JPH0958822A - Picking instruction device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) 【Abstract】 PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately and efficiently perform picking work for articles having different picking frequencies to a case. SOLUTION: An order indicator 50 sequentially lights up a display lamp 51 provided on the right side in the transport direction A following the movement of a container case 11 into which articles with high picking frequency are loaded, thereby sequentially turning on the container case 11. Display the current position of. Further, the order indicator 50 sequentially lights up the indicator lamp 52 provided on the left side in the transport direction A in accordance with the movement of the container case 11 into which articles having a low picking frequency are loaded, so that the container case 11 is turned on.
Display the current position of.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a picking instruction device for providing picking information to an operator who picks an article from a rack storage rack to a case, for example, in a distribution center or a warehouse. The present invention relates to a structure for accurately and highly efficiently performing the picking work of the.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional picking instruction device, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-97503 discloses a rack 7 corresponding to each of the divided zones Z1 to Z5, as shown in FIGS.
0 is provided on each side of the conveyor 71 in the conveying direction of the container case 72 (downward arrow direction in FIG. 3), and a display unit 73 for displaying picking information is provided on the conveyors 71 in the plurality of storage shelves 74 of each rack 70. Those provided at predetermined positions facing each other are described. Each of the display units 73 displays the number of articles taken out from the storage rack 74 into the container case 72 as a multi-digit number based on the order data or the like. A reset button 75 is provided on each of the display portions 73, so that the operator can
By operating the reset button 75, the number of taken out pieces displayed on the display unit 73 is erased.

In such a picking instruction device,
The container case 72 carried into the upper end portion of the conveyor 71 in FIG. 3 is conveyed to the first zone Z1 by the conveyor 71, and is stopped in the first zone Z1 by temporarily stopping the conveyor 71. In this state,
The operator unloads a predetermined number of required articles from each of the storage shelves 74 into the container case 72 based on the number of articles taken out for each article displayed on the display unit 73 of each of the storage shelves 74. Every time the worker unloads an article from the storage shelf 74 to the container case 72, the operator operates the reset button 75 of the display section 73 of the storage shelf 74 to delete the number of the articles taken out displayed on the display section 73. . Then, when the display of each display portion 73 of the first zone Z1 is completely erased by the operation of the reset button 75 and the picking for the container case 72 in the first zone Z1 is completed, the container case 72 is moved to the downstream side by the conveyor 71. Is transported to the second zone Z2 and stopped in the second zone Z2. In this state, the worker, like the first zone Z1,
A predetermined number of required items are unloaded from each storage shelf 74 to the container case 72. Hereinafter, further downstream zones Z3 to Z
Also in No. 5, the same picking work is performed.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-354704 discloses that
As shown in FIG. 5, the items (not shown) to be picked and the quantity thereof are displayed by the item display device 80, and the container case 81 into which the picked products are to be loaded is displayed by the order display device 82. Is listed. The container case 81 is conveyed in a predetermined conveying direction (rightward in FIG. 5) by the belt conveyor 83. The item display 80 gives an instruction to start picking by blinking a lamp or the like, and displays the article to be picked and the quantity thereof by using numbers or the like. An indicator lamp 84 is provided on the order indicator 82 and the belt conveyor 8
Fifteen are provided on the right side of the conveyance direction of 3 along the conveyance direction. The order display 82 is a belt movement detector 85.
Based on the movement amount detection signal of the container case 81 by the control device 86, the display lamps 84 are controlled by the control device 86.
Is lit so as to follow the movement of the container case 81 into which the picked article is to be loaded. As a result, the order display 82 is displayed on the container case 81.
Display the current position of.

[0005]

Among the conventional picking indicating devices described above, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
In the picking instruction device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 97503, in each zone, the worker removes a predetermined number of required articles from the storage shelves 74 based on the number of articles taken out for each article displayed on the display unit 73 of each storage shelf 74. The container case 72 is unloaded, but at this time, the container case 72 into which the article is to be loaded is not designated. Therefore, in order to prevent the operator from erroneously identifying the container case 72, the conveyor 7 may be provided so that only one container case 72 exists in each zone during picking in each zone.
1 needs to be paused. Further, the operator has to operate the reset button 75 of the display unit 73 of the storage shelf 74 every time the article is unloaded from the storage shelf 74 into the container case 72. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to reduce the interval between the container cases 72 on the conveyor 71 in the transport direction and the time required for the picking work, and there is a problem that the picking work efficiency cannot be improved.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-354704 shown in FIG.
In the picking instruction device described in the publication, the display lamp 84 of the order indicator 82 is sequentially turned on following the movement of the container case 81 in which the picked article is to be stored. Can be easily recognized. Therefore, unlike the picking instruction device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, it is not necessary to stop the container case 81 in each zone during picking,
While the container case 81 is continuously conveyed by the belt conveyor 83, accurate and quick picking work can be performed. On the other hand, on the other hand, a container case 81 (hereinafter referred to as a high-frequency item case) into which articles with a high picking frequency are loaded and a container case 81 (hereinafter referred to as a low-frequency article case) into which articles with a low picking frequency are loaded.
However, if they are mixed on the belt conveyor 83, there is a problem that the picking work efficiency decreases.

