JPS6288702A - Picking instruction system in physical distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the efficiency of a picking work, by a method wherein order information of a customer is drawn up by the use of a host computer to store it in external memory devices, whereby picking instruction information is outputted. CONSTITUTION:A number of storage shelves 8 in a picking region are divided into plural blocks, and each block is divided into plural lots of picking information, each of which has a quantity equivalent to the number of customers being many enough to allow one picker to process it by means of a computer 1, to store them in a number of small external memory devices 4. Each picker uses a slip 22 containing the number of a block in which a delivery item is stored, the small external memory device 4 i set to a control device CRW for the corresponding block, and picking is effected according to the display of a quantity display unit DPN classified by a delivery item of the corresponding block. This enables shortening of a time required for picking per one item, and performs an efficient picking work.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a method for storing a large number of shipment items, which are sorted by the same type of shipment item and stored in a large number of storage shelves in a picking area, on slips, labels, etc. Picking in a logistics system in which pickers perform picking based on picking instructions from
Host 1 - This invention relates to a picking instruction system that is created using a computer, stored in an external storage device, and outputs picking instruction information.

[Conventional technology]

When shipping items are packed and shipped to each customer in response to customer orders at a distribution center or warehouse, a so-called picking operation is performed to extract the required quantity of items ordered by the customer from a large amount of stored items. .

Normally, this process involves organizing a large number of items by code numbers, etc.
They are placed neatly on the shelves and ordered by hand or handcart according to the slips, labels, etc. that indicate the quantity of ordered items for each customer.

For heavy items, there is a method of picking while moving between shelves with the help of a motorized vehicle.

Conversely, by setting shelves and spaces for each customer and repeating the process of placing individual items on the shelves and spaces designated for each customer based on an organized list of how many items should be sent to which customer for each item. A method such as picking is used.

In recent years, as the amount of items handled has increased, computers have come to be used to create slips and lists used in picking operations, and there is also a trend to mechanize the picking operations themselves.

However, for items such as cosmetics, where each item is relatively fixed and has a high unit price, mechanization is economically possible;
Most items handled at distribution centers and warehouses are technically and economically constrained due to their properties and prices, making system configurations complex and expensive, making it difficult to mechanize, and manual work remains the norm. .

Various picking instruction systems have been developed and put into practical use as auxiliary means for improving work speed, accuracy, and labor saving in such manual picking operations. For example, there is a picking instruction system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-137203.

To briefly explain the function and configuration of this picking instruction system, a storage shelf such as a flower rack is divided into multiple zones, each zone is divided into multiple pay areas, and a hay indicator is installed in each pay area. Furthermore, each of these hay areas is divided into item categories that store a large number of items to be picked by item, and each item category is provided with an item display that displays the picking quantity for each item. By organizing the picking quantity of items for each order destination (hereinafter simply referred to as a customer) and displaying the picking quantity on the item display for each customer according to the picking operation using picking instruction information output from the control console. Pinker can perform picking work accurately by simply picking the quantity displayed on the item display without relying on slips or Rahel. Further, the item display device is provided with a reset switch, and when the work for one customer is completed, a picking instruction for the next customer is displayed, so that picking work can be performed continuously.

That is, the pickers placed in each zone first know in which pay area the item to be picked is located by the display on the Hay indicator, and then identify the item to be picked by the display on the item indicator in the pay area. The pay display and item display are sequentially displayed, and items ordered by a plurality of customers can be picked simultaneously and sequentially according to the display, thereby making it possible to perform the picking work more efficiently. Furthermore, if it is linked with a continuous conveyance device such as a belt conveyor, work efficiency can be further improved.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, with this type of conventional picking instruction system, very efficient picking can be expected when the ratio of the number of items to be picked per customer to the total number of items is high, but when this ratio decreases, the efficiency decreases and it is not practical. This becomes clear if we consider the following example.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of picking work in an example of a conventional system.

Now, the storage shelf 8 is divided into 10 zones Z1 to Z10, and each zone Z1 to Z1° has one bay area (for ease of explanation, it is assumed to be one, but the same applies if there are more than one),
Set the item classification for each pay area (zone in this explanation) to 1
0 (the number of items handled by - pickers P), and the total number of items picked is 100.

