Dynamic transfer method and system for double-deep-position tray stacker stereoscopic warehouse

Abstract

The invention provides a dynamic transfer method and system for a double-deep-position tray stacker three-dimensional warehouse, and relates to the field of transfer warehouse location assigning.The method comprises the steps that if a warehouse location group with empty inner-side warehouse locations and empty outer-side warehouse locations exists, the inner-side warehouse location with the minimum horizontal distance and the minimum vertical distance to goods to be transferred serves as a transfer warehouse location, and the inner-side warehouse location with the minimum horizontal distance and the minimum vertical distance to the goods to be transferred serves as the transfer warehouse location; if the outer side storage location is empty, the outer side storage location with the minimum horizontal distance and the minimum vertical distance to the to-be-transferred goods serves as a transfer storage location; otherwise, taking the bottom storage location as a transfer storage location. In the process that the goods need to be transferred, the available storage location closest to the to-be-transferred goods serves as the transfer storage location according to the sequence that the inner side storage location is inquired firstly and then the outer side storage location is inquired, the operation distance of a stacking machine and an elevator is reduced, and the transfer operation speed of the goods is increased; the original storage location is not returned after the storage location is judged to be transferred, and the inventory information is updated after the goods are transferred, so that the operation times of the stacking machine and the elevator are reduced, and the transfer operation time is saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of transfer storage location allocation, and in particular to a dynamic transfer method and system for a double-deep pallet stacker stereoscopic warehouse. Background Art

[0002] With the promotion and development of digitalization in traditional industries, more and more self-owned warehousing companies have begun to build automated three-dimensional warehouses. Automated three-dimensional warehouses can be divided into pallet warehouses and material box warehouses according to the equipment used to store goods, and can be divided into single-depth warehouses and double-depth warehouses according to the number of storage spaces on both sides of the warehouse stacker.

[0003] For double-deep pallet stacker warehouses, if the outer storage location next to the inner storage location where in-and-out storage operations are required is occupied by goods, the goods in the outer storage location must be moved away before normal operations can be performed on the storage location where in-and-out storage is required. The solution usually adopted in this case is to define one or more fixed temporary storage locations, move the goods in the outer storage location to the temporary storage location before the operation, and then move the goods in the temporary storage location back to the original location after the in-and-out storage operation is completed. Because there is a process of moving goods to the temporary storage location and then moving the goods back from the temporary storage location, when there are many in-and-out storage operations within a period of time, the waiting time for some tasks will be longer. At the same time, when there are many cases where the storage location that needs to be moved is far away from the temporary storage location, the total time consumed by the stacker operation and the lifting of the elevator will also be longer. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a dynamic transfer method and system for a double-deep pallet stacker warehouse, which is used to solve the problem of long waiting time and low efficiency in moving goods in existing goods in and out of the warehouse.

[0005] The present invention provides a dynamic transfer method for a double-deep pallet stacker stereoscopic warehouse, comprising the steps of:

[0006] S1: After WMS receives the call information when WCS executes the in and out instructions, WMS determines whether transfer operation is required when operating the operation location. If transfer is required, it goes to step S2, otherwise it goes to step S4;

[0007] S2: Obtain the location of the goods to be transferred, and search for available empty storage locations in the form of storage location groups. A storage location group includes: an inner storage location and an outer storage location. If there is a storage location group in which both the inner storage location and the outer storage location are empty, the inner storage location with the smallest horizontal and vertical distances to the goods to be transferred is used as the transfer storage location, and the process goes to step S4; otherwise, the process goes to step S3;

[0008] S3: If there is an empty outer storage location, the outer storage location with the smallest horizontal and vertical distances to the goods to be transferred is used as the transfer storage location, and the process goes to step S4; otherwise, the bottom storage location is used as the transfer storage location, and the process goes to step S4;

[0009] S4: WMS returns the call information to WCS, and WCS determines whether a transfer operation is required based on the returned call information; if transfer is required, the goods to be transferred are transported to the transfer location and the process proceeds to step S5; otherwise, the process directly proceeds to step S6;

[0010] S5: Determine whether the goods to be transferred need to be returned to the original storage location. If so, move the goods to be transferred to the original storage location and proceed to step S6; otherwise, directly proceed to step S6;

[0011] S6: WCS calls back WMS. WMS determines whether there is a transit warehouse location that needs to be updated for inventory transfer based on the callback information of WCS. If so, it goes to step S7; otherwise, the process ends.

[0012] S7: WMS updates the inventory information of the transit location and ends the process.

