JP5338692B2 - Picking equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a picking facility that enables picking of articles by collection, for example, for each store.

An example of the conventional picking equipment is disclosed in Patent Document 1.
The picking facility disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a slip input area, a picking area, and an inspection packing area. A slip input line is arranged in the slip input area, a main transport line is arranged in the picking area, and an inspection packing line is arranged in the inspection packing area. These slip input line, main transport line and inspection packing line are It is connected in series so that a large number of transfer containers can circulate.

The slip entry area includes a plurality of, for example, four slip entry stations that place the slips issued for each order into empty transport containers and put them on the slip insertion line to start.
The picking area is an area for order picking products, and includes a large number of product picking islands and a small number of specific product picking islands. A large number of products that are mail-ordered are divided into a large number of products, such as A-rank products to C-rank products, so that each product can be evenly placed. Items belonging to the group are stored.

  Picking at each of the commodity picking islands is performed by dropping a transport container to each commodity picking island at a commodity picking line that branches off from the main transport line and merges again.

  In addition, the specific product picking island stores products common to many orders, for example, products such as rank A products and specific products, but products with a large shipment amount that are provided to many customers. Yes. The picking of the specific product picking island is also performed by stopping the transport container at the specific product picking island through the specific product picking line provided in parallel with the main transport line.

  The inspection packing area is an area for collecting transport containers storing products for one order, taking out the products from the transport containers, inspecting them, and packing them in a box. It consists of an inspection packing chute line that branches to a station. When goods are taken out from the transport container at each packing station, the empty transport container passes through the internal return line that circulates through each packing station, and the external return line that connects this to the slip input line. Go back to.

  With the above configuration, the transport container can freely branch from the main transport line to any product picking island and specific product picking island, and can join again, and other product picking island and specific product picking You can freely pass without stopping at the island. Since there are various orders from customers, the products and specific products to be put into each transport container are also different. On the other hand, each transport container stops at a different product picking island and a specific product picking island, and the picked product is input, and another product picking island and the specific product picking island pass. As a result, each transport container accommodates almost freely picked products and transports them to the inspection packing area without waiting for the traveling or picking operation of another transport container.

  As described above, the picking facility disclosed in Patent Document 1 is characterized in that order picking is possible by picking by moving each transport container at random, and shortening the shipping lead time. be able to.

JP 2001-253515 A

  However, in the conventional picking equipment, when a product is transferred from the transport container to the shipping box in the inspection packing area, it is necessary to select an optimal shipping box according to the volume of the product. Since the selection of the shipping box is made by visual judgment by an operator arranged in the inspection packing area, there is a possibility that a box having an inappropriate volume with respect to the volume of the collected goods may be selected. It was. For this reason, it is necessary to newly select a shipping box having an appropriate volume, resulting in a decrease in efficiency. Furthermore, since the boxes for shipping are piled up in the inspection packing area, the inspection packing area becomes complicated, which causes a wrong packing.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a picking facility capable of avoiding the complexity in the packing area and preventing the occurrence of erroneous packing.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is based on order information of articles from a sorting destination assigned to each collection container. A picking facility having a picking area in which the picked-up items are collected, and the goods collected in the picked-up containers for each picked-up container in which the picked-up items are completed downstream of the picking area A packing container input area in which a packing container to be packed is placed, and the packing container input area has a plurality of compartment mounting spaces on which packing containers having different article storage volumes are respectively mounted. And a display unit for displaying a compartment placement space of the packaging container placement unit for taking out the packaging container, and the goods are collected in the collection container based on order information of articles from the sorting destination. The volume of the goods Therefore, based on the determined volume, a packing container having a storage capacity for an article satisfying the determined volume is selected from the plurality of packing containers, and the compartment mounting space in which the selected packing container is stored And a control means for displaying the obtained section placement space by the display means.

  According to the above configuration, the volume of the articles collected in the collection container is obtained based on the order information of the articles from the sorting destination, and is obtained from the plurality of packing containers based on the obtained volume. A packaging container having a storage capacity for an article satisfying the determined volume is selected, and a partition placement space in which the selected packaging container is stored is displayed by the display means. As a result, the operator in the packing container input area can take out the optimum packing container from the compartment placement space displayed by the display means without judging the volume of the articles in the collection container. In this way, the packaging container is put into the collection container according to the indication on the display means so that the working time is shortened, and a packaging container having a storage capacity that satisfies the volume of the article obtained from the plurality of packaging containers is selected. And displayed, reducing the possibility of an incorrect packaging container being selected incorrectly.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, further comprising a conveyance line for conveying the plurality of collection containers, and each collection container has an article from the sorting destination. Ordering information is recorded so that the order information can be identified, and an order for an article from a sorting destination is provided between the picking area and the packing container input area by the identifying means provided in the collection container. Order information reading means for reading information that can identify the information is provided, and the packing container loading area has a stop means for temporarily stopping the collection container transported by the transport line, and cancels the stop by the stop means. And an instruction means for transporting the collection container, and when the identification means is read by the order information reading means, the control means drives the stop means to temporarily stop the collection container. Based on the read order information of articles from the sorting destination of the identification means, the display means displays a section placement space in which the selected packing container is stored, and the instruction means is operated. And the stopping means is released to transport the collection container.

