JP4367310B2 - Sorting system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sorting system, for example, a sorting system for products that are easy to collapse such as fixed temperature products and bread.

  Conventionally, digital assorting (sorting) equipment has been widely used for sorting products that are likely to collapse in a pat (dedicated container for food) due to the characteristics of chilled products such as chilled products and bread. .

  An example of such a digital assorting (sorting) facility is described in the section “Prior Art” of Patent Document 1. That is, assortment equipment is equipment that sorts incoming goods to a sorting destination (such as a store), for example, and an operator can store containers (buckets, containers, etc.) in which incoming goods are stored, such as mobile vehicles. (A cart, a cart, etc.) While moving with a conveyor, etc., the display of the sorting indicator provided for each section storage space for each section storage space of the article sorting shelf (storage shelf) from this container ( The goods for each sorting destination by the operator transferring the goods according to the information (information such as the quantity of goods received) or the display transmitted to the portable terminal (terminal) (information such as the compartment storage space and quantity to be received) Are collected (sorted). Similarly to the picking shelf, the storage shelf is also provided with a block composed of a plurality of compartment storage spaces, and each block displays a sorting indicator for one worker. Doing work.

  Also, an extrusion type (shoe slide type) automatic sorting device is used for sorting products that are likely to collapse into stores. For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, this extrusion-type automatic sorting apparatus incorporates a slide shoe that moves to the left and right on a slat conveyor, and the shoe is assigned to each store by a branching device. It is configured to extrude the product guided by.

The product or case is sorted according to the order of the store. Depending on the store, delivery of the product or case may be instructed by category or passage. In particular, because constant temperature products need to be controlled in a wide variety and in small quantities, products that include constant temperature products are required to be delivered in five or more categories even at one store, such as delivery by category and delivery by passage. (It has become a need). In addition, by sorting and delivering items by category, items by passage, etc., the efficiency of merchandise display at the store is greatly improved.
JP 2002-347911 (right column on page 2) Japanese Patent No. 2654857

  However, in the conventional digital assortment equipment, since many workers must be engaged in sorting, it is always a problem to secure manpower and human resources, and the cost for sorting tends to increase. .

  In addition, in the conventional extrusion type automatic sorting device, when trying to sort products by category or passage of each store, the number of sorting chutes arranged on the left and right in accordance with the number increases, so there is a lot of installation space. There is a problem that it is necessary. Further, since the product is stored by sliding the sorting chute, the product may be shocked as compared with the case where the product is sorted by the operator. Also, in the case of products that are affected by the outside air temperature, such as chilled products, if multiple products are received at the same time, it will take a long time to store and will not affect the products. As a result, it is necessary to have a facility for temporarily storing multiple products, and in addition to this, if an extrusion automatic sorting device is provided, the equipment is large. As a result, the initial investment cost burden increases.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sorting system that can automate the sorting of merchandise in units of containers using a case, and can realize space saving and low cost.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention is characterized in that each sorting is performed according to the request information of the articles for each unit of each sorting destination sent from a plurality of sorting destinations. A sorting system for sorting the articles for each unit of the destination and each sorting destination, wherein the articles are stacked with the receiving container from the receiving container that has received and received the article according to the request information of the article. Possible sorting equipment and sorting equipment for sorting into sorting containers in units of sorting destinations, a plurality of compartment storage spaces, the receiving containers or the sorting containers, or the receiving containers and the sorting containers into the compartment storage spaces. Provided with a loading and unloading device for loading and unloading between the outlet, each of the compartment storage space comprises an article storage facility to which the sorting destination and the unit of the sorting destination are assigned, The container is transported to the sorting facility, and the articles are sorted from the receiving container into the sorting container in units of the sorting destination and the sorting destination, and the sorting container or the receiving container is transported to the article storage facility. Alternatively, the sorting destination of the receiving container and the unit of the sorting destination are discriminated, and the loading / unloading device is driven to stack in the compartment storage space allocated to the sorting destination and the unit of the sorting destination, and the sorting destination from the article storage facility In addition, for each unit of the sorting destination, the receiving container or the sorting container, or the receiving container and the sorting container are unloaded and shipped.

  According to the above system, the receiving container is divided into two lines, one of which is a sorting facility, and the goods are sorted from the receiving container into a sorting container of the sorting destination and the unit of the sorting destination, and this sorting container is sent to the goods storage facility. Be transported. On the other hand, the arrival container is directly conveyed to the article storage facility, and the arrival container and the sorting container are stacked and stored in the compartment storage space of the article storage facility for each unit of the sorting destination and the sorting destination. In this way, the sorting operation of the receiving container and the sorting container is automated for each sorting destination and the sorting destination unit, and further complete automation is possible. Further, in the article storage facility, sorting is performed for each sorting destination and the sorting destination unit and stored, thereby saving space and cost. In addition, the stock container or the sort container, or the stock container and the sort container are unloaded from the article storage facility for each unit of the sort destination and the sort destination. As a result, it becomes possible to ship the sorting destination and the unit of the sorting destination, that is, delivery by category and delivery by passage.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, according to the request information of the articles for each unit of each sorting destination sent from a plurality of sorting destinations, the articles for each sorting destination and each unit of the sorting destination are stored. A sorting system for sorting, comprising: a plurality of partition storage spaces; and a loading / unloading device for loading / unloading a receiving container storing articles between the partition storage space and a loading / unloading port, and each of the partition storage spaces includes the sorting destination And an article storage facility to which a unit of the sorting destination is allocated, the sorting destination and the unit of the sorting destination of the receiving container that has received and received the article are discriminated, and the sorting / unloading device is driven to drive the sorting destination And stacking in the compartment storage space allocated to the unit of the sorting destination, and unloading the shipping container for each unit of the sorting destination and the sorting destination from the article storage means for shipping. It is an butterfly.

