Article delivery system
By designing the item shipment system and using the container forming device and control system, the problems of low forming efficiency of shipment containers and complex cargo merger operations in the prior art are solved, and efficient supply of shipment containers and simplifying the cargo merger operations are achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411809638.X
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-12-11
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-10
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-13
AI Technical Summary
The prior art is difficult to efficiently form a suitable shipment container when handling orders for multiple different items, resulting in complexity of cargo merger operations and wasted time.
An item shipment system is designed to form multiple sizes of shipment containers through a container forming device, combining the storage operation area and the cargo merge operation area, and using the control system to determine the storage order of items and the forming size of the shipment container, ensuring that the shipment container is supplied at the appropriate point, and simplifying the cargo merge operation.
It realizes supplying shipment containers suitable for order information at appropriate points, simplifies the cargo merger operation process, improves storage efficiency, and reduces invalid space.
Smart Images
Figure CN120146749A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an article shipping system that accommodates the specified types of articles and the sub-type specified quantities of the articles included in the order information in a shipping container based on order information including the types of articles specified for each shipping destination, i.e., the specified types, and the quantities of the articles specified for each of the foregoing specified types, i.e., the sub-type specified quantities. Background Art
[0002] For example, in Japanese Patent No. 7264702 (Patent Document 1), a technique is disclosed for forming a container that matches the size of an article during the conveyance process of the article in a device. The article is accommodated in the container immediately after it is formed. For example, the container is used to ship the accommodated article. Summary of the Invention
[0003] Incidentally, in a device that processes order information specifying the types and quantities of articles, various types of articles with different sizes are shipped, and in addition, the combinations of multiple articles grouped as one set for shipping are also diverse. Therefore, when applying the technique described in Patent Document 1 to such a device, it is necessary to form a shipping container with a size suitable for the combination of multiple articles related to the order information. In addition, even if such a shipping container can be formed, there is a restriction that the shipping container formed for the order information must be used for the consolidation operation of accommodating the group of articles related to a specific order in the shipping container. Therefore, it becomes difficult to adjust the timing of transporting the group of articles and the shipping container to the area where the consolidation operation is performed, and in addition, it may lead to the complication of the consolidation operation.
[0004] In view of the above actual situation, it is desired to implement a technique that can supply a shipping container with a size suitable for the total size of the group of articles related to the order information at an appropriate timing and can simplify the consolidation operation.
[0005] The technique for solving the above technical problems is as follows.
[0006] An article shipping system that stores the specified types of articles included in the order information, which are specified by each shipping destination, and the quantities of the articles specified by each of the specified types, that is, the sub-type specified quantities, in a shipping container, comprising: a container forming device that processes raw materials to form the shipping containers of multiple sizes; a storage operation area that, based on one or more pieces of the order information, sets at least one of the shipping container and the transport container as the target container and performs an article storage operation of storing one of the specified types of articles in one of the target containers; a goods consolidation operation area that performs a goods consolidation operation of storing the sub-type specified quantities of the articles in the shipping container for each of all the specified types included in one of the order information; a transport system that transports the shipping container and the transport container; and a control system that controls the container forming device and the transport system; the control system sets multiple pieces of the order information as the target order information and executes a storage order determination process for determining the storage order of the articles related to each of all the specified types included in the target order information to the shipping container; the container forming device forms the shipping containers of the sizes required for storing the articles in the storage order determined in the storage order determination process as the shipping containers related to the target order information, that is, the target shipping containers; when transporting the target shipping containers and the transport containers storing the articles related to the target order information, that is, the target transport containers, to the goods consolidation operation area, the control system controls the transport system so that one or more of the target transport containers storing the articles related to the target order information arrive at the goods consolidation operation area in an order corresponding to the storage order determined in the storage order determination process, and the target shipping containers arrive at the goods consolidation operation area before the arrival of one or more of the target transport containers.
[0007] According to this structure, in the case of performing a goods consolidation operation for multiple items involved in object order information in the goods consolidation operation area, the goods consolidation operation for the goods involved in the object order information can be completed only by housing the items in the object conveyance container that arrives later in the object shipping container that first arrives at the goods consolidation operation area in the order in which the conveyance container arrives. Moreover, since the object shipping container is shaped to the size required when housing items in the determined housing order, it is easy to suppress the ineffective space in the object shipping container to a small amount in the state where all the items involved in the object order information are housed in the object shipping container after the goods consolidation operation is completed. Therefore, highly efficient housing can be achieved. As described above, according to this structure, a shipping container having a size suitable for the total size of the item group involved in the order information can be supplied at an appropriate timing, and simplification of the goods consolidation operation can be achieved.