[0013] Preferably, the WMS determines whether a transfer operation is required when operating the operation storage location as follows:

[0014] If the operation location is an outer location, no transfer operation is required;

[0015] If the operation location is an inner location and there is no goods in the outer location of the same location group, no transfer operation is required;

[0016] If the operation location is an inner location and there are goods in the outer location of the same location group, the goods in the outer location will be treated as goods to be transferred and transferred.

[0017] Preferred:

[0018] Find all available empty storage locations and consider an inner storage location and an outer storage location that are located at the same depth and side by side as a storage location group;

[0019] If both the inner and outer storage locations are empty, the size of the storage location group is 2;

[0020] If there is an empty location between the inner and outer locations, the size of the location group is 1;

[0021] If both the inner and outer storage locations are not empty, the size of the storage location group is 0.

[0022] Preferably, step S2 specifically comprises:

[0023] S21: Filter out all the storage location groups with a storage location group size of 2 from all the empty storage locations as the first storage location group list;

[0024] S22: Determine whether the first storage location group list is empty, if it is empty, go to step S3, otherwise go to step S23;

[0025] S23: traverse all the storage location groups in the first storage location group list, obtain the position of the inner storage location in each storage location group, and select the inner storage location with the smallest horizontal distance to the goods to be transferred as a candidate inner storage location;

[0026] S24: Traverse all candidate inner storage locations, select the candidate inner storage location with the smallest vertical distance to the goods to be transferred as the transfer storage location, and proceed to step S4.

[0027] Preferably, step S3 specifically comprises:

[0028] S31: Filter out all the storage location groups whose storage location group size is 1 and whose empty storage locations are outer storage locations from all the empty storage locations as the second storage location group list;

[0029] S32: Determine whether the second storage location group list is empty; if it is empty, use the bottom storage location as the transit storage location and go to step S4; otherwise, go to step S33;

[0030] S33: traverse all the outer storage locations in the second storage location group list, and select the outer storage location with the smallest horizontal distance to the goods to be transferred as a candidate outer storage location;

[0031] S34: Traverse all candidate outer storage locations, select the candidate outer storage location with the smallest vertical distance to the goods to be transferred as the transfer storage location, and proceed to step S4.

[0032] A dynamic transfer system for a double-deep pallet stacker stereoscopic warehouse, used to implement the dynamic transfer method for a double-deep pallet stacker stereoscopic warehouse, comprising:

[0033] Storage areas, multiple storage location groups, stackers, tracks and material preparation areas;

[0034] The storage location group includes the inner storage location and the outer storage location side by side;

[0035] The material preparation area is set at the outer end of the storage area;

[0036] The stacker is movably arranged on a track, the track is arranged in the center of the storage area, and the storage location groups are stacked on both sides of the track.

[0037] Preferred:

[0038] The entrances of the inner storage location and the outer storage location are perpendicular to the track, and the outer storage location is arranged between the inner storage location and the track.

[0039] Preferred:

[0040] The material preparation area includes: conveyor belt, inbound docking port, outbound docking port and pallet lifting device;

[0041] The conveyor belt is perpendicular to the track, the inbound docking port and the pallet lifting device are arranged at one end of the conveyor belt, and the outbound docking port is arranged at the other end of the conveyor belt.

[0042] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0043] When goods need to be transferred, the order of querying the inner storage location first and then the outer storage location is used as the transfer location, reducing the operating distance of the stacker and the elevator and improving the transfer operation speed of the goods. After determining that the storage location is transferred, it does not return to the original storage location, and updates the inventory information after the goods are transferred, thereby reducing the number of times the stacker and the elevator operate, and thus saving transfer operation time. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Figure 1 This is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 2 A detailed logic diagram of the method of the embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the pallet warehouse location occupancy;

[0047] Figure 4 This is a system structure diagram of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention, and are not used to limit the present invention.

[0050] Reference Figure 1-2 The present invention provides a dynamic transfer method for a double-deep pallet stacker stereoscopic warehouse, comprising the steps of:

[0051] S1: After WMS receives the call information when WCS executes the in and out instructions, WMS determines whether transfer operation is required when operating the operation location. If transfer is required, it goes to step S2, otherwise it goes to step S4;

[0052] As an example, WMS is a warehouse management system and WCS is a warehouse control system. WMS triggers the in-and-out business and sends in-and-out instructions to WCS, which contains the information of the warehouse location where the operation will be performed; WCS executes the instructions in sequence according to the queue order, and calls the WMS interface before executing a certain instruction to determine whether the warehouse location of the current instruction operation needs to be transferred to the warehouse location; WMS receives the call information from WCS and determines the next step to be executed based on the location and inventory status of the operation warehouse location.

