JPH08608B2 - Picking system - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a picking system in a product distribution process.

(Prior Art) In a distribution center for products for supermarkets and chain stores, so-called picking work is performed in which the required number of various products are prepared in response to the requests from each store. While walking around the warehouse while looking at the order slips that the worker had,
It was done by a manual method, such as collecting the required products in the required number. However, in such a method, since the worker has to remember the storage position of each product in the warehouse, a high degree of skill is required, and especially in recent years when a wide variety of products are used. It was difficult to process quickly. On the other hand, each store is also trying to reduce the product inventory, and from this point also, there is a strong demand for quick picking work or delivery.

In response to such a situation, a picking system as disclosed in, for example, JP-A-57-137203 is being put to practical use. This system provides a picking zone along a conveyor that conveys containers for each destination, and a product shelf with a large number of pockets for storing products for each item in the picking zone. For example, when a number display is provided for each pocket, and when a container for collecting products for store A, for example, is conveyed to the picking zone by the conveyor, if there is an item for store A in that zone, the product For example, for the A store, the number display on the shelf is configured to display the number of picked products to be picked this time. Therefore, if the picking operator arranged in the picking zone picks up the indicated number of products for which the number of picked items is displayed and collects them in the container, the container is discharged from the end of the conveyor. At times, the products for the store A are collected in the required quantity for all the requested items.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the picking system described in the above publication, the picking work cannot be completed in all the picking zos, so that it is impossible to pick the next new store. Even if one piece number indicator is out of order, the completion of the picking work cannot be confirmed, and the work thereafter cannot be performed.

The present invention addresses the above situation in a picking system provided with a number indicator for displaying the number of picked items, particularly a picking system provided with a plurality of picking zones along a transport path of a container. The problem is to realize a picking system that can be operated even if some kind of failure occurs.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the picking system according to the present invention is characterized by being configured as follows.

That is, according to the present invention, a container carrying means for carrying a container for each destination and a plurality of picking zones provided along the carrying path of the container by the carrying means are provided respectively, and each item is provided in a large number of pockets. It has a product shelf for storing products for each item and a quantity display device provided on the product shelf, and an operator arranged in the picking zone has the number of products in each pocket displayed on the product display device. In a picking system configured to pick and collect in a container on the transport means, when the number indicator fails, the number of the pocket provided with the number indicator is instructed to the control device of the system. And a number of pickings for a pocket designated by the key input unit from the control device. Alternate display device having a radical 113 are provided for each picking zone.

(Operation) According to the above configuration, even if the number display device fails in any of the picking zones, the number of the pocket provided with the number display device is set to the key input unit of the alternative display device in the picking zone. By inputting an instruction to the control device of the system by operation, the number of pickings for the pocket instructed thereby is displayed as an alternative on the alternative display device.

(Example) Hereinafter, the Example of this invention is described.

First, the overall structure of the picking system common to the first and second embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, and as shown in FIG. 1, the picking system has a starting end at which a container a is placed and supplied. A conveyor 1 for tact-transporting a plurality of containers a ... a is provided from the part 1a to the terminal end 1b for discharging the parts, and there are 10 picking zones 2 (2 ₁ to 2 _{10 in} total) on both sides of the conveyor 1 in the illustrated example. ) Is provided.

In each of these picking zones 2 (2 ₁ to 2 ₁₀ ), product shelves 4, 4 are arranged in two rows in a direction orthogonal to the conveyor 1 with a central working space 3 interposed therebetween, and each zone 2 Substitute display devices 5 are arranged at positions near the conveyor 1 in FIG. Note that the alternate display device 5 ... 5 each, for example, the first picking zone 2 of _the alternate display device 5 so that "1" is set to register number to distinguish each other.