The placement of each item is determined by computer analysis in advance so that all pickers can pick equally. Currently, the items ordered by customer a have been picked from the items stored in zones Zl to Z, and the picking of items from zone Zlo is about to begin. Also, for the ordered product of customer i, picking in zone Zl has been completed, and picking in zone Z2 is about to start. When each picker in charge of zones Zl to ZIo picks the quantity indicated on the display attached to each item and completes loading into the container CN, the belt conveyor BY moves by -zone and picks the quantity shown on the display attached to each item. The picking operation of the ordered items is completed, and the containers carrying the ordered items of customer SARJ each start picking operations for the next zone. Additionally, a container containing newly ordered items for a customer enters the ZI zone and picking begins.

In this way, ten customer orders are picked in parallel.

Tables 1 and 7 show the results of calculating the relationship between changes in the number of ordered items per customer and picking work time per customer.
As shown in the figure. However, to simplify calculations, the working capacity of each picker was 5 seconds per item picking, the conveyor speed was 10''/second, and the width of each zone was 1 m.

Table 1 In recent years, as consumer demands for products have diversified, products have also diversified. For example, mail order distribution centers handle 10,000.20,000 items, and
Some centers receive and ship orders for two or three items from thousands of customers per day, and as can be seen from Table 1 and Figure 7, the number of items ordered per customer is relative to the total number of items. If the number of picking instructions decreases, the time required for picking per item increases, efficiency decreases, and the existing picking instruction system cannot be used.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and allows for efficient picking even when picking a small number of items from a large number of items.In addition, the display system has the advantages of picking accuracy and display instructions. The purpose of this invention is to provide a picking instruction system that has advantages such as simplification of picking work.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the system of the present invention separates the same type of shipping items and stores them in a large number of storage shelves in the picking area, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5. In a picking instruction system in which a picker picks a large number of shipped items based on picking instructions based on slips, labels, etc., a large number of storage shelves 8 in a picking area are divided into a plurality of blocks 1. ■..., and for each block, the host computer 1 divides the picking information into the amount of picking information for the number of customers that can be processed by a Lee picker, and stores this divided information together. A large number of small external storage devices 4, a sheet 22 in which each pinker writes the number of the block in which the shipping item is stored, which is necessary when each pinker picks the shipping item using the small external storage device 4; A picking instruction is given to the block based on picking instruction information provided in the storage position of the blocks I, I, II, etc. and supplied from the external storage device 4, and the item to be picked is out of stock.

A control device C4-1, CRW-11, etc., for writing information into the external storage device 4 in the event of a shortage of quantity, etc., and storage shelves 8 of each block ■, ■... are connected to a plurality of groups G.
1.Gi... each group G.

, G2...Group electric box a GRP-I, GR which has a capacity suitable for the group power consumption and is installed in the storage section of G2...
I'-2... and the storage divisions of each group G1, G2... of each block I, I, II... are further subdivided for each shipping item of the same type, and a storage section is installed for each subdivision. , a quantity indicator DPN-I for each shipping item to which picking instructions are given by each control device CRW-I, CRW-II...
DP 'N-2..., an input device CRW-IN that reads the contents including information written to the external storage device 4 in the event of a stockout, shortage of quantity, etc., and an input device CRW-IN that processes the output information of this input device CRW-IN. The picking contents can be displayed on the attached display 6 for each customer for inspection, and delivery notes for each customer can be displayed.
Each of the blocks r, II...Quantity indicator D by shipping item
PN-I, DPN-2... are each of the above control devices CIIW
A customer identification display unit IO that distinguishes and displays customers based on picking instructions given by -I, CRW-ff, etc., and a quantity display unit 11 that displays the quantity of shipped items of the customer displayed on this customer identification display unit 10 When the picking is completed, each control device CRW-I, CIIW-II...
Glue cent switch 1 to notify picking completion
2, each control device CR is operated when there is a shortage of items or quantity, etc.
It has a missing item switch 13 for notifying the missing item in W-[, CRW-II..., and the group power box GRP-1,
GRP-2... has a group display section LAP that displays whether picking is completed or incomplete for the group to which it belongs, and a quantity display for each shipping item [IPN-I, DPN-2] for each group G1, G2... ...and each control device C
It is for transmitting signals between RW-I, CRW, II..., and also for each of the above-mentioned control devices CRW-I, CII.
Each group power supply box GRP-I, GRP-2... of each block is connected in parallel to the signal bus line SA drawn out from W-II...
Quantity indicators DPN-I, DPN-2, etc. for each group G1, G2, etc. of each block I, ■... are connected in parallel to the output signal bus SB pulled out from P-2... The structure is as follows.

