JP4770738B2 - Sorting equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sorting facility that enables sorting of articles.

The sorting equipment includes picking equipment and assorting (classification sorting) equipment, and these are described in the “Background Art” column of Patent Document 1.
That is, the picking equipment, which is one of the sorting equipment, is equipment that sorts the articles stored in the sorting shelf (picking shelf) according to the sorting destination (such as a store), and the operator sorts the articles by shelves. In accordance with the display (information such as the quantity to be taken out) of the picking indicator provided for each article storage section, the articles are taken out for each sorting destination (user, store, etc.) For example, articles are collected (sorted) for each sorting destination by putting them into a collecting container for each sorting destination conveyed by the conveyor device.

  An assortment facility, which is one of the above-described sorting facilities, is a facility that sorts, for example, received articles for each sorting destination (store, etc.), and an operator can store an article container (bucket) in which the received articles are stored. For example, a sorting indicator provided for each article storage section is moved from the article container to each article storage section of a sorting shelf (storage shelf) for each sorting destination while moving the container by a conveyor device. According to the display (information such as the quantity to be input), the operator transfers the articles and collects (sorts) the articles for each sorting destination.

Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a facility for the purpose of allowing the operator to reliably collect the ordered products for each sorting destination as the above-described picking facility, backed by objective judgment. That is, in the vicinity of the picking indicator in each article storage section of the picking shelf, an ID tag storing data related to the sorting destination of the articles stored in the article storage section is provided, while on the wrist of the worker, When a worker stores a sorting destination being collected and includes a tag reader that reads the data stored in the ID tag when the worker approaches the ID tag, and the worker picks an item from the article storage unit When the sorting destination stored in the tag reader does not exist in the data read from the ID tag, the tag reader notifies a picking error, prevents an erroneous article from being taken out, and increases the reliability of the picking work. In addition, the picked article is put into a collection container for each sorter of the cart, but the articles put in the weighing unit provided in the cart are weighed, and the number of articles thrown by this weighing is obtained. Increases reliability.
JP 2006-050028 A JP 2006-232510 A

  However, in the sorting equipment (picking equipment) using the ID tag and tag reader, whether or not the taken-out article is actually put into the collection container (or the article is taken out from the article container) is determined by these ID tag and tag reader. Weighing articles put in by the weighing unit provided on the cart without using, and guaranteed by the change in weight, but measure the individual weight of the collection container (or article container) in this way Was expensive and impractical. Since the tag reader has an ID tag reading function (communication function), a power source is required, and therefore the shape and the weight become heavy. Therefore, it is not practical for the operator to actually wrap the wrist, and the picking operator There was a problem that it was unavoidable.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a sorting facility that can execute highly reliable sorting without burdening an operator and can suppress an increase in equipment price.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention includes a transport unit that transports a collection container into which articles collected for each sorting destination are loaded, and a transport path of the transport unit. A plurality of article storage units arranged along the line and storing the articles for each item, and a number display means provided in each of the article storage units for displaying the number of articles taken out. Sorting equipment configured to take out articles from the article storage unit based on the display of the display means and collect the ordered articles in the collection container for each sorting destination,
Provided in each of the article storage units, provided at least on the worker side with an antenna for the storage unit that transmits at least position data of the article storage unit to a range in which the articles are taken out from the article storage unit, The position of the article storage unit transmitted from the storage unit antenna when the storage unit antenna is approached is received, and the worker tag for storing and the approaching position of the article into the collection container are approached And receiving the stored position data of the article storage unit from the worker tag and transmitting the position data to each of the collection containers. An article storage unit that is provided with a container tag that receives and stores the position data of the article storage unit transmitted from the antenna, and that has been accumulated in the container tag from the collection container after collection. It reads the position data, by checking the item of collecting goods article by the position data of the storage compartment, and is characterized in performing an inspection.

  According to the above configuration, during the sorting operation of the articles, the number of articles to be taken out is displayed on the number indicator of the article storage section that executes the sorting work, and at the same time, the position data of the article storage section is transmitted from the storage section antenna. When the operator pokes his wrist into the article storage unit displaying the number of articles to be taken out, the worker tag is simultaneously struck and the article is taken out. Then, the position data of the article storage unit is received from the storage unit antenna and stored in the worker tag. Next, the operator puts the taken-out article into a collection container positioned at the article input position. Then, the stored position data of the article storage unit is read from the worker tag by the transfer antenna, and the read position data of the article storage unit is written and accumulated in the container tag of the collection container. The Thus, every time an article is put into the collection container, the position data of the article storage unit from which the thrown-in article is taken out is written in the container tag of the collection container. Type) is identified, and it is confirmed that the article is actually put into the collection container.

  The operator wraps the tag around his / her wrist, but the tag is merely a memory and is lightweight, so that the burden on the operator during actual sorting work can be suppressed. Further, it is confirmed that the articles are actually put into the collection container without executing the weight measurement, and the sorting operation from the article storage unit to the collection container is guaranteed, and the reliability is improved.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein alarm data is transmitted from the antenna for the storage unit of the article storage unit where picking is not performed, and the storage tag is provided with the storage tag. An alarm means is provided which operates when the alarm data is received from the department antenna.