  According to the above configuration, when the identification means is read by the order information reading means, the collection container is temporarily stopped by the stopping means, and the display means is based on the read order information of the articles from the sorting destination of the identification means. The compartment mounting space in which the packaging container selected by the above is stored is displayed, and the packaging container taken out from the displayed compartment placement space is put into the temporarily stopped collection container, and the instruction means is operated. Then, the stop of the collection container by the stopping means is released and the collection container is transported. Thereby, it becomes possible to put the packing container taken out from the compartment mounting space into the collection container without making a mistake.

  Then, when the instruction unit is operated, the stop of the collection container by the stop unit is released, and when the collection container into which the packing container is charged is conveyed, the next collection container is temporarily stopped by the stop unit. .

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the control means stores in advance the volume of articles to be collected, and the control means The volume of the articles collected in the collection container is calculated based on the order information of the articles from and the volume of each stored article, and the volume of the selected packaging container is calculated based on the calculated volume. A packing container having a storage capacity for an article satisfying the determined volume is selected from the inside.

  According to the above configuration, the volume of the articles collected in the collection container is calculated based on the order information of the articles from the sorting destination and the stored volume of each article, and based on the calculated volume Then, the packing container having the storage capacity of the article satisfying the determined volume is selected from the selected packing containers.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the articles collected in the collection container are located downstream of the packing container input area. An inspection packing area for performing inspection and packing of the article is arranged, and each of the articles is provided with an article identifying means in which information for identifying the article is recorded, and the inspection packing area is attached to the article. Article reading means for reading information for identifying the article from the article identification means, and the control means, when each article collected in the collection container is transferred from the collection container to the packaging container, When the information for identifying the article in the collection container is read by the article reading means, the article is inspected based on the order information of the article from the sorting destination assigned to the collection container. Is.

  According to the above configuration, when each article collected in the collection container is transferred from the collection container to the packaging container, information identifying the article in the collection container is read by the article reading unit. The goods are inspected based on the order information from the sorting destination assigned to the collection container. As a result, the transfer of each article from the collection container to the packing container and the inspection of the article are performed with one touch, the work time is shortened, and the possibility of erroneous packaging is reduced.

  The picking equipment of the present invention calculates the volume of articles collected in the collection container based on the order information of the articles from the sorting destination, and from among the plurality of packing containers based on the calculated volume. A packing container having a storage capacity for an article satisfying the calculated volume is selected, a partition placement space in which the selected packing container is stored is displayed by the display means, and the packaging containers are collected according to the instructions of the display means. Since the work time can be shortened by being put in the product container, and the packing container having the storage capacity satisfying the calculated volume of the article is selected and displayed from among the plurality of packing containers, the packaging is not appropriate. This has the effect of reducing the possibility of selecting the container by mistake.

It is a principal part perspective view of the packing box input area of the picking equipment in embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part perspective view of the inspection packing area of the picking equipment. It is a whole block diagram of the picking equipment. It is a principal part plane block diagram of the picking area of the picking equipment. It is a side block diagram of the picking area of the picking equipment. It is a control block diagram of the packing box input area and inspection packing area of the picking equipment. It is a figure which shows the picking data formed with the general controller of the picking equipment. It is a figure of the data of the picking equipment, (a) is the container number and user number data formed by the overall controller, (b) is the article number and volume data of the article formed by the overall controller, (C) is data of the frontage formed by the packing box input controller and the volume of the packing box stored in the frontage. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the packing box insertion controller of the picking equipment. It is a whole block diagram of the picking installation in other embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a picking facility according to an embodiment of the present invention. A picking facility 10 includes an empty container loading area (not shown), a picking area 11 and a packing box loading area 12 (packaging container loading area). 1), an inspection packing area 13, a storage area 14, and a shipping area (not shown).

  The picking facility 10 places an order based on order information of an article 21 (including information on the item and quantity of the article 21; hereinafter referred to as article order information) from a user (an example of a sorting destination) registered in advance. Collected articles 21 (see FIG. 2) are collected in a collection container 22 (see FIG. 2), and the collected articles 21 are selected based on the total volume of the collected articles 21 (for example, cardboard or the like). An example of a packaging container; see FIG. 2), which is a picking facility 10 that is packaged and shipped to a user.

  First, before explaining in detail the configuration, control, action, etc. of the packing box input area 12 and the inspection packing area 13 which are the main parts of the present invention, the collection container 22 and the receiving container 39 (described later) are transported. The outline of the line, the picking area 11 and the storage area 14 will be described.