[For production]

The picker takes with him a small external storage device 4 related to the customer he is in charge of and a paper 22 in which the number of the block in which the shipping item to be picked is stored is stored. Select a block and sequentially pick all the corresponding blocks. During picking, the external storage device 4 is sent to the control device CRH installed in each block, the contents of the external storage device 4 are read, and the contents, such as symbols indicating the order of the customers to be picked, the quantity of shipped items, etc. are shipped. Display it on the item-specific quantity display DPN. Due to the display operation of this display DPN, the group display L of the group power supply box GIIP
AP works.

The picker knows from the display on the group display section LAP that there is a shipping item to be picked in that group, and the picker knows the customer in charge from the display on the customer identification display section 10 of the quantity display for each shipping item DPN, and displays the quantity display section 11. Pick the displayed quantity of shipped items.

When the picking of items to be shipped to this customer is completed, the picker operates the reset switch 12 to change the display on the customer identification display section 10, and the picked quantity for the displayed customer is displayed on the quantity display section 11. Ru. The picker will pick the displayed quantity of shipping items.

If the displayed shipping item is out of stock or in short quantity (if there is no item in the displayed quantity on the shelf), picking is not performed, and the control device CRW reads this by operating the out of stock switch 13. , the fact that the item is out of stock is written in the external storage device 4.

When the picking of one block is completed in this way, the group display area LAP of that block disappears,
The picker knows that the picking of this block is complete. At this time, when all the picking of the block has been completed, the control device CR- of the block reads that the picking of the block has been completed, and causes the external storage device 4 to write that the picking of the block has been completed, Prevent double picking. The picker extracts the external storage device 4 from the control device CIIW and moves to the next block.

After the picker finishes picking all the necessary blocks, it moves to the packing work area with the external storage device 4 and all the picked shipping items, and inputs the external storage device 4 into the input device CRWIN installed here. The contents are read and processed by the computer 5, the picking contents are displayed for each customer on the display 6 for inspection, and the printer 7 prints delivery notes, shipping labels, etc. for each customer. At the same time, information such as shipping results and out-of-stock status for each shipping item is output from the computer 5 to the host computer 1, and is used for inventory management, backlog management, etc.

After completing all of the above operations, the contents of the external storage device 4 are erased and reused for the next picking operation.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the system of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a connection diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the system of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a connection diagram showing the configuration of one block in FIG. 1.

This embodiment includes a host computer I, a printer 2, a card issuing Ja3, and a Guinamino RAM (DRAM).
C card 4, card reader writer CRW.

Group power supply 1GRP, quantity display by shipping item DPN
, a card reader/writer CRW-IN, a microcomputer 5, a display 6, a printer 7, and a picking storage shelf 8.

Shipment items according to customer orders are stored in storage shelves 8 where they are divided into fine sections.
In this example, 2 items such as 100 or 200 shipping items are stored on each shelf.
They are arranged in blocks of an appropriate number of 56 or less. For example, it is divided and arranged into 30 blocks ① to XXX. The storage shelves 8 of each block I to XXX are provided with card reader/writers CRW, I-CRW-XXX.

The storage shelves 8 of each block I-XXX are, for example, ten groups 61-G. Each group is divided into 61 to GI
The G storage section includes group power boxes GRP-1 to Gl? with a capacity commensurate with the group power consumption. P-10 is attached. The storage divisions of each group G, ~GIG are further subdivided into shipping items of the same type, and a quantity indicator DP for each shipping item displays the quantity of shipping items for each subdivision.
N-1=DPN-m is attached.

Each group power supply box GIIP of each block I-XXX
-1 to GRP-10 are each card reader/writer CR
W-■~CI? Signal bus line SA drawn out from LXXX
The quantity indicators DPN-1 to DPN-m for each shipping item in each of the blocks ■ to XXX are connected in parallel to the output signal bus SB drawn out from each group power supply box GRP-1 to GRP-10 in each block. are connected in parallel.

The internal circuit of each group power supply box GRP-1, GRP-10 is as shown in the third diagram, for example. Although only the internal circuit of one group power supply box GRP-1 is not shown in FIG. 3, the other circuits are exactly the same.

