JP2020189703A - Article sorting device and article sorting method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an article sorting device for efficiently temporarily storing an article set for which a picking process has been completed (or in progress) so as to deal with the increasing number of items and the increasing number of pieces of picking means.SOLUTION: An article sorting apparatus 1 includes: an article shelf 2 having a plurality of compartments 3, for accommodating a plurality of types of articles 200; picking means 7 for picking the article from any of the plurality of sections of the article shelf; a mounting table 30 for temporarily placing picked articles picked by the picking means; and a delivery case line 160 for transporting a delivery case 170 to be accommodated to a position of the mounting table. The delivery case is associated with a delivery destination. The delivery case is packed with a combined article set of the type and number of the articles that need to be delivered to the delivery destination associated. The mounting table includes a mounting area 32 for mounting the picked articles included in the article set and a separation member 31 for separating a free area 33.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to an article sorting device used in an article sorting device for picking articles stored in an article shelf for each type and sorting them as a necessary article set.

In recent years, Internet shopping has flourished. Customers are now ordering products on the Internet and making electronic payments, instead of the traditional style of visiting store-type stores (supermarkets and department stores) directly to purchase products and take them home. Even in such Internet shopping, it is necessary for the ordered / settled products to be delivered to the purchaser.

In such Internet shopping, various types of goods are bought and sold. For this reason, in the delivery facility of the delivery company, it is necessary to prepare an extremely large number of types of goods and to form an article set in which a plurality of types of articles are combined according to the order of the delivery destination. .. For example, it may be necessary to deliver three articles A, two articles B, and four articles C to the delivery destination X as an article set.

In this case, it is necessary to prepare many kinds of articles in advance, including articles A to C, in the delivery facility. For example, these items are available (stocked) on the shelves. The worker picks (picks) the required type and number of articles from these shelf and packs them in a delivery case. In this delivery case, three articles A, two articles B, and four articles C are packed as an article set. This delivery case is delivered to the delivery destination X as described above.

That is, in the delivery facility, it is necessary to sort a plurality of types and numbers of articles into an article set which is a combination required for the delivery destination.

The articles sorted as an article set are packed in a delivery case as described above. The delivery case is shipped to the delivery destination or the shipping destination. At this time, the delivery case is linked according to the delivery destination or the shipping destination. Therefore, the set of goods packed in a certain delivery case is delivered to the associated delivery destination. This delivery case is transported in a delivery case line installed behind a picking operation or the like. Therefore, the goods picked from the goods shelves are packed in the delivery case carried by the delivery case line and flow for delivery.

In this way, in delivery facilities that support Internet shopping and mail-order sales, there are goods shelves that prepare a large number of types and numbers of goods, and it is possible to pick the necessary goods and make a set of goods for delivery. It has been.

Alternatively, in a certain manufacturer, third-party logistics company, logistics business contractor, logistics specialist, etc. (hereinafter, abbreviated as "manufacturer, etc." or "logistics company, etc." as necessary), there are many types. Manufactures goods. The manufacturer delivers a combination of a plurality of types of articles of a plurality of types to an intermediary, a retail store, or the like as an article set. That is, it is necessary to sort a plurality of types of articles into a set of articles in a combination required for the delivery destination.

As described above, a logistics company or the like also needs to sort a plurality of types and numbers of goods into a set of goods which is a combination required for the delivery destination. Not limited to the above-mentioned delivery facilities and manufacturers, such sorting processing is required in various places and situations.

In this case as well, the process of picking the goods corresponding to the combination of the goods set from the goods shelf, the process of packing the picked goods in the delivery case, and the delivery case packed with the goods set are moved as the delivery state. The process is carried out.

Under these circumstances, a technique of an automated warehouse for sorting articles using a stacker crane has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-2009-46242

Patent Document 1 includes a flow shelf provided at a picking station in the middle of a main conveyor, a picking number indicator provided at each frontage of the flow shelf, and an automatic warehouse for storing and unloading a full container or a sorted container after picking. , A storage conveyor that temporarily stores columns with stacked containers, a return conveyor that returns the columns cut out from the storage conveyor to the main conveyor, a stage disassembling device that disassembles the columns, and a column bypass that returns the columns to the start of the storage conveyor. A management computer that controls each device, including a conveyor, a device container bypass conveyor that sends disassembled device containers to a stacking device, a shipping stacking device that stacks full containers or sorted completed containers that have been delivered from an automatic warehouse by store, and a stacking device for shipping. Disclose the sorting equipment equipped with.

However, in recent years, in Internet shopping and mail-order sales, an extremely large number of types of goods have come to be bought and sold in accordance with the spread of the Internet society. For this reason, there are a large number of types of goods required for sorting goods in delivery facilities.

Similarly, the number of types of goods manufactured by manufacturers is increasing significantly. For example, the types of detergents manufactured by detergent manufacturers are increasing. For this reason, the number of types of goods shipped from manufacturers is increasing.

Here, in the sorting process of articles, an article shelf divided into a plurality of sections and picking of articles from the article shelf may be used. Different types of goods are stored in each of the plurality of compartments. For example, article A is stored in compartment A, article B is stored in compartment B, and article C is stored in compartment C. Here, the article A, the article B, and the article C represent the type of the article.

The worker picks in front of the section of the goods shelf. For example, suppose that it is necessary to sort three articles A, two articles B, and four articles C as an article set with respect to the delivery destination X. The operator picks three articles A from the compartment A, picks two articles B from the compartment B, and picks four articles C from the compartment C.

Further, the worker packs these articles as an article set in a delivery case corresponding to the delivery destination X. In this way, the sorting process of the articles is completed.

However, as mentioned above, the number of types of articles is increasing significantly. In addition, among many types of articles, there is a state in which articles that are frequently shipped and articles that are shipped infrequently are mixed.

