JPH08301412A - Commodities sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To reduce stand-by time for an operator so as to expect an accurate commodities taking out process with excellent efficiency. CONSTITUTION: Discriminating means to discriminate a storage container is arranged in a storage container, commodities storage parts to take out the commodities are sorted in a plurality of operation zones 100a-100d, the reading means for the discriminating means is arranged to the inlets of respective operation zones 100a-100d, and a first carrying means to carry the storage container, a second carrying means arranged in parallel to the first carrying means and a third carrying means to move the storage container between the first and second carrying means in respective operation zones 100a-100d, are arranged on a commodities storing part side. The storage container is discriminated by the reading of the discriminating means in each reading means, and decided to be carried to either of the first or second carrying means according to the results discriminated. Further, control means is arranged, which moves the storage container whose carrying way is changed between the first and second carrying means by the third carrying means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product sorting device for manually picking up products from a storage unit in a distribution center, a warehouse or the like.
The present invention relates to a product sorting device that can expect accurate product removal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A product sorting device is a device for manually sorting each product for each shipping destination, and is used when a product such as a distribution center having a different shape is difficult to be automatically taken out. Has been done.

[0003] A conventional product sorting apparatus has a conveyor for carrying a container (accommodation container) for storing products, a product storage shelf provided along the conveyor, and a quantity of products to be stored in a container taken out from each product storage shelf. A display unit for displaying, a control unit for giving product quantity information to the display unit, and a transmitter for transmitting the completion of taking out the product to the control unit, and the control unit drives the conveyor based on a signal from the transmitter. Or, the number of products to be taken out next was displayed on the display.

[0004] Each worker takes out the instructed quantity of goods from the goods storage shelf and puts them in the container on the conveyor while looking at the display on the display. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-55006 and disclosure in the section of Examples introduce such a technique.

[0005]

The efficiency and accuracy of product sorting, that is, picking, varies greatly depending on the skill level and working conditions of the operator. In the conventional apparatus, a container containing the taken-out products is conveyed by a conveyor that moves at a constant speed, and a plurality of workers carry out a joint work to take out the products they are in charge of. In such collaborative work, the range of division is determined for each worker. But,
In this way, when the container is moved on one conveyor and the product is taken out, the work amount for each worker may be excessive or insufficient depending on the destination of the container. That is, for one worker, there is an imbalance such that the product is not taken out from one container and the amount of the product taken out is large from another container, which may reduce the efficiency.

[0006] Further, the operator cannot perform any work on the container having no product taking out work, and waits for an unnecessary time until the next container is transported.
Further, when a container with a large amount of work arrives, the user is not comfortable in trying to process it quickly so that the downstream worker is not kept waiting, and as a result, the product or quantity to be taken out may be incorrect.

An object of the present invention is to provide a product sorting apparatus which can reduce waiting time for workers and can expect efficient and accurate product removal.

[0008]

A product sorting apparatus according to the present invention identifies a storage container in a storage container when a product stored in a product storage unit is manually taken out into a storage container according to product removal information. And a means for unloading a product, which divides the product storage unit into a plurality of work zones, and at the entrance of each work zone, a means for reading the identification unit is provided to convey the container to the side of the product storage unit. One transfer means, a second transfer means provided in parallel to the first transfer means, and a third transfer means for moving the storage container between the first transfer means and the second transfer means of each work zone are provided, The reading means identifies the containing container by reading the identifying means, determines the carrying destination of the containing container to either the first carrying means or the second carrying means according to the identification result, Transport means Characterized in that a control means for the one that changes the conveyance destination is moved in the third conveying means between the second conveying means.

[0009]

[Operation] The first transfer means and the second transfer means are provided in parallel,
The containers can be conveyed in parallel.

The container is identified by reading the identifying means by the reading means at the entrance of the work zone. The storage container with the product taken out is conveyed to the first transfer means, and the storage container without the product taken out is conveyed to the second transfer means. Since only the storage container for which the product needs to be taken out is conveyed to the first conveying means in the work zone, it is possible to perform the work without wasting standby time.

Since the container can be identified by the identifying means, the order in which the container is conveyed can be freely changed. The storage container that does not need to be taken out of the product can be transferred to the downstream work zone by the second transfer means without waiting for the completion of the work on the preceding storage container.

Since the storage container can be transported from the upstream second transport means to the downstream first transport means via the third transport means,
The worker in the work zone on the downstream side can work on the transported storage container without waiting for the storage container in operation on the upstream first transport means. Standby time can be reduced and work efficiency is improved.

Even if the amount of articles taken out in a certain work zone with respect to a certain storage container becomes large, the storage container can be supplied to the downstream worker from the second conveying means in the upstream work zone. Density of work in the upstream does not affect workers in the downstream. It is possible to give each worker a feeling of comfort and expect accurate product removal.

[0014]

[Embodiment] When a container, which is a storage container for storing products, is transported by a single transport path (conveyor), when an excessive amount of product removal work occurs in the upstream container, the subsequent containers are also delayed. It is hard to avoid letting it go. If a bypass container is provided and a container that has no work on the upstream side can be bypassed, the container can be quickly transported to the downstream side.