Each cart reader writer CRW-1” CRW-XXX
, the signal bus line SA drawn out has five signal lines A to E.
Connect each group power supply box G to these signal lines A to E.
Each terminal of RP-1 to GRP-10 is connected. Output signal bus SB pulled out from each group power supply box
consists of five signal lines B' to D', G, and F, and a quantity indicator D for each shipping item is attached to these signal lines B' to D', G, and F.
Each terminal T1 to T of PN-1=DPN-m is connected.

The signal line of the serial signal consists of a customer identification signal for distinguishing between multiple customers, a storage position signal for indicating the storage position of shipped items, and a quantity display signal for displaying the quantity of shipped items. It is not necessary to connect to the signal line D' through GRP-1 to GRP-10, and it is possible to connect directly to the signal line D' as shown in the third figure.

Quantity display for each shipping item DPN~1~DPN-m is the fourth
Terminal T for connecting to output signal bus SB as shown
A connector 14 having 1 to TS, a position number setting switch 9 for setting the storage position of shipped items by number, and three customer indicator lights to distinguish between a plurality of customers, three customers in this example. A customer identification display section 1O, a quantity display section 11 that displays the quantity of the customer's shipment items displayed on this display section 10, and a quantity display section 11 that displays the quantity of the customer's shipped items displayed on this display section 10, and a number display section 11 that is operated at the time of completion of picking to each card reader/writer CRW-1 to CRW-XXX to complete picking. A reset switch 12 is provided to notify the card reader/writer CRW-I to CRW-XXX that the card reader/writer CRW-I to CRW-XXX is out of stock. There is.

In addition, group power supply boxes GRP- for each block I to XXX
1 to GRP-10 are group indicator lights LAP that indicate to the picker whether picking is complete or incomplete for the group to which the picker belongs.
and each group 61 to GIO's shipping item quantity indicator DPN-1 to DPN-+11 and each card reader/writer CI? It is for signal transmission between LI and CR Lee XXX.

In FIG. 3, signal lines c and c' are ground lines, and signal lines B and B' are power supply voltage lines. Signal line B.

The 24V voltage between 0 and 0 is applied to each group power supply box GRP-1~G.
Voltage conversion circuit 16 including the voltage regulator of RP-10
This voltage V is input to the quantity display DPN for each shipping item via signal lines B' and C'.
-1 to DPN-m connector 14 terminals T, , T2
It is added in between and becomes the power source for these.

The signal line A sends information to each card reader/writer CRW-1 to CRW-1 to indicate that the pit tongs of all groups in each block ■ to XXX have been completed or not completed in accordance with changes in potential.
This is to notify R14-χX.

The signal line F is connected to the reset switch 12 for the shipment item quantity indicators DPN-1 to DPN-m for all groups in the block.
This is a signal line that is reset by 8 and is given a low potential when the picking of the block is completed, and is given a high potential when it is not completed.

For example, all groups G, -G, of block r. At least one of the shipping item quantity indicators DPN-1 to DPN-m
If the block (2) has not been reset by the reset switch 12 and therefore the picking of the block (2) is not completed, a high potential is applied to the signal vAF, and this high potential turns on the transistor TR+ of the NOR circuit 17. When this is turned on, the group indicator lamp LAP lights up to inform the picker that the picking of the block ■ is not completed, and the potential of the signal line A is changed to a low potential (the potential of the ground lines c and c') through the diode D+. This notifies the card reader/writer CRW-1 of the block I that the picking of the block I is incomplete.

Also, all groups G, ~G, of the block I. All of the shipping item quantity indicators DPN-1 to DPN-m are reset by the reset switch 12, and when the picking of the block I is completed, a low potential is applied to the signal line F, and this low potential causes the Circuit ①Turn off the transistor TRI of 7. This turns off the group indicator lamp LAP, notifying the picker that the picking of the block I has been completed, and also raises the potential of the signal line A to a high potential to send the card reader/writer CRW-I of the block I to the block I. This will notify you that picking has been completed.

Quantity display by shipping item DPN-1 to be used in this example
The internal circuit of the DPN-m is, for example, as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, the terminals T+ and Tz of the connector 14 are connected to the signal lines B' and C', respectively, and the voltage (2) of 5 to 8 volts is applied to the display devices DPN-1 to DP.
It is supplied to each circuit constituting Nm.

Terminal T4 is connected to signal line D', and this terminal T4
The serial signal input to is applied to the terminal t7 of the discriminator 18 via the inverter I. This serial input signal is 8 bits for displaying the quantity using 4 bits per digit, or 2 digits in this embodiment, for multiple customers.

