JP2700528B2 - Transport picking work device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a container which is sequentially conveyed by a conveyer or the like. A worker assigned to each work area along the conveyor picks up a predetermined item from a rack in charge and puts it in a predetermined container. The present invention relates to a transport picking operation device that assorts products for each container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In such a transport picking operation device, it is an important issue how much products can be picked and handled in a short time in view of a balance between capital investment and its recovery. Full automation without human intervention may be practical depending on the type of products handled.However, when the types of products are extremely large and the shapes of the products vary widely, the products are taken out and placed in containers. There is a problem that automatic storage is difficult to do automatically, and for the time being it has to rely on manual labor.

Under the present circumstances, a transport picking work system in which an operator takes out an article from a rack and stores it in a container and transports the container by driving a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor occupies almost the mainstream. In addition, a work area is formed along the conveyor, and a worker is arranged between the conveyor and the rack in each work area. I have.

[0004] In a work area in charge, a worker takes out only a specified number of articles for each container from a rear rack in a specified number of containers, and stores them in a front container that is sequentially conveyed and stored. A plurality of containers are placed on the conveyor at a pitch (tact pitch) interval between the work areas, and are simultaneously moved by one tact pitch by driving the conveyor.

When each worker finishes the picking and storing operation for one container, the indicator provided in his / her work area is turned off to notify the end of the operation, so that the work of all the workers arranged on the conveyor is completed. When the indicators in all the work areas are turned off, the conveyor is driven, and each worker
The picking and storing operation is restarted for each of the newly conveyed containers moved by the tact pitch. In this way, the container sequentially passes through each work area, and the designated articles are sequentially stored.

[0006]

According to this transport picking work system, the time interval (tact time) for moving the container is determined by the work time of the worker who works slowest every time. Therefore, each time other workers except the slowest worker always wait for the completion of the work of the late person, so-called hand waiting state,
This waiting time is a wasteful time and lowers the work efficiency. Since the tact time is the longest work time at that time, the tact time is repeated, so that the total work time is longer than the amount of work processed. It was time.

[0007] In addition, a person who has the most delayed work due to accidental concentration of work may have a hurry to perform the work because another worker is waiting, and there is a risk of a picking error. Further, the conveyor for transporting the containers is expensive because it is provided with a drive mechanism, so that the capital investment is costly and the distribution cost cannot be suppressed.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of such a point,
The object of the present invention is to provide a transport picking operation device at a low cost in which the waiting time of the operator is reduced and the overall operation efficiency is improved.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a series of racks which are divided into work areas where each worker works and which store predetermined items by type. A plurality of containers into which a plurality of predetermined items of a size that can be arranged in the work area are placed, and transport means capable of sequentially manually moving the plurality of containers along a transport route parallel to the series of racks And a picking number indicator for displaying the number of picks provided corresponding to the articles stored in each of the shelves of the rack, and a container identifier display provided for the container and identifying each container by an identifier. And a designated container identifier which is provided in each work area in the vicinity of the container identifier display of the container moving along the transport route of the transport means and which specifies the container in which an article is to be placed by the container identifier. Informing the 示器, the completion of work on first container by operating the operator provided for each work area 1
A work completion switch, an article to be put into each container for each work area, and an identifier of a container placed on the conveyance route are stored in the order of conveyance, and each time there is a signal from the one work completion switch, the designation of the designated container identifier in the work area is displayed. And a control means for simultaneously updating the display of the container and the display of the picking number display so as to always correspond to each other.

In each work area, a picking number indicator provided in a rack shelf of a rack simultaneously displays the number of items to be picked into the container having the identifier indicated by the designated container identifier indicator, and the designated container identifier indicator. Is disposed in the vicinity of the container identifier display of the container moving along the transport route, so that both displays can be easily compared, and it is obvious at a glance whether or not both display the same container identifier and store the goods. It is possible to prevent the container from being mistaken.

Therefore, each worker checks the identifier of the container in his / her own work area with the identifier displayed on the designated container identifier display in the vicinity thereof to confirm that the identifier is the same.
Items are picked from the rack behind and according to the indication of the picking number indicator and stored in the container. When the worker stores all the allocated items in the container and completes one operation, the operator operates the one-operation completion switch, and manually transports the container to the next work area or container unloading area.

[0012] By operation of the 1 work completion switch, the designated container identifier display indicates the identifier of the container to be conveyed next, and the picking number display indicates the number of articles to be put in the container. In this way, each worker can operate the one-work completion switch and manually transport the container storing the goods after one work is completed, regardless of the work situation of the other workers. Therefore, each worker can proceed with the work at his own pace, and can perform the work easily, hardly cause a picking mistake or the like, and can expect the work to be accurate.

