Warehouse management system and method

Abstract

The present application provides a warehouse management system and method, wherein the warehouse management system includes: a control server, configured to send an inventory container handling instruction to a first handling device, and to send an order container handling instruction to a second handling device; the first handling device, configured to take out a target inventory container from its storage location and transport it to a target workstation in response to the inventory container handling instruction; the target workstation, configured to report to the control server that a picking task is completed after determining that the goods are picked up from the target inventory container and placed in a target order container; the second handling device, configured to respond to the order container handling instruction, transport the target order container to the target workstation, and after the picking task is completed, transport the target order container away from the target workstation, and / or, respond to the order container handling instruction, travel to the target workstation and take out the target order container that has completed the picking task from the target workstation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of warehousing technology, and in particular to a warehousing management system and method. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of e-commerce, it plays an increasingly important role in consumers' lives. The number of user orders increases exponentially every year, and the processing capacity of warehouse management is also undergoing severe tests.

[0003] In the existing warehouse management system, according to the order task, a shelf robot or a material box robot is selected to move the inventory container from the storage area to the workstation, and the goods are picked into the order material box at the workstation to complete the work of picking and packing the goods. The order container is then transported to the next processing point for subsequent operations via a transmission device such as a conveyor belt. However, setting up a transmission device in a warehouse environment requires a larger space, and the cost investment of the transmission device is also large. It is not easy to expand in the later stage and has poor flexibility.

[0004] Therefore, how to solve the above problems has become a problem that needs to be solved urgently by technical personnel. Summary of the invention

[0005] In view of this, the embodiments of the present application provide a warehouse management system and method to solve the technical defects existing in the prior art.

[0006] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a warehouse management system is provided, the system comprising: a control server, an inventory container, a first handling device, a second handling device, a workstation and an order container, wherein the first handling device and the second handling device are respectively connected to the control server for communication; wherein

[0007] The control server is configured to send a stock container handling instruction to the first handling device and send an order container handling instruction to the second handling device according to the order;

[0008] The first handling device is configured to take out the target inventory container from its storage location and transport it to the target workstation in response to the inventory container transport instruction;

[0009] The target workstation is configured to report to the control server that the picking task corresponding to the order is completed after determining that the goods are picked up from the target inventory container and placed into the target order container;

[0010] The second transporting device is configured to transport the target order container to the target workstation in response to the order container transporting instruction, and transport the target order container away from the target workstation after the picking task is completed, and / or, in response to the order container transporting instruction, travel to the target workstation, take out the target order container that has completed the picking task from the target workstation and transport the target order container away from the target workstation.

[0011] Optionally, the target workstation is equipped with a temporary storage mechanism, and the target order container is located on the temporary storage mechanism;

[0012] The second handling device is further configured to, in response to the order container handling instruction, transport the target order container to the target workstation and place it on the temporary storage mechanism, after the picking task is completed, take out the target order container from the temporary storage mechanism and transport the target order container away from the target workstation, and / or, in response to the order container handling instruction, travel to the target workstation, take out the target order container from the temporary storage mechanism and transport the target order container away from the target workstation.

[0013] Optionally, the temporary storage mechanism is a temporary storage shelf or a roller conveyor.

[0014] Optionally, a cache rack is fixedly or detachably connected to the second handling robot, and a plurality of order containers can be cached on the cache rack.

[0015] Optionally, different order containers can be bound to different orders or to the same order.

[0016] Optionally, the inventory container is a movable inventory shelf or a material box located on the inventory shelf.

[0017] Optionally, the first handling equipment is a shelf handling robot or a box handling robot.

[0018] Optionally, the order container is a material box.

[0019] Optionally, the second handling equipment is a material box handling robot.

[0020] Optionally, the inventory rack is a dense storage rack or a non-dense storage rack.

[0021] According to a second aspect of an embodiment of the present application, there is provided a warehouse management method, comprising:

[0022] The control server sends a stock container transport instruction to the first transport device and sends an order container transport instruction to the second transport device according to the order;

[0023] The first handling device, in response to the inventory container handling instruction, takes out the target inventory container from its storage location and carries it to the target workstation;

[0024] After determining that the goods are picked up from the target inventory container and placed in the target order container, the target workstation reports to the control server that the picking task corresponding to the order is completed;

[0025] The second handling device responds to the order container handling instruction, handles the target order container to the target workstation, and after the picking task is completed, handles the target order container away from the target workstation, and / or responds to the order container handling instruction, drives to the target workstation, takes out the target order container that has completed the picking task from the target workstation, and handles the target order container away from the target workstation.