In this example, it is a digital signal consisting of 2 bits to distinguish between 3 customers, 30 bits for 10 pins in total, 8 bits to indicate the storage location of the shipping item, and a check bit, and a quantity indicator for each shipping item. Card reader/writer CRW-1- of the block to which DPN-1 to Kano N-m belong
Sent from CRW-XXX. In this embodiment, these serial signals are read simultaneously for three customers.

The eight position number setting switches 9 shown in FIG. This allows the storage locations of various shipping items to be established by number.

Among the serial signals input to terminal t, when the position signal (number) indicating the storage position of the shipping item matches the position signal (number) set by the position number setting switch 9,
First, the determining unit 18 sends a reception confirmation signal from the terminal to to the card reader/writer CRW-I of block (2) to which the display device belongs, for example, via the inverter IZ+terminal T4 and the signals yAD' and D. This reception confirmation signal is transmitted by sending out an oscillation signal from the oscillation circuit 19 connected to terminals L and X2.

In addition, the quantity signal of shipped items other than the position signal and the customer identification signal are temporarily stored in the memory of the discriminator 18 for up to three customers, and the 8-bit digital signal for quantity display is sent from the terminal t to the customer according to the order of the customers. The 2-bit digital signal that distinguishes between send it out from Further, the determination unit 18 sends a control signal to the terminal t3 for converting the 8-bit digital signal representing the quantity outputted from the terminal t3 into a number in the lθ base system.
Output from 2.

The quantity signal output from the terminal t3 of the determining unit 18 is converted into a decimal number by the code conversion circuit 20, and the quantity display unit 11 uses the input to indicate the quantity of the shipping item to be picked by 1 (l decimal number). Displayed in numbers.In the case of this example,
Since a liquid crystal display section is used as the quantity display section 11, the code conversion circuit 20 includes an oscillation circuit 23 for lighting the liquid crystal.

Further, at the same time as the quantity signal is output from the terminal t3 of the determining section 18, a low potential is output from the terminal t6, and this low potential turns off the transistor TR2, and a high potential is generated at its collector. This high potential reaches the terminal T of the connector 14 via the diode D2, and applies a high potential to the signal line F connected thereto. As already mentioned, this high potential turns on the transistor TR of the NOR circuit 17 of the group power supply box.

On the other hand, the 2-bit digital signal outputted from the terminal t1 of the discriminating section 18 for distinguishing the three customers passes through the lamp drive circuit 21 and is sent to the three customer indicator lights -L3 of the customer identification display section 10 for distinguishing the customers. Turn on the lights according to the customer's order. That is, the first signal turns on the indicator lamp L1, the second signal turns on the indicator lamp Lt, and the third signal turns on the indicator lamp 3.

The indicator lights L I - L z are connected to the terminal T5 of the connector 14 through diodes D3 to D, respectively, and are connected to the NOR circuit 17 of the group power supply box shown in FIG. 3 through the signal line G connected thereto. By connecting to the lamp lighting confirmation switch 15 inside, and closing this switch 15, the current from the power supply voltage of the signal line B' (terminal T+ of the connector 14) is applied to each indicator lamp L I'' L z and each diode D.
3 to O5+ to the circuit of terminal T% of connector 14 + signal line G, the switch 15 and grounding line C' (terminal Tz of connector 14) to light up each indicator light L1 to L3,
It is now possible to check if the lamp is burnt out.

Now, the picker picks the quantity of the item to be shipped to the first customer shown on the quantity display section 11, and when the picking is completed, operates the reset switch 12 in the reset circuit, which causes the terminal of the discriminating section 18 to be turned on. If the reset signal is given, the quantity display section 11 displays the quantity of the item to be shipped to the second customer, and the customer indicator light of the customer identification display section 10 changes to ``2'' and ``mustard 2'', and so on. The lighting of the indicator lights changes in sequence each time picking is completed.

When the picking of the shipping item for the third customer is completed, a high potential is output from the terminal t6 of the discriminator 18,
At this high potential, the transistor TRZ is turned on, and its collector potential attempts to become a low potential, and therefore attempts to apply a low potential to the signal line F connected to the terminal T3 of the connector 14 via the diode 2.

However, the quantity indicator DPN for all shipped items in the same group
-1= The DPN-m are connected in parallel as shown in the third diagram, the terminals T of each connector 14 are connected to each other, and the diodes D2 connected to each terminal T3 are connected to an AND circuit for each group. Therefore, a low potential is not applied to the signal fiber F unless a higher potential is output from the terminal t of all the discriminating units 18 in the same group.