  According to the above system, the arrival container is transported to the article storage facility, and is stacked and stored in the compartment storage space of the article storage facility for each sorting destination and each sorting destination unit. In this way, the sorting operation of the receiving container is automated for each sorting destination and sorting unit, and further complete automation is possible. Further, in the article storage facility, sorting is performed for each sorting destination and the sorting destination unit and stored, thereby saving space and cost. In addition, an incoming container is unloaded from the article storage facility and shipped for each unit of the sorting destination and the sorting destination. As a result, it is possible to ship the sorting destination and the unit of the sorting destination.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein when the arrival container is received in a group, the arrival container is selected from each group as the sorting destination and the sorting destination. A second sorting facility for sorting into units, and an incoming container sorted by the second sorting facility, the incoming container or the sorting container carried out from the article storage facility, or the incoming container and the sorting container, It is characterized by being shipped by being combined with the sorting destination and the unit of the sorting destination.

  According to the above system, when a large number of arrival containers are received by a cart, for example, a large number of arrival containers are sorted directly into the sorting destination and the sorting destination unit from the basket car. Performed quickly. Then, the delivery container or the sorting container carried out from the article storage facility, or the receiving container and the sorting container, and the sorting destination and the sorting destination unit are joined and shipped.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the take-out device has a claw part that can enter the bottom part of the receiving container and the sorting container. A movable claw-type fork provided, and when storing the receiving container or the sorting container, or the receiving container and the sorting container in the compartment storage space, the receiving container or the sorting by the claw portion of the movable claw-type fork The container or the receiving container and the sorting container are supported and stacked by placing them on the uppermost receiving container or sorting container stored in the compartment storage space from above. .

  According to the above system, the claw portion of the movable claw-type fork enters the receiving container or the sorting container, or the bottom of the receiving container and the sorting container, and these containers are supported and are stored in the compartment storage space. It is placed on the receiving container or sorting container from above. Therefore, the container is smoothly transferred by a simple procedure, and the storage time is shortened.

  In the sorting system according to the present invention, the receiving containers are divided into two lines, one of which is a sorting facility, and the articles are sorted from the receiving container into the sorting container of the sorting destination and the unit of the sorting destination. On the other hand, the receiving container is directly transferred to the article storage facility, and the receiving container and the sorting container are stacked and stored in the compartment storage space of the article storage facility for each of the sorting destination and the sorting destination unit. This has the effect that the sorting operation of the receiving container and the sorting container can be automated for each sorting destination and sorting unit.

  In the sorting system of the present invention, the incoming container is transported to the article storage facility, and the incoming container is stored in a stacked storage space of the article storage facility for each unit of the sorting destination and the sorting destination. This has the effect that the sorting operation of the receiving container can be automated for each sorting destination and each sorting destination.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a sorting system according to an embodiment of the present invention, which includes a receiving area 1, a sorting area 2, and a shipping area 3.

First, an example of order data (article request information) ordered by the sorting system will be described.
The sorting system according to the present embodiment is capable of receiving orders for foods (constant temperature products, bread, etc .; examples of goods and products) that are easy to collapse, and store (sorting destination). As shown in FIG. 2, the food order from one example) is sent to each store passage (one example of a sorting destination and a unit of sorting destination) and specifies food (for example, food number “001”). ”To“ 0040 ”) and the quantity. Of the foods, foods with numbers “021” to “040” are ordered in units of cases, and other foods are ordered in units of one.

  Orders from these stores are totaled by a sorting control controller 4 composed of a computer on a specific date basis, and various data described later are formed, and sorting operations from receipt to shipment are executed according to these data.

In addition, the above-mentioned areas 1, 2, and 3 are environments of a predetermined temperature necessary for maintaining foods to be handled.
[Arrival area]
In the arrival area 1, a plurality of (for example, 10) foods are stored in a dedicated container (an example of an arrival container; hereinafter referred to as an arrival case) 11 with a plurality of naked foods (for example, 10 pieces) naked by a transport vehicle 13 such as a truck. Then, a large amount (for example, 12 boxes) of arrival cases 11 are mounted on a basket car (an example of arrival of arrival containers in a group) 12 and are received. In addition, the receipt case 11 and the basket car 12 are previously attached with barcode labels on which barcodes made up of food numbers and lot numbers are printed at specific positions as information for identifying the stored food. Yes.

