JPS63295302A - Picking or classifying indicator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent picking miss by assembling a portable indicator for indicating material containing zone, location and number of material, a shelf indicator and a zone controller. CONSTITUTION:An indicator 1 is connected to a controller 2, then an output switch at the input section 22 is turned ON and a truck number input switch is operated to input a truck number. Control section 25 provides a truck number and output request data to a memory 3 while simultaneously displays them on a display 23. The memory 3 provides a zone to be picked, location number and the number of material to the controller 2 corresponding to the requested controller and truck, then they are stored in the display 1. When the displayed zone controller 5 is connected with the display 1, a shelf indicator at corresponding location L is lighted to indicate the number of material. Pi.king is carried out sequentially based on the indicated number thus preventing picking miss.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention uses location and number of articles to pick a predetermined number of articles of a specified type from among articles stored in each location for each type. The present invention relates to a device that displays locations, types of articles, and number of articles in order to display or sort a specified number of specified types of articles into specified locations.

[Prior art] For example, when multiple types of products are to be delivered to multiple stores, prior to delivery, the products to be delivered to each store are picked from the shelves where products are stored by type, and then the products are picked and delivered to each store. We need to practice quality. Such picking work has conventionally been carried out in the following manner, as shown in FIG.

The warehouse has a group of locations L1. for storing goods. L
2. =-L, zones 701, 702, and 703 are arranged in parallel, and each location is provided with a shelf indicator 704 having a lamp 705, a number display section 706, and a completion key 707, as shown in FIG. A conveyor 708 common to each zone is set up, and this conveyor is operated in a tact manner, and a control device 709 connected to each shelf indicator 704 lights up the lamp 705 of each shelf indicator to show the operator this shelf display. Displays that the utensils should be picked from the location where they are stored, and also displays the number display section 706.
Displays the number of items to be picked.

Since the conveyor is operated on a tact basis in accordance with the completion of picking in all zones, for example, at a certain time, picking is performed for 8 stores in the second zone 702, and picking is performed for 5 stores in the first zone 701. After the conveyor moves for a predetermined i based on the completion of picking in all zones, in the next time, in the third zone 703, there will be picking for 8 stores, in the second zone there will be no picking, and in the second zone there will be no picking.
Picking is carried out at the store.

Therefore, the control device 708 also controls each zone 701, 702, .
Based on the completion of all picking in step 703, the lamp 705 of the shelf indicator of each zone turns on/off and the number display section 7
Update the number displayed in 06. That is, the control device 7
08 causes each zone 701, 702, and 703 to be displayed in the order necessary for picking for each store.

Conventional sorting is the same as above in the system as well.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned tact operation of the conveyor and in the picking work based on the display by the control device and the shelf display, the work is restricted to the display that changes at a constant cycle for each zone. Therefore, in a zone where picking is not required for a certain store, time is wasted and there is a problem of low efficiency.

For example, for store b, there is no need for picking from the second zone 702, and moreover, there is no need for picking from the third zone 702, which should be picked.
Even if picking work is not currently being carried out in 03, the display for store b has not yet been made in the third zone 703, so store b is in the process of picking for store 0 in the first zone 701. must wait until the conveyor is moved and the display is updated.In this case, if the picking volume in the first zone is particularly high,
In other zones, you will have more time on hand.

Furthermore, conventionally, instead of a conveyor, a cart on which picked items are placed is moved along the locations where the items are stored, and a predetermined number of items are picked from the required locations. In this case, as a method of displaying the location and number of pieces picked, which serve as picking information, the address specifying the identification, quantity, and location of the item is transferred to a portable display, and the worker follows the information displayed on the portable display. A method for proceeding with this work is introduced in Japanese Patent Publication No. 16881/1981.

However, with this method, although correct picking information is displayed on the portable display, there is no means to prevent the worker from picking items from the wrong location due to mistake (picking mistake), so picking mistakes can occur. There is a possibility that this may occur.

The above is an explanation of picking errors, but the same applies to sorting methods.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art by combining a portable display system and a fence display system.

[Means for solving the problem] The present invention stores data indicating the location of articles to be picked and data indicating the number of articles to be picked from each location or the number of articles to be sorted to each location. Based on these data, each time the switch is operated, the location and number of pieces are displayed sequentially, and when connected to the zone controller provided for each zone, the picking information or sorting information for the zone is displayed. a portable display for providing information to a zone controller; storing the location data and the number data;
A storage device that outputs these data when an output request signal is input is connected to the display, and outputs the output request signal to the storage device to output the location data and the number data. a control device that inputs and stores data into the display; and a control device that is connected to a shelf display provided at each location and having an indicator lamp and a number display, and that inputs data from the display to the display. The apparatus includes a zone controller that lights up a lamp on a shelf display at the location and causes a number display section to display the number of items to be picked or the number of items to be sorted.

[Operation] When a worker starts picking or sorting work, he or she first connects the portable display to the control device. At this time, the control device outputs an output request signal to the storage device to output location data and number data, and receives and inputs these data to the display device to be stored.6 The display device is not connected to the zone controller. In this case, each time the switch is operated, the location data and number data are sequentially read out and displayed. 6 The worker picks the number of items displayed on this display from the location or stores them at the same location. The operator can immediately start work by inputting location data and number data into the display from the control device, and can efficiently perform picking or sorting work.

When a display device is connected to a zone controller, picking information or sorting information is transferred to the zone controller, and the zone controller lights up a lamp and displays the number of pieces on the shelf display device of the corresponding location.

[Example of this invention] Next, examples of the present invention will be described.

The present invention can be used in both the picking method and the sorting method. An example in which the picking method is applied to a collection system will be described below.

The block diagram of this embodiment is shown in FIG.
, a control device 2 provided for each zone and connected to the display 1 as necessary to input data, and a storage device 3 connected to the control device 2.

