A material box picking method and device

Abstract

The present invention discloses a material box picking method and device, and relates to the field of warehousing technology. A specific implementation of the method includes: receiving a message from a conveyor line system that a material box has arrived at a first workstation; judging whether the material box has a picking task from other workstations; wherein the first workstation and the other workstations belong to the same workstation group; if so, executing the picking task of the first workstation on the material box, and sending a transport task of transporting the material box to the other workstation to the conveyor line system; if not, executing the picking task of the first workstation on the material box, and sending a transport task of transporting the material box back to the warehouse to the conveyor line system. This implementation can solve the technical problem of excessively high transport costs and time costs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of warehousing technology, and in particular to a material box picking method and device. Background Art

[0002] When a material box is circulating on the conveyor line, if it reaches a workstation, the production scheduling system can no longer add picking tasks to the material box. It must wait until the picking of the material box is completed and then add picking tasks to the material box again on the way back to the warehouse. At this time, the picking tasks need to be re-issued to the workstation, and then issued to the conveyor line system by the workstation.

[0003] In the process of implementing the present invention, the inventors found that there are at least the following problems in the prior art:

[0004] 1) It is necessary to wait until the material box picking is completed and then add the picking task again during the transportation back to the warehouse, which increases the time consumption of material box inventory positioning;

[0005] 2) After adding the picking task during the return to warehouse transportation, the scheduling system needs to re-issue the outbound delivery task. There are many process stages, and the same material box is returned to the warehouse and transferred out of the warehouse many times, resulting in excessive transportation costs and time costs. Summary of the invention

[0006] In view of this, an embodiment of the present invention provides a material box picking method and device to solve the technical problem of excessively high transportation cost and time cost.

[0007] To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a method for picking a material box is provided, comprising:

[0008] Receive a message from the conveyor line system indicating that the material box has arrived at the first workstation;

[0009] Determine whether the material box has a picking task from other workstations; wherein the first workstation and the other workstations belong to the same workstation group;

[0010] If yes, the picking task of the first workstation is performed on the material box, and a transport task of transporting the material box to the other workstation is sent to the conveyor line system;

[0011] If not, the picking task of the first workstation is performed on the material box, and a transport task of transporting the material box back to the warehouse is sent to the conveyor line system.

[0012] Optionally, the first workstation and the other workstations are located on the same closed-loop conveyor line.

[0013] Optionally, before the material box reaches the last workstation on the closed-loop conveyor line, the material box is allowed to be added with a picking task of any workstation on the closed-loop conveyor line.

[0014] Optionally, sending a transport task for transporting the material box to the other workstation to the conveyor line system includes:

[0015] According to the distance between the first workstation and each of the other workstations, select the second workstation with the shortest distance to the first workstation;

[0016] A transport task for transporting the material box to the second workstation is sent to the conveyor line system.

[0017] Optionally, sending a transport task for transporting the material box to the other workstation to the conveyor line system includes:

[0018] Based on the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction, selecting a second workstation adjacent to the first workstation from the other workstations;

[0019] A transport task for transporting the material box to the second workstation is sent to the conveyor line system.

[0020] Optionally, sending a transport task for transporting the material box to the second workstation to the conveyor line system includes:

[0021] Taking the second workstation as the first, sorting each workstation on the closed-loop conveyor line that needs the material box inventory, thereby obtaining a workstation list;

[0022] According to the order of each workstation in the workstation list, try to occupy the cache position of the second workstation in turn until the occupation is successful, and then send a transport task to the conveyor line system to transport the material box to the second workstation.

[0023] Optionally, executing the picking task of the first workstation for the material box and sending a transport task of transporting the material box back to the warehouse to the conveyor line system includes:

[0024] Determine whether the number of picking tasks for the bin is less than the inventory pre-completion threshold;

[0025] If so, the state of the material box is modified to pre-outbound completion, the picking task of the first workstation is performed on the material box, the state of the material box is modified to being transported back to the warehouse, and a transport task for transporting the material box back to the warehouse is sent to the conveyor line system;

[0026] If not, the picking task of the first workstation is performed on the material box, the state of the material box is modified to be in the process of being transported back to the warehouse, and a transport task for transporting the material box back to the warehouse is sent to the conveyor line system.

[0027] Optionally, before receiving the message sent by the conveyor line system that the material box has arrived at the first workstation, the method further includes:

[0028] Receiving the outbound task of the material box issued by the intelligent production scheduling system;

[0029] A transport task for transporting the material box to the first workstation is sent to the conveyor line system.

[0030] In addition, according to another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a material box picking device is provided, comprising:

[0031] A receiving module, used for receiving a message from the conveyor line system indicating that the material box has arrived at the first workstation;

[0032] A processing module is used to determine whether the material box has a picking task from other workstations; wherein the first workstation and the other workstations belong to the same workstation group; if so, the picking task of the first workstation is executed on the material box, and a transport task of transporting the material box to the other workstation is sent to the conveyor line system; if not, the picking task of the first workstation is executed on the material box, and a transport task of transporting the material box back to the warehouse is sent to the conveyor line system.

