JPH01209206A - Warehousing and delivery control method for multi-step type revolution form automatic warehouse - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To smooth processing at the above control for unit assembly parts, by arranging so that a warehouse system control means, on the basis of the situation on the number of warehousing and delivery of buckets, may change the maximum value of the number of buckets scheduled for warehousing and delivery and conduct a scheduling control. CONSTITUTION:A warehouse system control means 20a receives a situation information on warehousing and delivery buckets from a warehousing and delivery number deciding means 50a. And the warehouse system control means 20a reads, according to this information, a condition for setting the number of buckets scheduled for warehousing and delivery which is previously set, from a warehousing and delivery number setting control means 60a, and conducts the change processing of the maximum value of the number of buckets scheduled for warehousing and delivery. And it drives and controls a drive control means 30a and conducts a scheduling control for warehousing and deliv ery buckets. As a result, a smooth warehousing and delivery bucket control can be done.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding a warehousing/unloading control method that automatically manages the number of buckets containing unit assembly parts entering/unloading into a multi-stage rotating automatic warehouse, multiple picking work stations are in a waiting state. The aim is to realize a loading/unloading control method for a multi-stage rotary automatic warehouse that can handle processing without overloading or overloading. A warehouse system control means is provided with a number setting control means, and based on changes in the number of buckets that have been delivered and scheduled to be delivered, which is output from the storage/delivery number determination means based on information from sensors installed at various places on the conveyor that transports the buckets. Read out the setting value of the number of incoming and outgoing quantity setting control means,
Each time, the warehouse system control means is configured to change the maximum allocated number of incoming and outgoing buckets via the drive control means that drives and controls the internal mechanism parts of the system.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a storage/unloading control system for automatically managing the number of buckets containing unit assembly parts entering/unloading into a multi-stage rotary automated warehouse.

For example, parts for assembling an electronic unit 7) according to a predetermined flow need to be organized into kits in advance and stored in YJ (iM) format so that they can be obtained when needed. It is now being put into practical use.

One example of such an automated warehouse is a multi-stage rotating automated warehouse that is systematized by being incorporated into a production control system, for example.

In a multi-stage rotating automated warehouse, buckets containing parts for unit assembly are transported to a picking station using a conveyor, and once the parts have been picked, the buckets are transported back to the multi-stage rotating automated warehouse using a conveyor. .

In these systems, buckets are loaded and unloaded at conveyor speeds that match the efficiency of the picking operation, but if the bucket unloading and kit organization work goes too far in advance, problems may occur such as the bucket loading process not being able to catch up. It is necessary to take measures against the problem.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional example, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the loading/unloading status of a multi-stage rotating automated warehouse.

The multi-tiered rotating automated warehouse shown in Figure 5 is an example of a 9-tiered rotating automated warehouse, and its configuration is as follows: and an automated warehouse 1 for storing buckets (c) from the automated warehouse 1 to picking work stations 3 (1) to 3 (n).
(1), a picking work conveyor 2 (2) that is used for automatically supplying/returning buckets (C) in picking work stations 3(1) to 3(n) and organizing kits; Incoming conveyor 2 (3) for receiving parts c) into the automated warehouse 1, and a bucket (C) for storing parts.
) picking work stations 3 (1) to 3 (n) where parts are picked up and assembled into kits according to instructions, and the bucket number code and unit drawing number code of the parts inside the bucket printed on the hekeso l-(C). Barcode League (hereinafter referred to as BCR) 4', 4'', etc.
4(1) to 4(n +1), and when each picking work station 3(1) to 3(n) is full, the current B bucket (c) is sent to picking work station 3(1) to 3(n) again. It is equipped with a recirculation conveyor 9 for conveying the reflux conveyor 9, and a conversion device 10 for sorting the buckets (C) going to the warehousing conveyor 2 (3) and the buckets (C) going to the recirculation conveyor 9.

In addition, the following BCR4', 4", 4(1) ~ 4(n +
Assume that BCR4 is used as a general code for 1).

A system for controlling each operation of the above-mentioned multi-stage rotary automatic warehouse has a configuration as shown in FIG. That is, an automated warehouse system control unit 20 that manages and controls the entire multi-stage rotary automated warehouse system, and an automated warehouse system control unit 20 that manages and controls the entire multi-stage rotary automated warehouse system, and the operations within the automated warehouse 1 and each conveyor 2 (1) to 2 (
3) and an automatic warehouse control unit 3o that controls the operation of each BCR.
Based on the information of 4, the loading and unloading status of bucket (c), the work status of each picking work station 3(1) to 3(n), and the bucket (C) on each conveyor 2(1) to 2(3)
The storage management unit 50 is provided to manage the flow status and the like.

