JPH09188403A - Sorting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To issue only the necessary number of distribution labels which are produced at a sorting system and mounted on an assorted container and on which necessary items are displayed, after completion of an assortment work. SOLUTION: Input buttons 10...10 are arranged on display units 11...11 arranged at respective collection areas 3...3 and used for display of the number of charged commodities. By operating the input buttons 10...10, the number of assorted containers produced at the respective collection areas 3...3 is inputted to a console 4 after completion of an assortment work. The console 4 corresponds an input value to the collection area 3 one to one for containment, and outputs information to a label printer 6. The label printer 6 prints the number of assorted containers and a shop name and issues only the number of labels equal to the number of assorted containers.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sorting system used in a product distribution process, and more specifically, a delivery label attached to a container into which a product is loaded and shipped to each store. The present invention relates to a sorting system that can issue documents efficiently.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In distribution centers for products for supermarkets and convenience stores, sorting work is carried out in which various products are ordered according to the order from each store, but in recent years, this sorting work has been carried out. It is becoming more common to use a sorting system.

In this sorting system, a collection area for collecting ordered products is arranged along the transportation route of the products for each destination store, and the products are put into each of the collection areas. It is equipped with a quantity display for displaying the quantity, and a shipping container into which goods are loaded.
When each product is designated, for example, by reading a bar code, the number of orders from each store for that product is displayed on the quantity display, and the worker displays the number of each product displayed in the container in the collection area. By loading the products one by one, the ordered products of each store can be sorted into containers by the number of ordered products in each area.

[0004] Then, after the sorting work is completed, the containers are shipped to each store. In this case, in order to prevent misdelivery of the products, a delivery label with a store name etc. for verification is provided. Is attached as a representative or one for each container.

[0005]

By the way, in such a delivery label, it is customary to input, print, and issue each item using a label printer or the like, rather than handwriting. If you attach one label to each container, you will need to print as many labels as the number of assorted containers created in the collection area for each store. Should be performed after the sorting work, which essentially determines the number of sorted containers.

In addition to the store name indicating the destination, the number of shipped containers, etc. may be printed on the label for the purpose of strengthening the prevention of delivery mistakes and shipping management. At that time, only one representative sheet is printed. Since it becomes necessary to know the number of sorted containers, including the case of printing and issuing, it is necessary to issue such labels after the sorting work is completed.

Further, since a delivery vehicle travels through a plurality of stores at a time, it is customary that some delivery routes are determined in advance based on the geographical position of each store. Then, in order to mainly serve the driver's flights, the label may print the number of the shop of which route, and at that time, the delivery route may change due to traffic conditions, store conditions, etc. It's easy and the delivery order changes, so
Therefore, the label should be issued as late as possible, that is, after the sorting work is completed.

However, if the label is issued after the sorting work is completed, the information regarding the number of shipped containers and the information regarding the store as described above are accurately associated with each of a number of destination stores. Since data has to be entered just before shipment, it is complicated and error-prone, so create labels with various patterns for each item in advance and manage them at each store. The current situation is to take out what actually matches and attach it to the container. As a result, the cost for the label is high, and if the pattern does not have the necessary number or the number of sheets is insufficient, the operator has to urgently handwrite.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to print and issue as many delivery labels as necessary and to easily enter each item such as the number of shipped containers and delivery route in correspondence with each store. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sorting system that can issue issuance in a short time after finishing sorting work.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized as follows.