The storage device 3 is also connected to an external information processing device 4, and receives and receives data necessary for a collection operation to be described later, that is, collection data. Since the control device 2 is directly operated by a collection worker, it is installed at a location relatively close to the collection area of the warehouse. On the other hand, since the storage device 3 is not directly operated by the collection worker, it can be installed at a location away from the collection site.

Fig. 2 shows an example of a collection point where this system is installed.
L2,...L, are determined, and each location has its own location number AOO1, AOO2,...
・ is displayed. Further, a control device 2 is provided near the first zone, and this control device is connected to a storage device 3. Each worker carries a display device 1, and performs cargo collection work while moving with the trolleys 904, 905, and 906.

Next, the storage device 3 will be explained. The transmitting/receiving unit 31 transmits and receives data to and from the control device 2 or the information processing device 4, and the storage unit 33 stores collection data in a table format. That is, as shown in Table 1, for example, customer numbers 01, 02, .・・・
(This number specifically corresponds to each trolley used for collection, so it will be referred to as the trolley number below.

), zone number 01゜02, determined for each zone.
. . . Stores location numbers AOOI, AOO2, . . . where articles are to be collected in each zone, and the number of articles to be collected from each location, that is, the number of articles to be collected. The storage unit 33 stores such collection data for each zone.

In addition, the trolley number, location number, and number of items to be collected are created based on order information including the customer code and the type and number of items inputted from the outside by the information processing device 4. It is given from the information processing device 4 and stored in the storage unit 33 through the first table transmitting/receiving unit 31.

When the control device 2 receives the output request data indicating a request for collection data and the trolley number through the transmitting/receiving section 31, the collection management section 32 stores the location number and number of items to be collected on the trolley from the storage section 33. are sequentially read out and sent to the control unit y12 through the transmitting/receiving unit 31.

Next, the control device 2 will be explained. The input/output section 22 includes an output switch and a truck number input switch, and the control section 25 stores signals indicating on/off of these switches and the input truck number in the memory 24, and inputs a 0 truck number to be transferred to the storage device. Instead of operating a switch, the bar code attached to the trolley may be read and input using a bar code reader connected to an adapter.

The adapter 21 includes a connector for connecting the display device 1, and when the display device 1 is connected to the adapter 21, the control device connects the display device to the display device based on the switch operation from the input/output section 22 via the control section 25. 1 and the storage device 3.

That is, when the output switch is turned on and the truck number manual switch is operated with the display device 1 connected to the adapter 21, the output request data and the data of the input truck number are sent to the storage device 3. . Then, the truck number sent from the storage device 3 in response to this output request data,
The data such as the collection number, location number, and number of items to be collected are received and input into the display 1.

The display 23 receives the data of the truck number from the memory 24 and displays on the screen that it is requesting data from the storage device 3 and that it is receiving data from the storage device 3.

Next, the display device 1 will be explained.As mentioned above, the display device 1 is carried by a collection worker, and allows the worker to indicate the zone number to be collected, the location number to be collected in each zone, and the number of items to be collected. Let me know. The zone number is always displayed on the display 1 screen, but the location display and the number of items to be collected are displayed on the button pull display 1.
First, we will explain an example of displaying on 6 display 1, such as a method using a shelf display provided at each location, and a method using a shelf display provided at each location. Figure 3A is an example of the screen display, and shows the zone to be collected. The number is "01", the location of the items to be collected is "A123", and the number of items to be collected is "24". Further, the display device 1 is operated by a battery in order to be portable.

The configuration of the display unit 1 will be explained using the block diagram shown in FIG. 4.The display section 11 has a screen 11a shown in FIG.
It receives data from a display control unit 14, which will be described later, and displays the zone number, location, and number of items to be collected.

The display 1 has a zone number call key 151 and a start key 152.
, a cancel key 153, and a completion key 154. When the worker presses the call key 151 when he/she wants to know the zone to be collected, a signal indicating this is issued, and when starting collection for the zone of the called number. When the key 152 is pressed, a signal indicating this is output to the display control section 14, and when the cancel key 153 is pressed after pressing the start key without starting and before calling another zone number, a signal indicating this is output to the display control section 14. Also, the worker presses the completion key 154 when completing the pickup at a certain location. When the completion key 154 is pressed by the operator, it outputs a signal indicating this to the display control unit 14.

When the display device 1 is connected to the adapter 21 of the control device 2, the receiving unit 12 inputs data sent from the adapter 21 to the storage unit 13, which will be described later.

Table 2 The storage unit 13 stores collection data in a table format.

That is, as shown in Table 2, the zone numbers 01, 03, .

AOO2, . . . and the number of articles to be collected from each location, that is, the number of articles to be collected, are stored in correspondence. The zone number, location number, and number of items to be collected are given from the adapter 21 and input into the storage section 13 through the receiving section 12.

Next, the display control section 14 will be explained. The location control unit 141 reads the first zone number from the storage unit 13 and sends it to the display unit 11 to display it on the screen.

It also stores the read zone number. When the operator presses the start key 152, the first location number corresponding to that zone number is read out, sent to the display section 11 to be displayed on the screen, and also stored. If the zone number call key 151 is pressed again without pressing the start key, the next zone number is read out from the storage section 13, displayed on the screen of the display section, and stored again. Cancel key 15 after pressing the start key
If 3 is pressed, only the zone number immediately before the start key was pressed is displayed and stored. Then, after pressing the start key, the operator completes the pickup at the displayed location and completes the collection.
When 'r-154 is pressed, the location control section 141 receives the signal, reads out the next location number from the stored location number from the storage section 13, and sends it to the display section 11 to display it on the screen. . Additionally, the stored location number is discarded and a newly read location number is stored.

