Goods-to-person spreading and picking integrated workstation and picking method thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a goods-to-person scattering and picking integrated workstation and a picking method thereof. The goods-to-person scattering and picking integrated workstation includes at least one picking platform, an output layer-changing elevator, a conveyor line and a control system. The conveyor line includes a main conveyor line for supplying and shipping, and multiple auxiliary conveyor lines. The main conveyor line has a first end and a second end; the first end is used to input a source box from an external storage and access area; the second end outputs the order box on the conveyor line to the outside world through the output layer-changing elevator; the picking platform is provided with multi-layer shelves, each shelf layer has a plurality of workstations, including source box stations and order box stations. A conveyor line is correspondingly arranged for each shelf layer, one of which is a main conveyor line, and the rest are auxiliary conveyor lines. The picking method proposed by the present invention has a high degree of automation, high picking efficiency, low labor intensity, low demand for box-type vertical warehouses and conveyor line flow, low cost, diverse business forms and strong versatility.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of picking technology in logistics warehousing, and in particular to a goods-to-person spreading and picking integrated workstation and a picking method thereof. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, with the rapid development of computers and e-commerce, the automated logistics and warehousing industry has not only had the opportunity to rise rapidly, but also brought unprecedented challenges to the warehousing and logistics industry.

[0003] At present, the picking mode using conveyor lines to supply goods mainly adopts two modes: goods-to-person picking station or spread wall:

[0004] The first is to use a box-type stereoscopic warehouse. The material box is transported to the picker by a transmission line. The picker picks the goods according to the order, and then the transmission line transports the material box back. The picking station is usually divided into a single layer (1 source for 1 order, 2 sources for 4 orders, etc.) or two layers (2 sources for 4 orders, 2 sources for 6 orders, etc.) Figure 7 The mode is 3 sources for 3 orders, etc.). This mode is quite versatile, but it is necessary to distinguish between the order box supply layer 11 and the source box supply layer 12. Therefore, the number and area of ​​the source box stations and the order box stations are fixed, and cannot be dynamically adjusted according to different order characteristics and order requirements. The adaptability is poor, and relatively speaking, the number of source boxes supplied at the same time is limited, and the number of orders matched during picking is relatively small. Each time the source is supplied to the picking station, the probability of multiple picking (the average order repeated picking hit rate) is low. Therefore, the source box enters and exits the box-type vertical warehouse more times, and the flow demand for the vertical warehouse and the flow demand for the conveyor line are high. The overall efficiency depends on the overall supply capacity and scheduling plan of the goods to the person, but the scheduling is relatively rigid, and the overall picking efficiency is not high. At the same time, due to the need to improve supply capacity and efficiency, such as the layered cargo picking method and system with patent application number CN201610825164.7, which has improved the picking efficiency to a certain extent compared with traditional picking stations, a double-layer picking station (such as Figure 7 In the figure, number 11 is the supply layer, number 12 is the delivery layer), each layer must be designed with independent supply and delivery output conveyor lines and buffers. The overall process solution is relatively complex and costly.

[0005] The second method is to use a spreading wall to process orders. The spreading wall is generally designed according to the number of customers who place orders in a wave. Goods are collected according to the wave orders before spreading. All sources of goods are picked up and the turnover boxes are emptied during spreading. The spreading process is generally used for centralized batch supply of goods at the B-end or small B-end (stores or convenience stores). The spreading wall is generally used in situations where the business form is relatively fixed and the business volume does not fluctuate much. It is not suitable for active orders that require a quick response from the B-end or small B-end, and has poor versatility. At the same time, since the spreading wall picking mode requires workers to pick goods from the conveyor line to the spreading wall (or vice versa), a large number of twisting waist operations will cause labor injuries, which is not conducive to the occupational health of employees and has high labor intensity. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the above problems and provide a goods-to-person spreading and picking integrated workstation and picking method thereof which has a high degree of automation, high picking efficiency, low labor intensity, low demand for box-type warehouses and conveyor line flow, low cost, diverse business forms and strong versatility.

