Sorting method and device, electronic equipment and storage medium

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a picking method and device, electronic equipment and storage medium. The method comprises obtaining at least one order, wherein the bins in which the picked objects in the order are placed in a picking area, and combining the orders to generate a target picking list according to the number of bins in which the picked objects in the order are placed and the positions of the bins in the picking area, so that the picked objects pick the picked objects in the picking area according to the target picking list. By combining the orders into picking lists, the picked objects can pick multiple orders at the same time, improving the picking efficiency. On the other hand, by combining the orders according to the number of bins in which the picked objects in each order are placed and the positions of the bins in the picking area, an optimized target picking list can be obtained, making it easier for the picked objects to pick the picked objects in the target picking list and improving the picking efficiency of the orders.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of intelligent picking technology, and in particular to a picking method, apparatus, electronic device and storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of warehousing technology, the requirements for picking efficiency in automated storage and retrieval systems (AS / RS) are becoming increasingly stringent. However, when using a typical AS / RS for order picking, the next order is picked only after the current order has been completed, resulting in low picking efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a picking method, apparatus, electronic device, and storage medium to solve the problem of low order picking efficiency.

[0004] This application discloses a picking method applied to a storage system, the storage system including a picking area, the method comprising:

[0005] Obtain at least one order; wherein the bin containing the object to be picked in the order is placed in the picking area;

[0006] Based on the number of bins containing the objects to be picked in the order and the location of the bins in the picking area, the orders are combined to generate a target picking list, so that the objects to be picked can pick the objects in the picking area according to the target picking list.

[0007] Optionally, the step of combining the orders to generate a picking list based on the number of bins containing the picked objects and the location of the bins in the picking area includes:

[0008] Get the number of orders corresponding to the picking list to be formed;

[0009] The orders are combined according to the stated order quantity to generate a picking list;

[0010] Based on the number of bins containing the objects to be picked in the picking list and the location of the bins in the picking area, a target picking list is determined from the picking list; wherein, when the objects to be picked in the target picking list are picked, the distance the objects move is minimized.

[0011] Optionally, the storage system further includes a storage area, and after obtaining at least one order, it further includes:

[0012] Determine the first quantity of the order corresponding to each picked object in the storage area;

[0013] Based on the first quantity, the bins containing the objects to be picked in the storage area are transported to the picking area in descending order.

[0014] Optionally, after determining the first quantity of the order corresponding to each picked object in the storage area, the method further includes:

[0015] When there is no available storage space for placing a material box in the picking area, identify the picking object in the picking area that does not correspond to the order.

[0016] The bins containing the items to be picked that do not correspond to the order in the picking area are transported to the storage area.

[0017] Optionally, after determining the first quantity of the order corresponding to each picked object in the storage area, the method further includes:

[0018] When there is no empty storage space for placing a material box in the picking area, and all the objects to be picked in the picking area have corresponding orders, determine the second quantity of the orders corresponding to each object to be picked in the picking area;

[0019] Based on the second quantity, the bins containing some of the picked objects in the picking area are transported to the storage area in ascending order.

[0020] Optionally, after obtaining at least one order, the process further includes:

[0021] When the items to be picked in the bins in the picking area match all the items to be picked in the order, the transport of bins from the storage area to the picking area is stopped.

[0022] Optionally, the storage system further includes an elevator, the picking area is located below the storage area, the picking area and the storage area are connected by the elevator, and the elevator moves between the picking area and the storage area to complete the transportation of the bin containing the picked object between the picking area and the storage area.

[0023] Optionally, the storage area is constructed from a multi-level racking system, and the racking system has storage locations for placing material boxes, which are numbered in the order of row, column, and layer.

[0024] Optionally, the storage system further includes a transport device. Each level of the storage area is provided with a transverse aisle and a longitudinal aisle. The transverse aisle is connected to the elevator. The transport device moves through the transverse aisle to the target longitudinal aisle and through the target longitudinal aisle to the storage location with the target number to pick up and put in the material box.

[0025] Optionally, transporting the bin containing the object to be picked from the storage area to the picking area includes:

[0026] The transport equipment retrieves the bin containing the selected item from its location in the storage area and transports it to the elevator.

[0027] The elevator transports the bin containing the item to be picked to the floor of the picking area and transfers the bin to the transport equipment on the floor of the picking area.

[0028] The transport equipment transports the bin containing the items to be picked to an available storage location in the picking area.

[0029] This application also discloses a picking device, which specifically includes the following modules:

[0030] An order acquisition module is used to acquire at least one order; wherein the bin containing the object to be picked in the order is placed in the picking area;

[0031] The object picking module is used to combine the orders to generate a target picking list based on the number of bins containing the objects to be picked in the order and the location of the bins in the picking area, so that the objects to be picked can pick the objects in the picking area according to the target picking list.

[0032] Optionally, the object picking module includes:

[0033] The quantity acquisition submodule is used to obtain the order quantity corresponding to the picking list to be formed;

[0034] The order combination submodule is used to combine the orders according to the order quantity to generate a picking list;

[0035] The picking list determination submodule is used to determine the target picking list from the picking list based on the number of bins containing the objects to be picked in the picking list and the position of the bins in the picking area; wherein, when the objects to be picked in the target picking list are picked, the distance the objects to be picked is minimized.

[0036] Optionally, the storage system further includes a storage area, and further includes:

[0037] The first quantity determination module is used to determine the first quantity of the order corresponding to each picked object in the storage area;

[0038] The bin transport module is used to transport the bins containing the objects to be picked from the storage area to the picking area in descending order of the first quantity.

