Storage, sorting system with storage and sorting method and device

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention discloses a warehouse, a sorting system with the warehouse and a sorting method and device, the warehouse comprises a storage layer and a picking layer, the storage layer and the picking layer are arranged at intervals from top to bottom, and the picking layer comprises a plurality of picking areas; the lifting device is used for vertically moving between the storage layer and the picking layer; and the goods picking conveying line passes through the multiple goods picking areas. According to the warehouse provided by the embodiment of the invention, the storage layers and the picking layers which are distributed at intervals in the vertical direction are arranged, so that the function division of storing and sorting the goods in the height direction can be realized, the three-dimensional space of the warehouse is fully utilized, on one hand, the efficiency of picking operation can be improved, and on the other hand, the space utilization rate of the warehouse can be improved; besides, the loading boxes can be automatically conveyed to the multiple picking areas through the picking conveying line, manual carrying of the loading boxes is not needed, consumption of manpower resources is reduced, and the automation degree is high.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of a Chinese patent application with an application date of June 25, 2019, an application number of 201910553597.5, and an invention title of "Warehousing and Sorting System with the Same, Sorting Method, and Device". Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to the technical field of warehouse storage, and in particular, to a warehousing and a sorting system with the same, a sorting method, and a device. Background Art

[0003] In the related art of warehousing sorting systems, it is usually necessary to set up forklift channels, and the goods on the upper layer of the shelf are transported to the picking area by manually driving a forklift for manual picking. On the one hand, since the forklift channels occupy a relatively large amount of warehouse space, the space utilization rate of the warehouse is low, thus affecting the storage capacity of the warehouse; on the other hand, since it is necessary to manually drive a forklift, the consumption of human resources is high, thus affecting the picking efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Embodiments of the present invention provide a warehousing and a sorting system with the same, a sorting method, and a device to solve one or more technical problems in the prior art.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a warehousing, including: a storage layer and a picking layer, the storage layer and the picking layer are arranged at intervals from top to bottom, the picking layer includes a plurality of picking areas; a lifting device for vertically moving between the storage layer and the picking layer; a picking conveyor line passing through a plurality of the picking areas.

[0006] In an implementation manner, the picking layer includes multiple groups of picking shelves, and a picking area is defined between any two adjacent groups of picking shelves.

[0007] In an implementation manner, the picking conveyor line includes a main conveyor line and auxiliary conveyor lines connected to the main conveyor line, wherein the auxiliary conveyor lines are multiple and are respectively arranged in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of the picking areas, and each auxiliary conveyor line extends into the corresponding picking area.

[0008] In an implementation manner, a transfer workstation is provided on the auxiliary conveyor line for pushing the loading box on the auxiliary conveyor line into the picking area.

[0009] In an implementation manner, each auxiliary conveyor line includes a first auxiliary conveyor line and a second auxiliary conveyor line arranged side by side, the terminal of the first auxiliary conveyor line is connected to the start end of the second auxiliary conveyor line, and the start end of the first auxiliary conveyor line and the terminal of the second auxiliary conveyor line are respectively connected to the main conveyor line.

[0010] In one embodiment, the main conveyor line includes a first main conveyor line and a second main conveyor line arranged side by side. The terminal of the first main conveyor line is connected to the starting end of the second main conveyor line, and the first main conveyor line is respectively connected to a plurality of secondary conveyor lines.

[0011] In one embodiment, each group of picking shelves includes two rows of the picking shelves, and a handling aisle is defined between the two rows of the picking shelves.

[0012] In one embodiment, there are a plurality of lifting devices, and each of the lifting devices is respectively docked with one end of each of the handling aisles.

[0013] In one embodiment, a plurality of storage units are provided on both the picking layer and the storage layer. The storage units are used to place pallets carrying goods. The pallets are provided with label indicating lights, and the label indicating lights are used to indicate the goods information corresponding to the pallets; a receiving space is provided below the storage units.

[0014] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a sorting system, including: a handling vehicle; according to the warehouse of the embodiment of the present invention, the handling vehicle can move horizontally and vertically on the storage layer or the picking layer, and the handling vehicle can vertically move between the storage layer and the picking layer by riding on the lifting device.

[0015] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a sorting method, including:

[0016] Determining a target good corresponding to a loading box on a picking conveyor line;

[0017] Controlling the picking conveyor line to convey the loading box to a picking area corresponding to the location information according to the location information of the target good;

[0018] Sorting the target good into the loading box.