[0026] Optionally, the target workstation is equipped with a temporary storage mechanism, and the target order container is located on the temporary storage mechanism;

[0027] The second handling device responds to the order container handling instruction, transports the target order container to the target workstation and places it on the temporary storage mechanism, and after the picking task is completed, takes out the target order container from the temporary storage mechanism and transports the target order container away from the target workstation, and / or, responds to the order container handling instruction, travels to the target workstation, takes out the target order container from the temporary storage mechanism and transports the target order container away from the target workstation.

[0028] Optionally, the temporary storage mechanism is a temporary storage shelf or a roller conveyor.

[0029] Optionally, a cache rack is fixedly or detachably connected to the second handling robot, and a plurality of order containers can be cached on the cache rack.

[0030] Optionally, different order containers can be bound to different orders or to the same order.

[0031] Optionally, the inventory container is a movable inventory shelf or a material box located on the inventory shelf.

[0032] Optionally, the first handling equipment is a shelf handling robot or a box handling robot.

[0033] Optionally, the order container is a material box.

[0034] Optionally, the second handling equipment is a material box handling robot.

[0035] Optionally, the inventory rack is a dense storage rack or a non-dense storage rack.

[0036] The warehouse management system provided in the embodiment of the present application transports the target inventory container to the target workstation through a first transport device, completes the order picking task at the target workstation, picks the goods from the target inventory container into the target order container, and transports the target order container from the target workstation to the designated location through a second transport device. The acquisition and picking system provided in the present application does not require a large site, avoids a large cost investment, and is very flexible to use. The equipment can be expanded at any time, and the efficiency of warehouse management can also be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Figure 1 It is a structural diagram of a warehouse management system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] Figure 2 A schematic top view of a storage area provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0039] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a shelf transport robot for transporting shelves provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a material box handling robot for handling material boxes provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 5 It is a flow chart of the warehouse management method provided in the embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Many specific details are described in the following description to facilitate a full understanding of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many other ways than those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar generalizations without violating the connotation of the present application, so the present application is not limited by the specific implementation disclosed below.

[0043] The terms used in one or more embodiments of the present application are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit one or more embodiments of the present application. The singular forms of "a", "said" and "the" used in one or more embodiments of the present application and the appended claims are also intended to include plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates other meanings. It should also be understood that the term "and / or" used in one or more embodiments of the present application refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more associated listed items.

[0044] It should be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used to describe various information in one or more embodiments of the present application, these information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish the same type of information from each other. For example, without departing from the scope of one or more embodiments of the present application, the first may also be referred to as the second, and similarly, the second may also be referred to as the first. Depending on the context, the word "if" as used herein may be interpreted as "at the time of" or "when" or "in response to determining".

[0045] In the present application, a warehouse management system and method are provided, which are described in detail one by one in the following embodiments.

[0046] Figure 1 A structural schematic diagram of a warehouse management system provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown, the system includes: a control server 110, a workstation 120, a storage area 130, a first handling device 140, a second handling device 150, and an order container 160, wherein an inventory container 131 is located in the storage area 130, and the storage area 130 can be a dense storage or a non-dense storage.

[0047] The control server 110 is wirelessly connected to the first transport device 140 and / or the second transport device 150, and the staff operates the control server 110 through the operating console 114. The control server 110 is a software system running on the server and has data storage and information processing capabilities. It can be wirelessly connected to the first transport device 140 and the second transport device 150, the software system of the workstation 120, etc. The control server 110 may include one or more servers, and may be a centralized control architecture or a distributed computing architecture. The control server 110 has a processor 111 and a memory 112. The memory 112 may have an order pool 113, and the order pool 113 stores order information.

