Goods picking system, picking device, and goods picking method

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a goods picking system, a picking device and a goods picking method. The goods picking system comprises at least one carrying device, a transfer storage area, a control server and a workstation device; the control server is configured to control the at least one carrying device to carry a SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) corresponding to batch order information to a picking point of the workstation according to the batch order information; generate batch picking information using the SKU corresponding to the batch order information, and send the batch picking information to the workstation device; the workstation device comprises: an information indicating device configured to display the batch picking information, so as to facilitate a picker to pick the SKU of a corresponding type and quantity from the carrying device to the transfer storage area; or an automatic picking device configured to pick the SKU of a corresponding type and quantity from the carrying device to the transfer storage area according to the batch picking information. Embodiments of the present disclosure can improve picking efficiency.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of warehouse logistics, and in particular, to a goods picking system, a picking device and a goods picking method. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the rapid development of e-commerce and online shopping, the warehouse logistics industry has both opportunities and challenges. Before delivery, goods are usually stored on shelves in a warehouse. When delivering, robots transport the goods corresponding to orders to a workstation for goods picking. Therefore, how to improve the efficiency of goods picking becomes a problem to be solved. SUMMARY

[0003] Therefore, one or more embodiments of the present disclosure provide a goods picking system, a picking device and a picking method, so as to improve the efficiency of goods picking.

[0004] According to a first aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a goods picking system, comprising: at least one handling device, a transfer storage area, a control server and a workstation device;

[0005] The control server is configured to control the at least one handling device to transport a stock keeping unit (SKU) corresponding to batch order information to a picking point of a workstation according to the batch order information; generate batch picking information using the SKU corresponding to the batch order information, the batch picking information comprising a SKU type and quantity to be picked, and send the batch picking information to the workstation device;

[0006] The workstation device comprises an information indicating device or an automatic picking device;

[0007] The information indicating device is configured to display the batch picking information, so as to facilitate a picker to pick the SKU of the corresponding type and quantity from the handling device to the transfer storage area;

[0008] The automatic picking device is configured to pick the SKU of the corresponding type and quantity from the handling device to the transfer storage area according to the batch picking information.

[0009] In an optional implementation, the at least one handling device is configured to leave the picking point after the SKU corresponding to the batch order information handled by the handling device is picked to the transfer storage area.

[0010] In an optional implementation, the transfer storage area is arranged at a trolley, a container, a temporary storage point or a storage area attached to the automatic picking device.

[0011] In an optional implementation, the system further comprises a scanning device and a picking storage area, the picking storage area being provided with more than one storage site;

[0012] The scanning device is configured to scan SKU information and send the SKU information to the control server;

[0013] The control server is further configured to determine order picking information corresponding to the scanned SKU information, the order picking information including target storage site information and the number of the scanned SKU corresponding to each target storage site, and send the order picking information to the information indicating device;

[0014] The information indicating device is further configured to display the order picking information, so as to facilitate the picker to pick the scanned SKU from the transit storage area to the target storage site of the picking storage area.

[0015] In an optional implementation, the system further comprises a picking storage area, the picking storage area being provided with more than one storage site;

[0016] The automatic picking device is further configured to obtain, from the control server, order picking information corresponding to each SKU picked to the transit storage area, the order picking information including target storage site information and the number of each SKU corresponding to each target storage site; and pick each SKU from the transit storage area to the target storage site of the picking storage area according to the order picking information.

[0017] In an optional implementation, each storage site of the picking storage area corresponds to a different order or a set of orders.

[0018] The control server is further configured to determine the batch order information according to the number of storage sites of the picking storage area.

[0019] According to a second aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a picking device, comprising the automatic picking device described above.

[0020] According to a third aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a goods picking method applied to a control server in the goods picking system described above; the goods picking method comprises:

[0021] controlling at least one carrying device to carry SKU corresponding to the batch order information to a picking point of the workstation according to the batch order information;

[0022] The batch order information corresponding SKU is used to generate batch picking information, the batch picking information includes the type and quantity of the SKU to be picked, and the batch picking information is sent to the workstation device, so that the picking personnel or automatic picking device of the workstation picks the corresponding type and quantity of SKU from the carrying device to the transfer storage area according to the batch picking information.