  According to the above configuration, in the article sorting operation, alarm data is transmitted from the article storage unit that does not perform the sorting operation, and when the operator thrusts the wrist against the article storage unit that does not perform the sorting operation, At the same time, the worker tag is pushed in, alarm data is received by the worker tag from the storage antenna, and the alarm means of the worker tag is activated by this alarm data. By the operation of this alarm means, it is noticed that the sorting operation is being executed from the wrong article storage section, and therefore the sorting of articles from the wrong article storage section is prevented.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the number indicator and the antenna for the storage section are integrally formed, and the number display data is input to the number indicator. The position data is transmitted from the housing antenna, and the alarm data is transmitted from the housing antenna when the number display data is not input to the number indicator. Is.

  According to the above configuration, the position data or alarm data transmitted from the storage antenna can be put on the data to the number display unit, the signal line is simplified, and the number display unit and the storage unit antenna are integrated. Installation is simplified and installation space is reduced.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a weigh scale for measuring the weight of the collection container after collection, Checking items collected by the position data of the article storage unit stored in the tag, estimating the number of collected items from the measured weight, and executing inspection It is.

  According to the above configuration, the item (type) of the input article is specified by the position data of the article storage unit accumulated in the container tag of the collection container after the collection is completed, and the collection after the collection is completed. The number of articles is specified by the measured weight of the article container, and the inspection is executed by the item and the number of collected articles.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conveying means for conveying an article container storing an article for each item, and an article disposed along the conveying path of the conveying means and taken out from the conveyed article container. A plurality of article storage units that collect the items for each sorting destination, and a number display unit that is provided in each item storage unit and displays the number of collections of the articles. Sorting equipment configured to collect articles taken out from the article container to be transported based on the articles storage unit for each sorting destination,
A container tag that is provided in each of the article containers and stores data for specifying each article container, and is provided close to a position where the article is removed from the article container, and is stored from the container tag. A transfer antenna that receives the specified data of the received article container and transmits the specified data, and an identification of the article container that is provided on the worker side and transmitted from the transfer antenna when approaching the transfer antenna An operator tag that receives and stores data and an article storage unit provided in the article storage unit, and the specific data of the article container from the operator tag is limited to a range in which the article is put into the article storage unit. A storage unit antenna for receiving is provided, and specific data is stored in the article container received by the storage unit antenna of each article storage unit. It is characterized in performing an inspection of the closing article to the article storage unit by checking the items collecting goods article by chromatography data.

  According to the above configuration, at the time of sorting the articles, the number of articles input is displayed on the number indicator of the article storage unit that executes the sorting work. The displayed number of articles is taken out from the article container. Then, the specific data of the article container is received from the transfer antenna and stored in the worker tag. Next, the article taken out from the article container is put into the article storage unit displaying the number of articles put in. Then, the specific data of the article container is received from the worker tag and stored in the storage antenna. In this way, each time an article is put into the article storage unit, the specification data of the article container is written, whereby the item (type) of the input article is specified, and the article is actually put into the article storage unit. That is confirmed.

  The operator wraps the tag around his / her wrist, but the tag is merely a memory and is lightweight, so that the burden on the operator during actual sorting work can be suppressed. Further, it is confirmed that the article is actually put into the collection container, and the sorting operation from the article container to the article storage unit is guaranteed, and the reliability is improved.

  Further, the invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 5, wherein alarm data is transmitted from the antenna for the storage unit of the article storage unit in which articles are not collected, and the tag for the worker is An alarm means that operates when the alarm data is received from the antenna for the storage section is provided.

  According to the above configuration, in the article sorting operation, alarm data is transmitted from the article storage unit that does not perform the sorting operation, and when the operator thrusts the wrist against the article storage unit that does not perform the sorting operation, At the same time, the worker tag is pushed in, alarm data is received by the worker tag from the storage antenna, and the alarm means of the worker tag is activated by this alarm data. By the operation of the alarm means, it is noticed that the sorting operation is being performed on the wrong article storage unit, and therefore the sorting of the article into the wrong article storage unit is prevented.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 6, wherein the number indicator and the antenna for the storage section are integrally formed, and the number display data is input to the number indicator. The specific data of the article container is received by the storage unit antenna, and when the number display data is not input to the number display unit, the alarm data is transmitted from the storage unit antenna. It is what.

  According to the above configuration, the specific data or alarm data of the article container received by the storage antenna can be placed on the signal line of the number indicator, the signal line is simplified, and the installation is simplified by integration. Also, the installation space is reduced.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to any one of claims 5 to 7, further comprising a weigh scale for measuring the weight of the articles collected in the article storage unit, and the accumulated data. Confirming the articles put into each article storage unit by confirming the items of the collected articles, estimating the number of collected articles based on the measured weight, and executing inspection It is what.

  According to the above configuration, the item (type) of the input article is specified by the identification data of the article container accumulated for each article storage unit that has finished collecting, and the article that has been collected is further measured. The number of articles is specified based on the weight, and inspection is executed based on the items and the number of collected articles.

