JPH0977217A - Inventory control device of automatic warehouse - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve the efficient monitoring. SOLUTION: Automatic warehouses Z1-Z3 are provided with stacker cranes K1-K3 to carry cargoes and remote control panels R1-R3. The inventory control of the automatic warehouses Z1-Z3 can be achieved by an inventory control computer 11. The inventory control computer 11 is provided with timers X1-X3 corresponding to the respective automatic warehouses Z1-Z3. The inventory control computer 11 prepares the reception/delivery work instruction data to receive or deliver the requested cargo and achieves the work instruction by outputting the work instruction data to the appropriate remote control panels R1-R3. The inventory control computer 11 starts the timers X1-X3 corresponding to the automatic warehouses Z1-Z3 to which the work instruction is given, and counts the completion waiting time. The inventory control computer 11 achieve the successive monitoring of the completion of the reception/delivery from/to the automatic warehouses Z1-Z3 for which counting of the completion waiting time is completed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inventory management device for an automated warehouse.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an inventory management system for managing loads stored in a plurality of automated warehouses has been proposed. Each automatic warehouse is equipped with a plurality of storage units for storing loads, a stacker crane for transporting the loads, and a remote operation panel for controlling the stacker cranes for loading or unloading the loads. Further, the inventory management system is provided with an inventory management computer that manages the inventory of the loads stored in the fully automated warehouse, and each of these remote operation panels is connected to the inventory management computer.

The inventory management computer prepares warehousing or warehousing work instruction data based on warehousing or warehousing request data, and outputs the work instruction data to a remote operation panel designated by the data to issue a work instruction. Has become.

The inventory management computer is designed to perform a completion monitoring process on the remote operation panel which has output the work input or output work instruction data. The completion monitoring process is a process of monitoring whether or not the work instructed is completed by sequentially communicating with the remote operation panel that controls the stacker crane to which the work instruction is given. In this case, when the stock management computer gives a work instruction to the remote control panel, it immediately starts monitoring whether or not the work is completed.

[0005]

By the way, it takes a predetermined period of time from when a work instruction is given to when a load is transported and put in or out, that is, the work is completed. However, since the monitoring is started immediately after the work instruction is given, the monitoring is performed even when the work is clearly not completed, for example, immediately after the work instruction. Therefore, there is a problem that the efficiency of the monitoring is poor and the monitoring is not performed efficiently, and the workability of the loading or unloading work of the automated warehouse is also reduced.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inventory management device for an automated warehouse, which enables efficient monitoring.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 provides a plurality of load storage shelves having a plurality of storage portions for storing loads, and a plurality of load storage shelves. The
In an automatic warehouse provided with a transport device that performs an operation for warehousing or unloading work by transporting a load, a transport control unit that is provided for each transport device and controls a corresponding transport device, and the transport control unit. By outputting the work instruction data to the work control means, a work instruction means for giving a work instruction to the transport equipment controlled by the transport control means, and a work instruction means provided for each of the transport equipment, and the work instruction is given to the corresponding transport equipment. Timing means for measuring the completion waiting time from the point of time, completion determination means provided for each of the transporting devices and determining the completion of the operation of the transporting device instructed by the work instruction data, and the completion waiting time by the timing means. And a completion monitoring unit that sequentially communicates with the completion determining unit corresponding to the carrier device that has finished measuring the time and monitors whether or not the operation of the carrier device is completed. As its gist in that it comprises.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the completion waiting time is a time slightly shorter than the shortest operation time of the operations for loading or unloading the transport equipment. The point is that there is something.

A third aspect of the present invention is based on the first aspect, and the gist is that the completion determining means determines that the operation is completed when the transport device reaches the home position.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the invention, the work instructing means creates the warehousing or unloading work instruction data based on, for example, the data requesting the warehousing or unloading, and the work instructing data is transferred to the predetermined conveyance control means. Output to. The transportation control means controls the transportation device based on the warehousing or unloading work instruction data to perform an operation for warehousing or unloading work of a load. The time measuring means measures the completion waiting time from the time when a work instruction is given to the corresponding carrier device. On the other hand, the completion determining means determines whether or not the work of the carrier device instructed by the work instruction data has been completed.