First, in the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "first invention"), a plurality of collection areas for collecting ordered products for each destination store are arranged along the product transport route. In addition, a quantity display device for displaying the number of ordered products is provided in each of the collection areas, and the products are put into the delivery containers in each collection area according to the ordered quantity displayed on the quantity display device. Accordingly, the sorting system is such that the ordered products are sorted according to the number of ordered products for each store, and a container number designating unit for designating the number of sorted containers is provided in each of the collection areas, and this designating unit is also provided. Label issuing means for issuing the same number of delivery labels as the number of containers designated in step 1 for the destination store in the collection area is provided.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of collection areas for collecting ordered products are provided for each destination store, and the number of containers for designating the number of sorted containers to be shipped is set in each of these collection areas. Designated means are provided. Therefore, when the worker specifies the number of sorted containers generated in each collecting area at the end of the sorting work with this designating means, the designated shipping container number is
In other words, since it is clear which store it belongs to,
The information regarding the number of shipping containers can be easily associated with each store on a one-to-one basis. Upon receipt of this set of information, the label issuing means issues the delivery label for the store by the number of containers described above, which simplifies the operation at the time of issuing the label, saves time, and ensures that the delivery label is error-free. Will be issued in the required number. Further, in this case, since the worker specifies the number of containers in each collecting area, the worker does not make a mistake in the number of containers to be specified.

It should be noted that each collection area may be provided with store information setting means for setting information on the destination store of the collection area, and the store information set by this setting means may be displayed on the label. . In that case, the worker simply sets the store information such as the delivery route at the end of the sorting work, and the store information is associated with each store one-to-one and displayed on the label issued for each store. Will be done. As a result, it is possible to print store information such as delivery routes on a label and issue it in a short time without error.
It is possible to issue such a label after the sorting work which is later in time is completed, and it is possible to deal with a sudden route change or the like.

Next, the invention according to claim 2 (hereinafter referred to as the "second invention") is, in the above-mentioned first invention, the label issuing means has the container designated by the container number designating means on the delivery label to be issued. It is characterized by displaying information about the number.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the label issuing means displays the information on the number of containers designated by the number-of-containers designating means on the label, so that the worker can determine the number of sorted containers at the end of the sorting work. By simply specifying, the number-of-containers information is associated with each store on a one-to-one basis and displayed on the label issued for each store. As a result, since the number-of-containers information can be printed on the label and issued without error, the label can be issued after the sorting work is completed.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 (hereinafter referred to as "third aspect"
Invention ". ) In the above-mentioned first invention, each number indicator has the above-mentioned container number designating means.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the number of containers is input and the number is transmitted by using the existing number display provided for each collection area in order to display the input number. This can be done in a one-to-one correspondence with the product area, and the arrangement of a new transmission network and the equipment cost can be reduced.

[0018]

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

First, the overall configuration of the sorting system according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG.
This sorting system has a plurality (two in the example in the figure) of sorting products, each of which is loaded on a trolley 1 ...
2 of the product conveyance paths 2 ...
Plural items that collect the ordered products for each destination store (5 in the example in the figure)
3) are arranged in a line.
A work management console 4 is provided at the start position of each transport path 2, and the console 4 has a barcode scanner 5 for reading the barcode attached to the sorted product. A label printer 6 for printing and issuing predetermined information on a delivery label L attached to a delivery container C, which will be described next, is connected as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, in each of the above-mentioned collection areas 3, there are provided delivery containers C ... C into which sorted products are put and shipped to each store, and above them. Is a loading instruction lamp 7 for instructing the loading of a product into the container C in the collection area 3, a three-digit display 8 for digitally displaying the number of products loaded, that is, the number of orders received, and is turned on when the loading of products is completed. The input completion button 9 to be operated and a predetermined numerical value or the like when pressed is displayed on the display unit 8
Number indicator 11 with input button 10 for displaying on
Is suspended.

On the other hand, this sorting system is provided with a control system as shown in FIG. This control system is connected to a host computer (not shown) provided in the delivery center, and sorting information such as the ordered product name and the ordered quantity for each destination store is stored in memory to manage the entire sorting system. The operation console 4 is connected to the system controller 20 via the repeater 21 for each transport path 2.

.. 11 are connected to each other via the display controller 22 through a bidirectional communication line, and the respective number indicators 11 ...
Each 11 is equipped with a one-chip microcomputer (not shown) to communicate with the operation console 4 and display the received order quantity on the display unit 8,
A completion signal or the like generated by turning on the completion button 9 is transmitted to the console 4.