With the increasing variety of goods, there is the problem that the number of compartments on the goods shelves must be increased. However, in the current situation where the picking work is performed by the operator, it is not preferable that the number of sections of the article shelves increases indefinitely and the article shelves become huge. This is because it becomes difficult for the worker to take out the article from the compartment. Since picking an article housed in a section away from the worker, the amount of movement of the worker becomes large, which causes a problem that the efficiency of the picking work is significantly reduced.

Even when a picking device, which is a machine, is used instead of an operator, the work efficiency of the picking device is reduced when the article shelves become huge or the number of sections increases too much. Another problem is that the picking device becomes huge and complicated.

In addition, as the number of types of goods increases and the variety of tastes of delivery destinations increases, the types of goods to be picked by the picking operation also vary. For example, the type and number of items to be picked change between one picking and the next picking. The types and numbers of items picked by a plurality of picking workers and picking devices in parallel are also different.

In such a state, there is a problem that it is difficult for the delivery case for packing the goods set picked by the picking operator or the picking device to be set in the picking operator or the picking device in real time when the picking work is completed. .. This is because the number of picking workers and picking devices, and the number of delivery destinations that cause this, make it impossible to reach delivery cases that arrive through the delivery case line in real time.

Further, as described above, there is a state in which picking work is urgent due to an increase in the types of articles and an increase in the variety of article sets for delivery. Therefore, there is a problem that the delivery case cannot reach the location of the picking operator or the picking device even after the picking is completed.

In addition, as the types of articles increase, the number of article shelves and the corresponding number of picking workers increase. Due to the increase, the goods shelves and the corresponding picking workers will be lined up in parallel to form a sorting warehouse as a whole. The delivery case is transported by a delivery case line provided at a position facing the article shelf with a plurality of picking workers arranged in parallel sandwiched between them. Therefore, when the number of picking workers increases, there is a problem that it is difficult for the delivery cases associated with the delivery destinations required for each picking worker to arrive at the completion of picking.

The conventional technique such as Patent Document 1 has such a problem. Due to such a problem, there is a problem that the work efficiency in sorting goods is lowered.

In view of the above problems, the present invention can efficiently temporarily store an article set for which the picking process has been completed (or in the middle) in response to an increasing number of picking means in response to an increase in the number of types of articles. An object of the present invention is to provide an article sorting device.

In view of the above problems, the article sorting apparatus of the present invention has an article shelf having a plurality of sections and accommodating a plurality of types of articles.
A picking means for picking the article from any of the plurality of sections of the article shelf, and
A mounting table on which the picked article, which is the article picked by the picking means, is temporarily placed, and
A delivery case line for transporting the delivery case for accommodating the picked goods to the position of the above-mentioned stand is provided.
The delivery case is associated with the delivery destination and
The delivery case is packed with an article set that is a combination of the type and number of the articles that need to be delivered to the associated delivery destination.
The above-mentioned stand includes a separating member that separates a placed area on which the picked article included in the article set is placed and an empty area other than the picked area.

The article sorting device of the present invention can temporarily store the articles picked by the picking means, so that it is possible to prevent the next picking operation from being delayed until the delivery case arrives. In particular, when all the picking operations of the article set corresponding to a certain delivery case have been completed by the picking means, the picking means can start the next picking operation even if the corresponding delivery case has not arrived.

As a result, stagnation of picking work can be prevented. As a result, the efficiency of article sorting by the article sorting device can be improved. This can accommodate an increase in the types of goods.

Further, the mounting table of the article sorting device can be moved in a predetermined direction to temporarily store the next article set by the picking means. As a result, the article set corresponding to a plurality of delivery cases and the articles constituting the article set can be temporarily stored. As a result, even if the delivery case does not arrive in time for the end of the picking work, the picking work of the next set of goods can be started and continued. Further, when the delivery case arrives, the work of packing the article set stored in the mounting table into the delivery case can be started, and the picking work and the packing work can be switched based on the mounting table.

As a result, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the article sorting work in the article sorting apparatus.

It is a schematic diagram explaining the problem that the article shelf becomes huge as the type of article increases. It is a schematic diagram explaining the sorting process including the article shelf and the arrangement area. It is a schematic diagram which shows the time lag between the picking of an article by a picking worker and the arrival of a delivery case. It is a top view of the article sorting apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view of the article sorting apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a front view of the article sorting apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram of the mounting table in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a front view of the article shelf in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram of the mounting table and its periphery in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between the mounting stand and the delivery case line in Embodiment 2 of this invention.

The article sorting device according to the first aspect of the present invention has an article shelf having a plurality of sections and accommodating a plurality of types of articles.
A picking means for picking the article from any of the plurality of sections of the article shelf, and
A mounting table on which the picked article, which is the article picked by the picking means, is temporarily placed, and
A delivery case line for transporting the delivery case for accommodating the picked goods to the position of the above-mentioned stand is provided.
The delivery case is associated with the delivery destination and
The delivery case is packed with an article set that is a combination of the type and number of the articles that need to be delivered to the associated delivery destination.
The above-mentioned stand includes a separating member that separates a placed area on which the picked article included in the article set is placed and an empty area other than the picked area.

With this configuration, the mounting table can absorb the time lag between the processing by the picking means and the arrival of the delivery case. In addition, the mounting table enables parallel processing of picking processing.

In addition to the first invention, the article sorting apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention further includes a packing means for packing the picked articles placed on the above-mentioned stand into a delivery case.

With this configuration, the picked articles can be packed in the corresponding delivery cases and sorted.

In the article sorting apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the second invention, the above-mentioned stand has the length of the working range of the picking means and the packing means.

With this configuration, the mounting table can temporarily place the maximum number of articles without adversely affecting the picking means and the packing means. As a result, the absorption of the time lag between the picking process and the packing process can be maximized.

In the article sorting apparatus according to the fourth invention of the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to third inventions, the above-mentioned stand moves the picked article on which the picked article is placed in the first direction. It is equipped with a moving mechanism to make it move.

With this configuration, the mounted area and the empty area can be separately formed on the mounting table.