The quantity control unit 142 inputs the location number stored in the location control unit 141 from the location control unit 141, reads out the number of collected items corresponding to the location number from the storage unit 13, sends it to the display unit 11, and displays it on the screen. When collection from all locations stored in one zone is completed, a flag indicating the completion of collection for that zone is added to the zone number, and when this number is called from now on, the location number and quantity will be displayed on the screen. Instead of displaying , the completion of collection is displayed.

Next, the operation will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG. 5. In order for worker 0 to start collection work in each zone, it is first necessary to write collection data on the display 1. Therefore, the display device 1 is connected to the adapter 21 of the control device 2 provided near the zone. And input section 2
The user turns on the output switch 2 (Step 201, hereinafter referred to as P), and then operates the truck number input switch to specify the truck from which the cargo is to be collected.

At this time, the control unit 25 sends the output request data and the input truck number data to the storage device 3 (p202>,
Further, the output request data and the truck number data are sent to the display 23, and the operator is notified by displaying the truck number and the fact that the data is being requested on the screen (p203).

The transmitting/receiving section 31 of the storage device 3 receives the output request data and the truck number data from the control device 2 (p301), and inputs them to the collection management section 32. When the collection management unit 32 receives these data, it stores the collection data corresponding to the control device that made the request and the trolley, that is, the number of the zone and location to be collected and the number of items to be collected, to the storage unit 33. The information is sequentially read from the beginning and sent to the control device 2 (p302).

The control device 2 receives the zone number sent by the collection management section 32,
The display 1 receives the location number and the number of items to be collected sequentially, stores it in the memory 24, and is connected to the adapter 21.
Output to (p204).

When the display 1 receives the zone number, location number, and number of items to be collected output from the control device 2, the receiving section 12 sequentially outputs these to the storage section 13, and stores them for each zone number as shown in Table 2. The location number and the number of items to be collected are stored in association with each other (plot).

With the above, the input of the collection data to the display 1 is completed.0 The operator removes the display 1 from the adapter 21, carries it with him, and starts the collection work.

At this time, the location control unit 141 reads the first zone number from the storage unit 13, sends it to the display unit 11 to display it on the screen (pi02), and at the same time stores the read zone number. If there is another trolley currently collecting goods in the zone numbered, press the zone number call-'e-151 and the number of the next zone to be collected will be read from the storage unit 13 and displayed on the screen ( p
103, 105, 106), if there is no pond truck currently being collected in the zone with the displayed zone number, press the start key 152. After pressing the start key, if there is another trolley being collected, make sure that the completion key is not pressed and press the cancel key 153 to return to 2103 (p107, 108), so call - Another zone number can be called by pressing IF-151.

When the start key 152 is pressed, the location control unit 14
1 reads the location number from the storage unit 13, sends it to the display unit 11, and displays it on the screen (p103.
104) At the same time, the read location number is stored. The number control unit 142 is the location control unit 14]
The number of collected items corresponding to the stored location number is read out from the storage section 13, and sent to the display section 11 to be displayed on the screen (p104). As a result, the screen of the display unit 11 is displayed as shown in FIG. 3A, and the worker moves to the location of the zone indicated by this display and collects the displayed number of articles from that location.

When the operator completes the collection of the displayed location, he presses the completion key 154 (p109), and at this time, complete-'? -154 sends a signal to location control 141 indicating that it has been pressed.

When the location control section 141 receives this signal, it reads the next location number from the storage section 13 after the location number being written/disturbed by the signal, and sends it to the display section 11 to display it on the screen. Additionally, the stored location number is discarded and a newly read location number is stored. Then, the number control unit 142 inputs this new location number from the location control unit 141, reads out the number of collected items corresponding to the location number from the storage unit 13, sends it to the display unit 11, and displays it on the screen (p.
HO).

As a result, the location number and number of items to be picked up next are displayed on the screen of the display unit 11, and based on this, the worker moves with the trolley and picks up the items (pill).
.

When the worker completes all collection in the zone whose zone number is displayed on the display 1, the zone number and collection completion characters are displayed on the screen (pH 2), and then the zone number call key 151 is pressed. and the number of the next zone to be collected is displayed. If another worker is collecting goods in the zone where 0 is displayed, press the call key 151 again to display the number of the next zone to be collected. Can be done. In this way, the operator searches for an empty zone, moves to that zone together with the trolley and presses the start key 152, and then, based on the display on the display 1, the operator performs the collection operation in this zone again. In this way, in this cargo collection system, the worker can freely move to an empty zone among the zones where cargo should be collected and efficiently perform the collection work. If collection has already been completed for the called zone number, collection completed will be displayed on the screen.

Note that the above is an example of the present invention, and various modifications are possible.6For example, in order to further improve work efficiency, the display section 1
As shown in Figure 3B, the location number "A1" is displayed on the screen of No. 1.
In addition to "23" and the number "24", "Next BO38" indicating the next location number and "Next BO38" indicating the number of remaining locations.
It is also possible to display information such as "15 locations remaining".

This can be easily realized in the display control section 14 by using the collection data stored in the memory 13.

Further, by appropriately setting the order of the location numbers displayed on the display 1, it is also possible for the worker to collect the goods in the shortest distance. That is, the storage device f3 stores data indicating the location arrangement of zones in advance, and stores the collection data in the adapter 2.
1 to the display 1, based on the arrangement data,
The order of location numbers is determined so that the distance traveled by the worker is the shortest, and the order is input into the display 1.

Next, an example in which display of collection information, that is, location and number of items to be collected, is performed using a shelf display provided at each location will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, the display device 1 is displayed at the location L1 of each zone. L2... Shelf indicators 61 to 6 provided on Ln
n.: Connectable to and detachable from the connected zone controller 5, so that only the number of the zone to be collected is displayed on the screen of the display, so that the operator can select the zone controller 5 of the zone displayed on the display. When this display unit 1 is connected to the display unit, the zone controller inputs the number of that zone to the display unit, similar to the effect of pressing the start key in the previous embodiment, and the collection data (location number and number of items collected) is transferred from the storage section of the display to the zone controller 5,
Based on the collection data, the zone controller displays a shelf indicator 61 similar to the shelf indicator shown in FIG. 9 at each location.
- 6o, the lamp 601 of the shelf display 6 of the location is turned on, and the number of items to be collected is displayed on the number display section 602.

