Method and device for conveying containers

Abstract

The embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a method and device for container transportation. A specific implementation of the method includes: obtaining the container number of the current container; determining the target collection list to which the current container belongs based on the container number of the current container; judging whether the target collection list meets the preset conditions; and determining the transportation mode of the current container based on the judgment result, wherein the transportation mode includes a pull mode and a normal mode, wherein the pull mode is to pull containers from the collected collection list and deliver them to the container conveying line for container transportation after all containers indicated in the collection list are collected in the preset temporary storage area, and the normal mode is to convey containers after all containers indicated in the collection list are collected on the conveying line. This implementation realizes the dynamic switching of container transportation modes according to actual conditions, thereby improving the efficiency of container transportation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of computer technology, and more particularly to a method and device for container transportation. Background Art

[0002] With the development of the e-commerce industry, the order volume and the corresponding commodity volume are huge, and the warehouse area is getting larger and larger. How to pick, pack and deliver the goods to customers in a timely manner according to the order in an area of ​​tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of square meters has become the top priority to ensure timeliness and improve customer experience.

[0003] Currently, before packaging and shipping a goods order, a container corresponding to the collection list of the goods order can be transported to a designated location using a conveyor line, and then the items included in the goods order can be packaged and shipped using the transported container.

[0004] In the related art, for any assembly order, the container corresponding to the assembly order is bound to the normal mode or the pull mode according to the task type of the assembly order. For an assembly order of a certain task type, the container delivery mode cannot be dynamically switched according to the actual situation of the conveyor line. Summary of the invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method, a method and a device for container transportation.

[0006] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for container conveying, the method comprising: obtaining a container number of a current container; determining a target collection list to which the current container belongs based on the container number of the current container; judging whether the target collection list meets a preset condition; and determining a conveying mode for the current container based on the judgment result, wherein the conveying mode comprises a pull mode and a normal mode, the pull mode is to pull containers from the collected collection list and deliver them to a container conveying line for container conveying after all containers indicated in the collection list are collected in a preset temporary storage area, and the normal mode is to convey containers after all containers indicated in the collection list are collected on the conveying line.

[0007] In some embodiments, the conveying mode of the current container is determined based on the judgment result, including: if the target collection list meets the preset conditions, the conveying mode of the current container is determined to be the pull mode; if the target collection list does not meet the preset conditions, the conveying mode of the current container is determined to be the normal mode.

[0008] In some embodiments, before determining whether the target set list meets a preset condition, the method further includes: in response to determining that a previous container adjacent to the current container belongs to the target set list, determining the conveying mode of the previous container as the conveying mode of the current container.

[0009] In some embodiments, the preset condition includes: the current container is in an open state in the temporary storage area and the delivery mode is determined.

[0010] In some embodiments, the preset condition includes: the sum of the quantities of containers indicated by the target set list is greater than a preset threshold.

[0011] In some embodiments, the preset condition includes: the time difference between the current time and the set list cutoff time indicated by the target set list is less than a first preset time difference.

[0012] In some embodiments, the preset condition further includes: determining the conveying mode when the storage volume of the current container in the temporary storage area is less than a warning value.

[0013] In some embodiments, determining the conveying mode of the current container based on the judgment result includes: determining that the conveying mode of the current container is a pull mode based on the judgment result; in response to determining that all containers in the target collection list have been stored in the temporary storage area, judging whether the difference between the current time and the deadline indicated by the target collection list is less than a second preset time difference; if so, sending a first control instruction, the first control instruction is used to instruct all containers indicated by the target collection list to be delivered to an idle container conveying line; if not, sending a second control instruction, the second control instruction is used to instruct to pull containers from the containers indicated by the target collection list and deliver them to empty positions on the container conveying line.

[0014] In some embodiments, obtaining the container number of the current container further includes: controlling a preset barcode scanner to collect the container number of the current container; and obtaining the container number of the current container from the barcode scanner.

[0015] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a container conveying device, the device comprising: an acquisition unit, configured to acquire the container number of the current container; a target collection list determination unit, configured to determine the target collection list to which the current container belongs based on the container number of the current container; a judgment unit, configured to judge whether the target collection list meets a preset condition; a conveying mode determination unit, configured to determine the conveying mode of the current container based on the judgment result, wherein the conveying mode includes a pull mode and a normal mode, the pull mode is to pull containers from the collected collection list after all containers indicated in the collection list are collected in a preset temporary storage area and deliver them to the container conveying line for container conveying, and the normal mode is to convey containers after all containers indicated in the collection list are collected on the conveying line.

[0016] In some embodiments, the transport mode determination unit is further configured to: if the target set list meets the preset conditions, determine the transport mode of the current container as the pull mode; if the target set list does not meet the preset conditions, determine the transport mode of the current container as the normal mode.