Then, the completion monitoring means sequentially communicates with the completion judging means corresponding to the carrier device which has finished measuring the completion waiting time by the time measuring means, and monitors whether or not the work of the carrier device is completed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the completion waiting time is slightly shorter than the shortest operation time among the operations for the loading or unloading work of the transport device. Therefore, it is possible to perform monitoring on the transport device immediately before the completion of the operation for the warehousing or unloading work.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the completion determining means determines that the work is completed when the transport device reaches the home position. Therefore, when the work is completed,
It is possible to quickly move to the operation for the next warehousing or unloading work.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an inventory management device for managing the inventory of loads stored in an automated warehouse.

A plurality of automatic warehouses (first to third automatic warehouses Z1 to Z3) for storing the loads are provided, and each of the automatic warehouses Z1 to Z3 is a pair of frame shelves 1a, 1 as load storage shelves.
b. Each of the frame shelves 1a and 1b is provided with a plurality of storage units 1 for storing loads. or,
Stacker cranes K1 to K3 as transporting devices are provided in the automated warehouses Z1 to Z3, respectively. The stacker cranes K1 to K3 convey the load and store the storage unit 1
Various operations for loading or unloading the load are performed by transferring the load between the load and the load.
That is, in each of the automated warehouses Z1 to Z3, the stacker crane K
By the operations of 1 to K3, the loading work or the shipping work of the load is performed. When the warehousing or unloading work is completed, the stacker cranes K1 to K3 are located at the home position HP. At positions corresponding to the home positions HP of the frame shelves 1a and 1b, usually, a loading tray (not shown) for placing a load to be loaded or unloaded is formed, and the stacker cranes K1 to K3 serve as the loading trays. It is designed to perform delivery work of goods for warehousing or warehousing.

The stacker cranes K1 to K3 are provided with crane controllers C1 to C3 for controlling the stacker cranes K1 to K3. Optical communication devices T1a to T3a are connected to the crane controllers C1 to C3.

Further, each of the automatic warehouses Z1 to Z3 is provided with remote operation panels R1 to R3. Each of the remote operation panels R1 to R3 is composed of a CPU and the like, and has memories M1 to M3 for storing various data. Further, the remote operation panels R1 to R3 are provided with optical communication devices T1b to T3b. That is, the remote operation panels R1 to R3 and the crane controllers C1 to C3 are the optical communication devices T1a to
It is possible to communicate with each other via T3a and T1b to T3b. The remote operation panels R1 to R3 are connected in parallel to an RS485 cable (hereinafter, simply referred to as “cable”) 10.

An inventory management computer 11 is connected to the cable 10 so that the inventory management computer 11 and each of the remote control panels R1 to R3 can perform multi-drop communication.

The inventory management computer 11 is composed of a CPU (central processing unit) and the like, and has a memory 11a for storing various data. Further, the inventory management computer 11 has a timer X1 corresponding to each of the automated warehouses Z1 to Z3.
~ X3 are provided. In addition, the inventory management computer 11 is provided with a timer X4. A keyboard 12 for an operator to input various data and a display 13 for displaying various data are connected to the inventory management computer 11.

The stock management computer 11 is adapted to create the warehousing work instruction data or the warehousing work instruction data based on the warehousing request data or the warehousing request data input by the keyboard 12 based on the operation of the operator.
The warehousing or warehousing request data is data for requesting warehousing or warehousing of a load, and includes data of the product number and quantity of the load to be warehousing or unloading. The warehousing or unloading work instruction data is data for instructing the warehousing or unloading work of a load, and includes data for specifying the storage unit 1 to be warehousing or leaving. That is, the warehousing or warehousing work instruction data has data indicating to which automatic warehouse Z1 to Z3 the warehousing or warehousing work is to be performed.

The inventory management computer 11 uses the created warehousing or unloading work instruction data to the corresponding automatic warehouses Z1 to Z3.
It is designed to output to the remote operation panels R1 to R3 provided in the. That is, the inventory management computer 11 outputs work instruction data to the remote operation panels R1 to R3 to give a work instruction.

The inventory management computer 11 outputs the warehousing or warehousing work instruction data and, at the same time, the corresponding timer X
1 to X3 are activated, and a predetermined completion waiting time (30 seconds in the present embodiment) is timed. That is, the first
Timer X1 when a work instruction is issued to automated warehouse Z1
When the work instruction is given to the second automatic warehouse Z2, the timer X2 is started, and when the work instruction is given to the third automatic warehouse Z3, the timer X3 is started. The completion waiting time is a time that is slightly shorter than the shortest operation time of the operations for stacking or leaving the stacker cranes K1 to K3.

