JPH0617162B2 - Goods collection equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an article collecting facility used to collect a plurality of types of articles according to a shipping destination, and more specifically, to an article storage unit equipped with an article storage unit. A mobile vehicle that can be operated in any direction and a shelf that is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the passage for traveling the mobile vehicle and that stores a plurality of types of articles in a divided state are provided, and the mobile vehicle collects articles from the shelves. Storage means for storing work data for use, and based on the information in the storage means,
Destination information instructing means for instructing which one of the shelf parts partitioned in the longitudinal direction of the shelf to travel, information in the storage means, and information for discriminating which of the shelf parts is the information. Based on the above, the article collection facility is provided with article take-out information instructing means for instructing the article take-out information from each of the shelf sections for each shelf section.

[Conventional technology]

In such an article collecting facility, for example, a means for storing work data for collecting articles from a shelf is provided on the shelf side, and a control device (computer) on the shelf side controls each shelf based on the work data stored on the shelf side. When the article collection information is transmitted to a moving vehicle that has traveled to a part or the article take-out position is displayed on the shelf side (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-248501), a control device on the shelf side is used. In view of the fact that a large number of wires are required for the display devices and the like of each shelf portion and the device configuration becomes complicated, a means for storing the work data is provided on the moving vehicle side.

Then, in the article collection facility, destination information is instructed on the mobile vehicle side based on the work data, and based on the destination information, the operator stores the article to be taken out by steering the mobile vehicle. The work is carried out in a procedure of traveling the shelves and taking out the articles taken out based on the article taking-out information in the article storage section.

By the way, in general, each of the shelves stores a plurality of types of articles. Therefore, in order to instruct the article take-out information, an instruction should be given so that the type and quantity of the article to be taken out can be known. There is a need to.

By the way, in order for the article take-out information instructing means to transmit the sorting information of the shelf portion to the article take-out information instructing means in order to indicate the article take-out information for each shelf portion, conventionally, a moving vehicle traveled to each shelf portion. At this point, the magnetic piece on the ground side on which the code information of each shelf portion is recorded is read by the magnetic head on the moving vehicle side (see, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-43483), or the shelf number provided on each shelf portion is displayed. The plate is read by the reading device on the trolley side (for example, the actual model 61-5806).
The separation information of each shelf portion obtained by, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. and the specification of the application) was used.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, in order to stably read the sorting information of the shelf portion, a reading means (a magnetic head or a shelf number reading device) is used for the sorting information display body (magnetic piece, shelf number display plate, etc.). Etc.) must be in close proximity,
As a result, traveling management such as steering operation of a moving vehicle becomes troublesome and time-consuming, and further, when the operation of reading the sorting information is unstable, it is impossible to instruct the proper article removal information, and thus the article collection work is not performed. Trouble such as interruption occurs,
There was a problem that work efficiency decreased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to automatically input the sorting information of the shelf portion to the moving vehicle side and to prevent the movement variation of the moving vehicle in the lateral direction of the vehicle body. It is to be able to do it accurately.

[Means for solving problems]

A characteristic configuration of the article collecting facility according to the present invention is arranged corresponding to each of the shelf portions, and a communication unit for wirelessly transmitting sorting information for sorting each of the shelf portions is provided. The mobile vehicle is provided with communication means for receiving information of the communication means and transmitting the received information to the article removal information instructing means, both of the communication means being in front of a shelf portion to which the mobile vehicle corresponds. The communication is possible when the vehicle is located at, and the communicable range is formed to have a width along the lateral width direction of the vehicle body, and the operation and effect are as follows.

[Work]

That is, as the moving vehicle is positioned in front of the shelf portion that stores the items to be taken out, the sorting information of the shelf portion wirelessly transmitted from the communication means on the shelf portion side is received by the communication means on the moving vehicle side. Then, the received information is transmitted to the article removal information instructing means.

Further, since both communication means are formed in such a state that the communicable range has a width along the lateral width direction of the vehicle body, they can be moved without accurately determining the position in the lateral width direction of the vehicle with respect to the shelf portion of the moving vehicle. The car side can accurately receive the sorting information.

〔The invention's effect〕

Therefore, the sorting information can be input to the moving vehicle side automatically and accurately regardless of the movement variation of the moving vehicle in the lateral direction of the moving vehicle with respect to the shelf portion. The traveling management is facilitated, and troubles such as interruption of the article collecting work due to unstable input of the sorting information are suppressed, and thus the efficiency of the article collecting work can be improved.

〔Example〕

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the article collecting facility, a moving vehicle (A) having a storage frame (1) as an article storage unit and a plurality of types of articles are stored in a divided state, and There are provided a plurality of shelves (B) juxtaposed along the longitudinal direction of the traveling path of the moving vehicle (A).