A work control device 7 is arranged at a container supply position 6 near the start end 1a of the conveyor 1, and a label printer 9 is arranged at a container discharge position 8 near the end end 1b. Here, the pitch of the tact transportation of the containers a ... A by the conveyor 1 is such that the intermediate stop positions 1 ₁ to ₁₅ between the starting end portion 1a and the terminating end portion 1b are the picking zones 21 on both sides of the conveyor _1. there is a pitch corresponding to ~ 2 _5, 2 ₆ and 2 _10. Then, as shown, and each picking zone 2 ₁ ... 2 _10, the container supply position 6 and the discharge position 8
In addition, in the case of the illustrated example, a total of 12 workers b ... B are arranged.

On the other hand, each 2 in each of the above picking zones 2 ₁ ... 2 ₁₀
A large number of pockets 10 ... 10 for storing and storing products for each item are provided in the product columns 4 and 4 of the row, and as shown in FIG. … 11
Are provided respectively. Each quantity indicator 11 has a display section 12 for digitally indicating the number of picked items, a picking instruction lamp 13, and a picking completion key 14, and for example, m items c ... C in a certain pocket 10 should be picked. At this time, the picking display lamp 13 of the number indicator 11 in the pocket 10 is turned on, and at the same time, the number m is digitally displayed on the display unit 12. here,
When a plurality of products are picked in a case and a single product, the display unit 12 is configured to display the number of cases to be picked and the number of single products.

It should be noted that, for example, "1",
The registration number is set as "2", "3", ....

Further, the picking system is provided with a control system as shown in FIG. This control system has a sorting control device 15 connected to a host computer directly or via a terminal, and a data bus 16 extending from the sorting control device 15. The data bus 16 is connected to the work control device 7 as described above. , a number of number display 11 ... 11 of the shelves 4, 4 at each picking zone 2 ₁ ... 2 _10, like the alternative display device 5 in each picking zone 2 ₁ ... 2 _10, and the label printer 9 is connected Then, various signals are exchanged between them.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the alternative display device 5 is provided with a ten-key pad 17 for inputting the registration number of the pockets 10 ... 10 on which the picked number is displayed by the number display 11 ... 11. The key input unit 20 includes a recover command key 18 for confirming the registration number input by the ten-key pad 17 and an end command key 19 for inputting an inspection end command. That is, for example, when the first picking zone 2 ₁ of a certain number indicator 11 fails, the registration number of the number display 11 and input using the ten keys 17 of the key input unit 20, an error in the registration number If there is not, by pressing the recover command key 18, the registration number of the number indicator 11 designated by the ten key 17 is written in the built-in memory of the sorting control device 15. At the time that the registration number of the alternate display device 5 in the zone 2 ₁ also will be stored at the same time.

Then, in the first embodiment, for example, a pocket number display section 21 which receives a data signal from the sorting control device 15 and displays the pocket numbers of the pockets 10 ... The alternative display device 5 is provided with a number display section 22 for displaying the number of products to be picked from the pocket 10.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS.

First, the sorting control device 15 executes the test mode as shown in FIG. 5 in the preparatory stage before the start of work.

That is, the sorting control device 15 first initializes the test data in step S ₁ , and then transmits the test data to the number indicator 11 in step S ₂ . In this case,
When the number indicator 11 is not out of order, for example, the test data of all digits "8" is displayed on the display units 12 ...

Then, the sorting control unit 15, transmission completion is determined by the return to step S ₂ when the determining whether the transmission of test data to the total number display 11 ... 11 has been completed in step S _3, not completed until that, repeatedly executes steps S _2, S _3.

When the test mode is ended, and the worker b ... b disposed on each of the picking zone 2 (2 ₁ to 2 _10),
It patrols the working spaces 3 ... 3 that it is in charge of, and checks whether the test data is normally displayed on the display units 12 ... 12 of the respective number indicators 11 ... 11. In this case, when the display section 12 is blank or the character "8" is not completely displayed even in the digit of one copy, the worker b judges that the number display 11 is out of order. Then, the key operation of the key input unit 20 of the alternative display device 5 is performed to input the registration number of the number display unit 11 which is determined to be in a failure state, and then the recovery command key 18 is turned on to input the registration number. At the same time as confirming, the end command key 19 is turned on to end the input operation to the alternative display device 5 in the sharing area.
Even if the total number indicators 11 ... 11 are normal, the operator b
... b is adapted to turn on the end command keys 19 ... 19 respectively.

