JPH04213501A - Picking number display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To extremely efficiently and correctly carry out picking work by automatically displaying the picking number on a display part of a control unit at the time of delivery work by a stacker crane. CONSTITUTION:When data of item numbers, quantities and others concerning a load to deliver are operated to input by a key board 13 against a control unit 15 of a crane 3 standing by a home position, the control unit 15 retrieves the number of a shelf storing a load conforming to a delivery condition from an inventory data recorded in a floppy disc set in a floppy disc drive device 14 and decides a delivery work shelf position (a shelf address). Input items against this control unit 15, the decided delivery work shelf position and others are displayed on a display 16. It is possible for a worker to carry out order picking work to confirm the load of the item number displayed on the display 16 and to take it out in the picking number displayed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a picking number display device for displaying the number of picks during unloading work on the display section of a control unit of a stacker crane used in an automated warehouse.

0002

[Prior Art] In the unloading operation of an automated warehouse consisting of a plurality of shelves arranged in a three-dimensional configuration and a stacker crane that performs loading and unloading operations on the shelves, a single load stored on one shelf is The process involves unloading the containers, etc. stored on one shelf as is, and after unloading the containers, etc. stored on one shelf to the home position, manually taking out a predetermined number of small items from the container, etc., and then returning the containers, etc. to the original shelf, or There is a picking operation to return the items to another shelf.

[0003] When performing this picking work, conventionally,
It is necessary for the worker to carry out the picking work while checking the outgoing quantity, ie, the picking number, written on the outgoing slip in his/her possession.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional picking work method as described above, it is necessary to create a shipping slip in which the number of items to be picked is recorded and that the worker has this shipping slip. Since picking work must be carried out while holding the item in one hand, picking work cannot be carried out efficiently. In addition, when a worker has multiple delivery slips corresponding to each of multiple picking operations that are performed consecutively, there is a high possibility that he or she will pick the wrong quantity due to misreading of the delivery slips. Ta.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention proposes a picking number display device that can solve the conventional problems as described above, and its features include an input section for inputting operating data of a stacker crane. and a display section for displaying operation data, etc., using a control unit, wherein the stacker crane performs unloading work according to unloading operation data, etc. input in the input section. The present invention is characterized in that the control unit is provided with a control section for displaying, on the display section, the picking number corresponding to the shipping operation inputted at the input section.

[0006]

[Embodiment] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on the attached illustrative drawings.
is a plurality of shelves (package storage compartments) 2, each with a shelf address.
This storage device is three-dimensionally provided with a stacker crane 3, and is erected on both sides along the travel path 4 of the stacker crane 3. Reference numeral 5 denotes a receiving platform for warehousing, and numeral 6 indicates a receiving platform for unloading, which are installed adjacent to the storage devices 1a and 1b on both sides of one end of the crane travel path 4. The stacker crane 3 includes a traveling drive device 7, an elevating carriage 9 equipped with a running fork 8 that transfers loads between the shelves 2 of the storage devices 1a and 1b, and an elevating drive device 10 for the elevating carriage 9. , a running fork drive device 11 (see FIG. 3) that drives the running fork 8 in and out, and a crane drive control device 12 that controls each of these drive devices. 2, a keyboard 13 as an input section, a floppy disk drive 14 as an external storage means, a display (CRT) 16 as a display section, and a printer 1.
A control unit 15 using a microcomputer is installed.

The control unit 15 is set with an inventory management program that creates various inventory data consisting of shelf address, product number, quantity, storage date, and other items. It is connected to the drive control device 12 via a suitable interface, and can supply crane operation data such as warehousing/unloading and warehousing/output work shelf positions (shelf addresses) to the crane drive control device 12.

Next, the warehousing operation using the above-mentioned stacker crane 3 will be explained based on FIG. 15, the product number, quantity, and date (this may be automatically input from the clock mechanism built into the control unit 15) based on the cargo to be warehoused that has been supplied onto the receiving platform 5 for warehousing. etc., on the keyboard 13, the control unit 15 controls the floppy disk drive 14.
An empty shelf position at an appropriate position (for example, a position close to the home position) is searched from the inventory data recorded on a floppy disk set in the floppy disk, and the warehousing work shelf position (shelf address) is determined. This control unit 15
The input items and the determined warehousing work shelf position (shelf address) are displayed on the display 16. Of course, if there is no empty shelf position suitable for warehousing, a message indicating that warehousing is not possible will be displayed on the display 16.

When the warehousing work shelf position is determined, the control unit 15 supplies the crane drive control device 12 with a warehousing command and operational data regarding the destination shelf position (shelf address). Therefore, by operating the crane start operation on the keyboard 13 or the crane start button attached to the crane drive control device 12, the crane drive control device 12 starts the traveling drive device 7, the lifting drive device 10, and the running fork drive device 11. Operation and loading platform 5
A warehousing operation is performed in which the above cargo is transported to the shelf 2 at a predetermined warehousing work shelf position (shelf address). At this time, information regarding the ever-changing traveling position of the crane 3 and the lifting/lowering position of the elevating carriage 9 is input to the crane drive control device 12 as current position information, and this current position information and the information are input from the control unit 15. The information regarding the warehousing work shelf position (shelf address) is compared, and when the two match, the crane 3 stops traveling and the elevating carriage 9 stops moving up and down, and then the running fork 8 moves the load for warehousing. This series of control itself is performed by a conventionally known method.