[0039] Optionally, it also includes:

[0040] The object determination module is used to determine the object to be picked in the picking area that does not correspond to the order when there is no empty storage space for placing the material box in the picking area;

[0041] The bin transport module is also used to transport bins containing objects that are not corresponding to the order in the picking area to the storage area.

[0042] Optionally, it also includes:

[0043] The second quantity determination module is also used to determine the second quantity of the order corresponding to each picked object in the picking area when there is no empty storage space for placing the material box in the picking area and all the picked objects in the picking area have the corresponding order.

[0044] The bin transport module is also used to transport bins containing a portion of the picked objects in the picking area to the storage area in ascending order according to the second quantity.

[0045] Optionally, it also includes:

[0046] The stop transport module is used to stop transporting the bins in the storage area to the picking area when the items to be picked in the bins in the picking area match all the items to be picked in the order.

[0047] In one embodiment of this application, the storage system further includes an elevator, the picking area is located below the storage area, the picking area and the storage area are connected by the elevator, and the elevator moves between the picking area and the storage area to complete the transportation of the bin containing the picked object between the picking area and the storage area.

[0048] Optionally, the storage area is constructed from a multi-level racking system, and the racking system has storage locations for placing material boxes, which are numbered in the order of row, column, and layer.

[0049] Optionally, the storage system further includes a transport device. Each level of the storage area is provided with a transverse aisle and a longitudinal aisle. The transverse aisle is connected to the elevator. The transport device moves through the transverse aisle to the target longitudinal aisle and through the target longitudinal aisle to the storage location with the target number to pick up and put in the material box.

[0050] Optionally, the object transport module includes:

[0051] The object retrieval submodule is used to retrieve the bin containing the selected object from the storage location in the storage area via the transport equipment and transport it to the elevator;

[0052] The object transport submodule is used to transport the bin containing the object to be picked to the layer of the picking area via the elevator, and to transfer the bin containing the object to the transport equipment of the layer of the picking area;

[0053] The object placement submodule is used to transport the bin containing the object to be picked to an empty storage location in the picking area via the transport equipment.

[0054] This application also discloses an electronic device, including: a processor; and a memory storing executable code thereon, which, when executed, causes the processor to perform one or more of the picking methods described above.

[0055] This application also discloses one or more machine-readable media storing executable code, which, when executed, causes a processor to perform the picking method as described above.

[0056] Compared with the prior art, the embodiments of this application have the following advantages:

[0057] In this embodiment, at least one order is obtained, and the bin containing the object to be picked in the order is placed in the picking area. Based on the number of bins containing the objects to be picked in each order and the positions of the bins in the picking area, the orders are combined to generate a target picking list. This allows the picking object to pick the objects in the picking area according to the target picking list. Applying this embodiment, on the one hand, by combining orders into picking lists, the picking object can pick from multiple orders simultaneously, improving picking efficiency. On the other hand, by combining orders based on the number of bins containing the objects to be picked in each order and the positions of the bins in the picking area, an optimized target picking list can be obtained, making the objects to be picked in the target picking list easier for the picking object to pick, thereby improving order picking efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0058] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of an embodiment of the picking method of this application;

[0059] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of another embodiment of the picking method of this application;

[0060] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an order combination method of this application;

[0061] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of an embodiment of a method for conveying picked objects according to this application;

[0062] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a bin scheduling method according to this application;

[0063] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a storage system according to this application;

[0064] Figure 7 This is a top view schematic diagram of the structure of a storage area according to this application;

[0065] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an order picking process according to this application.

[0066] Figure 9 This is a structural block diagram of one embodiment of the picking device of this application;

[0067] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a device provided in one embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0068] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0069] Reference Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of an embodiment of a picking method according to this application, including the following steps:

[0070] Step 101: Obtain at least one order.

[0071] The method is applied to a storage system, which includes a picking area with storage locations for placing bins. The bin containing the object to be picked in the order can be placed in the picking area. The bin can store one or more objects to be picked, such as goods or merchandise.

[0072] Specifically, when the storage system receives one or more orders, it checks whether the objects to be picked in the bins in the picking area meet the requirements of the order.

[0073] If the items to be picked in the order are currently stored in the picking area, it means that the items stored in the bins in the picking area meet the requirements of the order, and there is no need to transport the items to the picking area.

[0074] If the items to be picked in the order are not stored in the picking area, it means that the items stored in the bins in the picking area do not meet the requirements of the order. In this case, the bins containing the items to be picked in the order will be transported to an empty location in the picking area so that the picking area can store the items to be picked in the order.

[0075] Step 102: Based on the number of bins containing the objects to be picked in the order and the location of the bins in the picking area, combine the orders to generate a target picking list, so that the objects to be picked can pick the objects in the picking area according to the target picking list.

[0076] The target picking list is obtained by combining multiple orders, such as 2, 3 or 5 orders. The specific number of orders can be set according to actual needs. This application embodiment does not limit the number of orders that can be combined to obtain the target picking list.

[0077] The orders that make up the target picking list are those that can be fulfilled by the items to be picked stored in the picking area's storage bins.

[0078] The picking object can be a picking robot or a picking operator, and the specific object can be set according to actual needs. This application embodiment does not limit the picking object.

[0079] Specifically, the items to be picked in each order can be the same or different. Orders can be combined based on the number of boxes containing the items to be picked and the location of the boxes in the picking area. For example, orders with fewer boxes and boxes that are close in the picking area can be combined, or orders with fewer boxes and boxes that have a high degree of overlap in the picking area can be combined, or orders with boxes that have a high degree of overlap in the picking area and boxes that are close in the picking area can be combined, or orders with fewer boxes, boxes that have a high degree of overlap in the picking area and boxes that are close in the picking area can be combined. The specific settings can be configured according to actual needs to obtain an optimized target picking list.

