WO2023078313A1

WO2023078313A1 - Goods sorting system, goods sorting device and goods sorting method

Info

Publication number: WO2023078313A1
Application number: PCT/CN2022/129360
Authority: WO
Inventors: 李洪波
Original assignee: 北京极智嘉科技股份有限公司
Priority date: 2021-11-08
Filing date: 2022-11-02
Publication date: 2023-05-11
Also published as: TW202319317A; CN116081165A

Abstract

A goods sorting system, a goods sorting device and a goods sorting method. The goods sorting system comprises at least one transport robot (110), a transit storage area (120), a control server (100), and a workstation device (130). The control server (100) is configured to control, according to batch order information, the at least one transport robot (110) to transport SKU (inventory quantity units) corresponding to the batch order information to a sorting point of the workstation, generate batch sorting information by using the SKU corresponding to the batch order information, and send the batch sorting information to the workstation device. The workstation device comprises: an information indication device (131) configured to display the batch sorting information, such that a sorting personnel sorts the corresponding type and number of SKU from the transport robot (110) to the transit storage area (120), or an automatic sorting device (132) configured to sort the corresponding type and number of SKU from the transport robot (110) to the transit storage area (120) according to the batch sorting information, such that the sorting efficiency can be improved.

Description

Goods picking system, picking device and goods picking method

This disclosure claims priority to a Chinese patent application with application number 202111312827.2 and titled "Cargo Picking System, Picking Equipment, and Cargo Picking Method" filed with the China Patent Office on November 8, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference In this disclosure.

technical field

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of warehousing and logistics, and in particular to a cargo picking system, picking equipment and a cargo picking method.

Background technique

The rapid development of e-commerce and online shopping has not only brought opportunities for the rapid rise of the warehousing and logistics industry, but also brought huge challenges. Before shipment, goods are usually stored on shelves in warehouses. When shipping, the robot transports the goods corresponding to the order to the workstation for goods picking, so how to improve the efficiency of goods picking has become an urgent problem to be solved.

Contents of the invention

In view of this, one or more embodiments of the present disclosure provide a cargo picking system, a picking device and a picking method, so as to improve the efficiency of cargo picking.

According to the first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a cargo picking system, including: at least one handling robot, a transit storage area, a control server, and a workstation device;

The control server is configured to control the at least one transport robot to transport the SKU corresponding to the batch order information to the picking point of the workstation according to the batch order information; use the SKU corresponding to the batch order information to generate a batch Picking information, the batch picking information includes the type and quantity of SKUs to be picked, and sending the batch picking information to the workstation device;

The workstation equipment includes information indicating equipment or automatic picking equipment;

The information indicating device is configured to display the batch picking information, so that picking personnel can pick the corresponding type and quantity of SKUs from the handling robot to the transfer storage area;

The automatic picking device is configured to pick SKUs of a corresponding type and quantity from the handling robot to the transit storage area according to the batch picking information.

In an optional implementation manner, the at least one handling robot is configured to leave the picking point after the SKUs corresponding to the bulk order information carried are picked to the transit storage area.

In an optional implementation manner, the transit storage area is set on a trolley, a container, a temporary storage point, or a storage area attached to the automatic picking equipment.

In an optional embodiment, the system further includes a scanning device and a picking storage area, and the picking storage area is provided with more than one storage position;

The scanning device is configured to scan SKU information and send it to the control server;

The control server is further configured to determine the order picking information corresponding to the scanned SKU information, the order picking information includes target storage location information and the number of scanned SKUs corresponding to each target storage location, and sorts the order sending information to the information indicating device;

The information indication device is further configured to display the order picking information, so that the picker can pick the scanned SKU from the transit storage area to a target storage location in the picking storage area.

In an optional implementation manner, the system further includes a picking storage area, and the picking storage area is provided with more than one storage position;

The automatic picking device is further configured to acquire order picking information corresponding to each SKU picked to the transit storage area from the control server, the order picking information including target storage location information and each target storage location corresponding to The quantity of each SKU; picking each SKU from the transit storage area to the target storage location in the picking storage area according to the order picking information.

In an optional implementation manner, each storage location in the picking storage area corresponds to a different order or order set;

The control server is further configured to determine the batch order information according to the number of storage positions in the picking storage area.

According to the second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a sorting device, including the above-mentioned automatic picking device.

