An order picking system and a picking method

Abstract

The present application relates to an order picking system and a picking method. The order picking system includes a storage area, a transfer area, a sorting area, a first robot, and a second robot. The storage area includes at least one row of shelves for storing bins. The transfer area includes a number of temporary storage racks. The sorting area is used to pick order goods from target bins according to order requirements. The first robot is used to transfer target bins between the shelves and the temporary storage racks. The second robot is used to transfer the temporary storage racks between the transfer area and the sorting area. The order picking system and method can improve the picking efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of logistics technology, and particularly to an order picking system and a picking method. Background Art

[0002] As the center of logistics operation, due to the expansion of its scale, the increase in the number of orders, and the complex and changeable information, the task of picking goods from orders is heavy, making the operation of the warehousing system face many challenges. Order picking is an important link in warehousing operations. In current warehousing operations, robots are usually used to store and retrieve goods. However, since the process of the robot storing and retrieving goods needs to be connected to the conveyor line, and the connection time is relatively long, the order picking efficiency is relatively low. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Based on this, it is necessary to provide an order picking system and a picking method for the problem of relatively low order picking efficiency.

[0004] According to one aspect of the present application, an order picking system is provided, including: a warehousing area, the warehousing area includes at least one row of shelves for storing bins; a transfer area, the transfer area includes a number of temporary storage racks; a sorting area for picking order goods from target bins according to order requirements; a first robot for transferring target bins between the shelves and the temporary storage racks; a second robot for transferring the temporary storage racks between the transfer area and the sorting area.

[0005] In some embodiments, the warehousing area includes adjacent shelves provided with a first passage for the first robot to walk; the first robot is provided with at least one bin picking and placing device for picking and placing bins.

[0006] In some embodiments, the transfer area is arranged between the warehousing area and the sorting area, the temporary storage rack is arranged in multiple layers, and each layer is provided with at least one bin storage location; in some embodiments, the temporary storage rack is arranged as a gravity flow rack, and the gravity flow rack is provided with a blocking and releasing mechanism for blocking or releasing the target bin; the bottom of the gravity flow rack has a space with a predetermined height for the second robot to carry the temporary storage rack.

[0007] In some embodiments, the sorting area is provided with a bin transfer mechanism, a bin conveyor line, and at least one picking station; the bin transfer mechanism is used to transfer the target bin on the temporary storage rack to the bin conveyor line; the bin conveyor line is used to convey bins between the bin transfer mechanism and the target picking station.

[0008] In some embodiments, the bin transfer mechanism is arranged as a swing arm conveyor mechanism, and a swing arm conveyor line is provided on the swing arm conveyor mechanism; the fixed end of the swing arm conveyor line is docked with the bin conveyor line, and the movable end of the swing arm conveyor line is docked with different layers of the temporary storage rack through swinging, so as to transfer the target bin between the temporary storage rack and the bin conveyor line.

[0009] In some embodiments, the bin transfer mechanism is arranged as a hoist, and the hoist is provided with at least one loading platform; the loading platform is docked with different layers of the temporary storage rack through lifting; a first conveying device is provided on the loading platform to transfer the target bin between the temporary storage rack and the bin conveyor line.

[0010] In some embodiments, a transfer tower is further provided in the sorting area, and the transfer tower is used to transfer the target bin between the temporary storage rack and the bin transfer mechanism; the transfer tower is provided with a plurality of buffer layers, and each layer is provided with a second conveying device.

[0011] According to one aspect of the present application, an order picking method is provided. The method can be applied to the above-mentioned order picking system, and the method includes:

[0012] Determine the position of the target bin according to the order goods information of at least one picking station;

[0013] Instruct the first robot to move the target bin to the temporary storage rack;

[0014] When the current temporary storage rack needs to be moved to the sorting area, instruct the second robot to move the temporary storage rack to the sorting area;

[0015] When receiving the signal that the second robot has completed the handling, the target bin on the temporary storage rack moved to the sorting area is transported to the target picking station through the bin transfer mechanism and the bin conveyor line.

[0016] In some embodiments, the method further includes: after a target picking station completes picking, determine whether there is a picking task for other target picking stations in the target bin. If so, the target bin is transported to the next target picking station through the bin conveyor line; if not, perform the return operation of the target bin, and the bin to be warehoused is transported to the temporary storage rack or transfer tower to be returned through the bin conveyor line and the bin transfer mechanism.