Therefore, for example, although not shown, it is conceivable to provide two belt conveyors, one of which conveys a high-frequency article case and the other belt conveyor conveys a low-frequency article case. In this case, there is a decrease in the efficiency of the picking work due to the mixture of the high-frequency article case and the low-frequency article case.
Can be avoided. However, since the two belt conveyors need to be merged on the downstream side, the merging timing of the container cases from each belt conveyor must be accurately matched at the merging point of each belt conveyor. In other words, it is necessary to control the timing of each belt conveyor with high accuracy, and inevitably complicating the structure,
There is a new problem of increasing costs. Moreover, since a plurality of belt conveyors are installed, it is difficult to save space in the entire picking equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a picking instruction device capable of accurately and efficiently carrying out picking work of articles having different picking frequencies to a case while continuously carrying the case by a carrying means. .

[0009]

The above object of the present invention is to convey a case into which articles can be inserted in a predetermined conveying direction, and to both sides of the conveying means in the conveying direction.
A plurality of display means provided at predetermined intervals along the carrying direction, and the display means on one side of the carrying direction, respectively, by sequentially operating in accordance with the movement of the case into which articles with high picking frequency are loaded, Control for displaying the current position of the case by displaying the current position of the case and sequentially operating the display means on the other side in the transport direction in accordance with the movement of the case into which articles with low picking frequencies are loaded. And a releasing means which is provided corresponding to the display means on both sides in the transport direction and which is operated when picking is completed to release the operation by the control means of the display means displaying the corresponding case. This is achieved by a picking indicating device characterized in that

In the picking instruction device according to the present invention, the control means sequentially activates the display means on one side in the transport direction in accordance with the movement of the case into which articles with high picking frequency are loaded, thereby causing the case to move. Display the current position. Further, the control means sequentially displays the current position of the case by sequentially operating the display means on the other side in the transport direction in accordance with the movement of the case into which an article having a low picking frequency is loaded. Therefore, in the article shelves arranged along the transport direction, articles with high picking frequency are placed on one side, and articles with low picking frequency are placed on the opposite side. Further, the case of loading articles with high picking frequency and the case of loading articles with low frequency may be the same or different, which makes it possible to efficiently transport the case and improve picking efficiency. it can. The canceling means is operated, for example, when the picking of the case where the current position is displayed by the corresponding display means is completed, cancels the display by the display means for the case to be picked, and the next by the control means. Move to display for case.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated embodiments. 1 and 2 are views showing a picking instruction device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view, and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view.

In these figures, the picking instruction device 10 is provided for each of the divided picking zones Z. Picking instruction device 10 in each picking zone Z
At the control device 60, the container case 11 is conveyed by the belt conveyor 20 in a predetermined conveying direction (arrow A direction).
The items (not shown) to be picked and the quantity thereof are displayed on the item display unit 40 while continuously conveying the sheets, and the container case 11 into which the picked items are to be placed is displayed on the order display unit 50. Based on the display of the item display 40 and the order display 50, the worker unloads a predetermined number of required articles from a predetermined storage rack 31 of the rack 30 to a predetermined container case 11.

The belt conveyor 20 conveys the container case 11 placed on the conveyor belt 21 in the conveying direction A at a predetermined speed by the movement of the conveyor belt 21 accompanying the rotation of a belt roller (not shown).

The racks 30 are provided on both sides of the belt conveyor 20 in the carrying direction A, respectively. The rack 30 is provided with storage shelves 31 capable of accommodating articles, which are vertically arranged in multiple stages (4 in FIG. 2).
And a plurality of rows (2 in FIG. 2) along the transport direction A.
The storage shelves 31 are provided in rows, and the storage shelves 31 store the articles classified by type. Articles having a high picking frequency are stored in the storage rack 31 of the rack 30 on the right side in the transport direction A. Moreover, articles with high picking frequency are stored in the storage rack 31 of the rack 30 on the left side in the transport direction A.

A plurality of item displays 40 are provided on the storage shelves 31 of the rack 30 corresponding to the respective articles, and under the control of the control device 60, the operator is instructed that the object is to be picked by blinking a lamp or the like. In addition, the number of pickings is displayed using numbers and the like.

The order display 50 is provided with display lamps 51 and 52 which are turned on under the control of the controller 60. A plurality of display lamps 51 and 52 are provided on both sides of the belt conveyor 20 in the transport direction A at predetermined intervals along the transport direction A (in this embodiment, 15 on each side of the transport direction A, 30 in total). It is provided.