According to a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for picking goods, which is applied to the control server in the above-mentioned goods picking system; the method for picking goods includes:

According to the batch order information, control at least one handling robot to transport the SKU corresponding to the batch order information to the picking point of the workstation;

Use the SKU corresponding to the batch order information to generate batch picking information, the batch picking information includes the type and quantity of SKUs to be picked, and send the batch picking information to the workstation equipment, so that the picking personnel or automatic picking equipment at the workstation According to the batch picking information, the SKUs of the corresponding type and quantity are picked from the handling robot to the transit storage area.

In an optional embodiment, the method also includes:

Receive the scanned SKU information sent by the scanning device;

Determine order picking information corresponding to the scanned SKU information, the order picking information includes target storage location information and the number of scanned SKUs corresponding to each target storage location, and send the order picking information to the workstation device.

In an optional embodiment, the method also includes:

In response to the request of the workstation device, the order picking information corresponding to each SKU picked to the transit storage area is sent to the workstation device, the order picking information includes target storage location information and the corresponding SKU of each target storage location The quantity of each SKU.

According to a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a computing device, including:

memory and processor;

The memory is used to store computer-executable instructions, and the processor is used to execute the computer-executable instructions. When the computer-executable instructions are executed by the processor, the steps of the above method for picking goods are realized.

According to a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores computer-executable instructions, and when the computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor, the steps of the above method for picking goods are implemented.

According to the cargo picking system, picking equipment, and cargo picking method provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, the control server controls at least one handling robot to transport the SKU corresponding to the batch order information to the picking point of the workstation, and then uses the SKU corresponding to the batch order information to generate batch picking Information, so that pickers or automatic picking equipment can batch pick the SKUs to be picked to the transit storage area according to the batch picking information. In this way, the handling robot can leave or be dispatched for other tasks, which reduces the waiting time, reduces the queuing situation of the handling robot, and improves the picking efficiency.

Description of drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings that need to be used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the accompanying drawings in the following description are For some embodiments of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art can also obtain other drawings according to these drawings without creative work.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the composition of a cargo picking system provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

2 is a schematic diagram of the composition of a cargo picking system suitable for manual picking provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic composition diagram of a cargo picking system suitable for automatic picking provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for picking goods provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 5 is a flow chart of another method for picking goods provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed ways

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which include various details of the embodiments of the present disclosure to facilitate understanding, and they should be regarded as exemplary only. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted in the following description for clarity and conciseness.

First of all, in order to facilitate the understanding of the technical solution, some concepts involved in the following embodiments are briefly introduced:

SKU (Stock Keeping Unit, inventory unit) is the basic unit of inventory in and out measurement. SKU can be understood as the specific model of a product to distinguish a single product. For example, taking clothing as an example, "style + size + color" can determine a SKU. SKU can be in units of pieces, boxes, pallets, etc.

"Picking fruit" refers to the process of taking out the SKU required by the order by picking personnel or equipment.

"Seeding" refers to the process of sorting the retrieved SKUs to corresponding orders. Usually, each order has its own storage slot, that is, the process of sorting the retrieved SKUs to the corresponding storage slots.

Both "fruit picking" and "sowing" belong to the process of picking goods.

Most of the traditional cargo picking systems adopt the method of "picking while sorting" (or "picking fruit while planting"): after the handling robot transports the SKU to the picking point of the workstation, the picker directly picks according to the order. That is, the picker picks the SKU type and quantity corresponding to the order from the handling robot according to the order, and puts the picked SKU into the storage position in the picking storage area; then picks the next order, and so on.

In this traditional picking system, when the picker picks the SKU from the handling robot and puts it into the storage space in the picking storage area, the handling robot needs to wait at the picking point until the picker's orders are all picked. This will inevitably cause the work efficiency of the handling robot to be low, and even cause the situation that the handling robot waits in line. In addition, for pickers, it is necessary to complete the picking of each SKU from the handling robot to the picking storage area one by one according to the order, which is also inefficient.

The basic idea of the present disclosure is to adopt the method of batch picking, and the SKUs involved in the batch order among the goods transported by the handling robot to the workstation are all picked in batches to the transit storage area. That is to say, all the SKUs that need to be sorted out by the handling robot are picked. Through the separation of fruit picking and sowing, the handling robot can leave after picking the fruit to be dispatched for other work, without waiting for the planting process, which reduces the waiting time and the queuing of the handling robot, thereby improving the picking efficiency.

