JPH10194411A - Merchandise inventory control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform a correct inventory control by reducing input work by an operator so as to increase the reliability of merchandise control data base. SOLUTION: When a storage instruction is given, a storage control part 38 extracts a vacant storage address referring to a merchandise inventory data base 33 and outputs a new merchandise storage work instruction to the storage address, and a worker performs a work to store the input merchandise to an indicated storage address in accordance with the storage work instruction. Also, when a delivery instruction is given, a delivery control part 35 extracts a storage address to stock the relevant merchandise referring to a merchandise inventory data base 33 and outputs an output work instruction, and a worker performs a work to deliver the merchandise from an indicated storage address in accordance with the delivery work instruction. In these storage and delivery works, the inventory control part 34 collates the content of the merchandise inventory data base 33 with the merchandise inventory conditions for each latest storage address which are outputted by inventory discrimination means 31 and 32 and, if any variation is present, updates the merchandise inventory data base 33 automatically.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a merchandise inventory management device for a flat warehouse.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a predetermined number of products of a plurality of types are placed flat by a predetermined number in each product stock area divided into a plurality, and a predetermined number of products of a predetermined type at a location designated by a forklift are delivered. In addition, a goods inventory management device in a flat pallet warehouse for storing a large number of goods of various kinds received in a designated place and managing the current stock status and the stock location of the goods is provided by a forklift in the warehouse. In this method, a worker has a portable terminal, inputs necessary information from the portable terminal, collects data with a central computer, and manages inventory.

[0003] For example, when a product having predetermined lot information (mainly a product name and a production date) is to be retrieved from the warehouse, an ID code for identifying the lot is attached to the product as a bar code, and the product is placed in a flat pallet warehouse. The worker in the pallet flat storage warehouse inputs the storage address information of the stored location and the product ID code from a portable terminal, collects the information at a central computer, and collects the product lot information. And storage address information.

[0004] In addition, when taking out goods, in principle, first-in first-out is used in principle for each product, and based on an inventory management database managed by a computer, the storage address of the product of the lot received first among the products of the corresponding type is stored. And issues a form specifying the storage address and the number of articles to be delivered, and hands it over to a forklift operator to instruct the forklift worker to perform an exit work based on the form. When the retrieval operation is completed, the retrieval result is input using the portable terminal.

[0005] Further, when the flat place is divided into a plurality of sections, if the number of commodities placed in some sections is reduced, the same type of commodities can be separated from the plurality of sections by one. It is necessary to transfer goods in the warehouse so that they are placed together in a flat area. In such a case, when the transfer work is completed, the worker sends the product lot from the mobile terminal and the storage address information And send it to the computer.

[0006]

However, such a conventional product inventory management apparatus requires a forklift operator to input outgoing data and incoming data from a portable terminal. It is necessary to reduce the time for temporarily storing products in the work passage and temporary storage place by storing the products quickly in any storage address at the time of storage, and it is necessary to prepare for the next work. Since the work is limited, it is necessary to work quickly, so that the input work of the mobile terminal is perceived as troublesome, and there has been a problem that erroneous input occurs and input is frequently forgotten.

[0007] In addition, the frequent occurrence of such erroneous input or forgetting to input may reduce the reliability of the product inventory database, and may cause erroneous shipment when products of other lots or varieties are stored at predetermined storage addresses. There was also a problem that there is.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and reduces the burden of input work on a portable terminal by an operator, improves the reliability of a product inventory database, and prevents erroneous shipment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a product inventory management device capable of performing the above.

The present invention also provides a product inventory management which can accurately and quickly confirm at which storage address in a flat warehouse a product group having the same lot number as the lot number of the delivered product is stored. It is intended to provide a device.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a merchandise inventory management device, comprising: a stock discriminating means for judging whether a merchandise is stocked at each of divided storage addresses in a warehouse; A product inventory database that stores the product inventory status for each storage address output by the database and stores the product inventory status, and extracts a vacant storage address by referring to the product inventory database in response to an externally supplied storage command that specifies a certain product. Storage management means for wirelessly transmitting a storage operation command to the empty storage address, and storage for storing the relevant product in stock by referring to the product inventory database in response to an externally supplied storage command specifying a certain product. A delivery management means for extracting an address and wirelessly transmitting a delivery work command from the storage address, and a product for each storage address registered in the product inventory database A storage / ingress / outgoing management means for comparing the storage status with the latest product inventory status for each storage address output by the inventory discriminating means to determine product entry / exit for each storage address, and updating the product inventory database. Things.