[0023] In an optional embodiment, the method further comprises:

[0024] Receiving the scanned SKU information sent by the scanning device;

[0025] Determine the order picking information corresponding to the scanned SKU information, the order picking information includes target storage position information and the quantity of the scanned SKU corresponding to each target storage position, and send the order picking information to the workstation device.

[0026] In an optional embodiment, the method further comprises:

[0027] In response to the request of the workstation device, the order picking information corresponding to each SKU picked to the transfer storage area is sent to the workstation device, the order picking information includes target storage position information and the quantity of each SKU corresponding to each target storage position.

[0028] The goods picking system, picking device and goods picking method provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, after the control server controls at least one carrying device to carry the SKU corresponding to the batch order information to the picking point of the workstation, the batch order information corresponding SKU is used to generate batch picking information, so that the picking personnel or automatic picking device can pick the SKU to be picked in batches according to the batch picking information. In this way, the carrying device can leave or be scheduled for other work, reducing the waiting time and reducing the queuing of the carrying device, improving the picking efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure or the prior art, the drawings needed in the embodiment or prior art description will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the present disclosure, and those skilled in the art can also obtain other drawings according to these drawings without creative labor.

[0030] Figure 1 The composition schematic diagram of the goods picking system provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 2 The composition schematic diagram of the goods picking system suitable for manual picking provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0032] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a goods picking system suitable for automatic picking according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is provided;

[0033] Figure 4 A flowchart of a goods picking method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is provided;

[0034] Figure 5 A flowchart of another goods picking method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is provided. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are provided to assist in the understanding of the present disclosure, and which should be considered in conjunction with the disclosure. Thus, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the embodiments described herein can be varied and modified without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Also, for the purpose of clarity and the brevity, the description below omits the description of well-known functions and structures.

[0036] First, in order to facilitate the understanding of the technical solutions, first, some concepts involved in the following embodiments are briefly introduced:

[0037] SKU (Stock Keeping Unit, inventory unit) is the basic unit of inventory in and out measurement. SKU can be understood as the specific model of a commodity, which is used to distinguish single products. For example, taking clothing as an example, “style + size + color” can determine a SKU. SKU can be in pieces, boxes, pallets, etc.

[0038] “Picking” refers to the process of picking the SKU required by the order by the picking personnel or equipment.

[0039] “Sowing” refers to the process of sorting the picked SKU to the corresponding order. Usually, each order corresponds to its own storage position, that is, the process of sorting the picked SKU to the corresponding storage position.

[0040] “Picking” and “sowing” both belong to the process of goods picking.

[0041] The traditional goods picking system mostly adopts the mode of “picking and sorting at the same time” (or called “picking and sowing at the same time”): after the carrying equipment carries the SKU to the picking point of the workstation, the picking personnel directly picks according to the order. That is, the picking personnel picks the SKU type and quantity corresponding to the order from the carrying equipment according to the order, and puts the picked SKU into the storage position in the picking storage area; then the picking of the next order is carried out, and so on.

[0042] In the traditional picking system, the picker picks SKUs from the carrying device and puts them into the storage positions in the picking storage area. During this process, the carrying device needs to wait at the picking point until the picker has finished picking all the orders. This will inevitably cause the carrying device to work inefficiently, and even cause the carrying device to queue up and wait. In addition, for the picker, it needs to pick each SKU from the carrying device to the picking storage area according to the order, which is also inefficient.

[0043] The basic idea of the present disclosure is to use batch picking to pick all the SKUs involved in the batch orders of the goods carried by the carrying device to the work station to the transfer storage area. That is, all the SKUs that need to be picked out are picked out. By separating picking and sowing, the carrying device can leave after picking to be scheduled for other work, without waiting for the sowing process, reducing the waiting time and reducing the queuing of the carrying device, thereby improving the picking efficiency.

[0044] Further, based on the all-picking method, the present disclosure uses a batch sowing method based on SKUs to reduce the number of times of going back and forth in the picking storage area, further improving the picking efficiency.