[0017] In some embodiments, the method further includes: when the bin to be returned on the bin conveyor line is transferred or the current temporary storage rack needs to be returned, instruct the second robot to move the current temporary storage rack from the sorting area to the transfer area; when the second robot has completed the handling, instruct the first robot to move the bin on the current temporary storage rack to the designated storage location in the warehousing area.

[0018] The order picking system provided by the embodiment of the present application sets up a transfer area, and the transfer area includes a number of temporary storage racks. During the order picking process, a first robot is used to transfer the target bin containing the required goods of multiple orders on the shelf to the temporary storage rack, and a second robot is used to transfer the temporary storage rack storing the above target bin to the sorting area, realizing the centralized transfer of multiple target bins of the required goods of multiple orders, reducing the transfer time required for the process of transferring goods from the storage area to the sorting area, and the bins completed with sorting can be timely carried back to the warehouse, thereby improving the order picking efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of the order picking system in an embodiment of the present application;

[0020] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of the shelf in an embodiment of the present application;

[0021] Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of the first robot in an embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 4a It is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the temporary storage rack in an embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 4b is Figure 4a a side view of the temporary storage rack in;

[0024] Figure 4c is Figure 4a a front view of the temporary storage rack in;

[0025] Figure 4d is Figure 4a a top view of the temporary storage rack in;

[0026] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of the elevator and the transfer tower in an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figure 6 It is a flowchart of the order picking method in an embodiment of the present application.

[0028] Explanation of the reference numerals in the drawings:

[0029] 10. Storage area; 11. Shelf; 12. Bin; 13. First passage; 20. Transfer area; 21. Temporary storage rack; 30. Sorting area; 31. Swing arm conveying mechanism; 31a. Elevator; 31a1. Loading platform; 31a2. First conveyor; 32. Transfer tower; 321. Second conveyor; 33. Bin conveyor line; 34. Picking station; 40. First robot; 41. Chassis; 42. Gantry; 43. Bin picking and placing device; 50. Second robot. Detailed implementation manners

[0030] To make the above objects, features, and advantages of the present application more obvious and understandable, the following will describe in detail the specific implementation manners of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to fully understand the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without departing from the connotation of the present application. Therefore, the present application is not limited by the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0031] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc. indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present application.

[0032] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. In the description of the present application, "a plurality" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically and clearly defined.

[0033] In the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", "connected to", "fixed", etc. shall be understood in a broad sense. For example, it may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or integrated; it may be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it may be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it may be the internal communication of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements, unless otherwise clearly limited. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0034] In this application, unless otherwise clearly specified or limited, the first feature being "on" or "under" the second feature may be that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, the first feature being "above", "over" and "on top of" the second feature may be that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or merely indicates that the horizontal height of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. The first feature being "under", "beneath" and "underneath" the second feature may be that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or merely indicates that the horizontal height of the first feature is less than that of the second feature.

[0035] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "disposed on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may also be an intermediate element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intermediate element at the same time. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "upper", "lower", "left", "right" and similar expressions used herein are only for the purpose of illustration and do not represent the only implementation.

[0036] When the warehousing system receives an order picking task, it is necessary to pick out the types and quantities of goods required by the order from a large number of goods stored on the shelves. For the same order, it may include different types of goods. For different orders, there are various situations regarding the types and quantities of goods included. To pick out all the types and quantities of goods required by all orders, it is necessary to pick out the corresponding types and quantities of goods successively according to the order of the orders and the requirements of each order, and the picking efficiency is relatively low.

[0037] To solve the above problems, this application provides an order picking system. By setting up a transfer area, first use the temporary storage racks in the transfer area to centrally store the target bins containing the goods required by multiple orders, and then transfer the temporary storage racks storing the above target bins to the sorting area for picking, which realizes the centralized transfer of the goods required by multiple orders, reduces the time for transferring goods, and thus improves the order picking efficiency.

[0038] Figure 1 shows a schematic structural diagram of an order picking system in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 shows a schematic structural diagram of a shelf in an embodiment of this application.

[0039] See Figure 1 and Figure 2, in an embodiment of the present application, the order picking system includes a warehousing area 10, a transfer area 20, a sorting area 30, a first robot 40, and a second robot 50. The warehousing area 10 includes at least one row of shelves 11, and the shelves 11 are used to store bins 12; the transfer area 20 includes several temporary storage racks 21; the sorting area 30 is used to pick order goods from target bins according to order requirements; the first robot 40 is used to transfer target bins between the shelves 11 and the temporary storage racks 21; the second robot 50 is used to transfer the temporary storage racks 21 between the transfer area 20 and the sorting area 30.

