JPH1120914A - Picking method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the structure of a picking device and to improve the efficiency of a picking operation and to reduce installation space for the picking device. SOLUTION: An article picked according to directions from picking indicators 13a, 13b on a floor rack 3 is temporarily placed on any of temporary storage sections 15a-15d constituting a temporary storage rack 9 and then throw-in indicators 17a-17d are set to indicate a storage box 5 carried by a conveyor. When the throw-in indicators are reset based on the indications after the article is thrown in the storage box 5, the other throw-in indicator indicating a waiting state releases the waiting indication and indicates a throw-in operation, whereby the next article is thrown-in according to the indication.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a picking method and apparatus for picking designated articles among various articles stored in a rack and putting them into a storage box conveyed by a conveyor or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a goods collection center or the like, a picking device is used to store various collected goods in a rack, pick the goods according to an order of a customer such as a supermarket, and deliver the picked goods to an order destination. Have been applied. Although the configuration of the conventional picking device is various, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-5446 discloses an "article handling device".
An example is disclosed. The outline is described below. A storage facility for storing various articles is provided along a conveyor for transporting a storage box for storing articles and at intervals of a worker's work, and the conveyor has a transport direction. Is provided along with a temporary placement section for temporarily placing articles in units of one unit. The storage facility and the temporary storage unit are provided for each picking zone divided along the conveyor.

[0003] The storage facility is partitioned into shelves for each article, and a take-out indicator is provided on the front side, that is, on the take-out face of the article, corresponding to a zone for taking out the article. The take-out indicator has a display for displaying the number of articles to be taken out, a completion button for clearing the display after the article is taken out, and a take-out indicator lamp which flashes when there is a picking command. On the other hand, each temporary placement section is provided with a temporary placement indicator. The temporary placement display indicates in advance that the article should be taken out, and a pre-reading indicator that indicates in which temporary placement section the article is to be temporarily placed, and which storage of the previously taken out and temporarily placed article. A take-out indicator is provided to indicate whether the product should be stored in a box. The read-ahead display is constituted by an illuminated push button having a function as a completion button, and the closing indicator is constituted by an illuminated lamp.

[0004] When picking up an article, a pick-up display lamp corresponding to the picked-up article is lit on the storage facility side to notify the worker, and the pick-up indicator displays the quantity. On the other hand, since the prefetch indicator is lit at the temporary placement unit, the worker temporarily places the picked article from the storage facility on the temporary placement unit where the prefetch indicator is lit. As for the storage facility, the pick-up indicator is cleared each time the designated article is picked and temporarily stored in the temporary storage section. Then, by pressing the read-ahead indicator after temporarily placing all of the indicated articles on the temporary placement section, the take-out indicator operates to indicate the storage box, and the other read-ahead indicators in the zone are turned on. . The worker stores the temporarily placed articles in the conveyed storage box in accordance with the instruction of the take-out display, and the picking operation is completed.

Next, another example of a conventional picking device will be described with reference to FIGS. When picking an article, there are cases where the picking is performed at a high frequency and cases where the picking is performed at a low frequency. In the case of high-frequency picking, picking called a synchronous type is performed, and in the case of low-frequency picking, picking called an asynchronous type is performed. The outline of the difference between the two is that high-frequency picking synchronizes the display and retrieval of articles and the transport of the storage box, as in the above-described picking device, and temporarily stops the conveyor if the picking of articles is delayed. Sometimes. On the other hand, in the case of low-frequency picking, the removal of articles and the transport of the storage box are not synchronized, and the worker waits while paying attention so as not to miss the transported storage box and throws in ahead of time or missed it In some cases, the conveyor was stopped and articles were stored.

It is sufficient if the synchronous picking operation and the asynchronous picking operation are performed by completely different routes. One high-frequency picking item and a low-frequency picking item are stored in one storage box. I want to do something. To cope with such a situation, as shown in FIG. 7, a synchronous picking zone Z1 and an asynchronous picking zone Z2 are used.
May be arranged along one conveyor 31. Reference numeral 32 denotes a flow rack, and articles to be picked are supplied from the rear side as indicated by an arrow X. At the time of picking, the worker takes out the articles from the flow rack 32 in the space p on the front side, stores them in the storage box 33 to be conveyed, and performs the picking operation. Also,
Depending on the working space, the conveyor 31 may be formed in a folded structure as shown in FIG. 8 and separated into a synchronous picking zone Z1 and an asynchronous picking zone Z2.