[0045] The technical solutions provided by the present disclosure will be described in detail below in conjunction with embodiments. Figure 1 The composition schematic diagram of the goods picking system provided by the present disclosure mainly includes a control server 100, at least one carrying device 110, a transfer storage area 120, a work station device 130, and a picking storage area 140.

[0046] The control server 100 is responsible for the control and scheduling of the entire goods picking system. The control server 100 can be a single server or a server cluster composed of multiple servers. In addition, the control server can be a cloud server, also known as a cloud computing server or a cloud host, which is a host product in the cloud computing service system to solve the defects of large management difficulty and weak business scalability in traditional physical hosts and virtual private server (VP, Virtual Private Server) services.

[0047] The control server 100 can communicate with the carrying device 110, the work station device 130, etc. through the network to realize information acquisition and control and scheduling of the carrying device 110, the work station device 130, etc. The network 103 can include various connection types, such as wired, wireless communication links, or optical cables, etc.

[0048] The above-mentioned transfer storage area 120, work station device 130, and picking storage area 140 are all located in the work station, which is the place where the goods picking is completed.

[0049] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the control server 100 controls at least one carrying device 110 to carry the SKUs corresponding to the batch order information to the picking point of the workstation according to the batch order information. The carrying device can be a device capable of automatically completing the carrying work, such as a carrying robot.

[0050] The batch order information described above can be composed of more than one order information to be picked. As a preferred embodiment, the picking storage area 104 contains more than one storage site, and each storage site corresponds to an order or an order set. One storage site corresponds to one order or order set, or in the case of a large number of goods in an order, one order can correspond to multiple storage sites. In this case, the control server 100 can determine the batch order information according to the number of storage sites in the picking storage area 104. The order set described above can be a combination of multiple orders or multiple sub-orders.

[0051] For example, assuming that the picking storage area 104 contains 10 storage sites, each of which corresponds to an order, the control server 100 can group 10 order information to be picked into a batch order information. Then control at least one carrying device 110 to take out the SKUs related to the batch order information from the warehouse.

[0052] Figure 1 Taking one carrying device 110 as an example, in the case of a large number of SKUs related to the batch order information, large size of SKUs or scattered storage positions of SKUs, multiple carrying devices 110 can also be used for carrying.

[0053] The carrying device 110 carries the SKUs related to the batch order information to the picking point of the workstation. The so-called picking point is a fixed position where the carrying device 110 stops and waits for picking at the workstation. The carrying device can determine the picking point through various ways such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology, GPS (Global Positioning System) positioning technology, etc. The carrying device 110 can carry the SKUs related to the batch order information to the picking point of the workstation through a container when carrying the SKUs. The container described above can be a shelf, a box, a tray, etc.

[0054] The control server 100 generates batch picking information according to the SKU corresponding to the batch order information, and sends the batch picking information to the workstation device 130. The batch picking information includes the type and quantity of the SKU to be picked. That is, the control server 100 integrates the information of each order in the batch order information, and no longer takes the order as the information unit, but takes the SKU as the information unit. The type and quantity of the SKU to be picked are included in the batch picking information, thereby providing a basis for the subsequent "batch picking".

[0055] The workstation device 130 described above can be implemented in two ways:

[0056] The first way is that the workstation device 130 is an information indicating device. This case is suitable for the case where the picking is performed by a person, i.e., a picker. As shown in FIG. 1B, the information indicating device 131 displays the batch picking information sent by the control server 100. Figure 2

[0057] In this way, the picker can pick the SKU of the corresponding type and quantity from the conveying device 110 to the transit storage area 120 according to the batch picking information displayed by the information indicating device 131.

[0058] The information indicating device 131 described above can be a display, a touch screen, a projection, a smart terminal, etc. The smart terminal can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a portable device, or a customized terminal device, etc.

[0059] In the embodiment, the picker no longer relies on the order information, but relies on the batch picking information. The batch picking information indicates the type and quantity of the SKU to be picked. The picker only needs to "pick" from the conveying device 110 according to the type and quantity of the SKU, and all the SKU involved in the batch order information is picked first.