[0080] After receiving the target picking list, the picking object carries the target picking list and the associated picking cart, and proceeds to the picking area location indicated by the storage system. They then pick the specified number of items from the bins and distribute them to the corresponding order boxes on the picking cart for each order requiring that item. Once all orders under the picking list have been picked, the next steps of verification, packaging, and outbound processing can proceed. Simultaneously, the picking object can retrieve the next target picking list to continue working.

[0081] In the embodiments of this application, on the one hand, by combining orders into picking lists, the picking object can pick multiple orders simultaneously, improving picking efficiency. On the other hand, by combining orders according to the number of bins containing the picked objects in each order and the position of the bins in the picking area, an optimized target picking list can be obtained, making the picked objects in the target picking list easier for the picking object to pick, thereby improving the order picking efficiency.

[0082] Reference Figure 2This is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of the picking method of this application, including the following steps:

[0083] Step 201: Obtain at least one order.

[0084] Step 202: Obtain the number of orders corresponding to the picking list to be formed.

[0085] Specifically, the number of orders that make up a picking list can be preset. For example, a picking list can be set to consist of 2 orders or 3 orders.

[0086] Step 203: Combine the orders according to the order quantity to generate a picking list.

[0087] Specifically, orders are combined according to the order quantity to obtain several picking lists. For example, if the order quantity is 2, and the order to be picked can be satisfied by the order 1, order 2 and order 3 stored in the picking area storage bin, then the combined picking lists are picking list A (1, 2), picking list B (1, 3) and picking list C (2, 3).

[0088] Step 204: Based on the number of bins containing the objects to be picked in the picking list and the location of the bins in the picking area, determine the target picking list from the picking list so that the objects to be picked can pick the objects in the picking area according to the target picking list.

[0089] Among them, the distance the picking object moves is the smallest when the object in the target picking list is picked.

[0090] Different bins occupy different storage locations in the picking area. The fewer bins containing the items to be picked in the target picking list, the fewer storage locations are required, and the shorter the distance the picking item needs to move when it is picked. The location of the bin containing the items to be picked in the target picking list in the picking area is the storage location of the bin. The closer the storage locations are to the target picking list, the shorter the distance the picking item needs to move when it is picked.

[0091] Specifically, based on the target picking list obtained by combination, the picking list can be filtered according to the number of bins containing the objects to be picked and the location of the bins in the picking area to obtain the target picking list with the shortest picking distance, so that the objects to be picked can pick the objects in the picking area according to the target picking list.

[0092] In practical applications, an integer programming model can be established for the order combination problem. The objective is to minimize the number of warehouse locations to be picked on a picking list, while simultaneously minimizing the picking distance. Solving this model generates a reasonable order combination scheme. Assuming the warehouse location column numbers increase sequentially from left to right, the objective function and constraints of the mathematical model for the order combination method are as follows:

[0093]

[0094] st

[0095]

[0096]

[0097] z i,j ∈{0,1} (4)

[0098] Equation (1) represents the objective function as minimizing the total picking distance length and total number of picking bins for all target picking orders, where Equation (2) indicates the number of warehouse positions required for the target picking order. Each order can only be assigned to one target picking order. Equation (3) indicates the number of orders contained in each target picking order, i.e., the group order parameter.

[0099] Symbol definition:

[0100] Sets: I: Set of pickable orders; J: Set of target picking orders;

[0101] Subscripts: i: order; j: target picking list;

[0102] variable x i,j : 0-1 variable, x i,j =1 indicates that order i is assigned to batch j;

[0103] Parameter: C i : The set of all locations in the picking area for order i that need to be picked; l i : The leftmost column number of the picking location bin in the picking area for all the items required by order i, a positive integer; r i : The rightmost column number of all the objects to be picked in the picking area's storage bins for order i, a positive integer; α, β: Weighting coefficients, with a value range of (0, 1), used to adjust the importance of different optimization objectives; N: The number of orders contained in each picking order, i.e., the group order parameter, a positive integer.

[0104] By solving the above model, we can reasonably combine orders to generate target picking lists, minimizing the total picking distance of the target picking lists, so as to reduce the walking distance of the picking objects when picking orders and improve the picking efficiency of orders.

[0105] As an example, refer to Figure 3 The diagram illustrates an embodiment of an order combination method according to this application. The objects to be picked in the current picking area satisfy the picking requirements of four orders: Order 1 requires objects A, B, C, and D; Order 2 requires objects C, E, F, and G; Order 3 requires objects B and D; and Order 4 requires objects C, D, E, and G. The corresponding bin locations are marked in the diagram. When each target picking order contains two orders, the optimized order combination method is used. The order combination result is shown in the dashed box. Orders 1 and 3 are combined into one batch to form the target picking order, requiring picking from four bins with a picking distance of 5. Orders 2 and 4 are combined into another batch to form the target picking order, requiring picking from five bins with a picking distance of 7. On average, each picking order requires picking from five bins with a picking distance of 6.

[0106] The results of using a poorer order combination method (shown in solid boxes) are as follows: Orders 1 and 2 are combined into a target picking order, requiring picking from 7 storage locations with a picking distance of 10. Orders 3 and 4 are combined into a target picking order, requiring picking from 5 storage locations with a picking distance of 8. The total picking distance for all picking orders is 9. On average, each picking order requires picking from 6 storage locations with a picking distance of 8.5.