[0017] In some embodiments, the device further includes: a first determining unit configured to, in response to determining that a previous container adjacent to the current container belongs to the target set list, determine the conveying mode of the previous container as the conveying mode of the current container.

[0018] In some embodiments, the preset condition includes: the current container is in an open state in the temporary storage area and the delivery mode is determined.

[0019] In some embodiments, the preset condition includes: the sum of the quantities of containers indicated by the target set list is greater than a preset threshold.

[0020] In some embodiments, the preset condition includes: the time difference between the current time and the set list cutoff time indicated by the target set list is less than a first preset time difference.

[0021] In some embodiments, the preset condition further includes: determining the conveying mode when the storage volume of the current container in the temporary storage area is less than a warning value.

[0022] In some embodiments, the delivery mode determination unit is further configured to: determine that the delivery mode of the current container is a pull mode based on the judgment result; in response to determining that all containers in the target collection list have been stored in the temporary storage area, determine whether the difference between the current time and the deadline indicated by the target collection list is less than a second preset time difference; if so, send a first control instruction, the first control instruction is used to instruct all containers indicated by the target collection list to be delivered to an idle container conveying line; if not, send a second control instruction, the second control instruction is used to instruct to pull containers from the containers indicated by the target collection list and deliver them to the empty positions on the container conveying line.

[0023] In some embodiments, the acquisition unit is further configured to: control a preset barcode scanner to collect the container number of the current container; and acquire the container number of the current container from the barcode scanner.

[0024] The container conveying method and device provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure obtain the container number of the current container, and based on the container number of the current container, determine the target collection list to which the current container belongs, and then judge whether the target collection list meets the preset conditions, and determine the input method of the current container based on the judgment result, thereby avoiding the situation where the collection list of the same task type can only use one of the pull mode or the normal mode for container conveying, so that the target collection list can dynamically switch the container conveying mode according to the actual situation, thereby improving the efficiency of container conveying. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Other features, objects and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description of non-limiting embodiments made with reference to the following drawings:

[0026] Figure 1is an exemplary system architecture diagram in which some embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied;

[0027] Figure 2 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method for container delivery according to the present disclosure;

[0028] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of the method for conveying containers according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] Figure 4 is a flow chart of another embodiment of a method for conveying a container according to the present disclosure;

[0030] Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of a container conveying device according to the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device suitable for implementing the embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The present disclosure is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It is to be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the relevant invention, rather than to limit the invention. It is also necessary to explain that, for ease of description, only the parts related to the relevant invention are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0033] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be combined with each other. The present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and in combination with the embodiments.

[0034] Figure 1 An exemplary system architecture 100 is shown to which the container delivery method or container delivery apparatus according to the embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied.

[0035] like Figure 1 As shown, the system architecture 100 may include signal receiving devices 101, 102, 103, a network 104, and a server 105. The network 104 is used to provide a medium for communication links between the signal receiving devices 101, 102, 103 and the server 105. The network 104 may include various connection types, such as wired, wireless communication links, or optical fiber cables, etc.

[0036] The signal receiving devices 101, 102, and 103 can interact with the server 105 through the network 104 to receive or send signals, etc. The signal receiving devices 101, 102, and 103 can be various devices that receive signals from the server 105, such as a container conveyor line for conveying containers, a barcode scanner for collecting container numbers, and a photoelectric device for monitoring the idle state of the container conveyor line. It can be understood that according to the actual needs of the warehouse, other signal receiving devices can also be set in the system architecture 100, such as a handling robot, etc., which are not specifically limited here.

[0037] The server 105 may be a server that provides various services for a warehouse management system (WMS) and a warehouse control system (WCS), such as a backend server for determining the conveying mode of the current container in the warehouse. The backend server may analyze and process the data such as the container number of the current container sent by the signal receiving devices 101, 102, and 103, and process the current container according to the obtained processing result (for example, the determined conveying mode of the current container).

[0038] It should be noted that the container conveying method provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure may be executed by the server 105. Accordingly, the container conveying device may also be disposed in the server 105.

[0039] It should be noted that the server can be hardware or software. When the server is hardware, it can be implemented as a distributed server cluster consisting of multiple servers, or it can be implemented as a single server. When the server is software, it can be implemented as multiple software or software modules for providing distributed services, or it can be implemented as a single software or software module. No specific limitation is made here.

[0040] It should be understood that Figure 1 The number of signal receiving devices, networks and servers in the embodiment is only for illustration. Any number of signal receiving devices, networks and servers may be provided according to implementation requirements.

[0041] Continue to refer Figure 2 , shows a process 200 of an embodiment of a method for conveying containers according to the present disclosure. The method for conveying containers comprises the following steps:

[0042] Step 201, obtaining the container number of the current container.