Therefore, a bypass conveyor is provided in parallel with the main conveyor. However, the products to be taken out and contained in each container are different. It is desirable to be able to transport each container to the main conveyor only when needed. Therefore, a required number of moving conveyors are provided between the main conveyor and the bypass conveyor in parallel so that each container can freely move back and forth between the main conveyor and the bypass conveyor. The transportation means configured by the parallel arrangement of the main conveyor and the bypass conveyor,
It is divided into a plurality of zones by a moving conveyor. Each container is diverged into a main conveyor and a bypass conveyor in each zone and conveyed according to the product to be stored.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the device, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the main parts of the device, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit of the device control part, and FIGS. 4 to 11 are flowcharts showing the control of the device. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the product sorting system 200 has a plurality of work zones 100a to 100d serving as product storage units. In the following description, the uppercase letters of the reference numerals are used to represent parts outside the work zone, and the lowercase letters of the reference numerals are used to distinguish and display the constituent elements for each work zone 100.

When the specific work zone 100 is described, for example, the work zone 100a and the main conveyor 22a.
Is displayed. When collectively described, the work zone 100 and the main conveyor 22 are displayed. In the block diagram of FIG. 3, the work zone 100c and below are omitted.

Each work zone 100 is provided with a merchandise shelf 20 (shown in a simplified manner in FIG. 2) in which merchandise is classified according to the type of merchandise. The product arrangement of the product shelves 20 is arranged so that the work is not concentrated in a specific work zone 100.

On the side of the product shelf 20, a main conveyor 22 serving as a first transfer means for transferring a container 21 containing a product taken out from the product shelf 20, and on the opposite side of the main shelf 22 from the product shelf 20. A bypass conveyor 23, which is a second conveying means provided in parallel, is provided.

The container 21 is a product sorting system 200.
Is conveyed from the entrance 24 to the exit 25. Hereinafter, the inlet 24 side of the commodity sorting system 200 is the upstream side, and the outlet 25 is
The side is called the downstream side.

The upstream end of each work zone 100 and the downstream side of the final work zone 100d are connected to a moving conveyor 26 which serves as a third conveying means for transferring the container 21 between the main conveyor 22 and the bypass conveyor 23. I am doing it.

At the connecting portion between the moving conveyors 26a to 26d and the main conveyor 22, there is provided a standby section 14 which can stand by for two containers 21. Although the standby unit 14 will be described as a part of the moving conveyors 26a to 26d, the standby unit 14 has a function of waiting the storage container to be transferred to the downstream main conveyor 22 regardless of the transfer direction of the moving conveyors 26a to 26d.

The main conveyor 22 and the bypass conveyor 23 convey the container 21 from the upstream side to the downstream side. The moving conveyors 26a and 26E at both ends convey the container 21 only in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. Intermediate transfer conveyor 26
b, 26c, and 26d can carry the container 21 in both the directions shown by the arrow A in FIG. The standby unit 14 conveys the container 21 only to the downstream side. Each conveyor 22, 23, 26 is a roller conveyor.

As shown in FIG. 2, a stopper 18 is provided at the downstream end of the standby section 14 to control the transfer of the container 21 to the main conveyor 22. In addition, the main conveyor 22
A stopper 19 is provided in the container, and stops the container 21 carried onto the main conveyor 22 at the product take-out section 15 for taking out the product. Stoppers 16 and 17 are provided at the downstream end of each of the main conveyor 22 and the bypass conveyor 23 on the downstream side of the product take-out section 15, and the container 21 can stand by there.

A carry-in conveyor 22A is provided at the entrance 24 of the product sorting system 200, and is connected to the moving conveyor 26a on the downstream side thereof. Product sorting system 2
An exit conveyor 22B is provided at the exit 25 of 00,
The carry-out conveyor 22B has a moving conveyor 26E on its upstream side.
Connected with. The main conveyor 22d and the bypass conveyor 23d in the working zone 100d on the most downstream side are connected to the moving conveyor 26E.

A label printer 2 is provided on the upstream side of the carry-in conveyor 22A, and the work zone 10 is provided on the downstream end.
A reading device 5a for 0a is provided. Working zone 1
The reading devices 5b to 5d for the next working zones 100b to 100d are provided at the downstream end portions of the main conveyors 22a to 22c of 00a to 100c.
At the downstream end of a to 23c, the next working zone 100b to
Readers 6b-6d for 100d are provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, each work zone 100 is provided with a data processing computer 3 for exchanging data with the host computer 1 for each work zone 100. The data processing computer 3 is connected to the reading devices 5 and 6 provided on the downstream side of the preceding stage. Further, although the stoppers 16 to 19 of each work zone 100 are omitted in FIG. 3 because they are complicated, they are connected to the data processing computer 3 via the control device 4.

The data processing computer 3a is a stopper 1
The data processing computer 3b controls the stoppers 16a, 17a, 18b and 19b, and the data processing computer 3c controls the stoppers 16b, 17b and 18a.
The data processing computer 3d controls the stoppers 16c, 16d, 17c, 17d, 18d and 19d.

The stoppers 16 to 19 are provided for each roller conveyor 2
It is provided below the transport surface of 2, 23, and 26, and the container 2
When the container 21 is stopped, it rises from between the rollers by an air cylinder or the like, and when it conveys the container 21, it descends.

The container 21 is provided with an identification tag 27 (FIG. 3) which serves as an identification means for the container 21.
A data carrier on which data can be written is used. The data carrier is a so-called transponder or the like, which is a very small transmitter / receiver, has a transmitting / receiving antenna inside, and stores necessary control circuits such as a transmitting / receiving circuit and a memory in which desired information can be written in an IC chip. is there.