“Line for transporting collection container 22 and arrival container 39”
A transport line 26 for transporting a plurality of collection containers 22 is laid along each area over an empty container input area (not shown), a picking area 11, a packing box input area 12, and an inspection packing area 13. Further, only the picking area 11 is provided with a bypass line 27 parallel to the transport line 26 and transporting a plurality of collection containers 22 independently of the transport line 26. In addition, the storage area 14 and the picking area 11 are connected to each other, and a delivery line 28A (see FIG. 5) for transporting a container 39 (described later) to be replenished to the picking area 11 from the storage area 14 is returned from the picking area 11. In addition, a replenishment line 28 comprising a warehousing line 28 </ b> B (see FIG. 5) for conveying the incoming container 39 to the storage area 14 is laid. Further, the inspection packing area 13 is connected to an empty container input area (not shown) of the transfer line 26 and a portion located between the picking area 11 and the collection container 22 (empty in the inspection packing area 13 ( A collection container return line 29 for returning (to be described later) to the transport line 26 is laid. In addition, a shipping line 30 is laid to connect the packing box input area 12 and a shipping area (not shown) and transport the packing box 23 packed in the packing box input area 12 to the shipping area. The transport line 26, bypass line 27, replenishment line 28, collection container return line 29, and shipping line 30 form a transport path for the collection container 22 and the receiving container 39. For example, each is driven independently. Formed from a roller driven conveyor.

  A container label 24 (see FIG. 2) on which a barcode (container number) for identifying the collection container 22 is printed is attached to the collection container 22. In addition, a container bar code reader 34 </ b> A that reads the bar code of the container label 24 is provided in the transport line 26 downstream of the confluence of the collection container return line 29 and upstream of the picking area 11.

"Picking area 11"
In the picking area 11, a flow rack (picking shelf) 43 is provided along the transport line 26 and the bypass line 27.

  Further, the flow rack 43 is divided into four zones Z (1) to Z (4) for performing the picking operation. The bypass line 27 is provided for each zone Z, and the transport line 26 includes the zone Z (1 ) To Z (4) are provided with branching devices 31 for branching the collection containers 22 to the bypass lines 27, respectively. Further, a container barcode reader 34 </ b> B that reads the barcode of the container label 24 attached to the collection container 22 is provided upstream of each branching device 31.

  In addition, on the upstream side in the most upstream zone Z (1), a receiving container 39 in which low-frequency items with low order frequency are stored is a collection container 22 to which the user is assigned according to the user's order. The low-frequency product picking area 42 that is delivered in a timely manner is arranged.

  In addition, on the back side of the flow rack 43 (on the side opposite to the conveying line 26), the container 39 for collecting the articles 21 to be collected is stored in the flow rack 43 and the low-frequency picking area 42. A replenishing conveying means 58 is arranged.

  In the picking area 11, the picking operation is performed on each of the plurality of collection containers 22 branched from the transport line 26 and transported to the bypass line 27 in each zone Z.

"Conveying means 58"
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the conveying means 58 includes a pair of running rails 65 laid along the back side of the flow rack 43, and a pair that moves up and down along each rail 65. Each article carrier 66 is supported by an elevator body 67 that moves up and down while supporting the receiving container 39, and is disposed on the elevator body 67 with the side surface of the receiving container 39 sandwiched between them. And a fork 68 capable of transferring the receiving container 39 between the elevator 67 and the conveyors 75 and 77 (to be described later) of the frontage 40 or the low-frequency product picking area 42 or a loading / unloading port of the replenishment line 28. .

"Flow rack 43"
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the flow rack 43 has a plurality of entrances 40 capable of continuously storing a plurality of receiving containers 39, and the most upstream zone Z (1) has three stages 10 The frontage 40 of the row (total 30 pieces) is assigned, and the frontage 40 of the third stage 15 rows (total 45 pieces) is assigned to each of the other zones Z. In addition, one type of article 21 specified by the product type is assigned to each frontage 40. A high frequency product with a high order frequency is assigned to the flow rack 43 in each zone Z.

  Each frontage 40 is provided with a picking indicator 35. Each picking indicator 35 includes a three-digit digital quantity indicator 36 for displaying the quantity of articles 21 to be picked, and a completion pushbutton switch 37 with a red lamp operated when the picking operation is completed.

"Bypass line 27"
As shown in FIG. 4, each bypass line 27 is carried in by a carry-in roller drive conveyor 71 for carrying the collection container 22 branched from the branch device 31 of the carry line 26 into the zone Z, and by this carry-in roller drive conveyor 71. The free conveyor 72 that forms a zone for picking the collected collection container 22 and the unloading roller drive conveyor 73 that returns (unloads) the collected collection container 22 to the transport line 26 are formed.

Further, the free conveyor 72 is provided with a picking end display switch 41 that also serves as a lamp and a button switch for displaying the end of picking.
"Low frequency product picking area 42"
The low-frequency product picking area 42 includes a receiving conveyor 75 including an accumulation conveyor for transferring the receiving container 39 carried out from the article carrier 66, and a zone for picking the receiving container 39 carried in by the receiving conveyor 75. A free conveyor 76 to be formed and a delivery conveyor 77 comprising an accumulation conveyor for returning (unloading) the picked-in container 39 to the storage area 14 via the article carrier 66 are formed on the free conveyor 76. The same picking indicator 35 as the picking indicator 35 provided at 40 is provided.

"Storage area 14"
The storage area 14 is composed of a plurality of automatic warehouses 60 in which a frontage 40 of the flow rack 43 in the picking area 11 and a receiving container 39 supplied to the low-frequency product picking area 42 are stored.