The automated warehouse system control unit 20 determines the number of picking work man-hours for each drawing number and quantity of units to be assembled into a kit based on instruction information from a higher-level system (production management system, not shown).

Then, each picking work station 3 (1) to 3
In order to balance the load at (n), determine the number of units on the drawing side and the number of packets (C) in the automated warehouse 1 necessary for this, and then
3(n) Perform separate work scheduling and create buckets (
C) Determine the order of exit from the exit (a).

Next, the automated warehouse system control unit 20
0, the automatic warehouse 1 rotates and each conveyor 2 (1
) to 2(3) to take out the buckets (C) from the shelves in the automated warehouse 1 in a predetermined order and send them to the picking work stations 3(1) to 3(n) from the exit (a). put out.

Then, these buckets (C) are delivered to each picking work station 3(1) to 3(n) on the outgoing conveyor 2(1).
) and automatically supplied by the picking work conveyor 2 (2) for automatic supply/return and kit organization.

At this time, each picking work station 3 (1) to 3 (n
) is sent to the automated warehouse system control unit 20 via the storage management unit 50 for management.

Then, each picking work station 3(1) to 3(
If any of the picking work stations 3(1) to 3(n) is full, a stopper (not shown) is controlled to prevent the picking station from entering the warehouse and send it to the next picking work station 3(1) to 3(n).

In addition, each picking work station 3(1) to 3(n)
The number of buckets (c) that have entered the warehouse and the number of buckets (C1 that have attended) can be known from the information of BCR4(1) to BCR4(n) placed before and after .

In the conversion device 10, a bi-knoking work station 3
(1) to 3 (BCR4 (n) was installed in front of the conversion device IO, either the bucket (C) that arrived at (n) and completed the kit formation, or the bucket (C) for which the kit formation was not completed)
+1) Know from the information.

Then, the buckets for which kit formation has been completed (C1 are routed to the storage entrance (b) via the warehousing conveyor 2 (3), and the buckets for which kit formation has not been completed (C1 are distributed to the recirculation conveyor 9, and returned to the picking work station via the recirculation conveyor 9). 3
Send to (1) to 3(n).

In addition, the processing on the warehousing conveyor 2 (3) and the warehousing processing in the automated warehouse 1 are carried out using the bucket (C) in which the kits have been formed (bucket in which the kits have been formed). Perform processing to allocate to 9.

Furthermore, it is assumed that the bucket (C) from the recirculation conveyor 9 is controlled by the automated warehouse system control unit 20 so that the supply to the picking work conveyor 2 (2) is prioritized.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

As mentioned above, the picking work station Shore 3 was fully booked.
The bucket (C) that should enter (1) to 3 (n) is
The flow is returned to the scheduled picking work stations 3(1) to 3(n) via the recirculation conveyor 9, where it waits for a vacant seat. If the kit organization work goes ahead too much and the number of outgoing buckets (C) from the outgoing port (al) and the number of buckets (c) entering the incoming port (b) become unbalanced, the incoming work will not be able to catch up.

As a result, many buckets h (C) of completed kit i are sent to the recirculation conveyor 9, and the output conveyor 2
The supply of the bucket fc) whose kit formation has not been completed from (1) will not proceed smoothly.

In addition, when the remaining number of buckets (buckets scheduled to be dispatched from automatic warehouse 1) decreases, the interval between deliveries per packet (C) becomes longer, so picking work station 3 (
There are problems such as long waiting times for 1) to 3(n).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to realize an input/output control system for a multi-stage rotary automated warehouse that can process items without causing a plurality of picking work stations to become in a waiting state or become overloaded.

[Means to solve the problem]

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram illustrating the invention in detail.

In the block diagram of the principle of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, 20a is a warehouse system control means that performs scheduling management and operation control of the automated warehouse system, and 30a is a warehouse system control means that controls operations and controls within the automated warehouse.

Drive control means for controlling the drive of the conversion device, 50a
60a is an input/output number determining means for managing the status of the number of buckets in and out, and 60a is an input/output number setting control means for setting the scheduled number of buckets to be delivered and the number of buckets to be received according to predetermined conditions; This is a means to solve this problem.

[For production]

Conditions for determining the numerical values of the number of buckets to be delivered and the number of buckets to be received are set in advance in the storage/output number setting control means 60a, for example, in accordance with the quantity of the number of buckets that have been delivered, divided into multiple stages, and the number of storage/output is determined. The warehouse system control means 20a, which receives the input/output bucket status information from the means 50a, reads the setting conditions of the input/output number setting control means 60a according to this information, and sets the maximum value of the number of buckets scheduled to be output and the number of buckets scheduled to be received. By changing the scheduling management of the incoming and outgoing buckets, smooth incoming and outgoing bucket processing is always possible.

