KR102511540B1 - System and method for delivering goods using unmanned transportation - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a system for shipping goods using unmanned means of transportation, which includes: a shelf having an accommodation space at the bottom thereof, and articles are loaded thereon; an AGV storage box located in the accommodation space and loaded with goods scheduled to be shipped out of the goods; a rover picker which loads the good to be shipped from the shelf into the AGV storage box; and an AGV which places the AGV storage box in the accommodation space and transports the AGV storage box to a goods delivery area when the goods to be shipped are loaded in the AGV storage box. Therefore, the efficiency of shipping the goods is improved and the logistics cost is reduced.

Description

Product release system and method using unmanned transportation means {SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING GOODS USING UNMANNED TRANSPORTATION}

The present invention is a product warehousing system and method using unmanned transport means, and more specifically, a product warehousing system and method using unmanned transport means for warehousing products through collaboration between a rover picker and an automatic guided vehicle (AGV) It is about.

The term logistics is an abbreviation for physical distribution, and it is a generic term for functions or activities that effectively move products and goods from producers to consumers. Generally, it refers to several activities such as packing, unloading, transportation and storage.

In recent years, mass production, mass sale, and mass consumption have become the trend of the times, and the importance of logistics is gradually increasing because the need to streamline the flow of goods between them has increased.

In general, manufacturers, wholesalers, Internet shopping malls, department stores, etc. have logistics warehouses to store various items, and various items are loaded in the warehouse, and the items are taken out and shipped whenever delivery is required. .

In particular, with the recent rapid increase in online distribution, prompt delivery of products to customers is required, and a product delivery system capable of responding to small quantity orders of various kinds is required.

In this regard, in the prior art, an AGV and a rack transported by the AGV have been used to perform an article shipping operation (see Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2020-0091971).

However, among the items stored in the racks transported by the AGV to the product delivery area, there are no items scheduled to be shipped or only a small amount of items scheduled to be shipped exist, reducing the efficiency of item delivery per rack. Since transporting racks must be used, logistics costs rise rapidly.

In order to solve these problems, the need for a product release system and method using an unmanned transport vehicle, which improves product release efficiency and reduces logistics costs, is emerging.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is that the rover picker stores the goods to be shipped in the AGV storage box located at the lower part of the shelf, which is transported by the AGV, and then the AGV transports the AGV storage box in which the goods to be shipped are stored to the goods delivery area It is to provide a product release system and method using unmanned transport means, thereby improving product release efficiency and reducing logistics costs.

The problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to solve the above problem, the product release system using an unmanned transport means according to an embodiment of the present invention has a storage space formed at the bottom, and a shelf loaded with products is located in the storage space to load scheduled products among the products. The AGV storage box, the rover picker that loads the goods to be shipped from the shelf into the AGV storage box, and the AGV storage box are placed in the receiving space, and when the goods scheduled to be shipped are loaded into the AGV storage box, the AGV storage box is placed in the goods delivery area Including AGVs transported to

In order to solve the above problems, a method for shipping goods using an unmanned transport vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of preparing a shelf for loading goods and a storage box for AGV with an accommodation space formed at the bottom, the AGV storage box for AGV The step of transporting and positioning in the receiving space, the step of the rover picker loading the items to be shipped from among the items loaded on the shelf into the AGV storage box, and the AGV, when the items to be shipped are loaded into the AGV storage box, the AGV storage box is placed in the receiving space Including the step of transporting from the product to the goods release area.

According to the present invention, after being transported by the AGV, the rover picker stores the goods to be shipped in the AGV storage box located at the bottom of the shelf, and then the AGV transports the AGV storage box in which the goods to be shipped are stored to the goods delivery area to release the goods It is possible to provide a product release system and method using an unmanned transport vehicle, which improves efficiency and reduces logistics costs.