  Incoming containers 39 supplied to each frontage 40 of the flow rack 43 in the picking area 11 and the receiving conveyor 75 in the low frequency goods picking area 42 are stacked from each shelf of the automatic warehouse 60 in accordance with an order from the user. The delivery container 39 taken out by 61 and put out is put into a delivery line 28 </ b> A of the replenishment line 28. In addition, the receiving container 39 returned by the receiving line 28 </ b> B is stored in each shelf of the automatic warehouse 60 by the stacker crane 61.

"Action"
The operation of the empty container charging area (not shown), the picking area 11, the storage area 14, and the respective lines will be schematically described.

  First, the articles 21 to be collected are assigned to the front doors 40, and before the picking operation, the receiving container 39 storing the respective goods 21 is taken out from the storage area 14 and stored in the front doors 40. . That is, each receiving container 39 is carried into the target front opening 40.

  When article order information is input from each user, first, the order of users assigned to empty collection containers 22 that are sequentially transported by the transport line 26 is set. Next, the low-frequency products are separated from the article order information of each user, and the receiving container 39 storing the low-frequency products is delivered in the order of the users, and is loaded into the storage conveyor 75 in the low-frequency product picking area 42. In the warehousing conveyor 75, the unloaded container 39 is sequentially conveyed to the front of the free conveyor 76.

  Then, for each user, based on the article order information and information on the article 21 assigned to each frontage 40 {low-frequency goods are assigned to zone Z (1)}, user-articles for each zone Z Picking information consisting of picking quantities is formed (see FIG. 7).

  When the picking operation is started, first, an empty collection container 22 is introduced into the transport line 26 from an empty container input area (not shown), and the container label of the empty collection container 22 transported by the transport line 26 is displayed. The 24 bar codes are read by the container bar code reader 34A, and the users are assigned to the read bar codes in order according to the user order.

  When the barcode of the container label 24 of the collection container 22 is read by the container barcode reader 34B upstream of each branching device 31, the user assigned to the collection container 22 is specified by this barcode. Based on the picking information by the identified user, it is determined whether or not the picking operation is to be executed in the zone Z branched by the branching device 31, and if it is determined to be executed, the branching device 31 branches. If it is determined not to execute, it is conveyed downstream without branching.

The collection container 22 branched by the branching device 31 is conveyed by the carry-in roller drive conveyor 71 and carried out to the free conveyor 72.
In addition, the users assigned to the collection containers 22 branched by the branching device 31 are stored in order, and in accordance with the picked information corresponding to the user, the front opening 40 picked by the picking indicator 35 in the zone Z is stored. In the low-frequency item picking area 42, the container 39 is cut out to the free conveyor 76 by the warehousing conveyor 75, and the picking indicator 35 in the low-frequency item picking area 42 is used to pick the article 21 (low The number of frequency items is displayed.

  The worker H in the zone Z picks the article 21 in accordance with the picking indicator 45, presses the completion push button switch 47 of the picking indicator 35, and applies to the leading collection container 22 carried out to the free conveyor 72. throw into. When the picking of all articles 21 is completed, the picking end display switch 41 confirms that the lamp indicating the picking end is turned on, and pushes the button switch to input the picked container 22 into the carry-out roller drive conveyor 73. To do. Thus, the collection container 22 for which picking has been completed is conveyed by the carry-out roller drive conveyor 73, merged to the conveyance line 26, and conveyed downstream. Further, in response to the operation of the button switch of the picking end display switch 41, the picking operation for the next collection container 22 is indicated by the picking indicator 35.

  When picking is completed in the low-frequency product picking area 42, the worker H pushes the receiving container 39 from the free conveyor 76 to the unloading conveyor 77, whereby the receiving container 39 picked by the unloading conveyor 77 reaches the tip. The containers 39 that have been moved and loaded into the warehousing line 28 </ b> B of the replenishment line 28 by the article transporter 66 and are transported by the warehousing line 28 </ b> B are stored in each shelf of the automatic warehouse 60 by the stacker crane 61.

As described above, in each zone Z, the collection container 22 that has been picked is transported to the packing box input area 12 by the transport line 26.
Hereinafter, the configuration, control, operation, and the like of the packing box input area 12 and the inspection packing area 13 which are the main parts of the present invention will be described in detail.

"Packing box input area 12"
The packing box input area 12 is an area in which the packing box 23 is input to the collection container 22 in which the picking of the article 21 has been completed. As shown in FIG. A fixed container bar code reader 34C for reading the bar code of the container label 24 affixed to the collection container 22 is provided along the transport line 26. 52 (an example of a compartmental placement space), and a packing box storage shelf 51 (packing container mounting part) in which each of the frontage 52 stores (loads) a packing box 23 having different storable volumes of articles 21 And a stopper 54 (an example of a stopping means) for stopping the collected container 22 that has been transported is provided on the transport line 26. In addition, each opening 52 displays the removal of the stored packaging box 23 to the worker H by lighting, and a pushbutton switch 53 with a lamp (operating display means) operated by the worker H when the loading operation of the packaging box 23 is completed. One example, one example of instruction means) is provided.