[0048] The storage area 130 may be a dense storage area or a non-dense storage area. Figure 2 , Figure 2 shows a schematic top view of the storage area, Figure 2 (a) shows a top view of a dense storage area. Figure 2(b) in the figure shows a top view of a non-dense storage area. A dense storage area is where multiple inventory containers are stored together. When accessing an inner inventory container, the outer inventory container needs to be removed first. When taking and placing an inventory container in a non-dense storage area, the inventory container can be directly accessed in the passage. A plurality of inventory containers 131 are arranged in the storage area 130. Goods are placed in the inventory containers. A passage is arranged between the plurality of inventory containers for the first handling equipment to move and access the inventory containers. The inventory container 131 may be a movable inventory shelf or a material box located on the inventory shelf, or may be a pallet stacked in dense storage. When the inventory container is a material box, the inventory shelf where the material box is located may be movable or immovable. The inventory container 131 is provided with a readable mark for identification by the identification device on the first handling equipment to determine the position of the inventory container 131 and / or the inventory container information.

[0049] The first handling device is a handling device for handling the inventory container 131. When the inventory container 131 is a shelf, the first handling device is a shelf handling device. Further, the first handling device is a shelf handling robot. Figure 3 , Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a shelf transport robot used for transporting shelves in a specific example of the present application is shown. Figure 3 The transport robot shown includes an upward camera for identifying the shelf, so that the docking head connected to the lifting mechanism on the shelf transport robot docks with the inventory container when the lifting mechanism is lifted, and lifts the shelf to lift the shelf from the ground. When the inventory container 131 is a material box, the first transport device is a material box transport device, and further is a material box transport robot.

[0050] See also Figure 4 , Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a material box handling robot for handling material boxes in a specific embodiment of the present application is shown. Figure 4 (a) shows a single-box material box handling robot, which includes a robot body 401, a gripping mechanism 402, and a lifting mechanism 403; Figure 4 (b) in the figure shows a material box handling robot with multiple material boxes, which includes a robot body 401, a gripping mechanism 402, a lifting mechanism 403, a docking mechanism (not shown in the figure) and a cache rack 404. The cache rack 404 can be fixedly connected or detachably connected to the handling robot.

[0051] like Figure 4As shown in (a) and (b), the lifting mechanism 403 and the docking mechanism are fixed on the equipment body 401, and the grabbing mechanism 402 is supported on the lifting mechanism 403. The lifting mechanism 403 is used to drive the grabbing mechanism 402 to rise or fall to the height of the target cargo container to be grabbed. The size of the grabbing mechanism 402 can be adaptively adjusted according to the size of the grabbing material box. The grabbing mechanism 402 can be a clamping mechanism or other types of mechanisms.

[0052] like Figure 4 As shown in (b), the cache rack 404 is fixedly connected or detachably connected to the device body 401, and is used to store multiple order containers. The robot body 401 and the cache rack 404 are detachable (separable and divisible). Specifically, the docking mechanism can dock or undock with the cache rack 404. The material box handling robot may also include an electronic device for communicating with the control module and controlling the device body 401, the lifting mechanism 403, the gripping mechanism 402, and the docking mechanism to perform corresponding actions. The electronic device is in Figure 4 This is not shown in (a) and (b).

[0053] The workstation 120 is a picking area. After the inventory container 131 is transported to the workstation 120, the staff or the robotic arm of the workstation 120 takes out the goods in the inventory container 131 for scanning according to the order prompt information, and picks them into the order container 160. When the order is processed, the control server 110 pushes the next order to the workstation 120. There may be a temporary storage mechanism (not shown) at the workstation 120, and the temporary storage mechanism is a temporary storage shelf or a roller conveyor.

[0054] The order container 160 is a container for storing goods corresponding to the order. The goods in the order are picked into the order container 160 by staff or a robotic arm. The order container 160 can be stored on a temporary storage mechanism at the workstation 120, or it can be transported to the workstation 120 by the second transport equipment 150.

