JPH04301683A - Picking display system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To quickly and surely recognize the number of picking from the residual number of picking, and to improve the efficiency of picking work. CONSTITUTION:A stock control device 1 which performs the stock control of a picking product at each location, and a picking work indicator 4 loaded on a packing work carriage 3 which displays a picking work instruction content sent from the stock control device 1 are provided, and the picking work is performed according to the picking work instruction content, and also, a residual number confirmation signal is inputted from the picking work indicator 4 when the picking work is completed, and the residual number of picking at the location is sent from the stock control computer 1, and it is displayed on the picking work indicator 4, and the number of picking can be confirmed based on coincidence between the displayed residual number of picking and the actually confirmed residual number of picking.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a picking display system used in a distribution system handling cardboard box products filled with goods (hereinafter collectively referred to as picked products), and in particular, the present invention relates to a picking display system used in a distribution system handling cardboard box products filled with goods (hereinafter collectively referred to as picked products). The present invention relates to a picking display system equipped with technology for confirming.

0002

[Prior Art] Generally, in the distribution industry, after goods manufactured on a production line, etc. are packed into cardboard boxes for each item of the same type, the picked products after being packed in boxes are stored in a picking area, which is a large storage area. While they are regularly stacked and stored at each location, if there is a request to ship these picked products, the picking worker drives a picking work trolley to that location, places the required number of picked products there, and then, for example, The products are transported to the delivery destination, etc.

By the way, in the above-mentioned picking operations, picking instructions necessary for picking the products to be picked are sent from an inventory management computer to a picking instruction device mounted on a picking work cart via a fixed instruction device at the picking area or via wireless means. In this method, picking instructions such as location, item, number of items to be picked, etc. are given, and the picking operator picks the specified number of items from the picking location based on the contents of the picking instruction.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when the above-mentioned picking operation method is adopted, the following problems have been pointed out.

[0005]B. Although picking instructions are displayed on the picking work instruction device, the method of carrying out the instructions is left to each picker, so there is a tendency for pickers to pick based on their intuition or arbitrary judgment. There is a problem of lack of proper work. B. When the number of items to be picked is large, the instructed number of items is often picked incorrectly, resulting in a problem of lack of reliability.

C. Therefore, in order to eliminate the problems described in A and B above, a picker checks the number of items picked for each item after picking, or another worker checks the number again after a series of picking operations. However, if the number of items picked is not carefully checked, errors in the number of items picked often occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and allows a picker to easily and quickly confirm the number of pieces picked from a series of picking operations.
The purpose is to provide a picking display system that greatly contributes to improving the efficiency of picking work.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] First, in order to solve the above problems, the invention relating to a picking display system corresponding to claims 1 and 2 is directed to inventory management of picked products stored at each location of a picking area. A picking operation in which an inventory management device is connected to the inventory management device via wireless, optical communication, or other communication means, and data on at least the location number and the number of pieces to be picked sent from the inventory management device is displayed. a picking work indicator mounted on a trolley; and a remaining number confirmation input means for inputting a remaining number confirmation signal from the picking work indicator after the picking work is completed according to the picking instruction content displayed on the picking work indicator. , a remaining quantity display means for receiving the remaining quantity confirmation signal and transmitting the remaining picking quantity of the location from the inventory management device and displaying it on the picking work indicator; and a remaining picking quantity displayed on the picking work indicator. and a means for transmitting a work completion signal from the picking work instruction device to the inventory management device when the actual number of remaining confirmed pickings at the location matches.

[0009]The remaining number display means displays the remaining number of picked products in a display format that allows easy confirmation of the remaining number of picked products, that is, when picking by case from a pallet, it is displayed in a "tier + case" format, and when picking from a case in units of individual items. When picking with , it shall be displayed in the format of "row + piece".

[0010] Next, the invention corresponding to claim 3 is characterized in that, instead of mounting a picking work cart, a picking work instruction device for displaying the contents of picking instructions is installed at an appropriate place in each location of the picking area. This is a configuration that calculates the remaining number of picks in the same way.

[0011]

[Operation] Therefore, by taking the above-mentioned measures, the present invention, when a remaining number confirmation signal is sent from the work cart side or the location to the inventory management device side after the picking operation is completed, the inventory management device side The remaining number of picks is returned in an easy-to-confirm display format, for example, in the form of rows + cases, and displayed on the picking work instruction device, so it is easy to determine whether the number of remaining picks based on this display format matches the actual number of remaining picks. This not only makes it possible to quickly confirm the number of items to be picked based on the presence or absence of a match, but also greatly contributes to improving the efficiency of the picking operation.