[0033] Optionally, the first workstation and the other workstations are located on the same closed-loop conveyor line.

[0034] Optionally, before the material box reaches the last workstation on the closed-loop conveyor line, the material box is allowed to be added with a picking task of any workstation on the closed-loop conveyor line.

[0035] Optionally, the processing module is further used for:

[0036] According to the distance between the first workstation and each of the other workstations, select the second workstation with the shortest distance to the first workstation;

[0037] A transport task for transporting the material box to the second workstation is sent to the conveyor line system.

[0038] Optionally, the processing module is further used for:

[0039] Based on the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction, selecting a second workstation adjacent to the first workstation from the other workstations;

[0040] A transport task for transporting the material box to the second workstation is sent to the conveyor line system.

[0041] Optionally, the processing module is further used for:

[0042] Taking the second workstation as the first, sorting each workstation on the closed-loop conveyor line that needs the material box inventory, thereby obtaining a workstation list;

[0043] According to the order of each workstation in the workstation list, try to occupy the cache position of the second workstation in turn until the occupation is successful, and then send a transport task to the conveyor line system to transport the material box to the second workstation.

[0044] Optionally, the processing module is further used for:

[0045] Determine whether the number of picking tasks for the bin is less than the inventory pre-completion threshold;

[0046] If so, the state of the material box is modified to pre-outbound completion, the picking task of the first workstation is performed on the material box, the state of the material box is modified to being transported back to the warehouse, and a transport task for transporting the material box back to the warehouse is sent to the conveyor line system;

[0047] If not, the picking task of the first workstation is performed on the material box, the state of the material box is modified to be in the process of being transported back to the warehouse, and a transport task for transporting the material box back to the warehouse is sent to the conveyor line system.

[0048] Optionally, the processing module is further used for:

[0049] Before receiving the message from the conveyor line system that the material box has arrived at the first workstation, receiving the outbound task of the material box issued by the intelligent production scheduling system;

[0050] A transport task for transporting the material box to the first workstation is sent to the conveyor line system.

[0051] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there is further provided an electronic device, including:

[0052] one or more processors;

[0053] a storage device for storing one or more programs,

[0054] When the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors implement the method described in any one of the above embodiments.

[0055] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a computer-readable medium is provided, on which a computer program is stored. When the program is executed by a processor, the method described in any one of the above embodiments is implemented.

[0056] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a computer program product is provided, including a computer program, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the method described in any one of the above embodiments is implemented.

[0057] One embodiment of the above invention has the following advantages or beneficial effects: because if the material box has a picking task of other workstations in the same workstation group, the picking task of the first workstation is first executed on the material box, and then the transportation task of transporting the material box to other workstations is sent to the conveyor line system, so the technical problem of high transportation cost and time cost in the prior art is overcome. The embodiment of the present invention divides multiple workstations that were originally independent and unrelated on the conveyor line into the same workstation group, and improves the efficiency of production scheduling and outbound transportation by delaying the time to change the state of the material box to the pre-completion of outbound delivery and reducing the number of times of returning to the warehouse and transferring to the outbound warehouse, and reduces the number of times the workstation sends the back warehouse task to reduce the circulation link of the storage material box.

[0058] The further effects of the above-mentioned non-conventional optional manner will be described below in conjunction with the specific implementation manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the prior art descriptions. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work. Among them:

[0060] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the main process of the bin picking method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0061] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a ring-type conveyor line according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0062] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the main process of a bin picking method according to a reference embodiment of the present invention;

[0063] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a workstation list according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0064] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the main process of a bin picking method according to another reference embodiment of the present invention;

[0065] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of main modules of a bin picking device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0066] Figure 7 is an exemplary system architecture diagram to which embodiments of the present invention may be applied;

[0067] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a computer system of a terminal device or a server suitable for implementing an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0068] The following is a description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, including various details of the embodiments of the present invention to facilitate understanding, which should be considered as merely exemplary. Therefore, it should be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Similarly, for clarity and conciseness, the description of well-known functions and structures is omitted in the following description.

[0069] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the main process of the bin picking method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 1 As shown, the bin picking method is applied to a workstation system and may include:

[0070] Step 101, receiving a message from a conveyor line system indicating that a material box has arrived at a first workstation.

[0071] After receiving the material box transport task, the conveyor line system transports the material box to the destination (i.e., the first workstation) through the conveyor line, and then sends a message to the workstation system that the material box has arrived at the first workstation. The workstation system receives the message sent by the conveyor line system that the material box has arrived at the first workstation.

[0072] It should be pointed out that the workstation in the embodiment of the present invention refers to a goods-to-person picking workstation, that is, a workbench for manually picking goods, referred to as a picking workstation or a warehouse-out workstation.