By reading the information written in the data carrier of the identification tag 27, the reading devices 5 and 6 upstream of each work zone 100 can read the information written in the identification tag 27 without contact.

As shown in FIG. 3, the writing of information on the identification tag 27 is performed by the transmitter 28 connected to the host computer 1. Information such as the product to be taken out, the priority of the work, the type of the product stored in each product shelf 20, the quantity of the product in stock, and the like are input to the host computer 1.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, each of the product shelves 20 is provided with a display section 13 for displaying product takeout information. The display unit 13 includes a work completion switch 8 including a product quantity indicator 7 and a switch having an illumination unit, and a product shortage switch 12 used when a product shortage occurs, and controls each work zone 100. It is connected to the data processing computer 3 via the device 4. Although the display unit 13 is provided for each product shelf 20, only a part of the display unit 13 is shown because it is complicated in FIG.

In each work zone 100, the moving conveyor 26 is driven by the motor 9, the main conveyor 22 is driven by the motor 10, and the bypass conveyor 23 is driven by the motor 11. The motors 9, 10, 11 are connected to the data processing computer 3 via the control device 4. In addition, each work zone 10
A patrol light 35 is provided above 0. The patrol light 35 is connected to the data processing computer 3 via the control device 4.

Next, the operation of the product sorting system 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows the main flow of product sorting. The high-order computer 1 stores, in its master table, information on the products to be taken out for each product delivery destination according to the order of priority given to the order. First, the host computer takes out the information of this product (step S100).

Then, the information of the product to be stored in the container 21 and the number for identifying the container 21 are written in the data carrier of the identification tag 27 of the container 21 (step S20).
0). When the information about the type and quantity of the product accommodated in the container 21 is written in the data carrier of the identification tag 27, it is converted into the information of the number of the corresponding product shelf 20 and the quantity to be taken out.

Information can be written in the identification tag 27 by using a conveyor (not shown) connected upstream of the carry-in conveyor 22A before the container 21 is loaded into the carry-in conveyor 22A from the entrance 24 of the product sorting system 200. The transmitter 28 connected to the host computer 1 shown in FIG.

The containers 21 are sequentially conveyed on the conveyor toward the entrance 24 of the product sorting system 200. The containers 21 are sequentially transported on the conveyor,
Carry-in conveyor 2 at the entrance 24 of the product sorting system 200
It is thrown on 2A. At that time, the label printer 2 issues a label on which the name of the payee, the address of the payee, etc. are printed (step S300).

The issued label is stored in the container 21. This label is used by being attached to a cardboard box or the like when packing and shipping the product contained in the container 21 by a packing device (not shown) connected to the downstream side of the product sorting system 200. The payment destination, etc. is displayed together with the barcode.

The container 21 moves on the carry-in conveyor 22A toward the reading device 5a. The reading device 5a is
The information written on the identification tag 27 of the container 21 is read and the read information is transmitted to the data processing computer 3a. Data processing computer 3a is working zone 1
Control of product takeout and information totalization at 00a. After the processing in the work zone 100a, the identification tag of the container 21 is read again by the reading device 5b or 6b and transmitted to the data processing computer 3b. Thereafter, the merchandise is taken out from each work zone and the information is totaled (step S400).

Hereinafter, the product taking-out work performed in step S400 and the data processing thereof will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the operation in the work zone 100a will be described with reference to FIG.

The reading device 5a reads information from the identification tag 27, and the data processing computer 3a receives the reading information of the identification tag 27 from the reading device 5a (step S410). The data carrier of the identification tag 27 stores information on the number of the product shelf 20 in which the products to be stored in the container 21 are stored and the quantity to be taken out.

The data processing computer 3a receives these pieces of information, and determines whether or not there is a product shelf containing the products to be stored in the container 21 in the work zone 100a, that is, whether or not there is work in the work zone 100a. (Step S411). The destination of the container 21 is determined by the presence or absence of work.

If there is a product shelf 20 to be worked, the data processing computer 3a judges that there is work, and advances to step S412 according to the arrow Y. That is, container 2
It is determined that 1 should be conveyed to the main conveyor 22a side, and the information of the number of the product shelf 20 in the work zone 100a in which the product is taken out and the quantity to be taken out is stored in the memory.

When there is no corresponding merchandise shelf 20, the data processing computer 3a judges that there is no work, and advances to step S430 according to the arrow N. That is, it is determined to transport the container 21 to the bypass conveyor 23a side.

Since the container 21 stores the information of the product removal work in the identification tag 27, by reading the information of the identification tag 27 in the upstream of the work zone 100, it is possible to judge the presence or absence of the work in the corresponding work zone. Working zone 100
By moving the container 21 with no work for taking out the goods to the bypass conveyor 23, the container 21 without work is not carried to the main conveyor 22 side, and is quickly carried to the work zone 100 with work. In this way, the wasteful waiting time of the worker can be reduced.

When the container 21 is branched to the bypass conveyor 23, the container 21 is divided into the commodity sorting system 20.
It is conveyed to the next work zone 100 regardless of the order of conveyance within 0. Even if the order of the containers 21 is changed, the containers 21 can be identified by the identification tag 27, and therefore the information of the product take-out work for the container 21 can be obtained by reading the identification tag 27.