Each of the shelves (B) is divided into a plurality of pieces along the longitudinal direction thereof, and each of the divided shelves (2) is provided with upper and lower four-stage loading sections, and each loading section Each of these can store three types of articles in the lateral direction.

The moving vehicle (A) is provided with a pair of left and right idler wheels (3) at the front and rear ends, respectively, and a pair of left and right handle parts (4) for steering, so-called a trolley type operation. It is configured as a mobile vehicle that can be operated in any direction, and a display panel (5) that doubles as a setting panel is provided near the handle (4). In addition, in the figure (6)
Is a temporary placing table for temporarily placing the articles taken out from the shelf portion (2).

The storage frame (1) is provided with three upper and lower shelves, and each of the shelves accommodates two containers (7) in the lateral direction. Each container (7) corresponds to each shipping destination.

Therefore, the worker loads the empty container (7) on the container carrier (8) into the storage frame (1) at the empty container loading position (D), and then, based on the destination information, the desired shelf portion (2). ) To
The article is taken out from the shelf portion (2) based on the article take-out information, and the taken-out article is stored in a desired container (7) based on the article storage information. When all the operations are completed, the container (7) containing the articles is supplied to the collecting conveyor (9) at the container unloading location (E). Furthermore, in order to obtain work data for collecting articles, which is the basic data for instructing each of the destination information, the article take-out information, and the article storage information, in advance of the work, the data receiving location (F) It will also be run.

Next, description will be added while describing the control configuration.

As shown in Fig. 4, the order form (10) issued by the customer etc.
When the contents of is input to the host controller (HC), the host controller (HC) creates a purchase order (11) according to the contents of the purchase order (10), and according to the contents of the purchase order (11). The goods are purchased as a result, and the goods receipt data (12) of the purchased person is also input to the host controller (HC).

The host controller (HC) manages the inventory of various items, creates work data for item collection based on the contents of the order form (10) entered in advance, and uses this work data as the work controller (SC). ). However, the work data can be classified by the work amount of one moving vehicle (A),
Moreover, it is formed in such a manner that the type and the number of articles to be stored in each container (7) can be discriminated.

The work controller (SC) comprehensively manages the operation of collecting goods while exchanging various information such as work data with the mobile vehicle controller (IC) provided in the mobile vehicle (A).

Information exchange between the work controller (SC) and the mobile vehicle controller (IC) is performed by a controller for read / write control (13A),
IC card (1 including ROM (13B) and RAM (13C)
3) is used as a storage medium, and a card writer (14) that functions as a writing means for writing work data to the IC card (13) is attached to the work controller (SC), and A card reader that functions as a reading means for reading the data of the IC card (13)
(15) is attached to the mobile vehicle controller (IC).

However, (16) in the figure is a printer that creates an item slip that is stored separately in each container (7) that is stored in the moving vehicle (A), and is synchronized with the operation of the card writer (14). Will be activated. The item slip is used for inspection after the item collecting work, and when the empty container (7) is loaded into the storage frame (1), the container (7) is ordered in a predetermined order. )
Will be thrown into.

The mobile vehicle controller (IC) uses the above-mentioned work data, shelf
Based on the storage information of the articles stored in (B) and the sorting information for sorting which of the shelves (2),
Instruct destination information for traveling the moving vehicle (A), information on taking out the article from the shelf part (2) on which the moving vehicle (A) has traveled, and a container (7) for storing the taken out article and the input amount. Each of the storage information is discriminated and the information is output.

That is, while using the mobile vehicle controller (IC), as described below, the destination information instruction means (100), the article removal information instruction means (101), and the article storage information instruction means (102) are configured. become.

The mobile vehicle controller (IC) is configured by using a microcomputer, and, of course, includes a memory that functions as a storage unit, and the IC card (13) is set on the mobile vehicle side. In this state, the work data will be stored in the memory.

The destination information consists of a shelf row NO given in advance to each shelf (B) and a shelf NO given in advance to each shelf portion (2), and as shown in FIG. In (5), a shelf row NO display section (G ₁ ) that lights up a portion corresponding to each shelf row NO.
Or the shelf NO display part (G
₂ ) is provided.