[0073] Optionally, before step 101, it also includes: receiving the outbound task of the material box issued by the intelligent production scheduling system; sending a transportation task of transporting the material box to the first workstation to the conveyor line system. In an embodiment of the present invention, the intelligent production scheduling system first locates the material box inventory according to the outbound order, modifies the status of the material box to being transported out of the warehouse, and then sends the outbound task of the material box to the workstation system. The workstation system receives the outbound task of the material box and forwards the outbound task to the conveyor line system. After the conveyor line system receives the outbound task of the material box, it transports the material box to the first workstation through the conveyor line, and then sends a message to the workstation system that the material box has arrived.

[0074] Step 102, determining whether the material box has a picking task from other workstations; wherein the first workstation and the other workstations belong to the same workstation group; if so, executing step 103; if not, executing step 104.

[0075] When the material box arrives at the first workstation, the workstation system queries the picking task of the material box, and determines whether the material box has a picking task from other workstations based on the query result, where the other workstations can be one or more, and the other workstations belong to the same workstation group as the first workstation.

[0076] Optionally, the first workstation and the other workstations are located on the same closed-loop conveyor line to improve the handling efficiency of the material box. Figure 2 As shown, multiple workstations that were originally independent and unrelated on a closed-loop conveyor line (that is, the material box can flow in a circle on the conveyor line, and the material box leaving workstation A can pass through other workstations such as B, C, etc. and then return to workstation A) are divided into the same workstation group, and all workstations under the same workstation group can share a set of box placement / removal ports.

[0077] Step 103: executing the picking task of the first workstation for the material box, and sending a transport task of transporting the material box to the other workstation to the conveyor line system.

[0078] If the material box has a picking task at another workstation, the picking task at the first workstation is performed on the material box first. After the picking at the first workstation is completed, a transport task for transporting the material box to the second workstation (any one of the other workstations) is sent to the conveyor line system. After receiving the transport task, the conveyor line system transports the material box to the second workstation through the conveyor line, and then sends a message to the workstation system that the material box has arrived. The workstation system receives the message sent by the conveyor line system that the material box has arrived at the second workstation, and then executes steps 102 and 103 or steps 103 and 104, similar to the first workstation, and no further details are given.

[0079] Optionally, before the material box reaches the last workstation on the closed-loop conveyor line, the material box is allowed to be added with the picking task of any workstation on the closed-loop conveyor line. During the process of a material box being shipped out of the warehouse, before it reaches the last workstation of this shipment, the intelligent production scheduling system can arbitrarily add the inventory of the material box (i.e., add the picking task of the workstation to the material box). This process only requires logical judgment within the workstation, and there is no need to execute the flow of return to warehouse -> shipment. Therefore, it greatly improves the efficiency of production scheduling and additional positioning, reduces the number of times of return to warehouse and shipment, and at the same time reduces the transportation distance of the conveyor line during a single shipment of the material box, and reduces the transportation cost.

[0080] Return to warehouse and transfer out: During the process of returning to warehouse, the material box is intelligently located to the inventory in the material box and assigned a new outbound task, which is referred to as transfer out or transfer in and out.

[0081] Optionally, sending a handling task to the conveyor line system to carry the material box to the other workstations includes: selecting a second workstation with the shortest distance from the first workstation according to the distance between the first workstation and each of the other workstations; and sending a handling task to the conveyor line system to carry the material box to the second workstation. In order to improve the handling efficiency, a workstation closest to the first workstation can be selected from the other workstations as the next workstation (i.e., the second workstation), and then sending a handling task to the conveyor line system so that the conveyor line system can carry the material box to the second workstation via the conveyor line.

[0082] Optionally, sending the task of transporting the material box to the other workstation to the conveyor line system includes: selecting a second workstation adjacent to the first workstation from the other workstations based on a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction; and sending the task of transporting the material box to the second workstation to the conveyor line system. In addition to the principle of the shortest distance adopted in the above embodiment, the second workstation can also be selected based on a preset direction, such as Figure 2 As shown, the next workstation can be selected as the second workstation based on the counterclockwise direction, and then a handling task is sent to the conveyor line system so that the conveyor line system can carry the material box to the second workstation through the conveyor line. Similarly, the next workstation can also be selected as the second workstation based on the clockwise direction, and the embodiment of the present invention does not limit this.

[0083] Step 104, executing the picking task of the first workstation for the material box, and sending a transport task of transporting the material box back to the warehouse to the conveyor line system.

[0084] If the material box does not have a picking task at other workstations, the first workstation will first perform the picking task for the material box. After the picking at the first workstation is completed, a transport task for transporting the material box back to the warehouse is sent to the conveyor line system. After receiving the transport task, the conveyor line system transports the material box back to the warehouse through the conveyor line.

[0085] Optionally, step 104 may include: determining whether the number of picking tasks for the material box is less than the inventory pre-completion threshold; if so, changing the status of the material box to pre-completion of outbound delivery, executing the picking task of the first workstation for the material box, changing the status of the material box to being returned to the warehouse for transportation, and sending a transport task for transporting the material box back to the warehouse to the conveyor line system; if not, executing the picking task of the first workstation for the material box, changing the status of the material box to being returned to the warehouse for transportation, and sending a transport task for transporting the material box back to the warehouse to the conveyor line system.