[0007]

Although the article handling apparatus is provided with a prefetch indicator, an operator must push the prefetch indicator after the article is taken out of the storage facility. That is, there is a problem that the configuration of the apparatus is complicated by providing a prefetch indicator and the number of picking operations is increased. On the other hand, as described with reference to FIG. 7, the picking device in which synchronous and asynchronous picking are linearly arranged along the conveyor has a problem that the installation space increases along the conveyor. FIG.
In the configuration shown in (1), the flow rack 32 must be disposed outside the conveyor 31 in consideration of the supply of articles, and a vast installation space is required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a picking method and a picking method which can simplify the structure of the entire device and reduce the number of picking operations. . Another object of the present invention is to provide a picking method capable of performing a variety of picking operations while reducing the installation space.

[0009]

The above object according to the present invention is achieved by the following picking method and picking apparatus. The picking instruction means (13a, 13b) provided on the flow rack (3) for storing various articles indicates the articles to be taken out, and the articles taken out according to the instructions are sent to any of the plurality of temporary placement sections (15a to 15d). Temporarily put,
The loading instruction means (17a to 17d) provided in the temporary placement section is set to give an instruction of the storage box (5) to be loaded and to indicate that loading is possible or to wait for loading. When they are temporarily placed, only the first-order temporary placement section indicates that the placement is possible, and the other temporary placement sections display the loading standby state. A picking method, comprising resetting, and instructing a throw-in means provided in the other temporary placement part of the earliest temporary placement part whose rank has been raised in response to the reset to give a throw-in instruction.

In a picking device for putting articles picked into a storage box (5) conveyed by a conveyor (7), picking instruction means (13) for instructing articles to be picked on a flow rack (3) for storing various articles.
a, 13b) are provided, and temporary placement tables (15a to 15d) for temporarily placing the picked articles along the conveyor are provided, and instructions are given for inputting the articles temporarily placed on the temporary placement table and for storing boxes to be loaded. Input instruction means (17a to 17d)
Is provided, only the first temporary placement order instructing means is displayed to be ready to be placed, the subsequent temporary placement display means is ready to be placed, and the first rank display means raised by reset after the placement is ready to be placed is displayed. Picking device configured to be.

In a picking method for putting picked articles into a storage box conveyed by a conveyor, a synchronous method for picking according to picking information displayed on one side of the conveyor in synchronization with the conveyance of the storage box. An asynchronous picking device for picking according to picking information displayed asynchronously with the transport of the storage box is provided on the other side of the conveyor, and a synchronous picking and an asynchronous picking are performed in the same zone. And a picking method.

[0012] In the above method, an article to be taken out is designated by picking instructing means provided on a flow rack for accommodating various articles, and the article taken out according to the instruction is temporarily placed in any of a plurality of temporary placing sections. The loading instruction means provided in the temporary storage section is set to indicate the storage box to be loaded and to indicate that loading is possible or to wait for loading. When articles are temporarily placed in multiple temporary storage sections, the first order is placed. In addition to displaying that only the temporary storage unit can be inserted, the other temporary storage units display the standby for inputting, resetting the input instruction means after inputting the article into the storage box instructed to be inputtable, and responding to this reset. A picking method, comprising: causing the input instruction means provided in the other temporary placement section at the earliest position to perform the input instruction.

[0013] In the picking method and the picking apparatus, the article designated by the picking instruction means provided on the flow rack is temporarily placed on a temporary placement table, and the storage box to be loaded by driving the loading instruction means provided on the temporary placement table. Is reset, the input instruction means is reset after the input, and the other input instruction means in the standby state issue the input instruction. Therefore, the picking device does not require a prefetch display means, which simplifies the structure. In addition, during the picking operation, the operator only has to perform the inputting operation sequentially according to the instruction of the inputting instruction means, thereby reducing operation mistakes and reducing work. The efficiency can be improved. Also, on one side of the conveyor that transports the storage box, a synchronous picking device that picks in synchronization with the transport of the storage box is arranged, and on the other side, asynchronous picking that waits for the transportation of the storage box and performs picking In a picking method in which devices are arranged and synchronous picking and asynchronous picking are performed in the same zone, picking can be performed simultaneously from both sides of one conveyor as needed, thereby reducing the installation area of the picking device. Etc. become possible.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a picking device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing a configuration of a temporary placing table, FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a picking method, and FIG. FIG.

The picking apparatus 1 includes a flow rack 3 for supplying various articles to a picking position, a conveyor 7 for transporting a storage box 5, and a temporary placement table 9 for temporarily storing articles picked from the flow rack 3. The space P between the flow rack 3 and the conveyor 7 becomes a work space for performing the picking work. The flow rack 3 is provided with three tiers of shelves 11a, 11b, 11c.
It is supplied from the back side of 1a to 11c. Picking indicators 13a, 13b and an order indicator BL are arranged on the front of each shelf 11a, 11b, 11c. The picking indicators 13a and 13b correspond to picking instructing means according to the present invention. The picking indicators 13a and 13b display the articles to be picked up by lighting a lamp and reset by pressing, and a display for digitally displaying the number of pickings. And a worker (picker) can reset the displayed article after picking it.