Since there is no need for another worker to adjust the work time to the work time of the worker who has been working late,
All the other workers do not enter a hand waiting state, and the hand waiting time can be reduced to improve the working efficiency.
Also, since the transport means has no drive mechanism, it is low cost, has few failures, has a high degree of freedom in layout, and
Reduction can be easily done.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 will be described below. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a transport picking work apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. A forward path 2a and a return path 2b in which a transport path 2 of a transport means extends linearly are arranged in parallel, and each of the forward path 2a and the return path 2b Both ends are connected by a connection path 2c to form a closed transport route. A plurality of trolleys 3 are guided by the transport path 2, and each trolley 3 can carry one container 4 and transport it independently.

A series of racks 5 are arranged in parallel along the forward path 2a of the transport path 2, and between the forward path 2a and the rack 5, a worker 6 walks forward with the forward path 2a and the rack 5 behind. The space is provided such that the work can be performed without any trouble. The rack 5 is divided into seven blocks.
Work areas are divided corresponding to a, 5b,..., 5g, and one picking worker P is assigned to each work area. However, some of the work areas can be made unused. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the lowest work area is not used and there is no worker.

The picking worker P takes out required articles from the rack 5 at the back in his / her own work area and puts the forward conveying path 2a into the container 4 conveyed by the cart 3. In addition to the picking worker P, there is another worker around the transport path 2, and a worker Q that transfers the container 4 having finished storing the articles from the trolley 3 to the dolly 6 near the end of the forward path 2 a. ₁ , the empty carriage 3 on the return path 2b
Workers will now be equipped with an empty container 4 for accommodating the goods to workers Q ₂ and the empty carriage 3 to move the Q _3, first picking worker P a carriage 3 mounted with container 4 this empty
Operator Q ₄ such that transports are arranged appropriately.

The transport path 2 has a pair of rails 10, 10 horizontally supported by a plurality of columns 11, and the rails 10, 10 have a substantially L-shaped cross section and are outside a horizontal portion 10a on which the wheels of the bogie 3 are mounted. The edge is bent upward to form a vertical portion 10b (see FIG. 4). On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the carriage 3 has a support plate 21 fixed to four corners of a rectangular base 20 on which the container 4 is placed.
Are respectively provided, and the carriage 3 is movably supported by the four wheels 22.

In addition to the wheels 22, a roller 23 whose rotation axis is vertical is provided on each support plate 21 so as to be partially exposed to the left and right sides. When the carriage 3 is mounted on the pair of rails 10, 10, the wheels 22 are moved to the rail horizontal portions 10a as shown in FIG.
The roller 23 is movably supported on the rail, and the roller 23 partially exposed to the left and right is rotatable by abutting the rail vertical portion 10b from the inside, and is guided by the left and right rail vertical portions 10b. Can be moved along the trolley 3 with small resistance.

Therefore, the carriage 3 can be moved along the rail 10 on the rail 10 by a light push of the operator. Further, the connecting portion 2c of the transport path 2 is entirely formed of one horizontal plate 12, the outer edge and the inner edge are bordered by the vertical plate 13, and the bogie 3 can change the direction on the horizontal plate 12 ( See FIG. 6).

A U-shaped pipe frame 24 is erected on one side of the rectangular base 20, and a stop plate 25 is protruded from the front side at a low height. By placing the container 4 on the base 20 along the frame 24 and the stop plate 25, the container 4 can be easily positioned. Horizontal connection of pipe frame 24
A container number display plate 26 for identifying a container is attached to 24a with its lower side fixed. On the container number display plate 26, a container number for identifying the container 4 placed on the cart 3 from other containers is displayed.

The rack 5 behind the picking worker P is
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a column 30 and an oblique reinforcing frame 31 are provided at a portion that divides the work area, and three upper and lower flow shelves 32, 33, and 34 are provided supported by the column 30. I have. The fluidizing shelves 32, 33, and 34 are composed of a plurality of rows of roller conveyors, and the picking worker P side is inclined slightly lower, and the goods delivered from the other side move to the picking worker P side by their own weight. It has become.

Referring to FIG. 5, four shelves are formed for each of the shelves 32, 33 and 34 between the columns 30 in the work area in which one worker is in charge, and a maximum of 12 kinds of articles are stored. .
The horizontal frame 32a at the front end of the upper and suspended flow shelves 32, 33
On the horizontal frame 35 located above the upper horizontal frame 32a and the upper horizontal frame 32a, picking number indicators 36 are provided corresponding to the respective shelf booths.

