A method for automatically allocating stacking channels for finished cigarette products

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for automatically allocating stacking channels for finished cigarettes. After the finished cigarettes come out of each case sealing machine, they are collected on the main lane for transporting cigarettes. A "main lane entrance barcode scanner" is installed at the main lane entrance. The barcode identifier mainly collects the barcodes and brand of the finished cigarettes from the case sealing machine for analysis and identification. The lane barcode scanner scans the barcode to query the stacking channel corresponding to the case sealing machine, brand, and cigarette case type. The finished cigarettes are allocated stacking channels based on even distribution and workload conditions. After the stacking channels are allocated, the finished cigarettes are transported to the stacking channels of each stacking robot. The robot grabs the finished cigarettes and stacks them on pallets. After a pallet is stacked, the system generates a task to send the finished cigarettes to the storage location. The finished cigarettes complete the barcode collection and identification by the main lane entrance barcode scanner, the cigarettes are transported, the lane barcode scanner scans the barcode and divides the lane, the robot stacks the cigarettes, and the pallets are stored after the stacking is completed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of logistics conveying, sorting and packaging, and in particular relates to a method for automatically allocating stacking channels for finished cigarette products. Background Art

[0002] Logistics is an important part of tobacco industry enterprises, especially the logistics service quality of finished cigarette products, which directly affects tobacco trading companies' satisfaction with tobacco industry enterprises, and thus affects the sales volume of their products.

[0003] Traditionally, the finished cigarette warehousing process has largely achieved automated transportation, palletizing, and storage. However, one step still requires manual operation: the assignment of palletizing lane numbers. The lane numbers determine the palletizing lanes to which the finished cigarettes are assigned. This manual assignment of lane numbers has become the "last mile" obstacle to achieving full automation in the warehousing process.

[0004] As intelligent manufacturing technologies become more widely adopted across enterprises, the demand for automation is increasing. Reducing or even eliminating manual operations has become a necessity. Automatically assigning grades to palletizing channels opens up the "last mile" of fully automated warehousing, bringing the tobacco factory's finished product warehouse automation system a step closer to intelligent development. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the shortcomings of the above-mentioned prior art, the inventors have developed and designed a method that automatically assigns channel brand information to finished cigarettes based on barcode information of finished cigarettes. This method achieves the goal of fully automating the stacking and warehousing of finished cigarettes. The present invention includes the following contents:

[0006] A method for automatically allocating stacking channels for finished cigarette products comprises: step S1, obtaining channel information of each stacking channel, obtaining stacking channel information corresponding to each stacking robot, obtaining stacking channel information corresponding to each case sealing machine, obtaining operation status information of each stacking channel and current stacking task information, and forming a stacking channel information library; step S2, obtaining specification information, case sealing data information, and brand information of each finished cigarette product, and forming an information identification code corresponding to the cigarette package and attaching it to the finished cigarette product; each finished cigarette product is transported into a main transport channel for incoming cigarette products; step S3, collecting barcode information of each finished cigarette product passing on the main transport channel for incoming cigarette products, and based on the information library, the information library is automatically allocated to the stacking channel; the information library is automatically allocated to the finished cigarette product ... The information in the palletizing channel information database of the finished cigarette product is automatically issued a palletizing brand; the automatic issuance of the palletizing brand includes: judging whether there is a palletizing channel corresponding to the carton sealing machine and brand for the finished cigarette product, and if so, issuing the palletizing channel as its palletizing brand; if not, designating an idle palletizing channel or a palletizing channel that is about to end in the palletizing channel corresponding to the carton sealing machine as its palletizing brand. In step S4, when each piece of finished cigarette product is transported through the branch channel and enters the storage loop, the system collects the palletizing brand of the finished cigarette product, determines the corresponding palletizing channel, and allocates the finished cigarette product to the corresponding palletizing channel; in step S5, after the finished cigarette product enters the palletizing channel, it is stacked on the pallet, and when the pallet is full, it is sealed and shipped for storage.

[0007] Furthermore, the palletizing robot corresponds to several palletizing channels, including fixed channels and dynamic palletizing channels. The dynamic palletizing channels can be dynamically allocated according to the current task flow. When the inflow flow of a certain palletizer or several palletizers produced by the same brand exceeds the throughput capacity of the current channel, the system automatically adds a dynamic palletizing channel; on the contrary, when the flow of a certain palletizer decreases, the system automatically reduces the channel allocated by the corresponding dynamic palletizing channel.