[0008] More features and advantages of the technology related to the present disclosure should become clearer from the following description of exemplary and non-limiting embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an item shipping system.
[0010] Figure 2 is a control block diagram.
[0011] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of a goods consolidation operation.
[0012] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the execution order of a housing order determination process.
[0013] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram of a housing order determination process.
[0014] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of an item shipping system according to a second embodiment.
[0015] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of an item shipping system according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0016] An item shipping system is a system that houses items of a specified type and a specified number per type included in order information based on order information including the type of item specified for each shipping destination, i.e., the specified type, and the number of items specified for each specified type, i.e., the specified number per type. Hereinafter, embodiments of the item shipping system will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0017] 〔First Embodiment〕
[0018] First, a first embodiment of the article shipping system will be described.
[0019] As Figure 1 shown, in the article shipping system 100, the transport container 92 and the shipping container 91 are transported between processes. The same type of articles 8 (see Figure 3 ) are accommodated in the transport container 92. The articles 8 of multiple types accommodated in a plurality of transport containers 92 are collectively accommodated in the shipping container 91.
[0020] The articles 8 of multiple types accommodated in the shipping container 91 are shipped toward a designated shipping destination.
[0021] The articles 8 of multiple types that are collectively accommodated in one shipping container 91 are determined by the order information Ia (see Figure 3 ).
[0022] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the article shipping system 100 includes a container forming device 1, a housing operation area 2, a goods merging operation area 3, a transport system T, and a control system H.
[0023] The container forming device 1 is configured to process a raw material into a plurality of sizes of shipping containers 91. The container forming device 1 deforms a rigid sheet-like raw material or a plate-like raw material into a container shape. This is used as the shipping container 91. The formed shipping container 91 is, for example, a corrugated cardboard box.
[0024] The size of the shipping container 91 formed by the container forming device 1 is variable. The size of the shipping container 91 is determined so as to be able to accommodate all of the articles 8 related to the order information Ia. In addition, the size of the shipping container 91 is set to a size approximate to the total size of all of the articles 8 related to the order information Ia. Thereby, it is easy to suppress the invalid space in the shipping container 91 in a state where all of the articles 8 related to the order information Ia are accommodated in the shipping container 91 to be small. Therefore, high-efficiency accommodation can be achieved. Details will be described later, but the container forming device 1 obtains the size information Ic (see Figure 2 ) from the control system H and forms the shipping container 91 based on the size information Ic.
[0025] The housing operation area 2 is an area where an article housing operation is performed. In the article housing operation, based on one or more order information Ia, with at least one of the shipping container 91 and the transport container 92 as an object container, one designated type of article 8 is housed in one object container.
[0026] In this embodiment, in the storage operation area 2, an article storage operation is performed on the transport container 92 as the target container. That is, among the shipping container 91 and the transport container 92, only the transport container 92 is set as the target container. The transport container 92 is used for the article storage operation, and through this article storage operation, the article 8 is stored in the transport container 92. In this embodiment, the shipping container 91 is not used for the article storage operation.
[0027] In the storage operation area 2, a plurality of types of articles 8 supplied from an automated warehouse (not shown) are arranged, for example. Here, "arranged" means to be placed in the storage operation area 2 at least during the period before the completion of the article storage operation. The article storage operation is performed in units of one order information Ia. In other words, one transport container 92 is used in the article storage operation related to one order information Ia. When performing the article storage operation related to other order information Ia, another transport container 92 is used.
[0028] In addition, in the article storage operation, one type of article 8 among the specified types related to the order information Ia is stored in the transport container 92. Through the article storage operation, one or more articles 8 of the same type are stored in the transport container 92. In the illustrated example, the article shipping system 100 includes a plurality of storage operation areas 2. The article storage operation is performed in each storage operation area 2. Details will be described later, but the storage operation area 2 (specifically, the control device that manages this area, etc.) obtains the operation information Id from the control system H. Based on this operation information Id, the article storage operation is performed. In addition, the article storage operation is performed by an operator, a robot, or both of them.
[0029] The cargo consolidation operation area 3 is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport system T with respect to both the container forming device 1 and the storage operation area 2. In the cargo consolidation operation area 3, the shipping container 91 formed by the container forming device 1 and the transport container 92 in which the article 8 has been stored through the article storage operation in the storage operation area 2 are transported by the transport system T.