[0055] The second handling equipment 150 is a handling equipment for handling the order container 160, and can handle the order container 160 to the workstation 120, and can also handle the order container 160 from the workstation 120 to a designated location. Specifically, the order container is a material box, and accordingly, the second handling equipment is a material box handling equipment, and can further be a material box handling robot. For a specific description of the second handling equipment, reference can be made to the description of the material box handling robot in the above-mentioned first handling equipment. In actual applications, the second handling equipment 150 can be a single-material box handling robot or a multi-material box handling robot. When the second handling equipment 150 is a single-material box handling robot, it handles one order container 160 at a time. When the second handling equipment 150 is a multi-material box handling robot, The multi-bin handling robot is fixedly or detachably connected with a cache rack, and multiple order containers can be cached on the cache rack. Multiple order containers 160 can be handled at one time in at least one workstation, thereby improving handling efficiency. In actual applications, different order containers can be bound to different orders or the same order. The second handling equipment that handles the order container to the workstation and handles the order container from the workstation to the designated location can be the same second handling equipment or different handling equipment. Similarly, the same second handling equipment can handle the order container to the workstation in a certain handling task, and can also handle the order container from the workstation to the designated location in another handling task. In addition, in the present application, there is no restriction on the number of second handling equipment.

[0056] The first transport device 140 and the second transport device 150 are both under the control of the control server 110, and perform the task of transporting the inventory container 131 and the order container 160. The first transport device 140 and the second transport device 150 can use any navigation method or a combination of multiple navigation methods, which can be simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) or vision-based navigation. When the vision-based navigation method is adopted, the first transport device 140 and the second transport device 150 also include a navigation recognition component for identifying navigation marks (such as QR codes) laid on the ground. In one example, the first transport device 140 and the second transport device 150 include at least one downward camera, and travel forward according to the navigation marks photographed by the downward camera. The driving routes of the first transport device 140 and the second transport device 150 are planned and generated by the control server 110.

[0057] Embodiment 1

[0058] In the first embodiment provided in the present application, taking the inventory container 131 as the inventory material box B and the order container stored on the temporary storage shelf of the workstation as an example, the warehouse management system provided in the present application is further explained.

[0059] The control server 110 is configured to determine, based on the order request, a target inventory box B, a first storage location of the target inventory box B, a first box handling robot C1 for handling the target inventory box B, a target workstation W1, a target order box M, and a second box handling robot C2 for handling the target order box M, wherein the target order box M is stored on a temporary shelf at the target workstation W1; send an inventory container handling instruction to the first box handling robot C1, send an order container handling instruction to the second box handling robot C2, and send an order picking task corresponding to the order request to the target workstation W1.

[0060] The first bin handling robot C1 is configured to move to the first storage position of the target inventory bin B in response to the inventory container handling instruction, take out the target inventory bin B, and transport the target inventory bin B to the target workstation W1.

[0061] According to the order picking task, the staff in the target workstation W1 takes out the goods required in the order from the target inventory box B and puts them into the target order box M. The target order box M is stored on the temporary storage shelf of the target workstation W1. When the order picking task is completed, the completion instruction of the order picking task is sent to the control server 110.

[0062] The second material box transporting robot C2 is configured to respond to the order container transporting instruction, take out the target order material box M from the temporary storage shelf, and transport it to a designated location.

[0063] The system also includes: the control server 110 is further configured to determine the second storage location of the target inventory bin B in response to the completion instruction of the order picking task, and send a fourth handling instruction to the first bin handling robot C1. It should be noted that the second storage location and the first storage location can be the same storage location or different storage locations.

[0064] The first container transport robot C1 is further configured to transport the target inventory container B from the target workstation W1 to a second storage location in response to the fourth transport instruction.

[0065] The warehouse management system provided in the first embodiment of the present application controls the first bin handling robot C1 to transport the target inventory bin B from the storage area to the workstation W1, completes the cargo picking task at the workstation W1, picks the cargo into the target order bin M, and the target order bin M is stored on the temporary storage shelf of the workstation W1. The second bin handling robot C2 transports the target order bin M that has completed the picking task from the temporary storage shelf to a designated location, and performs subsequent operations. The warehouse management system provided in this embodiment makes full use of the flexible and convenient characteristics of the bin handling robot, improves the cargo picking efficiency, saves space, and thereby reduces cost investment. At the same time, the equipment can be expanded at any time.

[0066] Embodiment 2

[0067] In the second embodiment provided in the present application, taking the inventory container 131 as the shelf T and the order container being transported to the workstation by the second transport equipment as an example, the warehouse management system provided in the present application is further explained.

[0068] The control server 110 is configured to determine, according to the order request, a target shelf T, a first storage location of the target shelf T, a shelf handling robot P for handling the target shelf T, a target workstation W2, a target order box M, and a box handling robot C for handling the target order box M, send an inventory container handling instruction to the shelf handling robot P, send an order picking task corresponding to the order request to the workstation W2, and send an order container handling instruction to the box handling robot C.