1 is a view showing a distribution center in which a product release system using an unmanned transport vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed.
2 is a conceptual diagram of a product delivery system using unmanned transport means according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view showing shelves constituting the product delivery system of the present invention.
4 is a view showing an AGV storage box constituting the product delivery system of the present invention.
5 is a view showing a shelf and a rover picker constituting the product delivery system of the present invention.
6 is a flow chart of a method for releasing goods using unmanned transport means according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a view showing a state in which the shelf and the AGV storage box are prepared.
8 is a view showing a state in which the AGV transports the AGV storage box to the storage space of the shelf.
9 is a view showing a state in which the rover picker loads items scheduled to be shipped from the shelf to the AGV storage box.
10 is a view showing a state in which a product to be shipped is taken out of an AGV storage box transported to a product delivery zone and a delivery operation is performed.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented in a variety of different forms, only the present embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and those skilled in the art in the art to which the present invention belongs It is provided to fully inform the person of the scope of the invention.

In this specification, singular forms also include plural forms unless specifically stated otherwise in a phrase. As used herein, “comprises” and/or “comprising” do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, and operations to the stated components, steps, and operations.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 , a product release system using an unmanned transport means according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 1 is a view showing a distribution center in which a product release system using an unmanned transport vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a product delivery system using unmanned transport means according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a view showing shelves constituting the product delivery system of the present invention.

4 is a view showing an AGV storage box constituting the product delivery system of the present invention. 5 is a view showing a shelf and a rover picker constituting the product release system of the present invention.

1 and 5, the product delivery system using an unmanned transport vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a shelf 10, an AGV storage box 30, a rover picker 110, an AGV 120, and logistics A management server 130 is included.

The shelf 10 is a facility installed in a distribution center to load articles.

The shelf 10 has a predetermined height and has a plurality of loading tables capable of vertically loading articles.

In addition, in the case of the present invention, the storage space 20 may be formed at the bottom of the shelf 10, and accordingly, when the shelf 10 is viewed in a vertical direction, the storage space 20 of a predetermined height is formed at the bottom. And, a plurality of loading tables may be formed above the accommodation space 20 .

Meanwhile, the goods loaded on the shelf 10 may include goods scheduled to be shipped 40 and 50 and non-shipped goods 60 .

The storage box 30 for the AGV is a storage box transported by the AGV 120.

The AGV 120 may transport the AGV storage box 30 and place it in the accommodation space 20 located below the shelf 10.

In the storage box 30 for AGV located in the accommodation space 20 as described above, the items scheduled to be shipped 40 and 50 among the items loaded on the shelf 10 may be loaded.

The storage box 30 for AGV includes a plurality of storage layers, and each storage layer has a first loading area 70 in which items scheduled to be shipped 40 and 50 are loaded and popular items that are frequently sought by consumers are loaded. It may be partitioned into a second loading zone (80).

Meanwhile, since popular items stored in the second loading area 80 are frequently shipped out, they can be directly stored in the AGV storage box 30 without being loaded on the shelf 10 .

As described above, in the case of the present invention, the shelf 10 and the AGV storage box 30 may be included as equipment for storing or loading goods.

In the case of the AGV storage box 30, there is a height restriction, so it is impossible to manufacture it at a certain height or higher, but in the case of the present invention, the accommodation space 20 in which the AGV storage box 30 can be located is Since it is formed, when the AGV storage box 30 is located under the shelf 10, a loading space capable of storing articles in the vertical direction can be significantly increased.

The rover picker 110 is an unmanned transportation means for loading scheduled shipment items 40 and 50 loaded on the shelf 10 into the storage box 30 for an AGV.

The rover picker 110 includes a vertical frame, a mounting unit 100 on which a plurality of items to be shipped are placed in a vertical direction on the vertical frame, and items to be shipped from the shelf 10 while moving up and down on the vertical frame. It may include a transfer unit 90 that takes out (40, 50) and transfers them onto the mounting unit 100.

In addition, the transfer unit 90 may take out the items 40 and 50 to be shipped from the holding unit 100 and load them into the AGV storage box 30 .

Specifically, after the rover picker 110 moves to the place where the items 40 and 50 to be shipped are loaded in the shelf 10, the transfer unit 90 of the rover picker 110 moves in a vertical direction on a vertical frame While it is possible to move to the loading floor where the goods scheduled to be shipped (40, 50) are loaded.

The product picking unit (not shown) installed in the transfer unit 90 protrudes forward to take out the items 40 and 50 to be shipped, and then move the items 40 and 50 to the transfer unit 90 while returning. there is.