[0007] To achieve the above object, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0008] A goods-to-person spreading and picking integrated workstation includes at least one picking platform, an output layer-changing elevator, a conveyor line and a control system, wherein:

[0009] Conveyor lines, including a main conveyor line for supply and delivery, and multiple auxiliary conveyor lines;

[0010] The main conveyor line has a first end and a second end; the first end is used to input the source box from the external storage and access area; the second end outputs the order box on the conveyor line to the outside through the layer-changing elevator;

[0011] A picking platform, on which multiple layers of shelves are arranged, each layer of shelves has multiple workstations, including source box stations and order box stations;

[0012] Each shelf layer is equipped with a conveyor line, one of which is the main conveyor line and the others are auxiliary conveyor lines;

[0013] The control system is configured to dynamically allocate supply box stations and order box stations to the picking station according to order requirements; in response to the supply box arriving at the supply box station and the empty order box arriving at the order box station, a picking prompt instruction is issued through the auxiliary device so that the picker picks the goods in the supply box into the empty order box according to the picking prompt instruction.

[0014] In a further embodiment, an empty box buffer area is also included, which is arranged on one side of the picking station and is used to buffer the empty order boxes to be picked.

[0015] In a further embodiment,

[0016] The first end of the main conveying line is fed into the cargo source box from the external access area through an input line body;

[0017] The empty box buffer area is arranged on one side of the picking station close to the first end of the main conveying line, and empty order boxes are input from the outside through the aforementioned input line body and a transfer device.

[0018] In a further embodiment, the auxiliary device includes at least one of a display screen, an electronic display label, a laser pointer, and a voice announcer.

[0019] In a further embodiment, at least one station of the picking station is provided with a transfer machine, and the transfer machine is used to transfer the source box and the order box from the conveyor line to the picking platform, and / or from the picking platform to the conveyor line.

[0020] In a further embodiment, each workstation of the picking station is provided with a box position detection device electrically connected to the control system, for detecting the arrival of the supply box and the empty order box at the workstation.

[0021] In a further embodiment, it also includes an input layer-changing elevator electrically connected to the control system, which is used to input empty order boxes and supply boxes from the outside to each layer of the conveyor line, and / or to change the layers of the empty order boxes and the picked empty supply boxes between the conveyor lines.

[0022] According to the improvement of the present invention, a picking method is also proposed, which is based on the aforementioned goods-to-person spreading and picking integrated workstation, and the method comprises:

[0023] S100 distributes all or part of the order to the picking station according to the order requirements;

[0024] S200 dynamically allocates source box stations and order box stations for picking stations;

[0025] S210 dispatches the cargo box from the external storage area to the main conveyor line, and conveys the cargo box to the cargo box station;

[0026] S220 determines whether the empty order box has arrived at the order box station.

[0027] If yes, the control system issues a picking prompt instruction through the auxiliary device; the picker picks the goods in the source box into the corresponding empty order box according to the picking prompt instruction; and the process goes to step S300;

[0028] If no, at step S222, replenish the empty order box and repeat step S220;

[0029] S300 transfers the order boxes that have completed the picking task to the main conveyor line through the output layer-changing elevator, and then outputs them to the outside world;

[0030] The above steps are repeated until all picking tasks for the order are completed.

[0031] According to the improvement of the present invention, a picking method is also proposed, which is based on the aforementioned goods-to-person spreading and picking integrated workstation, and the method comprises:

[0032] S400 distributes all or part of the order to the picking station according to the order requirements;

[0033] S500 dynamically allocates source box stations and order box stations for picking stations;

[0034] S510 dispatches the cargo boxes from the external storage area to the main conveyor line, and transports the cargo boxes to the cargo box station through the input layer-changing elevator;

[0035] S520 determines whether the empty order box has arrived at the order box station.

[0036] If yes, the control system issues a picking prompt instruction through the auxiliary device; the picker picks the goods in the source box to the corresponding empty order box according to the picking prompt instruction; and the process goes to step S600;

[0037] If no, at step S522, the empty order box is replenished by the input layer-changing elevator, and step S520 is repeated;

[0038] S600 transfers the order boxes that have completed the picking task to the main conveyor line through the output layer-changing elevator, and then outputs them to the outside world;

[0039] The above steps are repeated until all picking tasks for the order are completed.