  The sorting equipment according to the present invention is configured such that the position data of the article storage unit from which the article is taken out is written and stored in the container tag of the collection container through the worker tag provided to the worker during sorting work. By reading the position data of the article storage unit stored in the tag for use, it is possible to check the items of the articles put in the collection container and to check whether the sorting operation has been executed correctly, that is, it is possible to inspect automatically. Has an effect.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a schematic layout diagram of a picking facility that is an example of a sorting facility according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and a storage line A in which articles to be collected are stored and a store that orders the items (an example of a sorting destination) ) Code that identifies the collection container in the empty collection container upstream of the collection line B. A collection container input area C is provided for performing an operation of attaching a container tag stored in advance (an example of information for identifying a collection container) and supplying the collection tag B to the collection line B at regular intervals. An inspection area D is provided on the downstream side.
"Storage line A"
As shown in FIG. 2, the storage line A is composed of a picking shelf 1 formed from a fluidized shelf, and has a plurality of (three in the figure) racks 3 inclined forward. Each has a plurality (three rows in the figure) of article storage sections (frontage) 6 for storing the storage containers 5 for the articles 4, and a free roller conveyor 7 is provided for each of the article storage sections 6. A stopper 8 is provided at the front end of the roller conveyor 7. With this configuration, a necessary article 4 is taken out from the storage container 5 locked by the stopper 8, and when the storage container 5 becomes empty, the storage container 5 is removed, so that the next storage container 5 comes to the front. come. In addition, for each of a plurality (three rows in nine rows) of the article storage units 6, a picking zone (an example of a picking work area) where a specific worker is in charge of picking work Z is N (a positive integer of 2 or more), Is provided. In the present embodiment, the No. 1 picking zone Z, No. 2 picking zone Z, No. 3 picking zone Z,.

  In addition, a picking indicator (an example of the number display means) 11 is provided on the front surface of each article storage unit 6 of the picking shelf 1. Each picking indicator 11 has a two-digit digital indicator 12 for displaying the quantity (the number of picked-up items) 4 to be picked, and a display / completion button 13 that also functions as a lamp and a button switch for indicating that there is a picking operation. The storage unit antenna 14 and a tag reader / writer (not shown) connected to the storage unit antenna 14 and transmitting the location (position data) or alarm data of an article storage unit to be described later. The communication range (transmitting area) within which the signal (data) transmitted from the storage unit antenna 14 reaches is the range in which the operator P can enter the front of the article storage unit 6 where the picking indicator 11 instructs the picking operation. The data is not allowed to reach the other article storage unit 6. The oscillation frequency is changed in the location of the article storage unit and the alarm data transmitted from the tag reader / writer connected to the storage unit antenna 14.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the worker P who performs the picking work in each picking zone Z attaches (carries) a worker tag 16 made of a passive tag to the wrist. This worker tag 16 is composed of two antenna patterns, an IC chip including a memory connected to one antenna pattern, and a lamp (an example of alarm means) 17 connected to the other antenna pattern. Depending on the configuration, the location of the article storage unit is written in the memory in response to a signal transmitted from the storage unit antenna 14 or a signal transmitted from the transfer antenna 28 described later, which is received in resonance with one of the antenna patterns. A signal (alarm data) transmitted from the storage unit antenna 14 which is recorded or read out of the location of the article storage unit written in the memory and received in resonance with the other antenna pattern As a result, the lamp 17 is turned on.
"Collection line B"
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the collection line B is disposed along the picking shelf 1 that forms the picking zone Z, and is driven by a roller that forms a constant path i that conveys the collection container 20 at a constant speed. A conveyor device (an example of a conveying means) 21 is provided, and an article 4 is provided to the collection container 20 that has moved along the conveyor device 21 inside (on the side of the picking shelf 1) for each picking zone Z. The input position to input is set. The collection container 20 is formed of a container, for example, and has a container tag 22 made of a passive tag attached thereto as described above.

  For each picking zone Z, a photoelectric switch 24 for detecting that the collection container 20 has moved to the loading position is provided at the loading position, and further toward the picking shelf 1 at the loading position, A loading indicator (an example of instruction means) 25 is provided. Each loading indicator 25 has a two-digit digital indicator 26 that indicates the total number (total amount) of articles 4 to be loaded into the collection container 20, a display / picking button switch that displays the completion of picking work, and a loading / unloading button switch. A completion button 27, a transfer antenna 28, and a tag reader / writer that is connected to the transfer antenna 28, reads data from the worker tag 16 via the transfer antenna 28, and writes data to the container tag 22. (Not shown). The communication range (oscillation area) to which the signal (data) communicated from the transfer antenna 28 arrives is the container tag 22 of the collection container 20 stopped at the input position and the worker tag 16 approaching the collection container 20. The communication range is limited to the range where communication is possible.

  The container tag 22 is constituted by an IC chip including one antenna pattern and a memory connected to the antenna pattern. With this configuration, the container tag 22 is transmitted from the transfer antenna 28 received in resonance with the antenna pattern. In response to the signal, the location of the article storage unit is written and recorded in the memory.