Thereafter, the transfer unit 90 moves in a vertical direction on the vertical frame to the height where the empty mounting unit 100 is located, and then rotates to look at the empty mounting unit 100 with the items 40 and 50 to be shipped. can see In addition, the product picking unit of the transfer unit 90 may move the products to be shipped 40 and 50 onto the empty holding unit 100 while protruding into the empty holding unit 100 .

At this time, the rover picker 110 can move to the storage box 30 for AGV, and the item picking unit of the transfer unit 90 takes out the items 40 and 50 scheduled for shipment on the mounting unit 100 and transfers them to the transfer unit 90. can be moved to

Thereafter, the product picking unit may take out the products 40 and 50 to be shipped from the transfer unit 90 and load them in the first loading zone 70 of the AGV storage box 30 .

In the case of the present invention, since the storage space 20 is formed and the shelf 10 having a considerable height is used, a picking facility capable of taking out items located on a higher floor of the shelf 10 is required.

To this end, in the case of the rover picker 110, the vertical frame has a height equal to or higher than the height of the shelf 10, and the transport unit 90 can move up and down along the vertical frame, so that items on the shelf 10 can be easily moved. can be pulled out

The AGV 120 places the AGV storage box 30 in the storage space 20 of the shelf 10, and when the items to be shipped 40 and 50 are loaded in the AGV storage box 30, the AGV storage box 30 It is an unmanned transportation means that transports the goods to the goods delivery area (D).

In the case of the present invention, products can be shipped through collaboration between the rover picker 110 and the AGV 120, which are unmanned transport vehicles.

In one form, during working hours, the AGV 120 may move the AGV storage box 30 to the receiving space 20 of the shelf 10, and at night when the shift ends, the rover picker 110 may move the shelf 10 It is possible to take out the items 40 and 50 scheduled to be shipped from and store them in the storage box 30 for AGV.

Thereafter, the AGV 120 may move the AGV storage box 30 in which the goods 40 and 50 to be shipped are stored to the goods delivery area D at a predetermined time such as working hours, so that the goods are shipped.

In the conventional case, only non-shipment items 60 are stored in the storage box 30 for AGV, or only a very small number of items scheduled to be shipped 40 and 50 are stored.

Therefore, even if the AGV 120 transports the AGV storage box 30 to the product delivery area D, only a small number of items 40 and 50 to be shipped are shipped, and accordingly, a large number of AGVs 120 And the storage box 30 for AGV was mobilized. That is, the operational efficiency of the AGV 120 and the storage box 30 for AGV significantly decreased and logistics costs increased rapidly in the conventional product delivery process.

On the other hand, in the case of the present invention, a plurality of items to be shipped 40 and 50 are stored in one AGV storage box 30 by the rover picker 110, and the AGV 120 is a plurality of items to be shipped 40, 50) transports the stored AGV storage box 30 to the product release area D, so that a plurality of items can be shipped out with one AGV storage box 30, and fewer AGVs 120 than before. ) and a storage box 30 for AGV are required.

Therefore, the operating efficiency of the AGV 120 and the storage box 30 for AGV is remarkably increased compared to the prior art, and logistics costs can be drastically reduced.

The logistics management server 130 is a server that controls a loading operation of the rover picker 110 or a transport operation of the AGV 120 .

Specifically, the logistics management server 130 may control the rover picker 110 to load scheduled items 40 and 50 having the same product characteristics into the same AGV storage box 30, where the product characteristics It may be any one of the type of goods, delivery destination, and delivery date.

By doing so, only the items 40 and 50 scheduled to be shipped out having the same product characteristics are accommodated in the storage box 30 for the AGV, so that the product release operation in the product release area D can be performed quickly.

At this time, in the case of the present invention, an article warehousing equipment may be further included to collect warehousing information of goods warehousing into the distribution center. This product warehousing equipment may provide information about warehousing of goods to the logistics management server 130 .

Here, the warehousing information may include the aforementioned characteristics of the goods and the shelf 10 on which the goods are loaded, and as the goods warehousing equipment, an identification mark reader that reads an identification mark (eg, barcode, etc.) of the goods, and a worker uses There are terminals that do.

The logistics management server 130 may control the rover picker 110 to load scheduled shipment items 40 and 50 having the same item characteristics into the same AGV storage box 30 by using the storage information.