[0019] In one embodiment, determining a target good corresponding to a loading box on a picking conveyor line includes:

[0020] Obtaining order information on the loading box;

[0021] Obtaining goods information of the target good according to the order information, where the goods information includes the location information of the target good.

[0022] In one embodiment, the method further includes:

[0023] Sending a label indicating light turning-on signal to a pallet corresponding to the location information, and the indicating light turning-on signal is used to control the label indicating light on the pallet to turn on.

[0024] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a sorting device, including:

[0025] A target goods determination module, configured to determine target goods corresponding to a loading box on a picking conveyor line;

[0026] A picking area determination module, configured to control the picking conveyor line to convey the loading box to a picking area corresponding to the position information according to the position information of the target goods.

[0027] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a sorting device, including:

[0028] One or more processors;

[0029] A storage device, configured to store one or more programs;

[0030] When the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors implement the sorting method of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium, configured to store computer software instructions used by a sorting device, and includes programs involved in executing the above sorting method.

[0032] One of the above technical solutions has the following advantages or beneficial effects: By providing a storage layer and a picking layer that are spaced apart in the vertical direction, the functional division of storing and sorting goods in the height direction can be realized, and the three-dimensional space of the warehouse can be fully utilized. On the one hand, the efficiency of the picking operation can be improved, and on the other hand, the space utilization rate of the warehouse can be improved.

[0033] The above summary is only for the purpose of the specification and is not intended to be limiting in any way. In addition to the above-described illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features, further aspects, embodiments, and features of the present invention will be readily apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] In the drawings, unless otherwise specified, the same reference numerals throughout the several views denote the same or similar parts or elements. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. It should be understood that these drawings only depict some embodiments disclosed in accordance with the present invention and should not be regarded as limiting the scope of the present invention. Among them:

[0035] Figure 1 A schematic plan view of a picking layer of a warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0036] Figure 2Schematic plan view of the storage layer of a warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 3 Partial schematic plan view of the order picking layer of a warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 4 Partial schematic plan view of the order picking layer of a warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the order picking process of a warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 6 Side view of a warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 7 Side view of a warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 8 Flowchart of the sorting method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 9 Flowchart of the sorting method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 10 Structural block diagram of the sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 11 Structural block diagram of the sorting equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Reference numerals:

[0047] Warehouse 100;

[0048] Order picking layer 10; Order picking area 10a; Order picking shelves 11; Handling aisle 12;

[0049] Storage layer 20; Storage shelves 21;

[0050] Lifting device 30;

[0051] Order picking conveyor line 40;

[0052] Main conveyor line 41; First main conveyor line 411; Empty box replenishment point 411a; Second main conveyor line 412; Full box departure point 412a;

[0053] Auxiliary conveyor line 42; Transfer workstation 42a; First auxiliary conveyor line 421; Second auxiliary conveyor line 422;

[0054] Loading box 50;

[0055] Memory 901; Processor 902. Detailed Implementation Modes

[0056] In the following, only some exemplary embodiments are simply described. As those skilled in the art can recognize, the described embodiments can be modified in various different ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the accompanying drawings and the description are considered to be exemplary in nature rather than restrictive.

[0057] Reference is made below to Figures 1 - 7 describe a warehouse 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a warehouse 100, including a storage layer 20, a picking layer 10, a lifting device 30, and a picking conveyor line 40.

[0059] Among them, the storage layer 20 and the picking layer 10 are arranged at intervals from top to bottom. The picking layer 10 includes a plurality of picking areas 10a. The lifting device 30 is used to vertically move between the storage layer 20 and the picking layer 10. The picking conveyor line 40 passes through a plurality of picking areas 10a.

[0060] Specifically, the picking layer 10 can be erected on the ground. The picking layer 10 is used to sort and pick the goods in the warehouse 100 by manual or machine and then out of the warehouse. The storage layer 20 is erected above the picking layer 10, and the goods to be picked can be stored in the storage layer 20. It should be noted that the number of layers of the picking layer 10 and the storage layer 20 is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present invention. For example, in the example shown in Figure 6 the picking layer 10 can be set as two layers arranged at intervals in the vertical direction, and the storage layer 20 can also be set as two layers arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. The number of layers of the picking layer 10 and the storage layer 20 can be specifically set according to the size scale of the warehouse 100 and the quantity of goods to be circulated.

