JP4804744B2 - Picking support device and picking support system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a picking support apparatus and a picking support system for supporting picking work of an article.

In a warehouse or the like that stores various products, a picking support device is attached to each frontage of the product or a space for storing the product in order to pick up the product, and the picking support device is installed according to an instruction from the control computer. Picking support systems that turn on and display the picking position and the quantity of products to be picked mainly by light emission display have been widely used. As such a picking support device, for example, a sorting support device provided with a number display for displaying the number of pick-ups, a pick-up instruction light for instructing pick-up to instruct the pick-up of pick-up items, and a pick-up confirmation switch for turning off the pick-up instruction light. Display means are disclosed.

JP-A-2-270714

However, in the picking support apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when a large number of picking support apparatuses are arranged along with a space in which products are stored along a path where a picking operator performs picking, picking work is performed. The person needs to look for the picking support device that is instructing to take out light emission while looking front, rear, left, and right, and picking becomes inefficient or leads to fatigue of the picking operator.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a picking support apparatus and a picking support system that can reduce the burden on a picking operator and perform efficient picking.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows. That is, in the picking support system according to the present invention, a plurality of product sections are provided on both side edges of the picking path along the picking path, and each product section is provided between the picking path and the product section. The picking support system is provided with a picking support device, and each of the picking support devices is installed on the floor surface of the picking passage and is vertically long along the extending direction of the picking passage. A light emitting portion that is vertically long in the extending direction of the picking passage, and a display portion that displays the type and quantity of the item to be picked are inclined to the picking passage side, and The display unit is provided above the light emitting unit, and is a light emitting unit of a picking support device provided in a target product section to be picked. In addition to the target light emitting unit, the other light emitting units emit light from the target light emitting unit toward the front end or the rear end of the picking passage. Are emitted in a row, so that it is possible to recognize that the discontinuous portion of the light emitting portions that emit light in a row is the target light emitting portion, and the upper surface of the body of each picking support device is in the short direction Is symmetrical with respect to the center line of the cross section, and in the vicinity of the center line of the cross section and at both ends, the slope is a gentle curve compared to the middle part thereof, and the entire upper surface is a curved line, and each picking support The apparatus includes a switch unit that can be input by stepping, and the switch unit includes a tread plate and a rotating shaft, and the tread plate partially cuts out the top of the body of the picking support device. The pivot shaft is provided on the lower surface of the tread board and on the product compartment side of the picking support device. When the tread board is stepped on, the tread board pivots downward about the pivot axis, and the picking completion signal Is input and transmitted to the control computer .

According to the picking support system according to the present invention, in addition to the target light emitting unit, another light emitting unit emits light toward the front end or the rear end that travels back and forth from the target light emitting unit to the picking path. The light emitting unit serves as a guide light to the target product section, and the discontinuity of the light emitting units that emit light in a row can be recognized as the target light emitting section, and the picking worker can easily recognize the target product section, so that the picking worker's It is possible to reduce the burden and lead to efficient picking.

In addition, since the picking support device is installed on both sides of the picking passage on the floor surface of the picking passage, the target light emitting unit can be visually recognized regardless of the height of the line of sight of the picking operator. Becomes easy.

Furthermore, since the light emitting portion is vertically long in the direction in which the picking passage extends, the angle at which the picking worker can visually recognize the light emitting portion from the picking passage is increased, and the picking worker can easily locate the target product section. to reduce the burden of picking a worker by that can be recognized, and Ru can lead to efficient picking.

Picking support apparatus according to or the present invention is characterized in that for use in picking support system according to claim 1.

According to the picking support system according to the present invention, in addition to the target light emitting unit, other light emitting units emit light from the target light emitting unit toward the front end or the rear end of the picking passage, so that these emitted light emitting units are targeted. By showing the product section in the form of a guide light, the picking worker can easily recognize the target product section, thereby reducing the burden on the picking worker and leading to efficient picking.

In addition, since the picking support device is installed on both sides of the picking passage on the floor surface of the picking passage, the target light emitting unit can be visually recognized regardless of the height of the line of sight of the picking operator. Becomes easy.

Furthermore, since the light emitting portion is vertically long in the direction in which the picking passage extends, the angle at which the picking worker can visually recognize the light emitting portion from the picking passage is increased, and the picking worker can easily locate the target product section. By being able to recognize, it is possible to reduce the burden on the picking operator and lead to efficient picking.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The best embodiment according to the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a display method of a picking support apparatus according to the present invention. A picking passage 20 is extended, and a number J on which a product is placed is placed on the product section 30 provided on both side edges of the picking passage 20. The picking support device 10 is provided for each product section 30 on the substantially same plane as the picking path 20 between the picking path 20 and the product section 30. In the picking work in the present embodiment, the picking operator carries the weight J while proceeding in the direction of the arrow Y1 through the picking path 20, and the target light emitting unit 1A to be picked by the light emitting unit 1 of the picking support apparatus 10 is emitted. A so-called sowing seed is placed on the product section 30 provided with the item number, that is, the target product section 30A, based on the type, quantity, etc. shown on the display unit 2 provided on the picking support apparatus 10. Picking is performed.

