JPS6397503A - Merchandise takeout and assortment equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To streamline such a job that has so far been compelled to depend on man power, by installing a display controlling device which operates a display part corresponding to the detected address and makes it inform an operator of a storage spot of merchandise. CONSTITUTION:In case of taking out the first ordered merchandise, order data in a first area are displayed on each display part D, and from a merchandise rack A, the takeout of the ordered merchandise related to a first store takes place. At this time, each time the takeout of one merchandise is finished, a reset button D-2 of the said merchandise is pressed in advance. When the takeout of the ordered merchandise for the first store at the first area is completed, it is housed in a container C and conveyed away as far as a distance l by a conveyor B. At the takeout of the next merchandise, order data in a second area of the first store are displayed on each display part D of the second area, and the order data in the first area of a second store are displayed in each display part D of the first area. And, from the merchandise rack A of the first area, the takeout of the ordered merchandise related to the second store takes place as well.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a device for taking out and sorting products used in wholesalers that handle many types of products, and more specifically relates to a device for taking out and sorting products that are divided into multiple areas. The present invention relates to a device for taking out and sorting products that can sequentially take out ordered products for each store from the shelves in the first section of the shelf, and can also sort products into various types.

(Prior art) For example, in a wholesaler that handles many types of products, when collecting ordered products, the person in charge goes around many product shelves and collects the corresponding products while looking at the order slip. The current situation is that

For this reason, collecting ordered products from a large number of stores requires a lot of manpower and effort, and there has been a strong desire to save labor and improve efficiency in this regard. Furthermore, collecting products while looking at the slips may lead to misreading of the product name or the number of ordered items, so in the past, returns or reshipments due to such mistakes were unavoidable.

For this reason, recently, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-137203, there are
A display section is provided to display the number of products to be taken out, and when taking out the products, the number of ordered products for each store is displayed on each display section via a computer, and only the displayed number of products are taken out from the shelf. A device has been developed and put into practical use that collects ordered products from each store by collecting the products. In such a device,
Since it is absolutely necessary to avoid products running out of stock on the shelves, the amount of stock in each column is constantly monitored by computers, etc., and when the stock becomes low, products are replenished as appropriate.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in such conventional devices, there is a problem in that since there are an extremely large number of types of products stored on the shelves, a great deal of effort and experience is required to replenish each product. was there. That is, when replenishing products, it is necessary to avoid searching around for the installation location for each product, which causes the trouble of the worker having to memorize the installation locations of all products in advance. Since the products must be sorted into each column sequentially because they are not transported on a trolley or the like, there is a problem in that the work efficiency cannot be improved as in the original work of taking out products in this device.

Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a product retrieval and sorting device that solves the problems of the prior art.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention includes a plurality of display sections for each product provided in the front part of a product shelf, a conveyor for transporting products arranged along the product shelf, and a conveyor for transporting each product. In a device in which order information regarding products from multiple stores is displayed on each display section for each store, and the ordered products for each store taken out from the product shelf are collected on the conveyor, the information on the products stored on the product shelf is An input means for setting a product code, a means for detecting the address of the place where the product should be stored based on the set product code, and a means for moving the product on the conveyor to the vicinity of the storage location corresponding to the detected address. By being equipped with a conveyor control means for conveyance and a display control means that activates a display unit corresponding to the detected address to notify the storage location of the product, it is possible to take out ordered products at each store and to store them on the product shelf. The problems of the prior art described above are solved by providing a device for taking out and sorting products that can also be used to sort each product.

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

Figures 1 (A) and (B) are examples of a plan layout and a side layout of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 shows a product shelf used in the above device and a product conveyor. FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a conveyor;

In these figures, the product shelves A are arranged in two vertical rows with the product take-out ports of each row facing each other at a predetermined interval, and in the center space of the left and right product shelf rows. , a product conveyance conveyor B is arranged along these shelf rows.

The product conveyance conveyor B is composed of a belt conveyor, etc., and in the picking mode in which products are taken out from the shelves, the ordered products for each store are taken out from the shelves by the worker P and placed on a container C such as a cardboard box and moved in the direction of the arrow. Furthermore, in the sorting mode in which products are stored on shelves, the products placed on the starting end of the conveyor B are also intermittently transported in the direction of the arrow.

