b, 5c, which sequentially reach the vehicles 2, ...
Since the number of assorted products to the destination corresponding to each transport vehicle 2 is accurately displayed, a work error can be prevented.

As in the embodiment, the sorting vehicle 3 is circulated from the downstream end side to the upstream end side of the sorting line 3 so that a single sorting station 5 can continuously sort a plurality of items. This allows the total length of the sorting line 3 to be shortened, thereby further improving the layout of the delivery system.

Further, since the shipping line 24 is connected to the downstream end side of the sorting line 3 so as to guide the carrier 2 to the shipping area 23, the shipping work can be carried out quickly and the layout of the delivery system can be improved. Will be further improved.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, a horizontally long display unit 14 'which substantially corresponds to the entire length of the carrier 2'is installed in the sorting station 5', and the number display is made so as to correspond to the upper center of the carrier 2 '. And the display state is moved in synchronization with the movement of the transport vehicle 2 '.
Therefore, the number of assorted items is always displayed above the center of the transport vehicle 2 ', and even in this case, a work error can be prevented.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, a display unit 14 "is installed on the upper surface of the transporting vehicle 2" so that the number of sorting can be displayed by a radio signal or the like when passing through the sorting station 5 ". Good.

Further, the carrier vehicle may be provided with a self-sustaining function so that it can be moved along a predetermined route by radio control.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the transport vehicle is moved to the sorting station, it is not necessary for the worker to move around during the sorting work, and the working space is reduced accordingly. The layout of the sorting device or the delivery system is improved, and the efficiency of sorting work is also improved.

Moreover, since the sorting station is fixed to the sorting line, there is an advantage that, for example, the production line can be directly connected to the sorting line.

In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the number of assorted products to the destination corresponding to each transport vehicle is accurately displayed for the transport vehicles sequentially reaching the sorting station, so that a work error can be prevented. It will also be prevented.

Further, according to the third invention, since the sorting line is provided with a plurality of sorting stations, the sorting work can be performed in parallel, and the work efficiency is further improved. .

Further, according to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the transport vehicle is circulated from the downstream end side to the upstream end side of the sorting line, the sorting work of a plurality of items can be continuously performed at one sorting station. This makes it possible to shorten the total length of the sorting line and further improve the layout of the sorting device or the delivery system.

Further, according to the fifth aspect of the invention, since the shipping line 24 for guiding the carrier to the shipping site is connected to the downstream end of the sorting line, the shipping operation can be carried out quickly and the layout of the delivery system can be improved. Will be further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a layout diagram showing a schematic configuration of a delivery system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration around a sorting station.

FIG. 3 is a control system diagram of a delivery system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a work procedure of a sorting work according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a display state of the number of assortments on a display unit.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a display state of the number of assortments on a display unit in another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a display state of the number of assortments on a display unit in still another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Transport vehicles 3 Sorting line 5 Sorting station 6 Circulation line 14 Display unit 19 1st conveyor 23 Shipping area 24 Shipping line 33 System controller

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A transport vehicle associated with each destination is transferred so as to pass through a sorting station provided along a sorting line, and when the transport vehicle reaches the sorting station, A product sorting method characterized by collecting sorted products in a carrier. 2. A transport vehicle guide means for guiding a transport vehicle associated with each destination so as to pass through a sorting station provided along a sorting line, and the number of products sorted to the transport vehicle. It is provided with a quantity display means for displaying and a sorting control means for recognizing that the transport vehicle has arrived at the sorting station and for displaying the number of sorted products on the transport vehicle on the number display means. Characteristic product sorting device. 3. The product sorting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of sorting stations are provided along the sorting line. 4. The product sorting device according to claim 2, further comprising a circulation line for circulating the transport vehicle from the downstream end side to the upstream end side of the sorting line. . 5. The product sorting apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a shipping line connected to a downstream end of the sorting line for guiding a carrier to a shipping site.