〔Example〕

The gist of the present invention will be specifically explained below with reference to embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the present invention in detail, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the automatic loading/unloading control setting status in the embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals indicate the same objects throughout the figures.

The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 uses a bucket allocation table 61 for setting the number of incoming and outgoing buckets as a parameter for the number of incoming and outgoing buckets as a parameter, as the incoming and outgoing number setting control means 60a explained in FIG. Allocation table 61
The input/output number setting control section 60, which is composed of a setting section 62 for setting conditions for the storage system, a warehouse system control means 20a, a drive control means 30a, and a number of people determining means 50a, has the same contents as explained in FIG. Automatic warehouse system control unit 20. This is an example configured by an automatic warehouse control section 30 and a storage management section 50.

Note that the setting unit 62 is an automatic warehouse system system j'I'
It is assumed that the 11th section 20 uses a keyboard (not shown) that has already been installed.

Normally, the number of storage and retrieval buckets allocated is set under one condition, and the balance of the number of storage and retrieval buckets is determined by the storage management unit 50 based on information from the BCR4 installed at each location shown in FIG. When the automated warehouse system control unit 20 confirms the collapse based on the information, the automated warehouse system control unit 20 accesses the input/output bucket allocation number table 61.

It is assumed that the address when the automated warehouse system control unit 20 accesses the storage/output bucket allocation table 61 is the address obtained by converting, for example, the number of shipped buckets into an address.

Further, in the storage/output bucket allocation table 61 shown in FIG. 3, allocation of the number of rotation stages for storing buckets (C) in the automated warehouse l corresponding to the number of outbound buckets is set. If the number is 60 or more, set the number of rotation stages assigned for shipping as “(0)” and the number of rotation stages assigned for receiving as “(9)”, and the number of output buckets is 0 to
If it is 9, the number of rotation stages assigned for delivery is set as "(9)" and the number of rotation stages assigned for warehousing is set as "(0)".

In addition, the number of remaining buckets and throats scheduled to be stocked is 20 or less, and the number of buckets and throats that have been delivered is 19.
In the following cases, the number of output stages assigned is "(9)" and the number of rotation stages assigned for warehousing is controlled to be "(0)" via the automatic warehouse control unit 30.

The automated warehouse system control unit 20 schedules the storage and removal of the bucket fc) according to the read assigned number of stages, and manages the automated warehouse system.

As described above, by arbitrarily changing the number of rotation stages assigned to loading and unloading buckets according to the number of loading and unloading buckets l-(C), waiting times at each picking work station 3 (1) to 3 (n) can be reduced. , and efficiently)
It becomes possible to control the warehousing and discharging process (C).

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention as described above, it is possible to provide a warehousing/unloading control system for a multi-stage rotary automated warehouse that allows efficient kit organization work.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram explaining the present invention in detail, Fig. 2 is a block diagram explaining the present invention in detail, and Fig. 3 is a diagram explaining the automatic loading/unloading control setting status in the embodiment of the present invention. , FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional example, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the loading and unloading status of a multi-stage rotary automatic warehouse. In the diagram, 1 is an automated warehouse, 2 (1) is a delivery conveyor, 2
(2) is the picking conveyor, 2(3) is the warehousing conveyor, 3(1) to 3(n) are the picking stations, and Gin, 4・', 4'', 4(1) to 4(n+1) are B
C.R. 9 is a return conveyor, 10 is a conversion device, 20 is an automatic warehouse system control section, 20a is a warehouse system control means, 30 is an automatic warehouse control section, 30a is a drive control means, 50
50a is a storage management unit, 50a is an input/output number determining means, 60a is an input/output number setting control unit, 60 is an input/output number setting control unit, 61 is an input/output bucket allocation number table, and 62 is a setting unit. Figure 1 is a detailed explanation of the present invention. Figure 3 is a detailed diagram of the present invention. Figure 2 is a block diagram explaining the conventional example.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] The warehouse system control means (20a) manages and controls the operation of loading and unloading buckets containing unit assembly parts on a conveyor between a multi-stage rotary automated warehouse and a plurality of picking work stations. This is a storage/unloading control method, which includes a storage/unloading number setting control means (60a) for setting the number of buckets scheduled to be delivered and the number of buckets scheduled to be received according to predetermined conditions, and is installed at various locations on the conveyor that transports the buckets. The warehouse system control means (20a) controls the number of entry and exit number setting control means (60a) based on changes in the number of buckets that have been delivered and scheduled to be delivered, which are output from the number of entry and exit number determination means (50a) based on information from sensors. ), and each time the warehouse system control means (20a) reads out the setting values of the
) A storage/output control method for a multi-stage rotary automatic warehouse, characterized in that the maximum allocated number of storage/output buckets is changed through the following steps.