On the other hand, during this period, the sorting control device 15 is adapted to perform the recovery mode processing operation in accordance with the flowchart of FIG.

That is, the sorting control device 15 first determines whether or not a command has been received in step S ₄ , and waits until a command receiving state is entered. Then, when the determination result of YES is obtained in step S ₄ , the sorting control device 15 proceeds to step S ₅ ,
It is determined whether the above command is a recover command. When it is a recover command, the registration number of the number indicator 11 input from the ten-key pad 17, that is, the failure registration number is stored, and the alternative display device 5 having the recover command key 18 to which the recover command is input is registered. storing number (step S _6, S _7).

On the other hand, when the determination result that the command is not the recover command is obtained in step S ₅ , the sorting control device 15 determines whether the command is the end command in step S ₈ , and when it is not the end command, the process returns to step S ₄ . . That is, the end command keys 19 ... 19 provided on all the alternative display devices 5 ... 5 connected to the data bus 16 described above.
At the time when the ON signal from is input to the sorting control device 15, the sorting control device 15 ends the recovery mode,
Put the system in an operational state.

When the preparation stage of the system is completed in this way, the worker b at the container supply position shown in FIG. 1 places a container a for collecting products for store A on the starting end 1a of the conveyor 1, The control device 7 performs a picking operation start operation. At this time, the conveyor 1 operates by one pitch, and the container a for the A store placed on the starting end portion 1a is conveyed to the first stop position.

At this point, the sorting control device 15 executes the sorting display mode according to the flowchart of FIG.

In other words, the sorting controller 15, each time the data transmitted to the number display 11 ... 11, first failure registration number of the destination number display 11 in step S ₉ makes a determination or not stored in the internal memory (See step S6 in FIG. ₆ ). When a fault registration number is not stored, transmits data to the number display unit 11 in step S _10. Then, in the destination number display 11, the picking number is digitally displayed on the display 12 and the picking instruction lamp 13 is turned on.

On the other hand, when the judgment result of a failure registration number in step S ₉ are stored in the internal memory is obtained, sorting control unit 15 performs data transmission alternate display device 5 in step S _11. Then, in the alternative display device 5 of the transmission destination, the pocket number indicating the pocket 10 having the defective number indicator 11 is displayed in the pocket number display portion 21, and the number of picked products to be picked from the pocket 10 is the number. Displayed on the display unit 22. At this time, the display section 12 of the malfunctioning number display 11 is displayed blank.

The sorting controller 15 performs the determination of whether transmission of all data is completed in step S _12, and returns to step S ₉ If it is not completed, the presence or absence of a failure registration number for the next number display 11 Check. In this way, the processing operations from step S ₉ to step S ₁₂ are sequentially performed,
When the transmission of all the data to all the number indicators 11 ... 11 in the predetermined zone is completed, the sorting display mode is ended.

In this way, the first end 1a of the conveyor 1
When the data transmission to the _first and sixth picking zos 2 ₁ and 2 ₆ is completed, the picking work is started in these zones 2 ₁ and 2 ₆ . At this time, the workers b, b in the first and sixth picking zones display the products in the pockets 10 ... 10 in which the picking display lamps 13 ... 13 of the number indicators 11 ... 11 are lit on the display units 12 ... 12. picked by the number that is, although to put into a container a in a first stop position 1 ₁ of the conveyor 1, in which case the operator b, b is picking number display 11, 11 when picking a product Turn ON the completion keys 14 and 14. In this case, the quantity indicator 1
When 1 is out of order, the workers b, b remember the pocket number displayed on the pocket number display section 21 of the alternative display device 5 and the picking number displayed on the number display section 22. , The pocket specified by its pocket number
From 10 you will be picking as many products as you need.