Furthermore, based on this method of picking all fruits, the present disclosure adopts a batch seeding method based on SKUs, which reduces the number of round trips in the picking storage area, and further improves picking efficiency.

The technical solution provided by the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments. FIG. 1 is a schematic composition diagram of a cargo picking system provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, which mainly includes: a control server 100 , at least one handling robot 110 , a transit storage area 120 , a workstation device 130 and a picking storage area 140 .

The control server 100 is responsible for the control and scheduling of the entire cargo picking system, and the control server 100 may be a single server or a server cluster composed of multiple servers. In addition, the control server can be a cloud server, also known as cloud computing server or cloud host, which is a host product in the cloud computing service system to solve the problem of traditional physical host and virtual private server (VPs, VI irtual Private Server) services. There are defects in management difficulty and weak business expansion.

The control server 100 can communicate with the transfer robot 110, the workstation device 130, etc. through the network, so as to realize information acquisition and control scheduling of the transfer robot 110, the workstation device 130, etc. Network 103 may include various connection types, such as wires, wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables, among others.

The above-mentioned transit storage area 120, work station equipment 130 and picking storage area 140 are all located at the work station, and the work station is the place where goods are picked.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, firstly, the control server 100 controls at least one transport robot 110 to transport the SKU corresponding to the bulk order information to the picking point of the workstation according to the bulk order information.

The above batch order information may be composed of more than one order information to be picked. As a preferred implementation manner, the picking storage area 104 includes more than one storage location, and the storage location corresponds to an order or a set of orders respectively. One storage slot corresponds to an order or a set of orders, or in the case of a large quantity of goods contained in an order, one order can also correspond to multiple storage slots. In this case, the control server 100 may determine the batch order information according to the number of storage slots in the picking storage area 104 . The above-mentioned order set may be a combination of multiple orders or multiple sub-orders.

For example, assuming that the picking storage area 104 includes 10 storage slots, and each storage slot corresponds to an order, then the control server 100 can combine 10 order information to be picked into a batch order information. Then at least one handling robot 110 is controlled to take out the SKUs involved in the batch order information from the warehouse.

In FIG. 1 , one transfer robot 110 is taken as an example. When the bulk order information involves a large number of SKUs, large SKU specifications, or scattered storage locations of SKUs, multiple transfer robots 110 can also be used to carry out the transfer.

The transport robot 110 transports the SKU involved in the batch order information to the picking point of the workstation. The so-called picking point is a fixed position where the transport robot 110 stops at the workstation and waits for fruit picking. The handling robot can determine the picking point through various methods such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology and GPS (Global Positioning System) positioning technology. When transporting the SKUs, the transport robot 110 can transport the SKUs involved in the batch order information to the picking point of the workstation through the container, and the above-mentioned container can be a shelf, a material box, a pallet, and the like.

The control server 100 uses the SKU corresponding to the batch order information to generate batch picking information, and sends the batch picking information to the workstation device 130 . The batch picking information includes the type and quantity of SKUs to be picked. That is to say, the control server 100 integrates the information of each order in the batch order information, no longer takes the order as the information unit, but uses the SKU as the information unit. The type and quantity of SKUs to be picked are included in the batch picking information, thus providing the basis for subsequent "batch fruit picking".

The above-mentioned workstation device 130 can be implemented in two ways:

In the first manner, the workstation device 130 is an information indication device. This situation applies to the situation where picking is done by humans, ie pickers. As shown in FIG. 2 , the information indicating device 131 displays the batch picking information sent by the control server 100 .

In this way, the picker can pick the corresponding type and quantity of SKU batches from the handling robot 110 to the transit storage area 120 according to the batch picking information displayed by the information indicating device 131 .

The aforementioned information indication device 131 may be a display, a touch screen, a projector, an intelligent terminal, and the like. The smart terminal may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a portable device, or a customized terminal device.

In this embodiment, the picker no longer relies on order information, but batch picking information. Batch picking information indicates the type and quantity of SKUs that need to be picked. Pickers only need to "pick fruit" from the handling robot 110 according to the type and quantity of the SKU, and first pick all the SKUs involved in the batch order information.