[0030] As Figure 3 shown, in the cargo consolidation operation area 3, a cargo consolidation operation of storing the specified number of articles 8 of each type in the shipping container 91 is performed for all the specified types included in one order information Ia. In addition, in this embodiment, the cargo consolidation operation is performed by an operator.
[0031] In the illustrated example, all the specified types included in the order information Ia are "Item A, Item B, Item C". Moreover, the quantity of Item 8 (specified quantity by type) is set for each specified type. In the illustrated example, the order information Ia is "Item A: 1 piece, Item B: 2 pieces, Item C: 3 pieces". In the goods consolidation operation, all these Items 8 related to the order information Ia are accommodated in the shipping container 91 formed by the container forming device 1. As described above, the void space in the shipping container 91 accommodating all the Items 8 related to the order information Ia is suppressed to be small.
[0032] As Figure 2 shown, in the present embodiment, in the goods consolidation operation area 3, there is provided an operation instruction output device 30 that outputs an instruction for the goods consolidation operation to the operator. For example, the operation instruction output device 30 includes a monitor, and an instruction for the goods consolidation operation is displayed (output) on the monitor. Details will be described later, but the operation instruction output device 30 obtains the operation information Id from the control system H and outputs the operation information Id. The operator performs the goods consolidation operation based on the operation information Id output by the operation instruction output device 30.
[0033] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the conveying system T is configured to convey the shipping container 91 and the conveying container 92. The conveying system T mainly includes a conveyor.
[0034] However, the conveying system T may also include a conveying device other than a conveyor, such as an automated guided vehicle.
[0035] In the present embodiment, the conveying system T includes a temporary storage device Ta for temporarily storing the conveying container 92.
[0036] The temporary storage device Ta has a function of shipping out the stored conveying container 92. The temporary storage device Ta can ship out any number of conveying containers 92 at once in a state arranged in any order. The temporary storage device Ta includes, for example, a conveying device such as a conveyor and a conveying cart. Details will be described later, but the temporary storage device Ta obtains the sequence information Ib (refer to Figure 2 ) from the control system H and ships out the conveying container 92 based on the sequence information Ib.
[0037] In the present embodiment, the conveying system T includes a first conveying system T1, a second conveying system T2, and a third conveying system T3. In this example, the conveying system T further includes a fourth conveying system T4 in addition to the above-mentioned respective conveying systems.
[0038] The first conveying system T1 conveys the shipping container 91 formed by the container forming device 1. In Figure 1In the example shown, the first conveyor system T1 conveys the shipping container 91 along the path from the container forming device 1 to the goods consolidation work area 3.
[0039] The second conveyor system T2 conveys the transport container 92 that has received the article 8 through the article receiving operation in the receiving work area 2. In Figure 1 the example shown, the second conveyor system T2 conveys the transport container 92 along the path from each receiving work area 2 to the temporary storage device Ta.
[0040] The third conveyor system T3 conveys a plurality of transport containers 92 that are stored in the temporary storage device Ta and are mutually related. "A plurality of transport containers 92 that are mutually related" means a plurality of transport containers 92 that contain the articles 8 related to one order information Ia. In Figure 1 the example shown, the third conveyor system T3 conveys the plurality of transport containers 92 along the path from the temporary storage device Ta to the goods consolidation work area 3.
[0041] The fourth conveyor system T4 conveys the transport container 92 that has become empty and is used in the goods consolidation operation. In Figure 1 the example shown, the fourth conveyor system T4 conveys the empty transport container 92 along the path from the goods consolidation work area 3 back to each process. For example, the fourth conveyor system T4 may be configured to convey the empty transport container 92 along the path from the goods consolidation work area 3 to the receiving work area 2. According to this structure, the empty transport container 92 after being conveyed by the fourth conveyor system T4 can be reused in the article receiving operation in the receiving work area 2.
[0042] The control system H is configured to control the container forming device 1 and the conveyor system T. The control system H can be composed of a plurality of hardware and a plurality of software. The control system H includes, for example, a processor such as a microcomputer and peripheral circuits such as a memory. Moreover, through the cooperation of these hardware and the program executed on a processor such as a computer, various functions are realized.
[0043] Here, in this article shipping system 100, a plurality of order information Ia are processed.
[0044] In this specification, when focusing on a specific order information Ia among the plurality of order information Ia, this order information Ia is referred to as the target order information Ia. That is, in this specification, each of the plurality of order information Ia is set as the target order information Ia.