In this way, the container 21 without work
Can be sent to the next work zone 100 by the bypass conveyor 23. Such judgment is repeated in each work zone. The worker in each work zone 100 is supplied with only the container 21 in which the product is taken out.

Since the container 21 without the work for taking out the goods is conveyed to the downstream work zone 100 via the bypass conveyor 23, the container 21 can be promptly processed without wasting time in the upstream work zone 100 without the work. 21 can be sent to the work zone 100 where work is required. In this way, the waiting time of the worker in the work zone 100 on the downstream side can be reduced.

The container 21 for which the information on the identification tag 27 has been read by the reading device 5a is conveyed from the carry-in conveyor 22A to the moving conveyor 26a. For the container 21 conveyed to the main conveyor 22a side in the work zone 100a, the data processing computer 3a stores the product sorting information in the work zone 100a obtained from the read information of the identification tag 27 in the memory in the order of the container 21. The moving conveyor 26a is driven by the motor 9a via the controller 4 to convey the container 21 in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 1 (step S412).

The container 21 is sent to the standby section 14a which connects the moving conveyor 26a to the main conveyor 22a. At the downstream end of the standby portion 14a, another container 21 has already been
When the container 21 is on standby, the container 21 that is being conveyed stops on the upstream side of the container 21 that was previously conveyed on the moving conveyor 26a.

Since the moving conveyor 26a is driven only in the direction shown by the arrow A in FIG. 1, the container 21 can be made to stand by over the entire length of the moving conveyor 26a. Since the work shelves are arranged so that the work is not concentrated in a specific work zone 100, it is unlikely that the work is concentrated in the most upstream work zone 100a.

The moving conveyor 26a is a carry-in conveyor 22A.
Can be used as the standby unit 14 except for a portion that connects the bypass conveyor 23a with the bypass conveyor 23a, and can hold a larger number of containers 21 than the standby units 14 in the other work zones 100. Therefore, for example, the work zone 10 that is temporarily the first
Even if the containers 21 that take out products are concentrated at 0a, it is not necessary to immediately stop the supply of the containers 21 conveyed from the carry-in conveyor 22A.

The container 21 on the moving conveyor 26a is directed to the downstream side end of the standby portion 14a of the moving conveyor 26a, and is forwarded every time the previously transferred container 21 is transferred to the main conveyor 22a. The data processing computer 3a conveys the containers 21 one by one to the main conveyor 22a by driving the stopper 18a of the standby portion 14a of the moving conveyor 26a up and down.

For the container 21 conveyed to the standby section 14a of the moving conveyor 26a, the data processing computer 3a determines whether or not the commodity take-out section 15a on the main conveyor 22a is empty (step S413). When the product take-out portion 15a is empty, lower the stopper 18a,
It is conveyed onto the main conveyor 22a.

When the preceding container 21 is stopped at the product taking-out work position 15a on the main conveyor 22a, the stopper 18a is raised and the corresponding container 21 is made to stand by in the waiting section 14 (step S414).

The preceding container 21 has its working zone 1
When the work at 00a is completed and the movement from the product take-out section 15a is started, it is determined that the next container 21 can be moved, and the stopper 18a is lowered to convey the container 21 onto the main conveyor 22a. The container 21 transported onto the main conveyor 22a is stopped by the stopper 19 at the product take-out section 15.
The process is stopped by a (step S415).

The data processing computer 3a has a display unit 1 provided for each product shelf 20 in the work zone 100a based on the product takeout information stored in the memory.
The product quantity display 7 of No. 3 displays the quantity of the product to be taken out for the stopped container 21, the illumination part of the work completion switch 8 is turned on, and the patrol light 35a is further turned on (step S416).

Based on the display on the display section 13 of the product shelf 20, the worker takes out the product. Every time the operator takes out the product from the product shelf 20, the worker presses the work completion switch 8 on the display 7 of the product shelf 20. At this time, product shelf 2
When the quantity of goods indicated by the quantity-of-goods display 7 is insufficient in 0, the goods shortage switch 12 is pushed without taking out the goods.

When the work completion switch 8 on the product shelf 20 is pressed, a signal indicating that the product corresponding to the product shelf 20 has been taken out is sent to the data processing computer 3a. Further, by pressing the product shortage switch 12, the shortage information of the product corresponding to the product shelf 20 is sent to the data processing computer 3a.

When the data processing computer 3a receives a signal from the work completion switch 8 or the product shortage switch 12, it turns off the illumination unit of the work completion switch 8 provided on the product shelf 20 that has transmitted the signal. When all the illumination parts of the work completion switches 8 in the work zone 100a are turned off, the product takeout information is sent to the host computer 1 and the work is finished (step S417).

When the merchandise takeout information in the work zone 100a is sent to the host computer 1, the merchandise sorting information read from the identification tag 27 for the container 21 is erased from the memory by the data processing computer 3a (step S418). When the work in the work zone 100a is completed, the stopper 19a is lowered and the main conveyor 22a is driven to convey the container 21 toward the downstream side (step S419).

The stopper 16a at the downstream end of the main conveyor 22a is controlled by the data processing computer 3b on the side of the next work zone 100b. When there is no preceding container 21 at the downstream end of the main conveyor 22a, the container 21 is conveyed to the downstream end of the main conveyor 22a. When there is a preceding container 21 at the downstream end, the trailing container 21 stops on the upstream side. When the container 21 at the downstream end of the standby portion of the main conveyor 22a moves to the moving conveyor 26b, the containers 21 sequentially move and are transported to the downstream end.