[0040] In a further embodiment, the step S522 of replenishing the empty order box by inputting the layer-changing elevator is specifically as follows:

[0041] S522-1 transports the empty order box from the outside to the conveyor line corresponding to the assigned order box station through the input layer-changing elevator, or transfers the picked empty source box as a new empty order box to the conveyor line corresponding to the assigned order box station through the input layer-changing elevator;

[0042] S522-2 transports the empty order box to the order box station.

[0043] Compared with the prior art, the goods-to-person spreading and picking integrated workstation and picking method proposed by the present invention have the following significant beneficial effects:

[0044] 1) Multi-layer workstations share a main conveyor line, and a layer-changing elevator is set up. Both order boxes and supply boxes can be output by the layer-changing elevator, without manual handling or setting up a conveyor line on each layer to output order boxes and supply boxes; the supply box positions and order box positions can be dynamically adjusted according to order characteristics and order requirements. Compared with traditional picking stations with a fixed number of supply box positions and order box positions, the number of supply boxes that can be supplied at the same time is larger, and more orders are matched during picking, which greatly increases the average repeated picking hit rate of orders, reduces the number of times the supply box enters and exits the box-type vertical warehouse, and reduces the flow demand for the automated box-type vertical warehouse system. The degree of automation is high and the overall picking efficiency is effectively improved.

[0045] 2) The conveyor layout is simplified. A main conveyor line is used to input supply boxes and empty order boxes from one side, and output supply boxes with remaining goods and full order boxes from the other side. There is no need to design independent supply and output conveyor lines and buffers for each layer. The flow demand for the conveyor is relatively low, which reduces costs.

[0046] 3) The supply box and order box can be flexibly allocated according to order characteristics and order requirements, which enhances the order adaptability of the workstation; it is compatible with both centralized supply and customer ordering modes. Compared with the broadcast picking station, it does not need to predetermine the business form and business volume, but only needs to pick according to the current order, which has strong versatility.

[0047] 4) Each workstation is self-contained, and expansion requires only adding more workstations. It has flexible deployment, small footprint, and strong applicability and integration.

[0048] 5) Compared with the broadcast picking station, it is ergonomic and does not require twisting of the waist, which greatly reduces labor intensity.

[0049] To sum up, the goods-to-person scattering and picking integrated workstation and its picking method have the advantages of high degree of automation, high picking efficiency, low labor intensity, low cost, diverse business forms and strong versatility. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] The accompanying drawings, which form part of the present invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the accompanying drawings, each identical or nearly identical component shown in the various figures may be represented by the same reference numeral. For clarity, not every component is labeled in each figure. Embodiments of various aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0051] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a goods-to-person spreading and picking integrated workstation according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] Figure 2 This is a top view of a goods-to-person spreading and picking integrated workstation according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] Figure 3 It is a front view of a goods-to-person spreading and picking integrated workstation according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a goods-to-person spreading and picking integrated workstation according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] Figure 5 It is a front view of a goods-to-person spreading and picking integrated workstation according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] Figure 6 It is a flow chart of the picking method of the goods-to-person spreading and picking integrated workstation according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] Figure 7 The schematic diagram of the integrated workstation for goods-to-person spreading and picking in the prior art is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] In order to better understand the technical content of the present invention, specific embodiments are given and described as follows in conjunction with the above-mentioned drawings.

[0059] Existing goods-to-person spread picking integrated workstations, such as Figure 7 As shown, a double-layer picking station is used (3 sources for 3 orders, etc.), but it is necessary to distinguish between the order box supply layer and the source box supply layer (such as Figure 7 In the figure, number 11 is the supply layer, and number 12 is the delivery layer), so the number and area of ​​the source box station and the order box station are fixed, and cannot be dynamically adjusted according to different order characteristics and order requirements, and the adaptability is poor. In addition, the number of source boxes supplied at the same time is relatively limited, and the number of orders matched during picking is relatively small. Each time the source is supplied to the picking station, the probability of multiple picking (the average order repeated picking hit rate) is low, and the source box enters and exits the box-type warehouse more times. The overall efficiency depends on the overall supply capacity and scheduling plan of the goods to the person, and the picking efficiency is not high. In addition, since each layer must be designed with independent supply and output conveyor lines and caches, the overall process plan is relatively complex and the cost is high.