As shown in FIG. 6, the picking number display 36 has a quantity display section 37 capable of displaying a four-digit number. Usually, the upper two digits are numbers indicating a case where articles of the same type are put together. And the lower two digits indicate the picking number. A reset button 38 also serving as an item lamp is provided adjacent to the quantity display section 37. When the picking of the kind of the article is completed, the reset button 38 is pressed to turn off the item lamp.

Each picking number display 36 displays the number of items picked up in the corresponding lower booth, and the picking worker P looks at the display 36 and displays the picking number from the corresponding booth. Remove the items by the number of pickings and place them in the container in front.

On the other hand, one column 40 is erected for each work area between the forward path 2a and the return path 2b of the transport path 2, and the upper end of each column 40 projecting upward from the transport path 2 as shown in FIG. A housing 41 is attached to the part, and a specified container number indicator 42 for displaying the specified container number is incorporated in the housing 41. The specified container number is displayed on the surface of the housing 41 on the picking worker P side. The display unit of the display 42 is arranged. Further, a one-operation completion button 43 is provided on the surface of the casing 41 on the picking worker P side next to the display section of the designated container number display 42.

As shown in FIG. 7, the cart 3 on which the container 4 is mounted
Moves along the forward path 2a, the container number display plate 26 attached to the pipe frame 24 moves below the display portion of the designated container number display 42 along the surface of the housing 41. Therefore, when the bogie is stopped almost at the center of the work area, the display portion of the designated container number display 42 is located immediately above the container number display plate 26, and it is easy to collate the container numbers of both, and it is confirmed that the numbers match. Is assured.

As described above, the main transport picking work apparatus 1
Since for carrying container 4 does not have a separate drive mechanism by hand of worker, picking worker P is loaded with container press 1 work completion button 43 when receiving the goods to one container to complete The carriage 3 is moved by hand to the next work area. Designated container number indicator 42 for each work area
And the display of the picking number display 36 are updated by operating the one work completion button 43.

A schematic block diagram of the control system of the transport picking work apparatus 1 will be described below with reference to FIG. First, the host computer 50 inputs information on the type and number of articles desired to be stored in each container. The information is totaled and the articles are allocated to the racks 5a, 5b,..., 5g in each work area. At this time, allocation is performed so that the work of each picking worker P is made as uniform as possible. According to this allocation, the goods are delivered to the racks 5a, 5b,..., 5g in advance.

The host computer 50 not only allocates the delivery to the rack 5 but also determines the work area where the goods to be put into each container 4 are to be picked from the rack. The type and number of articles to be inserted are determined, and these information are written to the floppy disk 51. The information on the floppy disk 51 is read by the control computer 52 to control the entire system of the transport picking work device. Among them, the information on the display control of the picking number display 36 and the designated container number display 42 is stored in the rack control unit. The rack control unit 53 outputs the data to the racks 5a, 5b,
.., 5 g are individually given necessary information to a plurality of block control units 54 to control the entire rack.

Under the control of the rack control unit 53, each block control unit 54 resets the display of each picking number display 36 of the rack in the work area in charge based on the information obtained from the rack control unit 53. The operation signal of the one work completion button 43 in the assigned work area is input, and the display of the container number on the designated container number display 42 in the assigned work area is controlled. One work completion button
The operation signal 43 updates the display of the container number on the designated container number display 42 and changes the display on the picking number display 36 to a new display at the same time.

The control procedure in one work area will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the 1 work completion button 43 has been pressed (step 1). If it is determined that the button has been pressed, the flow proceeds to step 2 to update the picking number and the designated container number to the next new one. 3
And instruct the display of the picking number and the designated container number. If it is determined in step 1 that the 1 work completion button 43 has not been pressed, step 2 is skipped to step 3
Proceed to and keep the display as it was. Therefore, every time the one work completion button 43 is pressed, the display of the number of picks and the display of the designated container number are instructed, and the displays of the picking number display 36 and the designated container number display 42 are updated.

In the present embodiment, one- and two-digit numbers are used for the container numbers, and serial numbers are given to the container number display plate 26 attached to the cart 3, so that the containers are usually mounted in ascending numerical order and transported. It is sequentially transported on the outward path 2a of the path 2. The designated container number display 42 of each work area updates and displays the container number of the sequentially conveyed container each time the one work completion button 43 is pressed.

The container number of the designated container number indicator 42 in the same work area always corresponds to the indication of the picking number indicator 36, and should be stored in the container 4 of the container number indicated by the designated container number indicator 42. The number and type of articles are displayed on the picking number display 36 of the rack in the same work area, the 1 work completion button 43 is pressed, and the container number on the designated container number display 42 is updated. Display control is independently performed for each work area so that the picking number display corresponding to the new container is changed.

