JP2955243B2 - Picking order indication method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a system capable of performing efficient picking in a distribution system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Normally, a delivery order from a customer is made regardless of the product arrangement state in the warehouse, as shown in FIG.
Order information 50A, 50B, which is a combination of a plurality of 1A, 51B and outgoing number information 52A, 52B, is communicated to the warehouse using an online method or a fax method. FIG. 13A shows an example in which product name information is described by a product name, and FIG. 13B shows an example in which product name information is described by a barcode.

An example of a conventional picking order designating method in a warehouse will be described with reference to FIG. As the location information 16 of the location 10 which is the product storage category in the shelf, mixed notation of letters and numbers as shown in FIG.
Is used, when the order information 50 is received, the picking order is set for each product in order to make the picking routes non-overlapping based on the product storage layout drawing and the memo of the shelf number. Then, humans directly enter the information into the management personal computer while thinking with their heads, and this is repeated to create transient picking order data.

As another example of the conventional picking order designating method, when a bar code notation as shown in FIG. 3C is used as the location information 16, the picking route is set to a non-overlapping picking order. Using a code reader (not shown), the merchandise barcode and location barcode of the corresponding merchandise are read, and the read data is manually input to a management computer (not shown) or the like, so that the temporary picking order can be changed. Creating data.

[0005]

However, in the former example, it is troublesome to write down the storage layout of the goods and write the shelf number, there is a numbering mistake because the humans consider the picking order, and There is a problem that it takes time to input.

Further, in the latter example, a bar code reader does not read a product to be read, and an uninput error occurs. The picking order is mechanized to some extent, but the picking order is considered by a human. In addition, there are problems such as trouble in registration, occurrence of registration mistakes, and the need to rearrange the picking order from the beginning for each shelf in the case of additional registration of goods or movement of shelves of existing goods.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has been described in terms of a product barcode, which is positioned by the number of steps and the number of frames, is provided with first location information, and has a barcode. In picking a product at a place where a plurality of shelves with a plurality of shelves numbered with a shelf number 12 are arranged, the first product name information and the first product name information arranged in an arbitrary order are arranged. The order information consisting of the combination with the number of issues is obtained from the combination of the second product name information, the second number of issues, and the second location information, which are arranged in an order that allows picking without duplicating the picking route. A picking order instructing method for converting into picking order data, comprising:
(F) A picking order designating method is provided.

That is, (A) a step of preparing, in advance, in the management computer, a comparison table of a route group and a shelf number group capable of picking without overlapping the picking paths according to the arrangement of the shelves; (B) In a location at an arbitrary location, the portable computer-equipped bar code reading determining means, input the product storage information consisting of the shelf number of the location, the number of stages, the number of frames, the product bar code information and the first location information, Transferring the inputted product storage information to a management computer; (C) comparing the transferred shelf number with the value of a group of shelf numbers in the comparison table in advance and transferring the same to a matching shelf number; The stored bin number, the number of steps, and the number of frames are stored as a step, and the barcode information and the first location information corresponding to the step are arranged in a row and stored in the management computer. And, the step of creating a row table,
(D) Creating a block table by repeating the creation of the row table in advance, and creating a picking order master table in which the block tables are put together and correspond to a group of steps, a group of product name information, and a group of location information. (E) inputting order information to the management computer each time an order is received, and (F) inputting the first product name information of the order information and the picking at the management computer each time an order is received. Compare with the product name information group of the order master table, extract the matching row,
Next, the extracted row group is arranged so as to give priority to the younger row of the master table to form second product name information, and the second issue number information and the first location based on the first issue number information are arranged. Outputting picking order data in which the second location information based on the information is associated with the second product name information.

[0009] Further, the location information may be represented by a bar code, characters, and / or numbers.

[0010]

Further, in order to more strictly apply the picking order that does not overlap the picking paths, a step of preparing a comparison table on the management computer further includes a picking order condition for each shelf location. May be included. The condition may be that the picking order condition of the location group of each shelf is that picking is performed from top to bottom in the number of stages and picking from the smaller number given in the number of frames. In the above, the picking may be performed from the top to the bottom and the picking path may be picked from the younger one in the number of frames.