[0107] The target picking list obtained by using the optimized order grouping method requires fewer average warehouse locations and shorter picking distances, thereby enabling the picking objects to complete the picking list in a shorter time and with higher picking efficiency.

[0108] In the embodiments of this application, by combining orders into picking lists, the picking object can pick multiple orders simultaneously, improving picking efficiency. On the other hand, by combining orders based on the number of bins containing the picked objects in each order and the location of the bins in the picking area, an optimized target picking list can be obtained. This results in a shorter picking distance when the picking object picks the picked objects, thereby reducing the time required for the picking object to complete the picking list and increasing picking efficiency.

[0109] Reference Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of an embodiment of a method for conveying picked objects according to this application. The embodiment of this application... Figure 1 and Figure 2 Based on the illustrated embodiment, this paper mainly describes an implementation method for transporting the objects to be picked from the storage area to the picking area, specifically including the following steps:

[0110] Step 401: Obtain at least one order.

[0111] In one embodiment of this application, after step 401, the method further includes: when the objects to be picked stored in the bins in the picking area match all the objects to be picked in the order, stopping the transport of bins from the storage area to the picking area.

[0112] Specifically, after receiving an order, it is necessary to locate the items to be picked in the order. When all the items to be picked in the order are located in the bins in the picking area, there is no need to transport the bins in the storage area to the picking area. The order can be directly combined to generate a target picking list for picking the order.

[0113] Step 402: Determine the first quantity of the order corresponding to each picked object in the storage area.

[0114] The storage system also includes a storage area for storing bins and a picking area for temporarily storing bins. Each bin can hold one or more items to be picked.

[0115] When the storage system receives one or more orders, it checks whether the items to be picked in the bins in the picking area meet the requirements of the order. If the items to be picked corresponding to the order are not stored in the picking area, it means that the items to be picked in the bins in the picking area do not meet the requirements of the order. In this case, the bin containing the items to be picked required by the order needs to be transported from the storage area to an empty location in the picking area so that the picking area has the items to be picked required by the order.

[0116] Specifically, the same item to be picked may be needed by multiple orders simultaneously. Therefore, the first quantity of orders corresponding to each item to be picked is calculated (how many orders contain the item to be picked). The higher the first quantity, the more orders the item to be picked can fulfill. The higher the priority of the bin containing the item to be picked, the more likely the bin containing the item to be moved from the storage area to the picking area.

[0117] Step 403: Based on the first quantity, transport the bins containing the objects to be picked in the storage area to the picking area in descending order.

[0118] Among them, the bins transported from the storage area to the picking area are bins that are not available in the picking area.

[0119] Specifically, the larger the initial quantity of an item being picked, the more orders it fulfills. The higher the transport priority of the bin containing the item, the more frequently it needs to be moved from the storage area to the picking area. Therefore, after obtaining the initial quantity of each item, the bins containing the items are sorted from largest to smallest based on this quantity. The bins containing the items in the storage area are then transported to the picking area according to this sorting. This allows the picking area to fulfill the needs of more orders simultaneously, enabling more orders to be grouped into target picking orders and thus effectively improving order picking efficiency.

[0120] In practical applications, the bin scheduling strategy for moving from the storage area to the picking area can be as follows:

[0121] For each object k∈Q to be picked, calculate the total number of times it needs to be ordered individually or together with other objects located in the picking area (the first quantity), denoted as C. k ,Right now

[0122]

[0123] Press C k In descending order, tasks are generated for transporting the bin containing the selected object k to the picking area storage location.

[0124] Symbol definition:

[0125] Sets: O: The set of orders; P: The set of all objects to be picked in the picking area after inventory location of all orders in set O; Q: The set of all objects to be picked in the storage area after inventory location of all orders in set O; A: The power set of set P, i.e., A = 2. P Let P be the set of all combinations of the selected objects in set P; B is the power set of set Q, i.e., B = 2. Q , represents the set of all combinations of the objects to be picked in set Q; C: the set of all the objects to be picked for all orders in set O;

[0126] Subscripts: i: order; j: object to be picked in the picking area; k: object to be picked in the storage area; m: subset of set A; n: subset of set B; s: subset of set C;

[0127] variable x s,i ∈{0,1}: A value of 1 indicates that the set of objects to be picked, s, is a subset of the set of objects to be picked required for order i; a value of 0 indicates that it is not.

[0128] In the embodiments of this application, when a batch of orders is received, the storage system performs inventory location of the items to be picked required by the orders, determines the items to be picked, and the bins containing the items to be picked are located in the storage area. The system determines the first quantity of the orders corresponding to the items to be picked, and sorts the bins containing the items to be picked from largest to smallest based on the first quantity. The bins containing the items to be picked in the storage area are then transported to the picking area according to the sorting. This allows the items to be picked in the picking area to meet the needs of more orders at the same time, so that more orders can be combined into target picking orders to participate in picking, thereby effectively improving the order picking efficiency.

[0129] In one embodiment of this application, after step 402, the method further includes: when there is no available storage space for placing a material box in the picking area, identifying the object to be picked in the picking area that does not correspond to the order; and transporting the material box containing the object to be picked in the picking area that does not correspond to the order to the storage area.

[0130] Specifically, during the process of transporting the bin containing the object to be picked from the storage area to the picking area, if there are no available storage locations in the picking area, the bin containing the object required by the order cannot be directly moved to the picking area storage location. Therefore, it is necessary to transport the bin containing the object that is not required by the order but is located in the picking area storage location to the storage area, thereby adding new available storage locations in the picking area so that the bin containing the object required by the order can be moved from the storage area to the available storage location in the picking area.