In the commodity inventory management device according to the first aspect of the invention, the inventory discriminating means determines whether or not the commodity is stocked at each of the divided storage addresses in the warehouse, and determines the commodity inventory status for each of the storage addresses. The product inventory database is stored as data.

If there is a storage command externally specifying a certain product, the storage management means refers to the product inventory database to extract an empty storage address, and wirelessly transmits a new product storage operation command to the empty storage address. I do. Therefore, the forklift operator receiving the wireless signal by an appropriate means performs the operation of storing the received goods in the designated empty storage address in accordance with the storage operation command.

At the time of this warehousing operation, the warehousing / shipping management means compares the stock status of each storage address registered in the stock inventory database with the latest stock status of each storage address output by the stock discriminating means. If a product inventory occurs at a vacant storage address, it is assumed that a new stock is stored at the storage address, and the product inventory database is automatically updated.

Further, if there is a delivery command designating a certain product from outside, the delivery management means refers to the product inventory database, extracts a storage address where the corresponding product is stocked, and wirelessly sends a delivery operation command from the storage address. Send. Therefore, the forklift operator who receives the wireless signal by an appropriate means performs an operation of ejecting the product at the designated storage address in accordance with the ejection operation command.

[0015] Also during this retrieval operation, the entry / exit management means compares the product inventory status for each storage address registered in the product inventory database with the latest product inventory status for each storage address output by the inventory discrimination means. If the storage address changes from stock to empty, it is assumed that the stock product at that storage address has been dispatched, and the product stock database is automatically updated.

[0016] In this way, for the loading / unloading operation by the forklift, the device can automatically update and control the stock status of each storage address, and the forklift operator can input and output the commodities in and out of the terminal using a complicated input operation. , The product inventory management can be made highly reliable.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the merchandise inventory management device of the first aspect, a monitor camera is used as the inventory discriminating means, and an image pickup signal of the monitor camera is digitally processed.
Image analyzing means for judging the stock of goods for each storage address.

In the commodity inventory management apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention, the commodity inventory status at each location in the warehouse is imaged by the monitor camera, and the image information is digitally processed by the image analysis means, and the commodity is stored in each storage address. The stock is determined, and a merchandise stock database is created and updated based on the stock. Therefore, the stock status of each storage address can be grasped without contact and without any manual input operation, and highly automated determination of the stock of each storage address can be performed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the merchandise inventory management device of the first or second aspect, the merchandise inventory database includes:
When the entry / exit management unit determines that there is a new entry of a product at a storage address, the entry / exit management unit stores the entry date of the storage address, and the entry / exit management unit refers to the product inventory database, and the product with the old entry date is stored. Then, the storage address is extracted from the command to create a retrieval work command.

In the commodity inventory management apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the inventory commodities can be automatically taken out on a first-in first-out basis, especially when used in a warehouse that handles commodities requiring freshness.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show the configuration of the product inventory management device according to the first embodiment. The interior of the flat pallet warehouse 1 is divided into a plurality of storage zones A, B, C,..., And further divided into a matrix of product pallets for each storage zone.
The storage addresses are assigned in units of pallets, such as 2, 3,..., B-1, 2, 3,..., And the products are stored on the product pallet for each storage address.

Each storage zone A,
Monitor cameras 2A, 2 so that the entirety of B,.
B are installed, and the video signal is connected to the central information processing apparatus 3 via cables 4A, 4B,.

Each storage zone A,
The forklift 6 travels on the traveling route 5 provided between B, C,. A portable terminal 7 is installed on the forklift 6 and communicates with wireless transceivers 8, 8,... Installed on the ceiling of a key point of the traveling route 5, and the traveling position of the forklift 6 Are transmitted to the information processing apparatus 3, and instructions are received from the information processing apparatus 3 through the wireless transceivers 8, 8,.

The central information processing device 3 is constituted by a computer having an image processing function, and has the functional configuration shown in FIG. The information processing device 3 includes a monitor camera 2
A, 2B, 2C,..., An image processing unit 31 that performs digital processing of image signals input from the image processing unit 31, and processing signals of the image processing unit 31, as shown in FIG.
B-1, C, ..., storage addresses A-1, 2, 3, ...; B-1,
An image analysis unit 32 that determines the presence or absence of product stock for each of 2, 3,... And outputs stock presence / absence data for each storage address.
have.