[0069] The shelf transport robot P is configured to move to the first storage position of the target shelf T in response to the inventory container transport instruction, take out the target shelf T, and transport the target shelf T to the target workstation W2.

[0070] The material box transport robot C is configured to transport the target order material box M to the target workstation W2 in response to the order container transport instruction.

[0071] At the target workstation W2, an automated device with a grasping function (such as a robotic arm) takes the goods described in the order from the target shelf T according to the order picking task, and puts them into the target order box M. The target order box M is placed on the box handling robot C. When the order picking task is completed, a completion instruction of the order picking task is sent to the control server 110.

[0072] The control server 110 is further configured to determine the second storage location of the target shelf T in response to the completion instruction of the order picking task, send an order container handling instruction to the box handling robot C used to handle the target order box M, and send a fourth handling instruction to the shelf handling robot P. It should be noted that the second storage location and the first storage location can be the same storage location or different storage locations.

[0073] The shelf transport robot P is configured to transport the target shelf T from the workstation W2 to the second storage location in response to the fourth transport instruction.

[0074] The material box handling robot C is further configured to respond to the order container handling instruction, take out the target order material box M from the workstation W2, place it on the temporary storage mechanism of the material box handling robot C, and transport the target order material box M away from the target workstation to a designated location.

[0075] The warehouse management system provided in the second embodiment of the present application controls the shelf handling robot P to transport the target shelf T from the storage area to the workstation W2, and at the same time controls the material box handling robot C to transport the target order material box M to the workstation W2, completes the cargo picking task at the workstation W2, and picks the cargo on the target shelf T into the target order material box M. After the cargo picking is completed, the shelf handling robot P moves the target shelf T from the workstation W2 back to the storage area, and the material box handling robot C moves the target order material box from the workstation W2 to the designated location to perform subsequent operations. The warehouse management system provided in this embodiment makes full use of the universality of the shelf handling robot and the flexibility, convenience, and high hit rate characteristics of the material box handling robot, improves the cargo picking efficiency, saves space, and thus reduces cost investment, and also allows equipment expansion at any time.

[0076] Embodiment 3

[0077] In the third embodiment provided in the present application, the warehouse management system provided in the present application is further explained by taking the inventory container 131 as the shelf T and the order container stored on the roller conveyor of the workstation as an example.

[0078] The control server 110 is configured to determine, according to the order request, a target shelf T, a first storage location of the target shelf T, a shelf handling robot P for handling the target shelf T, a target workstation W3, a target order box M, and a box handling robot C for handling the target order box M, send an inventory container handling instruction to the shelf handling robot P, and send an order picking task corresponding to the order request to the workstation W3.

[0079] The shelf transport robot P is configured to move to the first storage position of the target shelf T in response to the inventory container transport instruction, take out the target shelf T, and transport the target shelf T to the target workstation W3.

[0080] In the target workstation W3, the staff takes out the goods required in the order from the target shelf T according to the order picking task, and puts them into the target order material box M. The target order material box M is stored on the roller line of the target workstation W3. When the order picking task is completed, the completion instruction of the order picking task is sent to the control server 110.

[0081] The control server 110 is further configured to determine the second storage location of the target shelf T in response to the completion instruction of the order picking task, send an order container handling instruction to the box handling robot C used to handle the target order box M, and send a fourth handling instruction to the shelf handling robot P that handles the shelf.

[0082] The shelf transport robot P is configured to transport the target shelf T from the workstation W3 to the second storage location in response to the fourth transport instruction.

[0083] The material box transport robot C is further configured to transport the target order material box M from the workstation W3 to a designated location in response to the order container transport instruction.

[0084] The warehouse management system provided in the third embodiment of the present application controls the shelf handling robot P to transport the target shelf T from the storage area to the workstation W3, completes the cargo picking task at the workstation W3, picks the cargo into the target order material box M, and the target order material box M is stored on the roller line of the workstation W3. When the picking task is completed, the shelf handling robot P is controlled to move the target shelf T from the workstation W3 back to the storage area, and the material box handling robot C is controlled to transport the target order material box M from the workstation W3 to the designated location, and executes subsequent operations. The warehouse management system provided in this embodiment makes full use of the universality of the shelf handling robot and the flexibility, convenience, and high hit rate characteristics of the material box handling robot, improves the cargo picking efficiency, saves space, and thus reduces cost investment, and also allows equipment expansion at any time.