[0131] In one embodiment of this application, after step 402, the method further includes: when there is no vacant storage space for placing material boxes in the picking area, and all the objects to be picked in the picking area have corresponding orders, determining a second quantity of the orders corresponding to each object to be picked in the picking area; and transporting some of the material boxes containing the objects to be picked in the picking area to the storage area in ascending order according to the second quantity.

[0132] Specifically, during the process of transporting the bins containing the items to be picked from the storage area to the picking area, when there are no available storage locations for bins in the picking area, all the items to be picked in the picking area have corresponding orders, and the items to be picked in the picking area cannot meet the order demand, a second quantity of orders corresponding to each item to be picked in the picking area is determined. The smaller the second quantity, the fewer orders the item to be picked can fulfill, and the higher the priority of transporting the bin corresponding to that item to the storage area. Therefore, after obtaining the second quantity corresponding to the item to be picked, the bins containing the items to be picked are sorted from smallest to largest based on the second quantity. According to the sorting, some bins containing the items to be picked in the picking area are transported to the storage area to create new available storage locations in the picking area, facilitating the transport of items to be picked that can fulfill multiple orders to the picking area.

[0133] In practical applications, the bin scheduling strategy for moving materials from the picking area to the storage area is as follows:

[0134] For items picked in the picking area that are not needed by the order, they should be moved to the storage area first.

[0135] If the current number of available storage spaces in the picking area is still insufficient to meet demand, it is necessary to temporarily move some of the boxes containing the ordered items that are already in storage spaces in the picking area to the storage area to obtain more available storage spaces. For the ordered item j∈P, calculate the total number of times it is needed by an order individually or together with other ordered items in the picking area and storage area (the second quantity), denoted as C. j ,Right now

[0136]

[0137] Press C j The bins containing the selected object j are moved to the storage in ascending order of size.

[0138] Symbol definition:

[0139] Sets: O: The set of orders; P: The set of all objects to be picked in the picking area after inventory location of all orders in set O; Q: The set of all objects to be picked in the storage area after inventory location of all orders in set O; A: The power set of set P, i.e., A = 2. P Let P be the set of all combinations of the selected objects in set P; B is the power set of set Q, i.e., B = 2. Q , represents the set of all combinations of the objects to be picked in set Q; C: the set of all the objects to be picked for all orders in set O;

[0140] Subscripts: i: order; j: object to be picked in the picking area; k: object to be picked in the storage area; m: subset of set A; n: subset of set B; s: subset of set C;

[0141] variable x s,i ∈{0,1}: A value of 1 indicates that the set of objects to be picked, s, is a subset of the set of objects to be picked required for order i; a value of 0 indicates that it is not.

[0142] In this embodiment, the bins containing the objects to be picked in the picking area are transported to the storage area according to the second quantity sorting from smallest to largest, thereby creating new vacant storage locations in the picking area. This facilitates the transport of objects to be picked to meet multiple orders to the picking area. This allows the picking area storage locations to meet the needs of more orders at the same time, enabling more orders to be grouped into target picking orders and participating in the picking process, thus effectively improving order picking efficiency.

[0143] As an example, refer to Figure 5 This diagram illustrates an embodiment of a bin scheduling method according to this application. Assume there are 4 storage locations in the picking area (picking surface), and currently 5 orders with objects to be picked: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and I. The picking area storage locations currently hold objects A, F, H, and I, while the storage area storage locations currently hold objects B, C, D, E, G, J, and K. Currently, the objects in the picking area storage locations cannot meet the picking needs of any order. Therefore, bins containing objects F, H, and I are moved from the picking area storage locations to the storage area, and bins containing objects B, C, and D are moved from the storage area storage locations to the picking area storage locations. This allows the picking area storage locations to simultaneously hold bins containing all four types of objects (A, B, C, and D), thus simultaneously meeting the picking needs of multiple orders 1, 3, and 4.

[0144] In this embodiment, objects that are not needed by orders or are needed by a few orders in the picking area are transported to the storage area to create new vacant storage locations in the picking area. This facilitates the transport of objects that satisfy multiple orders to the picking area, allowing the objects in the picking area to satisfy the needs of more orders at the same time. This enables more orders to be combined into target picking orders and participate in picking, thereby effectively improving order picking efficiency.

[0145] Reference Figure 6 The diagram shows a structural schematic of a storage system according to this application. The storage system includes a storage area and a picking area, with the picking area located below the storage area. The picking area and the storage area are connected by a lift, which facilitates the transport of bins containing the objects to be picked between the picking area and the storage area.

[0146] In this embodiment, the picking area is located below the storage area, ensuring that the items to be picked can be easily retrieved from the bins in the storage location. Once all the items required for the picking order have been picked, the next steps of verification, packaging, and outbound processing can proceed.

[0147] In one embodiment of this application, the storage area is constructed from a multi-level automated storage and retrieval system. The system includes storage locations for placing boxes, numbered sequentially by row, column, and layer. Each storage location can hold one box, and each box can store one or more products.

[0148] In this embodiment, the picking objects are stored in a dense three-dimensional shelving system, which greatly improves the space utilization and storage capacity of the logistics warehouse and effectively reduces warehousing costs.

[0149] Reference Figure 7The diagram shows a top view of a storage area according to this application. The storage system also includes transport equipment. Each level of the storage area is provided with transverse aisles and longitudinal aisles. The transport equipment moves through the transverse aisles to the target longitudinal aisle and through the target longitudinal aisle to the designated storage location to pick up and place the material boxes.