[0053] As an example, WMS determines whether a transfer operation is required when operating an operation location as follows:

[0054] If the operation location is an outer location, no transfer operation is required;

[0055] If the operation location is an inner location and there is no goods in the outer location of the same location group, no transfer operation is required;

[0056] If the operation location is an inner location and there are goods in the outer location of the same location group, the goods in the outer location will be treated as goods to be transferred and transferred.

[0057] Specifically, the row number, column number, and layer number of the storage location are respectively corresponded to the three coordinate information x, y, and z of the storage location in three-dimensional space to obtain the coordinate information of the outer storage location to be transferred. The coordinate values ​​of the inner and outer storage locations at the same side depth are consistent, and they are distinguished according to the different inner and outer marks of the fourth dimension.

[0058] S2: Obtain the location of the goods to be transferred, and search for available empty storage locations in the form of storage location groups. A storage location group includes: an inner storage location and an outer storage location. If there is a storage location group in which both the inner storage location and the outer storage location are empty, the inner storage location with the smallest horizontal and vertical distances to the goods to be transferred is used as the transfer storage location, and the process goes to step S4; otherwise, the process goes to step S3;

[0059] As an example, all available empty storage locations are searched, and an inner storage location and an outer storage location that are located at the same depth and side by side are regarded as a storage location group;

[0060] If both the inner and outer storage locations are empty, the size of the storage location group is 2;

[0061] If there is an empty location between the inner and outer locations, the size of the location group is 1;

[0062] If both the inner and outer storage locations are not empty, the size of the storage location group is 0.

[0063] Specifically, the pallet warehouse location occupancy diagram is as follows: Figure 3As shown, empty location 1 and empty location 2 belong to a location group A. Location group A has two empty locations. After empty location screening, the location group size is 2; empty location 3 and occupied location 1 belong to another location group B. Location group B has only one empty location. After empty location screening, the location group size is 1.

[0064] As an embodiment, step S2 is specifically as follows:

[0065] S21: Filter out all the storage location groups with a storage location group size of 2 from all the empty storage locations as the first storage location group list;

[0066] S22: Determine whether the first storage location group list is empty, if it is empty, go to step S3, otherwise go to step S23;

[0067] Specifically, the storage location groups are filtered according to the condition that the storage location group size is 2, and the filtered storage location group list is defined as doubleLocationGroupList. If doubleLocationGroupList is not empty, the transit storage location is searched in the list;

[0068] S23: traverse all the storage location groups in the first storage location group list, obtain the position of the inner storage location in each storage location group, and select the inner storage location with the smallest horizontal distance to the goods to be transferred as a candidate inner storage location;

[0069] Specifically, get the column number coordinate values ​​y1, y2, ...y of each location group in the location group list doubleLocationGroupList n , calculate the horizontal distance to the goods to be transferred yd1 = |y1-y|, yd2 = |y2-y|, ...yd n =|y n -y|, sort the location group list from small to large according to the horizontal distance yd;

[0070] Traverse the location group list doubleLocationGroupList. When traversing the first location group, obtain the yd value corresponding to the location group, and add the inner location in the location group to the candidate inner location list according to the inner and outer location marks. In the subsequent traversal process, if there is a location group with the same yd value, add the corresponding inner location to the candidate inner location list, otherwise terminate the traversal directly.

[0071] After traversing all storage location groups, a candidate inner storage location list candidateLocationList with the minimum horizontal distance to the goods to be transferred can be obtained;

[0072] S24: Traverse all candidate inner storage locations, select the candidate inner storage location with the smallest vertical distance to the goods to be transferred as the transfer storage location, and proceed to step S4.

[0073] Specifically, obtain the layer number coordinate value z1, z2, ...z of each location in the candidate inner location list candidateLocationList n , calculate the vertical distance to the goods to be transferred zd1 = |z1-z|, zd2 = |z2-z|, ...zd n =|z n -z|, sort the storage location list in ascending order of vertical distance zd;

[0074] Get the first location in candidateLocationList. The location obtained is the transit location.

[0075] S3: If there is an empty outer storage location, the outer storage location with the smallest horizontal and vertical distances to the goods to be transferred is used as the transfer storage location, and the process goes to step S4; otherwise, the bottom storage location is used as the transfer storage location, and the process goes to step S4;

[0076] As an embodiment, step S3 is specifically as follows:

[0077] S31: Filter out all the storage location groups whose storage location group size is 1 and whose empty storage locations are outer storage locations from all the empty storage locations as the second storage location group list;

[0078] S32: Determine whether the second storage location group list is empty; if it is empty, use the bottom storage location as the transit storage location and go to step S4; otherwise, go to step S33;

[0079] S33: traverse all the outer storage locations in the second storage location group list, and select the outer storage location with the smallest horizontal distance to the goods to be transferred as a candidate outer storage location;

[0080] S34: Traverse all candidate outer storage locations, select the candidate outer storage location with the smallest vertical distance to the goods to be transferred as the transfer storage location, and proceed to step S4.