As described above, each picking worker P can display the container number on the container number display plate 26 attached to the carriage 3 conveyed from the upstream side and the designated container number located near the container number. First, the container number displayed on the container 42 is collated to confirm that it is the same number, and then the picking operation from the rack 5 at the rear is started. The picking number indicator 36 of the rack 5 indicates the number of articles to be put in the container of the container number indicated by the designated container number indicator 42, so that the picking worker P displays the container number on the container number display plate 26. Only by collating with the container number displayed on the designated container number display 42, an accurate operation can be performed without mistakenly storing the container.

In this way, each picking worker P takes out an article from the rack in accordance with the instruction of the picking number indicator 36 and stores it in the container 4 in the front transport path 2. When the storage in the container 4 is completed, the picking worker P presses the 1 work completion button 43 next to the display section of the designated container number display 42, and then pushes the cart 3 by hand to the downstream side to perform the main work area. Then, the container 4 in which required articles are stored is moved to the next work area.

By pressing the 1 work completion button 43, the container number displayed on the designated container number display 42 is updated to the container number of the next container, and the display on the picking number display 36 also corresponds to the next container. It is displayed. As described above, when each picking worker P completes one work in charge and presses the one work completion button 43, the work on the next container can be continued and the next container is sent. Work can be continued without any waiting time. When the last item is stored in the container 4, the one-operation completion button 43 is located near the hand extended into the container, so that the one-operation completion button 43 can be pressed immediately, which is efficient.

Conventionally, since the other workers adjust to one working time of the worker with the most delayed work, all the other workers always wait in a hand and work efficiency is deteriorated. The hand waiting state does not always occur, and even if it occurs, it stops at some of the picking workers P to improve the working efficiency.

When one operation is completed early and there is no transport of the next container, the picking worker P is in a waiting state. In such a case, the picking worker P on the upstream side can help the picking worker. It is possible to further improve the work efficiency by eliminating the waiting state. At that time, it is only necessary to put the articles taken out of the upstream rack into the container designated by the designated container number indicator 42 in the upstream work area, so that a storage mistake hardly occurs.

Each picking worker P can perform the work at his own pace regardless of the work of the other picking worker P. Etc. can be reduced.

[0040] Thus container 4 sequentially through the work area has finished storing the required goods is transferred from the carriage 3 to the dolly wheel 6 led to the place of workers Q _1, the carriage 3 has become empty from the connecting path 2c new container 3 reaches at the operator Q ₃ is hand is returned at the first picking worker P of the forward path 2a by the operator Q ₄ is mounted by the operator Q ₂ is routed to return 2b. Container number display plate 26 can be used as is 2
The control computer is configured to distinguish and display the third, third,...

The transport path 2 has only a pair of rails laid thereon, and the trolley 3 mounts the container 4 and moves by hand on the same rail, and has no drive mechanism for transporting the container. It is hard to generate, maintenance is easy, and there is little noise. Equipment can be easily moved, installed, and dismantled, and expansion and reduction can be easily performed. The transport path can also be designed so as to freely incorporate a curve, and the layout of the entire transport picking work device is highly flexible.

In the above embodiment, the cart moves on the rails to convey the containers, but an example in which the containers are directly conveyed on the roller conveyor by using a roller conveyor as the conveying means will be described below. FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of the transport picking operation device 60 of the embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the main part. The rack 61 is the same as the rack of the above embodiment, and the picking number indicator 62 provided corresponding to each shelf booth is also the same.

In the transport path, a roller conveyor 63 is laid in place of the rail on both the forward path and the return path. The container 65 is placed directly on the roller conveyor 63 and is manually pushed.
It is caused to transport in the tooth. A guide bar 64 runs parallel to one side of the roller conveyor 63, and the container 65 is guided along the guide bar 64 so as not to deviate from the transport path.

A container number display plate 66 is directly attached to the container 65 so that it can be easily compared with the display of the designated container display 67 provided in the same manner as in the above embodiment. One work completion button next to the designated container display 67
68 are provided. The work of the picking worker P is the same as that of the above embodiment, and each picking worker P can proceed with the work at his / her own pace, can eliminate the waiting time, and can improve the working efficiency.

Next, FIG. 1 shows an example in which another conveying means is used.
2 and will be described. FIG. 12 shows the transport picking work device.
FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of 70. In FIG. 12, the rack 71 and the number-of-pickings indicator 72 are the same as those in the previous embodiment. In the conveying means of the present embodiment, a rail 75 is laid on the periphery of a hanging stand 74 supported at the upper end of a column 73, and a roller 77 provided on an upper portion of the hanger with a U-shaped hanger 76 fitted on the periphery. On a rail 75, a hanger cart 78 is hung below the hanger, and can be moved by being manually pushed. The hanger cart 78 is open on the picking worker side, and a container is placed in the hanger cart 78 and transported.