The order indicator BL is driven when one of the picking indicators 13a, 13b is driven, in other words, when an article to be picked for one order is designated, and the picking indicators 13a, 13b for one order are displayed. Is turned off when is reset.
That is, the picking indicators 13a and 13b are provided for each article, and when a single article is designated as one order of picking, the picking indicators 13a and 13b are displayed.
At the same time as any one of a and 13b gives a picking instruction, the order indicator BL is also turned on. When the picker resets one of the picking indicators 13a and 13b after picking the designated article, the order indicator BL is automatically turned off. On the other hand, when a plurality of articles are specified, a plurality of picking indicators 13 are displayed.
The order indicator light BL is turned on at the same time that the a and 13b operate. Then, a plurality of picking indicators 13a, 13
When the picking of the article designated by b is completed and all the picking indicators 13a and 13b are reset, the order indicator BL goes off. That is, the order indicator BL indicates whether or not the picking of the goods for one order is completed, and the picking remains while the order indicator BL is lit.

The temporary table 9 is provided in a shelf shape on the upper part of the conveyor 7. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, temporary placement sections 15a, 15b, 15c, and 15d which are divided into four parts are formed, and input indicators 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17 are provided on the front surfaces of the temporary placement sections 15a to 15d. 17d are individually arranged. The input indicators 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d are:
An order number display unit 19 that corresponds to the input instruction means according to the present invention and displays the number of the storage box 5 to be conveyed, and a reset button having, for example, green and red lighting display, blinking display, and reset function 21. The operation of the input indicators 17a to 17d will be described later in detail together with the picking method.

The storage boxes 5 are transported by the conveyor 7 as shown by an arrow A in FIG. 2, for example, and each storage box 5 is individually assigned an identification number. The operation of the conveyor 7, the display of articles corresponding to the identification number of the storage box 5, the instruction of quantity, and the like are performed comprehensively by a control device (not shown). These operations will be described below together with the picking method. .

Next, a picking method in the picking device 1 will be described. Prior to picking, the picker stands at the position P and looks in the direction of the flow rack 3. At this time, each of the input indicators 17a to 17b provided on the temporary table 9 is provided.
Becomes inoperative as shown in (1) of FIG. 4 and does not display any information regarding prefetching. When an item picking order (order number 1) shown as step S1 in FIG. 3 is generated, one of the picking indicators 13a and 13b arranged on the flow rack 3 operates, and the order indicator BL is turned on. Here, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the picking indicator 13a on the shelf 11a and the picking indicator 13b on the shelf 11b have been operated. Picking indicator 13
In a and 13b, the corresponding article is indicated by turning on the reset button, and the number of articles to be picked is displayed by a numerical value. At this time, each input indicator 17a-
17d becomes inactive as shown in column (2) of FIG.
No indication of preemption is made.

Next, the picker pre-picks and picks up the indicated quantity of articles in accordance with, for example, the display of the picking display 13a, and then temporarily places them on the temporary placing table 9, for example, in the temporary placing section 15a. The selection of the temporary placement sections 15a to 15d is optional. At this time, the reset button of the picking display 13a is pushed to reset it. At this point, since the pre-picking of the articles on the picking display 13b has not been completed, the order indicator BL remains lit. . Next, the picker preliminarily picks and picks up the article corresponding to the picking indicator 13b on the shelf 11a by the designated quantity, and temporarily places the article on the temporary placement section 15a in the same manner as described above. At the time of temporary placement in this way, the input indicators 17a to 17d
Continue the non-operation as shown in column (3) of FIG. In addition, all the articles for one order may be taken out from the flow rack 3 and then temporarily placed.

The above prefetching picking is performed in step S
Although the operation corresponds to S2 and S3, in the above example, two types of articles are temporarily put together in one temporary placement section 15a. Then, when the picker prefetches and picks the article on the picking indicator 13b and pushes the reset button, the order indicator BL is turned off (S4), and the picker performs prepicking of the article stored in one storage box 5. Completion can be confirmed visually.