[0060] The transit storage area 120 described above is a storage area different from the picking storage area 140 in the workstation, and is used to temporarily store the SKU before the SKU is "planted" to the picking storage area 140.

[0061] The transit storage area 120 can include at least one storage position, and the storage position can be implemented by a container. As a preferred implementation, different SKUs can be placed in different storage positions according to the type of the SKU to facilitate the differentiation of the SKUs.

[0062] ​In the case of manual picking, in order to facilitate the picking personnel to pick, the transfer storage area 120 can be arranged on the trolley. That is, the trolley is used as the transfer storage area 120. In this way, in the subsequent sowing process, the picking personnel can push the trolley to pick each SKU to the storage position in the picking storage area 140, saving manpower and improving efficiency.

[0063] In addition to the above-mentioned trolley as the transfer storage area 120, a container, a temporary storage point, etc. can also be used as the transfer storage area 120. The container can be a box, a tray, etc. The temporary storage point can be a free area such as a table, the ground, etc. which can temporarily store the SKU.

[0064] After the picking personnel completes the picking of all the SKUs according to the batch order information, that is, the picking from the handling equipment 110 to the transfer storage area 120, the handling equipment 110 leaves the picking point. That is, after all the SKUs to be picked are “unloaded” from the handling equipment 110, the handling equipment 110 can leave. In this way, even if the picking personnel has not picked the SKU to the picking storage area 140, the handling equipment 110 can leave to accept a new dispatch, thereby improving efficiency and reducing the queuing phenomenon caused by the long stay of the handling equipment 110 at the picking point.

[0065] In the above process, the handling equipment 110 can leave under the control of the control server 100. For example, after the picking personnel completes the picking of all the SKUs, a message indicating the completion of the batch picking is sent to the control server 100 through the workstation equipment, and the control server 100 controls the handling equipment 110 to leave. Other ways can also be used, which are not exhaustively listed here.

[0066] When the handling equipment 110 leaves the picking point, it can carry the original container away, or carry a different container away, or unload the original container and then leave, or add a new container and carry it away. The present disclosure does not limit this.

[0067] After the picking personnel completes the batch picking, the type and quantity of the picked SKU (i.e., the SKU picked from the handling equipment to the transfer storage area) can be returned to the control server 110 through the workstation equipment 130. In this way, the control server 110 can determine whether all the SKUs involved in the batch order information have been picked.

[0068] As mentioned above, in some cases, multiple handling equipment is needed to carry the SKUs corresponding to the batch order information. The multiple handling equipment can be parked at multiple picking points of the workstation at the same time, or can be parked at multiple picking points of the workstation in sequence. In this way, the picking personnel needs to pick the SKU from multiple handling equipment to the transfer storage area 120 until all the SKUs corresponding to the batch order information are picked.

[0069] For example, assume that a batch order information involves three SKU types a, b, and c, and the quantities of the three SKU types are n1, n2, and n3 respectively. The generated batch picking information contains the SKU types and the quantity information. The SKUs corresponding to the batch order information are completed by two handling devices, i.e., handling device A and handling device B. Handling device A arrives at the picking point first. The picker picks the SKUs from handling device A to the transit storage area according to the batch picking information, and returns the picked SKU types and the quantity information to the control server through the workstation device. The control server can update the SKU types and the quantity to be picked in the batch picking information in time. Then handling device A leaves, and handling device B arrives at the picking point. The picker continues to pick the SKUs from handling device B to the transit storage area according to the batch picking information, and returns the picked SKU types and the quantity information to the control server through the workstation device. The control server updates the SKU types and the quantity to be picked in the batch picking information in time, and finds that all the SKUs in the batch picking information have been picked.

[0070] The second mode: the workstation device 130 is an automatic picking device. This mode is suitable for the case where the picking is performed by an automatic picking device. As shown in FIG. 1B, the automatic picking device 132 picks the SKUs of the corresponding types and quantities from the handling device 110 to the transit storage area 120 according to the batch picking information sent by the control server 100. Figure 3

[0071] The automatic picking device 132 described above can be a mechanical hand, a picking robot, etc.

