Order picking method, device and electronic equipment

Abstract

The application discloses an order picking method and relates to the technical field of warehouse logistics management. The method comprises the following steps: acquiring an order queue to be picked, and acquiring inventory boxes of the order to be picked; placing the inventory boxes of the same order to be picked into the same slide, and the slide cannot be placed with the inventory boxes of other orders to be picked before the inventory boxes of the same order to be picked are placed; and setting a buffer shelf for buffering the inventory boxes that cannot be placed into the slide. The method can realize simultaneous distribution of the inventory boxes of multiple orders and improve the efficiency. The method can effectively avoid the situation that people wait for goods.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of warehousing and logistics management technology, and in particular to an order picking method, apparatus and electronic equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In current sorting technologies, inventory boxes are typically transported to picking stations, where sorting is performed manually or by picking robots. To improve picking efficiency, orders are often consolidated to minimize inventory box cross-station movement. This means that orders requiring the same items are assigned to the same picking station, allowing inventory boxes to be sorted within a single station before being returned to the warehouse. This approach is suitable when orders require a small number of product categories, but each category requires a large quantity. However, when orders require a large number of product categories, but each category requires a small quantity, this sorting method becomes less effective. In such cases, it's difficult to prevent order boxes from crossing sorting stations while maintaining inventory box cross-station movement. Both frequent cross-station movement of inventory boxes and order boxes reduce sorting efficiency and can potentially lead to situations where "people wait for goods." Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an order picking method, apparatus, and electronic device to address the aforementioned technical problems.

[0004] In a first aspect, this application provides an order picking method, including:

[0005] Get the queue of orders to be picked, and get the inventory boxes of the orders to be picked;

[0006] Inventory boxes from the same pending order should be placed in the same chute. Before all inventory boxes from the same pending order have been placed in the chute, inventory boxes from other pending orders should not be placed in that chute.

[0007] Set up a cache shelf to cache inventory boxes that cannot be placed in the slide.

[0008] In one embodiment, the step of placing inventory boxes from the same picking order into the same chute, and ensuring that no other inventory boxes from the same picking order are placed into that chute before all inventory boxes from the same picking order have been placed; includes,

[0009] Select a chute for the inventory boxes of the order to be picked, obtain the number of inventory boxes of the order to be picked, obtain the number of idle workstations of each chute in the first state, and select a chute for the inventory boxes of the order to be picked whose number of idle workstations is greater than or equal to the number of inventory boxes of the order to be picked.

[0010] In one embodiment, the chutes in the first state refer to chutes that can receive new inventory boxes for picking orders.

[0011] In one implementation, if there is no chute with an idle workstation greater than or equal to the number of inventory boxes in the order to be picked, then the chute with the largest current idle workstation is selected for the inventory boxes in the order to be picked.

[0012] Place the inventory boxes for the order to be picked into the chute, and place the excess inventory boxes into the buffer shelf; adjust the chute to the second state until all the inventory boxes for the order that were placed in the buffer shelf have been transferred to the chute, and then adjust the chute back to the first state.

[0013] In one implementation, the second state refers to the chute being unable to receive new inventory boxes for picking orders.

[0014] In one implementation, before the chute in the second state has an empty workstation and the inventory boxes in the chute have been picked, the inventory boxes under the order placed in the cache shelf are gradually transferred to the chute.

[0015] In one implementation, if there is no chute in the first state, the inventory box of the order to be picked is placed into the buffer shelf.

[0016] In one implementation, a queue of orders to be picked is obtained, and inventory boxes of the orders to be picked are obtained; including,

[0017] Retrieve the queue of orders to be picked from the cache shelf, and select a chute for the inventory boxes of the orders to be picked from the cache shelf.

[0018] Secondly, this application also provides an order picking device, the device comprising:

[0019] The module retrieves the queue of orders to be picked and the inventory boxes of the orders to be picked.

[0020] The selection module places inventory boxes for the same picking order into the same chute. Before all inventory boxes for the same picking order have been placed into the same chute, inventory boxes for other picking orders cannot be placed into that chute.

[0021] The caching module sets up a cache shelf to cache inventory boxes that cannot be placed in the chute.

[0022] Thirdly, this application also provides an electronic device, including:

[0023] Processor, memory, and bus;

[0024] The processor and the memory communicate with each other via the bus;

[0025] The memory stores program instructions that can be executed by the processor, and the processor can execute the order picking method described above by calling the program instructions. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the picking method in one embodiment; Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, this application will be further described in detail. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0029] In one embodiment, the method includes: obtaining a queue of orders to be picked and obtaining inventory boxes of the orders to be picked; placing inventory boxes of the same order to be picked into the same chute, and before the inventory boxes of the same order to be picked are all placed, the chute shall not be used to place inventory boxes of other orders to be picked; and setting up a buffer shelf to buffer inventory boxes that cannot be placed into the chute.

