JPH05330616A - Inventory control device of automatic warehouse - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To manage stock information exactly and to reduce inventory working time remarkably by managing stock information in an automatic warehouse on the basis of an identification code, and by outputting an inventory command to an automatic warehouse control device. CONSTITUTION:An inventory control device is composed of a bar code output device 1 which serves as an identification code outputting device, a labelling device 2, an automatic warehouse control device 4 having a stacker crane provided with a bar code inputting device 3, a warehouse managing device 5, a CRT 6 and a printer 7. The warehouse managing device 5, which has been commanded to start inventory work, retrieves the numbers of the rack having stock, and outputs the number of the rack to the automatic control device 4 as a control command. The automatic control device 4 picks up the stock existing in the indicated rack by means of a forklift, and inputs the stock information by means of the bar code inputting device 3 attached to the stacker crane, and then returns the stock to their former racks, and outputs the message of the finish of the inventory work to the warehouse managing device 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for controlling stocktaking in an automated warehouse having a product loading / unloading function, and in particular, enables accurate inventory information management and significantly reduces the stocktaking work time. The present invention relates to an inventory control device for an automated warehouse.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an automatic warehouse is provided with a plurality of stacker cranes for loading and unloading products, and these stacker cranes are configured so that they can operate simultaneously.

On the other hand, in the control of such an automatic warehouse, a shelf address is assigned to each shelf in the automatic warehouse, and inventory information is provided for each shelf address. When a product is stored, this inventory information is empty. Goods are stored on the shelves, the inventory information of the shelves that have been received is updated to "stock", and the product type code of the received products is also stored.

Further, when the product is shipped, the above-mentioned inventory information is retrieved, the product code is delivered with the product code requested from the outside, and the inventory information of the shelved shelf is updated to an empty shelf. ..

That is, in this kind of automatic warehouse, the stocks are searched in the order in which they are requested to be loaded and unloaded, and the stocks are searched in the order of the shelves determined in advance. Entry / exit control is performed for the stacker crane corresponding to the shelf.

By the way, the biggest trouble in such an automated warehouse is erroneous delivery due to mismatch of inventory information. In this case, inventory is checked by inventory. In addition, even in the case of normal operation, inventory is sometimes checked by inventory.

[0007] Here, the conventional inventory work of the automatic warehouse is
The work itself is simple because the inventory on the shelves in the automated warehouse is issued, the contents of the inventory are visually confirmed, and the inventory is again loaded on the same shelf. However, if the number of shelves in the automated warehouse increases, it takes a huge amount of time for stocktaking work.

That is, for example, suppose that an automatic warehouse of 5,000 shelves now has five stacker cranes that manage 1,000 shelves, and the inventory rate is 80%, the delivery time is 1 minute, and the visual confirmation time is 30 seconds. If the re-stocking time is 1 minute, the stocktaking time is as follows.

Stocktaking time = number of shelves * (delivery time + confirmation time + warehousing time) / stacker crane = 5,000 shelves * 80% * (1 minute + 30 seconds + 1 minute) / 5 machines = 5000 * 0.8 * (1 + 0 .5 + 1) / 5 = 2000 [minutes] = 33 [hours]

In this case, in practice, the operation cannot be stopped for 33 hours. Therefore, it is necessary to limit the kinds of stocked items to be inventoried or to sort them by the date of receipt so as to reduce the inventories work time. ing. Therefore, it is not possible to accurately grasp the quantity of inventory in the automated warehouse.

[0011]

As described above, in the conventional stocktaking work of the automatic warehouse, there is a problem that the stocktaking work takes an enormous amount of time and accurate inventory information cannot be managed.

An object of the present invention is to provide an inventory control device for an automatic warehouse, which can accurately manage inventory information and can significantly reduce the inventory work time.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in a device for controlling stocktaking in an automatic warehouse having a product loading / unloading function, an identification code of inventory information of a product to be loaded into the automated warehouse is identified. The identification code output device that outputs the product and the label of the identification code output by the identification code output device are attached to the product or the pallet on which the product is mounted, and the labeling device and the product or pallet. It has a stacker crane with a recognition code input device for inputting the recognition code of the label, and an automatic warehouse control device that stocks products based on a stocktaking instruction, and the recognition code input by the recognition code input device. Based on this, it manages the inventory information of the products in the automated warehouse and outputs the inventory instruction to the automated warehouse controller. Constitute and a that WM device. Here, particularly as the recognition code output device,
Product inventory information is output as a bar code or Karla code.