[0086] In an embodiment of the present invention, the number of picking tasks refers to the number of detailed tasks that have not been picked in the material box at the current workstation at the current time, and one detail can pick multiple items. One picking task is the picking of N items of one kind. If the material box arrives at the workstation, the material box has multiple picking tasks, and the picking tasks can be completed at one time, and each picking task performs a picking operation. Example: After a material box with 4 compartments arrives at the workstation, each compartment needs to pick one item, which means that the material box currently has 4 detailed picking tasks, and each picking task can pick N items. After the material box arrives at the workstation, the picker can pick 4 times in a row, picking out the corresponding number of items from different compartments.

[0087] Before a material box is shipped from a storage location to a workstation, the status of a single material box is "in process of shipping out of the warehouse", and the intelligent production scheduling system can add picking tasks to the material box. When the material box is picked up at the workstation, the workstation sends the handling task of the storage location back to the conveyor line system and modifies the status of the storage material box to "in process of shipping back to the warehouse". After that, the intelligent production scheduling system can relocate the inventory of this material box and issue the task of transferring from the warehouse back to the warehouse. However, if the material box arrives at the workstation and the number of picking tasks for the material box is less than or equal to the inventory pre-completion threshold, the workstation modifies the status of the material box to pre-completion of shipping out of the warehouse, and the intelligent production scheduling system can no longer add picking tasks to the material box.

[0088] Generally, when there are 2 picking tasks left (the inventory pre-completion threshold is 2, which is configurable), the status of the material box is changed to outbound pre-completion. Before outbound pre-completion, the status of the material box is outbound transportation. In order to improve the efficiency of locating items in the material box, additional picking tasks are allowed during the transportation of the material box. For example, when a material box locates a picking task for the first time, on the way to the workstation, if the intelligent scheduling system calculates that other orders also need the items in this material box, it will issue additional picking tasks for this material box to the workstation. However, if the status of the material box is not changed to outbound pre-completion when the material box arrives at the workstation, the intelligent scheduling system will continue to add inventory located to the material box, which will lead to a phenomenon: the picker has already picked the picking tasks of the material box, and when the material box leaves, the material box is located and issued a new picking task, but at this time the material box has already left, and it cannot be picked on site. Therefore, when the number of picking tasks for a material box is less than or equal to the inventory pre-completion threshold, the material box status is changed to outbound pre-completion, which can prevent the intelligent scheduling system from continuing to locate the inventory of this material box and avoid the material box receiving new picking tasks while subsequent picking is completed.

[0089] According to the various embodiments described above, it can be seen that the embodiment of the present invention solves the technical problem of high handling cost and time cost in the prior art by first executing the picking task of the first workstation on the material box if there are picking tasks of other workstations in the same workstation group, and then sending the handling task of transporting the material box to other workstations to the conveyor line system. The embodiment of the present invention divides multiple workstations that were originally independent and unrelated on the conveyor line into the same workstation group, and improves the efficiency of production scheduling and outbound handling by delaying the time to change the state of the material box to the pre-completion of outbound delivery and reducing the number of times the return to warehouse is transferred to outbound delivery, and reduces the number of times the workstation sends the return to warehouse task to reduce the circulation link of the storage material box.

[0090] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the main process of a bin picking method according to a reference embodiment of the present invention. As another embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 As shown, the bin picking method may include:

[0091] Step 301, receiving the material box outbound task issued by the intelligent production scheduling system.

[0092] The intelligent production scheduling system first locates the material box inventory according to the outbound order, changes the status of the material box to being outbound and in transit, and then issues the outbound task of the material box to the workstation system.

[0093] Step 302: Send a transport task to the conveyor line system to transport the material box to the first workstation.

[0094] After receiving the outbound task of the material box, the workstation system sends a transport task of transporting the material box to the first workstation to the conveyor line system.

[0095] Step 303: Receive a message from the conveyor line system indicating that the material box has arrived at the first workstation.

[0096] After receiving the transport task of the material box, the conveyor line system transports the material box to the first workstation through the conveyor line, and then sends a message to the workstation system that the material box has arrived.

[0097] Step 304, determining whether the material box has a picking task from other workstations; wherein the first workstation and the other workstations belong to the same workstation group, and the first workstation and the other workstations are located on the same closed-loop conveyor line.

[0098] When the material box arrives at the first workstation, the workstation system queries the picking task of the material box, and determines whether the material box has a picking task at other workstations based on the query result, wherein the other workstations can be one or more, the other workstations and the first workstation belong to the same workstation group, and the first workstation and the other workstations are located on the same closed-loop conveyor line.

[0099] like Figure 2 As shown, the workstation group GRP001 includes 6 workstations, A, B, C, D, E, and F. The order of workstations A...F is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 respectively (the workstation order attribute determines which workstation the material box will go to first after the current workstation has finished picking, if there are picking tasks for multiple other workstations. It should be pointed out that the order attribute can be adjusted in real time through the system parameter configuration.