[0060] like Figures 1 to 5As shown, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a goods-to-person spreading and picking integrated workstation is proposed, including at least one picking platform 2, an empty box buffer area 4, an output layer-changing elevator 3, a conveyor line, a control system (WCS system, not shown in the figure), an input line body 1 and an output line body 5. Here, the order type is briefly explained. The workstation is suitable for multiple source boxes to multiple order boxes (i.e. picking goods from multiple source boxes to multiple order boxes), one source box to multiple order boxes (i.e. picking goods from one source box to multiple order boxes) and multiple source boxes to one order box (i.e. picking goods from multiple source boxes to one order box).

[0061] The conveyor line includes a main conveyor line 6 and a plurality of auxiliary conveyor lines 7 for supplying and shipping goods.

[0062] The main conveyor line 6 has a first end and a second end. The first end inputs the source box from the external access area (such as a box-type vertical warehouse) through an input line body 1. The second end outputs the order box on the conveyor line to an output line body 5 through an output layer-changing elevator 3, and then transports it to the outside.

[0063] The picking platform 2 is provided with multi-layer shelves 2-1. Each shelf 2-1 has a plurality of workstations, including a source box workstation 8 and an order box workstation 9. The source box workstation 8 and the order box workstation 9 are dynamically allocated by the control system (WCS system) according to order requirements.

[0064] Each shelf 2 - 1 is provided with a corresponding conveyor line, one of which is a main conveyor line 6 (the main conveyor line 6 is generally arranged at a height that is ergonomic and convenient for picking), and the others are auxiliary conveyor lines 7 .

[0065] The empty box buffer area 4 is arranged at one side of the picking station near the first end of the main conveyor line 6, and is used to pre-input empty order boxes from the outside through the aforementioned input line body 1 and a transfer device 4-1; it is used to cache the empty order boxes to be picked. In this way, the empty box input of the empty box buffer area 4 and the source box input of the main conveyor line 6 share the same input line body 1, which fully utilizes the line body resources and saves costs.

[0066] The control system dynamically allocates the supply box station 8 and the order box station 9 to the picking station according to the order requirements; in response to the supply box arriving at the supply box station 8 and the empty order box arriving at the order box station 9, a picking prompt instruction is issued through the auxiliary device 2-4, so that the picker picks the goods in the supply box into the empty order box according to the picking prompt instruction.

[0067] The auxiliary device 2-4 includes at least one of a display screen, an electronic display label, a laser pointer, and a voice announcer. In this embodiment, each workstation is provided with an auxiliary device 2-4, and an electronic display label with an indicator light, a confirmation key, and a display screen is installed at the position corresponding to each workstation.

[0068] In this embodiment, each workstation of the picking station is provided with a box position detection device 2-3 electrically connected to the control system, which is used to detect the arrival of the source box and the empty order box at the workstation and feed back to the control system. In this embodiment, the box position detection device 2-3 is a pressure sensor, and of course, those skilled in the art can also select other types of sensors according to actual needs, such as a weight sensor, a photoelectric sensor, etc.

[0069] In some preferred embodiments, Figure 1 and Figure 4 As shown, at least one station of the picking station is provided with a transfer machine 2-2, which is used to transfer the source box and the order box from the conveyor line to the picking platform 2, and / or from the picking platform 2 to the conveyor line, further reducing the labor intensity. Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, two transfer machines 2-2 are set in the middle position of the picking station (one of the transfer machines 2-2 is not shown). When the number of source box positions required in real time is less than or equal to 2, the two middle positions are preferentially designated as source box positions 8, and the rest are order box positions 9. Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, each workstation is provided with a transfer machine 2-2. Although the cost of the picking station is increased, the degree of automation is higher and the corresponding labor intensity of the picking party is lower.