[0043] In this embodiment, the execution body of the container delivery method (for example Figure 1The server shown) can obtain the container number of the current container through a wired connection or a wireless connection. Here, the container can be an object cached on a shelf and transported as a whole during the warehousing or outbound process. The container is often associated with a collection list. As an example, the container can be a box used for packaging or encapsulating items. The collection list can be an information collection of containers required for packaging or encapsulating items indicated in a goods order, or the collection list can also be an information collection of containers required for packaging or encapsulating items indicated in a goods order collection. The above-mentioned collection list may include at least one container number of a container used to package or encapsulate the items indicated in the corresponding goods order. Further, the above-mentioned execution entity can obtain the container number of the current container in various ways. As an example, the above-mentioned execution entity can obtain the container number input by the user from the terminal where the user is located.

[0044] It should be noted that the above-mentioned wireless connection methods may include but are not limited to 3G / 4G connection, WiFi connection, Bluetooth connection, WiMAX connection, Zigbee connection, UWB (ultra wideband) connection, and other wireless connection methods currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0045] In some optional implementations of this embodiment, identification information such as a QR code may be pre-set on the container. The identification information may be unique and may represent the container number of the container. The execution subject may control a pre-set barcode scanner to scan the QR code or other identification on the current container, thereby acquiring the container number of the current container. The barcode scanner may then upload the acquired container number of the current container, so that the execution subject may acquire the container number of the current container from the barcode scanner.

[0046] Generally, when the warehouse management system WMS sends the collection order task to the warehouse control system WCS, the containers included in the collection order can be delivered to the container conveyor line. Therefore, after the container is delivered to the container conveyor line, the WCS system can select a suitable conveying method for the container to be conveyed according to the actual situation. The container conveying method in this embodiment can make each conveying method work together, thereby improving the efficiency of container conveying.

[0047] Step 202: Based on the container number of the current container, determine the target collection list to which the current container belongs.

[0048] In this embodiment, based on the container number of the current container obtained in step 201, the execution subject (for example Figure 1 The server shown in FIG. 1 may determine the set list to which the current container belongs, and determine the set list as the target set list. It is understandable that a set list may generally include container numbers of multiple containers.

[0049] Step 203, determining whether the target set list meets the preset conditions.

[0050] In this embodiment, the above-mentioned execution entity can pre-set preset conditions for determining the transportation mode of the containers in the collection list. The preset conditions here can be set according to the needs of the actual situation, and the preset conditions can be added, deleted or modified later. Based on the target collection list determined in step 202, the above-mentioned execution entity can dynamically calculate the relevant information in the target collection list, so as to determine whether the target collection list meets the preset conditions. As an example, for a collection list that requires priority transportation processing, the containers in the collection list can be set with expedited identification information before being delivered to the conveyor line. At this time, the above-mentioned execution entity can determine whether the current container indicated in the target collection list has an expedited identification. The above-mentioned preset condition is that the container indicated by the collection list has an expedited identification.

[0051] Step 204, determining the conveying mode of the current container based on the judgment result.

[0052] In this embodiment, based on the judgment result obtained in step 203, the above-mentioned execution subject can determine the specific conveying mode of the current container. Here, the conveying mode of the current container may include a pull mode and a normal mode. Among them, the pull mode can be to pull the container from the collected collection list and deliver it to the container conveying line for container conveying after all the containers indicated in the collection list are collected in the preset temporary storage area, and the normal mode can be to directly collect all the containers indicated in the collection list on the conveying line and then convey the container.

[0053] In some optional implementations of this embodiment, if the target collection list meets the preset conditions, the execution subject may determine the conveying mode of the current container as the pull mode. If the target collection list does not meet the preset conditions, the execution subject may determine the conveying mode of the current container as the normal mode.

[0054] It is understandable that for each container delivered to the conveyor line, the execution entity can obtain the corresponding container number, so the execution entity can determine whether all containers indicated by the collection list have been collected through the obtained container numbers.

[0055] Usually, for a collection list determined as a pull mode, each container in the collection list can be stored in a temporary storage area (such as a shelf, etc.) in advance. When a vacant space appears on the conveyor line, the container in the same collection list in the temporary storage area can be delivered to the vacant space until all the containers in the collection list are gathered and the container is transported. Here, a photoelectric device for real-time monitoring of vacancies can be configured in advance for the pull mode, so that when a vacant space appears on the conveyor line, the containers in the same collection list can be quickly delivered to the vacant space. It can be seen that the pull mode can set a pre-placed temporary storage area. After the containers in the collection list are gathered in the temporary storage area, the containers are transported in sequence according to the number of vacancies in the conveyor line. The containers do not need to wait on the conveyor line, thereby improving the container transportation efficiency of the conveyor line. However, the use of the pull mode to transport containers may cause problems such as container backlogs in the temporary storage area or failures in the temporary storage area, thereby affecting the container transportation efficiency.