[0100] The embodiment of the present invention logically connects several originally independent workstations on the ring conveyor line in series to form a workstation group. As long as the material box is picked at any workstation on the ring conveyor line, the intelligent production scheduling system can arbitrarily locate the material box inventory and add a depot task.

[0101] For example, the material box numbered 001 at the storage location is located and shipped out of the warehouse. The intelligent scheduling system sends the task to the workstation system, and the workstation system sends it to the conveyor line system. The trolley is responsible for transporting the material box from the corresponding storage location to the box placement port on the loop line. After the material box is dropped to the box placement port, the conveyor line starts to execute the transport task to the first workstation.

[0102] The first workstation can be any workstation. Taking workstation D as an example, when the storage box is being transported from the box opening to workstation D, the intelligent scheduling system can locate the inventory of the box and add an outbound task. However, it does not necessarily add the picking task of workstation D. Since A…F belong to the same group, the scheduling system can add the outbound task of the box to any workstation.

[0103] Step 305: Execute the picking task of the first workstation on the material box.

[0104] When the material box arrives at workstation D, workstation D queries the database to calculate whether the material box has a picking task at other workstations besides the picking task at workstation D.

[0105] If the current status of the material box is "in process of outbound transportation", there is no need to change the status of the material box to "pre-outbound completion", but directly pick the material box. In addition, during the picking process, the intelligent production scheduling system can continue to add picking tasks for the material box.

[0106] Step 306, based on the counterclockwise direction, select the second workstation adjacent to the first workstation from the other workstations; take the second workstation as the first, and sort the various workstations on the closed-loop conveyor line that need the material box inventory, so as to obtain a workstation list.

[0107] After the task picking of the material box at workstation D is completed, the workstation system determines whether there are picking tasks for the material box at other workstations, and then triggers the circular picking process of material box 001. Query all the waiting picking tasks of material box 001 at other workstations except workstation D, and find that there are 5 workstations in the current group (that is, the group where workstation D is located) that need the inventory of the material box, namely workstations A, B, C, E, and F.

[0108] like Figure 2 As shown, in the counterclockwise direction, workstation E is selected from the five workstations as the next workstation (i.e., the second workstation), and with workstation E as the first and last, the five workstations are sorted in the counterclockwise direction to obtain the information workstation list: E, F, A, B, C, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 shown.

[0109] Step 307 , according to the order of each workstation in the workstation list, try to occupy the cache position of the second workstation in turn until the occupation is successful, and then send a transport task to the conveyor line system to transport the material box to the second workstation.

[0110] like Figure 4As shown, the workstation system tries to occupy the cache position of the destination workstation in the order of E, F, A, B, and C. If the cache position of workstation E is successfully occupied, the task of transporting the material box to workstation E is sent to the conveyor line system, and the conveyor line directly performs the task of transporting the material box to workstation E. If the cache position of workstation E fails to be occupied, the cache position of workstation F continues to be occupied. If workstation F also has no available cache position, the cache positions of workstations A, B, and C are tried in turn. As long as the cache position of any workstation is successfully occupied, the task of transporting the material box to the destination workstation is sent to the conveyor line system. If the cache positions of all the remaining workstations fail to be occupied, the material box is ejected from workstation D and sent to the conveyor line system without a destination point cycle task (the destination workstation to which the material box is going has no available cache position, but it cannot occupy the current workstation position, so it is ejected first and circulated on the loop line). The workstation system continues to occupy the cache positions of these workstations in a loop until the occupation is successful, and then the task of transporting the material box to a certain workstation is re-sent to the conveyor line.

[0111] If the picking tasks of the material box at all workstations are completed, the workstation system sends the return task of material box 001 to the conveyor line system, and the conveyor line transports the material box back to the warehouse.

[0112] Step 308: Execute the picking task of the first workstation for the material box, and send a transport task to the conveyor line system to transport the material box back to the warehouse.

[0113] If the material box does not have a picking task at other workstations, the first workstation will first perform the picking task for the material box. After the picking at the first workstation is completed, a transport task for transporting the material box back to the warehouse is sent to the conveyor line system. After receiving the transport task, the conveyor line system transports the material box back to the warehouse through the conveyor line.

[0114] Specifically, determine whether the number of picking tasks for the material box is less than the inventory pre-completion threshold; if so, change the status of the material box to pre-completion of outbound delivery, execute the picking task of the first workstation for the material box, change the status of the material box to being returned to the warehouse for transportation, and send a transport task for transporting the material box back to the warehouse to the conveyor line system; if not, execute the picking task of the first workstation for the material box, change the status of the material box to being returned to the warehouse for transportation, and send a transport task for transporting the material box back to the warehouse to the conveyor line system.

[0115] In addition, the specific implementation content of the bin picking method in a reference embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail in the bin picking method described above, so the repeated content will not be described here.

[0116] Figure 5Schematic diagram of the main process of a bin picking method according to another reference embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 As shown, the bin picking method may include:

[0117] The intelligent production scheduling system first locates the bin inventory according to the outbound order, changes the bin status to outbound handling, and then issues the outbound task of the bin to the workstation system. After the workstation system receives the outbound task of the bin, it sends the task of transporting the bin to the first workstation to the conveyor system. After the conveyor system receives the task of transporting the bin, it transports the bin to the first workstation through the conveyor line, and then sends a message to the workstation system that the bin has arrived at the first workstation.