As described above, when the articles to be put into one storage box 5 are temporarily placed in the temporary storage section 15a, the picker presses the reset button 21 of the input display 17a disposed in the temporary storage section 15a. Move (S5). As a result, it is determined whether the order is the earliest order as shown in step S6. In the case of the earliest order, the number of the storage box 5, which is the first order, is displayed on the order number display section 19 as shown in the column (4) of FIG. S7). In this case, when the corresponding storage box 5 is conveyed as shown in step S8, the articles temporarily stored in the temporary storage section 15a are put into the corresponding storage box 5, and then shown in step S9. Input indicator 17a
Is pressed. As a result, the input indicator 17a is reset as shown in step S10,
The green blinking also goes out, and as shown in the next step S11, the picking for the first order is completed and the storage box 5 is transported downstream.

Although the above description is about picking for one order, picking for a plurality of orders is usually performed subsequently. In this case, after the prefetching of the first order is performed, when the corresponding picking indicators 13a and 13b are reset, the order display BL turns off, and turns on again when the second order is displayed. Then, following the temporary placement in, for example, the temporary placement section 15a by the first-order prefetching, the second-order prefetching is performed according to the instructions of the picking indicators 13a and 13b.

Referring to the input indicators 17a to 17b, the articles of the first order remain temporarily placed, so that the input indicators 17a remain set as shown in the column (5) of FIG. There is no indication for pre-emption picking of the second order. The pre-picked article of the second order is temporarily placed in, for example, the temporary placing section 15c,
When the picker resets all the picking indicators 13a and 13b driven at the time of the second order, the order indicator BL goes off. When the third order is continuously displayed, prefetching of the third order is performed subsequently. On the other hand, if the pre-picking of the second order is completed, the end can be confirmed by turning off the order indicator BL. However, even if the articles of the second order are temporarily stored in the temporary storage section, unless they are reset, the input indicator 17a is displayed. ~ 1
7d is inoperative for the second-order prefetching as shown in column (6) of FIG.

The operation in the case where a plurality of orders are consecutive and articles are temporarily placed on the plurality of temporary placement sections 15a and 15c will be described. The input indicator 17a provided on the temporary placement section 15a will now be described.
Flashes green as described above, but the loading indicator 17c of the temporary placement section 15b where the second-order articles are temporarily placed does not blink green even when the reset button is pressed, and the step S21 is performed.
For example, as shown in column (7) of FIG. Then, as shown in steps S6 to S9, the order number, that is, the number of the storage box 5 is displayed on the order display unit 19 of the input display 17c, and the storage box 5 to which the article of the temporary storage unit 15a of the first order corresponds. When the input indicator 17a is reset, the input indicator 17a is turned off as shown in column (8) of FIG. At the same time, the loading indicator 17c disposed on the second-order temporary placement section 15c changes from red lighting to green blinking, and enters a waiting state for loading. At this time, even if the third order is displayed on the picking displays 13a and 13b, the input display 17a
As shown in the column (9) of FIG. 4, Nos. To 17d do not correspond to the pre-picking and notify the second-order article input. The picker confirms the display number, inserts it when the corresponding storage box 5 has been conveyed, and repeats the operations of S6 to S11. As described above, after the designated article is put into the designated storage box 5, the process returns to step S
The operation shifts to operation 1 and the picking of the article is repeated.

In the picking device 1,
The temporary placement table 9 is provided in a shelf shape on the conveyor 7, but may be provided at a position indicated by a virtual line in FIGS. When provided at this position, there is an advantage that the asynchronous picking operation described in the second embodiment is facilitated. Further, the display form of the input indicators 17a to 17b is not limited to blinking green or lighting red, and may be replaced with a method of displaying other colors or figures.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the picking device, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the picking device. In the present embodiment, since the picking device described in the first embodiment can be used, members performing the same operation are denoted by the same reference numerals. First, the picking device 2
5, the flow rack 3A is arranged in parallel with the picking device 1 including the conveyor 7 as shown in FIG.
Are arranged so that picking can be performed on the storage box 5 conveyed by the conveyor 7 synchronously and asynchronously. In addition, the flow rack 3A may be the same as the flow rack 3 described above.
Is added.

In this picking device 25, working spaces P and PA are set on both sides of the conveyor 7, and a picker located in the right working space P in FIG. 6 performs the same synchronous picking operation as described above. . On the other hand, the picker located in the left work space PA in FIG.
The article designated by 13b is taken out and put into the storage box 5 conveyed regardless of the temporary placement table 9. Therefore, synchronous picking and asynchronous picking are simultaneously performed on the designated storage box 5.