In the article sorting device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the fourth invention, the moving mechanism is before the picked article that has already been placed is placed on the above-mentioned stand. The empty area can be formed by moving the position of the described area.

With this configuration, when the picking work is continued, a place for placing the picked articles corresponding to the next set of articles is secured.

In the article sorting device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the fifth invention, when the previously described pre-placed area is moved by the moving mechanism to form the empty area, the separation is performed. The member is installed between the previously described pre-installed area and the empty area.

With this configuration, a clearly identifiable free area can be newly formed.

In the article sorting apparatus according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the sixth invention, the next picked article picked corresponding to the next set of articles is placed in the empty area. To.

With this configuration, the articles of the next article set to be picked one after another can be temporarily placed. As a result, the picking operation can be continued even if the stuffing process cannot be performed immediately.

In the article sorting apparatus according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to seventh inventions, the article set corresponding to the article set placed on the above-mentioned stand in the delivery case line. When the delivery case reaches the position of the above-mentioned pedestal, the packing means packs the article set into the delivery case.

With this configuration, the packing process is performed, and the goods set is packed in the delivery case associated with the delivery destination and can be shipped.

In the article sorting apparatus according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the fourth invention, the first direction is the same as the moving direction of the delivery case line.

With this configuration, it becomes easy to correspond the arrival of the delivery case with the position of the mounted area, and it is possible to physically separate the picking work to the empty area and the packing work from the mounted area.

In the article sorting apparatus according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the second invention, the picking means and the packing means include a worker, and the worker concurrently performs the picking work and the packing work. To do.

With this configuration, work efficiency by the operator is improved.

In the article sorting apparatus according to the eleventh invention of the present invention, in addition to the tenth invention, the separating member can be replaced by the worker.

With this configuration, the effective use of the mounting table can be surely achieved.

In the article sorting apparatus according to the twelfth invention of the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to eleventh inventions, a supply means for supplying articles of a type corresponding to each of the plurality of compartments to the compartment. Further prepare.

This configuration provides a supply that allows picking of articles.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)

(Analysis by the inventor)
The inventor analyzed the problem of the process of picking and sorting articles from the compartments of the article shelves as follows.

(Unlimited growth of goods shelves)
As explained in the prior art, the types of goods handled by delivery facilities and the types of goods manufactured by manufacturers are increasing due to the diversification of consumer tastes. For this reason, in shipping at a delivery facility or shipping at a manufacturer, many types of goods must be handled in order to make a set of goods that are a combination of goods for shipping.

In delivery facilities and manufacturers, multiple types of goods are stored in shelves. Supply means and the like supply goods to this goods shelf one after another. It is necessary to pick the goods stored in this goods shelf to make a different goods set for each delivery destination. For example, at the delivery destination X, it is necessary to make a combination of three products A, two products B, and four products C as an article set. However, the types of the articles are increasing, and there are situations where the types of the articles are increasing, such as articles A to Z.

Here, the article set refers to a combination of articles according to the type and quantity required for the delivery destination. In this way, the required type and number of articles are picked from the article shelf to make an article set. The article set is packed in a delivery case that matches the delivery destination X, for example. In this way, the goods are sorted based on the goods shelves. The delivery case packed with the sorted set of goods is then actually shipped or delivered.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a problem that an article shelf becomes huge due to an increase in the types of articles. The article shelf 100 includes a plurality of compartments 101. Articles 200 of the same type are housed in each of the plurality of compartments 101. For example, one section 101 contains a type A article 200, another section 101 contains a type B article 200, and another section 101 contains a type C article 200.

In order to make an article set to be sent to the delivery destination, it is necessary to pick the article 200 of the required type from the article shelf 100. However, if the number of types of the article 200 increases too much, the article shelf 100 becomes huge as shown in FIG. When the picking operation is performed manually by the operator, it is difficult to pick the required type of article 200 from the huge article shelf 100. A similar problem occurs when the picking operation is performed by a picking device which is a machine.

Further, even when a plurality of workers and picking devices are arranged on the article shelf 100, it is possible that the required type of article 200 is not nearby. In this case, there is a problem that the sorting work becomes inefficient because the worker or the picking device requires a moving step of moving in parallel with the article shelf 100.

Further, among the many types of articles 200, there are an article 200 that is frequently selected when making an article set and an article 200 that is selected only occasionally. It is assumed that the article shelf 100 of FIG. 1 contains such a frequently selected article 200 and an article 200 that is selected only occasionally. In this case, when a plurality of workers pick the article 200 from the article shelf 100, the worker in charge of the section 101 of the article 200 that is frequently selected and the section 101 of the article 200 that is selected only occasionally There is a problem that the amount of work is biased with the worker in charge.

(Problems due to separate placement of low-frequency articles)
In order to cope with such a mixture of frequently selected articles 200 and occasionally selected articles 200, the arrangement area 150 may be used in addition to the article shelves 100 as shown in FIG. .. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sorting process including an article shelf and an arrangement area.

The article shelf 100 houses an article 200 that is frequently selected. On the other hand, in the arrangement area 150, an article 200 that is selected only occasionally is installed. A plurality of goods shelves 100 are combined to form a sorting warehouse 300 as a whole.

In front of the plurality of article shelves 100, a plurality of workers 400 are arranged to perform picking work. A delivery case line 160 is provided behind the worker 400 (on the opposite side of the goods shelf 100), and the delivery case 170 flows over the delivery case line 160. After picking the type and number of articles 200 required as an article set, the worker 400 packs the articles 200 in the delivery case 170. Each of the shipping cases indicates a shipping destination and a shipping destination, and a set of goods (combination of a required type and number of goods 200) packed in a certain shipping case 170 is a shipping destination defined in the shipping case 170. It will be delivered to the delivery destination.

Also in the embodiment described later, the worker picks the required type and number of articles 200 (the combination thereof is an article set) from the article shelf 100 and packs them in the delivery case 170 flowing through the delivery case line 160. .. This is the sorting work in the sorting device and the sorting warehouse.