According to the above-described method, order information arranged in an arbitrary order can be automatically converted to a picking order that allows picking without overlapping picking traffic routes, and can be provided.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the locations of shelves used in the present invention. The shelf shown in FIG. 2 is partitioned into two upper and lower tiers, the upper tier is composed of three left and right frames, and the lower tier is composed of two left and right frames. For the sake of convenience, these partitioned cells will be referred to as locations 10, but in the example of this figure, the number of locations 10 is five. Location 10
Is called [1-1] for one frame and one frame, [2-1] for two stage and one frame, or “0101” for one stage and one frame.
The two-stage frame may be represented as “0201” or the like, and may be arbitrary.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the location information 16 based on the name of the location 10 and the like. For example, location information 16 as shown in FIG. FIG. 3A shows a case where the location information is written in letters and numbers 16A.
(B) is a numerical representation 16B, and FIG.
Is a bar code notation 16C. In these examples, “T” in FIG.
1 "is a shelf number, such as" 4 "in FIG.
"1" in the lower second digit is 13 steps, and "1" in FIG.
3 ”and“ 2 ”in the lower first digit of FIG. 3B are frame numbers.
The location information 16 needs to be known. In the following description of the embodiment, for example, if the two frames and one frame on the fifth shelf are directly connected and described as [521], the location information 16 is used.

As shown in FIG. 2, a product 17 is stored in a location 10, and a product bar code 1 is stored for each product.
5A is indicated. In FIG. 2, the product is shown only in the location [2-2], but the product is arbitrarily stored in other locations as well, and illustration thereof is omitted.

As described above, the merchandise storage data of each location 10 relating to the method of using the shelves in the warehouse includes the information including the shelf number, the number of stages and the number of frames, the merchandise barcode information,
And location information.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail according to the following [first procedure] to [sixth procedure]. [First Procedure] FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the management computer 40
In addition, a comparison table 41 between the route group 42 and the shelf number group 43 that can be picked according to the arrangement of the shelves without overlapping the picking paths is created, and the location 10 in the shelves is selected.
Is created.

First, an embodiment of creating the comparison table 41 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a route that can be used for picking without overlapping picking routes used in the present invention. In FIG. 4, nine shelves from No. 1 to No. 9 which are arbitrarily and well-known are arranged. The non-overlapping picking routes are determined as 15 routes that proceed in the directions indicated by arrows A to I when the picking start side is one shelf number. However, C ', D', E ', F', G ', H'
Are ignored because they are actually unpickable locations, so the non-overlapping picking routes are A, B,
That is, it is determined by nine routes of C, D, E, F, G, H, and I.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of the location arrangement of each shelf based on FIG. Fig. 5 (a)-
(I) corresponds to the nine picking routes A to I in FIG. The situation of the location 10 which is positioned by the number of steps and the number of frames as viewed from the front of each shelf is shown, and the picking direction is indicated by arrows A to I. In this example, the root side of the arrow means that the picking order is young. In this example, the numbering of the number of rows and the number of frames is such that the number of rows increases downward with the top row being the first row, and the rightmost row of each row is the first row, and the number of columns increases to the left. Was set in advance as follows. For example, [2] attached to each location 10
-1] means "two rows and one column". Also,
For ease of explanation, in this example, the location [6
12] That is, “W merchandise” is placed in the first row and two frames of the shelf number 6 (FIG.
(H)) Similarly, “X product” is located at the location [122] (FIG. 5A), and “Y” is located at the location [511].
Product "(Fig. 5 (f)), Z at location [421]
The goods (FIG. 5 (d)) are stored respectively, and FIG.
As shown in (g), “* Commodity” is located at the location [811] of the first tier and one frame on the 8th shelf, and “+ product” is located at the location [812] of the first tier and two frames. “#Product” is stored in the location [821], and “$ Product” is stored in the location [822] of the second row and two frames.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a comparison table between the route group and the shelf number group according to the present invention based on FIG. The meaning of the comparison table 41 is as follows. In the shelf number array of FIG. 4, as the routes that do not overlap the picking routes, for example, the fifth shelf in the shelf number group 43 has the sixth order in the route group 42 and the shelf number group 4
The ninth shelf in No. 3 has the fifth route in the route group 42, so the picking of the ninth shelf in the earlier order is performed first, and the picking of the fifth shelf in the later order is performed later. It means.