However, as the IC card (13) is set on the moving vehicle side, all of the shelf row NO display sections (G ₁ ) are turned on, and the moving vehicle (A) is turned on. As the vehicle runs along the front surface of the shelving row in which work is performed, the corresponding shelving row NO is blinked. In addition, the shelf NO display section (G ₂ ) is for the moving vehicle (A).
As the vehicle runs along the front surface of the row of shelves with work, all the shelf NOs with work of the row of shelves are turned on, and the moving vehicle (A) has a shelf portion (2) with work. The shelf No. of the shelf portion (2) blinks as it is located in front of the. Therefore, the destination information indicating means (100)
On the basis of the information in the memory,
₁ ) and the rack NO display portion (G ₂ ) are operated to instruct which of the rack portions (2) to travel. At the same time, when the destination information is instructed, the current position of the moving vehicle (A) is accurately notified while using the classification information.

Which of the above-mentioned shelves (B), and each of the shelving parts
Explaining the configuration for transmitting the classification information of which is (2) to the moving vehicle side, the shelf row NO or the shelf NO is moved to the upper part of each shelf part (2) using an optical signal. An optical communication device (17) as a communication means for wireless transmission is provided on the vehicle side, and an optical communication device (18) as a communication means for receiving information of the communication device (17) on the shelf side is provided. The mobile vehicle (A) is provided with the reception information transmitted to the mobile vehicle controller (IC).

However, a shelf controller (TC) for controlling the operation of the communication device (17) on the shelf side is provided, and the communication devices (17) and (18) on the shelf side and the moving vehicle side are provided with an article removal information instruction. Therefore, it is also used as a means for transmitting information on the moving vehicle side to the shelf side. The communication device (17) on the shelf side projects an optical signal toward the passage side of the moving vehicle, and the communication device (18) on the moving vehicle side receives only the signal from the left lateral side of the vehicle body. Directivity is given so that

The article take-out information basically consists of a shelf position corresponding to the storage location of each article and the article take-out amount. As shown in FIG. 5, the display board (5) has a shelf requiring work. A pick shelf display section (G ₃ ) for indicating the position and a pick quantity display section (G ₄ ) for indicating the quantity to be taken out from each shelf position are provided.

The pick shelf display portion (G ₃ ) is provided with a plurality of illuminated push buttons (19) corresponding to each shelf position. These illuminated pushbuttons (19) are turned on and turned on as the moving vehicle (A) is located in front of the shelf part (2) on which work is to be performed, corresponding to the shelf position on which work is required. The object is made to blink when it is pushed to instruct the next work.

From the above, the article take-out information instruction means (101) operates the pick shelf display section (G ₃ ) and the pick quantity display section (G ₄ ) based on the information in the memory and the sorting information, and It is configured to instruct the takeout information from each shelf part (2) for each shelf part.

The pick quantity display section (G ₄ ) has the following functions in addition to displaying the quantity on the numerical value display section (20). That is, the article
In order to indicate whether to take out (Xa) in case units, take out several units that are grouped into a unit, or take out one by one individually, the unit indicator light ( 21) and a single unit indicator light (22) are attached. When both indicator lights (21) and (22) are turned off, the case is taken out, when the unit indicator light (21) is turned on, the unit is taken out. By turning on the indicator light (22), the individual take-out is displayed.

Further, in order to make it easy to understand the instruction of the article take-out information, the following configuration is added. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, an instruction lamp (23) is provided as a take-out target article instruction tool corresponding to each shelf position of each shelf portion (2). When the illumination type push button (19) is pressed as described above, these instruction lamps (23) are accompanied by information transmitted to the shelf side by using both the communication devices (17) and (18). , The corresponding one is supposed to light up. That is, both the communication devices (17) and (18) are configured as means for transmitting operation information for the instruction lamp (23) from the moving vehicle side to the shelf side.

By the way, the article take-out information instruction is the above-mentioned illuminated push button (1
The instruction is started as (9) is pressed, and the display panel (5)
The instruction is stopped when the illuminated push button (24) for work completion provided on the above is pushed. The illumination push button (24) for work completion is turned on when it is determined that the storage is completed in the storage information instruction described later, and is turned off when the push operation is performed.

The storage information instruction is basically carried out by displaying the quantity on the storage frame portion below each container (7), and corresponding to each container (7), A pair of left and right numerical value display parts (25a), (25b) and one illuminated push button (26) for completion of storage are provided.

The pair of left and right numerical value display parts (25a), (25b) are one container (7)
When the partition plate (27) is divided into the left and right parts, the two parts respectively correspond to the left and right container parts. However, when the partition plate (27) is not installed, the left numerical display (25a)
Only is activated.

By the way, whether or not to set the partition plate (27) is determined by turning on both numerical value display parts (25a) and (25b) when the IC card (13) is set. I am trying to instruct what it takes. When the setting of the partition plate (27) is completed, the illuminated push button (26) for completion of storage is pushed.