Here, in FIG. 2, the article 200, which is selected only occasionally, is placed in the arrangement area 150 without being accommodated in the article shelf 100. The types of articles 200 that are frequently selected are housed in the article shelves 100 in consideration of the work efficiency of the worker 400, but the items that are selected only occasionally are to prevent the article shelves 100 from becoming huge. It is placed in the placement area 150.

Although it is possible to prevent the article shelf 100 from becoming huge, it may be necessary to go to the arrangement area 150 to pick up the article 200 depending on the article set. In this case, the worker 400 needs to move from the front of the article shelf 100 to the arrangement area 150. This movement causes a problem of reducing the efficiency of the sorting operation. Of course, even when the picking device is a machine instead of the worker 400, the picking device needs to move or the picking mechanism needs to be extended to the arrangement area 150, which is an unrealistic problem.

(Problem of time lag between arrival of delivery case and picking work)
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a time lag between picking an article by a picking operator and arrival of a delivery case. The sorting warehouse 300 includes a plurality of article shelves 100 as in FIG. 2. The article 200 is housed in the article shelf 100, and the worker 400 who performs the picking operation picks the required type and number of articles 200 from each article shelf 100. Even after the work of picking the type and number of articles 200 required to be packed in a certain delivery case 170 is completed, the delivery case 170 carried by the delivery case line 160 may not have arrived yet. FIG. 3 shows this state.

Therefore, it is conceivable to install a temporary storage stand 500 on the back surface of the worker 400. On the temporary storage table 500, the worker 400 can temporarily store the type and number of articles 200 for which the picking work has been completed. However, there may be a problem that the space of the temporary storage table 500 is insufficient and the necessary article 200 cannot be stored.

Further, the picking work by the worker 400 needs to be performed one after another. For this reason, it is necessary to pick the type and number of articles 200 that need to be packed in another delivery case 170 that is not one delivery case 170. Therefore, in addition to the article 200 for packing in the delivery case 170 on the temporary storage table 500, it is also necessary to place the next picked article 200. In this case, the article 200 for packing in different delivery cases 170 will be mixedly placed on the temporary storage stand 500.

If this happens, the worker 400 may mistakenly pack the article 200 placed on the temporary storage stand 500 into another delivery case 170. In addition, the worker 400 needs to take various measures such as picking, temporary storage stand 500, and packing into the delivery case 170, but there is also a problem of causing confusion.

The inventor made the present invention through these analyzes.

(Overview)
An overall outline of the article sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. FIG. 4 is a top view of the article sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The state where the article sorting apparatus 1 is seen from above is shown. In addition, the inside is shown as a perspective state for ease of viewing and explanation of the figure. FIG. 5 is a side view of the article sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The article sorting apparatus 1 of FIG. 4 is shown as viewed from the side. FIG. 6 is a front view of the article sorting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The state where the article shelf 2 of FIG. 4 is seen from the front (from the picking means 7) is shown.

From the drawings in these three directions, the overall structure of the article sorting device 1 can be grasped.

The article sorting device 1 includes an article shelf 2, a picking means 7, a mounting table 30, and a delivery case line 160. Further, the article shelf 2 is provided with a crane 4 for supplying and moving the article 200.

Further, a high-frequency take-out table 5 and a low-frequency take-out table 6 may be optionally provided.

The article shelf 2 has a plurality of compartments 3. The plurality of compartments 3 contain the corresponding type of article 200. A plurality of types of articles 200 are housed in the article shelf 2. The article 200 may include a high-frequency article 220 and a low-frequency article 230, which will be described later. That is, among the articles 200, the high-frequency article 220, which is an article that is frequently picked (used for sorting), and the low-frequency article 230, which is an article that is picked (used for sorting) at a low frequency, are is there.

Here, in the article sorting device 1, the type and number of articles 200 (this is referred to as an article set) to be delivered to a certain delivery destination are packed in the delivery case 170 associated with the delivery destination. The delivery case 170 carries the packed set of goods to the stage where it is shipped by the delivery case line 160.

That is, the delivery case 170 is associated with the delivery destination. The delivery case 170 associated with the delivery destination needs to be packed with an article set consisting of the type and number of articles 200 to be delivered to the delivery destination. The various articles 200 that make up the article set are housed in the article shelf 2. The goods set varies depending on the delivery case 170. Therefore, it is necessary for the picking means 7 to take out (pick) the goods 200 of the type and the number corresponding to the various combinations of the goods sets from the goods shelf 2.

When the picked article 200 reaches the required combination of article sets by the picking means 7, it is packed in the delivery case 170 (which may be packed in the delivery case 170) and through the delivery case line 160. The delivery case 170 that has been packed will be moved.

The article sorting device 1 executes such a work process. Therefore, it is an apparatus for sorting articles.

The supply means 4 carries (supplies) the article 200 to the article shelf 2 from the outside of the article shelf 2. Alternatively, inside the article shelf 2, the article 200 housed in the compartment 3 is moved from the back to the front (the side where the picking means 7 is located). By moving from the back to the front, the picking process of the article 200 by the picking means 7 can be facilitated. Therefore, the supply means 4 performs a process of supplying the article 200 from the outside of the article shelf 2 to the inside of the article shelf 2 and a process of moving the article 200 forward inside the article shelf 2 (section 3). Further, processing such as returning the article 200 inside the article shelf 2 is performed. Here, the supply means 4 may be various machines, mechanisms, devices, or elements having a function of taking the article 200 from the outside to the inside of the article shelf 2 or moving the position inside the article shelf 2. .. For example, a supply crane, a supply robot, and the like are used as an example of the supply means 4.

That is, the supply means 4 performs a process of supplying the article 200 to be picked to a position where the article 200 can be picked by the picking means 7. As a result, the supply means 4 supplies the article 200 so that the picking means 7 can pick the article 200 from the outside or the inside of the article shelf 2.