[0040] When receiving order demand information, the order picking system needs to pick order goods according to the order requirements. Before picking goods in the sorting area 30, it is necessary to take out the target bins related to the order goods from the shelves 11 and transport the taken-out target bins to the sorting area 30. The temporary storage racks 21 can be used to store multiple target bins containing order demand goods before transporting the taken-out target bins to the sorting area 30.

[0041] The order picking system provided by the present application uses the temporary storage racks 21 in the transfer area 20 to store bins 12, so that during the order picking process, the first robot 40 can transfer the target bins containing multiple order demand goods on the shelves 11 to the temporary storage racks 21, and the second robot 50 can transfer the temporary storage racks 21 storing the above target bins to the sorting area 30, realizing the centralized transfer of the target bins of the demand goods of multiple orders, reducing the transfer time required for the process of transporting order goods from the warehousing area 10 to the sorting area 30, and thus being able to improve the order picking efficiency.

[0042] In some embodiments, the warehousing area 10 includes multiple rows of shelves 11, and a first passage 13 for the first robot 40 to walk is provided between two adjacent rows of shelves 11. Alternatively, two rows of shelves 11 form a shelf group, no passage is provided between the two rows of shelves 11 within the same shelf group, and a first passage 13 is provided between two adjacent shelf groups. The first robot 40 is provided with at least one bin picking and placing device 43, and the bin picking and placing device 43 is used to pick and place bins 12.

[0043] According to the order picking system of the present application, a large number of goods are stored through multiple rows of shelves 11, and the first passage 13 for the first robot 40 to walk is arranged between two adjacent rows of shelves 11, which is convenient for the bin picking and placing device of the first robot 40 to pick and place bins 12. When the bin picking and placing device takes out a target bin from the shelves 11, the number of goods in the taken-out target bin is greater than or equal to the number of demand goods in the current one or more orders. After the sorting area 30 picks order goods from the target bin according to the order requirements, the remaining goods in the bin 12 can be returned to the shelves 11.

[0044] In some embodiments, such asFigure 2 As shown in the figure, the shelf 11 includes a plurality of shelves. A plurality of columns are provided vertically between adjacent shelves, and the shelves are supported by the columns, so as to use the plurality of shelves to carry a plurality of bins 12. It should be understood that: Figure 2 This is only an example of the shelf structure, and the shelf of the present application can be flexibly adjusted in structure and number of layers according to the actual needs of the storage area.

[0045] Figure 3 The figure shows a schematic structural diagram of a first robot 40 in an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 3 shown, the first robot 40 includes a chassis 41, a gantry 42 and three bin picking and placing devices 43. The bin picking and placing device 43 includes a fork arm, and the fork arm picks and places the bin 12 by means of pushing, pulling or clamping and moving. In Figure 3 the specific embodiment shown, the chassis 41 can move autonomously, the gantry 42 is installed on the chassis 41 and extends upward, the bin picking and placing devices 43 are installed on the gantry 42 at intervals along the extension direction of the gantry 42, and the bin picking and placing devices 43 can move along the extension direction of the gantry 42. By adjusting the position of the bin picking and placing device 43 on the gantry 42, the first robot 40 can pick and place three bins at the same time. For example, when the heights of the three bin storage positions on the shelf 11 are 450 mm, 950 mm, and 1450 mm respectively, by adjusting the bin picking and placing device 43 to the positions corresponding to the respective heights, the bins 12 on the three-layer shelf can be picked and placed at the same time. In other embodiments, the number of the bin picking and placing devices 43 can be one, two, four, five or more. It should be understood that: the adjustment of the structure and number of the bin picking and placing devices on the first robot according to the specifications of the shelf is within the protection scope of the order picking system of the present application.

[0046] In some embodiments, the transfer area 20 is arranged between the storage area 10 and the sorting area 30, so that during the process of transferring the target bin from the storage area 10 to the transfer area 20 and then from the transfer area 20 to the sorting area 30, the moving path is shorter, thereby improving the transfer efficiency. The temporary storage rack 21 is arranged in multiple layers, and at least one bin storage position is provided on each layer, so that the temporary storage rack 21 can store a plurality of bins 12 at the same time, thereby reducing the moving frequency of the temporary storage rack 21, reducing the transfer time of the temporary storage rack 21, and improving the picking efficiency.