In this case, an ID code is registered in each of the number indicators 11 ... 11, and the ordered quantity is transmitted from the operator console 4 with the ID code, and each number indicator 11 ... 11 is transmitted. Only when it matches with its own ID code, this is taken in as a communication text addressed to itself and displayed on the display unit 8. In addition, from each quantity display 11 ... 11 to the console 4
In the case of sending the message, the message is sent with its own ID code, so that the operator console 4 can recognize from which number indicator 11 the message is sent.

It should be noted that the five collection areas 3 ... 3 arranged on one side along the transport path 2 are referred to as zones, and the situation of the collection areas 3 ... 3 in this zone at the start position of the transport path 2 Informing zone representative lamps 23, 23 are provided and also connected to the console 4 via the display controller 22.

The sorting work of products by this sorting system is generally performed as follows. That is,
The worker A shown in FIG. 1 has a bar code scanner 5 connected to the console 4 at the start position of the transport path 2.
Then, when the bar code attached to the product to be sorted next is read, the sorting data such as the store that received an order for the product and the number of orders received is read from the system controller 20 and transmitted to the repeater 21. Along with
Through the operation console 4 and the display controller 22, the loading instruction lamps 7 ... 7 of the collection areas 3 ... 3 corresponding to the stores for which an order has been placed among the collection areas 3 ... 3 are turned on all at once, and The number of orders from each store is digitally displayed on the display unit 8 ... In that case, if there is a collection area 3 for which an order has been placed in each zone, the zone representative lamp 23
Lights up and informs the worker A.

Then, the worker A loads the products on the trolley 1 and moves on the transport route 2 while the respective collection areas 3 ...
Area 3 in which the closing instruction lamps 7 ... 7 of 3 are lit
With respect to, the products are put into the containers C by the number displayed on the display unit 8. In that case, the worker A
When the products have been loaded, the completion button 9 is turned on, whereby the loading instruction lamp 7 and the display 8 are turned off one by one, and the products are completely loaded into the collection area 3. It is becoming recognized.

In this way, if the product is put in and the completion button 9 is turned on, the product is placed in the containers C ... Will be sorted by the number of orders received,
By repeating this for all the products, the ordered products of each store are arranged in each container C ... C according to the number of ordered products. It should be noted that the zone representative lamp 23 is turned off when all the completion buttons 9 ... 9 in the collection area 3 for which an order has been placed in each zone are turned on.

The containers C ... C for which the sorting work has been completed in this manner are placed on a trolley as shown in FIG. 3 and shipped to each store. In that case, these containers are shipped. As described above, the delivery label L on which predetermined information as shown in FIG. 2 is printed is attached to C ... C by the label printer 6. Next, the operation of issuing the delivery label L will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

That is, assuming that the sorting work is completed for all products, the display units 8 ... 8 and the zone representative lamps 23, 23 in all the number indicators 11 are in the off state.

Then, the label issuing program of FIG.
When the operator finishes the sorting work, the operator starts the console 4 by performing a predetermined operation, for example, switching the working mode from the sorting mode to the label issuing mode.

When the label issuing mode is activated, first, in step S1, the display sections 8 ... 8 and the zone representative lamps 23, 23 are all turned on. At this time, the display section 8 ...
A horizontal bar blinks at the ones digit of 8.

Next, the operator operates the input buttons 10 provided in each collecting area 3 to input the number of sorted containers C ... C created in each area 3 (step S2). That is, the product is introduced,
It specifies the number of shipping containers on the dolly.

The input operation at this time is, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, each time the input button 10 is pressed once, first, 1, 2, ... , ..., the numbers are circulated and displayed in a blinking manner, and when the desired number is displayed (step T21), when the completion button 9 is turned on (step T22), the ones digit is displayed in a blinking manner. In this state (step T23), the horizontal bar blinks at the tens place, and it becomes possible to specify a numerical value to the tens place with the input button 10. In the same manner, the tens place and the hundreds place will be displayed. The numerical value is displayed by blinking (steps T24 to T26
And steps T27 to T29).

When the entire designated numerical value is displayed in a blinking manner (step S3), the operator finally turns on the completion button 9 (step S4). As a result, the designated numerical value on the display unit 8 is changed from blinking display to lighting display (step S5), and the numerical value is transmitted to the console 4 as the number of shipping containers (step S6).