In the arrival area 1, the received arrival case 11 or the car 12 is classified into three routes, cut out, and carried out to the sorting area 2.
* 1st route and 2nd route Among food products "001" to "020" ordered in units of one, if there is an order of a predetermined quantity (for example, 10) of the arrival case 11, the sorting control controller 4 2, it is divided into the number of cases and the number of food items in the arrival cases 11, and as shown in FIG. 3A, the number of arrival cases 11, the order store and the passage number are shown for each food number. Case sorting data consisting of

  As equipment for sorting the incoming cases 11 into the first route and the second route, the incoming conveyor 5 that carries the incoming case 11 from the transport vehicle 13 and the incoming case 11 that has been conveyed by the incoming conveyor 5 are used as the first route. The first receiving conveyor 14 forming the first route, the branching device 6 branching to the second receiving conveyor 15 forming the second route, and the barcode label of the receiving case 11 arranged at the entrance of the branching device 6 along the loading conveyor 5 A barcode reader 7 that reads a barcode (a food number and a lot number), and a delivery case 11 that is arranged along the first delivery conveyor 14 at the exit of the branching device 6 and is conveyed by the first delivery conveyor 14. Bar code label printed with a bar code consisting of the order store and passage number (bar code label for sorting) Label sticking machine 8 pasting is provided. Data read by the bar code reader 7 (food number and lot number) is input to the sorting controller 4 and the branching device 6. The case sorting data formed in the sorting controller 4 is registered in advance in the branching device 6.

  With this configuration, when the arrival case 11 is received by the carry-in conveyor 5, the food number and the lot number are read from the barcode label and input to the sorting controller 4 and the branching device 6.

  The branching device 6 searches the case sorting data registered in advance by the input food number, and confirms whether it is within the case and the number of cases sorted by the case unit. Then, the process branches to 14, and the data including the store and the passage number of the arrival case 11 is output to the label sticking machine 8, and the barcode label including the store and the passage number is attached to the arrival case 11. In this way, according to the case sorting data, the receiving case 11 is given a barcode label (store and passage number) and is conveyed to the sorting area 2 by the first receiving conveyor 14 forming the first route. In the data shown in FIG. 3 (a), a receipt case 11 with food number "003" is transported with one box, a bar code label with store A and passage number 2.

  Further, the branching device 6 branches to the second receiving conveyor 15 when it is not a case for sorting by case. In this way, among the food products “001” to “020” ordered in units of one, the incoming case 11 other than the one branched off to the first route is branched to the second incoming conveyor 15 forming the second route. , Transported to the sorting area 2.

  In the equipment that sorts the arrival cases 11 into the first route and the second route, when the food items “001” to “020” ordered in units of one are stored and received in the arrival case 11, the arrival cases 11 are in units. According to the case sorting data formed from the order data, it is sorted into two sorting categories, that is, the first route and the second route, and conveyed to the sorting area 2.

* Third route When food items “021” to “040” ordered in units of cases are received by the car cart 12, the bar code reader 9 reads the bar code from the bar code label of the car cart 12, and the car cart 12 is pushed by the operator and conveyed to the sorting area 2. Data read by the bar code reader 9 (food number and lot number) is input to the sorting controller 4.

The sorting controller 4 stores the food number and lot number input from the barcode reader 7 in units of arrival cases, and the food number and lot number input from the barcode reader 9 in units of carts, as shown in FIG. Thus, the lot number is stored for each food number in the order data. Thereby, the lot number of the food (number) ordered for each store and passage is stored, and the lot number of the food sorted and shipped can be accurately and reliably captured (practice traceability).
[Sorting area]
The sorting area 2 includes an assortment facility (an example of a sorting facility) 21, an automatic warehouse facility (an example of an article storage facility) 22, a stacking device 23, and a basket car picking facility (an example of a second sorting facility) 24. Is provided.
"Assortment equipment 21"
The assortment equipment 21 transports the arrival cases 11 by the second arrival conveyor 15 that forms the second route, and sorts the foods by passage (sorting unit of the sorting destination) of each store.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the assortment equipment 21 is arranged along the sorting conveyor 28 composed of an accumulation conveyor arranged continuously on the second receiving conveyor 15, and arranged along the sorting conveyor 28, and a sorting case (an example of a sorting container). ) Sorting shelf 32 composed of fixed shelves having a plurality of compartment storage spaces 31 in which 29 is stored, an unloading sorting conveyor 33 for transporting the sorting case 29 that has been sorted to the automatic warehouse facility 22, and assorting work of the assorting facility 21 It is comprised from the assortment equipment controller 34 which consists of computers which controls. It should be noted that in many cases, the delivery of chilled items such as chilled products to a store is a “limited type of containers (cases)”, and the sorting case 29 is received in this limited type of case shape. The case 11 can be stacked.

  In addition, a (work) zone Z in which one worker is in charge of assorting work is set for each of the three-stage, three-row partition storage spaces 31. In addition, an empty sorting case 29 is stacked on the sorting shelf 32 in a folded state.