[0047] Figure 4a The figure shows a three-dimensional structural diagram of the temporary storage rack in an embodiment of the present application, Figure 4b The figure shows Figure 4a a side view of the temporary storage rack in Figure 4c The figure shows Figure 4a a front view of the temporary storage rack in Figure 4d The figure shows Figure 4a a top view of the temporary storage rack in

[0048] Further, as Figures 4a to 4d shown, in this embodiment, the temporary storage rack 21 is arranged as a flow rack, also known as a sliding rack. The flow rack includes a bracket and a plurality of flow bars. The plurality of flow bars are laid on the bracket to form a plurality of storage layers. A blocking and releasing mechanism for blocking or releasing the target bin is provided at the discharging end of the flow rack. By releasing through the blocking and releasing mechanism, the picking and placing of the target bin are realized. By blocking through the blocking and releasing mechanism, it is ensured that the target bin can be stably stored on the temporary storage rack 21 during the movement of the temporary storage rack 21.

[0049] In this embodiment, there is a space with a predetermined height at the bottom of the flow rack for the second robot 50 to carry the temporary storage rack 21. Specifically, in some embodiments, the second robot 50 can be a lifting AGV. The lifting AGV drives into the bottom of the flow rack, lifts the flow rack and carries it. In another implementation manner, the second robot 50 can be a side fork AGV, and the picking fork of the side fork AGV forks and carries the flow rack from the bottom.

[0050] In some embodiments, a bin transfer mechanism, a bin conveyor line 33 and at least one picking station 34 are provided in the sorting area 30; the bin transfer mechanism is used to transfer the target bin on the temporary storage rack 21 to the bin conveyor line 33; the bin conveyor line 33 is used to convey the target bin between the bin transfer mechanism and the target picking station 34. The target bin on the temporary storage rack 21 is transferred to the bin conveyor line 33 through the bin transfer mechanism, and the target bin is conveyed to the target picking station 34 through the bin conveyor line 33, thereby improving the picking efficiency.

[0051] In some embodiments, the picking station 34 can specifically be a goods-to-person picking station. During the picking process, the picking staff is located at the picking station 34. After the bin conveyor line 33 conveys the target bin to the target picking station 34, the picking staff at the target picking station 34 picks out the required types and quantities of goods, and performs a return operation on the picked bin, carrying it back to the shelf 11.

[0052] In some embodiments, the bin transfer mechanism is arranged as a swing arm conveyor mechanism or a lifter 31a.

[0053] When the bin transfer mechanism is arranged as a swing arm conveyor mechanism 31, a swing arm conveyor line is provided on the swing arm conveyor mechanism; the fixed end of the swing arm conveyor line is docked with the bin conveyor line 33, and the movable end of the swing arm conveyor line is docked with different layers of the temporary storage rack 21 through swinging to transfer the target bin between the temporary storage rack 21 and the bin conveyor line 33. Based on this, the swing arm conveyor mechanism can transfer the target bin on the temporary storage rack 21 to the bin conveyor line 33, saving manpower and making the transfer of the target bin and the picking process of the goods more coherent, thereby improving the efficiency.

[0054] Figure 5 The structural schematic diagram of the elevator 31a and the transfer tower 32 in another embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0055] Refer to Figure 5 , when the bin transfer mechanism is set as the elevator 31a, the elevator 31a is provided with at least one loading platform 31a1; the loading platform 31a1 is docked with different layers of the temporary storage rack 21 through lifting; a first conveying device 31a2 is provided on the loading platform 31a1 to transfer the target bin between the temporary storage rack 21 and the bin conveying line 33. The target bin located on different layers of the temporary storage rack 21 is transferred to the bin conveying line 33 through the elevator 31a, or the bin on the bin conveying line 33 is transferred to different layers of the temporary storage rack 21, thereby improving the transfer efficiency of the bin between the temporary storage rack 21 and the bin conveying line 33. Among them, the first conveying device 31a2 may specifically be a conveyor belt or a roller.