[0056] For a collection list determined as normal mode, container transportation can be carried out after all containers in the collection list are gathered on the conveyor line. Therefore, before the containers in the collection list are gathered, each container needs to wait on the conveyor line. Here, hardware buttons and lights can be pre-configured for normal mode. When all containers in the collection list are gathered, the lights will turn on, and then the buttons can be manually controlled to turn off the lights and all containers in the collection list will be transported. Compared with the above-mentioned pull mode, the normal mode does not require the setting of a temporary storage area, the container transportation method is simpler, and the warehouse floor space can be reduced. However, when transporting containers in a collection list in normal mode, it is necessary to wait on the conveyor line for the collection list to gather all the containers, which takes a long time and is inefficient.

[0057] After analysis, it can be seen that the containers in the normal mode or pull mode conveying collection orders often have their own advantages and disadvantages. In the prior art, a certain type of collection order is often directly bound to the container input method of the normal mode or pull mode. When the WCS system receives the collection order task, it can directly determine the conveying method of the container indicated by the collection order according to the type of the collection order. There is no process for pre-set condition judgment. The prior art cannot achieve the coordinated work of various container conveying methods, and cannot dynamically switch the container transportation method according to actual conditions, resulting in low container conveying efficiency. However, the container conveying method in the present disclosure can determine whether the target set meets the preset conditions before confirming the conveying method of the current container, so that the conveying method of the container indicated by the target collection order can be determined according to actual conditions, so that the normal mode and the pull mode can work together, thereby improving the container conveying efficiency.

[0058] Continue to see Figure 3 , Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of the container delivery method according to this embodiment. Figure 3In the application scenario, for the current container whose conveying mode is to be determined, a pre-set scanner is used to collect the container number of the current container, such as Figure 3 As shown; the server where the WCS system is located can obtain the container number of the current container, and determine the target collection list of the current container based on the container number of the current container; then, the server where the WCS system is located can determine whether the target collection list meets the preset conditions; finally, the server where the WCS system is located can determine the specific transportation method of the current container based on the judgment result, such as Figure 3 As shown, so that the conveying line can convey the current container according to the determined conveying mode.

[0059] The container conveying method provided by the above-mentioned embodiment of the present disclosure obtains the container number of the current container, and based on the container number of the current container, it can determine the target collection list to which the current container belongs, and then judge whether the target collection list meets the preset conditions, and determine the input method of the current container based on the judgment result, thereby avoiding the situation where the collection list of the same task type can only use one of the pull mode or the normal mode for container conveying, so that the target collection list can dynamically switch the container conveying mode according to the actual situation, thereby improving the efficiency of container conveying.

[0060] Further references Figure 4 , which shows a process 400 of another embodiment of a method for container transportation. The process 400 of the method for container transportation includes the following steps:

[0061] Step 401, obtaining the container number of the current container.

[0062] In this embodiment, in this embodiment, the execution subject of the container delivery method (for example Figure 1 The server shown in the figure) can obtain the container number of the current container through a wired connection or a wireless connection. Here, the container can be an object cached on a shelf and transported as a whole during the warehousing or outbound process. The container is often associated with a collection list. As an example, the container can be a box used for packaging or encapsulating items. The collection list can be an information collection of containers required for packaging or encapsulating items indicated in a cargo order, or the collection list can also be an information collection of containers required for packaging or encapsulating items indicated in a cargo order collection. The above-mentioned collection list may include the container number of at least one container used to package or encapsulate the items indicated in the corresponding cargo order.

[0063] Step 402: Determine the target collection list to which the current container belongs based on the container number of the current container.

[0064] In this embodiment, based on the container number of the current container obtained in step 401, the execution subject (for example Figure 1The server shown in FIG. 1 may determine the set list to which the current container belongs, and determine the set list as the target set list. It is understandable that a set list may generally include container numbers of multiple containers.

[0065] Step 403, determining whether the target set list meets the preset conditions.

[0066] In this embodiment, in this embodiment, the above-mentioned execution subject can pre-set preset conditions for determining the container transportation mode in the collection list. The preset conditions here can be set according to the needs of the actual situation, and the preset conditions can be added, deleted or modified later. Based on the target collection list determined in step 402, the above-mentioned execution subject can dynamically calculate the relevant information in the target collection list, so as to determine whether the target collection list meets the preset conditions.

