WO2024051108A1

WO2024051108A1 - Storage container checking method and cargo access system

Info

Publication number: WO2024051108A1
Application number: PCT/CN2023/078230
Authority: WO
Inventors: 姚继红
Original assignee: 北京天下先智创机器人技术有限责任公司
Priority date: 2022-09-07
Filing date: 2023-02-24
Publication date: 2024-03-14
Also published as: CN115456526A; CN115456526B

Abstract

Disclosed in the present invention are a storage container checking method and a cargo access system. The method is executed in the cargo access system to check a plurality of storage containers, which are placed in a stacked manner, wherein each storage container is suitable for storing cargo therein and each storage container comprises an identity tag thereon, and the cargo access system comprises a computing device and an access apparatus. The method comprises: a computing device establishing a virtual container according to a plurality of storage containers, which are placed in a stacked manner; an access apparatus sequentially scanning identity tags on the storage containers, and generating a container stack sequence; and the computing device determining, according to the container stack sequence, the plurality of storage containers contained in the virtual container and a stacking order of the plurality of storage containers. According to the technical solution in the present invention, dynamic checking of the positions of a plurality of storage containers, which are placed in a stacked manner, is realized, and the process is simple and does not require manual operations, thereby improving the checking efficiency.

Description

Storage container inventory method and cargo access system

Technical field

The invention relates to the field of automation technology, and in particular to a storage container inventory method and a cargo access system.

Background technique

At present, logistics automation and industrial automation are increasingly used in the transfer and transportation links. This type of automation system operates with high precision and is unattended, greatly liberating the labor force in material storage, material transportation and handling.

In automated warehousing systems common in the existing technology, when an inventory requirement arises, the system establishes an inventory task, and then transports the containers and materials that need to be inventoried to the workstation, where manual inventory is performed to realize the inventory of the containers in the warehouse. Check and confirm the location and take inventory of the number of materials. This inventory plan has a complicated process and low inventory efficiency.

How to dynamically verify the location of storage containers in the warehouse and count the quantity of materials in the material inventory link of the automated warehousing system to improve the efficiency of inventory needs to be solved urgently.

For this reason, a storage container inventory method is needed to solve the problems existing in the above technical solution.

Contents of the invention

To this end, the present invention provides a storage container inventory method and a cargo access system to solve or at least alleviate the above existing problems.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a storage container inventory method is provided, which is executed in a cargo access system to inventory a plurality of stacked storage containers, each storage container is suitable for storing cargo, and each storage container has Each includes an identity tag, and the cargo access system includes a computing device and an access device; the method includes: the computing device creates a virtual container based on the plurality of stacked storage containers; and the access device scans each storage container in sequence. Store the identity tag on the container to generate a container stacking sequence; the computing device determines that the virtual container contains Multiple storage containers, and the stacking sequence of multiple storage containers.

Optionally, in the storage container inventory method according to the present invention, each storage container includes a container identification; the computing device establishes a virtual container according to the multiple storage containers placed in a stack, including: the computing device establishes a virtual container according to the Stack the container IDs of multiple storage containers to create a virtual container.

Optionally, in the storage container inventory method according to the present invention, scanning the identity tag on each storage container and generating a container stacking sequence includes: scanning the identity tag on each storage container to obtain the container of the storage container Identification and location information; generate a container stacking sequence based on the container identification and location information of each storage container.

Optionally, in the storage container inventory method according to the present invention, scanning the identity tag on each storage container and generating a container stacking sequence includes: scanning the identity tag on each storage container to obtain the container of the storage container identification, location information, and cargo information stored in the storage container; a container stacking sequence is generated based on the container identification, location information, and cargo information stored in the storage container of each storage container.

Optionally, in the storage container inventory method according to the present invention, the computing device determines multiple storage containers included in the virtual container and the stacking sequence of the multiple storage containers according to the container stacking sequence, including: the computing device determines according to the container stacking sequence The container stacking sequence determines the multiple storage containers included in the virtual container, the stacking sequence of the multiple storage containers, and the cargo information stored in each storage container.