The above-mentioned transit storage area 120 is a storage area different from the picking storage area 140 set in the workstation, and is used for temporarily storing SKUs before "seeding" the SKUs to the picking storage area 140 .

The transit storage area 120 may include at least one storage location, and the storage location may be implemented by using a container. As a preferred implementation manner, different SKUs can be stored in different storage positions according to SKU types to facilitate the distinction of SKUs.

In the case of manual picking, the transfer storage area 120 can be set on a trolley for the convenience of the pickers. That is to say, the cart is used as the transit storage area 120 . In this way, in the subsequent sowing process, the picking personnel can push the carts to pick each SKU to the storage position in the picking storage area 140, saving manpower and improving efficiency.

In addition to the above trolley as the transit storage area 120 , containers, temporary storage points, etc. can also be used as the transit storage area 120 . Wherein the container may be such as a material box, a pallet, and the like. Temporary storage points can be areas such as tables and floors that are free and can be temporarily used to store SKUs.

After the pickers complete the picking of all SKUs according to the batch order information, that is, picking from the transfer robot 110 to the transit storage area 120, the transfer robot 110 leaves the picking point. That is to say, after "unloading" all SKUs that need to be picked from the handling robot 110 in batches, the handling robot 110 can leave. In this way, even if the picker has not picked the SKU to the picking storage area 140, the transfer robot 110 can leave to accept a new dispatch, thereby improving efficiency and reducing the queuing phenomenon caused by the transfer robot 110 staying at the picking point for a long time.

During the above process, the transport robot 110 can leave under the control of the control server 100 . For example, after the picker completes the picking of all SKUs, the workstation equipment sends a message to the control server 100 indicating that the batch "fruit picking" is completed, and the control server 100 controls the handling robot 110 to leave. Other methods may also be used, and are not exhaustive here.

When the handling robot 110 leaves the picking point, it can carry the original container or different containers. It can remove the original container and leave, or add a new container. This disclosure is not limited in this regard.

After the picker completes the batch “fruit picking”, the type and quantity of SKUs that have been picked (that is, picked from the handling robot to the transit storage area) can be returned to the control server 110 through the workstation device 130 . In this way, the control server 110 can determine whether all the SKUs involved in the batch order information have been "fruit-picked".

As mentioned above, in some cases, multiple handling robots are required to carry the SKU corresponding to the batch order information. Multiple handling robots can stay at multiple picking points of the workstation at the same time, or stay at multiple picking points of the workstation successively. In this way, picking personnel are required to pick SKUs from multiple handling robots to the transit storage area 120 until all SKUs corresponding to the batch order information are "picked".

For example, suppose a batch order information involves three SKU types a, b, and c, and the quantities of the three SKU types are n1, n2, and n3 respectively, then the generated batch picking information includes the above-mentioned SKU type and quantity information . The SKU corresponding to the batch order information is completed by two handling robots, that is, handling robot A and handling robot B. After the handling robot A arrives at the picking point first, the picker picks the SKU from the handling robot A to the transit storage area according to the batch picking information, and returns the SKU type and quantity information of the picked fruit to the control server through the workstation equipment, and the control server can update the batch picking in time The type and quantity of SKUs to be picked in the information. Then the handling robot A leaves, the handling robot B arrives at the picking point, and the picker continues to pick the SKU from the handling robot B to the transit storage area according to the batch picking information, and returns the type and quantity information of the picked SKU to the control server through the workstation equipment, and controls The server updates the type and quantity of SKUs that need to be picked in the batch picking information in a timely manner, and finds that all SKUs in the batch picking information have been picked.

The second way: the workstation device 130 is an automatic picking device. This situation applies to the case of picking by automatic picking equipment. As shown in FIG. 3 , the automatic picking device 132 picks batches of SKUs of corresponding types and quantities from the handling robot 110 to the transit storage area 120 according to the batch picking information sent by the control server 100 .

The automatic picking device 132 mentioned above may be a manipulator, a picking robot, and the like.

In this embodiment, the automatic picking device 132 also does not rely on order information, but batch picking information. Batch picking information indicates the type and quantity of SKUs that need to be picked. The automatic picking device 132 only needs to "pick fruit" from the handling robot 110 according to the type and quantity of the SKU, and first pick all the fruits of all SKUs involved in the batch order information.