[0067] In some optional implementations of the present embodiment, for the same collection order, the container conveying method used by each container in the collection order is often the same. Therefore, before judging whether the target collection order meets the preset conditions, the above-mentioned execution subject can determine the collection order to which the previous container adjacent to the current container belongs. If the collection order to which the previous container belongs is also the target collection order, the above-mentioned execution subject can determine the container conveying method used by the previous container as the container conveying method of the current container. Specifically, if the current container and the previous container both belong to the target collection order, the conveying method of the current container is the same as the container conveying method of the previous collection order. Therefore, for a collection order containing multiple containers, after the above-mentioned execution subject determines the conveying method of one of the containers, the subsequent delivered containers in the collection order can determine the conveying method without additional calculation, thereby further improving the container conveying efficiency.

[0068] Step 404: determine, based on the judgment result, that the conveying mode of the current container is the pulling mode.

[0069] In this embodiment, after determining whether the target set list meets the preset conditions, the execution subject can obtain the corresponding judgment result. It can be understood that the execution subject can determine that the conveying mode of the current container is the pull mode according to the judgment result, or the execution subject can also determine that the conveying mode of the current container is the normal mode according to the judgment result. After determining that the conveying mode of the current container is the pull mode, the current container can be stored in the temporary storage area.

[0070] In some optional implementations of the present embodiment, when determining the conveying mode of the current container, the above-mentioned execution subject may first determine the current switch state of the temporary storage area. Generally, the container can be allowed to enter only when the temporary storage area is in an open state. Therefore, the above-mentioned preset conditions may include determining the conveying mode when the current container is in an open state in the temporary storage area. If the above-mentioned execution subject determines the conveying mode after determining that the current container in the target collection list is in a closed state in the temporary storage area, the conveying mode of the current container can be directly determined as a normal mode. If the above-mentioned execution subject determines the conveying mode after determining that the current container in the target collection list is in an open state in the temporary storage area, the conveying mode of the current container can be determined as a pull mode, or further judgment can be made as to whether the target collection list meets other preset conditions. When the temporary storage area fails or is overstocked, the conveying mode of the current container can be determined as a normal mode through the preset conditions, thereby avoiding further deterioration of the situation in the temporary storage area and avoiding affecting the conveying efficiency of the container.

[0071] In some optional implementations of this embodiment, the above-mentioned preset conditions may also include: the sum of the number of containers indicated by the target set list is greater than a preset threshold. The above-mentioned execution body may predetermine the sum of the number of containers indicated by the target set list, and then determine whether the sum of the number of containers indicated by the target set is greater than the preset threshold. If the above-mentioned execution body determines that the sum of the containers indicated by the target set list is less than or equal to the preset threshold, the conveying mode of the current container may be determined as a normal mode. If the above-mentioned execution body determines that the sum of the number of containers indicated by the target set list is greater than the preset threshold, the conveying mode of the current container may be determined as a pull mode, or further determine whether the target set list meets other preset conditions. It is understandable that if the sum of the number of containers indicated by the set list is small (for example, the set list contains only one container), the containers in the set list have less waiting time on the conveyor line, so there is no need to put the containers contained therein into the temporary storage area, and it is more efficient to directly use the normal mode to convey the containers.

[0072] In some optional implementations of this embodiment, the preset condition may also be: the time difference between the current moment and the cut-off time of the collection list indicated by the target collection list is less than the first preset time difference. The execution subject may predetermine the cut-off time and the current moment of the target collection list. Then calculate the time difference between the cut-off time and the current moment of the target collection list, and determine whether the calculated time difference is less than the first preset time difference. If the execution subject determines that the time difference between the cut-off time and the current moment of the target collection list is less than the first preset time difference, the conveying mode of the current container may be determined as the pull mode. If the execution subject determines that the time difference between the cut-off time and the current moment of the target collection list is greater than or equal to the first preset time difference, the conveying mode of the current container may be determined as the normal mode, or further determine whether the target collection list meets other preset conditions. It is understandable that if the target collection list is approaching the cut-off time or exceeds the cut-off time, it is necessary to accelerate the conveying of each container in the target collection list. At this time, the conveying mode of each container in the target collection list may be directly determined as the pull mode, thereby further improving the conveying efficiency of the containers in the target collection list.

[0073] In some optional implementations of this embodiment, when determining the conveying mode of the current container, the above-mentioned execution subject may determine whether the current container storage capacity of the temporary storage area has reached the warning value. Generally, when the container storage capacity in the temporary storage area reaches the warning value, it can be indicated that the temporary storage area has been backlogged or will be backlogged, and it is necessary to restrict the entry of the container. Therefore, the above-mentioned preset conditions may also include: determining the conveying mode when the storage capacity of the current container in the temporary storage area is less than the warning value. If the above-mentioned execution subject determines that the target collection list satisfies the storage capacity of the current container in the temporary storage area indicated by it is greater than or equal to the warning value, the conveying mode of the current container can be directly determined as the normal mode. If the above-mentioned execution subject determines that the target collection list satisfies the storage capacity of the current container in the temporary storage area indicated by it is less than the warning value, the conveying mode of the current container can be determined as the pull mode, or further determine whether the target collection list meets other preset conditions. It can be understood that the judgment of the preset conditions can avoid the problem of container backlog in the temporary storage area.