Optionally, in the storage container inventory method according to the present invention, the access device scans the identity tag on each storage container in turn, including: the access device receives the pick and place operation task sent by the computing device, and performs the pick and place operation. During the task, the identity tags on each storage container are scanned in turn.

Optionally, in the storage container inventory method according to the present invention, the access device scans the identity tag on each storage container in sequence, including: the access device locates the storage container at the bottom so as to move downward to the storage container at the bottom. The location of the storage container; the access device scans the identity tag on each storage container in turn during its downward movement.

Optionally, in the storage container inventory method according to the present invention, after sequentially scanning the identity tags on each storage container, it also includes: the access device moves upward to the position of the topmost storage container, so as to check the topmost storage container. Storage containers on the top floor are used for pick-and-place operations.

Optionally, in the storage container inventory method according to the present invention, the access device includes a scanning identification device, which is adapted to scan the identity tag on each storage container sequentially through the scanning identification device.

Optionally, in the storage container inventory method according to the present invention, the identity tag includes one or more of barcode, QR code, and RFID.

Optionally, in the storage container inventory method according to the present invention, the cargo access system further includes: a storage area, the storage area is suitable for placing multiple groups of storage containers, each group of storage containers includes a plurality of stacked storage containers. Container; the computing device is adapted to establish a virtual container according to each group of storage containers.

Optionally, in the storage container inventory method according to the present invention, the plurality of storage containers are stacked vertically.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a cargo access system is provided, which is suitable for inventorying a plurality of stacked storage containers, each storage container is suitable for storing cargo, and each storage container includes an identity tag; The system includes: a computing device, adapted to establish a virtual container based on the plurality of stacked storage containers; an access device, adapted to scan the identity tag on each storage container in sequence to generate a container stacking sequence; The computing device is further adapted to: determine a plurality of storage containers included in the virtual container and a stacking order of the plurality of storage containers according to the container stacking sequence.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a computing device is provided, comprising: at least one processor; a memory storing program instructions, wherein the program instructions are configured to be executed by the at least one processor, the program instructions include using Instructions for executing the storage container inventory method described above.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a readable storage medium is provided that stores program instructions. When the program instructions are read and executed by a computing device, the computing device performs the storage container inventory method as described above.

According to the technical solution of the present invention, a storage container inventory method is provided, which can be applied in a cargo access system to dynamically inventory multiple stacked storage containers. Wherein, the cargo access system includes a computing device and an access device. Each storage container is suitable for storing cargo, and each storage container includes an identity tag. The computing device can create a virtual container based on multiple stacked storage containers. By issuing a pick-and-place operation task to the access device, the access device scans the identity tags on each storage container in turn to generate a container stacking sequence when executing the pick-and-place operation task. The computing device may determine multiple storage containers included in the virtual container and the stacking order of the multiple storage containers based on the container stacking sequence. In this way, the locations of multiple stacked storage containers can be dynamically inventoried without any awareness, and the process is simple and does not require manual operation, thus improving the inventory efficiency.

Furthermore, the identity tag may also include information about the goods stored in the storage container. In this way, the computing device can determine the multiple storage containers contained in the virtual container, the stacking order of the multiple storage containers, and the number of each storage container based on the container stacking sequence. Cargo information stored in it (cargo category, cargo quantity). In this way, during the process of executing the pick-and-place task, the present invention can not only realize the dynamic inventory of the storage location of each storage container, but also realize the storage location of each storage container and the storage location of each storage container. Dynamic inventory of goods.

The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of the present invention. In order to have a clearer understanding of the technical means of the present invention, it can be implemented according to the content of the description, and in order to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable. , the specific embodiments of the present invention are listed below.

Description of the drawings

To carry out the above and related purposes, certain illustrative aspects are described herein in conjunction with the following description and accompanying drawings, which are indicative of various ways in which the principles disclosed herein may be practiced, and all aspects and their equivalents are intended to within the scope of the claimed subject matter. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent by reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout this disclosure, the same reference numbers generally refer to the same parts or elements.