[0045] The control system H is configured to execute a receiving order determination process for determining the receiving order of each specified type of article 8 included in the target order information Ia into the shipping container 91.
[0046] As Figure 4As shown, in this embodiment, the storage order determination process is executed in the following order. The control system H obtains the order information Ia in the storage order determination process (step #1). In this embodiment, the control system H obtains the order information Ia from the database DB (refer to Figure 2 ).
[0047] After the process of step #1 by the control system H, based on the obtained order information Ia, the sequence information Ib is generated (step #2). The "sequence information Ib" is information related to the storage order of each specified type of the article 8 related to the target order information Ia into the shipping container 91. By performing simulations based on various conditions, the storage order is determined as an appropriate order. As various conditions, as an example, it can be cited that "the larger the article 8, the earlier it is stored", "the heavier the article 8, the earlier it is stored", "the same type of articles 8 are gathered and stored", etc. The control system H generates information related to the determined storage order as the sequence information Ib.
[0048] In Figure 5 the example shown, when the target order information Ia is "Article A: 1 piece, Article B: 2 pieces, Article C: 3 pieces", the storage order determination process is executed. As a result, the first to be stored in the shipping container 91 are 2 pieces of Article B, then the 1 piece of Article A is stored in the shipping container 91, and finally the 3 pieces are stored in the shipping container 91.
[0049] As Figure 4 shown, after the process of step #2 by the control system H, based on the obtained order information Ia, the size information Ic is generated (step #3). The "size information Ic" is information related to the size of the shipping container 91 to be formed by the container forming device 1. For example, calculate multiple configuration patterns of the articles 8 when all the articles 8 related to the order information Ia are stored in the shipping container 91, and determine the size of the shipping container 91 by selecting the configuration pattern with the smallest size of the shipping container 91 from these configuration patterns.
[0050] After the process of step #3 by the control system H, based on the obtained order information Ia, the operation information Id is generated (step #4). The "operation information Id" is information related to the article storage operation in the storage operation area 2 or information related to the goods consolidation operation in the goods consolidation operation area 3. For example, as the operation information Id related to the article storage operation, it is information on the specified type of the article 8 stored in the transport container 92 in the article storage operation and the specified number of sub-categories for this specified type. In addition, for example, as the operation information Id related to the goods consolidation operation, it is information on the storage order of all the articles 8 related to the order information Ia stored in the shipping container 91 in the goods consolidation operation and information on the storage position.
[0051] In addition, the processing of the above steps #2 to #4 may not be Figure 4 in the order shown. In addition, the processing of these steps #2 to #4 may also be performed simultaneously.
[0052] As Figure 2 shown, in the present embodiment, the control system H sends the generated size information Ic to the container forming device 1. The container forming device 1 forms the shipping container 91 according to the size information Ic. That is, the container forming device 1 forms the shipping container 91 having the size required when accommodating the article 8 in the accommodation order determined by the accommodation order determination process, as the shipping container 91 related to the target order information Ia, that is, the target shipping container 91. In addition, after forming the shipping container 91, the container forming device 1 transforms the target order information Ia, which is the basis for the forming, into a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code and attaches it to the shipping container 91. As an example of the attachment method, pasting, printing, etc. can be cited.
[0053] In the present embodiment, the control system H sends the generated order information Ib to the conveying system T. The conveying system T conveys the shipping container 91 and the conveying container 92 according to the order information Ib. In addition, the conveying system T conveys the shipping container 91 so that the shipping container 91 reaches the goods consolidation work area 3 before the conveying container 92 accommodating the article 8 related to the target order information Ia reaches the goods consolidation work area 3. That is, as Figure 1 shown, when the control system H conveys the target shipping container 91 and the conveying container 92 accommodating the article 8 related to the target order information Ia, that is, the target conveying container 92, to the goods consolidation work area 3, the control system T is controlled so that one or more target conveying containers 92 accommodating the article 8 related to the target order information Ia reach the goods consolidation work area 3 in the order corresponding to the accommodation order determined in the accommodation order determination process, and the goods consolidation work area 3 reaches the target shipping container 91 before the arrival of one or more target conveying containers 92. In this example, the control system H controls the conveying system T so that the target shipping container 91 related to the target order information Ia reaches the goods consolidation work area 3 first, and then a plurality of target conveying containers 92 accommodating the article 8 related to the target order information Ia reach the goods consolidation work area 3 in the accommodation order determined in the accommodation order determination process. However, the arrival order of the plurality of target conveying containers 92 at the goods consolidation work area 3 is not necessarily the above accommodation order. Within the range where all the articles 8 related to the target order information Ia can be accommodated in the target shipping container 91, these arrival orders can also be changed before and after. The goods consolidation operation is basically performed in the accommodation order determined in the accommodation order determination process, but in the above case, it can also be performed in the arrival order of the plurality of target conveying containers 92.