[0072] In this embodiment, the automatic picking device 132 also does not rely on the order information, but relies on the batch picking information. The batch picking information indicates the SKU types and the quantity to be picked. The automatic picking device 132 only needs to pick the SKUs from the handling device 110 according to the SKU types and the quantity, and all the SKUs involved in the batch order information are picked first.

[0073] In the case of picking by the automatic picking device 132, for convenience, the automatic picking device 132 can pick the transit storage area 120 to be set in the storage area attached to the automatic picking device 132. For example, the mechanical hand or the picking robot is attached with a container as the transit storage area 120. In this way, in the subsequent sowing process, the automatic picking device 132 can pick the SKUs from the container attached to itself to the storage site in the picking storage area 140 during the movement, thereby improving the picking efficiency.

[0074] ​After the automated picking device 132 has completed picking all the SKUs according to the batch order information, i.e. the picking from the handling device 110 to the transit storage area 120, the handling device 110 leaves the picking point. In this way, even if the automated picking device 132 has not picked all the SKUs to the picking storage area 140, the handling device 110 can leave to accept a new dispatch, thereby improving efficiency and reducing the queuing phenomenon caused by the handling device 110 staying at the picking point for a long time.

[0075] In the above process, the handling device 110 can leave under the control of the control server 100. For example, after the automated picking device 132 has completed picking all the SKUs, a message indicating the completion of the batch picking is sent to the control server 100, and the control server 100 controls the handling device 110 to leave.

[0076] When the handling device 110 leaves the picking point, it can carry the original container away, or carry a different container away, or unload the original container and leave, or add a new container and leave. The present disclosure does not limit this.

[0077] After the automated picking device 132 has completed the batch picking, it can return the type and quantity of the picked SKUs (i.e. the SKUs picked from the handling device to the transit storage area) to the control server 110. In this way, the control server 110 can determine whether all the SKUs involved in the batch order information have been picked.

[0078] As mentioned above, in some cases, multiple handling devices are required to carry the SKUs corresponding to the batch order information. The multiple handling devices can stay at multiple picking points of the workstation at the same time, or stay at multiple picking points of the workstation in sequence. In this way, the automated picking device 132 needs to pick the SKUs from the multiple handling devices to the transit storage area 120 until all the SKUs corresponding to the batch order information have been picked.

[0079] The picking process of the goods from the transit storage area 120 to the picking storage area 140, i.e. the "sowing" process, will be described below in conjunction with an embodiment. The "sowing" process can also be in two ways:

[0080] The first way is to pick each SKU in the transit storage area 120 to the storage position in the picking storage area 140 by a person, i.e. a picker.

[0081] In this way, the goods picking system can further include a scanning device 150, such as a barcode scanner, to scan the SKU in the transit storage area 120 and the storage position in the picking storage area 140. Figure 2The scanning device 150 is used to scan the SKU information and send it to the control server 110. Specifically, the picker can use the scanning device 150 to scan the SKU in the transfer storage area 120, so as to obtain the information of the scanned SKU, and send the information to the control server 110. The control server 110 determines the order picking information corresponding to the scanned SKU information. The order picking information includes the target storage position information and the quantity of the scanned SKU corresponding to the target storage position, and then sends the order picking information to the information indicating device 131. The information indicating device 131 displays the order picking information to the picker.

[0082] Wherein, since the order and the storage position in the picking storage area 140 have a corresponding relationship, when the picker scans the SKU, the purpose is to know which storage position or positions in the picking storage area 140 the SKU needs to be placed in, and the quantity of the SKU that needs to be placed in each target storage position. The control server 110 can determine the above order picking information according to the batch order information and the corresponding relationship between the order and the storage position in the picking storage area 140. The specific form of the above order picking information can be the corresponding information of each order and storage position in the batch order information, which includes the information of the target storage position corresponding to the scanned SKU and the quantity of the scanned SKU corresponding to the target storage position. It can also only include the information of the target storage position and the quantity of the scanned SKU corresponding to the target storage position.

[0083] In this way, the picker can directly know the target storage position corresponding to the scanned SKU and the quantity of the scanned SKU corresponding to each target storage position according to the order picking information, and accordingly pick the scanned SKU from the transfer storage area 120 to the corresponding target storage position in the picking storage area 140.