[0118] After receiving the message that the material box has arrived at the first workstation, the workstation system determines whether the material box has a picking task from other workstations; wherein the first workstation and the other workstations belong to the same workstation group.

[0119] If there is, the material box is picked at the first workstation, and after the picking is completed, a transport task is sent to the conveyor line system to transport the material box to the next workstation (i.e., any one of the other workstations); after the conveyor line system receives the transport task, it transports the material box to the next workstation, and then sends a message to the workstation system that the material box has arrived. The workstation system receives the message sent by the conveyor line system that the material box has arrived at the next workstation. The subsequent process is similar to that of the first workstation and will not be repeated.

[0120] If not, determine whether the number of picking tasks for the material box is less than the inventory pre-completion threshold; if yes, change the status of the material box to pre-completion of outbound delivery, and then perform picking operation on the material box at the first workstation. After picking is completed, change the status of the material box to being returned to the warehouse for transportation, and send a transportation task for transporting the material box back to the warehouse to the conveyor line system; if not, perform picking operation on the material box at the first workstation. After picking is completed, change the status of the material box to being returned to the warehouse for transportation, and send a transportation task for transporting the material box back to the warehouse to the conveyor line system.

[0121] Among them, before the material box is transported from the storage location to the workstation, the status of a single material box is "outbound transportation", and the intelligent scheduling system can add picking tasks to the material box. When the material box is picked at the workstation, the workstation sends the transportation task of the storage location back to the conveyor line system, and modifies the status of the storage material box to "return to the warehouse for transportation". After that, the intelligent scheduling system can relocate the inventory of this material box and issue the task of returning to the warehouse and transferring to the outbound warehouse. However, if the material box arrives at the workstation and the number of picking tasks for the material box is <= the inventory pre-completion threshold, the workstation modifies the status of the material box to outbound pre-completion, and the intelligent scheduling system can no longer add picking tasks to the material box.

[0122] In addition, the specific implementation content of the material box picking method in another reference embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail in the material box picking method described above, so the repeated content will not be described here.

[0123] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the main modules of the bin picking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 As shown, the material box picking device 600 includes a receiving module 601 and a processing module 602; wherein, the receiving module 601 is used to receive a message sent by the conveyor line system that the material box has arrived at the first workstation; the processing module 602 is used to determine whether the material box has a picking task from other workstations; wherein, the first workstation and the other workstations belong to the same workstation group; if so, the picking task of the first workstation is executed on the material box, and a transport task of transporting the material box to the other workstation is sent to the conveyor line system; if not, the picking task of the first workstation is executed on the material box, and a transport task of transporting the material box back to the warehouse is sent to the conveyor line system.

[0124] Optionally, the first workstation and the other workstations are located on the same closed-loop conveyor line.

[0125] Optionally, before the material box reaches the last workstation on the closed-loop conveyor line, the material box is allowed to be added with a picking task of any workstation on the closed-loop conveyor line.

[0126] Optionally, the processing module 602 is further configured to:

[0127] According to the distance between the first workstation and each of the other workstations, select the second workstation with the shortest distance to the first workstation;

[0128] A transport task for transporting the material box to the second workstation is sent to the conveyor line system.

[0129] Optionally, the processing module 602 is further configured to:

[0130] Based on the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction, selecting a second workstation adjacent to the first workstation from the other workstations;

[0131] A transport task for transporting the material box to the second workstation is sent to the conveyor line system.

[0132] Optionally, the processing module 602 is further configured to:

[0133] Taking the second workstation as the first, sorting each workstation on the closed-loop conveyor line that needs the material box inventory, thereby obtaining a workstation list;

[0134] According to the order of each workstation in the workstation list, try to occupy the cache position of the second workstation in turn until the occupation is successful, and then send a transport task to the conveyor line system to transport the material box to the second workstation.

[0135] Optionally, the processing module 602 is further configured to:

[0136] Determine whether the number of picking tasks for the bin is less than the inventory pre-completion threshold;

[0137] If so, the state of the material box is modified to pre-outbound completion, the picking task of the first workstation is performed on the material box, the state of the material box is modified to being transported back to the warehouse, and a transport task for transporting the material box back to the warehouse is sent to the conveyor line system;

[0138] If not, the picking task of the first workstation is performed on the material box, the state of the material box is modified to be in the process of being transported back to the warehouse, and a transport task for transporting the material box back to the warehouse is sent to the conveyor line system.

[0139] Optionally, the processing module 602 is further configured to:

[0140] Before receiving the message from the conveyor line system that the material box has arrived at the first workstation, receiving the outbound task of the material box issued by the intelligent production scheduling system;

[0141] A transport task for transporting the material box to the first workstation is sent to the conveyor line system.