[0008] Furthermore, the palletizing channel information library described in step S1 includes channel number, channel description, robot number, dynamic sealing channel, dynamic allocation brand, allocated quantity, warehoused quantity, channel in-transit inventory, channel usage status, and channel throughput capacity per minute.

[0009] Furthermore, in step S3, it is determined whether there is a palletizing channel corresponding to the case sealing machine and brand of the finished cigarette product, and the following steps are further included: if so, determining whether the current flow rate exceeds the average flow rate or the specified flow rate; if not, directly issuing the palletizing brand with an end dynamic allocation flag; if so, selecting an idle channel or a channel with the lowest relative flow rate from the dynamic allocation channels as the palletizing brand flag of the dynamic palletizing channel flag;

[0010] Furthermore, in step S4, if the finished cigarette product has an end dynamic allocation mark after scanning the barcode and the current channel has not allocated enough finished cigarette products for a full pallet, it will be allocated to this channel first. If the current channel has allocated enough finished cigarette products for a full pallet, it will no longer be allocated to this channel. The system will allocate stacking channels to the finished cigarette products based on rules such as equal distribution, job busyness, and channel status.

[0011] Furthermore, in step S3, the designation of an idle palletizing channel or a palletizing channel that is about to end in the palletizing channel corresponding to the carton sealing machine as its palletizing brand specifically includes: issuing an end palletizing instruction to the palletizing channel with the least current flow, and releasing the palletizing channel as an idle channel after the palletizing robot finishes palletizing, giving a palletizing brand to the corresponding rolled finished product, and issuing a palletizing warehousing plan.

[0012] Furthermore, the information identification code is a barcode or a QR code, and the system obtains the identification information in the barcode or QR code through a barcode scanner. There are at least two barcode scanners, which are respectively installed at the entrances of the main and branch lanes for conveying incoming cigarettes into the incoming loop.

[0013] The working principle and beneficial effects of this invention are described as follows: During the warehousing process, the system acquires information about the stacking channels corresponding to each case sealer. These channels can be fixed or dynamic, with fixed channels assigned to specific case sealers. Finished cigarettes from each case sealer are collected and transported to the main conveyor lane. At the main lane entrance is a "main lane entrance barcode scanner," which primarily collects the barcodes and brand identification of finished cigarettes from the case sealers. This barcode reader is key to automatically assigning brand identification to the stacking channels and automating the entire process of stacking and warehousing finished cigarettes. After a barcode scanner at the entrance of the main transport lane captures and identifies the barcodes on the passing finished cigarettes, the finished cigarettes pass through the main transport lane and arrive at the barcode scanner in the lane. The lane barcode scanner scans the barcode on the finished cigarettes and queries the stacking channel corresponding to the case sealer, brand, and cigarette case type. The finished cigarettes are then assigned a stacking channel based on even distribution and workload. After the stacking channels are assigned, the finished cigarettes are transported to the stacking channels of each stacking robot, which grabs the finished cigarettes and stacks them onto pallets. After stacking a pallet, the system generates a task to deliver the finished cigarettes to the storage location. At this point, the finished cigarettes complete the barcode capture and recognition by the barcode scanner at the main lane entrance, are transported by the piece, the barcodes are scanned by the lane barcode scanner and divided into lanes, the stacking robots stack the cigarettes, and the pallet is stored after the stacking is completed. This invention reduces unnecessary manual operations, reduces the increased failure rate caused by manual operations, improves the stability and reliability of the system, and enhances the level of warehouse automation, achieving the goal of fully automating the stacking and storage of finished cigarettes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1A schematic diagram of the system of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the method flow of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 3 It is a partial schematic diagram of the method process of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with specific embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these descriptions are merely exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. In addition, in the following description, descriptions of well-known structures and technologies are omitted to avoid unnecessary confusion of the concepts of the present invention.

[0018] Example 1:

[0019] Establishing the basic data model of palletizing channel

[0020] Define the robot palletizing lane corresponding to each carton sealer, and define the carton sealer corresponding to each robot palletizing lane. Include information such as lane number, lane description, robot number, dynamic carton sealing lane, dynamically assigned brand, assigned quantity, stored quantity, lane in-transit inventory, usage status, and lane throughput per minute:

[0021]

[0022] Lanes can be either fixed or dynamic. Fixed lanes are assigned to specific carton sealers. Dynamic lanes are dynamically allocated based on the carton sealer traffic. When the incoming traffic of a carton sealer or several carton sealers of the same brand exceeds the throughput capacity of the current lane, the system automatically adds a palletizing lane. Conversely, when the traffic of a carton sealer decreases, the corresponding dynamically allocated lane is reduced.