In the case of picking by the automatic picking device 132 , for convenience, the automatic picking device 132 performs picking, and the transfer storage area 120 can be set in a storage area attached to the automatic picking device 132 . For example, manipulators or picking robots are accompanied by containers as transit storage areas 120 . In this way, in the subsequent sowing process, the automatic picking device 132 can pick each SKU from its attached container to the storage position in the picking storage area 140 during the moving process, so as to improve the picking efficiency.

After the automatic picking equipment 132 completes the picking of all SKUs according to the batch order information, that is, the picking from the transport robot 110 to the transit storage area 120, the transport robot 110 leaves the picking point. In this way, even if the automatic picking equipment 132 has not picked the SKU to the picking storage area 140, the transport robot 110 can leave to accept a new schedule, thereby improving efficiency and reducing the queuing phenomenon caused by the transport robot 110 staying at the picking point for a long time.

During the above process, the transport robot 110 can leave under the control of the control server 100 . For example, after the automatic picking device 132 completes the "fruit picking" of all SKUs, it sends a message to the control server 100 indicating that the batch "fruit picking" is completed, and the control server 100 controls the transport robot 110 to leave.

After the automatic picking device 132 completes the batch "fruit picking", it can return the SKU type and quantity of the picked fruit (that is, picked from the handling robot to the transit storage area) to the control server 110 . In this way, the control server 110 can determine whether all the SKUs involved in the batch order information have been "fruit-picked".

As mentioned above, in some cases, multiple handling robots are required to carry the SKU corresponding to the batch order information. Multiple handling robots can stay at multiple picking points of the workstation at the same time, or stay at multiple picking points of the workstation successively. In this way, the automatic picking equipment 132 is required to pick SKUs from multiple transfer robots to the transit storage area 120 until all SKUs corresponding to the batch order information are "picked".

The following describes the picking process of goods from the transit storage area 120 to the picking storage area 140 , that is, the "seeding" process, in conjunction with an embodiment. The "seeding" process can also be done in two ways:

The first way: pick each SKU in the transit storage area 120 to the storage position in the picking storage area 140 manually, that is, the picker.

In this manner, the cargo picking system may further include a scanning device 150, as shown in FIG. 2 . The scanning device 150 is used to scan the SKU information and send it to the control server 110 . Specifically, the picker can use the scanning device 150 to scan the SKUs in the transit storage area 120 , so as to obtain the information of the scanned SKUs, and send the information to the control server 110 . The control server 110 determines the order picking information corresponding to the scanned SKU information. The order picking information includes target storage location information and the number of scanned SKUs corresponding to the target storage location, and then the order picking information is sent to the information indicating device 131 . The order picking information is displayed to the picking personnel by the information indicating device 131 .

Among them, since there is a corresponding relationship between the order and the storage location in the picking storage area 140, when the picker scans the SKU, the purpose is to know which storage location or locations the SKU needs to be placed in the picking storage area 140, these storage locations That is, the target storage space, and the quantity of the SKU that needs to be placed in each target storage space. The control server 110 can determine the above-mentioned order picking information according to the batch order information and the corresponding relationship between the order and the storage location in the picking storage area 140 . The specific form of the above-mentioned order picking information may be the corresponding information of each order and storage location in the batch order information, the corresponding information includes the information of the target storage location corresponding to the scanned SKU and the number of scanned SKUs corresponding to the target storage location. It may also only contain the information of the target storage location and the number of scanned SKUs corresponding to the target storage location.

In this way, the picking personnel can directly know the target storage location corresponding to the scanned SKU and the number of scanned SKUs corresponding to each target storage location according to the order picking information, and accordingly pick the scanned SKU from the transit storage area 120 to the picking storage area 140 The corresponding target storage bit in the . In addition, as mentioned in the above embodiments, the transit storage area 120 can be a trolley, and pickers can push the trolley to perform "seeding" of SKUs in the picking storage area 140 .

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the picking storage area 140 may be an area provided with more than one storage bit. For example, it can be a multi-layer shelf structure, and different positions on the shelf are used as storage positions, or containers are provided as storage positions.