In step S411, the work zone 100a
When the data processing computer 3a determines that there is no product to be stored in the container 21, the data processing computer 3a moves the container 21 from the moving conveyor 26a to the bypass conveyor 23a by a pusher or the like (not shown) (step S430). Bypass conveyor 23
The container 21 moved to a is a bypass conveyor 23.
It is conveyed toward the downstream end of a (step S43).
1).

The stopper 17a at the downstream end of the bypass conveyor 23a is controlled by the data processing computer 3b on the next work zone 100b side. Bypass conveyor 23
When there is no preceding container 21 at the downstream end of a,
The container 21 is conveyed to the downstream end of the bypass conveyor 23a. When there is a preceding container 21, it stops at the upstream side. When the container 21 at the downstream end of the standby section moves to the moving conveyor 26b, the container 21 on the bypass conveyor 23a is sequentially fed toward the downstream end and is conveyed to the downstream end.

Next, the working zone 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The operation of b will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the main conveyor 2
The container 21 that has reached the downstream end of 2a is read with the product sorting information of the identification tag 27 by the reading device 5b, and the read information is sent to the data processing computer 3b (step S440).

The data processing computer 3b uses the container 2 whose information is read at the downstream end of the main conveyor 22a.
For item 1, it is determined whether or not there is a work of taking out the product in the work zone 100b, and the destination of the work is determined (step S4).
41).

When the container 21 at the downstream end of the main conveyor 22a has a work for picking up products in the work zone 100b, the movable conveyor 26b is conveyed to the standby portion 14b and the empty space in the standby portion 14b. Whether or not the container 21 can be transported to the standby unit 14b is determined based on the presence / absence of another container 21 (step S442).

When there is no free space in the standby section 14b of the moving conveyor 26b, or when the waiting section 1 is on the moving conveyor 26b.
When there is another container 21 to be conveyed toward 4b, the container 21 at the downstream end of the main conveyor 22a is put on standby until it can be moved (step S443).

When there is an empty space in the waiting section 14b of the moving conveyor 26b and there is no other container 21 to be conveyed on the moving conveyor 26b to the waiting section 14b, the stopper 16
a is lowered, and the container 21 at the downstream end of the main conveyor 22a is moved to the moving conveyor 26b (step S444).

In step S441, the main conveyor 22
In the container 21 at the downstream end of a, the working zone 100
When there is no product removal work in b, the moving conveyor 26
Whether or not the container can be transported to the bypass conveyor 23b is determined based on the presence / absence of another container 21 moving from the bypass conveyor 23a to the main conveyor 22b on the b side (step S46).
0).

When there is another container 21 moving from the bypass conveyor 23a to the main conveyor 22b on the moving conveyor 26b, the main conveyor 2 is moved until the container 21 is conveyed to the standby section 14b of the moving conveyor 26b.
The container 21 at the downstream end of 2a is put on standby (step S461).

When there is no container 21 moving from the bypass conveyor 23a to the main conveyor 22b on the moving conveyor 26b, the container 21 at the downstream end of the main conveyor 22a is moved to the moving conveyor 26b and the arrow shown in FIG. The sheet is conveyed in the direction opposite to the direction A, and is conveyed to the end of the moving conveyor 26b on the bypass conveyor 23b side (step S462).

The container 21 conveyed to the end on the side of the bypass conveyor 23b on the moving conveyor 26b is moved to the bypass conveyor 23b by a pusher (not shown) (step S463).

As shown in FIG. 7, the container 21 that has reached the downstream end of the bypass conveyor 23a is read by the reading device 6b with the product sorting information of the identification tag 27, and the read information is read by the data processing computer 3b.
To be sent to (step S470).

The data processing computer 3b determines whether or not the container 21 whose information has been read at the downstream end of the bypass conveyor 23a is subjected to the product removal work in the work zone 100b, and determines the destination of the product ( Step S471).

When the container 21 at the downstream end of the bypass conveyor 23a has a product taking out work in the work zone 100b, the waiting section 1 of the moving conveyor 26b is used.
4b is available, or another container 2 is conveyed on the moving conveyor 26b toward the bypass conveyor 23b.
It is determined whether or not there is 1 and whether the container 21 is transported to the standby unit 14b or is on standby (step S47).
2).

When there is no space in the standby section 14b of the moving conveyor 26b or when there is another container 21 conveyed on the moving conveyor 26b toward the bypass conveyor 23b, the bypass conveyor 2 is moved until it becomes movable.
The container 21 is made to stand by at the downstream end of 3a (step S473).

The standby section 14b of the moving conveyor 26b is vacant, and the bypass conveyor 23b is located above the moving conveyor 26b.
When there is no other container 21 that is transported toward the container, the stopper 17a is lowered and the bypass conveyor 23
a container 21 at the downstream end of a
b and convey to the standby unit 14b (step S47).
4). Next, the processing from step S445 onward in FIG. 6 is performed.

Further, when there is no product taking out work in the work zone 100b, it is judged whether or not the container can be transferred to the bypass conveyor 26b based on the presence / absence of another container 21 moving on the moving conveyor 26b toward the bypass conveyor 23b (step S475). .

When there is another container 21 moving on the moving conveyor 26b toward the bypass conveyor 23b, the container 21 at the downstream end of the bypass conveyor 23a is made to wait until the container 21 is transported to the bypass conveyor 23b. (Step S476).