The shelf display 6 is provided with a completion key 603, and when this completion key is pressed after taking out a predetermined number of articles, a completion key press signal is given to the zone controller 5 and the lamp and number display part go out. Further, when the completion keys corresponding to all the lit lamps are pressed, the zone controller determines that the collection is completed, and outputs a signal to that effect to the display 1. As a result, the display stores the collection completion data for the zone that was displayed on the screen at that time.

The only difference between the sorting systems is that they sort the goods, whereas the collection system sorts the goods, and the instructions for the zones, locations, and quantities to be sorted are the same for both systems. . Therefore, the present invention is equally applicable to sorting systems.

As another embodiment of the present invention, the portable display 1 simply displays the zone number and the number of remaining zones, and the location number and number are displayed on the shelf display of the zone to which this display is connected. The configuration required for the display device in that case can be easily inferred from the above explanation, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the display device of the present invention can display data indicating zones and locations where articles should be picked or sorted, and articles to be picked from each location or sorted into each location. Based on these data, each time the switch is operated, the zone,
a display that sequentially displays the location and the number of pieces; a display that stores the location data and the number data;
A storage device that outputs these data when an output request signal is input is connected to the display, and outputs the output request signal to the storage device to output the zone data, location data, and number data. , and a control device that inputs and stores these data into the display.

Therefore, the operator connects the display to the control device and inputs zone data, location data, and piece count data.
Picking or sorting can be started immediately based on the display. Therefore, there are no restrictions on the order of instructions among the workers, and each worker can work independently and freely move to an empty zone to work, improving work efficiency.

Furthermore, in the present invention, if the display is connected to the zone controller of the zone displayed on the display, the picking data or sorting data for that zone is input from the display to the zone controller, and based on this data, the picking data or sorting data for that zone is input to the zone controller. The lamp on the shelf indicator of the corresponding location is lit, and the number of pieces to be picked or sorted is displayed, so the worker can turn on the lamp on the shelf indicator and pick or sort based on the displayed number. can. Therefore, since the display timing in each zone is independent, each worker can work efficiently depending on the progress status of each worker and whether the zone is empty or full. Since the location where picking or sorting is to be performed is displayed by lighting a lamp, it is possible to reliably prevent picking or sorting errors due to location errors.