In the comparison table 41, the picking route for each shelf is restricted. Next, in order to more strictly apply the picking order that does not overlap the picking route, a step of creating a picking order condition for the location of the shelf is described in the following. An embodiment added to the comparison table creation step of the management computer 40 will be described. For example, comparing FIG. 5 (D) and FIG. 5 (E), in FIG. 5 (D), the frame number increases from right to left, and the arrow D indicating the course also goes from right to left. On the other hand, in FIG. 5E, although the frame number increases from right to left, the arrow E indicating the course goes from left to right. In this case, the picking order condition of the shelf location can be set in two ways. That is, the first method is for all shelves, and the steps are from top to bottom,
The picking order of each stage is picked from the smaller number of frames to the larger one, and the second method is to pick the order of the shelves from the top to the bottom on all shelves, and the picking order of each stage to the arrow indicating the route. In addition, each condition is that picking is performed from the younger one in the picking direction. The picking order conditions for the location of each shelf have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various types of shelves for more strict application, such as picking the first frame number from the top to the bottom, are used. There are picking order conditions for locations.

[Second Procedure] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a bar code reader with a portable computer used in the present invention, and FIG. 8 shows a hand input unit and a display unit of the bar code reader with a portable computer. FIG. 9 is a partial enlarged schematic diagram, and FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of the row table of the present invention. At the site of the location 10 arbitrarily selected, the bar code reading / determining means 20 with a portable computer shown in FIG. 7 stores the shelf number 12, the number of steps 13, the number of frames 14, the product bar code information 15 and the location information 16 of the location 10 Enter the product storage information 11 consisting of
Thereafter, the input product storage information 11 is transferred to the management computer 40.

Using each relevant diagram, the location 10
The method of inputting the article storage information 11 will be described in detail in the following procedures (a) to (g). The input procedure is as follows. (A) For example, the user carries the portable computer-equipped bar code reader 20 to the spot on the eighth shelf shown in FIG. (B) As shown in FIGS. 1, 7, and 8, the product barcode 15 of "* product" at the location [1-1] on the eighth shelf is read by the lead unit 21 of the barcode reader 20, and the barcode is read. While being stored in the computer unit 22 of the reader 20 and displayed on the product number input content display unit 23a,
The product barcode data 15 is transferred to the picking master station 30 using an optical communication method, and the corresponding product name "
* Commodity "is received from the master station 30 and stored and displayed in the product name display column 23b. In addition to the optical communication method, a wireless communication method using radio waves 電波 other appropriate methods may be used. 5 (g), 7, 8, and 9, the location information 16B of "[811]" assigned to the location [1-1] is manually entered with the input keys 23d of the computer unit 22, stored, and stored. This is displayed on the shelf number input content display section 23e.In this case, if the location information is 16C in the form of a bar code, the location information is read and stored by the lead section 21 and displayed on the shelf number input content display section 23e (d) FIG. , 8, and 9, as the shelf number,
"080", which is a deformation of "8", is input to the input key 23d.
And manually store it in the computer section 22 and display it on the shelf number input content display section 23e. “080”
The reason for the deformation is to make it easier to accommodate additional shelves. (E) As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, the number of stages is "1".
Is manually input with the input key 23d and stored, and is displayed on the step number input content display section 23f. The reason for the deformation is to make it easier to cope with an increase in the number of stages. (F) As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, the number of frames is "1".
Is manually input and stored with the input key 23d and displayed on the frame number input content display section 23g. The reason for the deformation is to make it easier to increase the number of shelves. (G) Product storage information 11 having the same configuration as the row data 46B shown in FIG. 9 is input to and stored in the computer unit 22 by the above local input, and when the input completion switch 23i of the computer unit 22 is pressed, the product storage information is obtained. 11 is transferred to the management computer 40.