As shown in FIG. 4, the information processing device 3 also stores each of the storage addresses A-1, 2, 3,.
A product management database 3 in which the stocked date of goods and the product lot number are tabulated together with the presence or absence of product stock for each ...
3 is compared with the current product inventory status of the product management database 33 and the new product inventory status for each storage address output by the image analysis unit 32, and the storage address that has been in stock up to now is empty. If the product is in stock at a storage address that was empty until then, the product management database 3
And a stock management unit 34 for updating the data of item No. 3 and, when a central operator issues a delivery instruction designating the product type and the number by the man-machine interface 9, accesses the product management database 33 to check the inventory of the corresponding product type. Management unit 3 that searches for a storage address to be created and creates a delivery instruction
5, when there is a new product arrival, and there is a storage command specifying the kind, quantity, product lot number, etc. of the received product by the man-machine interface 9, the newly received product is compared with the data of the product management database 33. And a storage management unit 36 for automatically calculating which storage address is to be stored.

The information processing device 3 further receives a radio ID signal of the forklift 6 transmitted from the portable terminal 7 and received by the radio transceivers 8, 8,... To specify a position of the forklift 6. 37
And a movement management unit 38 for calculating the movement management of the goods in the warehouse.

Next, the operation of the commodity inventory management device having the above configuration will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the merchandise management database 33 divides a predetermined area for each of the A zone, the B zone,... And assigns serial numbers 1 to 20, for example, A-01 and B-10. The storage addresses are set as described above, and the presence / absence of stock is determined for each storage address based on whether or not the storage date is registered. If there is stock, the storage date is associated with the product lot number.
For example, on July 10, 1996, the product lot number "X
Assuming that the product “09” has arrived, the warehousing command instructs how many “X09” to store in which storage address. If the warehousing operation is correctly performed in response to this warehousing command, the product management database 33 Is the storage date '96 for each of the empty storage addresses A-1 to A-5.
July 10 is registered, and the goods receipt date and the goods lot "X
09 ”are registered in association with each other.

The operator operates the man-machine interface 9
When the arrival schedule data of a product on a certain day is input, the storage management unit 36 accesses the product management database 33 to search for a vacant address, and instructs the forklift monitoring unit 37 to issue a command to store the vacant address. Upon receiving this instruction, the forklift monitoring unit 37 specifies the ID number of the forklift that performs the warehousing operation,
, And a storage work command signal is transmitted together with the ID number. The portable terminal 7 of the corresponding forklift 6 identifies the ID number of its own device, displays it on the display, displays the storage address and the type of product to be stored, and notifies the operator of the forklift 6.

The forklift worker sees the warehousing work instruction, goes to the entrance of the warehouse, receives the corresponding product, moves it to the designated storage address and warehousing, and sends a completion signal to the portable terminal 7 when the warehousing is completed. Perform input operation.

At the time of this operation, each of the cameras 2A, 2B,... Transmits the image of its own zone. Then, these image signals are converted into digital images by the image processing unit 31, the presence / absence state of the product for each zone and each storage address is analyzed by the image analysis unit 32, and the resulting latest stock data is stored in the stock management unit. Enter 34.

The stock management unit 34 periodically accesses the product management database 33, compares the latest stock data input from the image analysis unit 32 with the registered stock data, and extracts a storage address whose stock status has changed. When the storage completion signal transmitted from the portable terminal 7 through the wireless transceivers 8, 8,... Is received, the reception completion signal is compared with the storage instruction address instructed by the storage management unit 36. If they match, an OK determination is made. If so, an erroneous entry determination is made and an instruction is given to the forklift monitoring unit 37.

Upon receiving this instruction, the forklift monitoring unit 37 determines the corresponding forklift 6, specifies its ID number, and issues an erroneous storage alarm command to the wireless transceivers 8, 8,.
, And the radio transceivers 8, 8,... Output these signals as radio signals, and the portable terminal 7 of the forklift 6 of the corresponding ID number receives the radio signals and issues an alarm to perform the operation. Inform the person of erroneous goods receipt.

At the time of retrieval, a retrieval command is input from the man-machine interface 9 by designating a loading truck number, a product type and the number. In response to this delivery command, the delivery management unit 35 accesses the product management database 33 to find out at which storage address the corresponding product type is in stock. Extract the storage address group that can take out the number of products specified in. Then, a command to specify a storage address to be left and to leave the warehouse is output to the forklift monitoring unit 37 in order of older storage date. The forklift monitoring unit 37 receives the exit command, specifies the ID number of the forklift that performs the exit operation, and sets the wireless transceiver 8,
, A delivery work command signal is transmitted together with the ID number. The portable terminal 7 of the corresponding forklift 6 identifies the ID number of its own device, displays it on the display, and displays the delivery address and the type of product to be delivered to inform the operator of the forklift 6.