[0074] Step 405, in response to determining that all containers in the target set list have been stored in the temporary storage area, determining whether the difference between the current time and the deadline time indicated by the target set list is less than a second preset time difference.

[0075] In this embodiment, if all containers indicated by the target set list are stored in the temporary storage area, the execution subject can obtain the current time and the deadline indicated by the target set list, and then calculate the difference between the current time and the deadline indicated by the target set list, and determine whether the calculated result is less than the second preset time difference.

[0076] Step 406: Send a first control instruction, where the first control instruction is used to instruct all containers indicated by the target collection list to be delivered to an idle container conveying line.

[0077] In this embodiment, if it is determined that the difference between the current time and the deadline indicated by the target set list is less than the second preset time difference, it can be indicated that the target set list is approaching the deadline. In this case, the above-mentioned execution subject can send a first control instruction. The first control instruction can be used to instruct all containers indicated by the target set list to be delivered to an idle container conveyor line, so that the containers indicated by the target set can be conveyed as a whole, avoiding the occurrence of a target set list timeout.

[0078] This method of delivering all containers in the collection list from the temporary storage area to the conveyor line can be called the collection list pull mode. The collection list pull mode can quickly output the containers in the collection list when there is a large backlog of containers in the temporary storage area, which can reduce the pressure in the temporary storage area.

[0079] Step 407: Send a second control instruction, where the second control instruction is used to instruct to pull a container from the container indicated by the target collection list and deliver it to an empty position on the container conveying line.

[0080] In this embodiment, if it is determined that the difference between the current time and the cut-off time indicated by the target collection list is greater than or equal to the second preset time difference, it can be indicated that there is still a long time to transport the containers in the target collection list. In this case, the above-mentioned execution entity can send a second control instruction. The second control instruction can be used to instruct to pull the container from the container indicated by the target collection list and deliver it to the empty space of the container conveyor line. This conveying method of delivering each container in the collection list from the temporary storage area to the conveyor line according to the empty space on the conveyor line can be called a box-pull mode. The box-pull mode can effectively utilize the empty spaces on the conveyor line, thereby improving the efficiency of container transportation.

[0081] from Figure 4 It can be seen that Figure 2 Compared with the corresponding embodiments, the process 400 of the container conveying method in this embodiment can determine the conveying mode as the pull mode according to the deadline of the collection order after determining that the conveying mode is the pull mode, thereby improving the conveying efficiency of the container and alleviating the backlog problem in the temporary storage area.

[0082] Further references Figure 5 As an implementation of the methods shown in the above figures, the present disclosure provides an embodiment of a container conveying device, and the device embodiment is Figure 2 Corresponding to the method embodiment shown, the device can be specifically applied to various electronic devices.

[0083] like Figure 5 As shown, the container conveying device 500 of this embodiment includes: an acquisition unit 501, a target collection list determination unit 502, a judgment unit 503 and a conveying mode determination unit 504. Among them, the acquisition unit 501 is configured to obtain the container number of the current container; the target collection list determination unit 502 is configured to determine the target collection list to which the current container belongs based on the container number of the current container; the judgment unit 503 is configured to determine whether the target collection list meets the preset conditions; the conveying mode determination unit 504 is configured to determine the conveying mode of the current container based on the judgment result, wherein the conveying mode includes a pull mode and a normal mode, the pull mode is to pull the container from the collected collection list after all the containers indicated in the collection list are collected in the preset temporary storage area and deliver it to the container conveying line for container conveying, and the normal mode is to convey the container after all the containers indicated in the collection list are collected on the conveying line.

[0084] In some optional implementations of this embodiment, the transport mode determination unit 504 is further configured to: if the target collection list meets the preset conditions, determine the transport mode of the current container as the pull mode; if the target collection list does not meet the preset conditions, determine the transport mode of the current container as the normal mode.

[0085] In some embodiments, the device further includes: a first determining unit configured to, in response to determining that a previous container adjacent to the current container belongs to the target set list, determine the conveying mode of the previous container as the conveying mode of the current container.

[0086] In some optional implementations of this embodiment, the preset condition includes: the conveying mode is determined when the current container is in an open state in the temporary storage area.

[0087] In some optional implementations of this embodiment, the preset condition includes: the sum of the quantities of containers indicated by the target set list is greater than a preset threshold.

[0088] In some optional implementations of this embodiment, the preset condition includes: the time difference between the current time and the set list cutoff time indicated by the target set list is less than a first preset time difference.