When the warehousing work is completed, an inventory data rewriting command is output from the crane drive control device 12 to the control unit 15, and the floppy disk drive device 14
The inventory data recorded on the floppy disk set in is rewritten to the state after the warehousing operation. That is,
Corresponding to the receiving work shelf position (shelf address) searched earlier,
The data entered earlier, such as the product number, quantity, and date of stocking, are written.

The unloading operation is performed as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the keyboard 13 sends data such as the product number and quantity regarding the cargo to be delivered to the control unit 15 of the crane 3 waiting at the home position.
When the input operation is performed, the microcomputer 15 searches the inventory data recorded on the floppy disk set in the floppy disk drive 14 for the shelf address storing the cargo that meets the shipping conditions, and determines the shipping work shelf position. (shelf address) is determined. The input items to the control unit 15 and the determined shipping work shelf position (shelf address) are displayed on the display 16. Of course, if there is no corresponding cargo, a message indicating that delivery is not possible will be displayed on the display 16.

[0012] Shelf 2 that stores cargo that meets the shipping conditions
When there are multiple (shelf addresses), a first-out allocation process is performed so that the shelf with the oldest storage date is dispatched according to the first-in, first-out method, and the dispatch work shelf position is determined. When the unloading work shelf position is determined, the control unit 15 supplies the crane drive control device 12 with an unloading command and operational data regarding the destination shelf position (shelf address). Therefore, by operating the crane start operation on the keyboard 13 or the crane start button attached to the crane drive control device 12, the crane drive control device 12 activates the traveling drive device 7.
, the lifting drive device 10, and the running fork drive device 11 are operated, and the running fork 8 scoops up the load stored on the shelf 2 at the predetermined shipping shelf position (shelf address) and places it on the loading platform 6 for shipping. The unloading work for unloading is carried out. This series of controls itself is performed by a conventionally known method, similar to the control during warehousing work.

When the unloading operation is completed, an inventory data rewriting command is output from the crane drive control device 12 to the control unit 15, and the floppy disk drive device 14
The inventory data recorded on the floppy disk set in is rewritten to the state after shipping.

[0014]Although it is also possible to perform the setting operation for the next loading/unloading operation each time one loading/unloading operation is completed, the setting operation for multiple loading/unloading operations can be performed in advance, and the crane 3 A plurality of set loading and unloading operations may be performed consecutively by activation of the . In this case, the warehousing work and the warehousing work are performed continuously, and the operating rate of the crane 3 can be increased. Also, loading platform 6 for shipping
It is also possible to perform an order picking operation in which a predetermined number of loads are manually removed from a container that has been carried out, and then the container is stored again at the original shelf position or another shelf position.

That is, when data such as the product number, quantity, etc. regarding the cargo to be shipped is entered using the keyboard 13 as described above, the product number, quantity, shelf location (shelf address), etc. for shipping are displayed on the display 16. Therefore, the worker who performs the order picking work mentioned above,
It is possible to confirm the cargo with the product number displayed on the display 16 from the container carried out to the shipping loading platform 6, and to take out as many items as the picked number displayed on the display 16.

The inventory data recorded on the floppy disk can be printed out by the control unit 15 and printer 17. In this case, the inventory management program provided to the control unit 15 creates and prints not only inventory data for each shelf address, but also inventory data for each product number, inventory records for each month and day, and records based on other arbitrary conditions. You can go out.

In the embodiment, an external floppy disk drive was used as a storage means for the control unit 15, but an internal storage means such as a hard disk may also be used. Of course, storage media other than floppy disks, such as magnetic bubble memory, can also be used.

[0018]

As described above, according to the picking number display device of the present invention, the picking number is automatically displayed on the display section of the control unit during unloading work by the stacker crane, so that the worker can It is no longer necessary to carry delivery slips and check the number of picks by selecting the corresponding delivery slip one by one during picking work, and the picking work can be performed extremely efficiently and accurately.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a storage device and a traveling crane for loading and unloading.

FIG. 2 is the same plan view.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a control unit mounting location of the stacker crane.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the control system.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a control method during warehousing work.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control method during shipping work.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b... Shelf 2... Shelf (load storage section) 3... Stacker crane 5... Loading platform 6... Outgoing loading platform 7... Traveling drive device 8... Running fork 9... Lifting carriage 10... Lifting drive device 11... Running Fork drive device 12... Crane drive control device 13... Keyboard (input section) 14... Floppy disk drive device 15... Control unit (microcomputer) 16... Display (display section) 17... Printer

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A picking number display device using a control unit having an input section for inputting operation data of a stacker crane, and a display section for displaying operation data, etc. When the stacker crane performs a warehousing operation according to warehousing operation data or the like, the control unit controls a control unit for displaying, on the display unit, the picking number corresponding to the warehousing operation inputted in the input unit. A picking number display device provided in a.