The picking means 7 picks the article 200 from any of the plurality of compartments 3 of the article shelf 2. Picking means that an article is taken out by the picking means 7. Alternatively, it refers to a process in which an article is taken and moved to another place. The article 200 to be picked is supplied to the portion of the article shelf 2 facing the picking means 7.

The delivery case line 160 transfers a delivery case 170 in which the picking means 7 packs the picked article 200. At this time, the delivery case line 160 transfers the delivery case 170 corresponding to the article 200 to be packed to the position of the mounting table 30. The delivery case 170 is associated with a delivery destination. For example, it is associated with a delivery case 170 for delivery to store A. Further, the delivery case 170 is associated with the type and number of goods sets to be delivered to the store A.

The picking means 7 is responsible for one of the work processes of sorting articles in the article sorting device 1. As described above, from the article shelf 2, the article 200 of the type and the number corresponding to the article set associated with the delivery case 170 is picked from the article shelf 2. Here, the picking means 7 may not be able to immediately pick the articles 200 of the type and number constituting the article set. This is because it may take time for the article 200 to be picked from the article shelf 2 to be supplied to the picking means 7. Alternatively, it may take time for the picking operation (picking process) by the picking means 7 itself.

Alternatively, it is possible that the picking means 7 has the types and numbers of articles 200 constituting the article set, but the delivery case 170 for packing the articles has not reached the picking means 7. In FIG. 4, a delivery case line 160 is provided facing the picking means 7. The delivery case 170 is delivered to the delivery case line 160. At this time, it is possible that the delivery case 170 corresponding to the article set has not reached the picking means 7.

Further, the picking means 7 may be able to pick the articles 200 of the type and the number of articles constituting the article set at once, but may have to pick them in order. In this case, it is necessary to temporarily store each of the items 200 to be picked.

The mounting table 30 temporarily places the picked article, which is the article 200 picked by the picking means 7. In FIG. 4, the high-frequency article 220 and the low-frequency article 230 are temporarily placed on the mounting table 30. In the picking means 7, for example, during picking, the picked article is placed on the mounting table 30.

Here, the mounting table 30 separates the mounted area 32 on which the article 200 (picked article) included in the article set to be packed in a certain delivery case 170 is placed and the other empty area 33. To be equipped. In FIG. 4, the separating member 31 separates the mounted area 32 and the empty area 33. Two high-frequency articles 220 and one low-frequency article 230, which are picked articles, are placed in the loaded area 32. These are the articles that make up the article set to be packed into a delivery case 170.

As described above, the delivery case 170 is packed with an article set that is a combination of the type and number of articles 200 that need to be delivered to the associated delivery destination. The articles 200 that make up a set of articles are placed in the placed area 32 after being picked.

If the picking operation by the picking means 7 progresses, all the articles 200 constituting the article set are placed in the loaded area 32. The presence of the separating member 31 secures an empty area 33 on the mounting table 30. Therefore, when picking the articles constituting the next set of articles to be packed in another delivery case 170 is started, the picked articles may be placed in the empty area 33.

Here, the article sorting device 1 further includes a packing means 70. The packing means 70 packs the picked articles placed on the mounting table 30 into the delivery case 170. In the case of FIGS. 4 and 5, the picked articles (two high-frequency articles 220 and one low-frequency article 230 in FIG. 4) placed in the mounted area 32 of the mounting table 30 are displayed. Pack in the delivery case 170.

For example, a set of articles is composed of two high-frequency articles 220 that are frequently picked and one low-frequency article 230 that is frequently picked. The picking means 7 picks two high-frequency articles 220 and one low-frequency article 230 from the article shelf 2. Then, it is placed on the mounting table 30. If the separating member 31 is installed so as to separate the mounted area from the rest, the area on which the article is placed becomes the mounted area 32, and the rest becomes the empty area 33.

After, or in parallel with this, the packing means 70 packs two high frequency articles 220 and one low frequency article 230 in the loaded area 32 into the corresponding delivery case 170. At this time, the delivery case line 160 transfers the corresponding delivery case 170. Therefore, when the delivery case 170 reaches the mounting table 30, the packing means 70 packs the articles in the mounted area 32 into the delivery case 170. In other words, it is waiting for packing until the delivery case 170 arrives.

In parallel with the packing means 70 packing the articles in the loaded area 32 into the delivery case 170, the picking means 7 picks the articles 200 constituting the next article set from the article shelf 2. To do. At this time, the picked article is placed in the empty area 33. As a result, it is possible to prevent an error in the packing means 70 in which the article is packed from the mounted area 32. Since the placed area 32 and the empty area 33 are separated by the separating member 31, the packing means 70 does not easily mistake the article to be packed in the delivery case 170, and the picking means 7 places the picked article. It's hard to make a mistake.

Further, the picking means 7 can pick the articles constituting the next article set even while the packing means 70 cannot perform the picking operation of the picked articles on the mounting table 30 without reaching the delivery case 170. This is because the next picked article may be placed in the empty area 33 of the mounting table 30.

As described above, by providing the mounting table 30, it is possible to absorb the time lag between the picking by the picking means 7 and the arrival of the delivery case 170. In other words, the time lag between picking by the picking means 7 and the start of stuffing possible by the stuffing means 70 can be absorbed. In addition to absorbing the time lag, the picking means 7 can pick the articles of the next article set before the packing work by the packing means 70 and the arrival of the delivery case 170. As a result, the efficiency of the entire article sorting process in the article sorting apparatus 1 is improved. This is because parallel processing is possible.

In FIG. 4, the picking means 7 and the packing means 70 are arranged side by side in the article shelf 2, and in FIG. 5, they are located one by one with respect to the article shelf 2. , Variously defined. Further, the picking means 7 and the packing means 70 may be configured by a common device or operator.