[Third procedure]: In the management computer 40, the value of the transferred shelf number 12 is compared with the value of the shelf number group 43 of the comparison table 41 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the transferred bin number 12 and the
3 and the number of frames 14 are stored to form step 46A, and the input data of the product name information 15 and the location information 16B corresponding to step 46A are arranged and stored in rows to create a row table 46B.

At this stage, the route group 42 of the comparison table 41 shown in FIG. 6 becomes a shaded number, and the configuration of the shelf number group 43 becomes the basis of the picking order, and the shelf number group 43 that matches the inputted eight shelf numbers. The step 46A is registered at the shelf number 8 of the above.

[Fourth Procedure]: FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a block table according to the first method for creating a picking order condition for shelf locations according to the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a block table according to the second method. In the process of repeatedly performing the input, transfer, and creation of the row table 46B for all locations on the eighth shelf in the field, the picking order condition of the location of the shelf is used. In other words, as in the first method, in all shelves, rows are picked from top to bottom, and the picking order of each row is picked from a smaller number of frames to a larger number of frames. A first block table 46C as shown is created.

On the other hand, in all the shelves, as in the second method, the steps are from top to bottom, and the picking order of each step is picked from the youngest one in accordance with the arrow indicating the route. For example, a second block table 46D as shown in FIG. 11 is created.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the picking order master table of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the second method was employed. Thus, the picking order master table 45 as shown in FIG. 12 is created by combining the row table 46B and the second block table 46D obtained as described above. In the merchandise name information column 47 of the picking order master table 45, "W merchandise", "X merchandise", and "Y merchandise" which are stored in advance in FIG.
And "Z Commodity", and "* Commodity" and "+ Commodity" and "# Commodity"
And “＄ product” are stored. The description of the product name is omitted in the product name information column 47 in the other rows.

As described above, [Procedure 1] to [Procedure 4] are prepared in the management computer 40 in advance.

[Fifth Procedure] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of order information used in the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, the order information 50 is a set of product name information 51A, 51B and outgoing number information 52A, 52B. For example, “W product”, “X product”, “Y product”, and “Z product” are arranged in alphabetical order. , In order of each product,
Five, three, two, and four pieces of outgoing number information are combined. In this order, the customer arbitrarily arranges the shelves in the warehouse without considering the layout of the shelves. Each time the order information 50 is received, for example, these four sets of information are input to the management computer 40. FIG. 13A shows an example in which the product name information is described by a product name, and FIG. 13B shows an example in which the product name information is described by a product bar coat.

[Sixth Procedure] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of picking order data according to the present invention. The order information 50 is input to the management computer 40, and the product name information 51A of the order information 50 is compared with the product name information group 47 of the picking order master table 45 of FIG. That is, in the picking order master table 45,
W products are the 29th line from the top, X products are the 4th line from the top, Y products are the 20th line from the top, and Z products are the 13th line from the top. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the merchandise name information 61 can be arranged in the order of X merchandise, Z merchandise, Y merchandise, and W merchandise. Order information 5
Outgoing number information 62 corresponding to the product name information diverted from 0
And picking order data 60 in which the location information 63 diverted from the picking order master table 45 are arranged.
Can be output. In the warehouse, if the picked order data 60 thus output is carried and picked in the order described, the picking order is in a picking order that does not overlap the picking paths. At this stage, the numerical values indicating the above-mentioned routes and steps are shaded numerical values, and the person in charge of picking can pick only with the location information that he is familiar with.

As described above, the embodiment is not limited to this. When the width of the passage between the shelves is considerably large in a plurality of shelves, the zigzag path shown in FIG. There may be a straight route. In addition, the location of each shelf, the location information setting method and display method, the shelf number, the number of steps and the number of frames, the setting method and display method, the input method to a barcode reader with a portable computer, the portable Regarding each method such as a method of transferring data between the barcode reader with the type computer and the management computer, other methods can be sufficiently considered.