In each picking zone Z, picking work is performed on one collection container 20, and when the picking work is completed in all picking zones Z, the conveyor device 21 is driven and one collection container 20 is provided. The system is transported to a downstream picking zone Z input position.
"Inspection area D"
A weigh scale 29 is provided for measuring the weight of the collected container (collected collected container) 20 after the transported collection has been completed, and the container tag 22 of the collected container 20 placed on the weigh scale 29 is provided. Are provided with a tag reader / writer (not shown) for reading out the written code of the collection container 20 and the accumulated location of the article storage unit 6 and an inspection antenna 30 connected to the tag reader / writer. Further, an inspection indicator 35 including a green lamp and a red lamp for displaying the inspection result is provided in the vicinity of the weighing scale 29. When the green lamp of the inspection indicator 35 is lit, it is displayed that the inspection result is “good”, and when the red lamp is lit, it is displayed that the inspection result is “bad”.

FIG. 4 shows a control configuration diagram of the picking facility.
As shown in the figure, a picking controller 31 is provided for each picking zone Z, and all picking indicators 11, input indicators 25 and photoelectric switches 24 in the zone are connected to the picking controller 31. .

Further, a general controller 32 is provided to which order data including items (types) and quantities of the articles 4 ordered from each store is input. The general controller 32 includes a conveyor device 21 and a picking controller 31 for each picking zone Z. The weighing scale 29, the inspection antenna 30 (tag reader / writer), and the inspection display 35 are connected.
"General controller 32"
A code (an example of data for specifying a collection container) stored in advance in a container tag 22 attached to each collection container 20 is registered in the overall controller 32, and the overall controller 32 inputs order data. The code is assigned to each store and the container tag 22 is associated with the store on a one-to-one basis.

  Further, the overall controller 32 is registered in advance with the items (types) of the articles 4 stored in the respective picking zones Z, the weight of each article, and the location of the stored article storage unit 6. Sets, for each container tag 22 (corresponding to the sorting destination), how many items 4 of the item 4 are picked in which picking zone Z according to the order data, and picking data is set for each picking zone Z. Formed and output to the picking controller 31. The picking data is formed from the item and quantity of the article 4 to be picked for each code of the container tag 22. In addition, for each container tag 22, the collection is completed by adding the weight of the collection container 20 to the weight obtained by multiplying the weight of each article 4 by the quantity according to the order data and adding the weight. The weight of the collection container 20 at the time (referred to as an estimated weight) is obtained.

  Further, when the overall controller 32 inputs a picking end signal (described later) from all the picking controllers 31, the overall controller 32 drives the conveyor device 21 to convey the collection container 20 to the input position of the picking zone Z one downstream.

  In addition, when the integrated controller 32 inputs the measurement data of the weight of the collection container 20 that has been collected from the weighing scale 29, the general controller 32 executes an inspection operation. This inspection operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the measurement data of the weight of the collection container 20 is input (step -1), the tag reader / writer to which the inspection antenna 30 is connected is instructed to read the inspection execution data, and the inspection container 30 uses the collection container 30 to collect the collection container 20. The written code of the collection container 20 and the accumulated location of the article storage unit 6 are read from the 20 container tags 22 (step-2). Subsequently, the store (sorting destination) specified by the collection container 20 is obtained from the read code of the collection container 20, and the article 4 stored at the location of the article storage unit 6 is obtained (step-3). The store article thus obtained is compared with the store order data, and it is confirmed whether or not there is an error in the item of the article 4 (step -4). When there is no error in the item of the article 4, the estimated weight of the collected collection container 20 is compared with the measurement data of the weigh scale 29, and whether there is an error, that is, the quantity of the collected article 4 is determined. It is confirmed whether there is an error (step-5). When there is no error in the item 4 item and no error in weight, it is determined that there is no picking error, the green lamp of the inspection indicator 35 is turned on to end the inspection (step -6), and the item 4 item has an error. Alternatively, if there is an error in the weight, it is determined that there is a picking mistake, and the red lamp of the inspection indicator 35 is turned on to end the inspection (step-7).
"Picking controller 31"
The item of the article 4 is set in the picking controller 31 for each location (position data) of the article storage unit 6 in the picking zone Z that has jurisdiction in advance. When the picking controller 31 inputs the picking data from the general controller 32, The location of the article storage unit 6 that stores the article 4 of the item of the picking data is obtained, and picking data (referred to as changed picking) in which the item of the article 4 is replaced with this location. This changed picking data is formed for each code of the container tag 22 from the location and quantity of the article storage unit 6 that stores articles to be picked.

The operation of the picking controller 31 during the picking operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, when the picking controller 31 confirms the arrival of a new collection container 20 by the photoelectric switch 24 (step-1), it instructs the tag reader / writer of the loading indicator 25 to store the collection container stored in the container tag 22. The code of 20 is read (step-2), the changed picking data is searched by this code, the location and quantity of the article storage unit 6 storing the article 4 to be picked are obtained, and the picking indicator 11 at the obtained location is displayed. On the other hand, data including quantity, picking, and location transmission start is transmitted (step-3), and alarm data transmission start data is transmitted to the picking display 11 in a location not to be picked (step 3). Step-4).