[0054] In the present embodiment, the temporary storage device Ta stores the object transfer containers 92 until all of the object transfer containers 92 related to the object order information Ia are complete. Further, the control system H controls the container forming device 1 to form the object shipping container 91 after all of the object transfer containers 92 related to the object order information Ia have been stored, and controls the transfer system T so that the formed object shipping container 91 reaches the goods consolidation work area 3 via a path that does not pass through the temporary storage device Ta. In this example, the object transfer containers 92 are transferred to the goods consolidation work area 3 using the second transfer system T2 and the third transfer system T3. On the other hand, the object shipping containers 91 are transferred to the goods consolidation work area 3 using a first transfer system T1 different from the above-described transfer system.
[0055] Further, the control system H controls the transfer system T to transport the object transfer containers 92 stored by the temporary storage device Ta from the temporary storage device Ta toward the goods consolidation work area 3 in an order corresponding to the storage order determined in the storage order determination process, and controls the transfer system T so that the object shipping container 91 reaches the goods consolidation work area 3 before the object transfer container 92 reaches the goods consolidation work area 3.
[0056] In the present embodiment, the control system H sends operation information Id, which is information related to the article storage operation, to the storage work area 2. In the storage work area 2, the article storage operation is performed in accordance with the operation information Id.
[0057] In the present embodiment, the control system H sends operation information Id, which is information related to the goods consolidation operation, to the goods consolidation work area 3. In the goods consolidation work area 3, the goods consolidation operation is performed in accordance with the operation information Id.
[0058] As described above, in the present embodiment, an operation instruction output device 30 is provided in the goods consolidation work area 3. The operation information Id sent by the control system H is output by the operation instruction output device 30. That is, the operation instruction output device 30 outputs at least a part of the content determined by the storage order determination process during the goods consolidation operation related to the object order information Ia. The operation information Id output by the operation instruction output device 30 is, for example, displayed on a monitor used by an operator. The operator performs the goods consolidation operation in accordance with the operation information Id. Further, in the output of the operation information Id, the storage order of the articles 8 into the object shipping container 91 is output based on text, output based on an image (storage position), or both.
[0059] As described above, in the article shipping system 100, the target shipping container 91 is formed in an appropriate size based on the target order information Ia. The target shipping container 91 arrives at the goods consolidation work area 3 earlier than the target transport container 92 that houses the article 8 related to the target order information Ia. Then, a plurality of target transport containers 92 that house these articles 8 arrive at the goods consolidation work area 3, and the articles 8 related to the target order information Ia are supplied to the goods consolidation work area 3 in the housing order determined by the housing order determination process. An operator in the goods consolidation work area 3 can complete the goods consolidation work related to the target order information Ia by simply housing the articles 8 housed in the target transport container 92 that arrives later in the target shipping container 91 that arrives at the goods consolidation work area 3 first in the order in which the transport container 92 arrives. Therefore, according to the article shipping system 100 described above, it is possible to simplify the goods consolidation work so that the target shipping container 91 having a size suitable for the total size of the article group related to the target order information Ia can be supplied at an appropriate time point.
[0060] 〔Second Embodiment〕
[0061] Next, for the second embodiment of the article shipping system, the description will be centered on the points different from the above-described first embodiment. For points not specifically described, they are the same as those in the above-described first embodiment.
[0062] Figure 6 Shows an overview of the article shipping system 100 related to the second embodiment.
[0063] As Figure 6 shown, the transport system T is configured to transport the empty shipping container 91 formed by the container forming device 1 to the temporary storage device Ta. In the present embodiment, the first transport system T1 is configured to transport the shipping container 91 in the path from the container forming device 1 to the temporary storage device Ta.
[0064] The temporary storage device Ta is configured to store the target shipping container 91 and the target transport container 92 until all of the target shipping container 91 and the target transport container 92 related to the target order information Ia are complete.
