JPH0715621U - Picking device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To save space and smoothly replenish items. [Arrangement] An automatic warehouse 13 having a storage area 11 for temporarily storing articles and a picking area 12 for placing articles to be taken out, an indicator 14 for indicating the picking content to a worker P, and an indicator based on shipping data. And a control unit 16 for replenishing the articles from the storage area 11 by operating the crane 15 and operating the crane 15 when there are no articles in the picking area 12.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a picking device for facilitating the work of taking out necessary articles from a storage shelf.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 There is a digital picking device (picking system) as a mechanism for facilitating the work of taking out the required quantity of various kinds of goods from the shelves when the goods are delivered from the shipping center to each store.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the conventional picking apparatus of this type, the article cases 2 are stored in the shelves 1 sorted according to the number of products in a front-packed manner, and the worker puts them on each shelves 1. Picking is performed according to the provided display device 3, and the goods are stored in the buckets 5 transported by the conveyor 4 for each destination (each store). The display device 3 is driven by a computer (not shown) that manages articles in accordance with a shipping request, and instructs the operator by blinking the quantity lamp of the shelf 1 of the relevant product type. Further, when there are no more items on the shelf 1, the carts 7 or the like are appropriately replenished from the loading place or the automatic warehouse 6 where a large number of items are stored.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in such an apparatus, a separate storage space for replenishing the shelves 1 is required, and since the automatic warehouse 6 and the shelves 1 are separately controlled and managed, it is difficult to replenish smoothly. There was a problem. For example, during replenishment of items, there is a problem of missing items such as the fact that there is actually nothing that should exist for management.

Therefore, the present invention was devised to provide a picking device that saves space and can smoothly replenish items.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The present invention is an automatic warehouse having a storage area for temporarily storing articles and a picking area for placing articles to be taken out, an indicator for showing a picking content to an operator, and operating the indicator based on shipping data. In addition, it is equipped with a control unit that operates the crane to replenish the articles from the storage area when there are no more articles in the picking area.

[0007]

[Action]

 With the above configuration, the control unit causes the display unit to display the picking content when the shipping data is input. The worker looks at this indicator and takes out the article in the picking area and stores it in the case etc. for each destination. When there are no items in the picking area, the control unit issues an operation command to the crane according to the number of pickings or the operator's request. According to this directive, the crane will move the item from the storage area to the picking area and replenish it.

[0008]

【Example】

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a picking device according to the present invention. This picking device has an automatic warehouse 13 having a storage area 11 and a picking area 12, an indicator 14 for indicating the picking content to a worker P, and a control for appropriately driving a display 15 and a crane 15 of the automatic warehouse 13. It is mainly configured by the section 16.

The automated warehouse 13 has a large number of shelves 24 in a plurality of stages (five in the illustrated example) on both sides of the crane 15, and the picking area 12 is at the bottom and the storage area 11 is located at the bottom. Is provided above the second stage. The shelves 24 in the areas 11 and 12 are formed so that the pallet 18 on which the carton case 17 containing the articles is placed is detachably locked. One or more carton cases 17 are placed on this pallet 18. The storage area 11 is for temporarily storing picked articles, and the carton cases 17 of each type are distributed randomly or according to the frequency of use (not shown). The picking area 12 is divided for each type of article, and is formed so that the worker P can easily take out the article from the opening of the carton case 17.

The indicators 14 are installed one by one on each shelf 24 in the picking area 12, and as shown in FIG. 2, a display window 19 for digitally displaying the picked quantity and an operator P who picked according to the digital display. Is provided with a completion button 20, and in the present embodiment, a replenishment request button 21 is provided so that the worker P can replenish the article.

The control unit 16 includes a host computer 22 to which shipping data is input, and a control computer 23 that is connected to the host computer 22 and executes management control. The control computer 23 blinks the picking quantity on the display 14 of each shelf 24 based on the shipping data, and causes the bucket 25 for storing the picked articles to flow to the position of the corresponding shelf 24 by the roller conveyor 26. It has become. That is, if there is an item to be picked in the storage bucket 25, it is stopped in front of the shelf 24 or in the vicinity (zone) thereof. Further, the control computer 23 counts the consumption amount (the number of items taken out) of the item when the completion button 20 is pressed, and when the item is exhausted, the crane 15 is operated and the empty carton case 17 is placed. After the empty pallet is put out to the loading / unloading stand (not shown), the actual pallet of the corresponding item in the storage area 11 is put into the shelf 24.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described (see FIG. 3).