When there is no other container 21 moving on the moving conveyor 26b toward the bypass conveyor 23b, the stopper 17a is lowered to move the bypass conveyor 23b.
a container 21 at the downstream end of a
It moves to b (step S477). Next, step S in FIG.
The processing of 463 and below is performed.

From the main conveyor 22a to the bypass conveyor 2
Container 21 moving to 3b and bypass conveyor 23
When there is a container 21 that moves from a to the main conveyor 22b, the main conveyor 22a and the bypass conveyor 23a
Of the container 21 that moves from both
The container 21 that can be moved earlier than 6b is prioritized.

The container 21 which can be moved almost at the same time
When there is, the container 21 that moves from the bypass conveyor 23 to the main conveyor 22 side is prioritized in order to prevent the worker from waiting time.

Hereinafter, in the working zone 100b, the standby unit 14
The main conveyor 22b for the container 21 transported to b
The processing of steps S445 to S451 is the work zone 1 above.
00a is performed in the same manner as steps S413 to S419. Further, the processing for transferring the container 21 conveyed on the bypass conveyor 23b toward the downstream end of the bypass conveyor 23b in step S464 is performed in the work zone 10.
It is performed similarly to step S431 of 0a.

In the next working zone 100c, as shown in FIG.
The processing of steps S480 to S504 is
0b in steps S440 to S464 in FIG. 6, and steps S510 to S517 in FIG. 9 are performed in the same manner as steps S470 to S477 in FIG. 7 in the work zone 100b.

Further, in the most downstream work zone 100d, steps S520 to S531 and step S540 of FIG.
The processes of to S544 are performed in the same manner as steps S440 to S464 of FIG. 6 of the work zone 100b, and the processes of steps S550 to S557 of FIG. 11 are performed in the same manner as steps S470 to S477 of the work zone 100b of FIG. Hereinafter, steps S532 to S535 and S54 of FIG.
The processing of 5 to S546 will be described.

In step S531, the container 21 is moved to the end of the main conveyor. Data processing computer 3d
Detects whether or not there is another container conveyed on the moving conveyor 26E toward the carry-out conveyor 22B, and determines whether or not the container 21 at the downstream end of the main conveyor 22d can be conveyed to the moving conveyor 26E (step S532). ).

The carry-out conveyor 22 is placed on the moving conveyor 26E.
When there is another container 21 to be conveyed toward B, the other conveyor 21 on the moving conveyor 26E is put on standby until it moves to the carry-out conveyor 22B (step S53).
3). When there is no other container 21 conveyed on the moving conveyor 26E toward the unloading conveyor 22B, the stopper 16d is lowered to move the container 21 to the moving conveyor 26E.
The process moves to E (step S534).

For the container 21 moved to the downstream end of the bypass conveyor 23d in step S547, the data processing computer 3d moves the moving conveyor 26d.
The presence / absence of another container 21 conveyed toward the carry-out conveyor 22B on E is detected to determine whether or not the container 21 can be conveyed to the moving conveyor 26E (step S545).

When there is another container 21 to be transported on the moving conveyor 26E, it is put on standby until another container 21 on the moving conveyor 26E moves to the unloading conveyor 22B (step S549). When there is no other container 21 transported on the moving conveyor 26E, the stopper 17d is lowered and the container 21 is moved to the moving conveyor 26E (step S537).

A downstream end of the bypass conveyor 23d,
When the container 21 is present at the downstream end of the main conveyor 22d at the same time, the container 21 which can be moved to the moving conveyor 26E earlier is given priority and is conveyed to the moving conveyor 26E.

Container 21 that can move almost simultaneously
When there is, the main conveyor 22d is the bypass conveyor 2
Since the distance from 3d to the carry-out conveyor 22B is shorter, the container 21 is preferentially moved from the main conveyor 22d side to the moving conveyor 26E.

The container 21 on the moving conveyor 26E is conveyed to the end of the moving conveyor 26E and is moved to the carry-out conveyor 22B as it is (step S535). The container 21 moved to the carry-out conveyor 22B is moved toward the carry-out exit 25.

The product take-out section 15 of the work zone 100d
Container 21 and bypass conveyor 23 that have finished their work in d
With respect to the container 21 transported to d, the host computer 1 totals the take-out information of the merchandise sent from each data processing computer 3 before being carried out from the carry-out port 25.

Next, the high-level computer 1 compares the master information with the take-out information of the product contained in the container 21 to determine whether it is out of stock (FIG. 4, step S600).
If there is a stockout, the stockout information is registered in the master table as new order information (step S700). Next, the product sorting information is passed to the device connected to the downstream side of the product sorting system 200 together with the container 21 carried out from the carry-out port 25, and the processing in the product sorting system 200 is completed (step S800).

On the downstream side of the product sorting system 200,
A packing device (not shown) is connected. Here, read out the product take-out information from the host computer 1,
A form or the like is issued to the product housed in the container 21, the product is packed in a cardboard box, the label issued by the label printer 2 is attached, and the product is shipped.

Since the information on the commodities to be stored in each container 21 is stored in the identification tag 27, each work zone 100
It can be read by the reading devices 5 and 6 provided on the upstream side of. Since the product information can be read for each work zone 100, there is no problem even if the order of the containers 21 is changed in each work zone 100 without performing complicated processing.