Furthermore, since the order picking information has already determined the target storage location and the number of scanned SKUs corresponding to the target storage location. Therefore, after the picker scans the SKU, the picking storage area 140 can use methods such as electronic tags, projections, laser guidance, lighting, etc. to guide the picker to quickly locate the target storage location. For example, an indicator light can be set at each storage position in the picking storage area 140. Once the target storage position corresponding to the scanned SKU is determined, the indicator light of the target storage position will light up, and the picker can quickly locate the target storage position. Location.

The pickers scan and pick various SKUs in the same way until the picking of all SKUs in the transit storage area 120 to the picking storage area 140 is completed.

If the number of picked SKUs does not match the order picking information, for example, the order picking information shows that the number of SKUs corresponding to a certain target storage location is 3 pieces, but there are actually only 2 pieces in the transit storage area 120, then the picker can pass through the workstation The device 130 feeds back to the control server 110, and the control server 110 makes corrections to take remedial measures, such as rescheduling a SKU, or noting that one item is out of stock on the corresponding order, and so on.

In addition, in order to improve the efficiency of "seeding", multiple SKUs can be scanned at the same time, and the information indication device 131 simultaneously displays the target storage positions corresponding to the multiple SKUs and the number of SKUs corresponding to the target storage positions. In this case, the picking storage area 140 can distinguish and display multiple SKUs in ways such as electronic labels, projections, laser guidance, lighting, etc., so as to realize "parallel sowing" of multiple SKUs.

In the above embodiment, "picking fruit" and "sowing" are separated, and in the process of "sowing", the picker does not need to put SKUs into the storage positions corresponding to the order one by one, but the control server uses the SKU as the basis for batching Determine all the target storage locations corresponding to the SKU, and pick the SKUs to the corresponding storage locations according to the target storage location information and the number of SKUs corresponding to the target storage locations, reducing the number of round trips for pickers in the picking storage area.

The second way: the automatic picking equipment 132 picks each SKU in the transit storage area 120 to the storage position in the picking storage area 140 .

This approach can be shown in FIG. 3 . The automatic picking device 132 acquires the order picking information corresponding to each SKU picked to the transit storage area 120 from the control server 110 , and the order picking information includes target storage location information and the quantity of each SKU corresponding to each target storage location. Then the automatic picking device 132 picks each SKU from the transit storage area to the target storage location in the picking storage area according to the order picking information.

It should be noted here that the automatic picking device 132 has an automatic identification function for SKUs. For example, the automatic picking device 132 can automatically identify each SKU by scanning RFID, image recognition, and the like. Alternatively, the automatic picking device 132 can also perform automatic identification of each SKU through an additionally connected scanning device.

Similarly, since there is a corresponding relationship between the order and the storage location in the picking storage area 140, the automatic picking device 132 needs to know which storage location or storage locations in the picking storage area 140 each SKU in the transit storage area 120 needs to be placed. That is, the target storage space, and the quantity of the SKU that needs to be placed in each target storage space. The control server 110 can determine the above-mentioned order picking information according to the batch order information and the corresponding relationship between the order and the storage location in the picking storage area 140 . The specific form of the above order picking information may be the corresponding information of each order and storage location in the batch order information, the corresponding information includes the information of the target storage location corresponding to the SKU in the transit storage area and the quantity of each SKU corresponding to the target storage location. It may also only contain the information of the target storage location and the quantity of each SKU corresponding to the target storage location.

In this way, the picking personnel can directly know the target storage location corresponding to each SKU and the quantity of each SKU corresponding to each target storage location according to the order picking information, and accordingly pick each SKU from the transfer storage area 120 to the corresponding storage area 140 in the picking storage area. The target memory location is sufficient. In addition, as mentioned in the above embodiments, the transit storage area 120 can be a container attached to the automatic picking device 132 , so the automatic picking device 132 can conveniently "seek" each SKU in the picking storage area 140 . For example, the picking robot moves in the picking storage area 140 and picks each SKU from its attached container to a storage position in the picking storage area 140 .

If there is a discrepancy between the number of picked SKUs and the order picking information, for example, the number of SKUs corresponding to a certain target storage position in the order picking information is 3 pieces, but there are actually only 2 pieces in the transit storage area 120, then the automatic picking equipment 132 can send The control server 110 feeds back, and the control server 110 makes corrections to take remedial measures, such as rescheduling one SKU, or noting that one item is out of stock on the corresponding order, and so on.