Further, the mounting table 30 has the length of the working range of the picking means 7 and the packing means 70. The work range is a range in which normal work can be performed by the picking means 7 and the packing means 70. It may be appropriately determined depending on the distance from the adjacent picking means 7. For example, a range that overlaps with the working range of the adjacent picking means 7 may be included. FIG. 4 shows such a state. By having the length of the working range in this way, the picking means 7 can place the picked article 200 on the mounting table 30. In particular, when the placed area 32 ends with the placement of the required article 200, it becomes easy to place the article of the next article set in the empty area 33 that can be clearly grasped by the separating member 31. When the picking means 7 is a human-powered picking operator, the length of the mounting table 30 makes it easy to place the article in the free area 33.

Further, in FIG. 4 and the like, the mounting table 30 is provided so as to be parallel to the delivery case line 160. However, depending on the configuration of the article sorting device 1 and the convenience of the location, the article sorting device 1 may be provided so as to be substantially vertical or oblique to the delivery case line 160.

The area of the mounting table 30 is divided by the separating member 31. At this time, the picked articles constituting a certain article set picked by the picking means 7 are placed in the first empty area 33. By this placement, the free area 33 becomes the placed area 32. When all the picked articles constituting a certain article set are placed in the placed area 32, the picking means 7 corresponds to the next empty area 33 divided by the separating member 31. Then, the picked article that has been picked is placed.

The next free area 33 also becomes the placed area 32 when all the picked articles constituting the article set are placed. The separating member 31 separates the next mounted area 32 and the next free area 33 to secure a new free area 33. FIG. 7 shows this state.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the mounting table according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the mounting table 30 has the length of the working range of the picking means 7. In FIG. 7, two separating members 31 are placed on the mounting table 30, and are divided into three regions. On the uppermost side of FIG. 7, two high-frequency articles 220 and one low-frequency article 230 corresponding to the first article set are placed as picked articles. This is all the goods in the first set of goods. When the delivery case 170 arrives and the packing means 70 starts packing, the articles in the top mounted area 32 are packed in the delivery case 170.

In the placed area 32 in the middle, four high-frequency articles 220 and one low-frequency article 230 constituting the next set of articles are placed as picked articles. It is separated by a separating member 31. The articles corresponding to the next set of articles placed in the second loaded area 32 are packed in the delivery case 170 by the packing means 70, waiting for the arrival of the next delivery case 170.

It is possible that the article set placed in the middle mounted area 32 may be packed in the delivery case 170 before the article set placed in the mounted area 32 above. .. This is because the corresponding delivery case 170 is packed from the earliest arrival. By forming the plurality of mounted areas 32 with the plurality of separating members 31 in this way, the article set can be packed regardless of the arrival order of the delivery case 170.

Further, the next separating member 31 forms an empty area 33 at the bottom. When the picking means 7 picks the article 200 constituting the next article set, the picking means 7 places the article 200 in the free area 33.

In this way, the mounting table 30 is appropriately separated by the separating member 31, and enables parallel work while absorbing the time lag between the work of the picking means 7 and the work of the packing means 70.

When the delivery case 170 corresponding to the article set mounted on the mounting table 30 reaches the position of the loading table 30 in the delivery case line 160, the packing means 70 packs the article set into the delivery case. As a result, in FIG. 7, the article sets placed in each of the two placed areas 32 are packed in the corresponding delivery cases 170.

As described above, the article sorting device 1 according to the first embodiment can realize the efficiency of the article sorting process of picking and packing and the efficiency of the combination of processes.

The control unit 8 controls the picking means 7 to instruct the goods to be picked, the instruction to associate with the delivery case 170, the packing work by the packing means 70, the transfer of the delivery case 170, and the like. The control unit 8 has embedded software and a program, and controls and gives instructions centered on a combination of the delivery case 170 and the corresponding article set. By this instruction, the picking means 7 can grasp the article 200 to be picked. The packing means 70 can also grasp which delivery case 170 to pack the article set mounted in the mounted area 32 of the mounting table 30.

In this way, the control unit 8 controls the whole, so that the processing of the article sorting device 1 is appropriately performed.

(High frequency take-out table and low frequency take-out table)

The high-frequency article 220 and the low-frequency article 230 described above are definitions that distinguish between articles with high picking frequency and articles with low picking frequency. In reality, the article 200 has a plurality of types. It has a type of article such as type A and type B. The article set includes 200 articles of a type and number corresponding to these various types.

It is also preferable that the article sorting device 1 in the first embodiment includes, as an option, a high-frequency take-out table 5 and a low-frequency take-out table 6. By providing these, the ease and accuracy of picking by the picking means 7 can be improved. The high-frequency take-out table 5 and the low-frequency take-out table 6 will be described.

The high-frequency take-out table 5 supplies a high-frequency article 220 that is frequently picked. The low frequency take-out table 6 supplies the low frequency article 230 that is picked infrequently. Inside and outside the article shelf 2, the supply crane 4 controls the supply of these high-frequency articles 220 and low-frequency articles 230.

The high-frequency take-out table 5 and the low-frequency take-out table 6 are separated. Further, preferably, as shown in FIG. 6, the high-frequency take-out table 5 is located on the low-frequency take-out table 6. This is because it is easy to pick the high-frequency article 220, which has a high picking frequency. In addition, there are many types of high-frequency articles 220. Therefore, it is appropriate that the high-frequency article 220 is installed on the high-frequency take-out table 5 at an upper position that is easy to grasp.

The picking means 7 picks the high-frequency articles 220 from the high-frequency articles 5 (same concept as picking the high-frequency articles group 2200. When a plurality of types are viewed, the high-frequency articles group 2200 is picked. If any of the high-frequency articles 220 included in the high-frequency article group 2200 is picked, it means that the high-frequency article 220 is picked. It is not intended to strictly distinguish between them. In the following, for the sake of ease of explanation, the expression of picking the high-frequency article 220 is mainly used).

Similarly, the picking means 7 picks the low frequency article 230 from the low frequency take-out table 6 (the same concept as picking the low frequency article group 2300. When viewed as a plurality of types, the low frequency article group It means picking the 2300, and if picking any of the low frequency articles 230 included in the low frequency article group 2300, it means picking the low frequency article 230. The intention to strictly distinguish between them. In the following, for the sake of ease of explanation, the expression of picking the low-frequency article 230 is mainly used).