As also packing box 23, as shown in FIG. 8 (c) in accordance with the number of frontage _{52, V 1, V 2,} V 3, ... packaging box 23 of the retractable volume of 12 types of articles 21 of the _{V 12} is Prepared and stored in each frontage 52 of the packing box storage shelf 51 for each type.

"Inspection packing area 13"
The inspection packing area 13 is an area for inspecting the articles 21 collected in the collection container 22 in the picking area 11, and transferring and packing the articles 21 to the packaging box 23. As shown in FIG. A hand-type container bar code reader 55A for reading the bar code of the container label 24 affixed to the collection container 22, and a bar code (an example of an item identification means) 25 affixed to the article 21 An example of information to be identified; for example, a fixed article barcode reader 55B that reads an article number) and a liquid crystal display 56 are provided. When the picking operation is completed by the transfer line 26 and the collection container 22 into which the packing box 23 is loaded is transferred, the packing box 23 loaded into the collection container 22 by the worker H in the inspection packing area 13 is transported. Is assembled. When the barcode of the container label 24 attached to the collection container 22 is read by the container barcode reader 55A, the barcode of the article label 25 attached to the article 21 is read by the article barcode reader 55B. Then, transfer / packaging of the article 21 to the packing box 23 is performed. Thereby, since inspection work and packing work are performed with one touch, the possibility of erroneous packing can be reduced.

  If it is determined that the product is normal as a result of the inspection, the packaging box 23 is covered and attached with a shipping label (not shown), and then put into the shipping line 30. The shipping line 30 supplies a shipping area (not shown). )).

"Control Configuration"
As a control means for the packing box input area 12 and the inspection packing area 13, as shown in FIG. 6, a general controller 81, a packing box input controller 84, and an inspection controller 85 are provided. The overall controller 81 and the packing box loading controller 84 constitute an example of the control means.

"General controller 81"
The overall controller 81 is connected with a packing box loading controller 84 and an inspection controller 85, and the following data is set or inputted in advance.

-Numbers assigned to pre-registered users (user numbers).
-Pre-registered article order information of each user (total picking data; see FIG. 7). Note that an article 21 is assigned to each of the front ends 40 of each zone Z (information specifying the article 21, for example, an article number is assigned).

The overall controller 81 has the following functions.
(I). An operation start command and an end command are output to the packing box loading controller 84 and the inspection controller 85.

  (B). As described above, the user numbers are sequentially assigned to the empty container input area (not shown) and the container number of the collection container 22 transported by the transport line 26 {see FIG. 8A}.

“Packing box input controller 84”
The packing box loading controller 84 is a controller for controlling the packing box loading area 12. As shown in FIG. 6, a general controller 81, a container barcode reader 34C, a push button switch 53 with a lamp, and a stopper 54 are connected. From the general controller 81, the start command and the end command of the work, the entire picking data, and the user number (hereinafter referred to as container user data) assigned to each collection container 22 (container number) are input. The next data is preset.

  Information on the volume of each article 21 collected in the picking area 11 {volume data for each article number; hereinafter referred to as article volume data; see FIG. 8 (b)}. These volume information is used when the size of the packaging box 23 is selected.

  The storage capacity of the article 21 in the packing box 23 stored in each frontage 52 of the packing box storage shelf 51 in the packing box input area 12 (hereinafter referred to as packing box volume data; see FIG. 8C). These volume information is used when the size of the packaging box 23 is selected.

  The function of the packing box input controller 84 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. It is assumed that a work start command is input from the overall controller 81. Also, when a work end command is input, the function is stopped.

When an operation start signal is input, the following steps are executed in advance for each user {see FIG. 9A}.
Step-a1
Based on the user number, the entire picking data is searched to obtain article order information of this user.

Step-a2
The article volume data is searched by the article number of the article 21 included in the article order information of the user, and the volume of each article 21 is obtained.

Step-a3
Subsequently, the volume of each article 21 is multiplied by the order quantity, and these multiplied volumes are added to obtain the total volume of the articles 21 in the collection container 22.

Step-a4
Based on the obtained total volume, the packaging box volume data is searched, and an appropriate packaging box 23 that satisfies the total volume and has the smallest capacity that can be stored is selected.

Step-a5
Packing box selection data including the user number and the selected packing box 23 is formed and stored.

  As described above, the packing box insertion controller 84 calculates the volume of the articles 21 collected in the collection container 22 based on the user's article order information and the volume of each article 21 for each user. Based on the selected volume, an appropriate packing box 23 is selected from the selected packing boxes 23. The packing box 23 has a capacity capable of storing the articles 21 that satisfies the calculated volume.

When the packaging box 23 is conveyed to the packaging box input area 12, the next step is executed {see FIG. 9B}.
Step-b1 and step-b2
When the reading of the barcode (container number) printed on the container label 24 of the collection container 22 is input by the container barcode reader 34C, the stopper 54 is raised and the collection container 22 conveyed through the conveyance line 26 is stopped. (See FIG. 1).