[0070] like Figure 6 As shown, the workflow of the aforementioned workstation is as follows:

[0071] In the first step, after receiving the order demand, the control system allocates all or part of the order to each picking station in response to the order demand. At the same time, according to the order, the source box station 8 and the order box station 9 are dynamically allocated to each picking station, and the corresponding relationship between the order, the source box identifier, the source box station 8, the source box goods, the order box identifier, the order box station 9, and the order box to be picked is established. The aforementioned goods include the goods identifier and its corresponding quantity.

[0072] The second step is to dispatch the source boxes from the box-type vertical warehouse to the main conveyor line 6 of each picking station according to the order sequence, and transport the source boxes to the source box station 8 (the source boxes are transported to the source box station 8. This operation can be completed manually or by controlling the transfer machine 2-2 under the control of the control system). The source box arrives at the source box station 8. At the same time, the control system determines whether the empty order box has arrived at the order box station 9 through the box position detection device 2-3.

[0073] a. If yes, it means that both the supply box and the empty order box are ready, and the control system sends a picking prompt instruction to the electronic tags on the supply box station 8 and the order box station 9, and prompts the quantity to be picked; the picker (such as a staff member) picks the goods from the corresponding supply box according to the quantity prompted by the electronic tag on the order box station 9 and puts them into the order box, and presses the electronic tag to confirm the completion of the current picking operation, and repeats the operation until all the order boxes that hit the supply box are picked, and the control system calls the supply box out of the picking station on the supply box station 8. In some embodiments, if the supply box after picking is empty, it can also be stored in the empty box buffer area 4 as a new empty order box, and the control system records the new empty order box identifier for subsequent picking as an empty order box.

[0074] b. If not, the control system prompts the empty order box in the empty box buffer area 4 to be manually added to the corresponding order box station 9 through the electronic tag, and after confirming that the empty order box has been added through the box position detection device 2-3, the control system binds the added empty order box with the aforementioned order. The control system issues a picking prompt instruction through the auxiliary device 2-4; the picker picks the goods in the source box to the corresponding empty order box according to the picking prompt instruction. The specific process is the same as step a above and will not be repeated here.

[0075] In the third step, when the control system determines that the order box is full or the goods corresponding to the order have all been picked, the workstation lights up the corresponding workstation electronic tag to prompt the staff to manually push the order box to the rear conveyor line or the control system controls the transfer machine 2-2 to automatically transport the order box to the rear conveyor line: then the order box that has completed the picking task is transferred to the output line 5 through the output layer changing elevator 3, and the conveyor line transports the picked order box to the outside.

[0076] It is worth mentioning that the scheduling order of the aforementioned source boxes and empty order boxes (i.e. the order of arriving at the source box station and arriving at the order box station) is not limited in the present technical solution; the order box can be scheduled to the order box station first, or the source box can be scheduled to arrive at the source box station first. Of course, it is also possible to simultaneously schedule the order box to the order box station and the source box to arrive at the source box station as mentioned above according to actual needs.

[0077] To sum up, the number of source box stations 8 and their positions on the shelf 2-1 are not fixed. The number of cargo compartments in the double-layer picking station in the prior art (such as a 4-source to 4-order mode, that is, with 4 cargo compartments) is fixed; and the picking station of the multi-layer shelf 2-1 proposed in this solution, if there are 4 layers, 4 stations on each layer, a total of 16 stations; if the order is an order with more source boxes and fewer order boxes (such as 14 source boxes corresponding to 2 order boxes), then the number of source boxes supplied at the same time is large, and more orders are matched during picking, which greatly increases the average repeated picking hit rate of the order (repeated picking here means that when the source box completes one picking task, there are other order boxes that hit this source box, that is, the same source box supplies several order boxes), reducing the number of times the source box enters and exits the box-type warehouse, and improving the overall efficiency. In addition, a main conveyor line 6 is used to input the supply box from one side and input the empty order box into the empty box buffer area 4, and output the supply box and order box with the remaining supply from the other side. There is no need to design independent supply and output conveyor lines and buffers for each layer, and the flow demand for the conveyor is relatively low, which reduces the cost. At the same time, as mentioned above, the workstation can flexibly allocate the supply box position and the order box position according to the order characteristics and order requirements, which enhances the order adaptability of the workstation; it is compatible with both centralized supply and customer ordering modes. Compared with the broadcast picking station, there is no need to predetermine the business form and business volume, and only needs to pick according to the current order, which is highly versatile.