When the shipment request data is input to the host computer 22 while the goods have been stored in the automated warehouse 13, the control computer 23 transfers the storage bucket 25 to a zone where there are items to be stored. At the same time, the picking quantity is shown on the display 14 of the shelf 24 of the item (ST 1). The worker P sequentially picks according to this display (ST 2), and presses the completion button 20 of the shelf 24 each time taking out is completed (ST 3). When the picking of the article to be taken out in the zone is completed, the roller conveyor 26 is driven by the command of the control computer 23, and the storage bucket 25 is transferred to the downstream zone. Then, the control computer 23 counts the number of picked quantities and compares the quantity with the quantity stored in the carton case 17 on the pallet 18 to determine whether or not there is a remaining product (ST 4). If there is any, the next picking content is displayed (ST 5), the next storage bucket 25 is transferred, and picking is performed in the same manner. If the carton case 17 is empty, drive the crane 15 to first remove the empty pallet 18 from the picking area 12 and then move the crane 15 to the shelf 24 with the corresponding real pallet in the storage area. Then, put the actual pallet on the shelf 24 in the picking area 12 (ST 6). In this step (ST4 to ST6), the operator P judges that the request button 21 is pushed when the carton case 17 is running low, and the control computer 23 receiving this signal makes the crane. 15 may be moved. In this case, the worker P takes out a very small amount of the remaining item from the carton case 17 and leaves it empty. When the actual pallet has been replenished, the control computer 23 checks whether or not the actual pallet for the item remains in the storage area 11 (ST 7), and if it does, continues picking, otherwise the work is performed. Encourage warehousing, such as by temporarily stopping.

As described above, the lowermost stage of the automated warehouse 13 is used as the picking area 12, the display unit 14 is provided on the shelf 24, and the crane 15, the display unit 14, and the roller conveyor 26 are linked by the single control unit 16. By doing so, the articles are automatically replenished, so that an automatic warehouse dedicated to the replenishment is not required and space saving in the center is achieved, and the picking area 12 can be replenished quickly and smoothly. it can. In other words, by realizing comprehensive paperless management, troubles such as shortages will not occur, and the inventory can be minimized.

In this embodiment, the picking area is provided at the bottom of the automated warehouse, but any number of steps may be used as long as it is within the reach of the operator, and the picking area is made up of multiple steps. May be As the control unit, a crane controller and a display controller may be provided and linked to each other.

FIG. 4 shows a specific embodiment of the present invention, in which two automatic warehouses 13 each having a loading / unloading table 31 at one end are arranged in parallel, and storage buckets 25 are provided along both sides thereof. A series of roller conveyors 26 for transferring are provided. That is, while the storage bucket 25 is being flown from the upstream end to the downstream end of the roller conveyor 26, all the necessary items are picked up by the workers assigned to each zone. Has become.

A start table 32 is installed at the upstream end of the roller conveyor 26, and here, a bar code previously attached to the storage bucket 25 is read by a scanner so that the control unit 16 can read the bar code. The shipping data of the storage bucket 25 is extracted. When the startable lamp 33 provided on the start table 32 is turned on, the operator operates the start switch 34 to flow the storage bucket 25. The storage bucket 25 is sequentially picked in each zone, and is prepared for loading on a vehicle or the like in the loading / unloading area 35 at the end point.

With this configuration, it is possible to perform picking of a variety of products according to the number of shelves 24 in the picking area 12 provided at the bottom of the automated warehouse 13, and to smoothly ship products to each store. It can be carried out.

[0020]

[Effect of device]

 In short, according to the present invention, the following excellent effects are exhibited.

Since an automatic warehouse having a storage area and a picking area, an indicator showing the picking content, and a control unit for activating the indicator and replenishing the picking area with the article from the storage area, the article is temporarily stored. Space saving is achieved by eliminating the need for storage equipment and smooth replenishment of goods.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a picking device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a specific embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a conventional picking device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Storage Area 12 Picking Area 13 Automatic Warehouse 14 Indicator 15 Crane 16 Control Department P Worker

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An automatic warehouse having a storage area for temporarily storing articles and a picking area for placing articles to be taken out, an indicator for showing a picking content to an operator, and operating the indicator based on shipping data. A picking device further comprising: a control unit that operates a crane to replenish the articles from the storage area when there are no articles in the picking area.