Furthermore, since work can be carried out using the display alone as described above, even if each zone controller system breaks down, the portable display can provide backup.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the first invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view showing a collection area where the embodiment is installed, and Figs. 3A and 3B are a part of the display and a table. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the display, FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a collection point where the second invention is implemented. , FIG. 7 is a front view showing a shelf display device, FIG. 8 is a plan view of a conventional collection point, and FIG. 9 is a front view showing a shelf display device used at the same collection point. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Display device, 2... Control device, 3... Storage device, 5... Zone controller, 6... Shelf display device, 11... Display part, 12... Receiving part, 13... Storage section, 14... Display control section, 21... Adapter, 22... Input section, 23... Display, 31... Transmission/reception section, 32... Collection management section, 33 ... Storage section, 141 ... Location control section, 142 ... Number control section, 154 ... Completion key. Patent applicant Nippon Signal Co., Ltd. Figure 3A 1') 4 1') 1 152 153 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 7 Procedural amendment July 6, 1988 Commissioner of the Patent Office Kuro 1) Akio Tono 1 of the case Display Special Revision No. 126168 No. 126168 of 1988 2, Display device for picking or sorting the name of the invention 3, Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Name of patent applicant (465) Nippon Signal Co., Ltd. 4, Agent address: 105 3-15-5 Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo @ (1) The full text of Akira 1111i1 has been corrected as shown in the attached sheet. (2) Correct the drawing as shown in the attached sheet. Description 1, Name of the invention Picking or sorting display device 2, Claims (1) (a) Data indicating zones and locations where articles should be picked and data indicating the number of articles to be picked from each location Alternatively, data indicating the zones and locations in which the articles to be sorted should be stored and data indicating the number of articles to be stored in each location are stored, and based on these data, the zone numbers are sequentially displayed each time the switch is operated. , when connected to the zone controller described later, a portable display device that provides data indicating the location and (Elk) for the zone to the zone controller described later, and (b) a display lamp and a number display unit provided at each location. a zone that is connected to a shelf display having a display unit, lights up an indicator lamp of the fence display at the location based on data given from the display, and displays the pinking number or sorting number on the number display section; A picking or sorting display device comprising: a controller; 3. Detailed description of the invention [Field of industrial application] Display the location and number of items to pick a predetermined number of items,
Or, it relates to a device that displays the location and number of articles in order to sort a predetermined number of articles into a designated location. [Prior Art] For example, when multiple types of products are to be delivered to multiple stores, prior to delivery, the products to be delivered to each store are picked and collected from shelves where products are stored by type. It is necessary to do this. Such picking work has conventionally been carried out in the following manner, as shown in FIG. The warehouse has a group of locations L11. for storing goods.
Ll 2・”'Ll n , L21・L22・-Lz
n, L31. Zone 70 with L321-L3n
1, 702, and 703 are arranged side by side, and each location is equipped with an indicator lamp 705 and a number display section 70 as shown in FIG.
A common conveyor 708 is installed in each zone, and this conveyor is operated in tact, and each shelf indicator 70
By lighting the display lamp 705 of the required fence display by the control device 709 connected to 4, it is displayed to the worker that picking should be carried out from the location where this display lamp is lit, and the number display section 706 indicates that picking should be done. Display the number of items to be purchased. Then, the conveyor 708 is operated on a tact basis in accordance with the completion of picking in all zones. For example, at a certain time, picking is performed for store A in the second zone 702, picking is performed for store B in the first zone 701, and picking is performed in all zones. Based on the completion of picking, the conveyor 708 is rotated by a predetermined amount to move the container 710 placed thereon from one zone to the next. In the zone 702, no picking is performed, and in the first zone 701, picking is performed for 0 stores. Therefore, the control device 709 also controls each zone 701 and 702.
. Based on the completion of all picking in step 703, the display lamp 705 of the shelf display of the required zone is turned on/off and the number displayed on the number display section 706 is updated. That is, the control device fi 709 causes each zone 701, 702, 703 to be displayed in the order necessary for picking for each store. In the conventional sorting system, the moving direction of the articles is opposite to the above-mentioned picking case, but the control and display are the same as above. [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned tact operation of the conveyor and in the picking work based on the display by the control device and the fence display, the work is restricted to the display that changes at a constant cycle for each zone. As a result, there is a problem in that efficiency is low because zones that do not require picking for a certain store end up wasting time. For example, for store b, there is no need for picking from the second zone 702, and moreover, there is no need for picking from the third zone 702, which should be picked.
Even if picking work is not currently being performed in 03, the display for store b has not yet been made in the third zone 703, so store b is in the process of picking for store 0 in the first zone 701. must wait until the conveyor is moved and the display is updated. In this case, if the amount of picking in the first zone is particularly large, the waiting time will increase in the pond zone. Furthermore, conventionally, instead of a conveyor, a trolley on which picked items are placed is moved along locations where the items are stored, and a predetermined number of items are picked from a required location. In this case, as a method of displaying the location number and number of pieces picked, which are the picking information,
Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 62-16881 introduces a method in which an address specifying the identification, quantity, and location of an article is transferred to a portable display, and the worker proceeds with the work according to the contents displayed on the portable display. has been done. However, with this method, although correct picking information is displayed on the portable display, there is no means to prevent the worker from picking items from the wrong location due to mistake (picking mistake), so picking mistakes can occur. There is a possibility that this may occur. The above is an explanation of the picking method, but the sorting is the same for the picking method as well. An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems of the prior art by combining a portable display system and a shelf display system. [Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides data indicating zones and locations where articles should be picked and data indicating the number of articles to be picked from each location or zones and locations where articles to be sorted should be stored. data indicating the number of articles to be stored in each location, and based on these data, the zone number is displayed sequentially each time the switch is operated, and when connected to the zone controller described later, the corresponding zone number a portable display that provides data indicating the location and number of pieces for the zone to the zone controller described below; and a portable display that is provided at each location and is connected to a shelf display that has an indicator lamp and a number display section, and input from the display. and a zone controller that lights up a display lamp of the shelf display at the location based on the data, and causes the number display section to display the number of items to be picked or the number of items to be sorted. ``Operation'' When a worker starts picking or sorting work, he or she first connects a portable display to a computer-controlled device, and the device displays picking information or sorting information for predetermined types of articles after each zone. information, i.e.