In this way, the picking means 7 distinguishes between the separated high-frequency take-out table 5 and the low-frequency take-out table 6, picks the high-frequency article 220 from the high-frequency take-out table 5, and picks the high-frequency article 220 from the low-frequency take-out table 6. Picks the low frequency article 230. Since the high-frequency take-out table 5 and the low-frequency take-out table 6 are separated on the front surface of the article shelf 2, the picking means 7 can easily distinguish between the high-frequency article 220 and the low-frequency article 230 for picking. (Can be taken out).

At this time, the picking means 7 is instructed to use an article 200 of a type to be packed in a certain delivery case 170. Based on this instruction, the picking means 7 knows what kind of article 200 should be picked. The combination of the type and number of the articles 200 to be picked is the article set to be packed in the delivery case 170. This article set may include a high frequency article 220 and a low frequency article 230.

The picking instruction unit 9 shown in FIG. 8 indicates the article 200 to be picked. FIG. 8 is a front view of the article shelf according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The picking means 7 picks the article 200 according to the instructions of the picking instruction unit 9.

Since the high-frequency take-out table 5 and the low-frequency take-out table 6 can be separated and distinguished, the picking means 7 can surely grasp the high-frequency article 220 and the low-frequency article 230 included in the article set to be picked. You can pick it. As a result, it is possible to prevent picking by mistake.

Further, since the high-frequency article 220 that must be picked frequently is supplied to the high-frequency take-out table 5, the picking means 7 may use the high-frequency take-out table 5 as the center of the picking process. Also, the occasional low frequency article 230 may be picked from the distinct low frequency take-out table 6. In this way, the picking table of the high-frequency article 220, which has a lot of work, and the take-out table of the low-frequency article 230, which has less work, are separated, so that the picking process by the picking means 7 can be made more efficient. In addition, the separation makes it possible to reduce the difference in the amount of work from the picking process by the picking means 7 on another article shelf 2.

As described above, the distinction between the high-frequency take-out table 5 and the low-frequency take-out table 6 can realize picking accuracy, work efficiency, and high speed.

(Picking means and stuffing means)

The picking means 7 and the packing means 70 may be manually operated workers. The picking worker and the stuffing worker may perform their respective tasks. In this case, the picking worker and the stuffing worker may concurrently perform the picking work and the stuffing work. By concurrently serving, it is possible to improve the efficiency of workers and reduce costs.

As described above, in the article sorting device 1 according to the first embodiment, the loading table 30 capable of separating the regions is interposed between the picking work and the packing work, so that the time lag generated between the picking work and the packing work can be absorbed and parallel. Work and high-speed work can be realized.

(Embodiment 2)

Next, the second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, additional devices and various variations will be described.

(Movement mechanism of mounting table)
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the mounting table and its surroundings according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The mounting table 30 in FIG. 9 includes a moving mechanism 35. The moving mechanism 35 moves the surface of the mounting table 30 in the first direction. The first direction is indicated by the arrow in FIG. By moving the surface, the moving mechanism 35 moves the picked article on which it is placed in the first direction.

Since the moving mechanism 35 can move the surface of the mounting table 30 in the first direction, an empty area 33 can be formed behind the mounted area 32. In FIG. 9, the placed area 32 on which the articles constituting the article set are placed is moved to the first direction side, and an empty area 33 is formed behind the placed area 32. As a result, the picking means 7 can use the empty area 33 on which the next picked article can be placed after the picked article is placed on the placement area 32.

In FIG. 9, the movement has already been performed twice, and there is a region separated by the two separating members 31. As a result, the third area becomes the free area 33. After this state is reached, the picking means 7 starts picking the article corresponding to the next required article set. The picked article picked by this picking operation is placed on the empty area 33 formed by the movement by the moving mechanism 35.

In this way, the moving mechanism 35 can move the surface of the mounting table 30 in the first direction. By this movement, the position of the mounted area 32 on which the picked article already mounted on the mounting table 30 is placed is moved. By this movement, an empty area 33 can be formed on the surface of the mounting table 30. Either the picking means 7 or the packing means 70 installs the separating member 31 between the placed area 32 and the free area 33 in order to clarify the generated free area 33. That is, when the mounted area 32 is moved by the moving mechanism 35 to form the empty area 33, the separating member 31 is installed between the mounted area 32 and the free area 33. This installation allows a clear distinction between both areas.

With this installation, each can be clearly distinguished. The clear distinction prevents the picking means 7 from placing picked articles that should not be placed in the placed area 32. Alternatively, the packing means 70 can pack the article set to be packed into the corresponding delivery case 170 without mistake, using the separating member 31 as a mark.

In this way, the moving mechanism 35 can realize efficient utilization of the surface of the mounting table 30. Further, the surface of the mounting table 35 moves, and the separating member 31 forms an empty area 33 one after another, so that the picking means 7 is slowly packed from the mounting table 30 to the delivery case 170 by the packing means 70. Even in this case, the picking work utilizing the free area 33 can be continued. For example, it corresponds to the case where the delivery case 170 arrives late.

The moving mechanism 35 can enhance the efficient utilization of the mounting table 30 and enhance the ability to absorb the time lag between the picking work and the stuffing work.

(First direction)
Here, it is also preferable that the first direction is the same as the moving direction of the delivery case line 160. FIG. 10 shows this state. FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the relationship between the mounting table and the delivery case line according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The delivery case line 160 moves the delivery case 170 like a conveyor belt. This moving direction is the first direction. The arrow in FIG. 10 indicates this. The delivery case 170 for packing the articles of the article set mounted on the mounted area 32 of the mounting table 30 moves along this first direction. That is, the delivery case 170 reaches the mounting table 30 in the same direction as the moving direction of the mounting table 30.