The inventory management computer 11 is adapted to perform completion monitoring processing on the automatic warehouses Z1 to Z3 which have passed the completion waiting time. The completion monitoring process is a process of monitoring (monitoring) whether or not the work instructed to the remote operation panels R1 to R3 has been completed. That is, during the completion monitoring process, the inventory management computer 11 sends a confirmation signal to the remote control panel R.
Output to 1 to R3. Then, the remote control panels R1 to R
3 outputs a work completion signal in response to the confirmation signal if the work is completed, and outputs a work incomplete signal to the inventory management computer 11 in response to the confirmation signal if the work is not completed.

The remote control panels R1 to R3 output work data to the crane controllers C1 to C3 for causing the stacker cranes K1 to K3 to perform an operation for a stocking or unloading work based on the warehousing or unloading work instruction data. It is like this.

The remote operation panels R1 to R3 are designed to judge the completion of the work instructed by the crane controller C1 to C3 on the basis of operation completion signals described later. That is, when operation completion signals are output from the crane controllers C1 to C3 to the remote operation panels R1 to R3,
Judge that the work instructed has been completed.

The crane controllers C1 to C3 are designed to control the stacker cranes K1 to K3 based on the work data to perform the operation for the warehousing or unloading work. When the stacker cranes K1 to K3 arrive at the home position HP after finishing the work instructed by the work, the crane controllers C1 to C3 cause the optical communication device T1a to operate.
-T3a, T1b-T3b through remote control panel R1
An operation completion signal is output to R3.

Next, the operation and effect of the inventory management device configured as described above will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. For convenience of description, the description of “step” in the flowchart is abbreviated as “S” in the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3.

The stock management computer 11 creates the warehousing or warehousing work instruction data when the warehousing or warehousing request data is input. Then, the inventory management computer 11 stores the created warehousing or warehousing work instruction data in the memory 11a.

In step 101, the inventory management computer 11 determines whether or not there is work instruction data capable of instructing the warehousing or warehousing work. That is, the inventory management computer 11 determines the automatic warehouses Z1 to Z3 for which no work instruction is given. Then, the inventory management computer 11 determines whether or not the storage or leaving work instruction data capable of giving a work instruction to the automated warehouses Z1 to Z3 for which the work instruction has not been given is stored in the memory 11a.

If there is work input / output work instruction data for which a work instruction can be given, the inventory management computer 11 determines in step 102 that the remote control panels R1 to R3 of the corresponding automatic warehouses Z1 to Z3 indicated by the work instruction data. A work instruction is given by outputting work receipt or delivery work instruction data. When the work instruction in step 102 is completed, the inventory management computer 11 shifts the processing to step 103.

At step 103, the inventory management computer 11 simultaneously with the work instruction, the corresponding timer X1.
X3 is activated to start the completion waiting time. Then, the inventory management computer 11 determines in step 104 whether or not the completion waiting time has been measured, and when the completion waiting time is reached, in step 105 the CPU built in the computer 11 completes. A signal indicating that the waiting time has been reached is output.

When one work instruction is completed, the stock management computer 11 restarts the process from step 101 to give the next work instruction, and the remote operation panels R1 to R3 which can sequentially give work instructions. Work instructions are given to them.

FIG. 3 shows a completion monitoring process performed by the inventory management computer 11. In step 201, the inventory management computer 11 selects the remote operation panels R1 to R3 to be monitored. In this case, the inventory management computer 11 uses the “remote control panel R1” →
"Remote control panel R2" → "Remote control panel R3" →
The remote operation panels R1 to R3 are cyclically selected in the order of "remote operation panel R1" ...

At step 202, the inventory management computer 11 causes the remote control panel R selected at step 201 to operate.
It is determined whether 1 to R3 are targets of monitoring. That is, the inventory management computer 11 determines whether or not the timing of the completion waiting time has ended. In this case, the stock management computer 11 makes a determination based on whether or not a signal indicating that the completion waiting time has been reached is output to the built-in CPU in step 105. If the measurement of the completion waiting time is not completed (if the time counting operation is in progress), it is determined that the monitoring is not performed, and the process is moved to step 201 again.