As described above, the first for the container a of A shop for goods at the first stop position 1 ₁ of the conveyor 1, the picking operations in a sixth picking zone 2 _1, 2 ₆ completed. Then, the worker b at the container supply position 6 selects the sorting control device.
By confirming the completion of the work in both of the above zones by the work completion message transmitted from the work control device 15 to the worker b, the worker b displays the next end of the conveyor 1 at the beginning 1a of The container a is placed and the operation control device 7 starts the next picking operation. Thus, the container a of the A stores in the first stop position 1 ₁ of the conveyor 1 to the second stop position 1 _2, is placed on the leading end 1a B
Container a for shops are respectively transported to the first position 1 _1, second, seventh picking zone for the former container a
In 2 ₂ and 2 ₇ , the latter container a is picked in the 1st and 6th picking zones 2 ₁ and 2 ₆ in the same manner as described above. By repeating this, so that the containers a picking operation is completed at all picking zones 2 ₁ to 2 ₁₀ and is discharged from the terminal end 1b of the conveyor 1. The worker b who discharges the container a from the end 1b of the conveyor 1 attaches the label issued by the label printer 9 to the container a.

Next, a second embodiment using the picking system shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described. An alternative display device 5'of the second embodiment is a number indicator as shown in FIG.
The numeric keypad 17 'for entering the registration number 11', the recover command key 18 'for confirming the registration number entered by the numeric keypad 17', and the end command key 19 'for entering the inspection end command. It is common to the first embodiment in that it has a key input section 20 'consisting of.

In the second embodiment, a plurality of pocket number display parts 21 '... 21' for displaying pocket numbers and a plurality of number display parts 2 for displaying the number of products to be picked.
2 '... 22' are provided on the alternative display device 5 '. In addition, a plurality of picking confirmation keys 23 '... 23' are provided on the alternative display device 5 '.
It is provided corresponding to 21 '. By turning on the picking confirmation keys 23 '... 23', the corresponding pocket number display sections 21 '... 21' and the number display sections 22 '... 22' are erased.

That is, according to the configuration of the second embodiment, there is an advantage that it is possible to sufficiently cope with the case where a plurality of number indicators 11 '... 11' in the same zone fail. In addition, if the picking confirmation key 23 'is turned on after the product is picked from the pocket 10' designated by each pocket number display portion 21 ', the pocket number display portion 21' and the number display portion are displayed. Since 22 'is erased, duplicate picking is prevented.

(Effect of the invention) As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of picking zones are provided along the transporting means for transporting containers for each destination, and the number indicator provided on the product shelf in the picking zone is In a picking system configured to pick products stored in each pocket of a product shelf in accordance with the indication, even if the number indicator fails in any of the picking zones, the number of pockets provided with the number indicator is increased. By inputting a number to the system control device by operating the key input unit of the alternative display device in the picking zone, the picked number for the pocket specified by it is displayed as an alternative on the alternative display device. Picking work in the picking zone, and eventually operation of the entire system The effect that it can be executed without stopping is obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 8 show an embodiment of a picking system according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic layout diagram of the picking system common to the first and second embodiments, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a partial front view showing the configuration of FIG. Further, FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the alternative display device in the first embodiment, and FIGS. 5 to 7 are flowcharts showing the operation of the sorting control device in the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic front view showing an alternative display device in the second embodiment. 1 ... Container transfer means (conveyor), 2 ... picking zone, 4 ... commodity shelf, 5,5 '... alternative display device, 10,
10 '... Pocket, 11, 11' ... Quantity display, 15 ... Control device (sorting control device), 20, 20 '... Key input part, 2
1,22,21 ', 22' ... Display (21,21 '... Pocket number display, 22,22' ... Number display).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A container carrying means for carrying a container for each destination and a plurality of picking zones provided along a carrying path of the container by the carrying means, and each item is provided in a large number of pockets. It has a product shelf for storing products for each item and a quantity display device provided on the product shelf, and an operator arranged in the picking zone has the number of products in each pocket displayed on the product display device. A picking system configured to be picked and collected in a container on the transportation means, and when the number indicator is out of order, the number of the pocket provided with the number indicator is given to a controller of the system. A key input section for instructing,
A picking system, wherein an alternative display device having at least a display unit for receiving and displaying the number of pickings for the pocket designated by the key input unit from the control device is provided for each picking zone.