As the product shelf A, a slanted three-tier shelf as shown in the figure is used, which takes into consideration the ease of feeding products to the product outlet and the ease of taking out products from each tier. Addresses are assigned at a predetermined pitch, and predetermined products (not shown) are placed at each address in a sorted state, and the front of the shelf of each sorted product is placed at each address in a sorted manner. As shown in FIG. 2, a display section for displaying the number of products to be taken out is attached to the display section in correspondence with each product.

In addition, as shown in Figure 1 (a), product shelf A is divided into multiple districts (5 districts in the figure), and the order data for the corresponding product is displayed in each display section of each district. , and are configured to be transmitted via a relay unit, etc., which will be described later.

The display section displays the number of items to be taken out of the corresponding product based on the order data sent from the relay section using the trend display tube D-1 on the front.
(See Figure 3). In addition, when displaying the number of products taken out, as shown in Figure 3, the top two digits of the five-digit display indicate the number of products taken out per case, and the bottom two digits indicate the number of products taken out per case. It is configured to display the number of pieces to be taken out with an emphasis on one. Furthermore, when the number of products taken out is not displayed, a minus sign is displayed over all digits.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which 13 pieces per case and 24 pieces per case are displayed as the number of pieces taken out of the product.

In addition, the display section is equipped with a reset button D-2 as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and when this button is operated in the picking mode, the displayed number of items to be taken out is erased and the connected A product removal completion signal is sent to relay sections R1 to R5 and LL-L5, which will be described later. In addition, in the sorting mode, by operating the button described above, a product replenishment end signal is sent to the relay sections R1-15 and L, which will be described later.
1-L5.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a data communication line for order data in the apparatus of this embodiment.

In this figure, the data communication section E is connected to the computer F via a transmission line, and is also connected to the first and second relay sections R1-R5 and Ll-L5 provided in each area via path lines. has been done. Further, the first relay section R1-R5 of each district is connected by a path line to the display section of each district on the right product shelf row shown in FIG. 1(a), and the second relay section LL-R5 of each district is L5 is connected by a path line to the display section of each district in the left product shelf row shown in FIG. 1(a). Further, a conveyor control section G and an input device H are connected to the data communication section E.

Computer F stores order data regarding all products on product shelf A in each district in store order, and upon receiving a data transmission request from data communications department E.

It is configured to read order data to be transmitted and transmit it to the data communication section E. The computer F is also equipped with a sorting machine section that rearranges randomly input order data for each store into a predetermined store order and product number order.

In the picking mode, the data communication unit E transfers the order data for each store transmitted from the computer F to the relay unit R1-
The signal is transmitted to R5 and Ll-L5, respectively, and when this transmission is completed, the polling method is used to invite each relay unit that has transmitted the product to send a product removal completion signal. Then, when a product removal completion signal is transmitted from all the relay sections that have transmitted the data, the computer F is configured to request the computer F to transmit the next data.

On the other hand, in the sorting mode, the data communication section E
Based on the product code set with the input device H, the address of the shelf where the product with that code is to be stored and the relay section R1-R5 of the district having jurisdiction over the display area of that address are determined.
LL-L5 from a predetermined conversion table, and then sends an operation command to the conveyor control unit G and waits for a timing signal from the control unit G that informs the movement of the conveyor B from one area to another, and When the receiver receives the timing signal, it counts it, and if the count value matches the district number of the determined district, it sends a blinking command to the display section of the determined address via the relay section of the district that has jurisdiction over the display section. If the count values do not match, an operation command is sent to the conveyor control section G.

In the picking mode, the relay units R1 to R5 and LL-L5 are configured to transmit the order data of the area in charge transmitted from the data communication unit E to the corresponding display units using the same selecting method, When this transmission is completed, the polling method is used to invite each display section to which the transmission was made to send a product removal completion signal. Then, when a product removal end signal is transmitted from all the display sections that have transmitted data, the data transmitting section E is configured to request transmission of the next data.