[0065] The control system H controls the transport system T so that after the target shipping container 91 stored in the temporary storage device Ta is transported out from the temporary storage device Ta toward the goods consolidation work area 3, the target transport container 92 stored in the temporary storage device Ta is transported out from the temporary storage device Ta toward the goods consolidation work area 3 in an order corresponding to the housing order determined in the housing order determination process.
[0066] In this embodiment, the control system H controls the conveying system T to transport the object shipping container 91 and the plurality of object conveying containers 92 in a series arrangement from the temporary storage device Ta. Further, the conveying system T transports these containers from the temporary storage device Ta with the object shipping container 91 as the start and the plurality of subsequent object conveying containers 92 in the storage order determined in the storage order determination process (the control system H controls the conveying system T in this way). In the illustrated example, three object conveying containers 92 are arranged and transported from the temporary storage device Ta following the object shipping container 91. These containers are transported from the temporary storage device Ta to the goods consolidation work area 3 by the third conveying system T3.
[0067] 〔Third Embodiment〕
[0068] Next, for the third embodiment of the article shipping system, the description will be centered on the points different from the above-described first embodiment. Regarding the points not particularly described, they are the same as those in the above-described first embodiment.
[0069] Figure 7 Shows an overview of the article shipping system 100 related to the third embodiment.
[0070] As Figure 7 shown, the conveying system T is configured to transport the empty shipping container 91 formed by the container forming device 1 to the storage work area 2. In this embodiment, the first conveying system T1 is configured to transport the shipping container 91 in the path from the container forming device 1 to the storage work area 2.
[0071] In this embodiment, in the storage work area 2, the article storage operation is performed on both the shipping container 91 and the conveying container 92 as object containers. That is, through the article storage operation in the storage work area 2, the article 8 is stored not only in the conveying container 92 but also in the shipping container 91.
[0072] The type of the article 8 stored in the shipping container 91 is set to a single type. The same applies when the conveying container 92 is the object. For example, when the specified types included in the object order information Ia are "article A, article B, article C", one of these three types of articles 8 is stored in the shipping container 91. In this case, the article 8 of the type that should be stored first in the storage order determined by the storage order determination process can be set as the storage object for the shipping container 91. Thereby, a part of the goods consolidation operation originally performed in the goods consolidation work area 3 can be performed in the storage work area 2.
[0073] The temporary storage device Ta is configured to store the target shipping container 91 and the target transport container 92 until all of the target shipping container 91 and the target transport container 92 related to the target order information Ia are complete.
[0074] The control system H controls the transport system T so that the target shipping container 91 and the target transport container 92 stored in the temporary storage device Ta are transported out of the temporary storage device Ta toward the goods consolidation work area 3 in an order corresponding to the storage order determined in the storage order determination process.
[0075] In the present embodiment, the control system H controls the transport system T so that the target shipping container 91 and the plurality of target transport containers 92 are transported out of the temporary storage device Ta in a state of being arranged in series. Further, the transport system T transports these containers out of the temporary storage device Ta in such a manner that the target shipping container 91 is the beginning, and the subsequent plurality of target transport containers 92 are in the storage order determined in the storage order determination process (the control system H controls the transport system T in this way). In the illustrated example, three target transport containers 92 are arranged and transported out of the temporary storage device Ta following the target shipping container 91. These containers are transported from the temporary storage device Ta toward the goods consolidation work area 3 by the third transport system T3.
[0076] 〔Other Embodiments〕
[0077] Next, other embodiments will be described.
[0078] (1) In the above-described embodiment, an example of performing the article storage operation in units of one order information Ia has been described. However, it is not limited to such an example, and it is also possible to perform operations related to a plurality of order information Ia through one article storage operation. In this case, a state is formed in which the articles 8 related to a plurality of order information Ia are mixed and present in one transport container 92. Therefore, an operation of classifying the articles 8 in the transport container 92 for each of the plurality of order information Ia can be performed in a subsequent process of the article storage operation.
[0079] (2) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the transport system T includes the temporary storage device Ta for temporarily storing the transport container 92 has been described. However, it is not limited to such an example, and the transport system T may not include the temporary storage device Ta. In this case, the second transport system T2 transports the plurality of target transport containers 92 to the goods consolidation work area 3 in an order corresponding to the storage order determined by the storage order determination process.
[0080] (3)In the above-described embodiment, an example in which an operator performs the cargo consolidation operation in the cargo consolidation area 3 has been described. However, it is not limited to such an example, and the cargo consolidation operation may be performed by a robot or by both a robot and an operator.