[0078] In some preferred embodiments, Figure 4As shown, it also includes an input layer-changing elevator 10 electrically connected to the control system, which is used to input empty order boxes and source boxes from the outside to each layer of the conveyor line, and / or to change the layers of the empty order boxes and the picked empty source boxes between the conveyor lines. In this way, after the source box reaches the first end of the main conveyor line 6, it can be directly transported to the conveyor line of the layer where its target source box station 8 is located through the input layer-changing elevator 10; then the control system sends a prompt instruction to the auxiliary device 2-4 (such as an electronic tag), and the picker (such as a staff member) manually pulls the source box from the rear conveyor line to the source box station 8 or the control system controls the transfer machine 2-2 to automatically transfer the source box from the rear conveyor line to the source box station 8. Similarly, the empty order box can be directly transported from the external empty order box storage area or the empty box buffer area 4 to the conveyor line at the layer where its target order box station 9 is located through the input layer-changing elevator 10, and then the control system sends a prompt instruction to the auxiliary device 2-4 (such as an electronic tag), and the picker (such as a staff member) manually pulls the empty order box from the rear conveyor line to the order box station 9, or the control system controls the transfer machine 2-2 to automatically transfer the empty order box from the rear conveyor line to the order box station 9. In some embodiments, if the source box after the picking is completed is empty, the original empty source box can also be layer-changed to the first end of the main conveyor line 6 through the input layer-changing elevator 10, and the original empty source box can be transferred to the empty box buffer area 4 through the transfer device 4-1, and stored in the empty box buffer area 4 as a new empty order box, and the control system records the new empty order box identification for subsequent picking as an empty order box.

[0079] According to the improvement of the present invention, Figure 6 As shown, a picking method is also proposed, which is based on the aforementioned goods-to-person spreading and picking integrated workstation, and the method includes:

[0080] S100 distributes all or part of the order to the picking station according to the order demand. Specifically, after receiving the order demand, the control system distributes all or part of the order to each picking station in response to the order demand.

[0081] S200 dynamically allocates the source box station 8 and the order box station 9 for the picking station. At the same time, the corresponding relationship between the order, the source box identifier, the source box station 8, the source box goods, the order box identifier, the order box station 9, and the order box goods to be picked is established, and the aforementioned goods include the goods identifier and its corresponding quantity.

[0082] S210 dispatches the source boxes from the box-type vertical warehouse to the main conveyor line 6 of each picking station according to the order sequence, and transports the source boxes to the source box station 8. This operation can be completed by manual operation or by controlling the transfer machine 2-2 through the control system.

[0083] S220 determines whether the empty order box has arrived at the order box station 9 through the box position detection device 2-3.

[0084] If yes, the control system issues a picking prompt instruction through the auxiliary device 2-4, and the picker picks the goods in the source box to the corresponding empty order box according to the picking prompt instruction (the specific steps are the same as the workflow a of the aforementioned workstation, which will not be repeated here). Enter step S300.

[0085] If not, in step S222, replenish the empty order box (the specific steps are the same as the workflow b of the aforementioned workstation, which will not be repeated here). Repeat step S220.

[0086] S300 The order box that has completed the picking task is transferred to the main conveyor line 6 through the output layer-changing elevator 3, and then output to the outside. The specific steps are the same as the third step of the workflow of the aforementioned workstation, and will not be repeated here.

[0087] The above steps are repeated until all picking tasks for all orders are completed.

[0088] According to the improvement of the present invention, a picking method is also proposed, which is based on the aforementioned goods-to-person spreading and picking integrated workstation, and the method comprises:

[0089] S400 distributes all or part of the order to the picking station according to the order demand. Specifically, after receiving the order demand, the control system distributes all or part of the order to each picking station in response to the order demand.