[0023] Cigarette finished product barcode collection and stacking channel judgment

[0024] A barcode scanner is installed on the case sealing machine's exit conveyor line or the incoming merging line. Each finished cigarette passes through the barcode scanner and is scanned. The system then collects and enters the barcode. The system then determines whether there is a corresponding robot palletizing channel for the specifications corresponding to the barcode (case sealing machine number, brand, cigarette case type, barcode type). If there is a corresponding robot palletizing channel and the channel flow conditions are met, the process is skipped. If not, the next step is to issue the brand number for the cigarette finished product palletizing channel.

[0025] The brand number of the finished cigarette stacking channel is issued

[0026] When the system collects the barcodes of the finished cigarettes coming out of the carton sealer, if there is no robot stacking channel corresponding to the specifications of the finished cigarettes produced by the carton sealer, the brand information of the finished cigarettes will be automatically issued to the robot stacking channel corresponding to the carton sealer.

[0027] If there is a palletizing channel, determine whether the current flow of the carton sealing machine exceeds the average flow or the specified flow. If it exceeds, select an idle channel from the dynamic allocation channel to issue the brand information of the finished cigarette products of the carton sealing machine.

[0028] If the flow rate of the carton sealing machine is less than the average flow rate or the specified flow rate and a dynamic channel is allocated, an end dynamic allocation flag is set for the dynamic channel.

[0029] Cigarette finished product palletizing channel allocation

[0030] The finished cigarettes pass through the main conveyor channel and arrive at the lane barcode scanner. The system scans the barcode of the finished cigarettes, queries the stacking channel corresponding to the specifications of the finished cigarettes, and distributes the finished cigarettes to each channel for stacking according to rules such as equal distribution and workload.

[0031] If there is a dynamically allocated stacking channel for the cigarette product specification, and the dynamic allocation end flag is set, it will be assigned to that channel first. When the allocated quantity reaches the number of full pallets for the current brand, it will no longer be assigned to that channel. After the finished cigarettes in the channel are stacked, the system releases the channel and generates a storage task to deliver the finished cigarettes to the storage location.

[0032] Specifically: Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, after the barcode scanner at the entrance of the main cigarette conveyor lane captures and identifies the barcodes on the passing finished cigarettes, the finished cigarettes pass through the main cigarette conveyor lane and arrive at the lane barcode scanner. The lane barcode scanner scans the barcode on the finished cigarettes and queries the stacking channel corresponding to the case sealing machine, brand, and cigarette case type. The stacking channel is then allocated to the finished cigarettes based on the conditions of even distribution and workload.

[0033] like Figure 2 As shown, when the finished cigarettes coming out of the carton sealing machine are scanned by the barcode scanner at the entrance of the main conveyor lane, the barcode is entered into the system. At the same time, the system determines whether the barcode corresponds to the carton sealing machine, brand, cigarette box type and other specifications of the palletizing channel. If there is no palletizing channel, the system checks whether the palletizing channel corresponding to the carton sealing machine is free. If it is free, the palletizing channel brand information is directly issued.

[0034] If the corresponding palletizing channel is not idle and is currently palletizing the previous brand of finished cigarettes, an instruction to end palletizing is issued, the robot ends palletizing, and the system generates a task to deliver the finished cigarettes to the storage location. When the finished cigarettes leave the palletizing channel, the system releases the palletizing channel and the channel status becomes idle. At this time, the brand information of the current finished cigarettes can be issued. Since the workshop needs to change the brand when switching between production lines, it is necessary to replace the finished cigarette packaging boxes, adjust the barcode printing information, and other switching tasks, so there is enough time for the palletizing and warehousing side to complete the transportation and palletizing of the previous brand. When the next brand of finished cigarettes arrives at the barcode scanner position at the main entrance, the system is triggered to end the palletizing of the previous brand, release the channel, and issue the palletizing information of the next brand.