[0081] Specifically, if the list of the aforementioned storage location group 2 is empty, which means that there is no storage location with both empty inside and outside in the currently available storage locations, then for the original storage location group list, filter out all lists with empty outside according to the inside and outside storage location marks, and find a suitable storage location as the transit storage location in the storage location group list with empty outside storage locations according to the aforementioned search logic; if the aforementioned two filtered lists are both empty, which means that the currently available storage locations are all inside storage locations, then the backup storage location needs to be used as the transit storage location.

[0082] S4: WMS returns the call information to WCS, and WCS determines whether a transfer operation is required based on the returned call information; if transfer is required, the goods to be transferred are transported to the transfer location and the process proceeds to step S5; otherwise, the process directly proceeds to step S6;

[0083] S5: Determine whether the goods to be transferred need to be returned to the original storage location. If so, move the goods to be transferred to the original storage location and proceed to step S6; otherwise, directly proceed to step S6;

[0084] As an example, if the transit storage location for transfer is a backup storage location, or the inventory of goods to be transferred is occupied by other businesses, the goods need to be transported back to the original storage location after the transfer operation is completed.

[0085] S6: WCS calls back WMS. WMS determines whether there is a transit warehouse location that needs to be updated for inventory transfer based on the callback information of WCS. If so, it goes to step S7; otherwise, the process ends.

[0086] As an example, after the WCS successfully completes the equipment transfer operation, it will notify the WMS that the operation is completed. The WMS will determine whether to transfer the inventory based on whether the goods have returned to the original warehouse, forming a final closed loop. If the transfer warehouse for transfer is not a backup warehouse, and the inventory of the goods to be transferred is not occupied by other businesses, then after the transfer operation is completed, the transfer goods will be directly transferred without returning to the original warehouse.

[0087] S7: WMS updates the inventory information of the transit location and ends the process.

[0088] refer to Figure 4 The present invention provides a dynamic transfer system for a double-deep pallet stacker stereoscopic warehouse, which is used to implement the dynamic transfer method for a double-deep pallet stacker stereoscopic warehouse, including:

[0089] Storage areas, multiple storage location groups, stackers, tracks and material preparation areas;

[0090] The storage location group includes the inner storage location and the outer storage location side by side;

[0091] The material preparation area is set at the outer end of the storage area;

[0092] The stacker is movably arranged on a track, the track is arranged in the center of the storage area, and the storage location groups are stacked on both sides of the track.

[0093] As an example:

[0094] There is a hoist on the stacker; the pallet is placed on the platform of the stacker, the stacker moves horizontally, and the hoist pulls the platform to move vertically.

[0095] As an example:

[0096] The entrances of the inner storage location and the outer storage location are perpendicular to the track, and the outer storage location is arranged between the inner storage location and the track.

[0097] Specifically, of the two storage locations at the same depth, the storage location closer to the stacker is the outer storage location, and the deeper storage location is the inner storage location.

[0098] As an example:

[0099] The material preparation area includes: conveyor belt, inbound docking port, outbound docking port and pallet lifting device;

[0100] The conveyor belt is perpendicular to the track, the inbound docking port and the pallet lifting device are arranged at one end of the conveyor belt, and the outbound docking port is arranged at the other end of the conveyor belt.

[0101] It should be noted that, in this article, the terms "include", "comprises" or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or system including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or system. In the absence of further restrictions, an element defined by the sentence "comprises a ..." does not exclude the existence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or system including the element.

[0102] The serial numbers of the embodiments of the present invention are for descriptive purposes only and do not represent the superiority or inferiority of the embodiments. In a unit claim that lists several means, several of these means may be embodied by the same hardware item. The use of the words first, second, and third, etc. does not indicate any order and these words may be interpreted as identifiers.