Due to this movement in the same direction, the article set to be packed in the delivery case 170 and the delivery case 170 move in the same direction due to the movement of the mounting table 30. As a result, the picked articles placed in the placed area 32 on the front side of the movement can be easily packed in the delivered delivery case 170. Further, when the delivery case 170 corresponding to the next set of articles subsequently arrives, the picked articles placed in the mounted area 32 at the position next to the mounting table 30 (front and rear side). Can be packed into the next delivery case 170.

Since the moving direction by the moving mechanism 35 and the moving direction of the delivery case line 160 are the same, the efficiency of the packing work can be improved. Of course, this does not apply when the mounting table 30 intersects the delivery case line 160. In this case, for example, the moving direction of the mounting table 30 may be the direction toward the delivery case line 160.

In particular, the separating member 31 can be replaced on the mounting table 30 by a manual picking operator or a manual stuffing operator. Since this replacement is possible, it is possible to form the mounted area 32 and the empty area 33 according to the situation of the mounting table 30. At this time, since the moving direction of the delivery case line 160 and the moving direction of the surface of the mounting table 30 are the same, the operator can smoothly replace the separation member 31.

As described above, the article sorting device 1 in the second embodiment can make the article sorting more efficient.

(Embodiment 3)

Next, the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, the article sorting method will be described. By using the article sorting device 1 described in the first and second embodiments, the article sorting method can be realized.

That is, the article sorting method includes the following steps.

(Picking process)
In the picking step, the article 200 is picked from the article shelf 2 which has a plurality of sections 3 and accommodates a plurality of types of articles 200. Picking by a picking device or a manual picking operator is as described in the first and second embodiments. At this time, the picking process picks the types and the number of articles constituting the article set to be packed in the delivery case 170 associated with a certain delivery destination.

(Placement process)
In the loading process, the picked article is temporarily placed on the loading table. At this time, while the article set is placed on the mounting table 30, the area on which the article set is placed is set as the mounted area 32, and the empty area 33 separated by the separating member 31 is formed. The processing related to the mounting step is as described in the first and second embodiments.

(Transfer process)
In the transfer step, the delivery case 170 is transferred to the position of the mounting table 30. By this transfer, the delivery case 170 associated with the article set can be brought to the loading platform 30. With this arrival, the packing process can be executed.

(Packing process)
In the packing step, the picked articles placed on the loading table 30 are packed in the associated delivery case 170. After this packing, the delivery case 170 is shipped.
The configuration of the mounting table 30 and the like are as described in the first and second embodiments.

As described above, the article sorting method in the third embodiment can efficiently sort articles. At this time, it is possible to absorb the time lag between the picking process and the packing process and enable parallel work for each. As a result, efficiency and speed can be realized.

The article sorting apparatus and article sorting method described in the first to third embodiments are examples for explaining the gist of the present invention, and include deformation and modification within a range not deviating from the gist of the present invention.

1 Goods sorting device 2 Goods shelves 3 compartments 4 Supply means 5 High-frequency take-out stand 51 Take-out part 6 Low-frequency take-out stand 61 Take-out part 7 Picking means 70 Packing means 8 Control unit 9 Picking instruction unit 11 Medium-frequency take-out stand 30 Mounting stand 31 Separation member 32 Placed area 33 Free area 160 Delivery case line 170 Delivery case 200 Goods
220 High frequency goods
2200 High frequency goods group
230 Low frequency articles 2300 Low frequency articles

Claims (13)

An article shelf that has multiple compartments and accommodates multiple types of articles,
A picking means for picking the article from any of the plurality of sections of the article shelf, and
A mounting table on which the picked article, which is the article picked by the picking means, is temporarily placed, and
A delivery case line for transporting the delivery case for accommodating the picked goods to the position of the above-mentioned stand is provided.
The delivery case is associated with the delivery destination and
The delivery case is packed with an article set that is a combination of the type and number of the articles that need to be delivered to the associated delivery destination.
The above-mentioned stand is an article sorting device including a separating member for separating a placed area on which the picked article included in the article set is placed and an empty area other than the picked area. The article sorting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a packing means for packing the picked articles placed on the above-mentioned stand into a delivery case. The article sorting device according to claim 2, wherein the above-mentioned stand has a length of a working range of the picking means and the packing means. The article sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the above-mentioned stand is provided with a moving mechanism for moving the picked article on which it is placed in a first direction. The empty area according to claim 4, wherein the moving mechanism can move the position of the previously described pre-placed area on which the already-placed picked article is placed on the previously-described stand. Goods sorting device. 5. When the previously described pre-installed area is moved by the moving mechanism to form the vacant area, the separating member is installed between the previously described pre-installed area and the vacant area. The article sorting device described. The article sorting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the next picked article picked corresponding to the next set of articles is placed in the empty area. In the delivery case line, when the delivery case corresponding to the article set mounted on the preceding table reaches the position of the preceding table, the packing means packs the article set into the delivery case. The article sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The article sorting device according to claim 4, wherein the first direction is the same direction as the moving direction of the delivery case line. The article sorting device according to claim 2, wherein the picking means and the stuffing means include a worker, and the worker concurrently performs the picking work and the stuffing work. The article sorting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the separating member can be replaced by the operator. The article sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a supply means for supplying the articles of a type corresponding to each of the plurality of compartments to the compartment. A picking step of picking the articles from an article shelf having a plurality of sections and accommodating a plurality of types of articles.
A mounting step of temporarily placing the picked article, which is the article picked in the picking step, on a mounting table, and
A transfer step of transferring the delivery case for accommodating the picked article to the position of the above-mentioned stand, and
The delivery case is provided with a packing step of packing the picked articles.
The delivery case is associated with the delivery destination and
The delivery case is packed with an article set that is a combination of the type and number of the articles that need to be delivered to the associated delivery destination.
The pre-described setting step includes a separation step of installing a separating member for separating the picked article included in the article set from the resting area and the other empty area on the pre-described table. Sorting method.