[0035] If there is a palletizing channel corresponding to the specifications of the finished cigarette product, it is determined whether the current flow exceeds the average flow or the specified flow. If it exceeds, an idle channel is selected from the same distribution channel and the palletizing channel brand information is issued. After the finished cigarette product collects the barcode, it passes through the main cigarette conveyor and arrives at the barcode scanner position of the lane to scan the barcode and divide into lanes. The lane division process is as follows Figure 3 As shown, when finished cigarettes arrive at the lane barcode scanner, the lane barcode scanner scans the finished cigarette barcode and checks whether there is a lane marked as the end of dynamic allocation for that finished cigarette specification. If there is, and the allocated quantity is insufficient to fill a pallet, it will be assigned to that lane first. If there is no lane, the finished cigarettes are assigned to a palletizing lane based on various criteria, such as equal distribution, workload, and lane status. After being assigned a palletizing lane, the finished cigarettes pass through the storage loop and arrive at the various palletizing lanes to await robotic palletizing.

[0036] It should be understood that the above-described specific embodiments of the present invention are merely illustrative or illustrative of the principles of the present invention and do not constitute limitations of the present invention. Therefore, any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. In addition, the appended claims are intended to cover all variations and modifications that fall within the scope and metes and bounds of the appended claims, or equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A method for automatically allocating stacking channels for finished cigarette products, characterized in that include: Step S1: Acquire channel information of each palletizing channel, acquire the palletizing channel information corresponding to each palletizing robot, acquire the palletizing channel information corresponding to each carton sealing machine, acquire the operating status information of each palletizing channel, and the current palletizing task information, to form a palletizing channel information library; the palletizing robot corresponds to a plurality of palletizing channels, including fixed channels and dynamic palletizing channels. The dynamic palletizing channels can be dynamically allocated according to the current task flow. When the inflow flow of a palletizer or several palletizers of the same brand exceeds the throughput capacity of the current channel, the system automatically adds a dynamic palletizing channel; on the contrary, when the flow of a palletizer decreases, the system automatically reduces the channel allocated to the corresponding dynamic palletizing channel; Step S2: Obtain the specification information, sealing data information, and brand information of each finished cigarette, and generate an information identification code corresponding to the finished cigarette and attach it to the finished cigarette; each finished cigarette is transported to the main transport lane for incoming cigarettes; Step S3: collecting barcode information of each finished cigarette product passing through the main conveying lane for incoming cigarettes, and automatically assigning a stacking brand number based on the information in the stacking channel information database of the finished cigarette product; the automatic assignment of the stacking brand number includes: Determine whether there is a palletizing channel corresponding to the case sealing machine and brand for the finished cigarette product. If so, assign the palletizing channel to its palletizing brand. If not, designate an idle palletizing channel or a palletizing channel that is about to end as its palletizing brand in the palletizing channel corresponding to the case sealing machine. Determine whether there is a palletizing channel corresponding to the case sealing machine and brand for the finished cigarette product, further comprising: if so, determining whether the current flow rate exceeds the average flow rate or the designated flow rate. If not, directly assign the palletizing brand with an end dynamic allocation identifier. If so, select an idle channel or a channel with the lowest relative flow rate from the dynamic palletizing channels as the palletizing brand identified by the dynamic palletizing channel. Step S4: When each finished cigarette is transported through the lanes and enters the storage loop, the system collects the stacking brand of the finished cigarette, determines the corresponding stacking channel, and allocates the finished cigarette to the corresponding stacking channel; if the finished cigarette has an end dynamic allocation mark after scanning the barcode and the current channel has not allocated enough finished cigarettes for a full pallet, it will be allocated to this channel first; if the current channel has allocated enough finished cigarettes for a full pallet, it will no longer be allocated to this channel. The system allocates stacking channels to the finished cigarettes based on rules such as equal distribution, operation busyness, and channel status; Step S5: The finished cigarettes enter the palletizing channel and are stacked on pallets. When the pallets are full, they are sealed and shipped for storage.

2. The method for automatically allocating stacking channels for finished cigarette products according to claim 1, characterized in that: The information identification code is a barcode or a QR code, and the system obtains the identification information in the barcode or QR code through a barcode scanner. There are at least two barcode scanners, which are respectively installed at the entrances of the main and branch lanes for conveying incoming cigarettes into the incoming loop.

3. The method for automatically allocating stacking channels for finished cigarette products according to claim 1, characterized in that: The method of designating an idle palletizing channel or a palletizing channel that is about to end as its palletizing brand in the palletizing channel corresponding to the case sealing machine specifically includes: issuing a palletizing end instruction to the palletizing channel with the least current flow rate, releasing the palletizing channel as an idle channel after the palletizing robot finishes palletizing, giving a palletizing brand to the corresponding cigarette finished product, and issuing a palletizing warehousing plan.

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