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a computing device 100 according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figures 2 and 3 respectively show a schematic diagram of a cargo access system 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a schematic structural diagram of an access device 220 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a schematic flow chart of a storage container inventory method 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of a virtual container 600 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure, and to fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

The storage container inventory method according to the present invention can be applied to a cargo access system to inventory the locations of multiple storage containers stacked in the cargo access system and the stored cargo. Among them, the cargo access system includes computing equipment and access devices. The computing device is connected to the access device so as to control the access device to dynamically inventory multiple stacked storage containers when performing a pick-and-place operation task.

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a computing device 100 according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , in a basic configuration, computing device 100 includes at least one processing unit 102 and system memory 104 . According to one aspect, processing unit 102 may be implemented as a processor, depending on the configuration and type of computing device. System memory 104 includes, but is not limited to, volatile storage (eg, random access memory), non-volatile storage (eg, read-only memory), flash memory, or any combination of such memories. According to one aspect, an operating system 105 is included in system memory 104 .

According to one aspect, operating system 105 is adapted, for example, to control the operation of computing device 100 . Furthermore, the examples are practiced in conjunction with graphics libraries, other operating systems, or any other applications, and are not limited to any particular application or system. This basic configuration is shown in Figure 1 by those components within the dashed lines. According to one aspect, computing device 100 has additional features or functionality. For example, according to one aspect, computing device 100 includes additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable) such as magnetic disks, optical disks, or magnetic tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in Figure 1 by removable storage device 109 and non-removable storage device 110.

As stated above, according to one aspect, program module 103 is stored in system memory 104 . According to one aspect, the program module 103 may include one or more application programs. The present invention does not limit the type of application programs. For example, the application programs may include: email and contact applications, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, databases applications, slideshow applications, drawing or computer-assisted applications, web browser applications, etc.

According to one aspect, examples may be practiced on a circuit that includes discrete electronic components, a packaged or integrated electronic chip that includes logic gates, a circuit that utilizes a microprocessor, or on a single chip that includes electronic components or a microprocessor. For example, examples may be practiced via a system-on-a-chip (SOC) in which each or many of the components shown in FIG. 1 may be integrated on a single integrated circuit. According to one aspect, Such SOC devices may include one or more processing units, graphics units, communications units, system virtualization units, and various application functions, all integrated (or "burned") onto the chip substrate as a single integrated circuit. When operating via a SOC, the functionality described herein may operate via dedicated logic integrated with other components of computing device 100 on a single integrated circuit (chip). Embodiments of the invention may also be practiced using other technologies capable of performing logical operations such as AND, OR, and NOT, including but not limited to mechanical, optical, fluidic, and quantum technologies. Additionally, embodiments of the invention may be practiced within a general purpose computer or in any other circuit or system.

According to one aspect, computing device 100 may also have one or more input devices 112, such as a keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device, touch input device, etc. Output devices 114 may also be included, such as a display, speakers, printer, etc. The aforementioned devices are examples and other devices may be used. Computing device 100 may include one or more communication connections 116 that allow communication with other computing devices 118 . Examples of suitable communication connections 116 include, but are not limited to: RF transmitter, receiver and/or transceiver circuitry; Universal Serial Bus (USB), parallel and/or serial ports.

The term computer-readable media as used herein includes computer storage media. Computer storage media may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-volatile storage media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information (e.g., computer readable instructions, data structures, or program modules 103). Moving media. System memory 104, removable storage 109, and non-removable storage 110 are all examples of computer storage media (ie, memory storage). Computer storage media may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electrically erasable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD) or other Optical storage, cassettes, tapes, disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other article that can be used to store information that can be accessed by computing device 100 . According to one aspect, any such computer storage media may be part of computing device 100 . Computer storage media does not include carrier waves or other propagated data signals.

According to one aspect, communication media is embodied by computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules 103, or other data in a modulated data signal (eg, a carrier wave or other transport mechanism) and includes any information delivery media. According to one aspect, the term "modulated data signal" describes a signal that has one or more sets of characteristics or changes in a manner that encodes information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or a direct wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared, and other wireless media.