In addition, in the sorting mode, the relay section R1-R
5. Based on the address information transmitted from the data communication section E, Ll-L5 communicates with the display mD of the address, and sends a blinking command to the display section, and then transmits the command. The display section that receives the signal is connected to the flashing until the reset button D-2 is operated.

In the picking mode, the conveyor control unit G operates the product conveyance conveyor B based on the operation command from the data communication unit E, and uses a sensor or a timer (not shown) to determine the distance corresponding to one section of the conveyor B. When the movement of Ml is detected, the conveyor B is stopped.

In the sorting mode, the conveyor control unit G operates the conveyor B based on the operation command transmitted from the data communication unit E, and just before the conveyor B moves from one area to another, the conveyor control unit G operates the conveyor B based on the operation command transmitted from the data communication unit A timing signal is sent to section E to notify movement between one area, and when conveyor B has transferred between one area, conveyor B is temporarily stopped.

It is arranged to wait for the next operation command from the data communication section E.

<Operation of the Embodiment> Next, the operation of the above-mentioned embodiment apparatus in the picking mode will be explained based on FIG. 5.

Note that the numbers in parentheses shown in FIG. 5 indicate the store numbers assigned to each store.

First, the input device H is operated to set the picking mode. When taking out the first ordered product, the order data for the first district of the first store is displayed on each display section of the first district, as shown in Figure 5 (a).
Ordered products related to the first store are taken out from the product shelf A in the first district. At this time, each time the removal of one product is completed, the reset button D-2 on the display section of the product is pressed.As a result, the displayed number of products to be taken out becomes blank and the display section becomes blank.

A flag indicating completion of product removal is set.

In this way, when the removal of ordered products from the first store in the first district is completed, the removed products are stored in a container C such as a cardboard box, and transported to the conveyor B.
It is transported a distance of 191, which corresponds to the distance between the districts.

When taking out the next ordered product, as shown in Figure 5 (b), the order data for the second district of the first store is displayed on each display section of the second district, and
Order data for the first district of the store is displayed on each display section of the first district. And product shelf A in the 1st district
From then on, the ordered products for the second store will be retrieved.
Furthermore, ordered products related to the first store are taken out from the product shelf A in the second district. At this time, the products taken out from the second area are stored in the container C, such as the above-mentioned cardboard box.

In this way, when the taking out of the ordered products from the first and second districts is completed, the taken out products are stored in respective containers C such as cardboard boxes, and conveyed to the conveyor B, which corresponds to one district. A child is transported.

Thereafter, in the same manner, each time the retrieval of products from each area whose order data is displayed is completed, the order data of new stores is added one after another as shown in Figure 5 (C) to Figure 5 (E). At the same time, the display areas of stores that have already participated will be shifted sequentially.

Of course, when there are no more stores to participate, the number of displayed districts gradually decreases as shown in Figures 5 (F) to 5 (N).
Ordered products will be collected in order from the shelves in the district,
Also, if we look at each store, at most times, ordered products from five stores will be collected in parallel at the same time.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the operation flow of each part to accomplish this procedure, in which (a) shows the main operation of the computer F, (b) shows the main operation of the data communication section E, and (C ) indicate the main operations of each relay section R1-R5, L1-L5, respectively.

Next, the operation of the apparatus of the above embodiment in the sorting mode will be explained based on FIG.

First, operate input device IH to switch the entire system to sorting mode, then place product K to be sorted on the starting end of conveyor B, set the product code for the product in input device H, and then Press the start switch (not shown).

When the start switch is pressed, the above product code is input from the input device H to the data communication section E, and there, the address of the storage location of the product and the relay section of the district that has jurisdiction over the display section of that address are specified. Then, an operation command is sent to the conveyor control section G.

As a result, the products placed on the starting end of the conveyor B are first transported toward the first area.

Then, a timing signal is transmitted from the conveyor control unit G to the data communication unit E just before the conveyor moves between one area (that is, just before arriving at the center of the first area). The data communication section E counts the timing signals and compares the count value with the district number of the district previously determined to check whether they match. If they match, the relay parts R1 to R5, Ll to L5 in that area
A blinking command is sent to the display section where the product is to be stored. As a result, the display section starts flashing a little before the products to be stored arrive at the center of the area. When the conveyor B moves from one area to another, the conveyor control unit G stops it and waits for the next operation command from the data communication unit E. If the check results show that there is no discrepancy, the conveyor control unit G stops it and waits for the next operation command from the data communication unit E. An operation command is transmitted from the data communication section E to the conveyor control section G at the timing when B moves between one area. In this way, the products on the conveyor are transported to their destination.