[0103] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structure or equivalent process transformation made using the contents of the present invention specification and drawings, or directly or indirectly applied in other related technical fields, are also included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dynamic transfer method for a double-deep pallet stacker warehouse, characterized in that: Includes steps: S1: After WMS receives the call information when WCS executes the in and out instructions, WMS determines whether transfer operation is required when operating the operation location. If transfer is required, it goes to step S2, otherwise it goes to step S4; S2: Obtain the location of the goods to be transferred, and search for available empty storage locations in the form of storage location groups. A storage location group includes: an inner storage location and an outer storage location. If there is a storage location group in which both the inner storage location and the outer storage location are empty, the inner storage location with the smallest horizontal and vertical distances to the goods to be transferred is used as the transfer storage location, and the process goes to step S4; otherwise, the process goes to step S3; S3: If there is an empty outer storage location, the outer storage location with the smallest horizontal and vertical distances to the goods to be transferred is used as the transfer storage location, and the process goes to step S4; otherwise, the bottom storage location is used as the transfer storage location, and the process goes to step S4; S4: WMS returns the call information to WCS, and WCS determines whether a transfer operation is required based on the returned call information; if transfer is required, the goods to be transferred are transported to the transfer location and the process proceeds to step S5; otherwise, the process directly proceeds to step S6; S5: Determine whether the goods to be transferred need to be returned to the original storage location. If so, move the goods to be transferred to the original storage location and proceed to step S6; otherwise, directly proceed to step S6; S6: WCS calls back WMS. WMS determines whether there is a transit warehouse location that needs to be updated for inventory transfer based on the callback information of WCS. If so, it goes to step S7; otherwise, the process ends. S7: WMS updates the inventory information of the transit location and ends the process.

2. The dynamic transfer method for a double-deep pallet stacker warehouse according to claim 1 is characterized in that: WMS determines whether a transfer operation is required when operating the operation location: If the operation location is an outer location, no transfer operation is required; If the operation location is an inner location and there is no goods in the outer location of the same location group, no transfer operation is required; If the operation location is an inner location and there are goods in the outer location of the same location group, the goods in the outer location will be treated as goods to be transferred and transferred.

3. The dynamic transfer method for a three-dimensional warehouse for double-deep pallet stackers according to claim 1 is characterized in that: Find all available empty storage locations and consider an inner storage location and an outer storage location that are located at the same depth and side by side as a storage location group; If both the inner and outer storage locations are empty, the size of the storage location group is 2; If there is an empty location between the inner and outer locations, the size of the location group is 1; If both the inner and outer storage locations are not empty, the size of the storage location group is 0.

4. The dynamic transfer method for a double-deep pallet stacker warehouse according to claim 3 is characterized in that: Step S2 is specifically as follows: S21: Filter out all the storage location groups with a storage location group size of 2 from all the empty storage locations as the first storage location group list; S22: Determine whether the first storage location group list is empty, if it is empty, go to step S3, otherwise go to step S23; S23: traverse all the storage location groups in the first storage location group list, obtain the position of the inner storage location in each storage location group, and select the inner storage location with the smallest horizontal distance to the goods to be transferred as a candidate inner storage location; S24: Traverse all candidate inner storage locations, select the candidate inner storage location with the smallest vertical distance to the goods to be transferred as the transfer storage location, and proceed to step S4.

5. The dynamic transfer method for a three-dimensional warehouse for double-deep pallet stackers according to claim 3 is characterized in that: Step S3 is specifically as follows: S31: Filter out all the storage location groups whose storage location group size is 1 and whose empty storage locations are outer storage locations from all the empty storage locations as the second storage location group list; S32: Determine whether the second storage location group list is empty; if it is empty, use the bottom storage location as the transit storage location and go to step S4; otherwise, go to step S33; S33: traverse all the outer storage locations in the second storage location group list, and select the outer storage location with the smallest horizontal distance to the goods to be transferred as a candidate outer storage location; S34: Traverse all candidate outer storage locations, select the candidate outer storage location with the smallest vertical distance to the goods to be transferred as the transfer storage location, and proceed to step S4.

6. A dynamic transfer system for a double-deep pallet stacker stereoscopic warehouse, used to implement the dynamic transfer method for a double-deep pallet stacker stereoscopic warehouse as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: include: Storage areas, multiple storage location groups, stackers, tracks and material preparation areas; The storage location group includes the inner storage location and the outer storage location side by side; The material preparation area is set at the outer end of the storage area; The stacker is movably arranged on a track, the track is arranged in the center of the storage area, and the storage location groups are stacked on both sides of the track.

7. The dynamic transfer method for a three-dimensional warehouse for double-deep pallet stackers according to claim 6 is characterized in that: The entrances of the inner storage location and the outer storage location are perpendicular to the track, and the outer storage location is arranged between the inner storage location and the track.

8. The dynamic transfer method for a three-dimensional warehouse for double-deep pallet stackers according to claim 6 is characterized in that: The material preparation area includes: conveyor belt, inbound docking port, outbound docking port and pallet lifting device; The conveyor belt is perpendicular to the track, the inbound docking port and the pallet lifting device are arranged at one end of the conveyor belt, and the outbound docking port is arranged at the other end of the conveyor belt.

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