0012

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the system of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic layout configuration diagram of a picking field. First, this picking display system can be broadly divided into an inventory management computer 1 that manages the inventory of each item at a location, and a wireless transmitting/receiving device 2, as shown in FIG.
and a picking work indicator 4 mounted on a picking work trolley 3. 5 is a picking worker.

On the other hand, in a picking area, for example, two
Each location 12 on the lower side of the tiered locations
(12-1 to 12-6) are loaded with a plurality of picking products 13 stacked in multiple layers, and each location 14 on the upper side is also loaded with a plurality of replenishment picking products stacked in one or multiple layers. A product 15 is placed. Note that, in consideration of the picking work plan, ease of picking work, etc., in each location 12 on the lower tier side, if necessary, for example, picking products 13 of different items may be placed in advance for each location 12. are being taught. 16
is the location number display board.

Functionally, the inventory management computer 1 grasps the inventory status of the picked products 13 at each location in advance according to the content of the carry-out request, and records the location number, item, number of picked products, etc. as shown in FIG. 3, for example. A picking work plan creation means 1A that creates a picking work plan and files it, and converts picking work instructions into transmittable data based on this picking work plan, and also collects data from the picking work cart 3 side. and a data converting means 1B that converts the data into data that can be processed by a computer according to the above-mentioned picking work plan, and after giving a picking work instruction based on the picking work plan, subtracting the number of pieces picked this time from the number of pieces picked last time at the location to obtain the current picking number. Inventory file creation means 1C for calculating the remaining quantity and creating a picking area inventory file as shown in FIG. 4 is provided, and control means for executing other programs is also provided.

The wireless transmitting/receiving device 2 is provided with parallel/serial data converting means and high frequency modulation/demodulation means, and transmits picking work plan data sent from the inventory management computer 1 to the picking work cart 3 by radio. It also has a function of receiving data from the picking work cart 3 and transmitting it to the inventory management computer 1.

Furthermore, the picking work cart 3 is equipped with the picking work indicator 4 as described above;
Although not shown, it is assumed that an input device such as a keyboard is provided.

Next, the operation of the picking display system as described above will be explained with reference to FIG. Now, the picking work plan creating means 1A in the inventory management computer 1 creates a picking work plan as shown in FIG. 3, and then stores it in a memory file (not shown). In this state, when a work start signal is input from the input device (not shown) on the side of the inventory management computer 1 (ST1), data such as one location number, item, and number of pieces to be picked are read out from the picking work plan in the memory file. Send. Alternatively, when the picking worker 5 inputs a work start signal from the input device (not shown) of the picking work instruction device 4 (ST1), in this case, the signal is sent to the inventory management computer 1 via the wireless transmitting/receiving device 2,
Similarly, this inventory management computer 1 reads data such as one location number, item, and number of items to be picked from the picking work plan in the memory file and sends it out. Note that picking work plan data for two or more locations may be sent.

At this time, the wireless transmitting/receiving device 2 converts the picking work plan data into a wireless signal and transmits it to the picking work cart 3. When this wireless signal is received by the cart 3, a picking work instruction device mounted on the cart is activated. 4, the picking work instruction device 4 stores, for example, the location number "13-1" as shown in FIG.
The contents of the picking work instruction such as item "A" and number of items to be picked "8" are displayed (ST2). Here, the picking worker 5 moves the work cart 3 to the instructed location No. "13-1" by driving the work cart 3 or manually pushing it, and performs the picking work according to the picking work instruction contents of the picking work instruction device 4. (ST3). In addition,
As a rule of picking work, pick in such a way that it is easy to count the remaining quantity. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the pallets 17 in the picking area are fully palletized in 12 x 4 stages,
Picking shall be done with regularity starting from the top.

When the picking work is completed as described above, the picking worker 5 inputs a remaining number confirmation signal from the input device of the picking work instruction device 4 (ST4). This remaining number confirmation signal is sent to the inventory management computer 1 through the wireless transmitting/receiving device 2. Here, after subtracting the number of picked pieces from the initial total number of picked pieces to find the remaining number,
After rewriting the remaining quantity in the inventory file of the picking area shown in , the corresponding location number is "13-1" and the corresponding item A.
The remaining number "40" is sent to the work cart 3 via the wireless transmitter/receiver 2.

The work cart 3 side receives the location number "13-1" and the remaining number of item A "40" sent from the wireless transmitter/receiver 2, and displays them on the picking work indicator 4 ( ST5). The remaining number is displayed in such a way that it is easy for the picking worker 5 to count. For example, if 8 cases are picked from a full palette (12 cases x 4 rows) as shown in FIG. 6, the remaining number is displayed in a display format of 3 rows + 4 cases.