The forklift operator moves the forklift 6 to the corresponding storage address after checking the delivery operation instruction, confirms the product, takes it out, loads it on the truck, and when the delivery is completed, sends the truck number and the delivery completion signal to the portable terminal. 7 is operated. As shown in FIG. 5, the inventory history data 10 is stored in the inventory management unit 34 in the product management database 33.
Is registered as table data in which the product lot number based on the product storage date data and the unloading track number are compared.

The cameras 2A, 2B,...
Each is transmitting the video of its own zone. Then, these image signals are converted into digital images by the image processing unit 31, the presence / absence state of the product for each zone and each storage address is analyzed by the image analysis unit 32, and the resulting latest stock data is stored in the stock management unit. Enter 34.

The stock management unit 34 periodically accesses the product management database 33, compares the latest stock data input from the image analysis unit 32 with the registered stock data, and extracts a storage address whose stock status has changed. Then, the address is compared with the exit instruction address instructed by the exit management unit 35, and if they match, an OK determination is made, and if they do not match, an erroneous exit determination is performed, and the forklift monitoring unit 37 is instructed.

In response to this instruction, the forklift monitoring unit 37 gives an erroneous retrieval alarm command to the radio transceiver 8 near the storage address where the erroneous retrieval has occurred, and the corresponding radio transceiver 8 transmits this signal to the radio signal. And output. Therefore, if the portable terminal 7 of the forklift 6 running near the wireless transceiver 8 receives the wireless signal, an erroneous retrieval alarm can be issued to notify the worker of the erroneous retrieval.

It should be noted that the inventory management unit 34 is provided when the warehousing operation to the specified storage address is completed normally and when the warehousing operation from the specified storage address is completed normally.
Means to newly register the updated latest stock status data in the product management database 33.

Next, when goods in and out of the warehouse are repeatedly put in and taken out of the warehouse, the goods in each zone become worm-like, and the same kind of goods may be in a state of being stocked in various zones. In and out work efficiency becomes worse. Therefore, it is necessary to move the stocked goods in the warehouse. This moving work is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG. In the case of products on a first-in first-out basis, it is preferable to group product lots as much as possible, and to store product lots with an old date in a place where it is easy to leave the goods. Therefore, product movement is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG.

That is, when a commodity movement command is input from the man-machine interface 9, the inventory management unit 34 accesses the commodity management database 33 and searches for the inventory status, and it is assumed that the D zone has been designated as the collective zone. ,
Assuming that the stock status of the D zone is as shown in FIG. 6A, the storage date stocked in the areas D-17 to D-20 deep in the D zone where the forklift 6 is difficult to enter is old. (Here, the oldest warehousing date is July 2) As shown in FIG. 3B, the product group is stored at the storage addresses D-1 to D- in which the forklift 6 can easily enter and carry out the warehousing operation. 4 and the same product (although the product lot number is different), which is in stock in another zone and whose storage date is relatively old, is moved to a vacant address in zone D as shown in FIG. Set up a travel schedule to place them.

Then, this movement schedule is given to the forklift monitoring unit 37, and the forklift monitoring unit 37 specifies the forklift 6 based on the movement schedule,
Also, a movement command (for example, D-20 → D-04, A-01) indicating which storage address the product at which storage address is to be moved.
→ D-05 movement command) and the wireless transceiver 8,
8, ... Then, the portable terminal 7 of the forklift 6 having the specified ID number receives this movement command, and performs the work of moving the product according to the instruction.

In this moving operation, the above-mentioned warehousing operation and unloading operation are performed in parallel. Therefore, the movement management unit 38 passes the movement instruction to the inventory management unit 34, and the inventory management unit 34 It monitors the entry / exit status of each storage address accompanying the movement of the product, and when it detects an erroneous movement, passes an erroneous movement signal to the forklift monitoring unit 37, and the forklift monitoring unit 37
Receives this instruction and gives an erroneous movement alarm command to the wireless transceiver 8 near the storage address where the erroneous movement has occurred. The corresponding wireless transceiver 8 outputs this signal as a wireless signal and outputs the signal. The portable terminal 7 of the forklift 6 traveling nearby receives the radio signal and issues an erroneous movement alarm to notify the worker of the erroneous movement.