That is, each of the number indicators 11 ... 11 is connected to the console 4 via the display controller 22,
At the time of sorting work, each quantity display 11 ... 1 from the operator console 4
7 is sent, and the loading instruction lamps 7 ... 7 and the display units 8 ... 8 are activated, while the label issuing operation is performed by the number indicator 11 ... 11 on the contrary. The number of shipping containers designated by the input buttons 10 ... 10 is transmitted to the console 4 as external input information.

In that case, each quantity indicator 11
Are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with each of the collection areas 3, it becomes clear which of the collection areas 3 the input shipping container number is related to, and the number indicator 11 The ID code, that is, the address of the collection area 3 and the shipping container number information are stored in the console 4.

Then, in step S7, the print issuing signal of the delivery label L is transferred from the console 4 to the label printer 6. In that case, a set of information such as the destination store name of the collection area 3 and the number of shipping containers is called from the console 4 and transmitted to the label printer 6, and the label printer 6 sends these signals. Based on the above, the destination store name (item in FIG. 2), the number of shipping containers (item in FIG. 2), and the like are printed on the delivery label L, and the same number of delivery labels L as the number of shipping containers are issued. When only one delivery label L is attached, only one delivery label L is issued regardless of the number of shipping containers.

By repeating the above steps S2 to S7 sequentially for each collection area 3 (in this embodiment, two zones, a total of 10 collection areas 3 ... 3) (step S8). , The delivery labels L ... L for each destination store are issued in the required number of sheets, in other words, the number of shipping containers, and each label L ... L has the destination store name and the number of shipping containers. Will be printed. In this embodiment, as in the item of FIG. 2, a fraction is displayed in the item of the number of shipping containers. In this, the denominator value represents the total number of shipping containers, and therefore, the numerator value represents the number of the label issued in that number.

Further, all the collection areas 3 within each zone ...
When the input of the number of containers of 3 is completed, the zone representative lamp 23 and all display portions 8 ... When the input of the number of containers in all the collection areas 3 ... 3 is completed in both zones (step S10), this label issuing operation is completed.

In this way, when the worker finishes the sorting work, the sorted containers C ... Created in the collecting areas 3 ... 3 respectively.
By simply specifying the number of Cs, the specified number of shipping containers and the destination store are associated one-to-one, and the delivery label L ... L for that store is based on this set of information and the number of containers is the above-mentioned number of containers. Issued only. The operator specifies the number of containers in each of the collection areas 3 ...
Therefore, since the operation at the time of issuing the label is simple and does not take time, it is possible to issue the delivery label L ... L immediately after the sorting work and immediately before the shipping of the container, and in that case, the delivery is performed. Since the required number of labels L ... L are issued, the label cost can be reduced, and the troubles such as the operator urgently handwriting can be solved.

In the above embodiment, when the completion button 9 is finally turned on in step S4,
The label for the store in the collection area 3 is printed and issued each time, but the issue of the label may be performed simultaneously for all the stores at the end.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the printing and issuing of the label in step S7 are not executed, but step S
The operations from 2 to S6 are sequentially repeated for each collection area 3 (step S17), and at the time when the final container number input is completed (steps S18 to S1).
9) The label issuing signal may be output from the console 4 to the label printer 6 (step S20), and the name of each destination store, the number of shipping containers, etc. may be printed on the delivery label and the labels may be continuously issued one after another. .

Next, a case will be described in which items related to the delivery route are displayed on the delivery label in addition to the number of shipping containers.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, when the number of shipping containers is input to the console 4 in step S6,
Next, in step S27, the numerical value that has been lit is erased, and the horizontal bar blinks again in the first digit of the display unit 8.

Then, the operator operates the input button 10 in the same manner as described above to input the delivery route number of the delivery vehicle and the delivery order of the store on the delivery route (steps S28 to S29). . For example, if the delivery route number is 2 and the store in the collection area 3 is the 15th delivery store, enter 215.

Finally, when the completion button 9 is turned on (step S30), the display section 8 is changed from blinking display to lighting display (step S31), and the numerical value is input to the console 4, It is stored as store information together with the address of the collection area 3 (step S3).
2).