The illuminated push button (26) for completion of storage is
The lights are turned on at the same time as the lights 5a) and (25b) are turned on, and when the storage work for the corresponding container (7) is completed, the push operation is performed.

However, the numerical display parts (25a) and (25b) do not go off even if the illumination completion push button (26) for storage completion is pressed, and the illumination completion push button (24) for operation completion is pressed. The light is turned off as it goes down.

From the above, the article storage information instructing means (102) is configured to display the numerical value display section based on the information in the memory and the sorting information.
(25a), (25b) and the illuminated push button (26) are activated to instruct the article storage operation for the corresponding container (7).

Further, in order to perform the article collecting work without error and efficiently, various means described below are provided.

That is, the display panel (5) is provided with a lamp check push button (28) for the display panel and a lamp check push button (29) for the storage frame, and these push buttons (28), (29) are not pushed. When
The entire display panel (5) and the entire storage frame (1) are turned on. Similarly, each of the shelves (2) is provided with a lamp check push button (30).

The display panel (5) is provided with a work NO display section (G ₅ ). The work NO display portion (G ₅ ) includes a numerical value display portion (31) and a check button (32), and displays the work NO currently being performed as the check button (32) is pressed. It is like this. The work number is stored in the IC card (13) in advance.

If the communication range of the optical communication devices (17) and (18) in the front-rear direction of the moving vehicle is reduced, and the moving vehicle (A) is accidentally run while continuing work on one shelf portion (2). The information can be detected as the incommunicable information. Then, the alarm buzzer (33) is activated based on the detected information. By the way, if the mobile vehicle (A) is returned to the normal state and the communication state is restored, an alarm buzzer will appear.
(33) will be stopped.

A pass button (35) for a work pass is provided on the display panel (5). This pass button (35) is an illuminated pushbutton for shelf position indication.
It is pressed when the user wants to pass the work due to lack of articles or the like after operating (19) to start the work.
By the way, if you want to pass all the work remaining on the shelf (2), the number of illuminated pushbuttons (19)
Press the pass button (35).

Next, the operation of the moving vehicle (A) will be described while describing the control operation of the moving vehicle controller (IC) based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

That is, first, the lamp check process is executed, and then the process of reading the information of the set IC card (13) is executed.

After reading the information, the process of turning on the shelf row NO in which the work is performed is executed, and then it is checked whether or not the work is performed by installing the partition plate (27). If installation is required, the storage is completed. Stand by until the completion of installation is instructed by the illuminated push button (26).

When the completion of partition plate installation is instructed, the shelf row with work
Is received, and if it is received, a process of blinking the corresponding shelf row NO and turning on the shelf NO with work in that shelf row is executed.

When it is determined that the set time has not been received by the above-described check, it is checked whether or not the set time has elapsed after the non-reception, and only when the set time has elapsed, the rack row NO
Is switched to the lit state or the process of turning off the shelf NO is executed. By the way, the processing of this part is provided as a post-processing when the vehicle travels along the row of shelves for the work but does not perform the work, or when the vehicle travels to the row of shelves with the work left. is there. Further, the set time is determined in order to maintain the previous display state even if the communication is temporarily disabled while traveling between the adjacent shelf portions (2) in one shelf row. .

After that, it is checked whether or not a rack No. with work is received, and if not received, the process shifts to the above-described check of rack row No. reception. On the other hand, when it is received, the process of blinking the corresponding shelf NO or the process of lighting the instruction push button (19) corresponding to the shelf position where the work is performed is executed.
It is checked whether or not the push button (19) with work is pushed.

If the push button (19) is not pressed, it is checked whether or not the shelf NO is continuously received. If not, the process of switching the shelf NO to lighting or the push button (19) is turned off. After performing the processing, the process shifts to the above-described check of the rack row NO reception.

When the push button (19) with work is pushed, the pushed push button
(19) blinks, the pick quantity is displayed, the storage quantity is displayed, the indicator lamp (23) on the shelf side is turned on, the completion button (26) on the storage frame side is turned on, and further, if necessary. Accordingly, processing for turning off the unit indicator light (21) and the single item indicator light (22) is executed.

After that, it is checked whether or not the completion button (26) on the storage frame side has been pressed, and if not, it is checked whether or not the reception of the shelf NO continues. Then, when it is not continued, the alarm buzzer (33) is activated to prompt the worker to return and travel. If it is continuing, the pass process is executed as necessary while checking the information of the work pass push button (35).

If it is determined in the above check that the completion button (26) has been pressed, turn off the completion button (26) and then check if all the completed completion buttons (26) have been pressed. It is checked whether or not it has been pressed, and if the button has not been pressed, the above-described completion button (26) is checked.