Figures 2 and 3 respectively show schematic diagrams of a cargo access system 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the cargo access system 200 includes at least an access device 220 and a computing device (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 ). In addition, multiple storage containers 235 can be stacked in the cargo access system 200, and the cargo access system 200 can implement dynamic inventory of multiple stacked storage containers by executing the storage container inventory method 500 of the present invention. Specifically, the computing device is communicatively connected to the access device 220, and the computing device can control the access device 220 to perform a dynamic inventory of multiple stacked storage containers when performing a pick-and-place operation task.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the computing device can be implemented as the computing device 100 shown in Figure 1 and can be implemented as a host computer. As shown in Figure 1, the program module 103 in the computing device 100 includes a scheduling system 104, through which the access device 220 is assigned a pick-and-place operation task, so that the access device 220 performs the pick-and-place operation task on the stack. Multiple storage containers placed for dynamic inventory.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the cargo access system 200 further includes a storage area 230 , and the storage area 230 can place multiple groups of storage containers, wherein each group of storage containers includes a plurality of stacked storage containers. , each storage container 235 can store goods. Specifically, multiple storage containers 235 in each group of storage containers are stacked vertically.

The computing device 100 can issue a pick-and-place operation task to the access device 220 to instruct and control the access device 220 to execute the pick-and-place operation task.

In one embodiment, the access device 220 can move in a vertical direction, including vertical upward movement and vertical downward movement. When performing a pick-and-place task, the storage container 235 can be grasped by the clamping claw, and the storage container 235 can be driven to move upward in the vertical direction to lift the storage container 235 . Here, the present invention does not limit the specific structure and implementation of the access device 220. As long as it can move in the vertical direction and grab the storage container 235, and drive the storage container 235 to move, the structure of the access device 220 is all in this invention. within the scope of protection of the invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, each storage container 235 includes an identity tag, and the identity tag is used to identify the identity of the storage container 235 . Specifically, the identity tag records the identity information of the storage container 235 and the relevant information of the goods stored in the storage container 235, so that it can be According to the identity tag on the storage container 235, the identity information of the storage container 235 is identified and obtained, and the information of the goods stored in the storage container 235 is obtained.

In one embodiment, the identity tag on the storage container 235 can be implemented as a barcode, a QR code, or an RFID, for example. The present invention does not limit the specific implementation of the identity tag.

Figure 4 shows a schematic structural diagram of an access device 220 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4 , in one embodiment, the access device 220 includes a scanning identification device. Specifically, the scanning identification device may be disposed on the bottom bracket of the access device 220 . It can be understood that when the access device 220 moves upward or downward along the vertical direction, the scanning identification device can be driven to move synchronously.

The scanning identification device can be used to scan and identify the identity tag on the storage container 235 to obtain the information in the identity tag.

In one embodiment, each storage container 235 includes a container identification. The identity tag may include the container identification of the storage container 235 and the location information (coordinates) of the storage container 235 . In addition, in one embodiment, the identity tag may also include cargo information stored in the storage container 235. The cargo information includes, for example, cargo category and cargo quantity.

In this way, by scanning and identifying the identity tag on the storage container 235, the container identification and location information of the storage container 235 can be obtained from the identity tag. In addition, the cargo information (cargo category, cargo quantity) stored in the storage container 235 can also be obtained from the identity tag. In this way, it is convenient to take stock of the location of the storage container 235 and the goods stored in the storage container 235 .

Figure 5 shows a schematic flowchart of a storage container inventory method 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The storage container inventory method 500 of the present invention can be executed in the cargo access system 200 as described above, so as to realize the inventory of the storage container 235 location and cargo information when the access device 220 performs the pick-and-place operation.

As mentioned above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the cargo access system 200 includes a computing device and an access device 220, which are suitable for dynamic inventory of multiple stacked storage containers. Wherein, each storage container 235 can store goods, and each storage container 235 includes an identity tag.

As shown in Figure 5, the method 500 includes steps 510-530.

First, in step 510, the computing device 100 (the scheduling system 104 in the computing device 100) establishes a virtual container based on the multiple storage containers stacked.

In one embodiment, the cargo access system 200 further includes a storage area 230. The storage area 230 Multiple sets of storage containers may be placed, wherein each set of storage containers includes a plurality of storage containers placed in a stack. The computing device can create a virtual container according to each group of storage containers. In this way, each group of storage containers corresponds to a virtual container.

In one embodiment, each storage container 235 includes a container identification. The computing device may establish a virtual container based on the container identifiers of multiple storage containers stacked in each group of storage containers.