[0032]

As described above, in the present invention, the product storage information corresponding to the picking route that can be picked without overlapping the routes is registered as a picking order master table in advance, so that the products specified in an arbitrary order are registered. A picking order that is automatically converted to an order in which the order information input can be picked without duplicating routes using the picking order master table every time order information including a combination of name information and the number of shipments is received. Since the data can be issued, the picking order determination work is made much more efficient, and at the same time, it is extremely easy to cope with additional registration of shelves and movement of shelves of existing products.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining locations of shelves used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of location information used in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a pickable route used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of a location arrangement of each shelf based on FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of a comparison table of a route group and a shelf number group according to the present invention based on FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a bar code reader with a portable computer used in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged schematic diagram showing a hand input unit and a display unit of the bar code reader with a portable computer in the same manner.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of a row table of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a block table according to the first method of creating a picking order condition for a shelf location according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a block table according to the second method.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a picking order master table of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of order information used in the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows picking order data of the present invention.
It is a schematic diagram which shows an Example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 location, 11 product storage information, 1
2 storage bins, 13 levels, 14 frames, 15
Merchandise barcode information, 16 first location information, 20 barcode reading determination means with portable computer, 40 management computer, 41
Comparison table, 45 Picking order master table, 50
Order information, 51 First product name information, 52
The first issue number information, 60 picking order data,
61 second product name information, 62 second issue number information, 63 second location information

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A storage system comprising a plurality of locations 10 for storing products which are positioned by the number of steps 13 and the number of frames 14, are provided with first location information 16 and have a product barcode 15A, and In picking a product at a place where a plurality of shelves numbered 12 are arranged, order information 50 composed of a combination of first product name information 51 and first number-of-shipments information 52 arranged in an arbitrary order.
Is converted into picking order data 60 composed of a combination of second product name information 61, second outgoing number information 62, and second location information 63 arranged in an order that allows picking without overlapping picking routes. A picking order instructing method comprising the following steps (A) to (F). (A) a step of creating in advance a comparison table 41 between a route group 42 and a shelf number group 43 in which a picking route can be picked up in accordance with the arrangement of shelves in the management computer 40 without duplication; At the location of the location 10 of the location, the portable computer-equipped bar code reading determination means 20 provides the shelf number 12 and the
, The number of frames 14, the product barcode information 15, and the first location information 16 are input, and the input product storage information 11 is stored in the management computer 40.
(C) transferring the stored bin number 12 in advance
Is compared with the value of the bin number group 43 in the comparison table 41, and the transferred bin number 12 and the
And the number of frames 14 are stored in step 46A, and the bar code information 15 and the first location information 16 corresponding to step 46A are arranged in rows and stored in the management computer 40 to create a row table 46B. Process,
(D) The block table 46C is created by repeating the creation of the row table 46B in advance, and the block table 46C is put together and the step group 46 is created.
A step of creating a picking order master table 45 which is made to correspond to the product name information group 47 and the location information group 48, (E) a step of inputting order information 50 to the management computer 40 every time an order is received, and (F) Each time an order is received, the management computer 40 compares the first product name information 51 of the order information 50 with the product name information group 47 of the picking order master table 45, and extracts a matching row. The row groups extracted in the above manner are arranged so that the younger rows in the master table 45 are prioritized to form second product name information 61, and the second number-of-shipments information 62 based on the first number-of-shipments information 52 and the second Outputting the second location information 63 based on the one location information 16 as the picking order data 60 corresponding to the second product name information 61 2. The picking order designating method according to claim 1, wherein the first location information 16 is represented by a bar code. 3. The first location information 16 includes a character and / or
2. The picking order indicating method according to claim 1, wherein the picking order is indicated by a numeral. 4. The picking method according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating the comparison table 41 in the management computer 40 includes the step of creating a picking order condition 44 of the location of each shelf. Order instruction method. 5. Picking order condition 4 for each shelf location
5. The picking order indicating method according to claim 4, wherein 4 is that picking is performed from top to bottom in the number of stages, and that picking is performed from the smaller number given in the number of frames. 6. Picking order condition 4 for each shelf location
5. The picking order indicating method according to claim 4, wherein 4 is that picking is performed from top to bottom in the number of stages, and that the picking path is picked from the youngest in the number of frames. 7. The creation of the block table 46 C, claim 4 or claim 5 picking order instruction method according to, characterized in that using the picking order condition 44. 8. The creation of the block table 46 C, claim 4 or claim 6 picking order instruction method according to, characterized in that using the picking order condition 44.