[0030] Orders awaiting picking are arranged in a certain order, such as priority or the order in which they were generated, thus forming a queue of orders awaiting picking. Obtaining the inventory boxes for the orders awaiting picking includes: obtaining the number of chutes in a first state; selecting orders to be picked from the queue based on the number of chutes in the first state; and matching the selected orders to chutes based on the number of available workstations for each chute in the first state. A buffer shelf is used to buffer inventory boxes that cannot be placed on chutes. These inventory boxes that cannot be placed on chutes include complete inventory boxes for the orders awaiting picking and any remaining inventory boxes after the orders have been placed on chutes.

[0031] The step of placing inventory boxes from the same pending order into the same chute, ensuring that no other pending order inventory boxes are placed into that chute before all inventory boxes from the same pending order have been placed, includes: selecting a chute for the inventory boxes of the pending order; obtaining the number of inventory boxes from the pending order; obtaining the number of available workstations on each chute in a first state; and selecting a chute for the inventory boxes of the pending order whose number of available workstations is greater than or equal to the number of inventory boxes from the pending order. The chute in the first state refers to a chute that can receive new inventory boxes from pending orders.

[0032] Match chutes to the selected order to be picked. This includes selecting a chute with an available number of workstations greater than or equal to the number of workstations available for the order's inventory boxes. Having an available number of workstations greater than or equal to the number of workstations available for the order ensures that one chute can accommodate the inventory boxes for one order, reducing the situation where some inventory boxes from one order are placed in the chute while others are placed on the buffer shelf. The chute is then kept in a first state to accept inventory boxes from other orders.

[0033] If there is no chute with an available workstation greater than or equal to the number of inventory boxes in the order to be picked, then the chute with the largest available workstation for the inventory boxes of the order to be picked is selected; the inventory boxes of the order to be picked are placed in this chute, and excess inventory boxes are placed in the buffer shelf; the chute is adjusted to the second state until all inventory boxes under this order placed in the buffer shelf are transferred to this chute, and then the chute is adjusted to the first state. The second state means that the chute cannot accept new inventory boxes for the order to be picked. Before the inventory boxes in the second state are picked out, the inventory boxes under this order placed in the buffer shelf are gradually transferred to this chute.

[0034] If there is no chute that can accommodate the current order, that is, if the current order has 10 inventory boxes, and the chute with the most available workstations in the first state only has 6 available workstations, then the 6 inventory boxes of the order are put into the chute with the most available workstations. The remaining 4 inventory boxes are placed in the buffer shelf. After putting in 6 inventory boxes, the chute is adjusted to the second state. This chute cannot accept inventory boxes from other orders. As the sorting progresses, when there are available workstations on this chute, the remaining 4 inventory boxes from the buffer shelf are gradually delivered to this chute. After the delivery is completed, the chute is adjusted to the first state, and can accept inventory boxes from new orders when there are available workstations again.

[0035] If no chute in the first state exists, the inventory box of the order to be picked is placed into the buffer shelf. This includes retrieving the queue of orders to be picked and retrieving the inventory boxes of those orders; specifically, retrieving the queue of orders to be picked on the buffer shelf and selecting a chute for the inventory boxes of the orders to be picked on the buffer shelf.

[0036] In addition to caching the remaining inventory boxes after a portion of an order has been placed on the chute, the cache shelf can also be used to cache inventory boxes for new orders when there is no chute in the first state. This can be understood as follows: when there is no chute in the first state, the queue of orders to be sorted is retrieved, the number of remaining free storage locations on the cache shelf is obtained, and the orders to be sorted in the queue are placed on the free storage locations on the cache shelf. When there is a chute in the first state, the orders to be sorted are retrieved from the cache shelf first, and the inventory boxes of the orders to be sorted on the cache shelf are delivered to the corresponding chute.

[0037] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, a picking station is set up where manual picking or picking robots perform picking. Multiple chutes are positioned in front of the picking station to temporarily store inventory boxes. Inventory boxes slide towards the picking station within these chutes. Each time the picking station picks a box and moves it away from that chute, all the boxes on that chute slide one workstation towards the picking station. Using multiple chutes allows for the simultaneous delivery of inventory boxes from multiple orders, improving efficiency. All inventory boxes required for the same order are placed in one chute. Once all the boxes for one order have been placed in that chute, if there are still empty workstations, then the inventory boxes for another order can be placed in that chute. This prevents inventory boxes from being mixed up within each order, and picking personnel or robots pick according to the order sequence, effectively avoiding mispicking. If the number of available workstations in a chute is less than the number of inventory boxes for that order, the remaining inventory boxes that cannot be placed in the chute are placed on a buffer shelf. As the picking progresses, when an available workstation becomes available on the chute, the inventory boxes for that order are moved from the buffer shelf to the chute until all inventory boxes for that order are moved into the chute. In one embodiment, a transport robot is used to transfer inventory boxes. A buffer shelf is set up so that when an order has multiple inventory boxes and there are not enough available workstations in a single chute, the inventory boxes are placed on the buffer shelf. This reduces congestion for the transport robots and solves the problem of transport robots not being able to deliver in time. Without a buffer shelf, multiple robots may carry all the inventory boxes for that order out of the warehouse and arrive at the chute, but there are not enough available workstations on the chute. Some transport robots carrying inventory boxes may wait near the chute, causing congestion for the transport robots. Without buffer shelves, there may be several idle workstations on the chute. The scheduling system may dispatch robots to move a few inventory boxes out of the warehouse. However, since there is a certain distance between the picking station and the warehouse area, and outbound shipments take a certain amount of time, other inventory boxes may not have been moved to the chute after the picking is completed. This could result in the robot not delivering goods in time, leaving the picking station "waiting for goods" and thus reducing picking efficiency.