Quantity display for all shipping items in the same group 8KoN-1=
I) When the reset switch 12 of the PN-m is repeatedly operated and a high potential is output from the terminal t6 of the discriminator 18 of the group, a low potential is applied to the signal line F of the group,
It is necessary to apply a low potential to the NOR circuit 17 in the group power supply box of the group shown in the third diagram, so that the NOR circuit 1
The transistor TR, No. 7 is turned off, and the group indicator lamp LAP of the group power supply box of the group is turned off, thereby informing the picker that the picking of the group has been completed.

Furthermore, when the quantity signal among the three customer serial signals is zero, the terminal 1b of each discrimination section 18 automatically becomes a high potential, and a low potential is applied to the signal line F of the group.

Furthermore, the same = all shipment item quantity indicators DPN of the block
-1” The resent switch 12 of the DPN-m is operated, and the NOR circuit 1 in all the group power boxes of the block is
7 is given a low potential, the transistor TR1 of the NOR circuit 17 is turned off, and the group indicator lights LAP of all the group power boxes of the block are turned off, thereby informing the picker that the picking of the block has been completed. At the same time, the signal line A is turned off by turning off the transistors TR in all the group power supply boxes of the block.
becomes a high potential, which notifies the card reader/writer of the block that all picking of the block by each IC card 4 has been completed.

In addition, the microcomputer 5, display 6, printer 7, and input card reader/writer C shown in FIG.
RW4N is placed near the packing work area.

The operation of this embodiment will be explained with the above configuration.

The host computer 1 compiles the order information for each customer, divides the picking information into G pieces for the number of customers that can be processed by - people's binkers (in this example, 3 customers), and the card issuing machine 3 divides the picking information into G parts for each customer, which can be processed by two binkers. The divided number of IC cards 4 are stored, and the printer 2 prints on paper the block number of the block in which the shipping item is stored, which is necessary when each picker picks the shipping item using the IC card 4. let

The IC card 4 contains at least the customer's name and address.

The name of the shipping item, quantity 1 price, stored block number, and number indicating the shipping item are stored.

Each memory content may be encoded.

Dividing the order information of all customers has a significant impact on work efficiency, so it is necessary to carefully consider each order information, and generally this is done by considering the following points. That is, the information for the customers to be collected on one IC card 4 is to be combined as much as possible so that the picking blocks are the same, so that the picker's walking distance is minimized. Specifically, in the case of this embodiment, customers are combined so that the order items of three customers handled by - pickers are stored in the same block or in the block and blocks nearby.

In this way, the picker can pick only the block in question, or the block in question and blocks near it, and there is no need to pick blocks further away, improving work efficiency. become.

Of course, there are customers whose orders do not meet these conditions, but by considering the above combinations, overall efficiency can be improved.

The picker carries an IC card 4 related to the customer he/she is in charge of and a paper indicating the block number of the block in which the shipping item to be picked is stored. Among the corresponding blocks, the picker picks the blocks that are not being picked by other pickers. Select and pick all the corresponding blocks in sequence. When picking, insert the IC card 4 seven times into the card reader/writer CRW-1 of the corresponding block, for example block I, among the card reader/writers CRW-1 to CRW-XXX installed in each block, and insert the contents of the IC card 4. is read, and its contents, that is, the first customer name and the quantity of the shipping item, are displayed on the shipping item quantity display D.
Displayed on the customer identification display section 10 and quantity display section 11 of PN-1. Due to the display operation of the quantity display section 11 of the display device N-1, the group G to which the display device DPN-1 belongs,
Group power supply box GRP-1 group indicator light LAP
lights up.

The picker knows from the lighting of the group indicator LAP that there is a shipping item to be picked in the group G1, and the customer identification display section 1 of the shipping item quantity display DPN-1.
The first customer in charge is known by the lighting color display of the indicator light 0, and the number of shipping items displayed on the quantity display section 11 is picked.

When the picking of the shipping items for this first customer is completed, the picker selects the quantity indicator DPN- for each shipping item.
By operating the reset switch 12 of No. 1, the display on the customer identification display section 10 changes to a lighting color display using the indicator light L2, and the displayed quantity of Bi-7 King for the second customer is displayed on the quantity display section 11. Is displayed. The picker will pick the displayed quantity of shipping items.