[0081] (4)In addition, as long as there is no contradiction, the structures disclosed in the above-described embodiment can also be combined with the structures disclosed in other embodiments and applied. Regarding other structures, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are merely simple examples in all aspects. Therefore, various changes can be appropriately made without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.
[0082] 〔Summary of this embodiment〕
[0083] Hereinafter, the summary of this embodiment will be described.
[0084] An article shipping system that stores the specified types of articles and the quantity of the articles specified for each of the specified types (categorized specified quantity) included in order information by each shipping destination into a shipping container, comprising: a container forming device that processes raw materials to form the shipping containers of multiple sizes; a storage operation area that, based on one or more pieces of the order information, sets at least one of the shipping containers and the transport containers as the target containers, and performs an article storage operation of storing one specified type of the articles into one of the target containers; a goods consolidation operation area that performs a goods consolidation operation of storing the categorized specified quantity of the articles into the shipping containers for all of the specified types included in one piece of the order information; a transport system that transports the shipping containers and the transport containers; and a control system that controls the container forming device and the transport system; the control system sets multiple pieces of the order information as target order information, and executes a storage order determination process of determining the storage order of the articles for each of the specified types included in the target order information to the shipping containers; the container forming device forms the shipping containers of a size required for storing the articles in the storage order determined in the storage order determination process as the shipping containers related to the target order information, i.e., target shipping containers; when the control system transports the target shipping containers and the transport containers (i.e., target transport containers) storing the articles related to the target order information to the goods consolidation operation area, it controls the transport system so that one or more of the target transport containers storing the articles related to the target order information reach the goods consolidation operation area in an order corresponding to the storage order determined in the storage order determination process, and the target shipping containers reach the goods consolidation operation area before the arrival of one or more of the target transport containers.
[0085] According to this structure, in the case of performing a goods consolidation operation on multiple items involved in the object order information in the goods consolidation operation area, just by having the object shipping container that first arrives at this goods consolidation operation area house the items in the object transport container that arrives later in the order of arrival of the transport container, the goods consolidation operation involved in the object order information can be completed. Moreover, since the object shipping container is formed to the size required when housing items in the determined housing order, in the state where the goods consolidation operation is completed and all the items involved in the object order information are housed in the object shipping container, it is easy to suppress the ineffective space in the object shipping container to a relatively small amount. Therefore, high-efficiency housing can be achieved. As described above, according to this structure, a shipping container with a size suitable for the total size of the item group involved in the order information can be supplied at an appropriate time point, and simplification of the goods consolidation operation can be achieved.
[0086] Preferably, in the aforementioned goods consolidation operation area, there is provided an operation instruction output device that outputs an instruction for the aforementioned goods consolidation operation to the operator; when performing the aforementioned goods consolidation operation involved in the aforementioned object order information, the aforementioned operation instruction output device outputs at least a part of the content determined by the processing determined by the aforementioned housing order.
[0087] According to this structure, the operator can easily perform the goods consolidation operation based on the instruction output by the operation instruction output device.
[0088] Preferably, in the aforementioned housing operation area, both the aforementioned shipping container and the aforementioned transport container are set as the aforementioned object containers to perform the aforementioned item housing operation; the aforementioned transport system has a temporary storage device that temporarily stores the aforementioned shipping container and the aforementioned transport container; the aforementioned temporary storage device stores the aforementioned object shipping container and the aforementioned object transport container until all of the aforementioned object shipping container and the aforementioned object transport container involved in the aforementioned object order information are complete; the aforementioned control system controls the aforementioned transport system to transport the aforementioned object shipping container and the aforementioned object transport container stored by the aforementioned temporary storage device from the aforementioned temporary storage device to the aforementioned goods consolidation operation area in an order corresponding to the aforementioned housing order determined in the aforementioned housing order determination process.
[0089] According to this structure, multiple items involved in the target order information can be conveyed to the goods consolidation work area in an appropriate order corresponding to the accommodation order into the target shipping container. In addition, according to this structure, before the target shipping container arrives at the goods consolidation work area, that is, at the pre-stage of performing the goods consolidation operation, a part of the items involved in the target order information is accommodated in the target shipping container, and it can be conveyed to the goods consolidation work area. In other words, the target shipping container can also function as a conveyance container. With such a structure, compared with the case of conveying an empty target shipping container used in the goods consolidation operation to the goods consolidation work area, the number of containers participating in the goods consolidation operation related to the target order information can be suppressed to be less, so it is easy to improve the conveyance efficiency of the conveyance system.