Input zone data, location data, and piece count data into the display and store them. When the worker connects this display to the zone controller of the displayed zone, the above picking information or sorting information will be displayed based on the information related to the zone. The items are transferred to the zone controller, and the zone controller lights up the indicator on the shelf display of the corresponding location, and the number of items to be picked or the number of items to be sorted is displayed on the item number display. [Embodiments of the present invention] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The present invention can be used for both picking devices and sorting devices. An example applied to a picking device will be described below. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of this embodiment. This picking device is a small display device 1 that a worker can carry during picking work, and the display device 1 is connected as necessary to input data. A control device 2, a storage device 3 connected to this control device 2, and a storage device 3 installed in each zone of the picking area, to turn on and off the display lamps of the shelf indicators provided at each location, display the number of pieces, and input the picking completion signal. It is composed of a zone controller 5 that controls the zone. The storage device 3!3 is connected to an external information processing device 4, and receives and receives data necessary for a picking operation to be described later, that is, picking data. Since the control device 2 is directly operated by the picking operator, it is installed at a location relatively close to the picking area. On the other hand, since the storage device 3 is not directly operated by the picker,
It can be installed in a location away from the picking area. Figure 2 shows an example of a picking area where this system is installed. This picking area is zone 901, 902, 903
Locations L1+L2+...L, which are storage spaces for items to be picked, are determined in each zone, and each location has its own location number AO.
O1, AOO2. ..., BOOl, BOO2, -Bn, COO1,
COO2-Ch is displayed. Further, a control device 2 is provided near the first zone 901, and a storage device 3 is connected to this control device. Each worker carries the display device 1 and moves with the trolleys 904, 905, and 906 to perform picking work. Next, the storage device 3 will be explained. The transmitting/receiving unit 31 transmits and receives data to and from the control device 2 or the information processing device 4. The storage unit 33 stores picking data in a tabular format as shown in Table 1 on the next page. That is, for example, customer number 01 corresponding to each store to which goods are delivered.
．． 02゜...(This number specifically corresponds to each trolley used for picking, so it will be referred to as the trolley number below.) Zone number 01.0 determined for each zone
2. ..., location numbers AOOI and AOO2 for picking goods in each zone. . . . and the number of articles to be picked from each location, that is, the number of articles to be picked. The storage unit 33 stores such picking data for each zone. Table 1 Furthermore, the trolley number, location number, and number of pieces to be picked are created based on the order information, which includes the customer code, the type and number of items, inputted from the outside by the information processing device 4, and are created prior to the start of the picking operation. , is given in advance from the information processing device 4 and sent to the storage unit 3 through the transmitting/receiving unit 31.
3. The picking management section 32 (hereinafter simply referred to as the management section) is
When output request data indicating a request for picking data and the trolley number are received from the control device 2 through the transmitting/receiving section 31, the zone number, location number, and number of items to be picked are sequentially read out from the storage section 33 for the articles to be picked on the trolley. , and sent to the control device 2 through the transmitting/receiving section 31. Next, the control section 'f12 will be explained. Input/output section 22
is equipped with an output switch and a bogie number input switch, and the control unit 25 stores signals indicating on/off of these switches and the input bogie number in the memory 24, and transfers the zero bogie number input to the storage device instead of by switch operation. Alternatively, a barcode attached to the cart may be read by a barcode reader connected to the adapter 21 and input. The adapter 21 is equipped with a connector for connecting the display device 1, and when the display device 1 is connected to this, the control device 2
mediates the exchange of data between the display device 1 and the storage device 3 based on the switch signal from the input/output section 22 via the control section 25. That is, when the output switch is turned on and the truck number input switch is operated with the display device 1 connected to the adapter 21, the control device stores the output request data and the input truck number data in the storage device 3. send. Then, in response to this output request data, the data such as the truck number, zone number, location number, and number of pieces to be picked sent from the storage device 3 are received and input into the display 1. The display 23 receives the data of the truck number from the memory 24 and displays on the screen that it is requesting data from the storage device 3 and that it is receiving data from the storage device 3. Next, the display 1 will be explained. The display device 1 is carried by a picking worker as described above, and in order to achieve the main purpose of the present invention, at least the zone number in which picking is to be carried out is displayed on the screen to inform the worker of this. FIG. 3A shows an example of the display on the screen 11a, in which the 0 display 1 indicating that the number of the zone to be picked is "01" is operated by a battery to make it portable. The internal configuration of the display device 1 will be explained using the block diagram shown in FIG. 4A.1 The display section 11 includes a screen 11a shown in FIG. 3A, and receives and receives data from a display control section 14 to be described later. Display number. The display device 1 is equipped with a zone number call key 151, and when the worker wants to know the zone to be picked, the call key 1 is pressed.
51, a signal to that effect is given to the display control section 14.The zone control section 141 of the 0 display control section 14 sequentially reads one zone number from the storage section 13 each time the zone call key 151 is pressed, and is sent to the display unit 11 and displayed on the screen 11a. Table 2 When the display device 1 is connected to the adapter 21 of the control unit r11.2, the receiving unit 12 inputs the data sent from the adapter 21 to the storage unit 13. Further, when the display device 1 is connected to a zone controller 5, which will be described later, the receiving section 12 receives data indicating a zone number output from the latter and supplies it to the output section 16, which will be described later. The storage unit 13 stores picking data input from the adapter 21, that is, the zone number to be picked to the cart, the location number to be picked in each zone,
In addition, the number of articles to be picked from each location, that is, the number of articles to be picked, is stored in a table format as partially shown in Table 2 on the previous page. As will be described later, when a picking completion signal is input from the zone controller 5 to which the display device 1 is connected via the receiving unit 12, a flag indicating the completion of picking for the zone is set in the zone number of the storage unit 13 corresponding to the zone number. After that, when the zone call key 151 is pressed on the display 1 and the same zone number is called, the display control unit 14 displays the completion of picking on the screen 11a. In addition, the display device 1 is connected to the zone controller 5,
When a signal indicating the zone number is inputted from the latter via the receiving section 12, all location data and number data of the zone stored in the storage section 13 are transferred to the zone controller 5 via the output control section 16. It has become so. As shown in FIG. 5, the zone controller 5 is connected to shelf indicators 61 to 61 provided at each location. As shown in FIG. 6, each shelf indicator includes an indicator lamp 601 and a number indicator 60, similar to the shelf indicator shown in FIG.
2 and a completion key 603, the zone controller 5
More individually, when a lamp lighting command signal is input, the indicator lamp 601 is turned on, and when a lamp extinguishing command signal is input, the indicator lamp 601 is turned off. Further, the number of bids is displayed on the number display section 602 based on the number data input individually from the zone controller 5. Completion key 603
When you press , the zone control sends a signal indicating that picking has been completed for the location where the shelf indicator is installed.