[0061] The goods on the storage layer 20 can be transported to the picking layer 10 through the lifting device 30 by manual or machine handling. Preferably, a handling vehicle can be provided in the warehouse 100 of the embodiments of the present invention for carrying and transporting goods. The handling vehicle can move horizontally and vertically on the storage layer 20 or the picking layer 10, that is, the movement direction of the handling vehicle can be up to four, and the handling vehicle can ride on the lifting device 30 to vertically move between the storage layer 20 and the picking layer 10.

[0062] In one example, the lifting device 30 can be a hoist. The hoist can be provided with a load platform that reciprocates between the picking layer 10 and the storage layer 20. The handling vehicle can realize cross-layer movement between the picking layer 10 and the storage layer 20 by riding on the load platform.

[0063] As Figure 1As shown in the figure, the picking layer 10 includes a plurality of picking areas 10a. The picking conveyor line 40 sequentially passes through the plurality of picking areas 10a for transporting the loading box 50 into and / or out of the picking area 10a.

[0064] In one example, the picking conveyor line 40 can be a belt conveyor mechanism, and the belt conveyor mechanism sequentially passes through the plurality of picking areas 10a. The plurality of picking areas 10a are respectively arranged in the adjacent areas of the plurality of picking shelves 11 to facilitate the picking personnel to place the goods on the picking shelves 11 into the loading box 50 correspondingly.

[0065] According to the storage warehouse 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, by providing the storage layer 20 and the picking layer 10 that are spaced apart in the vertical direction, the functional division of the storage and sorting of goods in the height direction can be realized, and the three-dimensional space of the storage warehouse 100 can be fully utilized. On the one hand, the picking operation surface can be flexibly arranged, the number and area of the picking operation surface can be increased, thereby improving the picking operation efficiency; on the other hand, the inventory capacity of the storage warehouse 100 can be increased, the storage capacity of goods per unit area can be greatly improved, so as to realize the dense arrangement storage of goods per unit area, and further improve the space utilization rate of the storage warehouse 100. Furthermore, by providing the lifting device 30, the replenishment of the storage layer 20 to the picking layer 10 can be realized, so as to realize the cross-layer scheduling of goods from the storage layer 20 to the picking layer 10.

[0066] In addition, by providing a plurality of picking areas 10a on the picking layer 10 and a picking conveyor line 40 passing through the plurality of picking areas 10a, the loading box 50 can be automatically transported to the plurality of picking areas 10a to facilitate loading the target goods into the loading box 50, without manual handling of the loading box 50, greatly reducing the consumption of human resources and having a high degree of automation.

[0067] In one implementation manner, as Figure 1 shown, the picking layer 10 includes multiple groups of picking shelves 11, and a picking area 10a is defined between any two adjacent groups of picking shelves 11.

[0068] In one example, the picking conveyor line 40 includes a main conveyor line 41 and auxiliary conveyor lines 42 connected to the main conveyor line 41. Among them, there are a plurality of auxiliary conveyor lines 42 respectively corresponding to the plurality of picking areas 10a, and each auxiliary conveyor line 42 extends into the corresponding picking area 10a, so that the loading box 50 can pass through each picking area 10a along with the main conveyor line 41 and the auxiliary conveyor lines 42. Preferably, a plurality of transplant workstations 42a are provided on each auxiliary conveyor line 42, and the plurality of transplant workstations 42a correspond to different areas of the picking area 10a. The transplant workstation 42a is used to push the loading box 50 from the auxiliary conveyor line 42 to the corresponding picking area 10a.

[0069] In one example, as Figure 3As shown, each secondary conveyor line 42 includes a first secondary conveyor line 421 and a second secondary conveyor line 422 arranged side by side. The terminal of the first secondary conveyor line 421 is connected to the starting end of the second secondary conveyor line 422, and the starting end of the first secondary conveyor line 421 and the terminal of the second secondary conveyor line 422 are respectively connected to the main conveyor line 41.

[0070] Specifically, the main conveyor line 41 can extend longitudinally and be located on one side of the transverse direction of multiple picking shelves 11. Multiple secondary conveyor lines 42 extend transversely into multiple picking areas 10a, and each secondary conveyor line 42 is connected to the main conveyor line 41. Each secondary conveyor line 42 includes a first secondary conveyor line 421 and a second secondary conveyor line 422 arranged side by side, and the conveying directions of the first secondary conveyor line and the second secondary conveyor line 422 are opposite. The starting end and the terminal of the first secondary conveyor line 421 are respectively the starting point and the ending point of its conveying direction, and the starting end and the terminal of the second secondary conveyor line 422 are respectively the starting point and the ending point of its conveying direction. Thus, the loading box 50 can be transferred from the main conveyor line 41 to the first secondary conveyor line, then to the second conveyor line, and then back to the main conveyor line 41. Thus, the conveyance of the loading box 50 to the picking area 10a corresponding to this secondary conveyor line 42 is completed.