Each compartment storage space 31 is assigned with a passage of each store and is registered in advance in the assortment equipment controller 34.
Each compartment storage space 31 is provided with an assortment display 35. Each assortment indicator 35 is provided with a digital quantity indicator 36 (display means) for displaying the quantity of food to be sorted, a completion push button switch 37 (completion operation means), and an expiration push button switch (expiration operation means) 38. . Further, the completion push button switch 37 is used when food is sorted into the sorting case 29 of the compartment storage space 31 provided with the switch 37 according to the quantity displayed on the quantity indicator 36, or when the feeding is finished (when sorting is finished). ) Operated.

  Further, a barcode reader (input means) 39 for reading the barcode (food number) of the arrival case 11 is provided at the entrance of the assorting facility 21 (the end of the second arrival conveyor 15).

  Further, for each zone Z, at the downstream end of the sorting conveyor 28, a zone sorting end switch 40 and a barcode label attached to the sorting case 29 (a barcode label for sorting applied by the label sticking machine 8 in the arrival area 1). A label printer (issuing means) 41 is provided. On the bar code label, a bar code consisting of a store specifying the sorting case 29 and a passage number is printed and displayed.

  The assortment equipment controller 34 is connected to a sorting conveyor 28, an assortment display 35 for each compartment storage space 31, a barcode reader 39, a zone sorting end switch 40 for each zone Z, and a label printer 41. Further, in the sorting control controller 4, the assortment equipment sorting data shown in FIG. 3B is formed from the data of FIG. 2, that is, the data for sorting food from the arrival case 11 to each compartment storage space 31 is registered in the assorting equipment controller 34. Is done. For example, from the arrival case 11 of the food number “001”, five in the compartment storage space 31 assigned to the passage number 1 of the store A, three in the compartment storage space 31 assigned to the passage number 2 of the store B, Data for sorting the two into the compartment storage space 31 assigned to the passage number 1 of the store C is formed.

Under the control of the assortment equipment controller 34, the sorting work is executed in the assortment equipment as follows.
1. Prior to the sorting operation, the label printer 41 of each zone Z is driven by the assortment equipment controller 34, and a label printed with a bar code including a store and a passage number registered in each partition storage space 31 is issued. The operator attaches these labels to the sorting cases 29 of the respective compartment storage spaces 31.

2. The arrival case 11 is carried into each zone Z for each box, and when the sorting operation in each zone Z is completed, it is conveyed to the next zone Z.
3. The number of the food stored in the arrival case 11 is confirmed by the barcode data read by the barcode reader 39 at the entrance, and the assortment equipment sorting data registered in advance is searched by this food number. Sorting data in is formed. In each zone Z to which the arrival case 11 of this food number is transported, the quantity of food to be sorted to the digital display 36 of the assortment display 35 of the compartment storage space 31 to be sorted is based on the formed sorting data. Is displayed.

  4). When the sorting case 11 is carried in, each sorting operator puts food into the sorting case 29 from the receiving case 11 in accordance with the quantity displayed on the quantity display 36 of the assortment display 35 in the compartment storage space 31. When the charging is finished (sorting is finished), the completion push button switch 37 is operated. When the sorting case 29 expires, the empty sorting case 29 is assembled and stacked on top to continue the sorting operation. When the second sorting case 29 expires, the expiration pushbutton switch 38 is operated to transfer to the carry-out sorting conveyor 33. As a result, the two-stage sorting case 29 that has expired is transported to the automatic warehouse facility 22. Further, the assortment equipment controller 34 confirms the store and passage number assigned to the compartment storage space 31 in which the expiration pushbutton switch 38 is operated, and drives the label printer 41 in the zone Z to store the store and passage number. A label printed with a bar code consisting of The worker attaches this label to the empty sorting case 29 and stores it in the compartment storage space 31 to continue the assorting operation.

  5). The operator operates the zone sorting end switch 40 when the sorting operation for the arrival case 11 is completed. When the sorting work in all the zones Z is completed, the assortment equipment controller 34 drives the sorting conveyor 28 to transport the incoming case 11 to the adjacent downstream zone Z.

  6). When the sorting operation for all the incoming cases 11 is completed, the operator in each zone Z takes out the sorting case 29 from each compartment storage space 31 and transfers it to the carry-out sorting conveyor 33. As a result, the one-stage sorting case 29 that has been sorted is conveyed to the automatic warehouse facility 22.

