阅读说明：本技术 拣选支援系统及支援方法 (Picking support system and method ) 是由 近藤昌晴 鸭志田亮太 吉武宏 于 2019-02-19 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供能够提高作业效率的拣选支援系统。拣选支援系统(1)具备：能够移动而且能够收容至少一个物品的多个货架(DS、SS)；以及对各货架的移动进行控制的控制装置(200),控制装置一边改变作业场所一边使如下的规定的一系列处理反复执行,直到分拣货架收容了规定的物品：使从各货架之中选择的分拣货架(SS)向从多个作业场所(WST)之中选择的作业场所移动,通过拣选作业使物品从选择的作业场所处配置的保管货架(DS)向分拣货架移动。(Provided is a picking support system capable of improving work efficiency. A picking support system (1) is provided with: a plurality of shelves (DS, SS) that can move and can accommodate at least one item; and a control device (200) for controlling the movement of each shelf, wherein the control device repeatedly executes a predetermined series of processes until the sorting shelf contains a predetermined article, while changing the work place: a sorting rack (SS) selected from among the racks is moved to a work place selected from among a plurality of work places (WST), and an article is moved from a storage rack (DS) disposed at the selected work place to the sorting rack by a sorting operation.)

1. A picking support system for supporting picking work, comprising:

a plurality of shelves capable of moving and capable of receiving at least one item; and

a control device for controlling the movement of each shelf,

the control device repeatedly executes a predetermined series of processes until a sorting rack stores a predetermined article, while changing the work place:

the sorting rack selected from the racks is moved to a work place selected from a plurality of work places, and an article is moved from a storage rack disposed in the selected work place to the sorting rack by a picking operation.

2. The picking support system of claim 1,

the storage shelves are selected from the shelves and arranged in the work place.

3. The picking support system of claim 2,

the control device repeats the predetermined series of processing until the predetermined article is stored in the sorting rack, based on predetermined instruction information that instructs storage of the predetermined article in the sorting rack.

4. The picking support system of claim 3,

the control device moves the sorting rack containing the predetermined article to a shipment location, and returns the sorting rack to one of the racks after the predetermined article contained in the sorting rack is taken out.

5. A method for supporting picking operation of a movable rack by using a computer,

the computer performs:

selecting a sorting rack from a plurality of racks capable of moving and receiving at least one item,

the article is moved from the 1 st storage shelf to the sorting shelf by a picking operation performed at a predetermined position,

moving the sorting rack to a next prescribed position,

the article is moved from the 2 nd storage shelf to the sorting shelf by the picking operation performed at the next predetermined position.

6. The picking support method according to claim 5,

the 1 st storage shelf and the 2 nd storage shelf are shelves selected from among the plurality of movable shelves,

the 1 st storage shelf coincides with the 2 nd storage shelf.

7. The picking support method according to claim 5,

the 1 st storage shelf is different from the 2 nd storage shelf.

8. The picking support method according to claim 5,

the computer moves the sorting rack from the predetermined position to the next predetermined position when the picking operation at the next predetermined position satisfies a predetermined condition.

9. The picking support method according to claim 5,

the computer moves the sorting rack from the predetermined position to the next predetermined position when the picking operation at the predetermined position is completed.

10. The picking support method according to claim 8,

the prescribed conditions are: a job completion estimated time, which is estimated to be a time required for completion of the picking job at the next prescribed position, becomes equal to or less than a prescribed threshold value.

11. The picking support method according to claim 10,

the computer calculates the estimated work completion time based on at least one of the number of articles to be moved from the 2 nd storage rack to the sorting rack by a sorting work, the type of the article, and the number of sorting destinations.

12. The picking support method according to claim 8,

the prescribed conditions are: the time until the job start estimation time at which the picking job is started at the next predetermined position is estimated to be equal to or less than another predetermined threshold value.

13. The picking support method according to claim 12,

the estimated work start time is calculated by using at least one of a time required for the 2 nd storage rack to reach the next predetermined position and a time required for the sorting rack to reach the next predetermined position.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a picking support system and a support method.

Background

Picking operations are performed by personnel in a warehouse or a factory. The picking operation is as follows: the staff collects the items indicated in the order from among the items being kept in custody, and sorts the items toward the shipment destination.