[0071] In one example, as Figure 3 shown, the main conveyor line 41 includes a first main conveyor line 411 and a second main conveyor line 412 arranged side by side. The terminal of the first main conveyor line 411 is connected to the starting end of the second main conveyor line 412, and the first main conveyor line 411 is respectively connected to multiple secondary conveyor lines 42.

[0072] That is to say, the conveying directions of the first main conveyor line 411 and the second main conveyor line 412 are opposite, and the terminal of the first main conveyor line 411 is connected to the starting end of the second secondary conveyor line 422. The first main conveyor line 411 is responsible for sequentially transporting the loading box 50 to each secondary conveyor line 42, and then transporting it to each picking area 10a through the secondary conveyor line 42; the second main conveyor line 412 is responsible for transporting the fully loaded loading box 50 after the picking operation to the target area.

[0073] Preferably, as Figure 4 shown, an empty box replenishment point 411a is provided in the vicinity of the starting end of the first main conveyor line 411, and a full box removal point 412a is provided in the vicinity of the terminal of the second main conveyor line 412. An empty loading box 50 can be placed at the starting end of the first main conveyor line 411 at the empty box replenishment point 411a through manual or mechanical handling; the fully loaded loading box 50 can be removed from the terminal of the second main conveyor line 412 at the full box removal point 412a through manual or mechanical handling.

[0074] In one implementation manner, as Figure 3As shown, the picking layer 10 includes multiple groups of picking shelves 11. A handling lane 12 is defined between two picking shelves 11 in each group, and a handling vehicle can move on the handling lane 12.

[0075] In one example, multiple picking shelves 11 are arranged at intervals longitudinally into multiple groups. Each group includes two picking shelves 11 arranged at intervals longitudinally, and each picking shelf 11 extends transversely. A handling lane 12 extending transversely is defined between two picking shelves 11 in each group, and the handling lane 12 communicates with the storage units of each picking shelf 11, so that the handling vehicle can drive through the handling lane 12 to the accommodation space below the storage unit to transport or move away the pallet carrying goods.

[0076] In one implementation, as Figure 1 shown, there are multiple lifting devices 30, and each lifting device 30 is respectively docked with one end of each handling lane 12. For example, the picking shelves 11 can be set to 7 groups, the corresponding handling lanes 12 are 7, and the corresponding lifting devices 30 can also be set to 7. And each lifting device 30 is located at one end of the corresponding handling lane 12 and is docked with the handling lane 12. In this way, the handling vehicle can directly enter the handling lane 12 corresponding to the lifting device 30 from the storage layer 20 through a certain lifting device 30, and transport the pallet to a group of picking shelves 11 corresponding to the handling lane 12. Thus, each group of picking shelves 11 has a corresponding handling lane 12 and a lifting device 30, and the driving path for the handling vehicle to replenish goods from the storage layer 20 to each group of picking shelves 11 is shorter, and the replenishment efficiency is higher.

[0077] In one implementation, the storage layer 20 includes multiple storage shelves 21, the picking layer 10 includes multiple picking shelves 11, and both the picking shelves 11 and the storage shelves 21 are provided with storage units. The storage units are used to place the pallets carrying goods, and the handling vehicle can move the pallet away from the storage unit or place the pallet on the storage unit.

[0078] For example, the storage unit can be configured as a bracket for supporting the pallet, and the upper surface of the pallet is used to carry goods. During the picking operation, the handling vehicle moves the pallet placed on the storage unit of the storage shelf 21 away, then moves to the picking layer 10 through the elevator, and then places the pallet on the storage unit of the picking shelf 11 to complete the replenishment from the storage layer 20 to the picking layer 10. At the same time, when the pallet on a certain storage unit of the storage shelf 21 is moved away, replenishment is required for this storage unit. The handling vehicle transports the pallet carrying goods outside the warehouse to the storage layer 20 through the lifting device 30, and then places the pallet on this storage unit to complete the replenishment of the storage layer 20.

[0079] In one embodiment, an accommodation space is provided below the goods storage unit, and the forklift truck can travel to the accommodation space to remove or place the pallet, and then remove or place the goods.