If the displayed shipping item is out of stock or in short quantity, do not pick it, but operate the out of stock switch 13 to release the card reader/writer CRW-1.
reads this and writes the fact that the item is out of stock on the IC card 4.

Picking for the third customer is also performed in the same way. Further, picking of other shipping items in the same group G1 is also performed based on the customer display on the customer identification display section 10 and the quantity display on the quantity display section 11 of the quantity display unit DPN for each shipping item, and ,. The same is true for picking. There are also items that are not picked due to customer orders, and it goes without saying that the shipping item quantity display DPN corresponding to the item does not display.

When the picking of one block ■ is completed in this way, all groups of power supply boxes GRP-1 to GRP-1 of the block ■ are completed.
The group indicator light LAP of GRP-10 goes out, and the picker knows that the picking of this block I is completed. At this time, when the B and 7 kings of the 8 block ■ are completed, the card reader/writer CI of the block ■? The L I reads that the picking of the block I has been completed (block clear signal), and writes a signal indicating that the picking of the block I of the block has been completed to the IC card 4, thereby preventing double picking. do.

The picker removes the IC card 4 from the card reader/writer CRW-r and moves to the next block.

After the picker finishes picking all the necessary blocks, the picker carries the IC card 4 and all the picked shipping items or places them on a transport device such as a trolley and moves to the packing work area, where the picker is installed. The IC card 4 is set in the input card reader/writer CRW-IN, the contents are read, and the microcomputer 5 processes them.
The picking contents are displayed for each customer on a display 6 for inspection, and a printer 7 prints out delivery notes, shipping labels, etc. for each customer. At the same time, information such as shipping results and out-of-stock status for each shipping item is stored online from the input card reader/writer CRW-IN, or once accumulated in the microcomputer 5 and then output to the host computer 1 for inventory management.

Used for order backlog management, etc.

After all the above operations are completed, the IC card 4 erases its contents and is reused for the next picking operation.

Note that even if the group indicator light LAP is omitted, the indicator light L of the customer identification display section 10 of the shipment item quantity display DPN
It is possible to check the picking by 1 to 1, but
It is desirable to provide this in order to confirm the picking position more accurately and quickly, and to improve picking work efficiency.

In addition, the IC card 4 used in this example is a DIIAM, and the battery life is the life of the IC card itself.
In place of this, there is a part (If
It is also possible to extend the life of the card by using a laser card or a card with magnetic memory. Furthermore, a mini-floppy disk may be used as a small external storage device.

Laser cards have a large storage capacity, so even if the card cannot be erased, it is possible to invalidate previously used data each time the card is used, and add new data to the card.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, a large number of storage shelves 8 (in which all ordered items of all customers are stored) in a picking area are divided into a plurality of blocks I, I?・・・・・・
・The host computer 1 divides each block into pieces of picking information corresponding to the number of customers that can be processed by one picker, and a large number of small external storage devices 4 are stored together for each piece of divided information. , a sheet 22 in which each picker stores the number of the block in which the shipped item is stored, which is necessary when each picker picks the shipped item using each of the small external storage devices 4, and each picker picks the corresponding block. By sending the small external storage device 4 to the control device CRW of the block, the customer displayed on the customer identification display section 10 of the shipment item quantity display DPN of the block and the quantity of the shipment item displayed on the quantity display section 11 are displayed. Since the configuration is configured so that the number of shipped items ordered by the customer can be picked at the same time, even if the number of items ordered by one customer is small compared to the total number of items, in other words, it is possible to pick a small number of items from a large number of items. When picking items, the time required for picking each item can be shortened, and picking can be done efficiently.It also has the advantages of display-based systems, such as accuracy of picking and simplification of picking work by instructions on the display. A picking 1 indication system can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a connection diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the system of the present invention, Figure 2 is a connection diagram showing the configuration of one block in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a connection diagram showing the configuration of one block in Figure 2. A connection diagram showing only one of the internal circuits, FIG. 4 is a simplified perspective view showing an example of a quantity display by shipping item used in this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the quantity by shipping item shown in Figure 4. 6 is an explanatory diagram to explain an example of picking work in an example of a conventional system. Figure 7 shows the number of items ordered by each customer and the picking work example in Figure 6. It is a graph showing the result of calculating the relationship between picking time per item. 1... Host computer, 4... Small external storage device (IC card), 5... (Micro) computer, 6... Display, 7
...Printer, 8...Storage shelf, 10.
...Customer identification display section, L, ~L, ...Customer indicator light, 11...Number display section, 12...
... Reset switch, 13 ... Missing switch, 22 ... Paper, LAP ... Group display section (group indicator light), CR匈-■ ~ CRW-XX
X...Control device (card reader/writer)
, GRP-1~Gl? P-10---Group power supply box, DPN-1= DPN-m... is a quantity indicator for each shipping item, CRW-IN...... Input device (card reader/writer for input), I-XXX...Block, G1-G1゜...Group, SA...
...Signal bus, SR/old...Output signal bus.