Give it to La 5. As shown in FIG. 5, when the display device 1 is connected to the zone controller 5 of the zone whose number is displayed on its screen, the zone number is displayed from the zone controller to the display device 1 via the receiving section 12. Picking data (location data and number data) for the same zone is transferred from the storage section 13 of the display device to the zone controller 5 via the output control section 16. Based on the picking data, the zone controller lights up the display lamp 601 of the fence display 6 of the location among the fence display devices 61 to 6n at each location, and displays the number of pieces picked on the number display section 602. In this way, the worker performs the picking operation according to the display on the fence display. After taking out a predetermined number of items from one location, when the completion key 603 of the fence indicator of that location is pressed, a picking completion signal is given to the zone controller 5, and based on this, the zone controller 5 turns on the indicator lamp 601. Turn off the lights,
The number display on the number display section 602 is erased. In addition, the zone controller monitors whether or not the completion key corresponding to all the lit indicator lamps has been pressed, for example by checking the presence or absence of the indicator lamps that are lit, and determines that picking is complete when all of the indicator lamps are lit. A signal to that effect is output to 1. As a result, the display device adds a flag indicating completion of picking for the zone currently displayed on the screen to the zone number of the zone in the storage section. When the worker completes all picking in the zone whose zone number is displayed on the display 1, the display control unit 14 displays the zone number and the text "Picking completed" in parallel on the screen 11a, and then the zone number is displayed on the screen 11a. When the number call key 151 is pressed, the number of the next zone to be picked is displayed. In this way, after picking for one zone is completed, the user can press the zone call key to display the next zone number and perform picking work in that zone. When the pond worker is picking in the displayed zone, he or she can press the discharge key 151 again to display the number of the next zone to be picked. In this way, an empty zone is searched for, the cart is moved to that zone, and the picking operation is carried out again in this zone. In this way, this picking system
The worker can freely move to an empty zone among the zones to be picked and perform the picking work efficiently. If picking has already been completed for the called zone number, screen 1 is
The completion of picking is displayed in 1a. The only difference between the sorting systems is that the picking system picks the articles, whereas the picking system sorts the articles, and the instructions for the zones, locations, and numbers to be sorted are the same for both systems. Therefore,
The present invention is equally applicable to a one-λ sorting system. As described above, this invention simply displays only the zone number and the number of remaining zones on the portable display 1, and displays the location number and number on the shelf display under the control of the zone controller to which this display is connected. The basic function is to display each item individually. However, if the zone controller malfunctions, it would be a problem if picking operations cannot be performed at all. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, if the zone controller 5 is out of order, the zone number, location number and picked number or sort are displayed only on the display 1 without using the zone controller and the fence display. is configured to perform tasks based on the number of pieces. Next, Section 3B will be explained about the display device with such a configuration.
The explanation will be made based on FIG. 4B, FIG. 7, and FIG. As described above, this display 1 informs the operator of the zone number where picking is to be performed, the location number where picking is to be performed in each zone, and the number of items to be picked. FIG. 3B is an example of the screen display, and shows that the zone number is "01'", the location number is "A123", and the number of pieces picked is "24 pieces". The internal configuration of the display device 1 will be explained using the block diagram shown in FIG. 4B.The display section 11 includes a screen 11b shown in FIG. 3B, receives and receives data from the display control section 14, and displays zone numbers, Display location and number of pieces picked. The display 1 has a zone number call key 151 and a start key 152.
, a cancel key 153 and a completion key 154, and a call key 15 when the operator wants to know which zone to pick.
When you press 1, a signal indicating that is pressed, and when you press start key 1 to start picking for the zone of the called number.
If you press 52, a signal indicating this will appear, and if you press the start key and then cancel without starting and before calling another zone number.
-153 is pressed, a signal to that effect is input to the display control unit 14, and when the operator has completed picking at a certain location and the completion key 154 is pressed, a signal to that effect is input to the display control unit 14. input. The receiving unit 12 receives picking data sent from the adapter 21 when the display device 1 is connected to the adapter 21 of the control device 2, that is, a zone number, a location number,
In addition, the number of pieces to be picked is received and provided to the storage unit 13. The storage unit stores this picking data as described above.
Store in tabular format. The location control unit 141 of the display control unit 14 reads one zone number from the storage unit 13 each time the zone call key 151 is pressed, and sends it to the display unit 11 to display it on the screen 11b. It also stores the read zone number. When the operator does not press the start key 152, the first location number corresponding to the zone number is read out,
It is sent to the display unit 11 to be displayed on the screen, and also stored. If the zone number call key 151 is pressed again without pressing the start key, the next zone number is read out from the storage section 13, displayed on the screen of the display section, and stored again. If cancel=q-153 is pressed after pressing the start key, only the zone number immediately before the start key was pressed is displayed and stored. After pressing the start key, when the operator completes picking the displayed location and presses the completion key 154,
The location control section 141 receives the signal, reads the next location number from the stored location number from the storage section 13, and sends it to the display section 11 to display it on the screen. Additionally, the stored location number is discarded and a newly read location number is stored. The number control unit 142 inputs the location number stored in the location control unit 141 from the location control unit 141, reads out the number of picked pieces corresponding to the location number from the storage unit 13, sends it to the display unit 11, and displays the number on the screen.
1b. When picking from all locations stored in a zone is completed, a flag indicating the completion of picking for that zone is added to the zone number, and when this number is called from now on, the location number and number of items will be displayed on the screen. Instead of the display, the picking completion is displayed. Next, the operation will be explained using the flow chart shown in FIG. Connect to 21. Then, the user turns on the output switch of the input section 22 (step 201, hereinafter referred to as p), and operates the truck number input switch to specify the truck to be picked. At this time, the control unit 25 sends the output request data and the input truck number data to the storage device 3 (9202).
Further, output request data and truck number data are sent to the display 23, and the operator is notified by displaying the truck number and the fact that data is being requested on the screen (P2O3). The transmitting/receiving section 31 of the storage device 3 receives the output request data and the truck number data from the control device 2 (P3ot) and inputs them to the management section 32. Upon receiving these data, the management unit sequentially sequentially retrieves the picking data corresponding to the control device that issued the request and the trolley, that is, the number of the zone and location to be picked, and the number of pieces to be picked, from the storage unit 33. Read and send to control device 2 (ρ302)
II The control a'p device 2 receives the zone number sent by the management unit 32,
We will receive the location number and number of pieces picked in order,
This is stored in the memory 24 and output to the display 1 connected to the adapter 21 (in the p display 1, the control device 2
Upon receiving the zone number, location number, and number of pieces picked, the receiving unit 12 sequentially outputs these to the storage unit 13, and stores the location number and number of pieces picked for each zone number as shown in Table 2. Correspond and store (Ptol). With the above steps, the input of picking data to the display device 1 is completed.0 The operator removes the display device 1 from the adapter 21, carries it with him, and starts picking work. At this time, the location control section 141 reads the first zone number from the storage section 13, sends it to the display section 11, and displays it on the screen (9102), and simultaneously stores the read zone number. If there is another trolley currently being picked in the zone with the displayed zone number, press the zone number discharge key 151 and the number of the next zone to be picked will be displayed in the storage unit 13.