[0080] In order to enable the forklift truck to remove or place the pallet when moving to the accommodation space, in one example, the forklift truck may be provided with a liftable lifting mechanism. During the process of the forklift truck removing the pallet from the goods storage unit, the forklift truck travels to the accommodation space, the lifting mechanism extends from the upper surface of the forklift truck and abuts against the lower surface of the pallet to lift the pallet from the goods storage unit. At this time, the pallet is separated from the goods storage unit, and the forklift truck can remove the pallet. During the process of the forklift truck placing the pallet on the goods storage unit, the forklift truck travels to the accommodation space. At this time, the pallet carrying the goods is placed on the lifting mechanism, and the pallet is located above the goods storage unit. The lifting mechanism descends to place the pallet on the goods storage unit.

[0081] Further, the storage layer 20 is provided with a track for the forklift truck to travel. The track is docked with the lifting device 30, and the accommodation space below each goods storage unit of the storage rack 21 is connected to the track. For example, the track may include a laterally connected transverse track and a longitudinal track. The longitudinal track is docked with the lifting device 30. The transverse tracks may be multiple arranged side by side, and each transverse track may be located between two adjacent groups of storage racks 21. In this way, when the forklift truck transports the pallet loaded with goods, it can reciprocally move between the goods storage unit and the lifting device 30 through the track.

[0082] In one embodiment, the pallet is provided with a label indicator light for indicating the goods information corresponding to the pallet.

[0083] Specifically, the loading box 50 may be affixed with an order barcode. By using a barcode scanner to scan the order barcode, the goods information of the target goods that the loading box 50 needs to load can be obtained. At the same time, the label indicator light on the pallet on the picking shelf 11 corresponding to the target goods is lit to facilitate the identification of the pallet corresponding to the target goods of the loading box 50. Among them, the goods information may include the goods category and the quantity of goods.

[0084] Next, refer to Figure 5Illustrate the picking process of pickers with a specific example. The loading boxes 50 can be set in multiple groups, and each group of loading boxes 50 is successively placed on the picking conveyor line 40 for picking operations. Each group includes 5 loading boxes 50, and the 5 loading boxes 50 correspond to different numbers respectively. The picker simultaneously scans the order barcodes on the 5 loading boxes 50 through a barcode scanner to obtain the goods information of the target goods corresponding to the 5 loading boxes 50, and at the same time assigns a corresponding picking area 10a to each loading box 50. The label indicator light on the tray corresponding to the target goods of the loading box 50 in the picking area 10a lights up. The picking conveyor line 40 conveys the 5 loading boxes 50 to the corresponding picking areas 10a, and the picker loads the target goods into the loading boxes 50 according to the label indicator lights. After loading, the picker puts the loading box 50 back onto the picking conveyor line 40. It should be noted that each loading box 50 can correspond to multiple picking areas 10a. The picking conveyor line 40 successively conveys each loading box 50 to multiple picking areas 10a and then the picker performs picking. After the picking task of the loading box 50 is completed, it is sent by the picking conveyor line 40 to the full box moving point for outbound operations.

[0085] When the goods on the tray at a certain picking shelf 11 on the picking layer 10 are emptied, this tray can be moved away from the picking shelf 11 by a forklift, and at the same time, another forklift replenishes the goods from the storage layer 20 to the picking shelf 11. In order to facilitate the management and storage of the emptied trays, the warehouse 100 is also provided with an empty tray collection area, and the forklift can move the trays with emptied goods on the picking shelf 11 to the empty tray collection area. The empty tray collection area can be set on the picking layer 10 or the storage layer 20. For example, it can be set in the picking area 10a, or in the area near the picking conveyor line 40, or in the area near the lifting device 30. Preferably, the empty tray collection area is set in the area near the picking conveyor line 40. Thus, it is convenient for the empty trays to complete outbound through the picking conveyor line 40.

[0086] In a specific example, as Figure 6 and Figure 7 shown, the area of the warehouse 100 is 3500 m 2 , the height of the warehouse 100 is 9 m, and the tray size is 1.2 m * 1 m. The picking layer 10 has 2 floors, and the picking layer 10 is provided with a total of 820 storage units. The distance between two picking shelves 11 in each group of picking shelves 11 is 4.21 m, the width of the secondary conveyor line 42 is 2.66 m, and the distance between the secondary conveyor line 42 and the two picking shelves 11 is 0.775 m. The picking area 10a can be provided with a picking platform with a height of 0.85 m for pickers to stand on and pick up goods from the second picking layer 10.