In addition, in order to improve the efficiency of "sowing", multiple SKUs can be picked by the automatic picking device 132 at the same time, so that "parallel sowing" of multiple SKUs can be realized.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, under the condition that "fruit picking" and "sowing" are separated, the description is carried out by taking all "fruit picking" first and then all "sowing" as an example. However, in addition to this method, but not limited to the following two methods can also be used:

In the case of "picking fruit" and "seeding" separated, if multiple robots are responsible for transporting the SKU involved in a batch order information to the workstation, you can "pick fruit" when one robot arrives and the SKU involved in the batch picking information of the robot ’ is done, ‘seed’ before another robot arrives. After waiting for another robot to arrive, after the SKU of the batch picking information involved in the robot has been "picked fruit", continue to "sow". This method can not only release the robot as soon as possible, improve the scheduling efficiency of the robot, but also fully save the picking time and improve the picking efficiency.

In the case that "picking fruit" and "sowing" are separated, the two processes of "picking fruit" and "sowing" can partially overlap in time under the condition that "picking fruit" comes first. For example, there are two pickers, picker 1 is responsible for "picking fruit", and picker 2 is responsible for "sowing". When the picker 1 "picks" the SKU from the robot to the transfer storage area, the picker 2 "sows" the SKU in the transfer storage area to the target storage location in the picker storage area.

Based on the concept of the above-mentioned cargo sorting system, the embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a sorting device, which can be considered to include the automatic picking device in the above embodiment, and the automatic picking device can be a combination of mechanical arms with suction cups or grippers It can also be an automatic device with mobile grabbing function, etc. For the processing performed by the automatic picking device and the functions it possesses, reference may be made to relevant records in the foregoing embodiments, and details are not repeated here.

Based on the concept of the above-mentioned cargo sorting system, the embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a cargo picking method, and the execution subject of the cargo picking method may be a computing device, such as a control server. The computing device may include a memory and a processor, executable codes are stored in the memory, and when the processor executes the executable codes, the item picking method is realized.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart of a method for picking goods provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure with the control server as the execution subject. As shown in Fig. 4, the method may include the following steps:

Step 401: According to the bulk order information, control at least one transporting robot to transport the SKU corresponding to the bulk order information to the picking point of the workstation.

Step 402: Use the SKU corresponding to the batch order information to generate batch picking information. The batch picking information includes the type and quantity of SKUs to be picked, and send the batch picking information to the workstation equipment, so that the pickers or automatic picking equipment at the workstation can pick according to the batch. The information will pick the corresponding type and quantity of SKUs from the handling robot to the transit storage area.

Wherein, the above-mentioned workstation equipment may include information indicating equipment or automatic picking equipment. The information indication device displays the batch picking information sent by the control server, so that the picking personnel can pick the corresponding type and quantity of SKUs from the handling robot to the transit storage area.

The automatic picking equipment picks the corresponding type and quantity of SKUs from the handling robot to the transit storage area according to the batch picking information sent by the control server.

In a preferred embodiment, the method further includes: after the SKU corresponding to the batch order information carried by the transport robot is picked to the transit storage area, controlling the transport robot to leave the picking point.

In a preferred embodiment, the transit storage area is set on a trolley, a container, a temporary storage point or a storage area attached to the automatic picking equipment.

In an optional implementation manner, if picking is performed by a picker at a workstation, the method for picking goods may further include:

Step 403a: Receive the scanned SKU information sent by the scanning device.

Step 404a: Determine the order picking information corresponding to the scanned SKU information, the order picking information includes target storage location information and the number of scanned SKUs corresponding to each target storage location, and send the order picking information to the workstation device.

In another optional embodiment, if the automatic picking equipment of the workstation is used for picking, the method for picking goods is shown in Figure 5, after step 401 and step 402, it may further include:

Step 403b: In response to the request of the workstation device, send the order picking information corresponding to each SKU picked to the transit storage area to the workstation device, the order picking information includes the target storage location information and the information of each SKU corresponding to each target storage location quantity.

In an optional implementation manner, each storage location in the picking storage area corresponds to a different order or order set; the method further includes: determining the above-mentioned batch order information according to the number of storage locations in the picking storage area.

In an optional implementation manner, the method further includes: receiving the picking correction information sent by the workstation equipment, the picking correction information including the SKU information whose picked quantity is inconsistent with the order picking information and the actual number of SKUs picked; using the Select the correction message to take remedial action. For example, reschedule the SKU, or note the out-of-stock information on the corresponding order, etc.