is read from and displayed on the screen (p+o3.Pso
s, pIOll) - If there is no other cart currently being picked in the zone with the displayed zone number, press the start key 152. If there is another cart in the process of picking after pressing the start key, make sure that the completion key is not pressed and press the cancel key 153 to restart the picking process.
i Return to O3 (P1071108), so call 4-
You can call another zone number by pressing 151. When the start key 152 is pressed, the location control unit 14
1 reads the location number from the storage unit 13 and sends it to the display unit 11 to display it on the screen <ps. 3.
1°4) At the same time, the read location number is stored. The number control unit 142 includes the location control unit 141
reads out the picked number corresponding to the stored location number from the storage section 13 and sends it to the display section 11 to display it on the screen (Plod).
The screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 3B, and the worker moves to the location of the zone indicated by this display and picks the displayed number of articles from that location. When the operator completes picking the displayed location, the operator presses the completion key 154 (p>os)
Then, the completion key 154 sends a signal indicating that it has been pressed to the location control unit 141. When the location control section 141 receives this signal, it reads out the next location number from the storage section 13 after the stored location number, and sends it to the display section 11 to display it on the screen. Additionally, the stored location number is discarded and a newly read location number is stored. Then, the number control unit 142 inputs this new location number from the location control unit 141, reads out the picked number corresponding to the location number from the storage unit 13, sends it to the display unit 11, and displays it on the screen (PI
s o )- As a result, the location number and number of pieces to be picked next are displayed on the screen of the display unit 11, and based on this, the worker moves with the trolley and picks (pltt>. When all picking is completed in the zone whose zone number is displayed on display 1, the zone number and the text “Picking completed” will be displayed on the screen (P112).
), then press the zone number call key 151 to display the number of the next zone to be picked.0 If another worker is picking in the displayed zone, press the call key 151 again to display the next zone number. The number of the next zone to be picked can be displayed, thus
The operator searches for an empty zone, moves to that zone with the trolley, presses start 4-152, and then performs the picking operation again in this zone based on the display on display 1. In this way, in this picking system, the worker can freely move to an empty zone among the zones to be picked and perform the picking work efficiently. If picking has already been completed for the called zone number, the zone number and the completion of picking will be displayed on the screen. Note that the above is an example of the present embodiment, and various modifications are possible.For example, in order to further improve work efficiency, the display section 1
As shown in Figure 3B, the location number "
In addition to "A123" and the number "24", it is also possible to display "Next 8058" indicating the next location number, "15 remaining locations" indicating the number of remaining locations, etc. This is stored in the memory 13. By using the picking data, this can be easily realized in the display control unit 14. In addition, by appropriately setting the order of the location numbers displayed on the display 1, it is possible to enable the worker to perform picking in the shortest distance. In other words, the storage device 3 stores data indicating the location arrangement of zones in advance, and when picking data is input to the display 1 via the adapter 21, based on the arrangement data, The order of the location numbers is determined so that the distance traveled by the worker is the shortest, and the numbers are input into the display 1. [Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the picking or sorting display device according to the present invention has the following effects: Data indicating zones and locations where articles should be picked and data indicating the number of articles to be picked from each location, or data indicating zones and locations where articles should be sorted, and data indicating the number of articles to be stored at each location. remember,
Based on these data, a portable display device sequentially displays zone numbers each time a switch is operated, and when connected to a zone controller described later, provides data indicating the location and number of zones for the zone controller; , is connected to a shelf display provided at each location and having a display lamp and a piece count display, the display lamp of the display is lit with input from the display, and the number of pieces to be picked or the sorting is displayed on the number display. It is equipped with a zone controller that displays the number of pieces, and. Therefore, if the operator inputs data indicating the zone number, location number, and number of pieces into the display and connects the display to the zone controller, the picking data or sorting data for that zone will be transferred from the display to the zone controller. Based on this input, the indicator lamp of the shelf indicator of the corresponding location among the locations in that zone is lit, and the number of pieces to be picked or sorted is displayed, so the worker can turn on the indicator lamp of the shelf indicator. Then, picking or sorting can be done based on the displayed number. Therefore, since the display timing in each zone is independent, each worker can work efficiently depending on the progress status of each worker and whether the zone is empty or full. Since the location where picking or sorting is to be carried out is displayed by lighting up with an indicator lamp, picking errors or sorting errors due to location errors can be reliably prevented. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the display stores data indicating the zone number, location number, and number of pieces.
These can be displayed on the display itself without using the zone controller or shelf display, and therefore work can be performed on the display alone, independent of the zone controller. Even if the system breaks down, a portable display can provide backup. 4. Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the first invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view showing an example of a picking place where the embodiment is installed, and Figs. 3A and 3B are 4A and 4B are block diagrams showing the internal configuration of the display; FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the relationship between the display and the zone controller; and FIG. The figure is a front view showing the shelf display, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a plan view of a conventional picking place, and FIG. 9 is a front view showing a shelf indicator used in the picking place. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Portable display, 2...Control device, 3...Storage device, 5...Zone controller, 6.61-6n...Display device, 11...Display unit, 12... - Receiving section, 13... Storage section, 14... Display control section, 21... Adapter, 22... Input section, 23... Display, 31... Transmitting/receiving section, 32... Picking Management unit, 33... Storage unit, 141... Zone control unit, location control unit, 14
2...Number control unit, 154...Completion key. Figure 3A Figure 5 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) (a) Store data indicating zones and locations where articles should be picked or zones and locations where articles should be sorted, and data indicating the number of articles to be picked from each location or the number of articles to be stored at each location. , based on these data, a portable display device that sequentially displays zone numbers each time a switch is operated, and when connected to a zone controller described later, provides data indicating the location and number of the zone to the zone controller; (b) a storage device that stores the zone data, location data, and number data and outputs these data when an output request signal is input; (c) a storage device to which the display device is connected; a control device that outputs the output request signal to output the zone data, location data, and number data, and inputs and stores these data in the display; (d) provided at each location; And, each is connected to a shelf display having an indicator lamp and a number display, and based on the data input from the display, the lamp of the shelf display at the location is lit, and the number of pieces picked or sorted is displayed on the number display. A picking or sorting display device consisting of a zone controller for displaying information, and a display device for picking or sorting.