[0142] It should be noted that the specific implementation content of the material box picking device described in the present invention has been described in detail in the material box picking method described above, so the repeated content will not be described here.

[0143] Figure 7 An exemplary system architecture 700 is shown to which a bin picking method or a bin picking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may be applied.

[0144] like Figure 7As shown, system architecture 700 may include terminal devices 701, 702, 703, network 704 and server 705. Network 704 is used to provide a medium for communication links between terminal devices 701, 702, 703 and server 705. Network 704 may include various connection types, such as wired, wireless communication links or optical fiber cables, etc.

[0145] Users can use terminal devices 701, 702, and 703 to interact with server 705 through network 704 to receive or send messages, etc. Various communication client applications can be installed on terminal devices 701, 702, and 703, such as shopping applications, web browser applications, search applications, instant messaging tools, email clients, social platform software, etc. (only examples).

[0146] The terminal devices 701 , 702 , and 703 may be various electronic devices having a display screen and supporting web browsing, including but not limited to smart phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, and desktop computers.

[0147] Server 705 may be a server that provides various services, such as a backend management server (for example only) that provides support for shopping websites browsed by users using terminal devices 701, 702, and 703. The backend management server may analyze and process the received data such as item information query requests, and feed back the processing results to the terminal device.

[0148] It should be noted that the bin picking method provided in the embodiment of the present invention is generally executed by the server 705, and accordingly, the bin picking device is generally set in the server 705. The bin picking method provided in the embodiment of the present invention can also be executed by the terminal devices 701, 702, 703, and accordingly, the bin picking device can be set in the terminal devices 701, 702, 703.

[0149] It should be understood that Figure 7 The number of terminal devices, networks and servers in the embodiment is only for illustration. Any number of terminal devices, networks and servers may be provided according to implementation requirements.

[0150] Reference below Figure 8 , which shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a computer system 800 of a terminal device suitable for implementing an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 The terminal device shown is only an example and should not bring any limitation to the functions and scope of use of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0151] like Figure 8As shown, the computer system 800 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 801, which can perform various appropriate actions and processes according to a program stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 802 or a program loaded from a storage part 808 into a random access memory (RAM) 803. In the RAM 803, various programs and data required for the operation of the system 800 are also stored. The CPU 801, the ROM 802, and the RAM 803 are connected to each other via a bus 804. An input / output (I / O) interface 805 is also connected to the bus 804.

[0152] The following components are connected to the I / O interface 805: an input section 806 including a keyboard, a mouse, etc.; an output section 807 including a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), etc., and a speaker, etc.; a storage section 808 including a hard disk, etc.; and a communication section 809 including a network interface card such as a LAN card, a modem, etc. The communication section 809 performs communication processing via a network such as the Internet. A drive 810 is also connected to the I / O interface 805 as needed. A removable medium 811, such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory, etc., is installed on the drive 810 as needed, so that a computer program read therefrom is installed into the storage section 808 as needed.

[0153] In particular, according to the embodiments disclosed in the present invention, the process described above with reference to the flowchart can be implemented as a computer software program. For example, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention include a computer program, which includes a computer program carried on a computer-readable medium, and the computer program includes a program code for executing the method shown in the flowchart. In such an embodiment, the computer program can be downloaded and installed from the network through the communication part 809, and / or installed from the removable medium 811. When the computer program is executed by the central processing unit (CPU) 801, the above-mentioned functions defined in the system of the present invention are executed.

[0154] It should be noted that the computer-readable medium shown in the present invention 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 present invention, a computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium containing or storing a program that can be used by or in combination with an instruction execution system, device or device. In the present invention, a computer-readable signal medium may include a data signal propagated in a baseband or as part of a carrier wave, which carries a computer-readable program code. 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. Computer-readable signal media may also be any computer-readable medium other than computer-readable storage media, 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 appropriate medium, including but not limited to: wireless, wire, optical cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the above.

[0155] The flow chart and block diagram in the accompanying drawings illustrate the possible architecture, functions and operations of the system, method and computer program according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each box in the flow chart or block diagram can represent a module, a program segment, or a part of a code, and the above-mentioned module, program segment, or a part of a code contains one or more executable instructions for realizing the specified logical function. It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions marked in the box can also occur in a different order from the order marked in the accompanying drawings. For example, two 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 box in the block diagram or flow chart, and the combination of the boxes in the block diagram 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.

[0156] The modules involved in the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented by software or hardware. The modules described may also be set in a processor, for example, it may be described as: a processor includes a receiving module and a processing module, wherein the names of these modules do not constitute a limitation on the modules themselves in some cases.

[0157] As another aspect, the present invention also provides a computer-readable medium, which may be included in the device described in the above embodiment; or it may exist independently and not be assembled into the device. The above computer-readable medium carries one or more programs. When the above one or more programs are executed by a device, the device implements the following method: receiving a message from a conveyor line system that a material box has arrived at a first workstation; judging whether the material box has a picking task from other workstations; wherein the first workstation and the other workstations belong to the same workstation group; if so, executing the picking task of the first workstation on the material box, and sending a transport task of transporting the material box to the other workstation to the conveyor line system; if not, executing the picking task of the first workstation on the material box, and sending a transport task of transporting the material box back to the warehouse to the conveyor line system.