In the conventional picking support apparatus 10, only the target light emitting unit 1 </ b> A emits light. Therefore, if the target light emitting unit 1 </ b> A is far away or the viewing angle is not optimal, the target light emitting unit 1 </ b> A is picked up by the picking operator. It is difficult to see, and the picking worker needs to search the target light emitting unit 1A while looking back and forth and right and left while going back and forth through the picking passage 20, and the searching work further increases the fatigue of the picking worker and reduces the work efficiency. It was something to do. Such an adverse effect becomes even more prominent when the line of sight of the picking operator is low.

In the present embodiment, picking from the front end or the rear end of the picking passage 20 is performed by further emitting the light emitting portion 1B of the other picking support apparatus 10 from the target light emitting portion 1A toward the front end of the picking passage 20. For example, the light emitting units 1B and 1A serve as guide lights to the target product section 30A, and the places where the light emission of the plurality of light emitting sections 1B and 1A cease can be recognized as the target product section 30A. It is easy to search for the target light emitting unit 1A, that is, the target product section 30A, even if the person's eyes are low. Further, even if the picking target is provided in a plurality of rows of the plurality of picking support apparatuses 10 arranged in a row, the target row is determined by the light emitting units 1B and 1A emitting light. At a glance, even in such a situation, it may be easy to search for the target light emitting unit 1A, that is, the target product section 30A.

It is preferable that the light emitting unit 1B of the other picking support device 10 that emits light is turned on until the picking operation to the target product section 30A is completed and a switch unit (not shown in the drawing) is input. The lighting may be always on, and only the target light emitting unit 1A is always turned on and the others are blinked to enhance the impression of the target light emitting unit 1A, and the light emitting units 1B are sequentially turned toward the target light emitting unit 1A. The direction in which the target light emitting unit 1A is located may be clearly indicated by performing so-called flow blinking that is turned on and off.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the picking support apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the picking support device 10 is provided in a product section provided along the picking path. The picking support apparatus 10 is installed with the direction α facing the picking path, and the longitudinal direction β is It is provided along the extending direction of the picking passage. In the picking support apparatus 10, an upper plate 51 is attached to the upper portion of the rail portion 52 with a screw B to form a hollow body 5, and the light emitting unit 1, the display unit 2, the switch unit 3, and the product section display are formed on the upper plate 51. Part N is provided. The picking support apparatus 10 shown in the present embodiment can be installed on substantially the same plane as the picking passage, that is, at almost the same height as the floor surface. The overall dimensions of the picking support apparatus 10 in the present embodiment are about 600 mm in the longitudinal direction, about 80 mm in the lateral direction, and about 25 mm in height.

The light emitting unit 1 is for displaying the target product section by light emission, and is visible from the direction α side and is elongated in the extending direction of the picking passage, and in the extending direction of the picking passage. By making it vertically long, the viewing angle from the picking operator who goes back and forth in the picking passage is expanded, so that the visibility is enhanced. The display unit 2 can display a five-digit number by light emission, and displays the type, quantity, and the like to be picked by displaying the number, and instructs the specific contents of picking. Since the switch part 3 is installed in the position close | similar to a floor surface, the input by stepping is enabled. The product section display unit N is a fixed one that displays a unique number assigned to each product section.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in the short direction γ in the AA cross section of FIG. The light emitting substrate 12 and the light emitting diode 11 attached to the light emitting substrate 12 are accommodated in the hollow portion 53 formed by the upper plate 51 and the rail portion 52, and the light emitted from the light emitting diode 11 is reflected on the upper plate 51. The light-emitting portion 1 is formed by transmitting through a translucent window portion 13 provided in a part. A plurality of light emitting diodes 11 are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction β by the length in the longitudinal direction β where the window portion 13 is provided. The light emitting unit 1 may emit light by direct light from the individual light emitting diodes 11, but may emit light indirectly using an edge light type light guide plate. In addition, wiring for transmitting power supply and control signals to the picking support device 10 is inserted into the hollow portion 53 of the drive unit 5.

Here, the upper surface 54 of the fuselage 5 is a curved surface approximating a single sine curve between the minimum values of the y value in which the lateral direction γ is symmetrical with respect to the cross-sectional center line C, that is, both ends of the cross-section are gently inclined. The slope in the middle from the both ends toward the cross-sectional center line C is slightly steep, and the vicinity of the cross-sectional center line C becomes a gentle slope again, and the entire upper surface is curved. When the picking support device 10 is arranged as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there is a case where the number J placed on the carriage from the product section 30 is drawn out to the picking passage 20 and conveyed after the picking operation is completed. At that time, the carriage gets over the picking support apparatus 10 in the short direction γ, but the upper surface 54 is shaped like this, so that the hollow portion 53 is widely secured and the carriage or the like as shown in FIG. When the wheel W is crossed over the picking support device 10 in the short direction γ, the initial load at the time of overriding can be reduced and the vehicle can be picked up smoothly, which can further reduce the burden on the picking operator. it can. FIG. 4 shows a state in which a wheel having a diameter of 50 mm gets over the picking support apparatus 10 having a height of 25 mm.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view in the transverse direction γ in the BB cross section of FIG. The light emitting display 21 attached to the control board 22 is provided in the hollow portion 53, and light emitted from the light emitting display 21 passes through the translucent window portion 23, so that the picking operator can use the display portion 2. Instructions such as the kind and quantity to be picked are given. Here, the display unit 2 is inclined to the picking passage side α, so that the display unit 2 can be compared with a case where the display unit 2 is facing directly upward to a picking operator who goes back and forth through the picking passage. Can be easily recognized. Further, since the window portion 23 of the display unit 2 is provided so as to be recessed from the upper surface 54 of the fuselage 5, the window portion 23 is damaged even when the wheel W is climbed over in the short direction γ described above. The degree of reduction in visibility is reduced.