[0150] The transport equipment can be a shuttle, a robot, etc., and the roadway can be a track. Specifically, the transverse roadway is the roadway through which the transport equipment switches to the longitudinal roadway. The transport equipment changes the current longitudinal roadway by moving to different roadway intersections. When the transport equipment moves in the longitudinal roadway, it can reach the designated storage location to pick up and put away the material box.

[0151] In one embodiment of this application, transporting the bin containing the object to be picked from the storage area to the picking area includes: retrieving the bin containing the object to be picked from the storage location in the storage area using the transport equipment and conveying it to the elevator; transporting the bin containing the object to the floor of the picking area using the elevator and handing the bin to the transport equipment on the floor of the picking area; and transporting the bin containing the object to an empty storage location in the picking area using the transport equipment.

[0152] Specifically, if the bin containing the item to be picked for an order is currently stored in a storage area location, the storage system selects a suitable bin and generates a transport task. The starting point of the task is the storage area location, and the ending point is a designated empty location in the picking area. The transport equipment performs the transport action according to the task information, taking the bin from the starting location and sending it to the elevator. The elevator transports the bin to the floor where the picking area is located. The transport equipment on the floor where the picking area is located then connects the bin from the elevator and transports it to the ending location where the bin is placed. At this point, the bin containing the item to be picked for the order has been moved from the storage area location to the picking area location, where it can be picked by the picking object.

[0153] If there are no available storage locations in the picking area at this time, and a task to move the required boxes for the order to the picking area storage location cannot be generated directly, then a task to move the boxes located in the picking area storage location back to the storage area storage location needs to be generated first. After the task is completed, the starting storage location will become an available storage location. Only then can a moving task to move the required boxes for the order from the storage area to the available storage location in the picking area be generated.

[0154] As orders are continuously received, bins containing the required items to be picked from the storage area are continuously moved to the picking area storage location. At the same time, bins containing items without order requirements to be picked from the picking area storage location are moved to the storage area. The inventory of items to be picked in the picking area storage location is dynamically adjusted according to the order picking requirements.

[0155] To better understand the embodiments of this application, refer to Figure 8 An example is provided below:

[0156] Reference Figure 8 The diagram illustrates an embodiment of an order picking process according to this application. When a customer order arrives, the order clerk submits the order, that is, notifies the storage system which orders (orders obtained by the storage system) need to be picked.

[0157] The storage system locates the bin containing the required item based on the order details. If the item is already in the picking area, it means the bin in the picking area meets the order's requirements, and the item does not need to be transported. If the item is not in the picking area, it means the bin does not meet the order's requirements, and the bin containing the required item is transported to an available location in the picking area to ensure the picking area has the necessary item.

[0158] The storage system periodically scans the inventory in the current picking area's bins to ensure it can fulfill all orders. It then uses an order combination strategy to group these orders into several batches, each batch constituting a target picking list. Each picking item is assigned a picking list and a linked picking cart. The cart then proceeds to the picking area location indicated by the storage system, picking the specified number of items from the bins and distributing them to the corresponding order boxes on the picking cart. Once all orders under a picking list have been picked, the next steps of verification, packaging, and outbound processing can begin. Simultaneously, the picking operator can collect the next picking list to continue the operation.

[0159] In this embodiment, a complete set of optimized order picking system is obtained by designing a reasonable storage system layout, designing an optimized method for the bin scheduling problem, and establishing an integer programming model to solve the order combination method, thereby improving the order picking efficiency.

[0160] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, the method embodiments are all described as a series of actions. However, those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of this application are not limited to the described order of actions, because according to the embodiments of this application, some steps can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. Secondly, those skilled in the art should also understand that the embodiments described in the specification are all preferred embodiments, and the actions involved are not necessarily required by the embodiments of this application.

[0161] Based on the above embodiments, this embodiment also provides a picking device applied to a storage system, the storage system including a picking area. (Refer to...) Figure 9The diagram shows a structural block diagram of an embodiment of the picking device of this application, which may specifically include the following modules:

[0162] The order acquisition module 901 is used to acquire at least one order; wherein the bin containing the object to be picked in the order is placed in the picking area;

[0163] The object picking module 902 is used to combine the order to generate a target picking list based on the number of bins containing the objects to be picked in the order and the position of the bins in the picking area, so that the objects to be picked can pick the objects in the picking area according to the target picking list.

[0164] In one embodiment of this application, the object picking module 902 includes:

[0165] The quantity acquisition submodule is used to obtain the order quantity corresponding to the picking list to be formed;

[0166] The order combination submodule is used to combine the orders according to the order quantity to generate a picking list;

[0167] The picking list determination submodule is used to determine the target picking list from the picking list based on the number of bins containing the objects to be picked in the picking list and the position of the bins in the picking area; wherein, when the objects to be picked in the target picking list are picked, the distance the objects to be picked is minimized.

[0168] In one embodiment of this application, the storage system further includes a storage area, and further includes:

[0169] The first quantity determination module is used to determine the first quantity of the order corresponding to each picked object in the storage area;

[0170] The bin transport module is used to transport the bins containing the objects to be picked from the storage area to the picking area in descending order of the first quantity.

[0171] In one embodiment of this application, it further includes:

[0172] The object determination module is used to determine the object to be picked in the picking area that does not correspond to the order when there is no empty storage space for placing the material box in the picking area;

[0173] The bin transport module is also used to transport bins containing objects that are not corresponding to the order in the picking area to the storage area.

[0174] In one embodiment of this application, it further includes:

[0175] The second quantity determination module is also used to determine the second quantity of the order corresponding to each picked object in the picking area when there is no empty storage space for placing the material box in the picking area and all the picked objects in the picking area have the corresponding order.

[0176] The bin transport module is also used to transport bins containing a portion of the picked objects in the picking area to the storage area in ascending order according to the second quantity.