Conventionally, a worker walks in a warehouse in which a plurality of racks for storing articles are arranged, and takes out a predetermined article corresponding to an order from a rack as a destination. In contrast, in recent years, the following picking support system has been proposed: a rack for storing articles is automatically transported to a worker by an automated guided vehicle, and the worker takes out the articles from the rack (patent documents 1 and 2).

Patent document 1 discloses the following technique: in a logistics warehouse, a target item or a rack storing the target item is automatically conveyed to a picking station.

Patent document 2 discloses the following technique: in a logistics warehouse, a rack containing a target article and a box for sorting the target article is transported to a place of a worker by an unmanned carrier, and the worker performs a picking operation. After that, the rack is moved to the storage space in accordance with the event.

Prior art documents

Patent document

Patent document 1 specification of U.S. Pat. No. 8805573

Patent document 2 Japanese patent No. 5329431

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of the picking support system according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a situation in which the picking support system is applied to the warehouse.

Fig. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of the picking support system.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of a picking support method.

Fig. 5 relates to embodiment 2, and is a flowchart of a picking support method.

Fig. 6 is a table for determining a combination of a storage rack, a sorting rack, and a transport vehicle.

Fig. 7 is a table for managing the estimated time until the shelf becomes movable.

Fig. 8 is a table for managing the time required until the carrier reaches the rack.

Fig. 9 is a table for managing the time required until the shelf arrives at the work station.

Fig. 10 is a table for managing combinations of storage racks, sorting racks, and transport vehicles, and evaluation indexes of the combinations.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The picking support system according to the present embodiment stores items in accordance with an order while moving a sorting rack between a plurality of work stations. That is, in the picking support system according to the present embodiment, not only the storage racks but also the sorting racks can be moved, for example, in the warehouse, and the sorting racks are completed by moving the plurality of sorting racks and the plurality of storage racks respectively between the plurality of work stations provided in the warehouse and storing predetermined articles in the sorting racks. The work station corresponds to "work place", "predetermined position", and "next predetermined position".

As described above, in the present embodiment, the sorting rack (article storage rack) is first transported to a predetermined work station to store an article on the storage rack, and then transported to a next predetermined work station to store another article on another storage rack. In this manner, the sorting rack receives articles while moving between a plurality of predetermined work stations. The sorting rack containing the articles (predetermined articles) in accordance with the order moves to, for example, a delivery station, and the predetermined articles are taken out for delivery. The sorting rack from which the predetermined article is taken out is returned to a rack placement position provided in the warehouse. The storage racks are basically the same in construction as the sorting racks, but may also differ in shape or color, accessories, and the like. While it is conceivable that the sorting rack waiting at the rack placement location is normally in a state of not accommodating articles (empty state), many storage racks waiting at the rack placement location accommodate one or more articles. The storage shelf from which all the stored articles are taken out by the picking operation is empty until the articles are replenished.

As shown in fig. 1, the picking support system 1 is applied to a facility for storing and sorting articles, such as a logistics warehouse 1.

One area in the warehouse 100 is a shelf placement area (also referred to as a storage area). At the shelf placement place, a plurality of shelves DS, SS are provided so as to be movable. The shelves DS and SS have substantially the same structure, and include a receiving portion for receiving at least one article Gd. The 1 st rack among the plurality of racks is a storage rack DS that stores articles to be picked. The 2 nd rack among the plurality of racks is a sorting rack SS that stores articles.

Other areas within the warehouse 100 become work areas. In the work area, a plurality of work stations WST are provided. When one or more storage shelves DS and one sorting shelf SS reach the work station, the worker takes out an article from the storage shelf DS and stores it in the sorting shelf SS. The sorting rack SS moves between predetermined work stations until a predetermined article is stored in the sorting rack SS.

When all the predetermined articles are stored in the sorting rack SS, the sorting rack SS is transported to the delivery station SST, and the predetermined articles are taken out. The emptied sorting racks SS are returned to the rack placement.

The movement of the racks DS and SS and the instruction of the picking operation at the work stations are controlled by the control device 200. The control device 200 is configured by using a computer including an arithmetic device, a memory, an auxiliary storage device, an input/output circuit, a communication circuit, and a user interface device (not shown), for example. The arithmetic device executes a predetermined computer program called out from the memory, and realizes functions 201 to 204 as a picking support system 1 described later.