If the completion waiting time has been measured, the inventory management computer 11 monitors the selected remote operation panels R1 to R3 in step 203. That is, the inventory management computer 11 outputs a confirmation signal to the selected remote control panels R1 to R3. Then, the remote operation panels R1 to R3 output an operation completion signal in response to the confirmation signal if the operation for loading / unloading the stacker cranes K1 to K3 is completed.
If the operation is not completed, the operation incomplete signal is output in response to the confirmation signal.

The inventory management computer 11 executes step 2
At 04, it is determined whether or not the crane operation is completed based on the operation completion signal or the operation incompletion signal input by the monitoring. When the crane operation is completed, in step 205, the relevant warehousing or unloading work instruction data stored in the memory 11a is deleted.

If the crane operation is not completed, the stock management computer 11 measures the reference time by the fourth timer X4 in step 206. It should be noted that this reference time is a time indicating an interval at which monitoring is performed, and is set to 1 second in the present embodiment.

In step 207, the inventory management computer 11 determines whether or not the reference time has elapsed, and when the reference time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step 201 again.

In the completion monitoring process performed as described above, the inventory management computer 11 sequentially performs the completion monitoring every one second only on the remote operation panels R1 to R3 which have completed the waiting time for completion. For example, when the completion waiting time has passed between the remote operation panel R1 and the remote operation panel R2, as in “remote operation panel R1” → “remote operation panel R2” → “remote operation panel R1” ... The remote control panel R1 and the remote control panel R2 are alternately monitored at 1 second intervals.

When all the remote operation panels R1 to R3 have completed the waiting time for completion, "remote operation panel R1" → "remote operation panel R2" → "remote operation panel R"
3 ”→“ remote control panel R1 ”...

Also, for example, only one remote control panel R1
However, when the completion waiting time has elapsed, only the remote operation panel R1 is sequentially monitored every 1 second. According to this embodiment, the following effects (a) to (d) are obtained.

(B) Even if the stock management computer 11 gives a work instruction, it does not immediately monitor the remote operation panels R1 to R3 that have given the work instruction, but performs monitoring after the completion waiting time has elapsed. . Therefore, for example, when a work instruction is given to all the remote operation panels R1 to R3, and only the remote operation panels R1 and R2 among them have reached the completion waiting time, the remote operation panels R1 and R2 are Alternately monitored every second.
Therefore, unlike the conventional case, it is not necessary to sequentially monitor all the remote control panels R1 to R3 every one second, and the monitoring can be performed efficiently and quickly. Moreover, since the monitoring can be performed efficiently and quickly, it is possible to quickly know the completion of the operation for the loading or unloading work of the stacker cranes K1 to K3, and move to the next loading or unloading work. Workability of Z1 to Z3 can be improved.

(B) The completion waiting time is a little shorter than the shortest operation time among the operations for stacking or leaving the stacker cranes K1 to K3.
The completion waiting time is reached when the operations by the stacker cranes K1 to K3 instructed to work are completed. Therefore, the inventory management computer 11 can monitor more efficiently.

(C) Since the inventory management computer 11 cyclically selects the remote operation panels R1 to R3 to be monitored, the remote operation panels R1 to R3 that have reached the completion waiting time should be sequentially monitored in an averaged state. You can Therefore, monitoring can be performed more efficiently and quickly.

(D) When the stacker cranes K1 to K3 arrive at the home position HP, it is judged that the work is completed. Therefore, by judging the traveling positions of the stacker cranes K1 to K3, the work is easily judged. it can. Moreover, since the home position HP is set, when the work is completed, the load can be placed on the stacker cranes K1 to K3 simultaneously with the completion of the work, so that the next loading or unloading operation can be quickly performed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and may be implemented as follows with a part of the configuration appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the invention. (1) In the above embodiment, the completion waiting time may be sequentially changed based on the work time of the work instructed by the work instruction data. That is, the completion waiting time may be set to a time slightly shorter than the work time of the instructed work. In this case, the completion waiting time is set based on the work time of the work instructed, so that the monitoring and the loading / unloading work of the automated warehouse can be performed more efficiently.