[0084] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the picking storage area 140 can be an area provided with more than one storage position. For example, it can be a multi-layer shelf structure, different positions on the shelf serving as storage positions, or containers serving as storage positions.

[0085] Further, since the order picking information has determined the target storage location and the number of scanned SKUs corresponding to the target storage location, after the picker scans the SKUs, the picking personnel can be guided to quickly locate the target storage location in the picking storage area 140 using methods such as electronic tags, projection, laser guidance, light, etc. For example, an indicator light can be provided at each storage location in the picking storage area 140, and once the target storage location corresponding to the scanned SKUs is determined, the indicator light of the target storage location is turned on, and the picker can quickly locate the position of the target storage location.

[0086] The picker scans and picks various SKUs in the same way until all the SKUs in the transit storage area 120 are picked to the picking storage area 140.

[0087] If the number of picked SKUs does not match the order picking information, for example, the order picking information shows that the number of SKUs corresponding to a target storage location is 3, but there are only 2 in the transit storage area 120, the picker can feedback to the control server 110 through the workstation device 130, and the control server 110 can correct it to take remedial measures, such as rescheduling one SKU, or noting that one is out of stock on the corresponding order, etc.

[0088] In addition, in order to improve the "sowing" efficiency, multiple SKUs can be scanned at the same time, and the information indicating device 131 can simultaneously display the target storage locations corresponding to the multiple SKUs and the number of SKUs corresponding to the target storage locations. In this case, the picking storage area 140 can display multiple SKUs in a differentiated manner such as electronic tags, projection, laser guidance, light, etc., so as to realize "parallel sowing" of multiple SKUs.

[0089] In the above embodiment, "picking" and "sowing" are separated, and during the "sowing" process, the picker does not need to put the SKUs into the storage locations corresponding to the order one by one according to the order, but the control server determines all target storage locations corresponding to the SKUs in batches based on the SKUs, and the picker can pick the SKUs to the corresponding storage locations according to the target storage location information and the number of SKUs corresponding to the target storage locations, thereby reducing the number of times the picker goes back and forth in the picking storage area.

[0090] The second way is to use the automatic picking device 132 to pick each SKU in the transit storage area 120 to the storage location in the picking storage area 140.

[0091] This way can be like Figure 3The automatic picking device 132 obtains the order picking information corresponding to each SKU picked to the transit storage area 120 from the control server 110, and the order picking information includes the target storage position information and the quantity of each SKU corresponding to each target storage position. Then the automatic picking device 132 picks each SKU from the transit storage area to the target storage position of the picking storage area according to the order picking information.

[0092] It should be noted that the automatic picking device 132 has an automatic identification function for the SKU, for example, the automatic picking device 132 can automatically identify each SKU by scanning RFID, image recognition and the like. Alternatively, the automatic picking device 132 can also automatically identify each SKU through an additional connected scanning device.

[0093] Similarly, since the order and the storage position in the picking storage area 140 have a corresponding relationship, the automatic picking device 132 needs to know which storage position or positions in the picking storage area 140 the SKU in the transit storage area 120 needs to be placed in, and these storage positions are the target storage positions, and the quantity of each SKU that needs to be placed in each target storage position. The control server 110 can determine the above order picking information according to the batch order information and the corresponding relationship between the order and the storage position in the picking storage area 140. The specific form of the above order picking information can be the corresponding information of each order and storage position in the batch order information, which includes the information of the target storage position of the SKU in the transit storage area and the quantity of each SKU corresponding to the target storage position. It can also only include the information of the target storage position and the quantity of each SKU corresponding to the target storage position.

[0094] In this way, the picking personnel can directly obtain the target storage position corresponding to each SKU and the quantity of each SKU corresponding to each target storage position according to the order picking information, and accordingly pick each SKU from the transit storage area 120 to the corresponding target storage position in the picking storage area 140. In addition, as mentioned in the above embodiment, the transit storage area 120 can be a container attached to the automatic picking device 132, so the automatic picking device 132 can conveniently "sow" each SKU in the picking storage area 140. For example, the picking robot moves in the picking storage area 140 and picks each SKU from the container attached to itself to the storage position of the picking storage area 140.