In this way, the food from the arrival case 11 is sorted into the sorting case 29 for each store and passage number according to the order data, and is delivered to the automatic warehouse facility 22 in a two-stage or one-stage state. It is conveyed by. Moreover, when it is transported to the automatic warehouse facility 22 by two-stage loading, the storage time of the sorting case 29 in the automatic warehouse facility 22 is shortened.
"Automatic warehouse 22"
As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of automatic warehouses 51 (10 units from No. 1 to No. 10 in the figure) are arranged in parallel in the automatic warehouse facility 22. Each automatic warehouse 51 stores a plurality of cases 11, 29, and two storage shelves 53 that are installed at an interval so that the directions in and out of the cases 11, 29 face each other, and the storage shelves 53. A stacker crane (an example of a loading / unloading device) 54 that automatically travels between work paths formed between each other, an automatic warehouse controller 56 composed of a computer, and cases 11, 29 to the stacker crane 54 arranged in two upper and lower stages. , A loading conveyor (an example of a carry-in entrance) 57, and a delivery conveyor (an example of a carry-out exit) 58 that carries out cases 11 and 29 from the stacker crane 54. Each storage shelf 53 has an arm storage structure (an example of a compartment storage space) 55 capable of stacking and storing cases 11 and 29 in a maximum of 6 levels. In the direction. Each article storage unit 55 of each automatic warehouse 51 is assigned a store and a passage number (sorting destination and sorting unit) in advance, and is registered in the automatic warehouse controller 56 of each automatic warehouse 51. The controller 56 manages the number of stages of the stacked cases 11 and 29 as inventory information.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the carriage 54 </ b> A that can be moved up and down of the stacker crane 54 includes two units 11 and 29 for taking in and out the cases 11 and 29 between the article storage unit 55 and the warehousing conveyor 57 or the warehousing conveyor 58. Fork device 65 is provided. Each of the fork devices 65 includes a two-fork including a movable claw fork 67 provided with a claw portion 66 that can enter a recess at the bottom of the cases 11 and 29 and a movable scooping fork 69 that crushes the bottom of the cases 11 and 29. Since the claw 66 enters the recesses at the bottom of the cases 11 and 29, the cases 11 and 29 can be lifted and stacked, and a movable scooping fork 69 is formed. Enters the bottoms of the cases 11 and 29 so that the stacked cases 11 and 29 can be picked up at a time. As described above, the stacker crane 54 is a high-function crane having both a stacking function and a loading / unloading function.

  The sorting case 29 transported by the carry-out sorting conveyor 33 of the assorting facility 21 and the receiving case 11 transported by the first receiving conveyor 14 are joined to the entrance of the automatic warehouse facility 22 so as not to collide with each other. A confluence device 59 is provided. The cases 11 and 29 merged by the first merge device 59 are conveyed by the warehousing conveyor 61 and are carried into the branch device 60. Further, the warehousing conveyor 61 is provided with a barcode reader 64 for reading a barcode (store and passage number) from a barcode label attached to the cases 11 and 29.

  The branching device 60 is a device for branching the cases 11 and 29 transported by the warehousing conveyor 61 to the warehousing conveyor 57 of each automatic warehouse 51. In this branching device 60, stores and passage numbers assigned to each automatic warehouse 51 (controller 56) are registered in advance, and the barcode stores and passage numbers of labels read by the barcode reader 64 are collated. Then, the automatic warehouse 51 for branching the cases 11 and 29 is obtained, and the incoming conveyor 57 is branched from the incoming conveyor 61 to the incoming conveyor 57 of the obtained automatic warehouse 51. In addition, the store and passage number of the branched cases 11 and 29 are output to the automatic warehouse controller 56.

  Further, the cases 11 and 29 transported by the delivery conveyor 58 of each automatic warehouse 51 are joined by the second joining device 62 and are transported to the main transport conveyor 63, and are transported to the stacking device 23 by the main transport conveyor 63. .

The operation at the time of loading / unloading in the automatic warehouse 51 by the automatic warehouse controller 56 will be described.
"Goods receipt"
When the automatic warehouse controller 56 receives the store and passage number from the branching device 60, the automatic warehouse controller 56 obtains the article storage unit 55 to be stored based on the store and passage number of the article storage unit 55 registered in advance. The number of cases 11 and 29 is confirmed from the inventory information. When the two sets of cases 11 and 29 are conveyed to the warehousing conveyor 57, the stacker crane 54 is driven, and first, as shown in FIG. The cases 11 and 29 are transferred onto the carriage 54A by the type fork 69, and the cases 11 and 29 are conveyed to the confirmed article storage unit 55. As shown in FIG. The claw 66 of 67 is inserted into the recesses of the bottoms of the cases 11 and 29 to support the cases 11 and 29 and to be transported above the uppermost cases 11 and 29 in stock. 29 is stacked on the uppermost cases 11 and 29 from above. Update inventory data after stacking.

"Shipping"
When all the sorting is completed, the shipping operation is executed. That is, at the time of delivery, the automatic warehouse controller 56 drives the stacker crane 54 for each delivery course / store registered in advance and uses the movable scooping fork 69 of each fork device 65 as shown in FIG. Then, the bottoms of the cases 11 and 29 stacked in a maximum of 6 levels are picked up, transferred from the article storage unit 55 to the carriage 54A for each store and passage number, and the movable scooping fork 69 of the fork device 65 is used at the same time. The two cases of the cases 11 and 29 stacked in a maximum of 6 levels are discharged to the delivery conveyor 58 at the same time. Update inventory data after goods issue. In addition, the delivery order of cases 11 and 29 by store and aisle sorted by the article storage unit 55 of the automatic warehouse 51 (delivery order by delivery course and store) can be freely set, so that the degree of freedom at the time of shipment can be set. It is increasing.