[0085] Embodiment 4

[0086] Figure 5 A flowchart of a warehouse management method provided by the fourth embodiment of the present application is shown. The method can be Figure 1The method is implemented by the warehouse management system shown in the figure, which is applicable to dense storage environments and non-dense storage environments. The scenario in which the method is applied includes at least a workstation, a storage area, a first handling device and a second handling device, wherein the first handling device is used to carry the inventory container in the storage area to the workstation, and the second handling device is used to carry the order container that completes the picking task at the workstation to a designated location. The warehouse management method includes:

[0087] Step 502: The control server sends an inventory container transport instruction to the first transport device and sends an order container transport instruction to the second transport device according to the order.

[0088] Step 504: The first transport device responds to the inventory container transport instruction to take out the target inventory container from its storage location and transport it to the target workstation.

[0089] Step 506: After determining that the goods are picked up from the target inventory container and placed into the target order container, the target workstation reports to the control server that the picking task corresponding to the order is completed.

[0090] Step 508: The second transport device responds to the order container transport instruction, transports the target order container to the target workstation, and after the picking task is completed, transports the target order container away from the target workstation, and / or, responds to the order container transport instruction, travels to the target workstation, takes out the target order container that has completed the picking task from the target workstation, and transports the target order container away from the target workstation.

[0091] Optionally, the target workstation is equipped with a temporary storage mechanism, and the target order container is located on the temporary storage mechanism;

[0092] The second handling device responds to the order container handling instruction, transports the target order container to the target workstation and places it on the temporary storage mechanism, and after the picking task is completed, takes out the target order container from the temporary storage mechanism and transports the target order container away from the target workstation, and / or, responds to the order container handling instruction, travels to the target workstation, takes out the target order container from the temporary storage mechanism and transports the target order container away from the target workstation.

[0093] Optionally, the temporary storage mechanism is a temporary storage shelf or a roller conveyor.

[0094] Optionally, a cache rack is fixedly or detachably connected to the second handling robot, and a plurality of order containers can be cached on the cache rack.

[0095] Optionally, different order containers can be bound to different orders or to the same order.

[0096] Optionally, the inventory container is a movable inventory shelf or a material box located on the inventory shelf.

[0097] Optionally, the first handling equipment is a shelf handling robot or a box handling robot.

[0098] Optionally, the order container is a material box.

[0099] Optionally, the second handling equipment is a material box handling robot.

[0100] Optionally, the inventory rack is a dense storage rack or a non-dense storage rack.

[0101] The warehouse management method provided in the fourth embodiment of the present application controls the first transport device to transport the target inventory container to the workstation, picks the goods in the target inventory container into the target order container at the workstation, and after the picking task is completed, controls the second transport device to transport the target order container to a designated location to perform subsequent operations. The warehouse management method provided in this embodiment makes full use of the flexible and convenient characteristics of the transport robot, improves the picking efficiency of goods, saves space, and thus reduces cost investment, and also allows equipment expansion at any time.

[0102] The above describes specific embodiments of the present application. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps recorded in the claims can be performed in an order different from that in the embodiments and still achieve the desired results. In addition, the processes depicted in the accompanying drawings do not necessarily require the specific order or continuous order shown to achieve the desired results. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are also possible or may be advantageous.

[0103] It should be noted that, for the above-mentioned method embodiments, for the sake of simplicity of description, they are all expressed as a series of action combinations, but those skilled in the art should be aware that the present application is not limited by the described action sequence, because according to the present application, certain steps can be performed in other sequences or simultaneously. Secondly, those skilled in the art should also be aware that the embodiments described in the specification are all preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily required by the present application.

[0104] In the above embodiments, the description of each embodiment has its own emphasis. For parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0105] The preferred embodiments of the present application disclosed above are only used to help explain the present application. The optional embodiments do not describe all the details in detail, nor do they limit the invention to the specific implementation methods described. Obviously, many modifications and changes can be made according to the content of the present application. The present application selects and specifically describes these embodiments in order to better explain the principles and practical applications of the present application, so that those skilled in the art can understand and use the present application well. The present application is only limited by the claims and their full scope and equivalents.