[0014]

Therefore, in the inventory control device for the automatic warehouse of the present invention, when a certain product is stored, when the storage date of the product,
Inventory information such as product name and quantity is output to the recognition code output device. Then, the label of the output identification code is attached to the product or pallet by the label attaching device.

The product to which the identification code label is attached is conveyed to the entrance of the automatic warehouse. Upon arrival at the tip of the entrance of the automated warehouse, the warehouse management device searches for empty shelves in the automated warehouse and determines the warehouse. Then, the warehouse management device outputs a warehousing instruction to the automatic warehouse control device so that the warehousing is performed on the determined warehousing shelf.

Then, the automatic warehouse control device that has received the storage instruction takes in the product with the fork of the stacker crane from the storage port in order to store the product. Then, the inventory information is input by the recognition code input device attached to the stacker crane, and the product is stored in the designated storage shelf.
At the time of completion of warehousing, the automatic warehouse control device outputs a warehousing completion message to the warehouse management device together with the input inventory information. As a result, the warehouse management device creates inventory information from the inventory information of the input receipt completion message.

On the other hand, the stocktaking operation of the stocked goods thus stored is started by inputting the stocktaking operation start to the warehouse management device. The warehouse management device, which has been instructed to start the stocktaking operation, searches for the stocked bin number from the stock information that is stored. Then, the shelves found by this search are output to the automatic warehouse control device as a stocktaking instruction.

The automatic warehouse control device which has received the stocktaking instruction takes out the inventories of the instructed shelves with a fork, inputs the inventory information with the recognition code input device attached to the stacker crane, and returns to the original shelves. Return inventory. Upon completion of returning the stock items, the automatic warehouse control device outputs a stocktaking completion message to the warehouse management device together with the input inventory information. As a result, the warehouse management device creates new inventory information from the inventory information of the input inventory completion message.

In this case, the current inventory information and the new inventory information are compared, and if they are different, the shelf number and the old and new inventory information are output as a form. Then, when one shelf is completed, the next inventory information is searched, and this is repeated until the confirmation of all inventory information is completed.

Here, since the stacker cranes of the automatic warehouse can operate simultaneously, the stacker cranes issue an inventory instruction to all existing stacker cranes.
In addition, since there is a possibility that the recognition code may be erroneously read in the shelf where the inventory information does not match the output inventory information, the inventory items are visually checked again manually. As a result, accurate inventory information can be managed, and the stocktaking work time can be significantly reduced.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an overall configuration example of an inventory control device for an automated warehouse according to the present invention.

That is, the inventory control device for the automatic warehouse of this embodiment is an automatic warehouse having a bar code output device 1 which is an identification code output device, a label sticking device 2, and a stacker crane to which a bar code input device 3 is attached. Control device 4, warehouse management device 5, CRT 6, and printer 7
It consists of and. Here, the barcode output device 1
Is for outputting the inventory information of the products to be stored in the automated warehouse by a barcode which is an identification code.

The label sticking device 2 sticks the bar code label output by the bar code output device 1 to a product or a pallet on which the product is mounted. Further, the barcode input device 3 is for inputting a barcode of a label attached to a product or a pallet by the label attaching device 2.

Furthermore, the automatic warehouse control device 4 stores the products on the basis of the storage instruction from the warehouse management device 5 and stocks the products on the basis of the stocktaking instruction.

On the other hand, the warehouse management device 5 manages the inventory information of the products in the automatic warehouse based on the recognition code input by the bar code input device 4, and instructs the automatic warehouse control device 4 to store and inventory. Is output.

Further, the CRT 6 is for displaying inventory information and the like as a form, and for inputting instructions to the warehouse management device 5 to store the product in the automated warehouse and start stocktaking work of the inventory in the automated warehouse. .. In addition, the printer 7
Is for printing out inventory information and the like as a form. Next, the operation of the inventory control device for the automatic warehouse of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

In FIG. 1, when a certain product 8 is stored,
Inventory information such as the storage date, product name, and quantity of the product 8 is output to the barcode output device 1. Then, the label of the output barcode is attached to the product 8 or the pallet 9 by the label attaching device 2. The product 8 to which the barcode label is attached is conveyed to the entrance of the automated warehouse.

When arriving at the tip of the entrance of the automatic warehouse, the warehouse management device 5 searches for an empty shelf in the automatic warehouse and determines the incoming shelf. Then, the warehouse management device 5 outputs a warehousing instruction to the automatic warehouse control device 4 so as to warehousing to the determined warehousing shelf.