Thus, in the automatic warehouse facility 22, the sorting case 29 conveyed by the carry-out sorting conveyor 33 of the assorting facility 21 and the receiving case 11 conveyed by the first receiving conveyor 14 are discriminated, and the stacker crane 54 is driven. The stores and passage numbers are stacked (sorted) in the article storage unit 55 assigned in advance. When sorting is completed, the cases 11 and 29 stacked for each store and passage number are concentrated and delivered in the order of delivery by delivery course and store.
"Stacking device 23"
The stacking device 23 is a device that stacks the cases 11 and 29, which are transported by the main transport conveyor 63 for each store and stacked by store and passage number, up and down (up to 12 steps). The stacked cases 11 and 29 are transported to the shipping area 3 by the transport conveyor 68 after stacking. In addition, the cases 11 and 29 stacked in different stores are not stacked.
"Kago car picking equipment 24"
The basket car picking equipment 24 is composed of a horizontal rotating shelf equipment. As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of pedestals 71 on which the car cars 12 are placed are linked, and an endless oval lower (floor) rail 72 is provided. The upper rail 73 having the same shape as that is supported and guided via a roller or the like, and the plurality of cradles 71 are simultaneously moved forward and backward. As a driving device for simultaneously moving the plurality of cradles 71 forward and backward, a drive shaft 78 and a driven shaft 79 standing near the center of the arc inside the rails 72 and 73 and the shafts 78 and 79 are attached. A driving wheel body 80 and a driven wheel body 81, an endless rotating body 82 wound between the two wheel bodies 80, 81 and connected to each pedestal 71, and forward / reverse driving freely linked to the driving shaft 78. A motor 83 is provided.

  In addition, a loading / unloading controller 84 comprising a computer is provided at a loading / unloading exit for loading / unloading the cart 12 on the receiving platform 71, and a sorting controller 85 comprising a computer is provided at a sorting port for sorting the receiving case 11 from the cart 12. There is provided a label printer 86 that issues a barcode label printed with a barcode including a store and a passage number (the same as the sorting barcode label attached by the label attaching machine 8 in the arrival area 1). Further, the sorting controller 4 determines the quantity of the storage case 11 of the food number to be picked for each store and aisle from the data shown in FIG. 2, and forms car car picking equipment data. The car car picking equipment data Are previously registered in the sorting controller 85.

  The stock controller 84 stores the quantity and the food number of the stock cases 11 loaded with the carts 12 mounted on the cradle 71 as inventory data. When the worker transports the cart 12 from the receiving area 1, the worker inputs a warehousing request to the warehousing controller 84, and the warehousing controller 84 obtains an empty cradle 71 from the inventory data in response to the warehousing request. Then, the motor 83 is driven to move the empty cradle 71 to the carry-in / out port. When the empty cradle 71 is moved to the loading / unloading exit, the operator places the cart 12 on the empty cradle 71 and inputs the quantity and food number of the incoming case 11 to the warehouse controller 84. As a result, the inventory data is updated and stored. In addition, when the operator lowers the cart 12 from the cradle 71, the worker inputs a warehousing request including a food number to the warehousing / exiting controller 84, and the warehousing / unloading controller 84 searches inventory data in response to the warehousing request. Then, the cradle 71 on which the basket car 12 having the inputted food number is mounted is obtained, and the motor 83 is driven to move the cradle 71 to the loading / unloading port. When the cradle 71 moves to the loading / unloading port and the car 12 is moved to the loading / unloading port, the operator lowers the car 12 from the cradle 71 and inputs the end of warehousing to the loading / unloading controller 84. As a result, the inventory data is updated and stored (registered as an empty cradle 71).

  Further, according to an instruction from the sorting controller 85 provided in the sorting port, sorting work for each warehousing case 11 is executed. That is, the store and passage number are instructed to the operator by the sorting controller 85, and a label on which a barcode including the store and passage number is printed is issued from the label printer 86. The operator attaches the issued label to the shipping cart 88 and transfers the designated quantity of the storage case 11 to the shipping cart 88 from the cart 12 which is moved to the sorting port by the sorting controller 85. The transfer completion is input to the sorting controller 85. This is performed every time the car 12 is moved to the sorting port. When the delivery operation for the shipping cart 88 is completed, the shipping cart 88 is transported to the shipping area 3.