Only those items that have a product removal operation can be conveyed to the main conveyor 22. Since the container 21 that does not take out the product is not sent to the main conveyor 22, no wasteful waiting time is generated in each work zone 100, and the work can be performed efficiently.

Since the identification tag 27 of each container stores the product sorting information, the product information taken out for each container 21 can be read even if the order in which the containers 21 are transported is changed. When the container 21 is transported by the bypass conveyor 23 by bypassing the main conveyor 22, the transport order of the containers 21 is changed, but the information for taking out the product can be read in each work zone 100.

The container 21 without taking out the goods is not put in the main conveyor 22 and the bypass conveyor 23 is used.
Can be sent to the working zone 100 downstream. Even if a container 21 with a large amount of work and a long stagnation time occurs on the main conveyor 22 in the upstream work zone, the bypass conveyor 2
Since the container 21 can be supplied to the work zone 100 on the downstream side via the No. 3, the waiting time of the worker on the downstream side can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the waiting section is provided on the moving conveyor 26, but the waiting section may be omitted. Even at this time, the container 21 is supplied to the downstream side working zone 100 not only from the upstream main conveyor 22 but also from the upstream bypass conveyor 23, so that it is unlikely to be affected by the upstream work.

Further, by providing the standby unit 14, the container 21 having a work therein can be put on standby.
If one or more containers 21 can stand by in the standby unit 14, even if the containers 21 are stagnant in the upstream work zone, the downstream unit will be supplied with the containers 21 from the standby unit 14 to the downstream workers. Work is not immediately affected, and the waiting time can be further reduced.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the waiting section 14 on the moving conveyor 26 can hold two containers 21. However, if the waiting quantity is increased, a large number of containers 2 will be received.
1 can be made to stand by, and is less likely to be affected by upstream work.

Further, the host computer 1 statistically processes the sorting quantity of each product for each product shelf 20, and based on the statistical processing result, the host computer 1 can maximize the product removal work amount in each work zone 100. An instruction may be issued to change the types of products stored on the product shelf 20 so as to be uniform.

For example, before the start of the work for one day, the work for changing the kind of the product stored in the product shelf 20 is performed based on the above instruction. By doing this, each work zone 1
The work amount at 00 can be made uniform, less affected by the worker on the upstream side, the work amount becomes constant, and the work efficiency is improved.

Further, although the merchandise to be stored in the merchandise shelf 20 is determined so that the work amount in each work zone 100 is constant, the work amount may be changed according to the ability of the worker. The type of the product to be stored in the product shelf 20 is determined by the host computer 1 according to the ability of the worker who works in each work zone 100. By doing so, the processing time in each work zone 100 can be made uniform, and the efficiency of the product removal work can be improved.

When there is a container 21 to be moved onto the moving conveyor 26 from both the main conveyor 22 and the bypass conveyor 23 at substantially the same time, the container 21 moving toward the downstream main conveyor 22 is preferentially conveyed. However, other priorities may be used. For example, identification tag 2
Container 2 based on shipping destination etc. based on 7 product sorting information
The priority order of 1 may be assigned and registered.

When there is a container 21 to be transported to the moving conveyor 26 at substantially the same time, the transport order is determined based on the priority order. By doing so, it is possible to preferentially process the items having the highest urgency.

12 and 13 show another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the outline of the apparatus, and FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the apparatus controller. The present embodiment is different from the above embodiment in that each work zone 100 as shown in FIG.
A reading device 29 is provided in the product takeout unit 15 for each
That is, the data processing computer 3 in each work zone 100 is connected.

[0111] The product sorting system 2 configured as above.
00, the operation is different in the following points. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 11, the reading device 5,
The information read by 6 is stored in the data processing computer 3 in the order of the containers 21 transported to the main conveyor 22, and the product removal information of the containers 21 transported to the product removal unit 15 is displayed on the display unit 13. .

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the data processing computer 3 does not store the information obtained by reading the identification tag 27 by the reading devices 5 and 6 only for determining the destination of the container 21 and stores the information. Container 2 transported to
The identification tag 27 of No. 1 is read by the reading device 29, and the reading result is displayed on the display unit 13 of the work zone 100.

With this arrangement, the reading device 29 directly reads the identification tag 27 of the container 21 in the product take-out section 15, so that the reliability is improved. Also,
The contents read from the identification tag 27 may be displayed on the display unit 13 as they are, and it is not necessary to store the product takeout information for all the containers 21 in the work zone 100.

Since the product take-out information only needs to be stored for the container 21 in the product take-out section 15, the storage capacity can be small and the control is simple. Therefore, the processing load on the data processing computer 3 can be reduced, and the data processing computer 3 can be simplified.

In the above embodiment, the identification number of each container 21, the product shelf 20 from which the product is taken out, and the quantity information are written in the data carrier of the identification tag 27, but only the identification number may be written in the identification tag 27. .

The readers 5 and 6 upstream of each work zone 100 read the identification number and send it to the host computer 1. The host computer 1 takes out the registered data from the identification number, moves the container 21 to the main conveyor 22 side when there is work in the work zone 100, and moves it to the bypass conveyor 23 side when there is no work.

When the container 21 is conveyed to the product take-out section 15, a desired quantity is obtained based on the product take-out information stored in the high-level computer 1.
It is displayed on the product quantity display 7 of.