As shown in Figure 6, the virtual container 600 is based on eight storage containers 235 (container ID#1, container ID#2, container ID#3, container ID#4, container ID#5, container ID#6, A virtual container created by container ID#7, container ID#8). Specifically, the computing device collects container identifiers (container IDs) of a group of stacked storage containers 235, and then can establish a virtual container based on the container identifiers (container IDs) of multiple stacked storage containers.

Next, in step 520, the access device 220 sequentially scans the identity tags on each stacked storage container 235 to generate a container stacking sequence. Specifically, by scanning the identity tag on each storage container 235, the information in each identity tag is identified and obtained, and the information in the identity tags on multiple storage containers placed in a stack (including the container of each storage container 235 identification) to generate a container stacking sequence. Access device 220 then sends the container stacking sequence to the computing device.

According to one embodiment of the invention, each storage container 235 includes a container identification. The identity tag may include the container identification of the storage container 235 and the location information (coordinates) of the storage container 235 .

In this way, the access device 220 can obtain the container identification and location information of the corresponding storage container 235 from the identity tag by sequentially scanning the identity tag on each stacked storage container 235 . A container stacking sequence is generated based on the container identification and location information of each storage container 235 placed in a stack.

In one implementation, the identity tag on the storage container 235 may include one or more of barcode, QR code, and RFID.

Finally, in step 530, the computing device 100 (the scheduling system 104 in the computing device 100) determines (the identities of) the multiple storage containers 235 included in the virtual container and the stacking order of the multiple storage containers 235 according to the container stacking sequence. Specifically, the corresponding storage container 235 can be determined according to the identification of each container in the container stacking sequence, and according to the location information of each storage container 235 in the container stacking sequence, The stacking order of the plurality of storage containers 235 in a set of storage containers corresponding to the virtual container may be determined.

In this way, by determining the stacking sequence of multiple storage containers 235, the storage location of each storage container 235 is inventoried and verified.

In addition, in one embodiment, the identity tag not only includes the container identification and location information of the storage container 235, but may also include information about the goods stored in the storage container 235. The cargo information includes, for example, cargo category and cargo quantity.

In this way, in step 520, by sequentially scanning the identity tags on each stacked storage container 235, the access device 220 can not only obtain the container identification and location information of the corresponding storage container 235 from the identity tag, but also obtain the identity tag from the identity tag. The cargo information stored in the corresponding storage container 235 is obtained from the label. Then, a container stacking sequence can be generated based on the container identification and location information of each stacked storage container 235 and the cargo information stored in each storage container 235 .

In this embodiment, in step 530, the computing device may determine multiple storage containers 235 contained in the virtual container, the stacking sequence of the multiple storage containers 235, and the cargo information stored in each storage container 235 based on the container stacking sequence. (Cargo category, cargo quantity).

In this way, not only the storage location of each storage container 235 can be inventoried, but also the type and quantity of goods stored in each storage container 235 can be inventoried by determining the information of the goods stored in each storage container 235 .

In one embodiment of the present invention, before the access device 220 performs step 520, the computing device 100 (the scheduling system in) may send a pick-and-place operation task to the storage container 235 to the access device 220. After receiving the pick-and-place task sent by the computing device, the access device 220 can execute the pick-and-place task, so as to retrieve the target storage container among the plurality of stacked storage containers by executing the pick-and-place task. Put down homework. For example, the target storage container may include one or more storage containers 235 stacked on top (eg, container ID #1 and container ID #2).

It should be noted that when the access device 220 starts to perform the pick-and-place operation task, it will first scan the identity tags on each storage container 235 in sequence to generate a container stacking sequence.

Specifically, according to the pick-and-place task sent by the computing device, when the access device 220 starts to execute the pick-and-place task, the access device 220 will first locate the bottom storage container 235 . By positioning the storage container 235 at the lowest level, the access device 220 moves downward to the lowest level. The location of the storage container 235.

During the downward movement, the access device 220 may scan the identity tags on each storage container 235 in sequence.