[0087] In addition, the number of storage layers 20 and the number of storage units of the storage shelves 21 can be set according to the height of the goods. For example, if the height of a piece of goods does not exceed 1.35 m, as Figure 6 shown, the storage layer 20 can be set to two layers, and the storage layer 20 is provided with a total of 1744 storage units; if the height of a piece of goods does not exceed 1 m, as Figure 7 shown, the storage layer 20 can be three layers, and the storage layer 20 is provided with a total of 2616 storage units.

[0088] The sorting system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0089] An embodiment of the present invention provides a sorting system, including a handling vehicle and a warehouse 100 according to the above embodiment of the present invention. Among them, the handling vehicle can move horizontally and vertically on the storage layer 20 or the picking layer 10, and the handling vehicle can ride on the lifting device 30 to move vertically between the storage layer 20 and the picking layer 10.

[0090] In one example, the handling vehicle can be provided with horizontal driving wheels and vertical driving wheels. Among them, the horizontal driving wheels are used to drive the handling vehicle to move left or right horizontally, and the vertical driving wheels are used to drive the handling vehicle to move forward or backward vertically. Thus, the driving paths of the handling vehicle on the storage layer 20 or the picking layer 10 are more, the in-warehouse scheduling is more flexible, which is beneficial to executing complex in-warehouse operation logics, and the operation efficiency is higher. In addition, the number of handling vehicles is not limited in the embodiment of the present invention. For example, multiple handling vehicles can be provided to improve the efficiency of handling goods.

[0091] In one implementation manner, the sorting system is further provided with a charging station for charging the handling vehicle. Among them, the number of charging stations can be calculated according to the number of handling vehicles, the battery usage time, the charging time, the efficiency during the picking peak period, and the charging strategy.

[0092] The working principle of the sorting system will be described in detail with a specific example below.

[0093] The warehouse management system receives the shipping information, and then sends an instruction to the handling vehicle through the warehouse control system to control the handling vehicle to transport the empty loading box 50 to the picking conveyor line 40. The picking conveyor line 40 transports the loading box 50 to the corresponding picking area 10a for the goods to be loaded respectively. After picking, the fully loaded loading box 50 performs the outbound operation through the picking conveyor line 40.

[0094] The order picker scans the order barcode on the loading container 50 to obtain order information, and then loads the target goods on the tray with the label indicator lit into the loading container 50. If the goods on the tray have been emptied, the order picker sends a goods pickup instruction through the warehouse management system, and the forklift truck transports the goods on the storage layer 20 to the order picking shelf 11 on the order picking layer 10 through the lifting device 30; meanwhile, the forklift truck removes the tray with the emptied goods from the order picking shelf 11. If the goods on the storage layer 20 have been emptied, the warehouse management system sends a replenishment instruction, and controls the forklift truck to convey the tray carrying goods outside the warehouse to the lifting device 30 through the inbound conveyor line, and then the forklift truck transports the tray to the storage shelf 21 on the storage layer 20 through the lifting device 30.

[0095] The following refers to Figure 8 and Figure 9 describe the sorting method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0096] As Figure 8 shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a sorting method, including:

[0097] Step S101: Determine the target goods corresponding to the loading container 50 on the order picking conveyor line 40; wherein, the target goods may be the goods that the loading container 50 needs to load;

[0098] Step S102: According to the position information of the target goods, control the order picking conveyor line 40 to convey the loading container 50 to the order picking area 10a corresponding to the position information;

[0099] Step S103: Sort the target goods to the loading container 50.

[0100] It should be noted that there may be multiple order picking areas 10a, and the position information is the goods information corresponding to different order picking areas 10a. According to the position information, the order picking area 10a corresponding to the target goods of the loading container 50 can be determined, and the loading container 50 is successively sent to the order picking area 10a corresponding to the target goods through the order picking conveyor line 40. In addition, "sorting the target goods to the loading container 50" can perform the order picking operation manually or by machine, and the embodiment of the present invention does not make specific limitations on this.

[0101] In one embodiment, as Figure 9 shown, in step S101, that is, "determine the target goods corresponding to the loading container 50 on the order picking conveyor line 40", it includes:

[0102] Step S201: Obtain the order information on the loading container 50; wherein, the order information can be obtained by the order picker using a barcode scanner to scan the order barcode on the loading container 50;

[0103] Step S202: Obtain the goods information of the target goods according to the order information, where the goods information includes the location information of the target goods.