[0038] In one embodiment, a computer device is provided, including a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the processor executes the computer program to implement the steps of the method described above.

[0039] It should be noted that the user information (including but not limited to user device information, user personal information, etc.) and data (including but not limited to data used for analysis, data stored, data displayed, etc.) involved in this application are all information and data authorized by the user or fully authorized by all parties.

[0040] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the processes in the above embodiments can be implemented by a computer program instructing related hardware. The computer program can be stored in a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium. When executed, the computer program can include the processes of the embodiments described above. Any references to memory, databases, or other media used in the embodiments provided in this application can include at least one of non-volatile and volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can include read-only memory (ROM), magnetic tape, floppy disk, flash memory, optical memory, high-density embedded non-volatile memory, resistive random access memory (ReRAM), magnetic random access memory (MRAM), ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM), phase change memory (PCM), graphene memory, etc. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM) or external cache memory, etc. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM can take many forms, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) or Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). The databases involved in the embodiments provided in this application may include at least one type of relational database and non-relational database. Non-relational databases may include, but are not limited to, blockchain-based distributed databases. The processors involved in the embodiments provided in this application may be general-purpose processors, central processing units, graphics processing units, digital signal processors, programmable logic devices, quantum computing-based data processing logic devices, etc., and are not limited to these.

[0041] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of this patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An order picking method, characterized in that, The method comprises the following steps: An order queue to be picked is obtained, and a storage box of the order to be picked is obtained; Storage boxes of the same order to be picked are placed in the same chute, and no storage box of another order to be picked can be placed in the chute before the storage boxes of the same order to be picked are placed in the chute; A buffer shelf is arranged to buffer a storage box that cannot be placed in the chute, wherein the storage box that cannot be placed in the chute includes a complete storage box of the order to be picked and a storage box remaining in the order to be picked after the storage box is placed in the chute.

2. The order picking method of claim 1, wherein, The storage boxes of the same order to be picked are placed in the same chute, and no storage box of another order to be picked can be placed in the chute before the storage boxes of the same order to be picked are placed in the chute. The method comprises the following steps: A chute is selected for the storage box of the order to be picked, a number of storage boxes of the order to be picked is obtained, a number of idle stations of each chute in a first state is obtained, and the chute with the number of idle stations greater than or equal to the number of storage boxes of the order to be picked is selected for the storage box of the order to be picked.

3. The order picking method of claim 2, wherein, The chute in the first state refers to the chute that can receive a new storage box of the order to be picked.

4. The order picking method of claim 2, wherein, If there is no chute with the number of idle stations greater than or equal to the number of storage boxes of the order to be picked, the chute with the largest number of idle stations in the current state is selected for the storage box of the order to be picked. The storage box of the order to be picked is placed in the chute, and the remaining storage box is placed in the buffer shelf; the state of the chute is adjusted to a second state until all the storage boxes of the order placed in the buffer shelf are transferred to the chute, and then the state of the chute is adjusted to the first state.

5. The order picking method of claim 4, wherein, The second state refers to that the chute cannot receive a new storage box of the order to be picked.

6. The order picking method of claim 4, wherein, Before the idle station of the chute in the second state and the storage box in the chute are picked, the storage box of the order placed in the buffer shelf is gradually transferred to the chute.

7. The order picking method of claim 2, wherein, If there is no chute in the first state, the storage box of the order to be picked is placed in the buffer shelf.

8. The order picking method of claim 1, wherein, The method comprises the following steps: An order queue to be picked is obtained, and a storage box of the order to be picked is obtained; and 9. An order picking device, characterized in that The device comprises: An obtaining module, which obtains an order queue to be picked and obtains a storage box of the order to be picked; A selecting module, which places storage boxes of the same order to be picked in the same chute, and no storage box of another order to be picked can be placed in the chute before the storage boxes of the same order to be picked are placed in the chute; A buffering module, which arranges a buffer shelf to buffer a storage box that cannot be placed in the chute. 10.An electronic device, comprising: A processor, a memory and a bus; The processor and the memory complete communication with each other through the bus; The memory stores program instructions executable by the processor, and the processor calling the program instructions can execute the method in any one of claims 1-8. ​

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