[0177] In one embodiment of this application, it further includes:

[0178] The stop transport module is used to stop transporting the bins in the storage area to the picking area when the items to be picked in the bins in the picking area match all the items to be picked in the order.

[0179] In one embodiment of this application, the storage system further includes an elevator, the picking area is located below the storage area, the picking area and the storage area are connected by the elevator, and the elevator moves between the picking area and the storage area to complete the transportation of the bin containing the picked object between the picking area and the storage area.

[0180] In one embodiment of this application, the storage area is formed by a three-dimensional shelving system, the storage area is multi-layered, and the three-dimensional shelving system has storage locations for placing material boxes, the storage locations being numbered in the order of row, column, and layer.

[0181] In one embodiment of this application, the storage system further includes a transport device. Each layer of the storage area is provided with a transverse aisle and a longitudinal aisle. The transverse aisle is connected to the elevator. The transport device moves through the transverse aisle to the target longitudinal aisle and through the target longitudinal aisle to the storage location with the target number to pick up and put in the material box.

[0182] In one embodiment of this application, the object transport module includes:

[0183] The object retrieval submodule is used to retrieve the bin containing the selected object from the storage location in the storage area via the transport equipment and transport it to the elevator;

[0184] The object transport submodule is used to transport the bin containing the object to be picked to the layer of the picking area via the elevator, and to transfer the bin containing the object to the transport equipment of the layer of the picking area;

[0185] The object placement submodule is used to transport the bin containing the object to be picked to an empty storage location in the picking area via the transport equipment.

[0186] This application also provides a non-volatile readable storage medium storing one or more modules (programs). When these modules are applied to a device, they enable the device to execute the instructions for the method steps in this application.

[0187] This application provides one or more machine-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause an electronic device to perform one or more of the methods described in the above embodiments. In this application, the electronic device includes various types of devices such as terminal devices and servers (clusters).

[0188] The embodiments of this disclosure can be implemented as an apparatus configured as desired using any suitable hardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof, including electronic devices such as terminal devices, servers (clusters), etc. Figure 10 An exemplary apparatus 1000 is schematically shown that can be used to implement the various embodiments described in this application.

[0189] In one embodiment, Figure 10 An exemplary device 1000 is shown, which includes one or more processors 1002, a control module (chipset) 1004 coupled to at least one of the processors 1002, a memory 1006 coupled to the control module 1004, a non-volatile memory (NVM) / storage device 10010 coupled to the control module 1004, one or more input / output devices 1010 coupled to the control module 1004, and a network interface 1012 coupled to the control module 1004.

[0190] Processor 1002 may include one or more single-core or multi-core processors, and processor 1002 may include any combination of general-purpose processors or special-purpose processors (e.g., graphics processors, application processors, baseband processors, etc.). In some embodiments, device 1000 can serve as a terminal device, server (cluster), or other device as described in the embodiments of this application.

[0191] In some embodiments, apparatus 1000 may include one or more computer-readable media (e.g., memory 1006 or NVM / storage device 10010) having instructions 1014 and one or more processors 1002 that are combined with the one or more computer-readable media and configured to execute instructions 1014 to implement modules and thus perform the actions described in this disclosure.

[0192] In one embodiment, the control module 1004 may include any suitable interface controller to provide any suitable interface to at least one of the processors 1002 and / or any suitable device or component communicating with the control module 1004.

[0193] The control module 1004 may include a memory controller module to provide an interface to the memory 1006. The memory controller module may be a hardware module, a software module, and / or a firmware module.

[0194] Memory 1006 may be used, for example, to load and store data and / or instructions 1014 for device 1000. In one embodiment, memory 1006 may include any suitable volatile memory, such as suitable DRAM. In some embodiments, memory 1006 may include double data rate type quad synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR4 SDRAM).

[0195] In one embodiment, the control module 1004 may include one or more input / output controllers to provide an interface to the NVM / storage device 10010 and (one or more) input / output devices 1010.

[0196] For example, NVM / storage device 10010 may be used to store data and / or instructions 1014. NVM / storage device 10010 may include any suitable non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory) and / or may include any suitable (one or more) non-volatile storage devices (e.g., one or more hard disk drives (HDDs), one or more optical disc drives (CDs), and / or one or more digital universal optical disc (DVD) drives).

[0197] NVM / storage device 10010 may include storage resources that are physically part of a device on which device 1000 is mounted, or that can be accessed by the device without needing to be part of the device. For example, NVM / storage device 10010 may be accessed via a network via one or more input / output devices 1010.

[0198] One or more input / output devices 1010 may provide an interface for device 1000 to communicate with any other suitable device. Input / output devices 1010 may include communication components, audio components, sensor components, etc. Network interface 1012 may provide an interface for device 1000 to communicate via one or more networks. Device 1000 may wirelessly communicate with one or more components of a wireless network according to any of one or more wireless network standards and / or protocols, such as accessing wireless networks based on communication standards, such as WiFi, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, etc., or combinations thereof.

[0199] In one embodiment, at least one of the processors 1002 may be logically packaged with one or more controllers (e.g., memory controller modules) of the control module 1004. In one embodiment, at least one of the processors 1002 may be logically packaged with one or more controllers of the control module 1004 to form a system-in-package (SiP). In one embodiment, at least one of the processors 1002 may be integrated with the logic of one or more controllers of the control module 1004 on the same die. In one embodiment, at least one of the processors 1002 may be integrated with the logic of one or more controllers of the control module 1004 on the same die to form a system-on-a-chip (SoC).

