JPS6160513A - Product tracking method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the facility availability factor and productivity and save the labor by concurrently feeding marker products for tracking and monitoring the marker products to track the products in a physical distribution system using a computer. CONSTITUTION:A passage detector 8 detecting only the passage of marker products 9 is installed at the same position as a conventional product passage detector 4, the passage of a marker product 9 is detected via a signal input unit 7 and is entered to a computer 1. Thereby, the compute 1 advances it s memory content until the product information in the computer 1 coincides with the marker product for synchronization via a synchronous processing logic not shown in the figure. The missed quantity of product passage is judged based on the advance quantity for synchronization, and tracking abnormality detection and automatic correction is performed. According to this constitution, availability factor and productivity can be improved and the labor can be saved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to a computer-based product transport/sorting system and a distribution system such as a product monitoring system on a production line, and particularly relates to a system for handling products in units of units. This invention relates to a product tracking method suitable for a logistics system that requires recognition.

[Background of the invention]

In a logistics system, a product tracking method using a computer, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-7934, involves inputting movement signals into a computer as the product moves along a conveyance path, and then recording product information on the computer. The common method is to move the internal storage position, but in order to detect tracking abnormalities, it is necessary to input unique information into the computer that can identify the product at a specific position on the conveyance path. . This recognition information is
Generally, the amount of information is large, and in order to automate input, input devices such as barcode readers are limited.

Further, when an abnormality is detected, it is necessary to correct the contents of the computer's own memory t, but there is no means for the computer to automatically correct itself, and an operator must correct it from a terminal or the like.

[Purpose of the invention]

An object of the present invention is to detect a tracking abnormality in a logistics system based only on a passing signal from a simple detector such as a phototube or a passing IJ, and to automatically correct information in a computer after detecting the abnormality. It is possible to
To provide product tracking methods.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention considers something equivalent to a start/stop bit on a start-stop type communication line, and synchronizes conveyance by allowing marker products to flow together with regular products.

[Embodiments of the invention]

The present invention will be explained in detail below.

In the conventional system, as shown in FIG.
and a signal input device t3 having a product passage detector 4, the computer 1 inputs the product number etc. of the product 6 to the setting device 2.
Tracking is started on the conveyance path 5 from the time set to , and as the product 6 passes the detector 4 installation position, the storage position 'f:8 in the computer 1 is moved.

In the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a first product passing detector 8e that detects only the passing of the marker product 9 is installed at the same position as the first detector 4, and a second signal is detected. Through the input device 7, a processing system that recognizes all passages of marker products,
This is an addition to the conventional system.

Here, configuration examples of two types of detectors and marker products are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in FIG. 2, on a chain conveyor, on a conveyance path where a pallet carrying products moves, a limit switch 11 which is pushed down by the pallet 12 is normally used as the first detector to detect the passage of the product 6.
A photoelectric sensor (ELO) is used as a second detector to detect the passing of the marker product 9.The marker product 9 is a dummy product that is taller than the normal product 6, and the marker product 9 The phototube 10 is only blocked by the phototube 10.In a conveyance path where products are placed directly on a belt conveyor and moved as shown in FIG. Magnetic detection device 1 as a detector
5t - use. The marker product 9 is a dummy product in which a magnetized magnetic material is embedded so that it can be detected by the device 15.

The structure and characteristics of the two types of detectors and marker products installed in this way do not affect the essence of this system.
This system can be realized if a first detector that detects the passage of a normal product and a second detector that detects only the passage of a marker product can be prepared. Also, as described below, the first detector may or may not detect passage of the marker product.

According to the tracking of the conventional system, as shown in FIG. 4, once the passing signal 18 shown in (b) in the figure is missed, the product information 17 in the computer storage area 16 is changed to the actual product on the conveyance path 5. 6, a one-step deviation occurs, and the deviation is not resolved thereafter.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, synchronization processing logic 19 using a marker product is added to the conventional tracking processing in the computer processing logic. This is to advance the stored contents until the product information at the storage location in the computer corresponding to the detector position becomes the marker product when all marker product passing signals from the second detector are input. In normal times, the conveyance path and the memory in the computer are supposed to match, so the number of advances is 0, and in abnormal times, the advances are made by the number of times the product passing signal is missed. This enables tracking abnormality detection and automatic correction.

FIG. 6 shows the state of tracking when the passing signal 18 is completely missed. Passing signal 18 in (b) in the figure
Marker product passing signal 2 of (d)
0, automatic correction can be performed depending on the number of synchronizations of marker products.

FIG. 7 shows an example where the marker product passage signal 2o is missed. As shown in (a) in the figure, even if the marker product passing signal 20″f: is missed, as shown in ω),
If the marker is moved using the passing signal 18 as with the normal product, synchronization can be achieved with the next marker product as shown in (d).

Next, we will discuss the limitations of automatic correction and the interval between adding marker products. Normally, the product passing signal can be corrected by the marker product and global tracking is maintained even if everything is missed.

Regarding the marker product passing signal, for example, M in FIG.
If the marker product passing through No. 2 is missed, regarding the normal product between the marker products Ml and M3 before and after that, Ml to M
If it is possible to input passing signals for the number of products n,+1 between 2 and 2, it is possible to correct the next marker product M3.

Therefore, if we consider the case where marker products are placed at equal intervals every n regular products, this system is effective for collecting n or less of 21 consecutive products.

In the figure, 3 is a first signal input device, 5 is a conveyance path, 7 is a second signal input device, 13 is a chain conveyor, and 14 is a belt conveyor.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, the operating rate of equipment is increased, productivity is improved, human work errors are eliminated, and labor can be saved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a tracking system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are configuration diagrams of a marker product and a detector,
Figure 4 is a conventional tracking processing diagram, Figure 5 is a tracking processing logic diagram of the present invention, Figure 6 is an example of automatic correction for a normal product passing signal input error, and Figure 7 is for a marker product passing signal input error. An example of automatic correction, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the marker product input interval, and FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a conventional tracking system. 1... Computer, 2... Input product setting device, 3...
・First signal input device, 4...first passage detector, 5
...Conveyance path, 6...Product, 7...Second signal input device, 8...Second passage detector, 9...Marker product.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In product tracking in a computer-based distribution system, in parallel with tracking processing for each product, a tracking marker product is passed between a plurality of products and the marker product is monitored. A product tracking method, comprising detecting a tracking abnormality such as a tracking signal being missed, synchronizing the passing of the marker product, and automatically correcting a tracking deviation. 2. A product tracking method according to claim 1, characterized in that the passage of a normal product is detected, and only the passage of the marker product is also detected.