[0089] In some optional implementations of this embodiment, the preset condition further includes: determining the conveying mode when the storage amount of the current container in the temporary storage area is less than a warning value.

[0090] In some optional implementations of the present embodiment, the conveying mode determination unit 504 is further configured to: determine that the conveying mode of the current container is a pull mode based on a judgment result; in response to determining that all containers in the target collection list have been stored in the temporary storage area, determine whether the difference between the current time and the deadline indicated by the target collection list is less than a second preset time difference; if so, send a first control instruction, the first control instruction is used to instruct all containers indicated by the target collection list to be delivered to an idle container conveying line; if not, send a second control instruction, the second control instruction is used to instruct to pull containers from the containers indicated by the target collection list and deliver them to empty positions on the container conveying line.

[0091] In some optional implementations of this embodiment, the acquisition unit 501 is further configured to: control a preset barcode scanner to collect the container number of the current container; and acquire the container number of the current container from the barcode scanner.

[0092] The units described in the device 500 and the reference Figure 2 Therefore, the operations and features described above for the method are also applicable to the device 500 and the units included therein, and will not be described in detail here.

[0093] Reference below Figure 6 , which shows an electronic device (eg, Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the server in FIG600. Figure 6 The server shown is only an example and should not bring any limitation to the functions and scope of use of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0094] like Figure 6 As shown, the electronic device 600 may include a processing device (e.g., a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, etc.) 601, which can perform various appropriate actions and processes according to a program stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 602 or a program loaded from a storage device 608 into a random access memory (RAM) 603. In the RAM 603, various programs and data required for the operation of the electronic device 600 are also stored. The processing device 601, the ROM 602, and the RAM 603 are connected to each other via a bus 604. An input / output (I / O) interface 605 is also connected to the bus 604.

[0095] Typically, the following devices may be connected to the I / O interface 605: an input device 606 including, for example, a touch screen, a touch pad, a keyboard, a mouse, a camera, a microphone, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, etc.; an output device 607 including, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a speaker, a vibrator, etc.; a storage device 608 including, for example, a magnetic tape, a hard disk, etc.; and a communication device 609. The communication device 609 may allow the electronic device 600 to communicate with other devices wirelessly or by wire to exchange data. Although Figure 6 The electronic device 600 is shown with various devices, but it should be understood that it is not required to implement or possess all the devices shown. More or fewer devices may be implemented or possessed instead. Figure 6 Each block shown in the figure may represent one device, or may represent multiple devices as required.

[0096] In particular, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the process described above with reference to the flowchart can be implemented as a computer software program. For example, an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a computer program product, which includes a computer program carried on a computer-readable medium, and the computer program contains program code for executing the method shown in the flowchart. In such an embodiment, the computer program can be downloaded and installed from a network through a communication device 609, or installed from a storage device 608, or installed from a ROM 602. When the computer program is executed by the processing device 601, the above-mentioned functions defined in the method of the embodiment of the present disclosure are executed.

[0097] It should be noted that the computer-readable medium described in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium or any combination of the above two. The computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electrical, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, device or device, or any combination of the above. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media may include, but are not limited to: an electrical connection with one or more wires, a portable computer disk, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the above. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium containing or storing a program, which may be used by or in combination with an instruction execution system, device or device. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the computer-readable signal medium may include a data signal propagated in a baseband or as part of a carrier wave, in which a computer-readable program code is carried. This propagated data signal may take a variety of forms, including but not limited to electromagnetic signals, optical signals, or any suitable combination of the above. The computer readable signal medium may also be any computer readable medium other than a computer readable storage medium, which may send, propagate or transmit a program for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, apparatus or device. The program code contained on the computer readable medium may be transmitted using any suitable medium, including but not limited to: wires, optical cables, RF (radio frequency), etc., or any suitable combination of the above.

[0098] The computer-readable medium may be included in the electronic device; or it may exist independently without being assembled into the electronic device. The computer-readable medium carries one or more programs. When the one or more programs are executed by the electronic device, the electronic device: obtains the container number of the current container; determines the target collection list to which the current container belongs based on the container number of the current container; determines whether the target collection list meets the preset conditions; determines the conveying mode of the current container based on the judgment result, wherein the conveying mode includes a pull mode and a normal mode. The pull mode is to pull containers from the collected collection list and deliver them to the container conveying line for container conveying after all containers indicated in the collection list are collected in the preset temporary storage area. The normal mode is to convey containers after all containers indicated in the collection list are collected on the conveying line.

[0099] Computer program code for performing the operations of embodiments of the present disclosure may be written in one or more programming languages ​​or a combination thereof, including object-oriented programming languages, such as Java, Smalltalk, C++, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as "C" or similar programming languages. The program code may be executed entirely on a user's computer, partially on a user's computer, as a separate software package, partially on a user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In cases involving a remote computer, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer via any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or may be connected to an external computer (e.g., via the Internet using an Internet service provider).