  As a result, the lamp of the display / completion button 13 of the picking display 11 on which the picking operation is executed is turned on, the quantity of articles to be picked is displayed on the digital display 12, and the tag reader / writer passes the storage unit antenna 14 through. When the location of the article storage unit 6 is transmitted, the worker P's hand enters the storage container 5 of the article storage unit 6 based on the display on the picking indicator 11, and the article 4 is picked, the worker tag 16 The location of the article storage unit 6 is written in Also, alarm data is transmitted via the storage unit antenna 14 by the tag reader / writer of the picking display 11 at a location that is not the target of picking, and the hand of the worker P is placed in the storage container 5 of the article storage unit 6 that is not the target of picking. Upon entering, the lamp 17 of the worker tag 16 is turned on by the warning data, and the worker P is notified (alarmed) that the article storage unit 6 is not the object to be picked.

  Next, the picking controller 31 obtains the total amount of the articles 4 to be picked, and transmits data including the total amount and the reading start of the location to the input indicator 25 (step -5).

  As a result, the total number of articles 4 to be picked is displayed on the digital display 26 of the insertion display 25, and reading of the location of the article storage unit 6 is started by the tag reader / writer via the transfer antenna 28.

  When an operation signal for the display / completion button 13 of the picking display 11 is input (step-6), it is determined that the picking operation in the article storage unit 6 that has operated the display / completion button 13 is completed (step-7). The display of the digital display 12 and the display / completion button 13 is turned off, transmission of the location of the article storage unit 6 is stopped, and alarm data is transmitted (step-8).

  Then, the picked article 4 is put into the collection container 20 by the worker P, and the location of the article storage unit 6 is read from the worker tag 16 through the transfer antenna 28 by the tag reader / writer. When the location of the unit 6 is input (step-9), the writing of the location of the article storage unit 6 is transmitted to the tag reader / writer (step-10).

Thereby, the location of the article storage unit 6 picked by the tag reader / writer via the transfer antenna 28 to the container tag 22 is written.
When it is confirmed that all the picking operations are completed (when it is confirmed that all the operation signals of the display / completion button 13 of the article storage unit to be picked are input) (step 11), the display / display of the input indicator 25 is displayed. The display lamp of the completion button 27 is turned on (step -12). Next, when the operation signal of the display / completion button 27 is confirmed (step -13), the digital display 26 and the display / completion button 27 are turned off. The alarm data transmitted from each article storage unit 6 is stopped (step -14), and a picking end signal with the code of the picked collection container 20 and the number of the picking zone Z is output to the general controller 32 ( Step-15).

The operation of transferring data at the time of one picking operation by the picking controller 31 is as follows.
1. At the time of picking the article 4, the number (number) of articles 4 to be taken out is displayed on the number display (picking indicator 11) of the article storage section 6 that performs the picking work, and at the same time, the article storage section 6 is received from the storage section antenna 14. The location (position data) is transmitted.

  2. When the worker P thrusts his / her wrist into the article storage unit 6 in which the number of articles 4 to be taken out is displayed, the worker tag 16 is thrust at the same time, and the article 4 is taken out. Then, the location of the article storage unit 6 is written and stored in the worker tag 16 from the storage unit antenna 14.

  3. Next, the worker P puts the taken-out article 4 into the collection container 20 located at the loading position. Then, the stored location of the article storage unit 6 is read from the worker tag 16 by the transfer antenna 28, and the read location of the article storage unit 6 is written in the container tag 22 of the collection container 20. And accumulated.

The effect | action by the structure of the said picking installation is demonstrated.
The general controller 32 forms picking data for each picking zone Z and outputs the picking data to the picking controller 31 when order data consisting of the item and quantity of the article 4 is input from each store. The picking data is formed from the item and quantity of the article to be picked for each code of the container tag 22.

  Then, the conveyor device 21 is driven by the overall controller 32 when the sorting operation is started, and the collection container 20 attached with the container tag 22 from the collection container input area C is sent to the conveyor device 21 at regular intervals (interval of the picking zone Z). It is thrown. The input collection container 20 is conveyed to the input position of each picking zone Z by the conveyor device 21.

  When the collection container 20 is conveyed to the input position of the picking zone Z, first, the code of the collection container 20 stored in the container tag 22 of the collection container 20 is read, and the changed picking searched by this code Based on the data, the lamp of the display / completion button 13 of the picking display 11 is turned on, the number of articles to be picked is displayed on the digital display 12, and the location of the article storage unit 6 is transmitted from the storage unit antenna 14. . In the article storage unit 6 at a location that is not a picking target, alarm data is transmitted from the storage unit antenna 14.

  Further, the total amount of the articles 4 to be picked is obtained, and data including the total amount and the reading start of the location is transmitted to the input indicator 25, and the total number of articles 4 to be picked to the digital display 26 of the input indicator 25. The quantity is displayed, and reading of the location of the article storage unit 6 is started by the transfer antenna 28.