Step-b3
The container user data is searched based on the read container number of the collection container 22, and the user number assigned to the collection container 22 is obtained.

Step-b4
By searching the packing box selection data according to the user number, the packing box 23 corresponding to the user number is obtained, a lighting signal is output to the pushbutton switch 53 with a lamp in the frontage 52 in which the obtained packing box 23 is stored, The lamp of the push button switch 53 is turned on.

Step-b5 and Step-b6
When the push operation signal of the pushbutton switch with lamp 53 with the lamp turned on is input, the lamp of the pushbutton switch with lamp 53 is turned off, the stopper 54 is lowered, and the collection container 22 is transported to finish.

  As described above, the user number assigned to the barcode (container number) printed on the container label 24 is obtained, and the user's article order information is obtained from this user number. The identification means in which the information which makes it possible to identify the item order information (item order information of the user) is recorded. Further, the container barcode reader 34C can identify the order information (article order information of the user) from the sorting destination by reading the barcode (container number) of the container label 24 constituting such an identification means. Order information reading means for reading the information to be processed.

“Inspection controller 85”
The inspection controller 85 is a controller for controlling the inspection packing area 13, and is connected to the overall controller 81, the container barcode reader 55A, the article barcode reader 55B, and the liquid crystal display 56 as shown in FIG. From the overall controller 81, a start command and an end command for the work, the entire picking data, and the container user data are input.

The inspection controller 85 has the following functions. The function is executed when an operation start command is input from the general controller 81, and the function is stopped when an end command is input.
(I). When the barcode (container number) printed on the container label 24 affixed to the collection container 22 is input from the container barcode reader 55A, the container user data is searched by this container number to obtain the user number. By searching the entire picking data by the user number, the user order information of the user is obtained, and the article number of the article 21 included in the obtained article order information and the user number are displayed on the liquid crystal display 56.

  (B). When the barcode (article number) of the article label 25 affixed to the article 21 is input from the article barcode reader 55B, the article number is compared with the article number of the article order information of the user corresponding to the collection container 22. If they match, it is determined that the product number of the user's product order information is inspected, the display on the liquid crystal display 56 is inspected, and if they do not match, it is determined that there is an error, and error information is displayed on the liquid crystal display 56. Is displayed. When all the article numbers of the article order information of the user are inspected, it is determined that the inspection is normal, and the liquid crystal display 56 displays that the inspection has been completed normally.

The operation of the packing box input area 12 and the inspection packing area 13 having the above configuration will be described.
“Packing box 23 loading operation”
The bar code printed on the container label 24 attached to the collection container 22 is read by the container bar code reader 34B provided upstream of the packing box input area 12 along the transport line 26. When the barcode is read, the stopper 54 is raised, and the conveyance of the collection container 22 from which the container label 24 has been read is stopped by the stopper 54. Next, based on the barcode (container number) of the read container label 24, the packaging box 23 corresponding to the user number assigned to the collection container 22 is selected.

  Next, the lamp of the pushbutton switch 53 with a lamp in the frontage 52 in which the packaging box 23 selected corresponding to the user number is stored is turned on, and the frontage for taking out the packaging box 23 to the worker H in the packaging box input area 12 is turned on. 52 is displayed. When the removal of the packing box 23 and the insertion into the collection container 22 are completed, the pushbutton switch 53 with a lamp is operated, the lamp of the pushbutton switch 53 with a lamp is turned off, the stopper 54 is lowered, and the collection container 22 is stopped. The transfer is resumed. The collection container 22 in which the packing box 23 has been charged is transported to the inspection packing area 13.

"Inspection and packing"
When the collection container 22 is conveyed to the inspection packaging area 13, the packaging box 23 is taken out from the collection container 22 by the operator H in the inspection packaging area 13, and the article 21 is assembled into a shape that can be transferred. Next, the barcode of the container label 24 affixed to the collection container 22 is read by the container barcode reader 55A, and the user number assigned to the container number of the collection container 22 is obtained. The article number and the user number of the article order information of the user of the determined user number are displayed on the liquid crystal display 56. The worker H moves the article 21 in the collection container 22 to the packaging box 23 while reading the barcode (article number) printed on the article label 25 attached to the article 21 with the article barcode reader 55B. Included. The read article number is displayed as inspected on the display of the liquid crystal display 56. When all the article numbers are read, it is determined that the inspection is normally completed, and the packaging box 23 on which the article 21 is transferred is conveyed to a shipping area (not shown). The empty collection container 22 is put into the collection container return line 29 and conveyed again to the uppermost stream on the conveyance line 26.