[0104] In one embodiment, the sorting method further includes:

[0105] Step S301: Send a label indicator light on signal to the pallet corresponding to the location information, where the indicator light on signal is used to control the label indicator light on the pallet to turn on. Thus, the picker can determine the pallet corresponding to the target goods based on whether the label indicator light is on, thereby facilitating the picker's picking operation.

[0106] Next, refer to Figure 10 Describe the sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is used to implement the sorting method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0107] As Figure 10 shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a sorting device, including:

[0108] A target goods determination module 801, configured to determine the target goods corresponding to the loading box 50 on the picking conveyor line 40;

[0109] A picking area determination module 802, configured to control the picking conveyor line 40 to convey the loading box 50 to the picking area 10a corresponding to the location information according to the location information of the target goods.

[0110] In one embodiment, the sorting device further includes:

[0111] An order information acquisition device, configured to acquire the order information on the loading box 50;

[0112] A goods information acquisition device, configured to acquire the goods information of the target goods according to the order information, where the goods information includes the location information of the target goods.

[0113] In one embodiment, the sorting device further includes:

[0114] An indicator light on signal sending device, configured to send a label indicator light on signal to the pallet corresponding to the location information, where the indicator light on signal is used to control the label indicator light on the pallet to turn on.

[0115] For the functions of the modules in each device of the embodiments of the present invention, reference may be made to the corresponding descriptions in the above method, and details are not described herein again.

[0116] Figure 11 Show the structural block diagram of the sorting equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0117] As Figure 11As shown, the device may include: a memory 901 and a processor 902. The memory 901 stores a computer program that can run on the processor 902. When the processor 902 executes the computer program, the article generation method in the above embodiments is implemented. The number of the memory 901 and the processor 902 may be one or more.

[0118] The device may further include:

[0119] a communication interface 903, configured to communicate with external devices and perform data interaction and transmission.

[0120] The memory 901 may include a high-speed RAM memory, and may also include a non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk memory.

[0121] If the memory 901, the processor 902, and the communication interface 903 are implemented independently, the memory 901, the processor 902, and the communication interface 903 may be interconnected through a bus and communicate with each other. The bus may be an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, etc. The bus may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of representation, Figure 11 only a thick line is shown in the figure, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0122] Optionally, in a specific implementation, if the memory 901, the processor 902, and the communication interface 903 are integrated on a chip, the memory 901, the processor 902, and the communication interface 903 may communicate with each other through an internal interface.

[0123] An embodiment of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium that stores a computer program, and when the program is executed by a processor, the method described in any of the above embodiments is implemented.

[0124] In the description of this specification, the descriptions referring to terms such as "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "examples", "specific examples", or "some examples", etc. mean that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in a suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and combine the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0125] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. In the description of the present invention, "a plurality of" means two or more unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0126] Any process or method description in a flowchart or described in other ways herein can be understood to represent a module, segment, or portion of code including one or more executable instructions for implementing a specific logical function or process. And the scope of the preferred embodiments of the present invention includes additional implementations, where the functions can be executed in a substantially simultaneous manner or in the reverse order according to the functions involved, rather than in the order shown or discussed, which should be understood by those skilled in the art to which the embodiments of the present invention pertain.

[0127] The logic and / or steps represented in the flowchart or otherwise described herein, for example, can be considered as a definite sequence list of executable instructions for implementing logical functions, and can be specifically implemented in any computer-readable medium for use by an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device (such as a computer-based system, a system including a processor, or other systems that can fetch and execute instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device), or used in combination with these instruction execution systems, apparatus, or devices. For the purposes of this specification, a "computer-readable medium" can be any device that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. More specific examples (non-exhaustive list) of computer-readable media include the following: an electrical connection part having one or more wirings (electronic device), a portable computer diskette (magnetic device), a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber device, and a portable read-only memory (CDROM). Additionally, the computer-readable medium can even be paper or other suitable media on which the program can be printed, because the program can be obtained electronically, for example, by optically scanning the paper or other media, then editing, interpreting, or otherwise processing it as appropriate, and then storing it in a computer memory.

[0128] It should be understood that various parts of the present invention can be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In the above embodiments, multiple steps or methods can be implemented by software or firmware stored in a memory and executed by a suitable instruction execution system. For example, if implemented by hardware, as in another embodiment, any one or a combination of the following techniques well known in the art can be used: discrete logic circuits having logic gate circuits for implementing logical functions on data signals, application specific integrated circuits having appropriate combinational logic gate circuits, programmable gate arrays (PGAs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc.