  Then, according to the display on the digital display 12, the picking work is executed by the worker P. At this time, when the worker P's hand enters the storage container 5 of the article storage unit 6 and the article 4 is picked, the location of the article storage unit 6 is written in the worker tag 16. If the operator P's hand enters the article storage unit 6 that is not the object of picking by mistake, the lamp 17 of the operator tag 16 is turned on and notified.

  When the picked article 4 is put into the collection container 20, the location of the article storage unit 6 is simultaneously read from the worker tag 16, and then the location of the article storage unit 6 is written into the container tag 22. And accumulated.

  When all the picking operations are completed, the display lamp of the display / completion button 27 of the input indicator 25 is turned on. When the display / completion button 27 is operated, the display lamp of the display / completion button 27 is turned off. The alarm data transmission is stopped and the picking operation is completed. A picking end signal with the code and zone number of the picked collection container 20 is output to the general controller 32. When the general controller 32 inputs this picking end signal from all the picking controllers 31, the conveyor device 21 is driven. Then, the collection container 20 is conveyed to the picking zone Z one downstream.

  Then, the collected collection containers 20 that have been collected in all the picking zones Z are transported to the inspection area D. In the inspection area D, the weight of the collected collection container 20 is measured, the code of the collection container 20 accumulated in the container tag 22 and the location of the article storage unit 6 are read, and the collection container 20 A store is specified by the code, an item of the item 4 is specified by the location of the item storage unit 6, and the order data of the specified store and the item of the item 4 are used to confirm whether or not there is an error in the item. If there is an error in the quantity based on the estimated weight and the measured weight of the collected collection container obtained in advance based on the order data of the store, the inspection indicator The red lamp 35 is turned on to indicate “defective”, and when there is no mistake in any of them, the green lamp on the inspection indicator 35 is turned on to indicate “good”.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, each time the article 4 is put into the collection container 20, the article storage unit 6 in which the thrown article 4 is taken out into the container tag 22 of the collection container 20. Are written and accumulated, the item (type) of the article 4 put into the collection container 20 can be specified.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, the worker P wraps the worker tag 16 around his / her wrist, but the worker tag 16 is only a memory and is light in weight, and thus becomes a burden during actual picking work. Can be suppressed. Further, by confirming that the article 4 is actually put into the collection container 20, the picking operation from the article storage unit 6 to the collection container 20 can be guaranteed, and the reliability can be improved.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, during the picking work of the article 4, alarm data is transmitted from the article storage unit 6 that does not perform the picking work, and the work is performed on the article storage unit 6 that does not perform the sorting work. When the operator P pushes his wrist, alarm data is received by the worker tag 16 from the antenna 14 for the storage unit, and the lamp 17 of the worker tag 16 is turned on by this alarm data. It can be noticed that the picking operation is being performed on the article storage unit 6, and thus the picking of the article 4 from the wrong article storage unit 6 can be prevented.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, the location or alarm data to be transmitted from the storage unit antenna 14 can be placed on the signal line to the picking display 11, the signal line is simplified, and the picking display 11 is connected to the picking display 11. The integration of the tag reader / writer and the antenna 14 for the storage unit simplifies the installation, can share the signal line and the power line, can improve the workability during the installation, and can reduce the installation space. it can.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, the item (type) of the input article 4 can be specified by the location of the article storage unit 6 accumulated in the container tag 22 of the collection container 20 after the collection is completed. Further, the number of articles 4 can be specified by the measured weight of the collection container 20 after the collection is completed, and the inspection can be completely automated based on the items and the number of the collected articles 4 identified. Further, only one weighing scale 29 is installed, and the equipment price can be reduced as compared with the case where a weighing scale is provided for each collection container 20.

  In the first embodiment, a weight scale 29 is installed in the inspection area D, and the number of articles 4 is specified by the measured weight of the collection container 20 after collection. Only the item (type) of the input article 4 is inspected by the location of the article storage unit 6 accumulated in the container tag 22 of the collection container 20 that has been collected without installing the weighing scale 29. You can also.

In the first embodiment, the location of the picked article storage unit 6 is written in the worker tag 16, but the code of the article 4 stored in the article storage unit 6 (specify the article 4 is specified). It is also possible to write the quantity of the picked article 4 and write the data written in the worker tag 16 to the container tag 22 for accumulation. At this time, the code and quantity data of these articles 4 are transmitted from the picking controller 31 to the tag reader / writer connected to the housing antenna 14 based on the picking data.
[Embodiment 2]
In the first embodiment, a picking facility is described as an example of a sorting facility, but an assorting facility may be used. That is, a store (an example of a sorting destination) where an order is placed is assigned to each article storage unit 6, and instead of the collection container 20, an article container 20 ′ containing articles 4 is conveyed by the conveyor device 21, Assume that the equipment 4 sorts the articles 4 from the article container 20 ′ into the article storage units 6. The configuration of the assortment equipment is the same as that of the picking equipment, but the picking shelf 1 functions as a shelf into which the articles 4 on which the assorting work is performed, and the picking indicator 11 serves as the assorting indicator. 4 functions as a display for displaying the quantity of 4, and the input display 25 functions as an assort display for displaying the total amount of articles 4 to be taken out from the article container 20 ′. Each picking controller 31 (functioning as an assortment controller) corresponds to the code of the article container 20 ′ (an example of data specifying the article container) written in the container tag 22 of the article container 20 ′ in advance. Thus, the code of the article 4 stored in the article container 20 ′ (an example of data specifying the article) is set.