By doing so, the identification number is displayed by the barcode on the identification tag 27 and the container 21 is identified by using the barcode sensors as the reading devices 5 and 6 without using the data carrier. You can also The readers 5 and 6 upstream of each work zone 100 read the identification number from the bar code and transmit it to the host computer 1. Since the presence / absence of work on the container 21 and the product removal information can be obtained without using a data carrier, the configuration can be simplified.

Further, also in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, as in the above embodiment, only the identification number is written in the data carrier of the identification tag 27, the identification number is transmitted to the host computer 1, and the host computer 1 From container 2
The container 21 may be transported or the product may be taken out in response to the presence or absence of the work on item 1 and the product taking-out information.

Also in the present embodiment, the identification number is displayed on the identification tag 27 by a bar code, the reading devices 5, 6, 29 are bar code sensors, and the identification number is transmitted to the host computer 1 by reading the bar code. You may do it.

The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments.
The present invention is not limited to these. For example,
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, improvements, combinations, and the like can be made.

[0122]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a product sorting apparatus which can reduce the waiting time of workers and can expect efficient and accurate product removal.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a product sorting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the system shown in FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing a control unit of the system shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the system shown in FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing an operation up to a front end of a leading work zone in the system shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation from the end portion of the main conveyor of the head work zone to the position before the end portion of the second work zone from the head in the system shown in FIG. 1;

7 is a flowchart showing an operation from the bypass conveyor end portion of the leading work zone to the second working zone from the beginning in the system shown in FIG.

8 is a flowchart showing an operation from the main conveyor end portion of the second working zone from the beginning to the end portion of the third working zone from the beginning in the system shown in FIG.

9 is a flowchart showing an operation from the bypass conveyor end portion of the second working zone from the beginning to the third working zone from the beginning in the system shown in FIG.

10 is a flowchart showing an operation from the main conveyor end portion of the third working zone from the top to the rearmost working zone in the system shown in FIG.

11 is a flowchart showing the operation from the bypass conveyor end portion of the third working zone from the top to the rearmost working zone in the system shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a product sorting system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

13 is a block diagram showing a control unit of the system shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Host computer, 2 ... Label printer 3a-3d ... Data processing computer, 4a, 4b ... Control device 5a-5d, 6b-6d ... Reading device 7a1-7a3, 7b1-7b3 ... Product quantity indicator 8a1-8a3, 8b1 -8b3 ... Work completion switch 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b ... Motor 12a1-12a3, 12b1-12b3 ... Out-of-stock switch, 13 ... Display part 14a-14d ... Standby part, 15a-15d ... Product pick-up part 16a ~ 16d, 17a-17d, 18a-18d, 1
9a to 19d ... Stopper 20 ... Product shelf, 21 ... Container, 22a to 22d ... Main conveyor 22A ... Carry-in conveyor, 22B ... Carry-out conveyor 26E, 26a-26d ... Moving conveyor 23a-23d ... Bypass conveyor, 24 ... Carry-in port, 2
5 ... Carrying out port 27 ... Identification tag, 28 ... Transmitter 29a-29d ... Reading device, 35a-35d ... Patlite 100a-100d ... Work zone 200 ... Commodity sorting system

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A product storage in which a product stored in a product storage unit is manually taken out by a product take-out information and put into a storage container, and an identification means for identifying the storage container is provided in the storage container to take out the product. Division is divided into multiple working zones,
The reading means of the identification means is provided at the entrance of each work zone, the first conveying means for conveying the storage container to the side of the product storage section, and the second conveying means provided in parallel with the first conveying means,
A third transport means for moving the storage container between the first transport means and the second transport means of each work zone is provided, and the storage container is identified by the reading of the identification means by the reading means, and the storage container is identified according to the identification result. The destination of the storage container is determined to be either the first transport means or the second transport means, and the one of the storage containers whose transport destination is changed between the first transport means and the second transport means is transported to the third transport. A product sorting device, characterized in that it is provided with control means for moving by means. 2. The control means conveys a storage container for taking out products in the commodity storage section to the first conveying means, and conveys a storage container in which the commodity storage section has not taken out goods to the second conveying means. The product sorting device according to claim 1. 3. The storage means for storing the product to be stored in the storage container is provided in the identification means, the storage means reads the storage content of the storage means, and the control means stores the storage container based on the read result. If the product to be stored in the product storage section of the relevant work zone is transported to the first transport means, and if the product to be stored in the storage container is not in the product storage section of the relevant work zone, the storage container is stored in the second transport means. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein
The described product sorting device. 4. The product sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third conveying means is provided with a standby portion for the storage container in which at least one storage container can stand by. 5. Further, each work zone is provided with a display section for displaying product take-out information, the identifying means is provided with a storage means for storing a product to be stored in a container, and each reading means stores the storage means. 2. The content is read, and the control means displays the product to be stored in the storage container on the display unit based on the read result.
The described product sorting device. 6. A main transport means capable of transporting a container, a bypass transport means arranged in parallel with the main transport means and capable of transporting a container, and an upstream end portion of the bypass transport means selected. A branching means that is connected to the main transporting means, and an intermediate position between the main transporting means and the bypass transporting means, and a main transporting means on the upstream side or a main transporting means on the downstream side from the bypass transporting means; A product sorting device having transfer means capable of transferring a container to any of the bypass transfer means, and control means for controlling the branching means and the transfer means based on data of products to be stored in the container.