Then, the automatic warehouse control device 4 which received the storage instruction takes in the product 8 from the storage port with the fork of the stacker crane in order to store the product 8. Then, the stock information is input by the bar code input device 3 attached to the stacker crane, and the product is stored in the designated storage shelf.

At the time when the warehousing is completed, the automatic warehouse control device 4
Outputs a receipt completion message to the warehouse management device 5 together with the input inventory information. As a result, the warehouse management device 5
Then, inventory information is created from the inventory information of the input receipt completion message.

On the other hand, the stocktaking operation of the stocked goods stored in this way starts the stocktaking operation of the stock in the automatic warehouse.
It starts by inputting an instruction from the CRT 6 to the warehouse management device 5. Warehouse management device 5 instructed to start inventory work
Searches for a storage bin that has stock from the stock information that is stored.

Then, the shelves found by this search are
It is output to the automatic warehouse control device 4 as a stocktaking instruction. The automatic warehouse control device 4 which has received the stocktaking instruction takes out the stocked product of the instructed shelf with a fork, inputs the inventory information with the bar code input device 3 attached to the stacker crane, and stocks it on the original shelf. Return the item.

Upon completion of returning the stock items, the automatic warehouse control device 4 outputs a stocktaking completion message to the warehouse management device 5 together with the input stock information. As a result, the warehouse management device 5 creates new inventory information from the inventory information of the input inventory completion message.

In this case, the current inventory information is compared with the new inventory information, and if they are different, the shelf number and the old and new inventory information are output to the CRT 6 or the printer 7 as a form. Then, when one shelf is completed, the next inventory information is searched, and this is repeated until the confirmation of all inventory information is completed.

Here, since the stacker cranes of the automatic warehouse can simultaneously operate each crane, the stocktaking instruction is given to all existing stacker cranes.
Further, since there is a possibility of a barcode reading error in the output inconsistent shelf of inventory information, a manual visual check of inventory items is performed again. As a result, accurate inventory information can be managed, and the stocktaking work time can be significantly reduced. Next, the operation of the inventory control device described above will be described more specifically with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. (A) First, set the search start shelf of each stacker crane to (1
(1 row) (B) In addition, each stacker crane is under inventory. (C) Next, check whether the stacker crane is under inventory.

As a result, if the stacker crane is taking inventory, it is further checked whether the stacker crane is operating. As a result, if the stacker crane is not operating during inventory, the process proceeds to (d). If the stacker crane is not in stocktaking or the stacker crane is operating, the process proceeds to (h). (D) The stock information from the search start shelf to the last shelf of each stacker crane is searched, and it is checked from the stock information whether there is inventory on the search shelf.

As a result, if there is inventory, the process proceeds to (e). If there is no stock, it is checked whether the shelf is the final shelf. As a result, if it is the final shelf, the inventory is completed during the inventory, and the process proceeds to (f). If it is not the final shelf, the process similarly goes to (f).

(E) The stocktaking instruction is prepared from the stocked bin number and is output to the automatic warehouse control device 4, and the stacker crane is in operation. Then, the stocked shelf is saved as the search start shelf. (F) If the stocktaking instruction is output or if the stocktaking is completed,
The process moves to (g). If the stocktaking instruction is not output and the stocktaking is not completed, the process returns to (d). (G) Once all stacker cranes have been searched,
The process moves to (h). If the search for all stacker cranes has not been completed, the process returns to (c). (H) Check if there is a stacker crane under inventory. As a result, if all the stacker cranes have completed the inventory, the process proceeds to (k).

If there is a stacker crane under inventory, it waits until an inventory completion message is input from the automatic warehouse control device 4. When the inventory completion message is input, the process proceeds to (i). (I) When the inventory management completion message is input, the warehouse management device 5 creates inventory information from the product information in the inventory message and compares it with the current inventory information. As a result, if the product information and the inventory information match, the stacker crane operation is turned off and the process proceeds to (j).

If the product information and the inventory information do not match, the current inventory information and the input product information are output as a form. After that, product information is written as new inventory information, the stacker crane operation is turned off, and the process proceeds to (j). (J) Check whether the currently completed shelf is the final shelf.
As a result, if it is the final shelf, the stocktaking of the stacker crane is completed and the process proceeds to (k). If it is not the final shelf, the process proceeds to (k). (K) Check whether all stacker cranes are in stock. As a result, if there is even one stacker crane under stocktaking, the process proceeds to (c). If the inventory of all stacker cranes has been completed, this completes the inventory work.