In addition, the logistics management server 130 transports the AGV storage box 30 to the storage space 20 of the shelf 10 where the AGV loads the most items 40 and 50 to be shipped from among the shelves 10 can make it

At this time, the above-described article warehousing equipment may provide the goods warehousing information to the logistics management server 130, and the logistics management server 130 uses the warehousing information to allow the AGV to store the goods scheduled to be shipped from the shelf 10 (40, 50) can be transported to the receiving space 20 of the shelf 10 that is loaded the most.

By doing this, it is possible to shorten the time in which the items to be shipped 40 and 50 are accommodated in all the first loading areas 70 of the storage box 30 for AGV.

In addition, the logistics management server 130 may receive the product release status from the product release equipment installed in the product release area (D), and considering the product release status, the AGV is the most quiet product release area in the product release area (D) As (D), it is possible to transport the AGV storage box 30 storing the items 40 and 50 scheduled to be shipped.

Here, the product release equipment includes an identification mark reader that reads identification marks (eg, barcodes, etc.) of the items scheduled to be shipped 40 and 50, a terminal used by a worker, and the like.

By doing this, the backlog of the product release operation can be prevented, and the product release can be performed more quickly.

That is, the logistics management server 130 can shorten the product release time and increase the efficiency of the product release operation by controlling the unmanned transport means.

In the above, the product release system using the unmanned transport means according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10, a method for releasing goods using an unmanned transport means according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 6 is a flow chart of a method for releasing goods using unmanned transport means according to an embodiment of the present invention. 7 is a view showing a state in which the shelf and the AGV storage box are prepared.

8 is a view showing a state in which the AGV transports the AGV storage box to the storage space of the shelf. 9 is a view showing a state in which the rover picker loads items scheduled to be shipped from the shelf to the AGV storage box. 10 is a view showing a state in which a product to be shipped is taken out of an AGV storage box transported to a product delivery zone and a delivery operation is performed.

Referring to FIG. 6 , in the method of shipping goods using an unmanned transport vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, an accommodation space is formed at the bottom and a shelf for loading goods and a storage box for AGV are prepared (S10), the AGV Transporting the AGV storage box and positioning it in the receiving space (S20), step of the rover picker loading the items to be shipped from among the items loaded on the shelf into the AGV storage box (S30), and the AGV is the item to be shipped to the AGV storage box When the AGV is loaded, a step (S40) of transporting the AGV storage box from the storage space to the product release area is included.

Referring to FIG. 7 , a storage space is formed at the bottom and a plurality of shelves 10 and a storage box 30 for AGV can be installed in the distribution center in the step of preparing shelves for loading goods and storage boxes for AGV (S10) there is.

The shelf 10 has a predetermined height and is formed with a plurality of loading tables capable of vertically loading articles. In addition, the shelf 10 may have an accommodating space 20 formed at the bottom, and accordingly, when the shelf 10 is viewed in a vertical direction, the accommodating space 20 of a predetermined height is formed in the lower part, and the accommodating space ( 20), a plurality of loading tables may be formed.

The storage box 30 for the AGV may be located in the accommodation space 20 located below the shelf 10, and may accommodate the items 40 and 50 scheduled to be shipped from among the items loaded on the shelf 10. In addition, the storage box 30 for AGV includes a plurality of storage layers, and each storage layer has a first loading area 70 in which items scheduled to be shipped 40 and 50 are loaded and non-shipped items 60 are loaded It may be partitioned into a second loading zone (80).

In the case of the AGV storage box 30, there is a height restriction, so it is impossible to manufacture it at a certain height or higher, but in the case of the present invention, the accommodation space 20 in which the AGV storage box 30 can be located is Since it is formed, when the AGV storage box 30 is located under the shelf 10, a loading space capable of storing articles in the vertical direction can be significantly increased.

Referring to FIG. 8 , in the step of the AGV transporting the AGV storage box and placing it in the accommodation space (S20), the AGV 120 is configured to store the items 40 and 50 to be shipped in the AGV storage box 30. The storage box 30 may be transported and placed in the receiving space 20 of the shelf 10 .

Referring to FIG. 9 , in the step (S30) of the rover picker loading the items to be shipped from among the items loaded on the shelf into the AGV storage box, the AGV storage box 30 is located in the receiving space 20 of the shelf 10 Afterwards, the rover picker 110 may store the items scheduled to be shipped 40 and 50 among the items loaded on the shelf 10 into the storage box 30 for the AGV.