The control device 200 includes, for example, an order information acquisition function 201, a shelf information acquisition function 202, a transportation plan preparation and instruction function 203, and a work plan preparation and instruction function 204.

The order information acquisition function 201 is a function of acquiring order information from an order reception server or an inventory management system, etc. outside the figure. The order information is information for determining the kind and number of articles to be taken out from the warehouse 100 and delivered (shipped).

The shelf information acquisition function 202 is a function of acquiring information of each shelf DS and SS arranged in the warehouse 100. Examples of the information on the racks include the type of the rack (storage rack DS or sorting rack SS), the position of the rack, the number of the automated guided vehicles assigned to the rack, the moving speed of the rack, and the type and number of the articles stored in the rack.

The transportation plan preparing and instructing function 203 is a function of preparing a transportation plan defining when each shelf DS, SS is to be moved to which work station WST, and instructing an automated guided vehicle assigned to each shelf according to the transportation plan.

The job plan preparation and instruction function 204 is a function of preparing a plan of a picking job in each work station and instructing a terminal PC provided in each work station about the contents of the job. The job plan includes the following job contents: from which storage rack DS to which sorting rack SS, which item is moved at which work station. The contents of the work performed by each work station are displayed on the terminal PC associated with the work station. The worker transfers the articles between the storage shelves DS and the sorting shelves SS which have arrived at the work station, in accordance with the work content displayed on the terminal PC.

The above-described embodiment has the following features. That is, the picking support system 1 according to the present embodiment includes: a step S1 of sorting the articles from the 1 st storage shelf DS1 to the sorting shelf SS1 at the 1 st position (predetermined position) WST 2; a step S2 of moving the sorting rack SS1 to the 2 nd position (next predetermined position) WST1 by the carrier; and a step S3 of sorting the article from the 2 nd storage rack DS2 to the sorting rack SS1 at the 2 nd position.

Only when the predetermined article indicated by the predetermined instruction information (order information) cannot be stored in the sorting rack SS1 at the two work stations WST2 and WST1, the sorting rack SS1 is conveyed to another position (which may be referred to as the 3 rd position or another predetermined position) and the article is stored. The picking operation is not limited to 3 times, and may be 4-pass or 5-pass. The sorting rack SS1 moves among a plurality of work stations, and performs a sorting operation at each work station until all the designated predetermined articles are stored.

When a predetermined article is stored in the sorting rack SS1, the rack is transported to the delivery station SST and the stored predetermined article is transferred (step S4). Predetermined articles taken out of sorting racks SS1 are packed and shipped. The sorting rack SS1 from which the predetermined article has been taken out returns to the rack placement location and stands by (step S5).

In the picking support system 1, the 2 nd storage rack DS2 may coincide with the 1 st storage rack DS1 on which the sorting operation (picking operation) is performed at the 1 st position WST 2.

In the picking support system 1, the 2 nd storage rack DS may be different from the 1 st storage rack DS1 on which the sorting operation is performed at the 1 st position WST 2.

In the picking support system 1, when either the sorting operation at the 2 nd position WST1 satisfies the predetermined condition or the sorting operation at the 1 st position WST2 is completed, the sorting rack SS is moved from the 1 st position WST2 to the 2 nd position WST 1.

The prescribed conditions may be specified as: the estimated time required for completion of the sorting job at the 2 nd position WST1 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.

The time required until the sorting job is completed (job completion estimated time) may be calculated based on at least one of the number, the type, and the number of sorting destinations of the articles to be taken out from the storage shelves DS.

The sorting rack SS moving to the 2 nd position WST1 may be determined to be transported to the 2 nd position WST1 based on the estimated start time of the sorting job executed between the 2 nd position WST1 and the 2 nd storage rack DS 2.

The estimated moment of the start of the sorting job can also be used: at least one of the estimated time required for the 2 nd storage rack DS2 to reach the 2 nd position WST1 and the estimated time required for the sorting rack SS to reach the 2 nd position WST1 is calculated.

According to the present embodiment, the sorting racks SS1 can be transported between a plurality of different positions WST, and sorting work can be performed at each position WST. Therefore, in the picking support system 1 of the present embodiment, the efficiency of the picking operation can be improved.