Hereinafter, the operation when the assortment equipment is used will be described.
At the time of sorting work (assorting work) of the articles 4, the input quantity (number) of the articles 4 is displayed on the picking display 11 of the article storage unit 6 that executes the sorting work. The worker P takes out the article 4 of the input quantity of the article 4 displayed on the picking indicator 11 from the article container 20 ′ and puts it into the article storage unit 6 in which the input quantity of the article 4 is displayed. When the article 4 is taken out from the article container 20 ′, the code of the article container 20 ′ is read from the container tag 22 of the article container 20 ′ by the transfer antenna 28 of the loading indicator 25, and the operator tag 16 When the article 4 is put into the article storage section 6, the code of the article container 20 ′ written in the worker tag 16 is read by the storage section antenna 14, and the picking controller 31 is provided for each article storage section 6. Accumulated in. When the code of the article container 20 ′ written in the worker tag 16 is read by the storage unit antenna 14 of the article storage unit 6 where the assorting operation is not performed, alarm data is transmitted to the worker tag 16 and the lamp 17 is turned on to prevent erroneous insertion.

  Then, when the assorting work is finished, by checking the code of the article container 20 ′ for each article storage unit 6 accumulated in the picking controller 31, the item of the article 4 put into each article storage unit 6 is specified. Then, by comparing this with the order data, it is confirmed whether there is a mistake in the item of the input article 4. When the assorting operation is completed, it is possible to confirm whether or not there is an error in the quantity of the articles 4 put in by measuring the weight of the articles 4 put into each article storage unit 6.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, every time the article 4 is put into the article storage unit 6, the code of the article container 20 ′ from which the put article 4 is taken out is written and accumulated. The item (type) of the article 4 put into the article storage unit 6 can be specified. The item (type) of the article 4 is specified by the code of the article container 20 '.

  Further, according to the second embodiment, the worker P wraps the worker tag 16 around his / her wrist, but the worker tag 16 is only a memory and is light, and thus becomes a burden during actual assortment work. Can be suppressed. Further, by confirming that the articles 4 are actually put into the article storage unit 6, the sorting operation from the article container 20 'to the article storage unit 6 can be guaranteed, and the reliability can be improved.

  Further, according to the second embodiment, during the assortment work of the articles 4, the alarm data is transmitted from the article storage unit 6 that does not perform the assortment work, and the work is performed on the article storage unit 6 that does not perform the sorting work. When the operator P pushes his wrist, alarm data is received by the worker tag 16 from the antenna 14 for the storage unit, and the lamp 17 of the worker tag 16 is turned on by this alarm data. Accordingly, it is possible to notice that the assorting operation is being performed on the article storage unit 6, and thus it is possible to prevent the article 4 from being erroneously inserted into the article storage unit 6.

  According to the second embodiment, the code of the article container 20 ′ received from the storage unit antenna 14 and the alarm data to be transmitted can be placed on the signal line of the picking display 11, and the signal line is simplified. Integration of the tag reader / writer and the storage antenna 14 to the picking display 11 simplifies installation, enables sharing of signal lines and power supply lines, and improves workability during installation. Space can be reduced.

  Further, according to the second embodiment, the item (type) of the input article 4 can be specified by the code of the article container 20 ′ accumulated for each article storage unit 6 for which the collection has been completed. Inspection can be performed according to the item of the article 4 that has been selected. Further, by measuring the weight of the article 4 put into the article storage unit 6 after collection, the quantity of the article 4 can be specified, and the quantity can be inspected.

  In the second embodiment, the worker P takes out the articles 4 of the input quantity of the articles 4 displayed on the picking indicator 11 from the article container 20 ′, and the article storage unit in which the input quantity of the articles 4 is displayed. The flow of data when it is input to 6 can also be as follows.

  That is, when the worker P puts the article 4 into the article storage unit 6, the location of the article storage unit 6 is written in the worker tag 16 of the worker P from the storage unit antenna 14 of the article storage unit 6. When the display / completion button 27 of the input indicator 25 is operated at the end of the assorting operation, the location of the article storage unit 6 where the assorting operation has been performed, which is written in the worker tag 16, is transferred to the transfer antenna. 28 is written in the container tag 22 of the article container 20 ′. Then, by confirming the location of the article storage unit 6 in which the assorting operation has been performed, which is written in the container tag 22 of the article container 20 ′ in which the assorting operation has been completed, it is confirmed whether the assorting operation has been executed normally. be able to.

In the first and second embodiments, the hash tag is used for the worker tag 16 and the container tag. However, an active tag can also be used.
In the first and second embodiments, the lamp 17 is provided on the worker tag 16 as a warning means for the worker P. However, the lamp is not limited to such a lamp. A buzzer, a chime, or a liquid crystal display may be provided for notification (alarm).