Claims

1. A warehouse management system, characterized in that: The system comprises: a control server, an inventory container, a first handling device, a second handling device, a workstation and an order container, wherein the first handling device and the second handling device are respectively connected to the control server for communication; wherein, The control server is configured to send a stock container handling instruction to the first handling device and send an order container handling instruction to the second handling device according to the order; The first handling device is configured to take out the target shelf from its storage location and transport it to the target workstation in response to the inventory container handling instruction; wherein the target workstation is equipped with a temporary storage mechanism; The target workstation is configured to take out the goods hit by the order from the target shelf and put them into the target order container by using a mechanical arm with a grasping function according to the picking task corresponding to the order; after determining that the goods are picked up from the target shelf and put into the target order container, report to the control server that the picking task corresponding to the order is completed; The second handling device is configured to respond to the order container handling instruction, carry the target order container to the target workstation and place it on the temporary storage mechanism, and after the picking task is completed, take out the target order container from the temporary storage mechanism and carry the target order container away from the target workstation, and / or, respond to the order container handling instruction, travel to the target workstation, take out the target order container that has completed the picking task from the temporary storage mechanism and carry the target order container away from the target workstation; wherein, the second handling device is a material box handling robot for carrying order containers, and the second handling device is a single material box handling robot or a multi-material box handling robot.

2. The warehouse management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The temporary storage mechanism is a temporary storage shelf or a roller conveyor.

3. The warehouse management system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The second handling device comprises a grabbing mechanism and a lifting mechanism, wherein the grabbing mechanism is supported on the lifting mechanism, and the lifting mechanism is used to drive the grabbing mechanism to rise or fall to the height where the target order container to be grabbed is located, so as to place the target order container on the temporary storage mechanism, and / or take out the target order container from the temporary storage mechanism; The second handling robot is fixedly or detachably connected with a cache rack, and the cache rack can cache multiple order containers.

4. The warehouse management system according to claim 3, characterized in that: Different order containers can be bound to different orders or the same order.

5. The warehouse management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The target shelf is a dense storage shelf or a non-dense storage shelf.

6. A warehouse management method, characterized in that: include: The control server sends a stock container transport instruction to the first transport device and sends an order container transport instruction to the second transport device according to the order; The first handling device, in response to the inventory container handling instruction, takes out the target shelf from its storage location and transports it to the target workstation; wherein the target workstation is equipped with a temporary storage mechanism; The target workstation uses a mechanical arm with a grasping function to take out the goods matched by the order from the target shelf and put them into the target order container according to the picking task corresponding to the order; after determining that the goods are picked up from the target shelf and put into the target order container, the target workstation reports to the control server that the picking task corresponding to the order is completed; The second handling device responds to the order container handling instruction, carries the target order container to the target workstation and places it on the temporary storage mechanism, and after the picking task is completed, takes out the target order container from the temporary storage mechanism and carries the target order container away from the target workstation, and / or, responds to the order container handling instruction, travels to the target workstation, takes out the target order container that has completed the picking task from the temporary storage mechanism and carries the target order container away from the target workstation; wherein, the second handling device is a material box handling robot for carrying order containers, and the second handling device is a single-material box handling robot or a multi-material box handling robot.

7. The warehouse management method according to claim 6, characterized in that: The temporary storage mechanism is a temporary storage shelf or a roller conveyor.

8. The warehouse management method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: The second handling device comprises a grabbing mechanism and a lifting mechanism, wherein the grabbing mechanism is supported on the lifting mechanism, and the lifting mechanism is used to drive the grabbing mechanism to rise or fall to the height where the target order container to be grabbed is located, so as to place the target order container on the temporary storage mechanism, and / or take out the target order container from the temporary storage mechanism; The second handling robot is fixedly or detachably connected with a cache rack, and the cache rack can cache multiple order containers.

9. The warehouse management method according to claim 8, characterized in that: Different order containers can be bound to different orders or the same order.

10. The warehouse management method according to claim 6, characterized in that: The target shelf is a dense storage shelf or a non-dense storage shelf.

Images