[0056] In some embodiments, the sorting area 30 is further provided with a transfer tower 32, and the transfer tower 32 is used to transfer the target bin between the temporary storage rack 21 and the bin transfer mechanism; in some embodiments, the transfer tower 32 is provided with a plurality of buffer layers, and each layer is provided with a second conveying device 321. The second conveying device 321 may specifically be a conveyor belt or a roller. The target bin is transferred between the temporary storage rack 21 and the transfer tower 32 by docking the multiple buffer layers of the transfer tower 32 with different layers of the temporary storage rack 21 respectively and using the second conveying device 321 provided corresponding to each layer, thereby improving the transfer efficiency of the bin between the temporary storage rack 21 and the bin transfer mechanism.

[0057] The number of buffer layers of the transfer tower 32 can be set to be greater than the number of goods placement layers of the temporary storage rack 21, so that the transfer tower can match different models and numbers of temporary storage racks, further increasing the flexibility of bin handling.

[0058] According to the order picking system of the present application, since a transfer tower 32 is provided between the bin transfer mechanism and the temporary storage rack 21, and the number of layers of the transfer tower 32 corresponds to the goods placement layers of the temporary storage rack 21, the target bin stored on the temporary storage rack 21 can be quickly transferred to the transfer tower 32, and the temporary storage rack 21 can be released in time, enabling it to rotate quickly and execute the next handling task, further improving the handling efficiency of the target bin, thereby improving the goods picking efficiency.

[0059] In some embodiments, a baffle extending along the conveying direction of the second conveying device is provided on the buffer layer of the transfer tower 32, so that a plurality of channels are formed on the buffer layer along the conveying direction of the second conveying device. When multiple rows of target bins are stored on the flow rack, baffles are arranged along the conveying direction on the transfer tower, elevator and conveyor line, so as to convey the multiple rows of bins stored on the buffer rack, enabling the picking system of the present application to quickly transfer more target bins, thereby improving the handling and picking efficiency.

[0060] In some other embodiments, the transfer tower 32 can also be a flow rack. After the goods picking for the order requirements is completed, during the process of performing the bin return operation, when the transfer tower 32 is full of bins, the buffer rack 21 is docked with the transfer tower 32, so that the bins on the transfer tower 32 slide onto the buffer rack 21, and then the second robot 50 transports the buffer rack 21 back to the transfer area 20, and the first robot 40 performs the return operation.

[0061] According to the order picking system of the present application, in some embodiments, its specific operation can be carried out according to the following process:

[0062] The scheduling system issues an order picking task, and the first robot 40 walks along the first channel 13, obtains and transports the target bins related to the goods required for the order from the shelf 11, and transfers the target bins to the buffer rack 21 in the transfer area 20 for storage. When there are more goods required for the order, multiple first robots 40 can work simultaneously.

[0063] After the buffer rack 21 is full of the target bins of the same wave, the second robot 50 transports the buffer rack 21 to the bin transfer mechanism, the buffer rack 21 is connected to the bin transfer mechanism, and the bin transfer mechanism transfers the target bins on the buffer rack 21 to the bin conveyor line 33, and the bin conveyor line 33 conveys the target bins to the target picking station.

[0064] When the target bin is conveyed to the target picking station, the electronic label lights of the sorting wall corresponding to the order bin are lit. For example, the staff at the picking station picks the corresponding category and quantity of goods from the target bin into the order bin according to the display screen and the digital display of each order bin. The picking work at the picking station is not limited to being completed manually by the staff, and can also be completed by automated picking equipment, which all fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0065] The bins after picking are transferred to the buffer rack 21 through the bin conveyor line and the bin transfer mechanism, the second robot 50 transports the buffer rack 21 with bins back, and the first robot 40 takes down the bins on the buffer rack 21 and stores them back in the storage location of the designated shelf 11.

[0066] After the order bin sorting and picking are completed, the second robot 50 is scheduled to take away the sowing wall and send it to the outbound port or the rechecking and packing area.

[0067] According to the above order picking system and its working process, in this application, at least one bin picking and placing device of the first robot 40 is used to replace manual picking and placing of target bins, improving the access efficiency of the target bins; a flow-through rack is used for wave buffering and goods gathering of the target bins, increasing the hit rate of the goods varieties picked for the wave operation of goods-to-person, and greatly improving the sorting operation efficiency of the order pickers. The first robot 40 carries multiple target bins at a time, increasing the quantity carried per single walk and shortening the walking path, reducing the handling frequency of the first robot 40; moreover, the first robot 40 carries the target bins and the second robot 50 carries the temporary storage rack 21, realizing the rapid transfer of multiple target bins and maximizing the improvement of the in-warehouse operation efficiency; further, modular design can be adopted in the order picking system of this application, for example, intermediate devices such as transfer towers can also be flexibly sorted, and the flexibility and expandability of handling and picking goods are strong.