As described above, the picking device 25 of the present embodiment performs synchronous picking and asynchronous picking from both sides of one conveyor 7, so that the picking device 25 is compared with the configuration shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Therefore, various effects can be expected, for example, the installation space can be reduced, and the layout of the collection center and the like can be facilitated while saving the space.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, the articles designated by the picking instruction means provided on the flow rack are temporarily placed on the temporary placing table, and the articles are supplied by driving the loading instruction means provided on the temporary placing table. The storage box to be instructed is specified, and after the insertion, the input instruction means is reset, so that the other input instruction means in the standby state issue the input instruction. Therefore, the picking device does not require a pre-emption display means as in a conventional device of this type, and the structure is simplified. Also,
In the picking operation, after temporarily placing the articles on the temporary placing table, the worker performs the input operation according to the instruction of the input instruction means, and resets the input instruction means after inputting, so that the next input operation is performed by another input instruction means. Therefore, it is possible to reduce work errors and improve work efficiency. In addition, a synchronous picking device that issues a picking instruction in synchronization with the transport of the storage box is arranged on one side of the conveyor that transports the storage box, and an asynchronous picking instruction that waits for the transportation of the storage box on the other side. In a picking method in which a mold picking device is arranged and synchronous picking and asynchronous picking are performed in the same zone, picking can be performed simultaneously from both sides of one conveyor as needed, and the installation area of the picking device Can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a picking device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a configuration of a temporary placing table.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a picking method.

FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view showing the operation of the input indicator.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the picking device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a picking device.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a conventional picking device.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing another example of the conventional picking device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 25 Picking device 3, 3A Flow rack 5 Storage box 7 Conveyor 9 Temporary table 11a, 11b, 11c Shelf 13a, 13b Picking display and display (picking instruction means) 15a to 15d Temporary storage 17a to 17d Input display (input) Instruction means) 19 Order number display 21 Reset button P, PA Work space BL Order indicator

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Hiroki Mochida 8-19-20 Higashisuna, Koto-ku, Tokyo Inside Toyo Kanetsu Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kenji Watanabe 8-19-20 Higashisuna, Koto-ku, Tokyo Toyo Kanetsu Inc. (72) Inventor Junichi Sudo 8-19-20 Higashisuna, Koto-ku, Tokyo Inside Toyo Kanetsu Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] A flow rack (3) for storing various articles.
The article to be taken out is designated by the picking instructing means (13a, 13b) provided in the apparatus, and the article taken out is temporarily placed in any of the plurality of temporary places (15a to 15d) in accordance with the instruction and provided in the temporary place. Input instruction means (17a-
17d) is set, an instruction is given for the storage box (5) to be put in, and a sign indicating that the storage box (5) can be put in or put on standby is displayed. When articles are temporarily placed in a plurality of temporary placement sections, the temporary placement section with the highest priority is placed. Only the possible loading is displayed, and the other temporary storage section displays the loading standby, and after the articles are loaded into the storage box instructed to be loaded, the loading instruction means is reset, and the rank is raised in response to the reset. A picking method, wherein the input instruction is provided to the input instruction means provided in the other first temporary placement section. 2. A picking device for feeding articles picked into a storage box (5) conveyed by a conveyor (7), wherein picking instruction means (13a) for instructing an article to be picked on a flow rack (3) for storing various articles. , 13
b) is provided, and temporary placement tables (15a to 15d) for temporarily placing articles picked along the conveyor are provided, and a loading instruction for instructing a loading instruction for the articles temporarily placed on the temporary loading table and a storage box to be loaded. Means (17a to 17d) are provided, and only the input instruction means of the earliest temporary placement order indicates that insertion is possible; the display means of the subsequent temporary placement indicates input standby; and A picking device, wherein the display means is configured to display a possible input. 3. A picking method for putting picked articles into a storage box transported by a conveyor, wherein picking is performed on one side of the conveyor in accordance with picking information displayed in synchronization with the transfer of the storage box. A synchronous picking device for performing picking is provided, and an asynchronous picking device for performing picking according to picking information displayed asynchronously with the conveyance of the storage box is provided on the other side of the conveyor, and synchronous picking is performed in the same zone. A picking method comprising performing asynchronous picking. 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein an article to be taken out is designated by picking instructing means provided on a flow rack for storing various kinds of articles, and the article taken out in accordance with the instruction is temporarily stored in one of a plurality of temporary storage sections. When the article is temporarily placed in a plurality of temporary placement sections, the loading instruction means provided in the temporary placement section is set, and an instruction of a storage box to be loaded and indication of possible loading or loading standby are performed. Indicates that only the first-order temporary placement section can be put in, and the other temporary placement sections indicate that it is ready to be put in, and after putting articles into the storage box instructed to be put in, resets the entry instruction means. A picking method, characterized by causing a feeding instruction means provided in the other temporary placement part of the earliest temporary placement part whose rank has been raised in response to the above to give a feeding instruction.