A container number indicating plate 79 is attached to the upper edge of the hanger cart 78. On the other hand, a housing 81 is fixed to the tip of a support bracket 80 which is overhanged from the hanging stand 74 and extends outward. The housing 81 is provided with a designated container number indicator 82 and a one-operation completion button 83. The container number display plate 79 attached to the hanger cart 78 passes almost immediately below the display portion of the designated container number indicator 82.

Therefore, the collation of the container number can be performed easily and reliably as in the above embodiment. The work of the picking worker P is almost the same as that of the above embodiment, and it is possible to eliminate the hand waiting time and improve the working efficiency. Further, since there is no drive mechanism for transporting the hanger cart 78, the cost is low and the degree of freedom in design is large.

In the above embodiment, the fluidized shelves are used for the racks. However, the present invention is not limited to the fluidized shelves, and other ordinary shelves may be used.

[0049]

According to the present invention, when each picking worker completes one operation of storing items in one container, the user can continue the operation on the next container by operating the one operation completion switch, and can perform other operations. It is less likely to be in a hand waiting state for a worker, and if they assist each other in work, the hand waiting time can be completely eliminated and the work efficiency can be greatly improved. Each worker can proceed with the work at his / her own pace, and it is possible to ensure the accuracy of the work without causing a picking mistake or the like.

Since the designated container identifier display is provided in the vicinity of the container identifier display of the container moving along the transport route, it is easy to collate both the display and whether or not both display the same container identifier. It is obvious at a glance that it is unlikely that the container that stores the goods will be mistaken.

Since the transport means does not have a drive mechanism, it is low in cost, has few failures, has a high degree of freedom in layout, and can be easily added or reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a transport picking operation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the same.

FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of a cart.

FIG. 4 is a main part side view showing a state where the bogie is mounted on a rail.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a rack.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a picking number indicator.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a transport path.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a control system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in one work area.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of a transport picking work device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the conveyance path of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of a transport picking operation device according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

P: picking worker, Q ₁ , Q ₂ , Q ₃ , Q ₄ ... worker, 1 ... transport picking work device, 2 ... transport path, 3 ... truck, 4 ... container, 5 ... rack, 6 ... dolly truck, 10… rail, 11… post, 12… horizontal plate, 13… vertical plate, 20… stand, 21
... Support plate, 22 ... Wheel, 23 ... Roller, 24 ... Pipe frame, 25 ... Stop plate, 26 ... Container number display plate, 30 ... Strut, 31 ... Reinforcement frame, 32,33,34 ... Flow shelf, 35 ... Horizontal flame,
36 ... Picking number display, 37 ... Quantity display part, 38 ... Reset button, 40 ... Post, 41 ... Housing, 42 ... Designated container number display, 43 ... One work completion button, 50 ... Host computer,
51 ... Floppy disk, 52 ... Control computer, 53
... Rack control unit, 54 ... Block control unit, 60 ... Transport picking work device, 61 ... Rack, 62 ... Picking number display, 63 ... Roller conveyor, 64
... Guide bar, 65 ... Container, 66 ... Container number display plate, 70 ... Convey picking work device, 71 ... Rack, 72 ... Picking number display, 73 ... Post, 74 ... Hanging stand, 75 ... Rail, 76 ... Hanger, 77 ... Laura, 78 ... Hanger cart.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A series of racks, each of which is divided into a work area in which each worker works and stores a predetermined item by type, and a predetermined item having a size that can be arranged in a plurality in one operation area. A plurality of containers to be put in, a transport means capable of sequentially moving the plurality of containers by hand along a transport route parallel to the series of racks, and a plurality of containers corresponding to articles stored in each of the racks of the rack. A picking number indicator for displaying the number of pickings provided; a container identifier display provided corresponding to the container and identifying each container by an identifier; and a container identifier of the container moving along the transport route of the transport means. A designated container identifier indicator provided for each work area in the vicinity of the display and used to designate a container for storing an article by a container identifier, and a designated container provided for each work area for one container by an operation of a worker. 1 work completion switch for notifying the completion of the work to be performed, and the articles to be put into each container and the identifiers of the containers placed on the transfer route are stored in the transfer order, and whenever the signal of the 1 work completion switch is given, the designated container in the work area Control means for simultaneously updating the display of the identifier display and the display of the picking number display so as to always correspond to each other.