(2) In the above embodiment, the reference time is 1
Although the second time is set, the reference time may be set to an appropriate value, for example. In this case, for example, among the operations for the stacker cranes K1 to K3 for the loading or unloading work,
Number 1 based on the shortest operating time and the longest operating time
A value may be set every 0 milliseconds to several seconds.

(3) In the above embodiment, the number of automatic warehouses may be plural, for example, four or more. In this case, the timer that measures the completion waiting time is
Inventory management computer 1 for each automated warehouse
1 is generated.

(4) In the above embodiment, if the work instructed is not completed during the completion monitoring process, the remote control panels R1 to R3 do not respond to the confirmation signal from the inventory management computer 11. It is not necessary to output any signal.

(5) In the above embodiment, the inventory management computer 1 has timers X1 to X3 for measuring the completion waiting time.
It was set up in 1. On the other hand, these timers X1 to X3
May be provided on the remote operation panel R1 to R3 side. In this case, the remote operation panels R1 to R3 have timers X1 to X3.
Inventory management computer 1
A signal to that effect is output to the first side. Then, the inventory management computer 11 monitors the remote operation panels R1 to R3 to which a signal to that effect has been output.

The technical ideas other than the claims that can be understood from the above-described embodiment will be described below along with their effects. (1) In the invention according to claim 1, the inventory management computer 11 is a remote operation panel R1 to R to be monitored.
Select 3 cyclically and select the remote control panel R
An inventory management device for an automated warehouse that sequentially monitors the remote operation panels R1 to R3 that have passed the completion waiting time among 1 to R3. According to this inventory management device, it is possible to easily average the monitoring rates of the remote operation panels R1 to R3 that have passed the completion waiting time.

(2) In the invention described in claim 1, the timekeeping means (timers X1 to X3) is the inventory management computer 11
Inventory management device for automated warehouses. According to this inventory management device, the inventory management computer 11 is provided with the timer X1.
Since X3 is provided, it is necessary to communicate with the operation panels R1 to R3 after measuring the completion waiting time of the timers X1 to X3, for example, as compared with the case where the timers are provided on the remote operation panels R1 to R3 side. Since there is no such problem, it is possible to perform monitoring quickly.

[0053]

As described above in detail, according to the invention described in claim 1, it is possible to perform the monitoring efficiently and promptly, and it is possible to improve the workability of the loading or unloading work in the automatic warehouse. .

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the carrying device is monitored just before the completion of the operation for the warehousing or unloading work, the monitoring can be performed more efficiently.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the completion judging means judges that the operation of the carrying device is completed when the carrying device reaches the home position, so that it is easy to carry out the next loading or unloading work. It is possible to shift to the operation of, and the workability of warehousing or warehousing work in the automatic warehouse can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an inventory management device that manages inventory in an automated warehouse.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a work instruction by the inventory management computer.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of completion monitoring processing by the inventory management computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Storage part, 1a, 1b ... A pair of frame racks as load storage shelves, 11 ... Inventory management computer as completion monitoring means and work instruction means, Z1-Z3 ... 1st-3rd automatic warehouses, K1-K3 ... Stacker cranes as transport equipment, R1 to R3 ... Remote control panel as transport control means and completion determination means, X1 to X3 ... Timer as timing means, HP ... Home position.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of load storage shelves each having a plurality of storage units for storing a load, and a transfer device provided for each load storage rack and performing an operation for loading or unloading work by transporting the load. In an automatic warehouse equipped with, the transfer control means is provided for each transfer device and controls the corresponding transfer device, and by outputting work instruction data to the transfer control means, the transfer control means controls the transfer device. The work instruction means for giving a work instruction to the transporting device, the time measuring means provided for each transporting device, and measuring the completion waiting time from the time when the work instruction is given to the corresponding transporting device, and each transporting device. Completion determination means provided for determining the completion of the operation of the conveying device instructed by the work instruction data, and a completion determining hand corresponding to the conveying device that has finished measuring the completion waiting time by the time measuring means. An inventory management device for an automated warehouse, comprising: a completion monitoring unit that sequentially communicates with a tier and monitors whether or not the operation of the carrier device is completed. 2. The inventory management device according to claim 1, wherein the completion waiting time is a time that is slightly shorter than the shortest operation time of the operations for loading or unloading the transportation equipment. 3. The inventory management device for an automated warehouse according to claim 1, wherein the completion determining means determines that the operation is completed when the carrier device reaches the home position.