If it is determined that all of the completed work complete buttons (26) have been pressed, the completion button (24) on the display panel side is lit and then waits until that button (24) is pressed. To do.

Then, when the button (24) is pressed, the completion button (24) on the display board side is turned off, the shelf position indicating push button (19) after the work is turned off, and the shelf side indicating lamp (23) is turned off. Further, a process of turning off the unit indicator light (21) and the single item indicator light (22) is executed as necessary.

Next, it is checked whether or not there is any remaining work on the current shelf NO. If there is any, there is a check on the push button (19). On the other hand, when there is no remaining work, the shelf N where the work is finished
After executing the processing for turning off the O, it is checked whether or not there is remaining work on the current shelf line.

If there is remaining work on the current shelf line, the above shelf line No.
The process shifts to the reception check process. On the other hand, when there is no remaining work, after turning off the shelf row NO where the work is finished,
It is checked whether or not there is remaining work on another shelf line, and if there is any remaining work, the process shifts to the above-described reception check process for the shelf line NO.

[Another embodiment]

The mobile vehicle (A) may be of various configurations, such as those equipped with propulsion wheels.

In the above embodiment, the case where the container (7) is used for collection is illustrated, but the container (1) may be directly collected.

Further, in the above embodiment, the indicator lamp (2
Although the case where only the shelf position of the taken-out article is instructed on the shelf side has been illustrated in 3), the quantity may be instructed on the shelf side.

Also, communication means (17), (18) for communicating between the moving vehicle side and the shelf side.
As a communication device using an optical signal, a communication device using an electromagnetic wave signal may be used, or a so-called ID card having a communication function and a storage function may be provided on the shelf side, and
Various changes can be made, such as a read / write device provided on the moving vehicle side.

In addition, to transmit work data for collecting goods to the moving vehicle side,
Instead of using the IC card (13), a work controller
(SC) and the mobile vehicle controller (IC) can be changed by communication etc.

In addition, various changes can be made to the specific configurations of the respective parts necessary for carrying out the present invention.

It should be noted that reference numerals are added to the claims for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the structures of the accompanying drawings by the entry.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of an article collecting facility according to the present invention,
Figure is a schematic plan view of the goods collection facility, Figure 2 is a front view of the shelf,
FIG. 3 is a side view of the mobile vehicle, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the control configuration, FIG. 5 is a plan view of the display panel, and FIGS. 6 (a), 6 (b) and 6 (c).
Is a flowchart showing a control operation. (1) …… article storage section, (2) …… shelf section, (17), (18) …… communication means, (23) …… article indicator, (100) …… destination information instruction means, (101 ) ... Item take-out information instruction means, (A) ... moving vehicle, (B) ... shelf.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Yasushi Yamakawa, 7-5-5 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Shiseido Co., Ltd. (72) Shigeki Kubo, 7-5-5, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Seidouchi (56) Reference JP 61-101303 (JP, A) JP 60-248501 (JP, A) JP 62-249802 (JP, A) JP 63-66004 (JP, A) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-66005 (JP, A) Actual Development No. 63-119470 (JP, U) Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-43483 (JP, B2) Actual Publication No. 63-30725 (JP, Y2)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A mobile vehicle (A) which is equipped with an article storage section (1) and which can be steerably operated, and is arranged along a longitudinal direction of a passage for traveling the mobile vehicle, and stores a plurality of types of articles in a divided state. A shelf (B) for storing the work data for collecting articles from the shelf (B) in the mobile vehicle (A), and the shelf (B) based on the information in the storage means. B) Each shelf section divided in the longitudinal direction
(2) Based on the destination information instructing means (100) for instructing which one to drive, the information in the storage means and the information for discriminating which of the shelves (2) is An article collection facility provided with an article take-out information instructing means (101) for instructing article take-out information from each of the shelf sections (2) corresponding to each of the shelf sections (2). And a communication means (17) for wirelessly transmitting sorting information for sorting each of the shelves (2), and the communication means (17) is provided in the mobile vehicle (A). Received the information of
A communication means (18) for transmitting the received information to the article removal information instruction means (101) is provided, and the both communication means (17), (18) correspond to the shelf to which the mobile vehicle (A) corresponds. When it is located in front of the part (2), communication becomes possible,
In addition, the article collection facility configured to form the communicable range so as to have a width along the lateral direction of the vehicle body. 2. An article targeting tool (23) to be taken out is provided on each of said shelves (2), and both said communication means (17), (18) act on said article targeting tool (23) to be taken out. The article collecting facility according to claim 1, which is configured as a means for transmitting information from the moving vehicle side to the shelf side.