If there are many types of products to be sorted next, first set and register these product codes in input device H in order, and then ensure that only one type of product is always placed on the starting end of conveyor B. Every time B moves from one area to another, the products are placed on conveyor B in the order of registration and the start switch is pressed.As a result, in the data communication section E, the aforementioned sorting operation for one type of product is repeated for each product. It turns out. That is, 1. For example, let's assume that the third district first registers product a whose sorting is value, and then the first district registers product A whose sorting is value second. Then, first,
At the timing when product a is transported to the central part of the first district,
A timing signal is transmitted from the conveyor control section G, and based on this, the data communication section E sets the count value for the product a to 1, and compares that value with the district number of the district for sorting the product a. As a result, since the two values do not match, the data communication section E sends an operation command to the conveyor control section G after waiting for the start switch to be operated. Then, at the timing when the product a is transported to the center of the second district, and the following products are transported to the center of the first district, a timing signal is also transmitted from the conveyor control section G, and based on this, a timing signal is transmitted. , the data communication department E sets the count value to 2 for product A, and sets the count value to 1 for product A, and compares each sort with the district number of the district.As a result, the product As for the item, since the two values match, a blinking command is sent to the display section of the storage location of that product via the relay section of the first district. Due to this.

The display section starts flashing at the timing when the product is transported to the central part of the first district. When the products arrive at the center of the first district and the conveyor B stops, the worker stores the products on the shelf and operates the reset button D-2. Then, the flashing of the display section stops, and an end signal is sent to the data communication section E via the relay section. When the data communication section E receives the end signal, it transmits an operation command to the conveyor control section G to further transport the products on the conveyor to the next area. As described above, when the product a arrives at the third district, the process is similar to the case where one type of product is sorted.

Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and various other embodiments can be adopted.For example, each product in a vertical row of a product shelf is assigned to one area, It is possible to adopt a mode in which the products are sorted, and it is also possible to adopt a mode in which the functions of each relay section are consolidated into a data communication section and each relay section is omitted.

In addition, the product shelves can be arranged in rows or.

It is also possible to have multiple columns.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, collection of ordered products for each store and replenishment of many types of products stored on the shelves can be carried out with one device, which is possible compared to conventional manual labor. This has the effect of streamlining work areas that previously had to rely on. Moreover, the existing hardware remains the same,
Since it can be easily configured by simply changing the software, it has the effect of making it possible to utilize existing devices that have been put into practical use without wasting them.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Each figure is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a plan layout diagram and a side arrangement diagram of the device according to the embodiment, and Fig. 2 shows a product shelf and products that constitute the main parts of the device. FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the conveyor, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the display section, FIG. 4 is a block 11 diagram of the communication circuit of the above device, and FIG. 5 is a conceptual representation of the order in which products are taken out for each store. An explanatory diagram, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the main operations of the computer, data communication section, and relay section, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating replenishment sorting for each product stored on the product shelf. be. A...Product shelf, B...Product transport conveyor, D...
-Display unit, H...input device (means), G...conveyor control unit (means). Patent applicant: Ishida Kouki Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
People Patent Attorney Minoru Tsuji (A) (B) Figure 5 Table 1 4 No. Taste

Claims (1)

[Claims] The system includes a plurality of display sections for each product provided at the front of the product shelf and a product conveyance conveyor arranged along the product shelf, and also displays order information from multiple stores regarding each product. In a device that displays on each display section for each store and collects on the conveyor the ordered products of each store taken out from the product shelf, an input means for setting a product code of the product to be stored on the product shelf; , means for detecting the address of the location where the product is to be stored based on the set product code; conveyor control means for transporting the product on the conveyor to the vicinity of the storage location corresponding to the detected address; 1. A product retrieval/sorting device comprising: display control means for activating a display section corresponding to a given address to notify the storage location of the product.