[0090] S500 dynamically allocates the source box station 8 and the order box station 9 for the picking station. At the same time, the corresponding relationship between the order, the source box identifier, the source box station 8, the source box goods, the order box identifier, the order box station 9, and the order box goods to be picked is established, and the aforementioned goods include the goods identifier and its corresponding quantity.

[0091] S510 dispatches the source boxes from the box-type vertical warehouse to the main conveyor line 6 of each picking station according to the order sequence, and transports the source boxes to the source box station 8 through the input layer-changing elevator 10. Specifically: dispatches the source boxes from the box-type vertical warehouse to the main conveyor line 6 of each picking station according to the order sequence; after the source box reaches the first end of the main conveyor line 6, it can be directly transported to the conveyor line of the layer where its target source box station 8 is located through the input layer-changing elevator 10; then the control system sends a prompt instruction to the auxiliary device 2-4 (such as an electronic tag), and the picker (such as a staff member) manually pulls the source box from the rear conveyor line to the source box station 8 or the control system controls the transfer machine 2-2 to automatically transfer the source box from the rear conveyor line to the source box station 8.

[0092] S520 determines whether the empty order box has arrived at the order box station 9.

[0093] If yes, the control system issues a picking prompt instruction through the auxiliary device 2-4; the picker picks the goods in the source box to the corresponding empty order box according to the picking prompt instruction (the specific steps are the same as the workflow a of the aforementioned workstation, which will not be repeated here). Enter step S600.

[0094] If not, in step S522, the empty order box is replenished through the input layer-changing elevator 10 (the specific steps are the same as the workflow b of the aforementioned workstation, which will not be repeated here). Repeat step S520.

[0095] S600 The order box that has completed the picking task is transferred to the main conveyor line 6 through the output layer-changing elevator 3, and then output to the outside. The specific steps are the same as the third step of the workflow of the aforementioned workstation, and will not be repeated here.

[0096] The above steps are repeated until all picking tasks for the order are completed.

[0097] In some embodiments, if the workstation is provided with an input layer-changing elevator 10, the step S522 of replenishing the empty order box through the input layer-changing elevator 10 is specifically as follows:

[0098] S522-1 transports the empty order box from the outside (empty box buffer area or external empty box storage area) to the conveying line corresponding to the assigned order box station 9 through the input layer-changing elevator 10, or switches the picked empty source box as a new empty order box to the conveying line corresponding to the assigned order box station 9 through the input layer-changing elevator 10. Specifically, the empty order box can be directly transported from the external empty order box storage area or the empty box buffer area 4 to the conveying line on the layer where the target order box station 9 is located through the input layer-changing elevator 10. If the source box that has completed the picking task is empty, the original empty source box can also be switched to the first end of the main conveying line 6 through the input layer-changing elevator 10, and the original empty source box can be transferred to the empty box buffer area 4 through the transfer device 4-1, and then it is used as a new empty order box and transported to the conveying line on the layer where the target order box station 9 is located through the input layer-changing elevator 10.

[0099] S522-2 conveys the empty order box to the order box station 9. The picker (such as a staff member) manually pulls the empty order box from the rear conveyor line to the order box station 9, or the control system controls the transfer machine 2-2 to automatically transfer the empty order box from the rear conveyor line to the order box station 9.

[0100] Although the present invention has been disclosed as above with preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. A person with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs may make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be determined by the definition of the claims.

Claims

1. The integrated workstation for goods-to-person spreading and picking is characterized by: It includes at least one picking platform, an output layer-changing elevator, a conveyor line and a control system, wherein: Conveyor lines, including a main conveyor line for supply and delivery, and multiple auxiliary conveyor lines; The main conveyor line has a first end and a second end; the first end is used to input the source box from the external access area; the second end outputs the order box on the conveyor line to the outside through the output layer elevator; A picking platform, on which multiple layers of shelves are arranged, each layer of shelves has multiple workstations, including source box stations and order box stations; Each shelf layer is equipped with a conveyor line, one of which is the main conveyor line and the others are auxiliary conveyor lines; The control system is configured to dynamically allocate supply box stations and order box stations to the picking station according to order requirements; in response to the supply box arriving at the supply box station and the empty order box arriving at the order box station, a picking prompt instruction is issued through the auxiliary device so that the picker picks the goods in the supply box into the empty order box according to the picking prompt instruction.