In one implementation, the access device 220 includes a scanning identification device for scanning and identifying an identity tag. Specifically, a scanning identification device is provided on the bottom bracket of the access device 220, so that the access device 220 can be identified by scanning. The device scans the identity tag on each storage container 235 in turn.

Specifically, during the downward movement, the access device 220 drives the scanning and identification device to move synchronously, so that the identification tags on each storage container 235 can be sequentially scanned by the scanning and identification device, and the information in each identity tag can be identified and obtained.

In addition, after performing step 520, the access device 220 moves downward to the location of the bottom storage container 235 and scans the identity tag on each storage container 235 in sequence. Then, the access device 220 can move upward to the top level. The location of the storage container 235 (target storage container) in order to perform pick-and-place operations on one or more storage containers 235 located at the top level. Specifically, the access device 220 can grab one or more storage containers 235 (target storage containers) from the topmost layer of a plurality of stacked storage containers, and drive the target storage containers to move vertically upward to realize the target storage container. of extraction.

In this way, the present invention can realize the dynamic inventory of the storage location of each storage container and the goods stored in each storage container during the execution of the pick-and-place task.

The storage container inventory method 500 according to the present invention can be applied in a cargo access system to dynamically inventory multiple stacked storage containers. Wherein, the cargo access system includes a computing device and an access device. Each storage container is suitable for storing cargo, and each storage container includes an identity tag. The computing device can create a virtual container based on multiple stacked storage containers. By issuing a pick-and-place operation task to the access device, the access device scans the identity tags on each storage container in turn to generate a container stacking sequence when executing the pick-and-place operation task. The computing device may determine multiple storage containers included in the virtual container and the stacking order of the multiple storage containers based on the container stacking sequence. In this way, the locations of multiple stacked storage containers can be dynamically inventoried without any awareness, and the process is simple and does not require manual operation, thus improving the inventory efficiency.

Furthermore, the identity tag may also include information about the goods stored in the storage container, so that, The computing device can determine multiple storage containers included in the virtual container, the stacking sequence of the multiple storage containers, and the cargo information (cargo category, cargo quantity) stored in each storage container based on the container stacking sequence. In this way, during the process of executing the pick-and-place task, the present invention can not only realize the dynamic inventory of the storage location of each storage container, but also realize the storage location of each storage container and the storage location of each storage container. Dynamic inventory of goods.

The various techniques described here may be implemented in conjunction with hardware or software, or a combination thereof. Therefore, the method and device of the present invention, or certain aspects or parts of the method and device of the present invention, may be embedded in a tangible medium, such as a removable hard disk, U disk, floppy disk, CD-ROM or any other machine-readable storage medium. In the form of program code (ie, instructions), wherein when the program is loaded into a machine, such as a computer, and executed by the machine, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention.

In the case where the program code is executed on a programmable computer, the mobile terminal generally includes a processor, a storage medium readable by the processor (including volatile and non-volatile memory and/or storage elements), at least one input device, and at least one output device. Wherein, the memory is configured to store the program code; the processor is configured to execute the storage container inventory method of the present invention according to the instructions in the program code stored in the memory.

By way of example, and not limitation, readable media includes readable storage media and communication media. Readable storage media store information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope of readable media.

In the description provided herein, the algorithms and displays are not inherently associated with any particular computer, virtual system, or other device. Various general-purpose systems may also be used with examples of the invention. From the above description, the structure required to construct such a system is obvious. Furthermore, this invention is not specific to any specific programming language. It should be understood that the invention described herein may be implemented using a variety of programming languages, and that the above descriptions of specific languages are for the purpose of disclosing the best mode for carrying out the invention.

In the instructions provided here, a number of specific details are described. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known methods, structures, and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this description.

Similarly, it is to be understood that in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, in order to streamline the disclosure and aid in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together into a single embodiment. figure, or its description.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the modules or units or components of the device in the examples disclosed herein may be arranged in the device as described in this embodiment, or may alternatively be located in a different device than in this example. in one or more devices. The modules in the preceding examples can be combined into one module or further divided into sub-modules.

Those skilled in the art will understand that modules in the devices in the embodiment can be adaptively changed and arranged in one or more devices different from that in the embodiment. The modules or units or components in the embodiments may be combined into one module or unit or component, and furthermore they may be divided into a plurality of sub-modules or sub-units or sub-components.

Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that although some embodiments described herein include certain features included in other embodiments but not others, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention. within and form different embodiments.

Furthermore, some of the described embodiments are described herein as methods or combinations of method elements that may be implemented by a processor of a computer system or by other means of performing the recited functions. Thus, a processor having the necessary instructions for implementing the method or method elements forms a means for implementing the method or method elements. Furthermore, elements of device embodiments described herein are examples of means for performing the functions performed by the elements for the purpose of practicing the invention.

As used herein, unless otherwise specified, use of the ordinal words "first," "second," "third," etc., to describe common objects merely means reference to different instances of similar objects and is not intended to imply that The objects being described must have a given order in time, space, ordination, or in any other way.

Although the invention has been described in terms of a limited number of embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the above description, that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the invention thus described. Furthermore, it should be noted that the language used in this specification has been selected primarily for readability and teaching purposes, and has not been selected to explain or define the subject matter of the present invention.

Claims

A storage container inventory method is executed in a cargo access system to inventory a plurality of stacked storage containers, each storage container is suitable for storing cargo, and each storage container includes an identity tag, said The cargo access system includes computing equipment and access devices; the method includes:

The computing device establishes a virtual container based on the plurality of stacked storage containers;

The access device scans the identity tags on each storage container in turn to generate a container stacking sequence;

The computing device determines a plurality of storage containers included in the virtual container and a stacking order of the plurality of storage containers based on the container stacking sequence.
The method of claim 1, wherein each storage container includes a container identifier; the computing device establishes a virtual container based on the plurality of stacked storage containers, including:

The computing device establishes a virtual container based on the container identifiers of the plurality of stacked storage containers.
The method of claim 1, wherein scanning the identity tag on each storage container to generate a container stacking sequence includes:

Obtain the container identification and location information of the storage container by scanning the identity tag on each storage container;

Based on the container identification and location information of each storage container, a container stacking sequence is generated.
The method of claim 1, wherein scanning the identity tag on each storage container to generate a container stacking sequence includes:

By scanning the identity tag on each storage container, obtain the container identification, location information, and cargo information stored in the storage container;

A container stacking sequence is generated based on the container identification, location information, and cargo information stored in the storage container of each storage container.
The method of claim 4, wherein the computing device determines multiple storage containers included in the virtual container and the stacking order of the multiple storage containers based on the container stacking sequence, including:

The computing device determines a plurality of storage containers included in the virtual container, a stacking sequence of the plurality of storage containers, and cargo information stored in each storage container based on the container stacking sequence.
The method according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the access device scans the identity tag on each storage container in sequence, including:

The access device receives the pick-and-place operation task sent by the computing device, and scans the identity tag on each storage container in turn when executing the pick-and-place operation task.
The method according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the access device scans the identity tag on each storage container in sequence, including:

The access device is positioned to the bottom storage container so as to move downward to the position of the bottom storage container;

During its downward movement, the access device scans the identity tags on each storage container in turn.
The method of claim 7, wherein, after sequentially scanning the identity tags on each storage container, further comprising:

The access device moves upward to the position of the topmost storage container to perform access operations on the topmost storage container.
The method according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein,

The access device includes a scanning identification device adapted to sequentially scan the identity tag on each storage container by the scanning identification device.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the identity tag includes one or more of barcode, QR code, and RFID.
The method according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the cargo access system further includes:

a storage area, the storage area being suitable for placing a plurality of groups of storage containers, each group of storage containers including a plurality of stacked storage containers;

The computing device is adapted to establish a virtual container respectively according to each group of storage containers.
The method of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the plurality of storage containers are vertically stacked.
A cargo access system, suitable for inventorying multiple stacked storage containers, each storage container is suitable for storing cargo, and each storage container includes an identity tag; the system includes:

A computing device, adapted to establish a virtual container based on the plurality of stacked storage containers;

The access device is adapted to scan the identity tag on each storage container in sequence to generate a container stacking sequence;

The computing device is further adapted to: determine a plurality of storage containers included in the virtual container and a stacking sequence of the plurality of storage containers according to the container stacking sequence.