Through this, it is possible to increase the rate at which the goods scheduled to be shipped 40 and 50 are accommodated in the storage box 30 for the AGV.

Referring to FIG. 10, the AGV transports the AGV storage box from the accommodation space to the product delivery area when the AGV storage box is loaded with goods scheduled to be shipped (S40), and the AGV storage box 30 is moved by the rover picker 110 When the goods scheduled to be shipped (40, 50) are loaded, the AGV (120) transports the storage box (30) for the AGV from the accommodation space (20) to the goods delivery zone (D) so that the goods can be delivered.

In the case of the present invention, a plurality of items to be shipped 40 and 50 are stored in one AGV storage box 30 by the rover picker 110, and the AGV 120 has a plurality of items to be shipped 40 and 50 Since the stored AGV storage box 30 is transported to the product delivery area, a plurality of items can be shipped out with one AGV storage box 30, and fewer AGVs 120 and AGV storage boxes than before ( 30) is required.

Therefore, the operating efficiency of the AGV 120 and the storage box 30 for AGV is remarkably increased compared to the prior art, and logistics costs can be drastically reduced.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can realize that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features. you will be able to understand Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative in all respects and not limiting.

10: shelf 20: accommodation space
30: Storage box for AGV 40, 50: Items to be shipped
60: non-shipping items 70: first loading area
80: second loading zone 90: transfer unit
100: Mounting Unit 110: Rover Picker
120: AGV 130: Logistics management server
D: Goods release area

Claims (7)

A storage space is formed at the bottom and a shelf loaded with articles;
an AGV storage box located in the accommodation space and loaded with items scheduled to be shipped out of the items;
a rover picker that loads the items to be shipped from the shelf into the AGV storage box; and
An AGV that locates the AGV storage box in the accommodation space and transports the AGV storage box to a product delivery area when the goods to be shipped are loaded in the AGV storage box;
Further comprising a logistics management server for controlling the transport operation of the AGV,
The logistics management server causes the AGV to transport the AGV storage box to the receiving space of the shelf that has the most items to be shipped among the shelves,
The logistics management server receives a product release status from product release equipment installed in the product release area, and in consideration of the product release status, the AGV stores the scheduled product in the most quiet product release area among the product release areas A product release system using an unmanned transport means to transport an AGV storage box. According to claim 1,
The logistics management server controls the rover picker to load items to be shipped having the same product characteristics into the same AGV storage box,
The product feature is any one of the product type, delivery location, and release date.
delete According to claim 1,
Further comprising an article warehousing device for providing warehousing information of the article to the logistics management server,
The logistics management server allows the AGV to transport the AGV storage box to an accommodation space of a shelf loaded with the most items to be shipped among the shelves by using the warehousing information;
The warehousing information includes product characteristics and a shelf on which the product is loaded,
The product feature is any one of the product type, delivery location, and release date. According to claim 1,
The AGV storage box includes a plurality of storage layers,
The storage layer is partitioned into a first loading area in which the goods to be shipped are loaded and a second loading area in which non-shipping goods are loaded. According to claim 1,
The rover picker,
vertical frame;
a plurality of holding units arranged in a vertical direction on the vertical frame to place the scheduled product to be shipped; and
A transfer unit that moves up and down on the vertical frame to take out the item to be shipped from the shelf and transfer it onto the holding unit;
The delivery unit takes out the goods to be shipped from the holding unit and loads them into the AGV storage box. A receiving space is formed at the bottom and preparing a shelf for loading goods and a storage box for AGV;
AGV transporting the AGV storage box and positioning it in the accommodation space;
loading, by a rover picker, items scheduled to be shipped among the items loaded on the shelf into the AGV storage box; and
The AGV includes the step of transporting the AGV storage box from the accommodation space to the product release area when the goods scheduled to be shipped are loaded in the AGV storage box,
The logistics management server controlling the transport operation of the AGV causes the AGV to transport the AGV storage box to an accommodation space of a shelf loaded with the most items to be shipped among the shelves,
The logistics management server receives a product release status from product release equipment installed in the product release area, and in consideration of the product release status, the AGV stores the scheduled product in the most quiet product release area among the product release areas A method of releasing goods using an unmanned transport means to transport an AGV storage box.

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