That is, the order indicator 50 has an indicator lamp 51 (hereinafter, referred to as a right indicator lamp 51) provided on the right side of the conveying direction A in the container case 11 conveyed by the belt conveyor 20 and having a high picking frequency. The current position of the high-frequency article case 11 is displayed by sequentially turning on the container case 11 (hereinafter referred to as the high-frequency article case 11) to be loaded. Further, in the order indicator 50, an indicator lamp 52 provided on the left side of the conveying direction A (hereinafter referred to as a left indicator lamp 52) is used to insert an article having a low picking frequency in the container case 11 conveyed by the belt conveyor 20. The current position of the low-frequency article case 11 is displayed by sequentially lighting the container case 11 (hereinafter referred to as the low-frequency article case 11).

The order display 50 is provided with reset switches 53 corresponding to the right and left display lamps 51 and 52, respectively. The reset switches 53 are each configured by a touch sensor or the like arranged in a strip shape along the transport direction A. Each of the reset switches 53 releases the control of the corresponding right or left display lamp 51, 52 by the control device 60 according to the operation by the operator, and turns off the corresponding right or left display lamp 51, 52.

The control device 60 causes the item display 40 to display the article to be picked and the quantity thereof based on the picking information input via the input device such as the keyboard 61. Further, the control device 60 controls the picking information input via the keyboard 61 or the like, the container case detection signal from the start photo switch 62, and the movement amount detector 63.
Based on the movement amount detection signal of the container case 11 from, the order display 50 displays the container case 11 into which the picked article should be loaded.

The start photo switch 62 is composed of, for example, a transmissive photoelectric tube having a light emitting portion 64 and a light receiving portion 65, and detects the container case 11 on the conveyor belt 21 of the belt conveyor 20. That is, in the start photo switch 62, the light emitting unit 64 and the light receiving unit 65 are arranged to face each other in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction A with the transport belt 21 interposed therebetween, and the light emitted from the light emitting unit 64 is transported. The light passes through the upper part of the belt 21 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction A and enters the light receiving section 65 (optical path 66 shown by a broken line in FIG. 1).
The start photo switch 62 is configured such that the optical path 66 is blocked by the container case 11.
To detect. The movement amount detector 63 is used for the belt conveyor 20.
1 is provided in the vicinity of the left end portion of FIG. 1, and the conveyor belt 21
, The amount of movement of the container case 11 on the conveyor belt 21 is detected.

The operation of this embodiment will be described. In the picking instructing device 10 in each picking zone Z, the control device 60 continuously conveys the container case 11 in the conveying direction A by the belt conveyor 20 while displaying the item to be picked and the quantity thereof on the item display 40. , The order display 50 displays the container case 11 into which the picked articles are to be loaded. Based on the display of the item display 40 and the order display 50, the worker unloads a predetermined number of required articles from a predetermined storage rack 31 of the rack 30 to a predetermined container case 11.

That is, for example, in FIG. 1, the first container case 11 of the two container cases 11 conveyed by the belt conveyor 20 is the high-frequency article case 11 and the rear container case 11 thereof.
Is assumed to be the low frequency article case 11. In this case, for the first container case 11, the right display lamp 51 of the order indicator 50 is sequentially turned on following the movement of the container case 11, and the current position is displayed. Regarding the rear container case 11, the left display lamp 52 of the order indicator 50 sequentially lights up following the movement of the container case 11 and displays its current position.

The operator recognizes the type and quantity of the article to be picked by the display of the item display 40, takes out a predetermined number of the required article from a predetermined storage rack of the rack 30, and at the same time, displays the order display 50. By illuminating the right or left display lamps 51 and 52, the container case 11 into which the picked article should be placed is recognized, and the article is placed into the container case 11. This allows
In the case where a large number of high-frequency article cases or low-frequency article cases 11 are mixed and conveyed on the belt conveyor 20, further,
Even when a high-frequency article and a low-frequency article are put in the same case, the operator does not erroneously recognize the container case 11 into which the article should be put in by turning on the right or left display lamps 51 and 52 of the order indicator 50. , Can pick accurately and quickly.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the control device 60 controls the right display lamp 51 of the order display 50.
Are sequentially turned on in accordance with the movement of the high-frequency article case 11, the current position of the high-frequency article case 11 is displayed, and the left display lamp 52 is adjusted in accordance with the movement of the low-frequency article case 11. By sequentially turning on the lights, the current position of the low frequency article case 11 is displayed. Therefore, the interval between the container cases 11 on the belt conveyor 20 along the transport direction A can be reduced, and the picking operation of articles having different picking frequencies to the container cases 11 can be continuously performed by the belt conveyor 20. While transporting
It can be performed accurately and highly efficiently. Further, as in the conventional case, the case 11 for low frequency articles and the case 11 for high frequency articles
There is no need to carry out refilling work of the articles between them. Moreover, it is not necessary to install a plurality of belt conveyors 20 (for example, two machines for high-frequency articles and low-frequency articles), and it is not necessary to perform timing control or the like when joining the plurality of belt conveyors 20. As a result, the cost can be significantly reduced, and the space for the entire picking equipment can be saved.