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, one picking container 20 or article container 20 ′ is transported to each picking zone Z and the sorting operation is performed. However, a plurality of collecting containers 20 or It is possible to carry out the sorting operation by conveying the plurality of collection containers 20 or the article containers 20 ′ in the picking zone Z at the same time for the article containers 20 ′. At this time, it is necessary to install the loading indicator 25 for each stop position (the loading position or the unloading position of the article) of the collection container 20 or the article container 20 'in each picking zone Z.

  Moreover, in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, although the sorting destination is a store, it is not restricted to a store, For example, it can be classified by area and by area provided in the store.

It is a schematic arrangement drawing of the picking equipment which is an example of the sorting equipment of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a principal part side view of the picking equipment. It is a perspective view when an operator puts a hand into the article storage part of the picking equipment. It is a control block diagram of the picking equipment. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the general controller at the time of the picking operation | work in the picking equipment. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the picking controller at the time of the picking operation | work in the picking equipment.

Explanation of symbols

A storage line B collection line C collection container input area D inspection area P worker Z picking zone 1 picking shelf 4 article 5 storage container 6 article storage section 11 picking indicator 14 storage section antenna 16 worker tag 17 lamp 20 Collection Container 21 Roller Drive Conveyor Device 22 Container Tag 24 Photoelectric Switch 25 Input Indicator 26 Digital Display 29 Weighing Scale 30 Inspection Antenna 31 Picking Controller 32 General Controller 35 Inspection Display

Claims (8)

A transport unit that transports a collection container into which articles collected for each sorting destination are loaded; a plurality of article storage units that are disposed along a transport path of the transport unit and store the articles for each item; Each of the article storage units is provided with a number display means for displaying the number of articles to be taken out, and an operator takes out the articles from the article storage section based on the display of the number display means, and collects the articles for each sorting destination. A sorting facility configured to collect the ordered items in a product container,
A storage unit antenna that is provided in each of the product storage units and transmits at least position data of the product storage unit to a range in which the product is taken out from the product storage unit;
An operator tag provided on the worker side for receiving and storing the position data of the article storage unit transmitted from the storage unit antenna when approaching the storage unit antenna;
A transfer antenna that is provided close to the input position of the article to the collection container, receives the stored position data of the article storage unit from the worker tag, and transmits the position data;
Each container is provided with a container tag for receiving and storing the position data of the article storage unit transmitted from the transfer antenna.
By reading out the position data of the article storage unit stored in the container tag from the collection container after the collection is completed, and checking the items of the collected articles based on the position data of these article storage units, Sorting equipment characterized by performing Alarm data is transmitted from the storage unit antenna of the article storage unit that is not picked,
2. The sorting equipment according to claim 1, wherein the worker tag is provided with alarm means that operates when the alarm data is received from the storage antenna. The number indicator and the antenna for the storage unit are integrated, and when the display data of the number is input to the number indicator, the position data is transmitted from the antenna for the storage unit, and the number indicator The sorting equipment according to claim 2, wherein when the number of display data is not inputted, the alarm data is transmitted from the antenna for the storage unit. A weight scale for measuring the weight of the collection container after collection is provided, and the weight of the collected article is confirmed by checking the collected item by the position data of the article storage unit accumulated in the container tag. The sorting equipment according to claim 1, wherein the number of articles collected by the method is estimated and inspection is executed. A conveying means for conveying an article container storing articles for each item, and a plurality of articles arranged along the conveying path of the conveying means and collecting articles taken out from the conveyed article container for each sorting destination Each of the article storage units, and a number display means for displaying the number of the collected articles, and an operator from the article container transported based on the display of the number display means. Sorting equipment configured to collect the ordered articles by putting the taken-out articles into the article storage unit for each sorting destination,
A container tag that is provided in each article container and stores data for identifying each article container;
A transfer antenna that is provided close to a position where the article is removed from the article container, receives the stored specific data of the article container from the container tag, and transmits the specific data;
An operator tag provided on the worker side for receiving and storing the specific data of the article container transmitted from the transfer antenna when approaching the transfer antenna;
A storage unit antenna that is provided in each of the product storage units and receives the specific data of the product container from the worker tag limited to a range in which the product is put into the product storage unit;
The product container received by the storage antenna of each product storage unit stores specific data, and when sorting is completed, each product storage unit confirms the item of the collected product by the stored data. A sorting facility characterized in that inspection of articles input to is performed. Alarm data is transmitted from the storage unit antenna of the product storage unit where articles are not collected,
6. The sorting equipment according to claim 5, wherein the worker tag is provided with alarm means that operates when the alarm data is received from the storage unit antenna. The number indicator and the storage unit antenna are integrated, and when the display data of the number is input to the number display unit, the specific data is received by the storage unit antenna when the number display data is input to the article container. 7. The sorting equipment according to claim 6, wherein when the number of display data is not input to the display device, the alarm data is transmitted from the storage unit antenna. A weight scale for measuring the weight of the articles collected in the article storage unit, and confirming the articles put into the respective article storage units by confirming the items of the collected articles by the accumulated data; The sorting equipment according to claim 5, wherein the number of articles collected by the measured weight is estimated and inspection is performed.

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