[0200] In various embodiments, device 1000 may be, but is not limited to, a terminal device such as a server, desktop computing device, or mobile computing device (e.g., laptop computing device, handheld computing device, tablet computer, netbook, etc.). In various embodiments, device 1000 may have more or fewer components and / or different architectures. For example, in some embodiments, device 1000 includes one or more cameras, a keyboard, a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen (including a touch screen display), a non-volatile memory port, multiple antennas, a graphics chip, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a speaker.

[0201] The detection device can use a main control chip as a processor or control module, and sensor data, position information, etc. can be stored in a memory or NVM / storage device. The sensor group can be used as an input / output device, and the communication interface can include a network interface.

[0202] As the device embodiment is basically similar to the method embodiment, the description is relatively simple, and relevant parts can be found in the description of the method embodiment.

[0203] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other.

[0204] This application describes embodiments with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, terminal devices (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of this application. It should be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable terminal device to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable terminal device, generate instructions for implementing the flowchart illustrations. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0205] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable terminal device to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means, which are implemented in a process Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.

[0206] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable terminal device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable terminal device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable terminal device for implementing the process. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps of the function specified in one or more boxes.

[0207] Although preferred embodiments of the present application have been described, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments as well as all changes and modifications falling within the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

[0208] Finally, it should be noted that in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or terminal device that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or terminal device. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or terminal device that includes said element.

[0209] The foregoing has provided a detailed description of a picking method and apparatus, an electronic device, and a storage medium provided in this application. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The descriptions of the above embodiments are only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this application. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope based on the ideas of this application. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

Claims

1. A picking method, characterized in that, Applied to a storage system, the storage system including a picking area and a storage area, the method includes: Obtain at least one order; wherein the bin containing the object to be picked in the order is placed in the picking area; Determine a first quantity of the orders corresponding to each picked object in the storage area; the first quantity represents the number of orders containing that picked object; Based on the first quantity, the bins containing the objects to be picked in the storage area are transported to the picking area in descending order; Based on the number of bins containing the objects to be picked in the order and the location of the bins in the picking area, the orders are combined to generate a target picking list, so that the picking objects can pick the objects in the picking area according to the target picking list; when the objects to be picked in the target picking list are picked, the distance the picking objects move is minimized.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The step of combining the orders to generate a picking list based on the quantity of the picked items in the bins and the location of the bins in the picking area includes: Get the number of orders corresponding to the picking list to be formed; The orders are combined according to the stated order quantity to generate a picking list; Based on the number of bins containing the objects to be picked in the picking list and the location of the bins in the picking area, a target picking list is determined from the picking list; wherein, when the objects to be picked in the target picking list are picked, the distance the objects move is minimized.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, After determining the first quantity of the order corresponding to each picked object in the storage area, the method further includes: When there is no available storage space for placing a material box in the picking area, identify the picking object in the picking area that does not correspond to the order. The bins containing the items to be picked that do not correspond to the order in the picking area are transported to the storage area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, After determining the first quantity of the order corresponding to each picked object in the storage area, the method further includes: When there is no available storage space for placing a bin in the picking area, and all the objects to be picked in the picking area have corresponding orders, a second quantity of the orders corresponding to each object to be picked in the picking area is determined; the second quantity represents the total number of times that an object to be picked is needed by an order individually or together with objects to be picked in other picking areas and storage areas. Based on the second quantity, the bins containing some of the picked objects in the picking area are transported to the storage area in ascending order.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, After obtaining at least one order, the process also includes: When the items to be picked in the bins in the picking area match all the items to be picked in the order, the transport of bins from the storage area to the picking area is stopped.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The storage system also includes an elevator. The picking area is located below the storage area. The picking area and the storage area are connected by the elevator. The elevator moves between the picking area and the storage area to transport the bins containing the picked objects between the picking area and the storage area.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The storage area is constructed from a multi-level rack system. The rack system has storage locations for placing material boxes, and these storage locations are numbered in the order of row, column, and layer.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The storage system also includes transport equipment. Each floor of the storage area is provided with transverse aisles and longitudinal aisles. The transverse aisles are connected to the elevator. The transport equipment moves through the transverse aisles to the target longitudinal aisle and through the target longitudinal aisle to the storage location with the target number to pick up and put in the material box.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The step of transporting the bin containing the object to be picked from the storage area to the picking area includes: The transport equipment retrieves the bin containing the selected item from its location in the storage area and transports it to the elevator. The elevator transports the bin containing the item to be picked to the floor of the picking area and transfers the bin to the transport equipment on the floor of the picking area. The transport equipment transports the bin containing the items to be picked to an available storage location in the picking area.

10. A picking device, characterized in that, Applied to a storage system, the storage system including a picking area and a storage area, the device includes: An order acquisition module is used to acquire at least one order; wherein the bin containing the object to be picked in the order is placed in the picking area; The first quantity determination module is used to determine the first quantity of the order corresponding to each picked object in the storage area; the first quantity represents the number of orders containing the picked object; The bin transport module is used to transport the bin containing the objects to be picked from the storage area to the picking area in descending order according to the first quantity. The object picking module is used to combine the orders to generate a target picking list based on the number of bins containing the objects to be picked in the order and the position of the bins in the picking area, so that the picking objects can pick the objects in the picking area according to the target picking list; when the objects in the target picking list are picked, the distance the picking objects move is minimized.

11. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: processor; and A memory having executable code stored thereon, which, when executed, causes the processor to perform the picking method as described in one or more of claims 1-9.

12. One or more machine-readable media, characterized in that, It stores executable code that, when executed, causes the processor to perform the picking method as described in one or more of claims 1-9.

Images