In this way, when a group of arrival cases 11 are received by the basket car 12 in the basket car picking facility 24, the stores and passage numbers are classified in units of the arrival cases 11 from the basket car 12 (units of sorting destinations and sorting destinations). The incoming cases 11 are sorted and mounted on the shipping cart 88 and transported to the shipping area 3.
[Shipping area]
In the shipping area 3, the cases 11 and 29 stacked in a maximum of 12 levels conveyed from the stacking device 23 by the conveying conveyor 68 after stacking are transferred to the shipping cart 88 for each store by the operator. The number is transferred so that the number can be distinguished, and then the store and passage number are confirmed and merged by the shipping cart 88 and the label for each store and passage number transported from the basket car picking facility 24, and the delivery route Each store is mounted on a transport vehicle 13 such as a truck and transported to each store.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the arrival case 11 is sorted into two lines of the first route and the second route, one of which is the assortment equipment 21, and the food is stored in the store and the passage number unit from the arrival case 11. The sorting case 29 is transported to the automatic warehouse facility 22, and the receiving case 11 is directly transported to the automatic warehouse facility 22 with the store and passage number specified, and is connected to the receiving case 11. The sorting cases 29 are stacked and stored in the article storage section (section storage space) 55 of the automatic warehouse 51 for each store and passage number unit, that is, the automatic warehouse equipment 22 performs sorting for each store and passage number. Can save labor in sorting foods that are easy to collapse such as fixed temperature products and bread, and food that is easy to collapse It can be automated store and a passage number specific task of sorting by the case of housing the casing (stock casing 11 and the sorting case 29), and it is possible to more completely automated. Further, by using the article storage unit (section storage space) 55 of the automatic warehouse 51 provided in the traveling direction of a plurality of upper and lower multi-stages and the stacker crane 54, the sorting operation according to the store and the passage number is executed. Space saving and low cost can be achieved compared to the extrusion type (shoe slide type) automatic sorting device {the extrusion type (shoe slide type) automatic sorting device is arranged in a plane, according to store and passage number A sorting chute is required}. In addition, since the receiving case 11, or the sorting case 29, or the receiving case 11 and the sorting case 29 are sorted for each store and passage number unit from the automatic warehouse facility 22, sorting in multiple categories that is difficult by hand is possible. . Furthermore, by carrying out and shipping for each store and passage number, shipment in units of stores and passage numbers, that is, delivery by passage can be realized.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the arrival cases 11 are a group, for example, when a large amount of arrival case containers are received by the basket car 12, the basket car picking facility 24 is used to directly By sorting in units of passage numbers, it is possible to quickly sort a large number of incoming cases 11.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the receiving case 11, or the sorting case 29, or the receiving case 11 and the sorting case 29 are sent out from the automatic warehouse 51, the use of the two fork devices 65 increases the shipping efficiency. This can be improved, and the time required for unloading the cases 11 and 29 can be shortened. Therefore, it takes a long time (for example, 10 hours) to arrive at a food product such as a constant temperature product, and an optimal sorting system can be provided as a system that simultaneously ships in a short time (for example, 2 hours).

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the cases 11 and 29 are transferred (warehousing) to the article storage unit 55, the claw portion 66 of the movable claw fork 67 is caused to enter the concave portion at the bottom of the cases 11 and 29, By supporting the cases 11 and 29 and transporting them above the stocked uppermost cases 11 and 29, stacking the transported cases 11 and 29 on the uppermost cases 11 and 29 from above. In a simple procedure, the warehousing operation can be executed and the warehousing time can be shortened.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the traceability is put into practice by the sorting controller 4, so that the sorting results can be accurately and reliably grasped in the case unit (the lot number of the receiving case 11).

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, food is sorted using the assorting equipment 21 and the automatic warehouse equipment 22, so that the food can be compared with the case of using an extrusion type (shoe slide type) automatic sorting device. The impact on (products) can be reduced, and the number of automation targets can be greatly increased (increasing investment effects).

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the delivery order of the cases 11 and 29 (stacks of cases in which the goods have been sorted) classified by the store and the passages sorted into the article storage unit 55 of the automatic warehouse 51 can be freely adjusted according to the delivery order. Can be controlled and the degree of freedom of shipment can be increased.

In the present embodiment, the unit of the sorting destination is set for each store passage, but it may be set for each store partition, shelf, or category.
In the present embodiment, the areas 1, 2, and 3 of the sorting system are set to an environment having a predetermined temperature necessary for maintaining the food to be handled, but the temperature can be set for each facility in the area. For example, in the unmanned automatic warehouse facility 22, the temperature is set to about 4 ° C. suitable for long-term storage of chilled products, and in the assort facility 21, the worker sets the temperature so as not to affect the worker.

  In the present embodiment, the arrival cases 11 are sorted into the first route and the second route using the branching device 6 in the arrival area 1, but manually based on the case sorting data shown in FIG. It is also possible to sort the arrival cases 11. According to the manual, a plurality of arrival cases 11 for each store and passage number are stacked in advance, and in the data shown in FIG. 3A, two arrival cases 11 of food number “001” are stacked, The first route to the automatic warehouse facility 22 can be sorted, and the warehousing time in the automatic warehouse facility 22 can be shortened. In addition, the barcode label of a store and a passage number is attached to the arrival case 11 by the label sticking machine 8 on the way.

  In this embodiment, the controller 56 of the automatic warehouse 51 manages the inventory information of the cases 11 and 29 stored in the respective article storage units 55. However, the sorting controller 4 stores the inventory information of each automatic warehouse 51. Information may be managed.