Then, in step S33, the print issuing signal of the delivery label L is output from the console 4 to the label printer 6. In that case, from the console 4, the destination store name and the number of shipping containers in the collection area 3 and the store information are called and output to the label printer 6, and the label printer 6 outputs these signals. Based on this, the delivery label number and the delivery order of the store are printed on the delivery label L in addition to the destination store name and the number of shipping containers (items in FIG. 2). The label printer 6 issues the same number of delivery labels L as the number of shipping containers.

By repeating the above steps S2 to S6 and then the steps S27 to S33 for each collecting area 3 in sequence (step S
8), the required number of delivery labels L ... L for each destination store are issued, and each label L ... L has the destination store name, the number of shipping containers, and the delivery route number and the delivery order of the stores. And will be printed.

As described above, the worker simply sets the delivery route number of the delivery vehicle and the delivery order of the store in that case at the end of the sorting work, and the store information and the destination store are set. Store information such as the delivery route number is printed on the delivery labels L ... L for the store in a one-to-one correspondence. Therefore, even in this case, since the input operation is easy and does not take time, it becomes possible to print the store information and issue the label immediately after the sorting work and immediately before the shipping of the container. Since the delivery label is issued after the later sorting work is completed, it is possible to deal with a sudden change in the delivery route and the like, and the trouble such as the operator handwriting in a hurry is eliminated.

In the above, each time the completion button 9 is finally operated in step S30, the store label in the collection area 3 is printed and issued.
It goes without saying that the labels of all stores may be issued at the end.

If the delivery route is fixed by the end of the sorting work, another worker may directly operate the console 4 to input the store information during the sorting work.

Further, the number of shipping containers can be input in the procedure shown in FIG.

That is, following step S1 described above,
When the input button 10 is pressed once in step T31, 0 is displayed blinking on the display unit 8 (step T32), and every time the completion button 9 is pressed in this state (step T33),
The displayed numerical value is incremented by 1 (step T3
4). In that case, when the completion button 9 is continuously pressed, the numerical value is continuously incremented, and when it reaches 999, the numerical value is returned to 0 and the counting is repeated from 1 again.

When the input button 10 is pressed when the numerical value to be input is displayed in this way, the numerical value changes from blinking display to the lighting state and the input numerical value is confirmed. Next, when the completion button 9 is pressed, the numerical value on the display unit 8 is cleared and the fixed numerical value is transferred to the label printer 6 via the display controller 22 and the console 4.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The information such as the number of containers shipped and the shipping route required to issue the shipping label attached to the shipping container can be displayed in a short time with each store using a simple operation using the existing number display used during sorting work. Since the input can be made in correspondence with each other accurately, it becomes possible to issue such a label after the sorting work is completed.

As a result, it is not necessary to prepare an extra label in advance, the cost is reduced, and it is possible to deal with a sudden change in the displayed contents, and the troubles such as the handwriting by the worker is eliminated. Will be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a print example of a delivery label issued in the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a collection area in the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a control system diagram of the sorting system.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for issuing a label.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a work procedure for inputting numerical values.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another label issuing work procedure.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another work procedure for issuing labels.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another operation procedure for inputting numerical values.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Product transport route 3 Collection area 4 Operator's console 6 Label printer 8 Display 10 Input button 11 Quantity indicator C Shipping container L Shipping label

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of collection areas for collecting ordered products for each destination store are arranged along the product transportation route, and a quantity indicator for displaying the number of ordered products in these collection areas is provided. A sorting system that is provided and sorts the ordered products according to the number of ordered products displayed in the quantity display unit into the shipping containers in each collection area, , Each of the above collection areas is provided with a container number designating means for designating the number of sorted containers, and the same number of delivery labels as the number of containers designated by this designating means are used for destination stores in the collection area. A sorting system comprising a label issuing means for issuing. 2. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein the label issuing means displays information on the number of containers designated by the container number designating means on the shipping label to be issued. 3. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein each number indicator has the container number designating unit.