[0158] As another aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer program product, including a computer program, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the method described in any of the above embodiments is implemented.

[0159] According to the technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention, if the material box has a picking task from other workstations in the same workstation group, the picking task of the first workstation is first executed on the material box, and then the transportation task of transporting the material box to other workstations is sent to the conveyor line system, so the technical problem of high transportation cost and time cost in the prior art is overcome. The embodiment of the present invention divides multiple workstations that were originally independent and unrelated on the conveyor line into the same workstation group, and improves the efficiency of production scheduling and outbound transportation by delaying the time to change the state of the material box to the pre-completion of outbound delivery and reducing the number of times of returning to the warehouse and transferring outbound delivery, and reduces the number of times the workstation sends back to the warehouse task to reduce the circulation link of the storage material box.

[0160] The above specific implementations do not constitute a limitation on the protection scope of the present invention. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and substitutions may occur depending on design requirements and other factors. Any modification, equivalent substitution and improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bin picking method, characterized in that: include: Receive a message from the conveyor line system indicating that the material box has arrived at the first workstation; Determine whether the material box has a picking task from other workstations; wherein the first workstation and the other workstations belong to the same workstation group; If yes, the picking task of the first workstation is performed on the material box, and a transport task of transporting the material box to the other workstation is sent to the conveyor line system; If not, the picking task of the first workstation is performed on the material box, and a transport task of transporting the material box back to the warehouse is sent to the conveyor line system; Executing the picking task of the first workstation for the material box, and sending a transport task of transporting the material box back to the warehouse to the conveyor line system, including: Determine whether the number of picking tasks for the bin is less than the inventory pre-completion threshold; If so, the status of the material box is changed to pre-outbound completion, the picking task of the first workstation is executed for the material box, the status of the material box is changed to being returned to the warehouse, and a transport task for transporting the material box back to the warehouse is sent to the conveyor line system; wherein, after the outbound pre-outbound completion, no further picking tasks can be sent to the material box.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first workstation and the other workstations are located on the same closed-loop conveyor line.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that Before the material box reaches the last workstation on the closed-loop conveyor line, the material box is allowed to be added with a picking task of any workstation on the closed-loop conveyor line.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that: Sending a transport task to the conveyor line system to transport the material box to the other workstation includes: According to the distance between the first workstation and each of the other workstations, select the second workstation with the shortest distance to the first workstation; A transport task for transporting the material box to the second workstation is sent to the conveyor line system.

5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that: Sending a transport task to the conveyor line system to transport the material box to the other workstation includes: Based on the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction, selecting a second workstation adjacent to the first workstation from the other workstations; A transport task for transporting the material box to the second workstation is sent to the conveyor line system.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: Sending a transport task to the conveyor line system to transport the material box to the second workstation includes: Taking the second workstation as the first, sorting each workstation on the closed-loop conveyor line that needs the material box inventory, thereby obtaining a workstation list; According to the order of each workstation in the workstation list, try to occupy the cache position of the second workstation in turn until the occupation is successful, and then send a transport task to the conveyor line system to transport the material box to the second workstation.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Executing the picking task of the first workstation on the material box, sending a transport task of transporting the material box back to the warehouse to the conveyor line system, further comprising: If not, the picking task of the first workstation is performed on the material box, the state of the material box is modified to be in the process of being transported back to the warehouse, and a transport task for transporting the material box back to the warehouse is sent to the conveyor line system.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Before receiving the message from the conveyor line system that the material box has arrived at the first workstation, it also includes: Receiving the outbound task of the material box issued by the intelligent production scheduling system; A transport task for transporting the material box to the first workstation is sent to the conveyor line system.

9. A material box picking device, characterized in that: include: A receiving module, used for receiving a message from the conveyor line system indicating that the material box has arrived at the first workstation; a processing module, used to determine whether the material box has a picking task of other workstations; wherein the first workstation and the other workstations belong to the same workstation group; if so, the picking task of the first workstation is executed on the material box, and a transport task of transporting the material box to the other workstation is sent to the conveyor line system; if not, the picking task of the first workstation is executed on the material box, and a transport task of transporting the material box back to the warehouse is sent to the conveyor line system; The processing module is also used for: Determine whether the number of picking tasks for the bin is less than the inventory pre-completion threshold; If so, the status of the material box is changed to pre-outbound completion, the picking task of the first workstation is executed for the material box, the status of the material box is changed to being returned to the warehouse, and a transport task for transporting the material box back to the warehouse is sent to the conveyor line system; wherein, after the outbound pre-outbound completion, no further picking tasks can be sent to the material box.

10. An electronic device, characterized in that: include: one or more processors; a storage device for storing one or more programs, 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 8.

11. A computer readable medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that: When the program is executed by a processor, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is implemented.

12. A computer program product, comprising a computer program, characterized in that When the computer program is executed by a processor, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is implemented.

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