Here, the picking worker 5 visually confirms the remaining quantity of item A at the location "13-1" shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the numbers match, and if they match, a work end signal is input from the input device of the picking work instruction device 4 (ST7). Therefore, when the inventory management computer 1 receives the work completion signal, it determines whether there is a next picking work, for example, a picking work for the same or other items or another location (S
T8), if there is next picking work, repeat step ST
Return to step 2 and repeat the same process.

Therefore, according to the configuration of the embodiment as described above, when a work end signal is sent from the picking work indicator 4 mounted on the work cart 3 after the picking work is completed, the inventory management computer Since the remaining quantity is displayed on the picking work instruction device 4 from 1 to 4 in an easy-to-check display format, the picking worker can optimize the number of pieces to be picked based on the match between the displayed remaining quantity of picked items and the actual confirmed remaining quantity of the location. Therefore, you can quickly check the number of pieces picked during a series of picking operations.
Picking errors can be greatly reduced. Moreover, when displaying the remaining quantity on the picking work indicator 4, for example, in the case of multi-layer stacking of products, it is displayed as n stages + k case, while on the other hand, the picking worker side picks regularly from the upper stage, so the picking The displayed remaining number and the actual confirmed remaining number can be compared quickly and without error.

In the above embodiment, picking of case products 13 stacked in multiple layers on a pallet 17 has been described, but the present invention can be similarly applied to picking of single products stored in cases. In this case, if single items are regularly lined up in n rows + m columns in the case, by setting the picking work rule as in the above example, the remaining number will be displayed as n rows + k items. Display in format. At this time, in the case of multilayer stacking, a configuration may be adopted in which both a single item display and a multilayer stack display are displayed. Therefore, the number of pickers remaining can be easily confirmed without making any mistakes, and the number of items to be picked can be optimized. Further, although data is exchanged between the picking work cart 3 and the inventory management computer 1 wirelessly, it may also be performed using optical communication or other communication means.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, instructions for the contents of the picking work are displayed on the picking work indicator 4 on the work cart 3, but a picking work indicator with an input device is provided at an appropriate location in each location of the picking area. 4 may be fixedly installed. In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the gist thereof.

[0025]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the number of pieces to be picked can be quickly confirmed from the number of pieces left to be picked after the picking operation, mistakes in the number of pieces to be picked can be easily prevented, and the efficiency of the picking operation can be improved. It is possible to provide an improved picking display system.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a picking display system according to the present invention.

[Figure 2] Layout of picked products in the picking area.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a picking work plan created by the inventory management computer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an inventory file for a picking area created by the inventory management computer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the system of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the state of the number remaining on the pallet after picking work.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Inventory management computer, 2...Wireless transmitting/receiving device, 3
...Picking work trolley, 4...Picking work indicator, 1
2, 14... Location, 13, 15... Picking product.

Claims (3)

[Claims] Claim 1: An inventory management device that manages the inventory of picked products stored at each location of a picking area, and an inventory management device that is connected to the inventory management device via wireless, optical communication, or other communication means; A picking work indicator mounted on a picking work cart that displays at least location number and picking number data sent from the inventory management device, and a picking work indicator to be carried out according to the picking instruction content displayed on this picking work indicator. a remaining quantity confirmation input means for inputting a remaining quantity confirmation signal from the picking work instruction device after completion of the picking operation; and a remaining quantity confirmation input means for receiving the remaining quantity confirmation signal and transmitting the remaining picking quantity of the location from the inventory management device to the picking work instruction device; When the remaining picking number displayed on the picking work indicator and the actual confirmed picking remaining number of the location match, the picking work indicator sends the inventory management device to complete the work. A picking display system comprising: means for transmitting a signal. [Claim 2] The remaining quantity display means displays in the format of "row + case" when picking in units of cases from the pallet, and in the format of "row + pieces" when picking in units of individual items from the case. The picking display system according to claim 1, which displays the picking display system. 3. An inventory management device that manages the inventory of picked products stored at each location in a picking area, and an inventory management device that is installed at an appropriate location in each location and that stores at least a location number sent from the inventory management device. and a fixed picking work indicator that displays data on the number of pieces to be picked, and a remaining quantity confirmation signal from the input device of the fixed picking work indicator after the picking work is completed according to the picking instruction contents displayed on the picking work indicator. a remaining number confirmation input means for inputting;
Remaining quantity display means for receiving the remaining quantity confirmation signal and transmitting the remaining picking quantity of the location from the inventory management device and displaying it on the fixed picking work indicator; A picking display system comprising means for sending a work end signal from the input device to the inventory management device when the number matches the actual confirmed remaining number of pickings at the location.