[0129] Those of ordinary skill in the art of this technology can understand that all or part of the steps carried by the methods of the above embodiments can be completed by instructing relevant hardware through a program, and the program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the program is executed, it includes one or a combination of the steps of the method embodiments.

[0130] In addition, each functional unit in various embodiments of the present invention may be integrated into one processing module, or each unit may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated into one module. The above-mentioned integrated module may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional module. When the integrated module is implemented in the form of a software functional module and sold or used as an independent product, it may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium may be a read-only memory, a magnetic disk, an optical disc, or the like.

[0131] As described above, the above are only specific embodiments of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention can easily think of various changes or substitutions thereof, and these should all be covered within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A storage facility, characterized in that, it includes: a storage layer and a picking layer, the storage layer and the picking layer are arranged at intervals from top to bottom, and the picking layer includes a plurality of picking areas; a lifting device for vertically moving between the storage layer and the picking layer; a picking conveyor line passing through a plurality of the picking areas.

2. The storage facility according to claim 1, characterized in that, the picking layer includes multiple groups of picking shelves, and a picking area is defined between any two adjacent groups of picking shelves.

3. The storage facility according to claim 2, characterized in that, the picking conveyor line includes a main conveyor line and auxiliary conveyor lines connected to the main conveyor line. Among them, there are a plurality of auxiliary conveyor lines arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of picking areas, and each auxiliary conveyor line extends into the corresponding picking area.

4. The storage facility according to claim 3, characterized in that, a transfer workstation is provided on the auxiliary conveyor line for pushing the loading box on the auxiliary conveyor line into the picking area.

5. The storage facility according to claim 3, characterized in that, each auxiliary conveyor line includes a first auxiliary conveyor line and a second auxiliary conveyor line arranged side by side. The terminal of the first auxiliary conveyor line is connected to the starting end of the second auxiliary conveyor line, and the starting end of the first auxiliary conveyor line and the terminal of the second auxiliary conveyor line are respectively connected to the main conveyor line.

6. The storage facility according to claim 3, characterized in that, the main conveyor line includes a first main conveyor line and a second main conveyor line arranged side by side. The terminal of the first main conveyor line is connected to the starting end of the second main conveyor line, and the first main conveyor line is respectively connected to a plurality of the auxiliary conveyor lines.

7. The storage facility according to claim 2, characterized in that, each group of picking shelves includes two rows of picking shelves, and a handling lane is defined between the two rows of picking shelves.

8. The storage facility according to claim 7, characterized in that, there are a plurality of lifting devices, and each lifting device is respectively docked with one end of each handling lane.

9. The storage facility according to claim 1, characterized in that, both the picking layer and the storage layer are provided with a plurality of storage units for placing pallets carrying goods. The pallets are provided with label indicator lights for indicating the goods information corresponding to the pallets; a receiving space is provided below the storage units.

10. A sorting system, characterized in that, it includes: a handling vehicle; the storage facility according to any one of claims 1-9, the handling vehicle can move horizontally and vertically on the storage layer or the picking layer, and the handling vehicle can ride on the lifting device to move vertically between the storage layer and the picking layer.

11. A sorting method, characterized in that, it includes: determining the target goods corresponding to the loading box on the picking conveyor line; controlling the picking conveyor line to convey the loading box to the picking area corresponding to the position information according to the position information of the target goods; sorting the target goods into the loading box.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, Determining target goods corresponding to a loading box on a picking conveyor line includes: Obtaining order information on the loading box; Obtaining goods information of the target goods according to the order information, where the goods information includes location information of the target goods.

13. According to the method described in claim 11, characterized in that, the method further includes: Sending a label indicator light turning-on signal to a pallet corresponding to the location information, where the indicator light turning-on signal is used to control the label indicator light on the pallet to turn on.

14. A sorting device, characterized in that, it includes: A target goods determination module for determining target goods corresponding to a loading box on a picking conveyor line; A picking area determination module for controlling the picking conveyor line to convey the loading box to a picking area corresponding to the location information according to the location information of the target goods.

15. A sorting equipment, characterized in that, it includes: One or more processors; A storage device for storing one or more programs; When the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors are caused to implement the method described in any one of claims 11 to 13.

16. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, characterized in that, when the program is executed by a processor, it implements the method described in any one of claims 11 to 13.

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