The foregoing describes specific embodiments of this specification. Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. In some cases, the actions or steps recited in the claims can be performed in an order different from that in the embodiments and still achieve desirable results. In addition, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Multitasking and parallel processing are also possible or may be advantageous in certain embodiments.

Those skilled in the art should be aware that, in the above one or more examples, the functions described in the present disclosure may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium.

An embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a computing device, including:

memory and processor;

An embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores computer-executable instructions, and when the computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor, the steps of the above method for picking goods are implemented.

The specific implementations described above further describe the purpose, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present disclosure in detail. It should be understood that the above descriptions are only specific implementations of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure Protection scope: Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made on the basis of the technical solution of the present disclosure shall be included in the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

A cargo picking system, comprising: at least one handling device, a transit storage area, a control server, and a workstation device;

The control server is configured to control the at least one transport robot to transport the SKU corresponding to the batch order information to the picking point of the workstation according to the batch order information; use the SKU corresponding to the batch order information to generate a batch Picking information, the batch picking information includes the type and quantity of SKUs to be picked, and sending the batch picking information to the workstation device;

The workstation equipment includes information indicating equipment or automatic picking equipment;

The information indicating device is configured to display the batch picking information, so that picking personnel can pick the corresponding type and quantity of SKUs from the handling robot to the transfer storage area;

The automatic picking device is configured to pick SKUs of a corresponding type and quantity from the handling robot to the transit storage area according to the batch picking information.
The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transport robot is configured to leave the picking point after the SKU corresponding to the bulk order information transported is picked to the transit storage area.
The system according to claim 1, wherein the transit storage area is set in a trolley, a container, a temporary storage point or a storage area attached to the automatic picking equipment.
The system of claim 1, further comprising a scanning device and a picking storage area provided with more than one storage location;

The scanning device is configured to scan SKU information and send it to the control server;

The control server is further configured to determine the order picking information corresponding to the scanned SKU information, the order picking information includes target storage location information and the number of scanned SKUs corresponding to each target storage location, and sorts the order sending information to the information indicating device;

The information indication device is further configured to display the order picking information, so that the picker can pick the scanned SKU from the transit storage area to a target storage location in the picking storage area.
The system of claim 1, further comprising a picking storage area provided with more than one storage location;

The automatic picking device is further configured to acquire order picking information corresponding to each SKU picked to the transit storage area from the control server, the order picking information including target storage location information and each target storage location corresponding to The quantity of each SKU; picking each SKU from the transit storage area to the target storage location in the picking storage area according to the order picking information.
The system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein each storage location in the picking storage area corresponds to a different order or order set;

The control server is further configured to determine the batch order information according to the number of storage positions in the picking storage area.
A picking device, comprising the automatic picking device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
A method for picking goods, applied to the control server in the goods picking system according to any one of claims 1 to 6; the method for picking goods includes:

According to the batch order information, control at least one handling robot to transport the SKU corresponding to the batch order information to the picking point of the workstation;

Use the SKU corresponding to the batch order information to generate batch picking information, the batch picking information includes the type and quantity of SKUs to be picked, and send the batch picking information to the workstation equipment, so that the picking personnel or automatic picking equipment at the workstation According to the batch picking information, the SKUs of the corresponding type and quantity are picked from the handling robot to the transit storage area.
The method of claim 8, further comprising:

Receive the scanned SKU information sent by the scanning device;

Determine order picking information corresponding to the scanned SKU information, the order picking information includes target storage location information and the number of scanned SKUs corresponding to each target storage location, and send the order picking information to the workstation device.
The method of claim 8, further comprising:

In response to the request of the workstation device, the order picking information corresponding to each SKU picked to the transit storage area is sent to the workstation device, the order picking information includes target storage location information and the corresponding SKU of each target storage location The quantity of each SKU.
A computing device comprising:

memory and processor;

The memory is used to store computer-executable instructions, and the processor is used to execute the computer-executable instructions. When the computer-executable instructions are executed by the processor, the steps of the goods picking method described in any one of claims 8 to 10 are realized. .
A computer-readable storage medium, which stores computer-executable instructions, and when the computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor, the steps of the item picking method described in any one of claims 8 to 10 are realized.