Also in this case, when the transfer operation is completed normally, the inventory management unit 34 newly registers the updated latest inventory status data in the product management database 33. In the case of a correct operation, a new storage date is not registered for a product moved from one storage address to another storage address as in the case of a new storage, but the storage date of the original storage address is used. (That is, the date of the first storage date) is inherited as it is.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the image processing system, the wireless communication system for the forklift, the data management system, etc. can be arbitrarily set according to the functions and performance of the computer system. It can be changed.

Instead of transmitting the exit command as a wireless signal, the exit management unit 35 may use an IC card or a form and hand the exit command to the forklift operator before the operation. In any case, the worker only needs to input the completion of work upon completion of storage and delivery, and does not need to manually input the product number and product type that have been moved in and out from the mobile terminal. In addition, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to input due to the trouble of the operator, and it is possible to increase the reliability of the data of the product management database.

Further, if for some reason a defect is found in a part of a certain product delivered from a warehouse and delivered to another location by truck, it becomes necessary to inspect a product of the same product lot. Can be dealt with like this. The number of the truck that carried the product in which the problem occurred was specified, the product lot number was determined from the track number based on the delivery history table data 10 registered in the product management database 33, and the product management database 33 was referred to. The storage addresses where products of the same product lot are in stock are extracted. As a result, by inspecting the extracted product at the storage address, it is possible to easily take measures such as collection and suspension of taking out of the product.

[0047]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
If there is a receiving command specifying a certain product from the outside, the receiving management means refers to the product inventory database, extracts an empty storage address, wirelessly transmits a new product receiving work command to the storing address, and transmits this wireless signal. The forklift worker who receives the
Performs the work of storing the received goods in the specified storage address, and if there is a delivery command specifying a certain product from the outside, the storage management unit refers to the product inventory database and stores the corresponding product in stock. The forklift operator, which receives the wireless signal by appropriate means, extracts the product at the designated storage address, and performs a work to retrieve the goods at the designated storage address. At the time of work, the entry / exit management means compares the product inventory status for each storage address registered in the product inventory database with the latest product inventory status for each storage address output by the inventory discriminating means, and stores the product inventory at a certain empty storage address. If a storage address is detected, it is assumed that the storage address has been newly entered, and if a storage address changes from stock to empty, the stock item at that storage address is released. Since the product inventory database is automatically updated, the equipment can automatically update and manage the stock status of each storage address for the forklift in / out operation, and the forklift operation It is possible to make product inventory management highly reliable without requiring a user to perform a complicated input operation using a terminal for incoming and outgoing goods.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the stock status of goods at each location in the warehouse is imaged by the monitor camera, and the image information is digitally processed by the image analysis means to determine the stock of goods at each storage address. Based on this, the product inventory database was created and updated, so the product inventory status for each storage address can be grasped without contact and without manual input work, and for each storage address Of the product inventory determination can be highly automated.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in particular, when used in a warehouse that handles commodities that require freshness, inventory commodities can be automatically taken out in a first-in first-out manner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a layout of a pallet flat storage warehouse installed in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 3 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a data structure of a product management database in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing retrieval history data of a product management database in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a commodity moving processing procedure in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 warehouse 2A, 2B, ... monitor television 3 information processing device 5 traveling route 6 forklift 7 mobile terminal 8 wireless transceiver 9 man-machine interface 10 warehouse history data 31 image processing unit 32 image analysis unit 33 product management database 34 inventory management unit 35 Delivery management unit 36 Receiving management unit 37 Forklift monitoring unit 38 Movement management unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A stock discriminating means for judging whether or not a product is stocked at each of divided storage addresses in a warehouse, and merchandise stock status for each of the storage addresses outputted by the stock discriminating means is stored as data. In response to a storage command that specifies a certain product given from the outside, a storage command that refers to the product inventory database to extract a vacant storage address and wirelessly transmits a storage operation command to the vacant storage address Management means, in response to a delivery command that designates a certain product given from outside, refers to the product inventory database, extracts a storage address where the corresponding product is stocked, and wirelessly transmits a delivery work command from the storage address And the latest storage number output by the stock discriminating means to output the product stock status for each storage address registered in the product stock database. Product availability and collated to determine a product entry and leaving of each of the storage locations, said product inventory inventory control system comprising a goods movements management means for updating the database of each. 2. A monitor camera as said stock discriminating means, and digitally processing an image signal of said monitor camera,
The product inventory management device according to claim 1, further comprising: an image analysis unit that determines product inventory for each of the storage addresses. 3. The product inventory database stores a storage date of the storage address when it is determined that the storage management unit has newly received a product at a storage address. 3. The product inventory management device according to claim 1, wherein the storage address is extracted from the product with the old storage date by referring to the database to create a delivery operation command.