  In this embodiment, the sorting conveyor 28 of the assorting equipment 21 is configured by an accumulation conveyor. However, the sorting conveyor 28 is not limited to the accumulation conveyor, and a stopper for preventing the movement of the receiving case 11 is provided at the end of each zone Z. You may form with the conveyor provided. When holding the arrival case 11, the stopper is raised to prevent the arrival case 11 from being carried out, and when carrying out to the adjacent downstream zone, the stopper is lowered to allow the arrival case 11 to be carried out. In addition, a fixed shelf is used as the sorting shelf 32 of the assorting facility 21. However, when the sorting case 29 that has expired is taken out using the fluidized shelf, an empty sorting case 29 comes to the front. You can also.

  In the present embodiment, the cart 12 is used as a means for receiving the arrival case 11, but the cart 12 is not limited to the cart 12, and a cart, a pallet, or the like can also be used. Further, although the shipping cart 88 is used as a transporting means for the cases 11 and 29 to be shipped, a cart, a pallet, or the like can be used similarly.

It is a block diagram of the sorting system in embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the order data to the same sorting system. It is explanatory drawing of the data for sorting of the sorting system. It is the top view and front view of the assortment equipment of the sorting system. It is a top view of the automatic warehouse equipment of the sorting system. It is a principal part side view of the stacker crane of the automatic warehouse equipment of the sorting system. It is explanatory drawing of the fork apparatus of the stacker crane of the automatic warehouse equipment of the sorting system. It is the top view and front view of the cage picking equipment of the sorting system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Arrival area 2 Sorting area 3 Shipping area 4 Sorting controller 6 Branching device 8 Label sticking machine 11 Incoming case 12 Basket car 21 Assortment equipment 22 Automatic warehouse equipment 23 Stacking equipment 24 Basket picking equipment 28 Sorting conveyor 29 Sorting case 31 Section Storage space 32 Sorting shelf 35 Assorted display 51 Automatic warehouse 53 Storage shelf 54 Stacker crane 56 Automatic warehouse controller 57 Warehousing conveyor 58 Shipping conveyor 59,62 Junction device 60 Branch device 65 Fork device 66 Claw part 67 Movable claw fork 69 Movable scoop Type fork 71 cradle 84 controller for loading and unloading 85 controller for sorting 88 car for shipping

Claims (4)

In accordance with the request information of the articles for each unit of each sorting destination sent from a plurality of sorting destinations, the sorting system for sorting the articles for each sorting destination and each unit of the sorting destination,
Sorting equipment for sorting the goods into the sorting container of the sorting destination and the sorting destination unit, which can be stacked with the receiving container, from the receiving container that has received and received the goods according to the request information of the goods; ,
Provided with a plurality of compartment storage spaces, and a loading / unloading device for taking in and out the stock containers and the sorting containers, or the stock containers and the sorting containers between the compartment storage space and the loading / unloading outlet, An article storage facility to which the sorting destination and the unit of the sorting destination are assigned;
Transporting the receiving container to the sorting facility, sorting articles from the receiving container into the sorting container in units of the sorting destination and the sorting destination, transporting the sorting container or the receiving container to the article storage facility, and sorting them The sorting destination and the sorting unit of the container or the receiving container are determined, the loading / unloading device is driven and stacked in the compartment storage space assigned to the sorting destination and the sorting unit, and the sorting is performed from the article storage facility. A sorting system that unloads and ships the receiving container or the sorting container or the receiving container and the sorting container for each unit of a destination and a sorting destination. In accordance with the request information of the articles for each unit of each sorting destination sent from a plurality of sorting destinations, the sorting system for sorting the articles for each sorting destination and each unit of the sorting destination,
A plurality of compartment storage spaces and a loading / unloading device for loading / unloading a container for storing articles between the compartment storage space and the loading / unloading port are provided, and each of the compartment storage spaces is assigned a unit of the sorting destination and the sorting destination. Provided article storage facilities,
Discriminating the sorting destination and the unit of the sorting destination of the receiving container that has received and received the article, and driving the loading / unloading device to stack in the compartment storage space assigned to the sorting destination and the unit of the sorting destination. The sorting system is characterized in that the receiving container is unloaded from the article storage unit and shipped for each unit of the sorting destination and the sorting destination. When the arrival container is received in a group, the container is provided with a second sorting facility that sorts the arrival container into the sorting destination and the sorting destination unit from each group,
The receiving container sorted by the second sorting facility and the receiving container or the sorting container carried out from the article storage facility, or the receiving container and the sorting container are joined to the unit of the sorting destination and the sorting destination. 3. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein the sorting system is shipped. The loading / unloading device includes a movable claw fork provided with a claw portion that can enter the bottom of the receiving container and the sorting container,
When storing the receiving container or the sorting container, or the receiving container and the sorting container in the compartment storage space, the receiving container or the sorting container, or the receiving container and the sorting by the claw portion of the movable claw fork. The container is supported, and stacked by placing it on the uppermost receiving container or sorting container stored in the compartment storage space from above. Sorting system described in

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