  On the other hand, if the read article number does not match the article number of the article order information of the user, an error (picking error) is determined and an error is displayed on the liquid crystal display 56. The collection container 22 on which the error is displayed stays in the inspection packing area 13.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the total volume of the article 21 is calculated based on the article order information of the user with the user number assigned to the container number, and a plurality of volumes are calculated based on the calculated total volume. The packaging box 23 having a capacity capable of storing the articles 21 satisfying the calculated total volume is selected from the packaging boxes 23, and the collection container 22 in which the collection of the articles 21 has been completed is placed in the packaging box input area 12. When the container number of the collection container 22 is read by the container barcode reader 34C in the packing box input area 12, the front opening 52 for storing the selected packing box 23 becomes the lamp of the pushbutton switch 53 with a lamp. The worker H in the packing box input area 12 is selected from the frontage 52 displayed by lighting the lamp of the pushbutton switch 53 with lamp. The packing box 23 is taken out, it is possible to put into collecting goods container 22. Thereby, the worker H puts the packing box 23 into the collection container 22 according to the lighting of the lamp of the pushbutton switch 53 with a lamp without visually determining the total volume of the articles 21 in the collection container 22. Therefore, since the work time is shortened and the packing box 23 having a storable volume that satisfies the total volume of the articles 21 calculated from the plurality of packing boxes 23 is selected and displayed, the packing box 23 is not appropriate. Is less likely to be selected by mistake.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the collection container 22 is stopped by the stopper 54 in the packing box input area 12, the selected packing box 23 is stored by turning on the lamp of the pushbutton switch 53 with a lamp. When the frontage 52 is displayed and the push button switch 53 with a lamp is operated, the stop of the collection container 22 by the stopper 54 is released, so that the selected packing box 23 is mistaken for the corresponding collection container 22. Can be thrown in.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when each article 21 picked in the collection container 22 is transferred from the collection container 22 to the packaging box 23, it is attached to the collection container 22 by the container barcode reader 55A. When the barcode printed on the container label 24 is read, the barcode of the article label 25 attached to the article 21 by the article barcode reader 55B is started, and the user assigned to the collection container 22 is started. Based on the article order information of the user of the number, the article 21 collected in the collection container 22 can be inspected, and at the same time as the inspection, the article 21 can be transferred and packed in the packing box 23. . Therefore, the transfer of each article 21 from the collection container 22 to the packing box 23 and the inspection of the article 21 are performed by one operator with one touch, and the work time required for the inspection and packing work can be shortened. The possibility that packaging will occur can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the total volume of the article 21 is calculated based on the article order information of the user of the user number corresponding to the collection container 22, and the packing box 23 is selected and loaded. An original packing box 23 is designated in advance for each user, and a packing box 23 satisfying the total volume is selected from the specified packing box 23 in the packing box loading area 12 and loaded. good. Thereby, it can ship now with the packaging box 23 according to a user's request.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of packaging boxes 23 having different accommodable volumes for each user can be prepared, and the exterior of the packaging box 23 can be changed for each user. As a result, the packaging boxes 23 having the same storable volume and different exteriors are produced, but it is possible to distinguish users due to the different exteriors, and the possibility of erroneous packaging occurring can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the total volume of the articles 21 included in the article order information of the user is calculated in advance, and the packaging box 23 that satisfies the storable volume of the articles 21 that satisfies the calculated total volume is replaced with the collection container 22. The user assigned to the container number of the collection container 22 after reading the barcode printed on the container label 24 affixed to the collection container 22 by the container barcode reader 34C. The total volume of the articles 21 included in the article order information of the user of the number may be calculated, and the packaging box 23 having a capacity that can store the articles 21 that satisfies the calculated total volume may be selected. Thus, when the barcode (container number) printed on the container label 24 affixed to the collection container 22 is read by the container barcode reader 34C, the user orders the user of the user number assigned to the container number. Based on the information, the total volume of the article 21 is calculated. Based on the calculated total volume, a packaging box having a storable volume for the article 21 that satisfies the total volume calculated from the plurality of packaging boxes 23 is obtained. The frontage 52 in which the selected packing box 23 is stored is displayed by turning on the lamp of the pushbutton switch 53 with a lamp.

  In the present embodiment, when the barcode printed on the container label 24 of the collection container 22 is read by the container barcode reader 34C in the packing box input area 12, the stopper 54 is raised so that the collection container 22 is moved. Although it is stopped, the selected packaging box 23 can be loaded while continuously transporting the collection container 22 without stopping. At this time, the worker H needs to be aware that the packaging box 23 for the collection container 22 that has passed the position of the container barcode reader 34C is designated by the lamp of the pushbutton switch 53 with a lamp in the frontage 52. .

  In the present embodiment, the picking facility 10 includes a picking area 11, a packing box input area 12, an inspection packing area 13, a transport line 26, a collection container return line 29, and a shipping line 30. However, as shown in FIG. 10, the picking area 11, the packing box input area 12, the inspection packing area 13, the transport line 26, the collection container return line 29, and the shipping line are arranged. 30 (two) may be arranged. According to this configuration, it is possible to greatly increase the sorting capacity of the picking facility 10 without newly adding the storage area 14, the replenishment line 28, and the conveying means 58, and the number of types of articles 21 that can be stored. Can be greatly increased.

  In the present embodiment, one user is assigned to one collection container 22, but one user is assigned to a plurality of (for example, three) collection containers 22. It can also be.

  According to this configuration, even when the total volume of the articles 21 included in the article order information from the user exceeds the storable volume of the collection containers 22, the articles 21 are distributed in the plurality of collection containers 22. Thus, it is possible to prevent the situation that the article 21 overflows from the collection container 22 and the transport line 26 must be stopped.