Further, for example, when picking to the picking case 11 whose current position is displayed by the right or left display lamps 51, 52 of the order display 50 is completed, the reset switch 53 corresponding to the display lamps 51, 52 is completed. Is operated by the operator, and the item display 4
When all 0s have also been picked, the control device 60 receives this and cancels the display of the picking target case of the order display 50, and the display lamps 51 and 52 can be turned off once. Then, the display of the next picking target case is instructed. Therefore, container case 1
As soon as the picking operation for 1 is completed, it is possible to quickly shift to the picking operation for the next container case 11. As a result, the space between the container cases 11 on the belt conveyor 20 along the carrying direction A can be reduced, and a quick picking operation can be performed as the container cases 11 are continuously carried by the belt conveyor 20.

In the above embodiment, the order indicator 5
In 0, the right side display lamp 51 displays the current position of the high frequency article case 11, and the left side display lamp 52 displays the current position of the low frequency article case 11, but the left display lamp 52 displays the high frequency article case. The current position of the case 11 may be displayed and the current position of the low frequency article case 11 may be displayed by the right display lamp 51. Further, either the right or left display lamps 51, 52 may display the current position of the case 11 for high frequency articles or low frequency articles.

The right and left display lamps 51 and 52 of the order indicator 50 are capable of displaying a plurality of different colors (for example, three colors of red, blue and yellow) and the control device 60.
However, the display lamps 51 and 52 may be configured to display different colors for each container case 11. According to this, the container case 1 on the belt conveyor 20 can be provided without causing the operator to misidentify the container case 11.
It is possible to further reduce the interval of 1 along the transport direction A. Further, for example, even when a plurality of high-frequency article cases 11 are mixed on the belt conveyor 20, the current position of one high-frequency article case 11 is displayed by sequentially turning on the right display lamp 51 in red. The current position of the other high-frequency article case 11 can be displayed by sequentially lighting the right display lamp 51 in blue. Therefore, the work efficiency can be further improved without impairing the accuracy of the picking work.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, the control means sequentially operates the display means on one side in the transport direction in accordance with the movement of the case into which articles with high picking frequency are loaded, In addition to displaying the current position of the case, the current position of the case is displayed by sequentially operating the display means on the other side in the transport direction in accordance with the movement of the case into which articles with low picking frequencies are loaded. Picking work for articles having different picking frequencies to the case can be performed accurately and highly efficiently while the case is continuously conveyed by the conveying means. Moreover, for example, it is not necessary to install a plurality of transporting means, and therefore, it is not necessary to perform timing control or the like when joining the plurality of transporting means. As a result, cost reduction and space saving can be achieved. Further, for example, when the picking of the case where the current position is displayed by the display means is completed, the operation by the control means of the display means is released by artificially operating the release means corresponding to the display means. be able to. Therefore, as soon as the picking operation for the case is completed, the picking operation for the next case can be promptly performed, and the accurate and speedy picking operation can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the picking indicating device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a conventional picking indicating device.

4 is a perspective view showing a part of a storage rack and a conveyor of the picking instruction device of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing another example of a conventional picking instruction device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Picking Instructing Device 11 Case (Container Case) 20 Conveying Means (Belt Conveyor) 30 Rack 31 Storage Shelf 40 Item Display 50 Display Means (Order Display) 51 Display Means (Right Display Lamp) 52 Display Means (Left Display Lamp) 53 release means (reset switch) 60 control means (control device) A transport direction Z picking zone

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A carrying means (20) for carrying a case (11) capable of accommodating an article in a predetermined carrying direction (A), and carrying directions on both sides of the carrying means (20) in the carrying direction (A). A plurality of display means (51, 52) provided at predetermined intervals along (A) and a display means (51) on one side in the transport direction (A) are used to insert articles with high picking frequency. By sequentially operating the case in accordance with the movement of the case, the current position of the case is displayed, and the display means (52) on the other side in the transport direction (A) is moved to move the case into which articles with low picking frequency are loaded. The control means (60) for displaying the current position of the case and the display means (51, 52) on both sides in the transport direction (A) are provided in correspondence with the control means (60) and A release means (53) for releasing the operation by the control means (60) of the display means (51, 52) displaying the case to be picked by being operated when the picking is completed. Picking instruction device (10).