Here, the angle at which the display unit 2 is tilted can be set as appropriate according to the height of the line of sight of the picking operator who goes back and forth in the picking passage. For example, it is installed on the side edge of the picking passage having a width of about 1 m. If the line of sight of the picking worker is about 1.3 m to 1.7 m, it is preferable to set the angle so as to face the line of view when the picking worker is at the center in the width direction of the picking passage or close to it. Specifically, it is preferable that the angle θ is inclined about 5 ° to 20 ° toward the picking passage with respect to the perpendicular S perpendicular to the picking passage surface in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view in the short direction γ in the CC cross section of FIG. The switch unit 3 includes a tread plate 31 and a rotation shaft 32. When the picking operator finishes picking in the product section and the tick plate 31 is input by the picking operator with the sole of the foot, the tread plate 31 is moved in the direction of the arrow Y2. A signal indicating completion of picking is transmitted to the control computer. On the upper surface of the tread plate 31, a non-slip convex portion 33 is provided.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the picking support apparatus 10 according to the present invention. 3 shows a cross-sectional portion similar to FIG. 3, but the entire upper surface 54 of the fuselage 5 is a curved surface that approximates a cycloid curve in the short direction γ, that is, the entire upper surface 54 is gentle and an inflection point due to a plane or the like is provided in the middle. The curved surface is not made. The curved surface formed by the upper surface 54 of the fuser 5 is such that the apex T of the curved surface is opposite to the picking passage side α from the center line C of the cross section, so that the display surface 2 and the like are provided on the picking passage side α. It has been made easy. Since the upper surface 54 has such a shape, it is possible to smoothly get over the wheel W such as a carriage when the picking support device 10 gets over in the short direction γ as shown in FIG. This can be done, and can further reduce the burden on the picking operator. FIG. 8 also shows a state where a wheel having a diameter of 50 mm gets over the picking support apparatus 10 having a height of 25 mm.

By connecting the picking support device according to the present invention to a control computer to constitute a picking support system, even when the picking support device is installed in a place where the light emitting unit is difficult to visually recognize, such as a picking passage surface, It is possible to provide a system in which the target product section can be easily recognized by the picking worker, the burden on the picking worker can be reduced, and efficient picking can be performed.

It is explanatory drawing explaining one Embodiment of the display method of the picking assistance apparatus concerning this invention. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a picking support apparatus according to the present invention. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is sectional drawing explaining the overcoming state of the wheel in the picking assistance apparatus concerning this invention. It is BB sectional drawing of FIG. It is CC sectional drawing of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows other embodiment of the picking assistance apparatus concerning this invention. It is sectional drawing explaining the overcoming state of the wheel in the picking assistance apparatus concerning this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Light emission part 1A Target light emission part 2 Display part 3 Switch part 10 Picking assistance apparatus 20 Path for picking 30 Product division 30A Target product division

Claims (2)

A plurality of product sections are provided on both side edges of the picking passage along the picking passage,
A picking support system in which a picking support device is provided for each product section between the picking passage and the product section,
Each of the picking support devices is installed on the floor surface of the picking passage and is vertically long along the extending direction of the picking passage.
A light emitting portion that is vertically long in the extending direction of the picking passage, and a display portion that displays the type, quantity, and the like of the item to be picked are both inclined toward the picking passage, and the display portion is It is provided above the light emitting part,
The target light emitting unit, which is the light emitting unit of the picking support device provided in the target product section to be picked, emits light, and in addition to the target light emitting unit, the front end or the rear end of the picking path from the target light emitting unit The other light-emitting parts emit light toward the light source, and these light-emitting parts emit light in a row, so that it is possible to recognize that the discontinuity of the light-emitting parts emitted in a row is the target light-emitting part. Made
The upper surface of each picking support device has a lateral direction that is symmetrical with respect to the center line of the cross section, and the slope near the center line of the cross section and at both ends is a gentle curve as compared with the middle part. The entire upper surface is curved,
Each of the picking support devices further includes a switch unit that can be input by stepping,
The switch portion includes a footboard and a rotation shaft,
The tread is arranged by cutting out the top of the head of the picking support device,
The pivot shaft is provided on the lower surface of the tread board and on the product section side of the picking support device,
When the treadle is stepped on, the treadle pivots downward about the pivot axis, and a picking completion signal is input and transmitted to the control computer . 2. A picking support apparatus used in the picking support system according to claim 1 .

Images