[0068] Based on the same inventive purpose, this application also provides an order picking method, which can be applied to the order picking system provided in the above embodiments.

[0069] Figure 6 The flowchart of the order picking method in an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0070] See Figure 6 , in some embodiments, the method includes the following steps:

[0071] Step S1: Determine the position of the target bin according to the order goods information of at least one picking station;

[0072] Step S2: Instruct the first robot to carry the target bin to the temporary storage rack;

[0073] Step S3: When the current temporary storage rack needs to be carried to the sorting area, instruct the second robot to carry the temporary storage rack to the sorting area;

[0074] Step S4: After the second robot finishes carrying, the target bins on the temporary storage rack carried to the sorting area are conveyed to the target picking station through the bin transfer mechanism and the bin conveyor line.

[0075] Among them, the situations where the current temporary storage rack needs to be carried to the sorting area include: the first robot finishes carrying; the current temporary storage rack is full of bins; the bin transfer mechanism and the bin conveyor line in the sorting area are idle and can receive the bins carried by the temporary storage rack and other situations. Those skilled in the art can schedule the temporary storage rack according to the actual situation.

[0076] According to the order picking method of the present application, the first robot transports the target bin to the temporary storage rack in the transfer area for temporary storage, and then the second robot transports the temporary storage rack carrying the target bin to the sorting area. The target bin transported to the sorting area is conveyed to the target picking station by using the bin transfer mechanism and the bin conveyor line, so as to realize the picking of the goods required by the order. Since the temporary storage rack can store multiple bins at the same time, the goods required by multiple orders can be concentrated for outbound, saving the time required for multiple transfers of goods, thereby improving the order picking efficiency.

[0077] In a specific embodiment, the process of instructing the first robot to transport the target bin to the temporary storage rack specifically includes: taking out all types of goods included in multiple orders from the shelf, wherein the quantity of each type of goods is greater than or equal to the quantity of this type of goods required in one or more orders. If all the quantities of a certain type of goods in multiple orders need to be obtained, one or more target bins corresponding to this type of goods need to be obtained, and the quantity of goods in one or more target bins corresponding to this type of goods is greater than or equal to the quantity of this type of goods required in one or more orders. After one or more target bins corresponding to this type of goods are conveyed to the sorting area, the required categories and quantities of goods are picked out in the sorting area. After the picking is completed, if the bin is an empty bin, it is recycled; if the bin needs to be replenished, it is transported away from the sorting area for subsequent replenishment of goods; if no replenishment is required, the bin is warehoused, and the bin is returned to the storage area.

[0078] In some embodiments, the order picking method further includes:

[0079] Step S5: After a target picking station completes picking, determine whether there are picking tasks for other target picking stations in the target bin;

[0080] Step S6a: If so, the target bin is conveyed to the next target picking station through the bin conveyor line;

[0081] Step S6b: If not, perform the operation of returning the target bin to the warehouse, and the bin to be returned to the warehouse is transferred to the temporary storage rack or the transfer tower to be returned to the warehouse by the bin conveyor line and the bin transfer mechanism.

[0082] It can be understood that the same type of goods may be included in different orders. Therefore, the goods required by different orders may be included in the same bin. Based on this, after a target picking station completes picking, there may be goods corresponding to the picking tasks of other target picking stations in the target bin corresponding to this target picking station.

[0083] After picking is completed at a target picking station in this embodiment, it is determined whether there are picking tasks for other target picking stations in the target bin. If so, the target bin is conveyed to the next target picking station with such a demand through the bin conveyor line, so that the same bin can meet the picking needs of multiple orders through one outbound operation, thereby improving efficiency. If not, the target bin is transferred to the temporary storage rack or transfer tower to be returned to the warehouse through the bin conveyor line and the bin transfer mechanism, and the return operation of the target bin is performed, so that the bin after picking can be returned to the warehouse in time, avoiding occupying the space of the sorting area for a long time. Moreover, after the bin is returned to the warehouse in time, it can be quickly prepared to wait for the next picking task.