[0100] The flow chart and block diagram in the accompanying drawings illustrate the possible architecture, function and operation of the system, method and computer program product according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each square box in the flow chart or block diagram can represent a module, a program segment or a part of a code, and the module, the program segment or a part of the code contains one or more executable instructions for realizing the specified logical function. It should also be noted that in some implementations as replacements, the functions marked in the square box can also occur in a sequence different from that marked in the accompanying drawings. For example, two square boxes represented in succession can actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they can sometimes be executed in the opposite order, depending on the functions involved. It should also be noted that each square box in the block diagram and / or flow chart, and the combination of the square boxes in the block diagram and / or flow chart can be implemented with a dedicated hardware-based system that performs a specified function or operation, or can be implemented with a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0101] The units involved in the embodiments described in the present disclosure may be implemented by software or hardware. The units described may also be set in a processor, for example, it may be described as: a processor includes an acquisition unit, a target set unit determination unit, a judgment unit, and a delivery mode determination unit. The names of these units do not constitute a limitation on the units themselves in some cases, for example, the acquisition unit may also be described as a "unit for obtaining the container number of the current container".

[0102] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure and an explanation of the technical principles used. Those skilled in the art should understand that the scope of the invention involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure is not limited to the technical solutions formed by a specific combination of the above-mentioned technical features, but should also cover other technical solutions formed by any combination of the above-mentioned technical features or their equivalent features without departing from the above-mentioned inventive concept. For example, the above-mentioned features are replaced with the technical features with similar functions disclosed in the embodiments of the present disclosure (but not limited to) to form a technical solution.

Claims

1. A method for conveying a container, comprising: Get the container number of the current container; Determine the target collection list to which the current container belongs based on the container number of the current container; Determining whether the target set list meets a preset condition; Based on the judgment result, it is determined that the conveying mode of the current container is a pull mode or a normal mode. The pull mode is to pull the container from the collected collection list and deliver it to the container conveying line for container conveying after all the containers indicated in the collection list are collected in the preset temporary storage area. The normal mode is to convey the container after all the containers indicated in the collection list are collected on the conveying line.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The step of determining the conveying mode of the current container based on the judgment result includes: If the target set list meets the preset conditions, the conveying mode of the current container is determined to be a pull mode; If the target set list does not meet the preset conditions, the conveying mode of the current container is determined to be a normal mode.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Before determining whether the target set list meets a preset condition, the method further includes: In response to determining that a previous container adjacent to the current container belongs to the target set list, the conveying mode of the previous container is determined as the conveying mode of the current container.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The preset conditions include: The current container determines the conveying mode when the temporary storage area is open.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein: The preset conditions include: The sum of the quantities of containers indicated by the target set list is greater than a preset threshold.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein: The preset conditions include: The time difference between the current time and the collection list cutoff time indicated by the target collection list is less than the first preset time difference.

7. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein: The preset conditions also include: The current container determines the conveying mode when the storage amount of the container in the temporary storage area is less than the warning value.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The step of determining the conveying mode of the current container based on the judgment result includes: Determining, based on the judgment result, that the conveying mode of the current container is a pulling mode; In response to determining that all containers in the target set list have been stored in the temporary storage area, determining whether a difference between a current time and a cutoff time indicated by the target set list is less than a second preset time difference; If yes, send a first control instruction, wherein the first control instruction is used to instruct to deliver all containers indicated by the target collection list to an idle container conveying line; If not, a second control instruction is sent, wherein the second control instruction is used to instruct to pull a container from the containers indicated by the target collection list and deliver it to an empty position on the container conveying line.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The step of obtaining the container number of the current container further includes: Control the preset barcode scanner to collect the container number of the current container; The container number of the current container is obtained from the barcode scanner.

10. A container conveying device, comprising: an acquisition unit, configured to acquire a container number of a current container; a target set list determining unit, configured to determine the target set list to which the current container belongs based on the container number of the current container; A judging unit, configured to judge whether the target set list satisfies a preset condition; The conveying mode determination unit is configured to determine, based on the judgment result, whether the conveying mode of the current container is a pull mode or a normal mode. The pull mode is to pull the container from the collected collection list and deliver it to the container conveying line for container conveying after all the containers indicated in the collection list are collected in the preset temporary storage area. The normal mode is to convey the container after all the containers indicated in the collection list are collected on the conveying line.

11. An electronic device, comprising: one or more processors; a storage device having one or more programs stored thereon, When the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

12. A computer readable medium having a computer program stored thereon, wherein: When the program is executed by a processor, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is implemented.

Images