As described above, in the inventory control device for the automatic warehouse of this embodiment, the warehouse management device 5 which is instructed to start the inventory work retrieves and searches the inventory rack information from the inventory information stored. The shelf found by is output to the automatic warehouse control device 4 as a stocktaking instruction. The automatic warehouse control device 4, which has received the stocktaking instruction, takes out the stocked product of the instructed shelf with a fork, inputs the stock information with the bar code input device 3 attached to the stacker crane, and stocks it on the original shelf. Return the item. Upon completion of returning the stock items, the automatic warehouse control device 4 outputs an inventory completion message to the warehouse management device 5 together with the input inventory information. The warehouse management device 5 creates new inventory information from the inventory information of the input inventory completion message. At this time, the current inventory information and the new inventory information are compared, and if different, the storage bin and the old and new inventory information are output as a form. When one shelf is completed, the next inventory information is searched, and this is repeated until the confirmation of all inventory information is completed. Here, since the stacker cranes of the automated warehouse can operate at the same time with each crane, the stocktaking instruction is given to all existing stacker cranes,
In addition, since there is a possibility of a barcode reading error in the output inconsistent shelf of inventory information, the inventory items are manually visually checked again. As a result, accurate inventory information can be managed, and the stocktaking work time can be significantly reduced.

That is, tentatively, in an automatic warehouse of 5,000 shelves, there are five stacker cranes that manage 1,000 shelves per unit, the inventory rate is 80%, and the stock removal time is 1
0 seconds, barcode input time 5 seconds, stock return time 10
In seconds, the inventory time is as follows.

Inventory time = number of shelves * (take-out time + input time + return time) / stacker crane = 5,000 shelves * 80% * (10 seconds + 5 seconds + 10 seconds) / 5 machines = 5000 * 0.8 * (10 + 5 + 10) ) / 5 = 20000 [seconds] = 333.3 [minutes] = 5.5 [hours]

As is clear from the above calculated values, the inventory work of the automatic warehouse is completed in one day, so that the accurate quantity of the stock in the automatic warehouse can be grasped. As a result, it is no longer necessary to limit the inventory work time by limiting the types of inventory items to be inventoried or by the date of receipt as in the past. Can be accurately grasped.
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be implemented in the same manner as described below.

(A) In the above embodiment, the recognition code output device has been described as a case where the product inventory information is output by a bar code, but the invention is not limited to this, and the product inventory information is a Karla code, a recognition character, or the like. You may make it output by. (B) In the above embodiment, the CRT 6 and the printer 7
However, this is not an essential element of the present invention.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a device for controlling inventory in an automated warehouse having a product loading / unloading function, a recognition code for outputting inventory information of products to be loaded into the automated warehouse by a recognition code. The output device and the label of the identification code output by the identification code output device,
It has a label sticking device for sticking to the product or pallet and a stacker crane equipped with a recognition code input device for inputting the recognition code of the label stuck to the product or the pallet on which the product is mounted by the label sticking device, Manages inventory information of products in the automated warehouse based on the identification code entered by the automatic warehouse control device and the identification code input device that inventory products based on the inventory instruction, and issues an inventory instruction to the automated warehouse control device. Since it is configured to include a warehouse management device that outputs the above, it is possible to provide an inventory control device for an automatic warehouse that can accurately manage inventory information and can significantly reduce the inventory work time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of an inventory control device for an automated warehouse according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation in the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Bar code output device, 2 ... Labeling device, 3 ... Bar code input device, 4 ... Automatic warehouse control device, 5 ... Warehouse management device, 6 ... CRT, 7 ... Printer, 8 ... Product, 9 ...
palette.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A device for controlling stocktaking in an automated warehouse having a product loading / unloading function, comprising: a recognition code output device for outputting inventory information of products to be loaded into the automated warehouse by a recognition code; and the recognition code output device. A label sticking device for sticking the output recognition code label to a product or a pallet on which the product is mounted, and a recognition code input for inputting the recognition code of the label stuck to the product or pallet by the label sticking device. Having a stacker crane to which the device is attached, an automatic warehouse control device for inventorying products based on an inventory instruction, and inventory information of products in the automatic warehouse based on the recognition code input by the identification code input device. And a warehouse management device that manages and outputs an inventory instruction to the automatic warehouse control device. Inventory control apparatus for an automatic warehouse which is characterized by comprising. 2. The inventory control device for an automatic warehouse according to claim 1, wherein the recognition code output device outputs product inventory information by a bar code or a Karla code.