[0095] If the number of selected SKUs does not match the order picking information, for example, the number of SKUs corresponding to a target storage position in the order picking information is 3, but there are only 2 in the transit storage area 120, the automatic picking device 132 can feedback to the control server 110, and the control server 110 can correct and take remedial measures, such as rescheduling one SKU, or noting that one is out of stock on the corresponding order, etc.

[0096] In addition, in order to improve the "seeding" efficiency, multiple SKUs can be picked by the automatic picking device 132 at the same time, so that "parallel seeding" of multiple SKUs can be achieved.

[0097] In the above embodiment, in the case of separating "picking" and "seeding", the description is made by taking the example of "picking" first and then "seeding" all. In addition to this way, the following two ways can also be used, but not limited to:

[0098] In the case of separating "picking" and "seeding", if the SKUs involved in a batch order information are responsible for carrying to the workstation by multiple robots, "seeding" can be performed before another robot arrives after one robot arrives and "picks" the SKUs involved in the batch picking information of the robot. After waiting for another robot to arrive, "picking" the SKUs involved in the batch picking information of the robot, "seeding" is continued. This way can not only release the robot as soon as possible and improve the scheduling efficiency of the robot, but also can fully save the picking time and improve the picking efficiency.

[0099] In the case of separating "picking" and "seeding", "picking" and "seeding" can have partial overlap in time while following the "picking" first. For example, there are two picking personnel, picking personnel 1 is responsible for "picking", and picking personnel 2 is responsible for "seeding". While picking personnel 1 is "picking" the SKUs from the robot to the transit storage area, picking personnel 2 is "seeding" the SKUs in the transit storage area to the target storage position in the picking storage area.

[0100] Based on the above concept of the goods sorting system, the disclosure embodiment also provides a picking device, which can be considered to include the automatic picking device in the above embodiments. The automatic picking device can be a mechanical arm combination device with a suction cup or a clamp, or an automatic device with a mobile grabbing function, etc. The processing performed by the automatic picking device and the functions possessed by the automatic picking device can be referred to the related description in the above embodiments, which will not be described here.

[0101] Based on the above concept of the goods sorting system, the embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a goods sorting method, and an execution subject of the goods sorting method can be a computing device, such as a control server. The computing device can include a memory and a processor, the memory stores executable code, and the processor executes the executable code to implement the goods sorting method.

[0102] Figure 4 A flowchart of the goods sorting method provided by the control server as an execution subject is shown in Figure 4 The method can include the following steps:

[0103] Step 401: According to the batch order information, control at least one handling device to carry the SKU corresponding to the batch order information to the sorting point of the workstation.

[0104] Step 402: Generate batch sorting information using the SKU corresponding to the batch order information, the batch sorting information includes the type and quantity of the SKU to be sorted, and send the batch sorting information to the workstation device, so that the sorting personnel or the automatic sorting device of the workstation sorts the SKU of the corresponding type and quantity from the handling device to the transit storage area according to the batch sorting information.

[0105] The above workstation device can include an information indicating device or an automatic sorting device. The information indicating device displays the batch sorting information sent by the control server, so that the sorting personnel sorts the SKU of the corresponding type and quantity from the handling device to the transit storage area.

[0106] The automatic sorting device sorts the SKU of the corresponding type and quantity from the handling device to the transit storage area according to the batch sorting information sent by the control server.

[0107] In a preferred embodiment, the method further includes: after the SKU corresponding to the above batch order information carried by the handling device is sorted to the transit storage area, controlling the handling device to leave the sorting point.

[0108] In a preferred embodiment, the transit storage area is arranged at a cart, a container, a temporary storage point, or a storage area attached to the automatic sorting device.

[0109] In an optional embodiment, if the sorting is performed by the sorting personnel of the workstation, the goods sorting method can further include:

[0110] Step 403a: Receive the scanned SKU information sent by the scanning device.

[0111] Step 404a: determining order picking information corresponding to the scanned SKU information, the order picking information including target storage location information and the number of scanned SKUs corresponding to each target storage location, and sending the order picking information to the workstation device.