  In the present embodiment, a fixed container barcode reader 34C that reads the barcode of the container label 24 attached to the collection container 22 along the transport line 26 is provided in the uppermost stream of the packing box input area 12. The collection container 22 is identified by automatically reading the container label 24 affixed to the collection container 22 by the container barcode reader 34C in the uppermost stream of the packing box input area 12. Using the fixed-type container barcode reader 34C as a hand-type barcode reader, the container label 24 affixed to the collection container 22 transported to the packing box loading area 12 is manually applied by the hand-type barcode reader. Alternatively, the collection container 22 may be identified by reading it.

  In the present embodiment, the collection container 22 is also transported by the transport line 26 in the packing box input area 12. However, in the packing box input area 12, the transport line 26 is a free conveyor, and the packing box input area 12. It is good also as a structure which moves the collection container 22 conveyed in 12 on a free conveyor manually.

  In the present embodiment, the collection of the articles 21 and the loading of the packing box 23 are performed on the collection container 22 conveyed by the conveyance line 26. However, the collection container 22 is loaded on a hand-picked picking cart. However, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the collection of the articles 21 and the packaging box 23 are input to the collection container 22 while the picking cart is moved by the worker H. As described above, in the picking equipment in which the picking area for performing the picking work using the picking cart is arranged without being limited to the picking area for performing the picking work while moving the collection container 22 by the transfer line 26, The present invention can be applied.

  In this embodiment, the barcode of the container label 24 affixed to the collection container 22 is read by the container barcode reader 34 to identify the article order information of the user corresponding to the collection container 22. However, any method may be used as long as the information corresponding to the collection container 22 can be identified. A method for identifying the collection container 22 by printing a code for identifying the collection container 22 on the surface of the collection container 22 and reading the code. Alternatively, the identification tag may be identified by embedding an ID tag in the collection container 22 and reading it with an ID tag reader.

  In the present embodiment, the packaging box 23 is stored in each frontage 52 of the packaging box storage shelf 51. However, the packaging box 23 may be simply placed on the floor with areas separated. At this time, a push button switch 53 with a lamp provided in each of the frontage 52 is provided in each area of the floor.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Picking equipment 11 Picking area 12 Packing box input area 13 Inspection packing area 21 Goods 22 Collection container 23 Packing box 24 Container label 25 Goods label 26 Conveyance line 34 Container bar code reader 51 Packing box storage shelf 52 Frontage 53 Pushbutton switch with lamp 54 Stopper 55A Container barcode reader 55B Article barcode reader 56 Liquid crystal display 81 General controller 84 Packing box loading controller 85 Inspection controller

Claims (4)

A picking facility having a picking area in which collection of articles is executed based on order information of articles from a sorting destination assigned to each collection container,
Downstream of the picking area, for each collection container in which the collection of the articles has been completed, a packing container input area in which a packaging container for packing the articles collected in the collection container is input is arranged,
The packing container input area is
A packing container mounting section having a plurality of compartment mounting spaces on which packing containers having different storage volumes of articles are respectively mounted;
Display means for displaying the compartment placement space of the packaging container placement part for taking out the packaging container,
The volume of articles collected in the collection container is determined based on the order information of the articles from the sorting destination, and the volume satisfying the determined volume from the plurality of packing containers based on the determined volume And a control means for selecting the packing container having the storage volume, obtaining the partition placement space in which the selected packaging container is stored, and displaying the determined partition placement space by the display means. And picking equipment. A transport line for transporting the plurality of collection containers;
Each of the collection containers is provided with an identification means in which information for identifying the order information of the articles from the sorting destination is recorded,
Provided between the picking area and the packing container input area is an order information reading means for reading information that makes it possible to identify the order information of the articles from the sorting destination by the identifying means provided in the collection container,
The packing container input area is
Stop means for temporarily stopping the collection container being transported by the transport line;
An instruction means for releasing the stop by the stop means and transporting the collection container;
When the identification means is read by the order information reading means, the control means drives the stop means to temporarily stop the collection container, and the read order information of articles from the sorting destination of the identification means The display unit displays the section placement space in which the selected packing container is stored, and when the instruction unit is operated, the stop unit is released and the collection container is conveyed. The picking equipment according to claim 1. In the control means, the volume of articles to be collected is stored in advance,
The control means calculates the volume of the articles collected in the collection container based on the order information of the articles from the sorting destination and the stored volume of each article, and based on the calculated volume, The picking equipment according to claim 2, wherein a packing container having a storage capacity of an article satisfying the determined volume is selected from the selected packing containers. An inspection packing area for performing inspection of articles collected in the collection container and packing of articles is arranged downstream of the packing container input area,
Each of the articles is provided with an article identifying means in which information for identifying the article is recorded,
The inspection packing area includes an article reading unit that reads information for identifying an article from an article identification unit attached to the article,
The control means reads information for identifying an article in the collection container by the article reading means when each article collected in the collection container is transferred from the collection container to the packing container. The picking equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein inspection of the article is performed based on order information of the article from a sorting destination assigned to the collection container.

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