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A picking instruction system in which a picker picks a large number of shipping items that are sorted by shipping item of the same type and stored in a large number of storage shelves 8 in a picking area based on picking instructions using slips, labels, etc. , a large number of storage shelves 8 in a picking area are divided into a plurality of blocks.
I, II, etc., each block is divided into picking information of the number of customers that can be processed by one picker by the host computer 1, and a large number of small external devices are stored together for each divided information. A storage device 4, a paper 22 in which each picker writes the number of the block in which the shipping item is stored, which is necessary when each picker uses the small external storage device 4 to pick the shipping item, and each block I
, II... is provided in the storage position of the external storage device 4, and gives a picking instruction to the block based on the picking instruction information supplied from the set of external storage devices 4, and when there is a shortage of items to be picked, a shortage of quantity, etc. a control device CRW-I for writing the information into the external storage device 4;
CRW-II... and storage shelves 8 for each block I, II...
is divided into a plurality of groups G_1, G_2..., and group power supply boxes GRP-1, GRP-2... are attached to the storage sections of each group G_1, G_2... and have a capacity commensurate with the group power consumption. Each block I, II...
The storage divisions of each group G_1, G_2... of... are further subdivided into shipping items of the same type, and picking instructions are given by each control device CRW-I, CRW-II... Quantity indicator DPN for each shipping item
-1, DPN-2..., an input device CRW-IN that reads the contents including information written to the external storage device 4 in the event of a stockout, shortage of quantity, etc., and processes the output information of this input device CRW-IN. The contents of the picking can be displayed for each customer on the attached display 6 for inspection, delivery notes, shipping labels, etc. for each customer can be printed out from the attached printer 7, and shipping records and out-of-stock status for each shipping item can be displayed. , and a computer 5 for outputting information such as inventory withdrawal to the host computer 1, each of the above blocks I, II...
Quantity display by shipping item DPN-1, DPN-2...
is a customer identification display section 10 that distinguishes and displays customers based on picking instructions given by each of the control devices CRW-I, CRW-II... Quantity display section 11 to display
, each control device CRW- is operated when picking is completed.
A reset switch 12 is used to notify the picking completion to the I, CRW-II... The group power supply boxes GRP-1, GRP-2, etc. of each block I, II, etc. have a group display section LA that displays whether picking is completed or incomplete for the group to which they belong.
P, and transmits signals between the shipment item quantity indicators DPN-1, DPN-2... of each group G_1, G_2... and each control device CRW-I, CRW-II... Each of the above control devices CRW-I
, each group power supply box GRP-1, GRP-2... of each block is connected in parallel to the signal bus SA drawn out from CRW-II, and each group power supply box GRP of each block is
-1, GRP-2...Output signal bus S drawn out from
Each group G_1, G_ of each block I, II... in B
2. Quantity display by shipping item DPN-1, DPN-2
A picking instruction system in a logistics system that connects ...... in parallel. (2) Quantity display for each shipping item DPN-1, DPN-2
... has a customer identification display section 10 in which the customer display changes sequentially each time the reset switch 12 is operated when the number of customers that can be handled by one picker is plural, and the customer displayed on this customer identification display section 2. A picking instruction system in a distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the quantity of picked items for a given item is sequentially displayed on a quantity display section 11. (3) Each small external storage device 4 is an IC card or a mini floppy disk, and each control device CRW-I, C
RW-II... is a reader/writer for this IC card or mini-floppy disk, etc. Claim 1
A picking instruction system in the logistics system described in Section 2. (4) Quantity display for each shipping item DPN-1, DPN-2
. . . has operating terminals such as switches, etc., and by operating these, information can be added or changed in each small external storage device 4 through each control device CRW-I, CRW-II, etc. A picking instruction system in a physical distribution system according to claim 1, which is capable of providing a picking instruction system.