2. The integrated goods-to-person spreading and picking workstation according to claim 1 is characterized in that: It also includes an empty box buffer area, which is arranged on one side of the picking station and is used for buffering empty order boxes to be picked.

3. The integrated goods-to-person spreading and picking workstation according to claim 2 is characterized in that: The first end of the main conveying line is fed into the cargo source box from the external access area through an input line body; The empty box buffer area is arranged on one side of the picking station close to the first end of the main conveying line, and empty order boxes are input from the outside through the aforementioned input line body and a transfer device.

4. The integrated goods-to-person spreading and picking workstation according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The auxiliary device includes at least one of a display screen, an electronic display label, a laser pointer and a voice announcer.

5. The integrated goods-to-person spreading and picking workstation according to claim 1 is characterized in that: At least one workstation of the picking station is provided with a transfer machine, which is used to transfer the source box and the order box from the conveyor line to the picking platform and / or from the picking platform to the conveyor line.

6. The integrated goods-to-person spreading and picking workstation according to claim 1 is characterized in that: Each workstation of the picking station is provided with a box position detection device electrically connected to the control system, for detecting the arrival of the supply box and the empty order box at the workstation.

7. The integrated goods-to-person spreading and picking workstation according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: It also includes an input layer-changing elevator electrically connected to the control system, which is used to input empty order boxes and supply boxes from the outside to each layer of the conveyor line, and / or to change the layers of the empty order boxes and the picked empty supply boxes between the conveyor lines.

8. A picking method, based on the goods-to-person spreading and picking integrated workstation as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The method includes: S100 distributes all or part of the order to the picking station according to the order requirements; S200 dynamically allocates source box stations and order box stations for picking stations; S210 dispatches the cargo box from the external storage area to the main conveyor line, and conveys the cargo box to the cargo box station; S220 determines whether the empty order box has arrived at the order box station. If yes, the control system issues a picking prompt instruction through the auxiliary device; the picker picks the goods in the source box into the corresponding empty order box according to the picking prompt instruction; and the process goes to step S300; If no, at step S222, replenish the empty order box and repeat step S220; S300 transfers the order boxes and / or source boxes that have completed the picking task to the main conveyor line through the output layer-changing elevator, and then outputs them to the outside world; The above steps are repeated until all picking tasks for all orders are completed.

9. A picking method, based on the goods-to-person spreading and picking integrated workstation as described in claim 7, characterized in that: The method includes: S400 distributes all or part of the order to the picking station according to the order requirements; S500 dynamically allocates source box stations and order box stations for picking stations; S510 dispatches the cargo boxes from the external storage area to the main conveyor line, and transports the cargo boxes to the cargo box station through the input layer-changing elevator; S520 determines whether the empty order box has arrived at the order box station. If yes, the control system issues a picking prompt instruction through the auxiliary device; the picker picks the goods in the source box to the corresponding empty order box according to the picking prompt instruction; and the process goes to step S600; If no, at step S522, the empty order box is replenished by the input layer-changing elevator, and step S520 is repeated; S600 transfers the order boxes and / or source boxes that have completed the picking task to the main conveyor line through the output layer-changing elevator, and then outputs them to the outside world; The above steps are repeated until all picking tasks for all orders are completed.

10. The picking method according to claim 9, characterized in that: Step S522 of replenishing the empty order box by inputting the layer-changing elevator is specifically as follows: S522-1 transports the empty order box from the outside to the conveyor line corresponding to the assigned order box station through the input layer-changing elevator, or transfers the picked empty source box as a new empty order box to the conveyor line corresponding to the assigned order box station through the input layer-changing elevator; S522-2 transports the empty order box to the order box station.

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