[0084] In some embodiments, the order picking method further includes:

[0085] Step S7, when the transfer of the bin to be returned on the bin conveyor line is completed or the bin on the current temporary storage rack needs to be returned to the warehouse, instruct the second robot to move the current temporary storage rack from the sorting area to the transfer area;

[0086] Step S8, when the second robot finishes moving, instruct the first robot to move the bins on the current temporary storage rack to the designated storage location in the storage area.

[0087] The second robot moves the temporary storage rack carrying the bins from the sorting area to the transfer area, and then the first robot moves the bins on the current temporary storage rack to the designated storage location in the storage area, realizing the quick return of the bins after order picking, ensuring the working order of the storage area, the transfer area, and the sorting area, so as to be able to respond in time after receiving the next order picking task.

[0088] The technical features of the above-described embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. For the sake of brevity of description, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, it should be considered as the scope described in this specification.

[0089] The above-described embodiments only represent several implementation manners of the present application, and their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the concept of the present application, several modifications and improvements can still be made, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent of the present application should be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

1. An order picking system, characterized in that, Including: A storage area, which includes at least one row of shelves for storing bins; A transfer area, which includes several temporary storage racks; A sorting area for picking order goods from target bins according to order requirements; A first robot for transferring target bins between the shelves and the temporary storage racks; A second robot for transferring the temporary storage racks between the transfer area and the sorting area; The sorting area is provided with a bin transfer mechanism, a bin conveyor line and at least one picking station; the bin transfer mechanism is used to transfer the target bin on the temporary storage rack to the bin conveyor line; the bin conveyor line is used to convey the bin between the bin transfer mechanism and the target picking station; the sorting area is also provided with a transfer tower for transferring the target bin between the temporary storage rack and the bin transfer mechanism.

2. The order picking system according to claim 1, wherein: The storage area includes adjacent shelves provided with a first passage for the first robot to walk; The first robot is provided with at least one bin picking and placing device for picking and placing bins.

3. The order picking system according to claim 1, wherein: The transfer area is arranged between the storage area and the sorting area, and the temporary storage rack is arranged in multiple layers, with at least one bin storage location on each layer; The temporary storage rack is arranged as a gravity flow rack, and the gravity flow rack is provided with a blocking and releasing mechanism for blocking or releasing the target bin; The bottom of the gravity flow rack has a space with a predetermined height for the second robot to carry the temporary storage rack.

4. The order picking system according to claim 1, wherein: The bin transfer mechanism is arranged as a swing arm conveyor mechanism, and a swing arm conveyor line is arranged on the swing arm conveyor mechanism; The fixed end of the swing arm conveyor line is docked with the bin conveyor line, and the movable end of the swing arm conveyor line is docked with different layers of the temporary storage rack through swinging to transfer the target bin between the temporary storage rack and the bin conveyor line.

5. The order picking system according to claim 1, wherein: The bin transfer mechanism is arranged as a hoist, and the hoist is provided with at least one load platform; the load platform is docked with different layers of the temporary storage rack through lifting; A first conveyor device is arranged on the load platform to transfer the target bin between the temporary storage rack and the bin conveyor line.

6. The order picking system according to claim 1, wherein: The transfer tower is provided with multiple buffer layers, and each layer is provided with a second conveyor device.

7. An order picking method, which can be applied to the order picking system according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The method includes: Determining the position of the target bin according to the order goods information of at least one picking station; Instructing the first robot to carry the target bin onto the temporary storage rack; In the case that the current temporary storage rack needs to be carried to the sorting area, instructing the second robot to carry the temporary storage rack to the sorting area; After the second robot finishes carrying, the target bin on the temporary storage rack carried to the sorting area is conveyed to the target picking station through the bin transfer mechanism and the bin conveyor line.

8. The order picking method according to claim 7, characterized in that The method further includes: After a target picking station completes picking, it is determined whether there are picking tasks for other target picking stations in the target bin. If so, the target bin is conveyed to the next target picking station through the bin conveying line; If not, the operation of returning the target bin to the warehouse is executed, and the bin conveying line and the bin transfer mechanism transfer the bin to be warehoused to the temporary storage rack or the transfer tower to be returned to the warehouse.

9. The order picking method according to claim 7, wherein, The method further includes: When the transfer of the bin to be returned to the warehouse on the bin conveying line is completed or the bin on the current temporary storage rack needs to be returned to the warehouse, the second robot is instructed to move the current temporary storage rack from the sorting area to the transfer area; After the second robot finishes moving, the first robot is instructed to move the bins on the current temporary storage rack to the designated storage locations in the warehousing area.

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