[0112] In another alternative embodiment, if the goods are picked by the automatic picking device of the workstation, the goods picking method can further include, after step 401 and step 402, as shown in step 403b: Figure 5

[0113] Step 403b: in response to the request of the workstation device, sending order picking information corresponding to each SKU picked to the transit storage area to the workstation device, the order picking information including target storage location information and the number of each SKU corresponding to each target storage location.

[0114] In an alternative embodiment, each storage location of the picking storage area corresponds to a different order or a set of orders; the method further includes determining the batch order information according to the number of storage locations of the picking storage area.

[0115] In an alternative embodiment, the method further includes receiving picking correction information sent by the workstation device, the picking correction information including SKU information whose picked quantity does not match the order picking information and the actual picked quantity of the SKU, and taking remedial measures using the picking correction information, such as rescheduling the SKU or adding a note of out-of-stock information on the corresponding order, etc.

[0116] The above describes specific embodiments of the present specification. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps recited in the claims can be performed in an order different than the order in the embodiments and still achieve the desired result. In addition, the processes depicted in the accompanying drawings do not necessarily require the particular order shown or sequential order to achieve the desired results. In certain embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing can be advantageous or possible.

[0117] Those skilled in the art should be aware that in one or more of the examples described above, the functions described by the present disclosure can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, these functions can be stored in a computer readable medium or transmitted as one or more instructions or code on a computer readable medium.

[0118] ​The above detailed description of the specific implementation is further detailed for the purpose of the present disclosure, technical solutions and beneficial effects, and it should be understood that the above detailed description is only a specific implementation of the present disclosure and is not used to limit the protection scope of the present disclosure, and any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made on the basis of the technical solutions of the present disclosure shall be included in the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A goods picking system comprising: at least one handling device, a transfer storage area, a picking storage area, a control server and a workstation device, the picking storage area being provided with more than one storage site; the control server is configured to control the at least one handling device to carry the inventory units SKU corresponding to the batch order information to the picking point of the workstation according to the batch order information, generate batch picking information using the SKU corresponding to the batch order information, the batch picking information including the type and quantity of SKU to be picked, and send the batch picking information to the workstation device; the workstation device includes an automatic picking device; the automatic picking device is configured to pick the SKU of the corresponding type and quantity from the handling device to the transfer storage area according to the batch picking information, the transfer storage area being the storage area attached to the automatic picking device; obtain order picking information corresponding to each SKU picked to the transfer storage area from the control server, the order picking information including target storage site information and the quantity of each SKU corresponding to each target storage site; pick each SKU from the transfer storage area to the target storage site of the picking storage area according to the order picking information; if the quantity of the picked SKU does not match the order picking information, send picking correction information to the control server, the picking correction information containing information of the SKU that does not match and the actual quantity of the picked SKU; the control server is further configured to take remedial measures using the picking correction information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein, the at least one handling device is configured to leave the picking point after the SKU corresponding to the batch order information carried by the handling device is picked to the transfer storage area.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein, Each storage site of the picking storage area corresponds to a different order or order set respectively; the control server is further configured to determine the batch order information according to the number of storage sites of the picking storage area.

4. A picking device comprising the automatic picking device of any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A goods picking method applied to the control server in the goods picking system of any one of claims 1 to 3; the goods picking method comprising: controlling at least one handling device to carry the SKU corresponding to the batch order information to the picking point of the workstation according to the batch order information; generating batch picking information using the SKU corresponding to the batch order information, the batch picking information including the type and quantity of SKU to be picked, and sending the batch picking information to the workstation device, the workstation device including an automatic picking device, so that the automatic picking device picks the SKU of the corresponding type and quantity from the handling device to the transfer storage area according to the batch picking information, the picking storage area being provided with more than one storage site; In response to a request of the workstation device, sending order picking information corresponding to each SKU to be picked to the transit storage area to the workstation device, the order picking information including target storage location information and the quantity of each SKU corresponding to each target storage location; Receiving picking correction information of the workstation device, the picking correction information including information of a SKU whose picked quantity does not match the order picking information and the actual picked quantity of the SKU; taking remedial measures by using the picking correction information.

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