[0090] Preferably, in the aforementioned accommodation work area, the aforementioned conveyance container is set as the aforementioned target container to perform the aforementioned item accommodation operation; the aforementioned conveyance system includes a temporary storage device for temporarily storing the aforementioned shipping container and the aforementioned conveyance container, and conveys the aforementioned shipping container formed by the aforementioned container forming device to the aforementioned temporary storage device in an empty state; the aforementioned temporary storage device stores the aforementioned target shipping container and the aforementioned target conveyance container until all of the aforementioned target shipping container and the aforementioned target conveyance container related to the aforementioned target order information are complete; the aforementioned control system controls the aforementioned conveyance system so that after the aforementioned target shipping container stored by the aforementioned temporary storage device is transported out of the aforementioned temporary storage device toward the aforementioned goods consolidation work area, the aforementioned target conveyance container stored by the aforementioned temporary storage device is transported out of the aforementioned temporary storage device toward the aforementioned goods consolidation work area in an order corresponding to the aforementioned accommodation order determined in the aforementioned accommodation order determination process.
[0091] According to this structure, the target shipping container can reach the goods consolidation work area first, and then multiple target conveyance containers can reach in an order corresponding to the accommodation order determined in the accommodation order determination process. Therefore, in the goods consolidation work area, by performing the goods consolidation operation only in the order of arrival of the containers, all the items related to the target order information can be accommodated in the target shipping container.
[0092] Preferably, in the above-mentioned storage operation area, the above-mentioned transport container is set as the above-mentioned target container, and the above-mentioned article storage operation is performed; the above-mentioned transport system includes a temporary storage device for temporarily storing the above-mentioned transport container; the above-mentioned temporary storage device stores the above-mentioned target transport container until all of the above-mentioned target transport containers related to the above-mentioned target order information are complete; the above-mentioned control system controls the above-mentioned container forming device to form the above-mentioned target shipping container after all of the above-mentioned target transport containers related to the above-mentioned target order information are stored, and controls the above-mentioned transport system so that the formed above-mentioned target shipping container reaches the above-mentioned goods consolidation operation area through a path that does not pass through the above-mentioned temporary storage device; the above-mentioned control system controls the above-mentioned transport system to transport the above-mentioned target transport container stored by the above-mentioned temporary storage device from the above-mentioned temporary storage device to the above-mentioned goods consolidation operation area in an order corresponding to the above-mentioned storage order determined in the above-mentioned storage order determination process, and controls the above-mentioned transport system so that the above-mentioned target shipping container reaches the above-mentioned goods consolidation operation area before the above-mentioned target transport container reaches the above-mentioned goods consolidation operation area.
[0093] According to this structure, it is possible to make the timing of forming the target shipping container by the container forming device close to the timing of performing the goods consolidation operation. Therefore, for example, in the case where the order information is changed before the goods consolidation operation, etc., it is possible to improve the responsiveness of forming the target shipping container. Moreover, since the formed target shipping container passes through a path different from the path through which the target transport container is transported to the goods consolidation operation area, it is easy for the target shipping container to reach the goods consolidation operation area earlier than the target transport container.
[0094] Industrial Applicability
[0095] The technology related to the present disclosure can be used in an article shipping system that stores the above-mentioned specified types and the above-mentioned sub-type specified quantities of the above-mentioned articles included in the above-mentioned order information in a shipping container based on order information including the types of articles specified for each shipping destination, i.e., specified types, and the quantities of the above-mentioned articles specified for each of the above-mentioned specified types, i.e., sub-type specified quantities.
[0096] Explanation of Reference Numerals
[0097] 100: Article shipping system
[0098] 1: Container forming device
[0099] 2: Storage operation area
[0100] 3: Goods consolidation operation area
[0101] 30: Operation instruction output device
[0102] 8: Articles
[0103] 91: Shipping container
[0104] 92: Conveyor container
[0105] H: Control system
[0106] T: Conveyor system
[0107] Ta: Temporary storage device
[0108] Ia: Order information
Claims
1. A system for shipping articles, comprising: based on order information including the designated category, which is the category of articles designated for each shipping destination, and the designated number of the articles designated for each designated category, which is the designated number of categories, and storing the articles of the designated category and the designated number of categories included in the order information into a shipping container, characterized in that: have: A container forming device processes the raw materials to form the aforementioned shipping containers of multiple sizes; A storage operation area, based on one or more of the order information, sets at least one of the shipping container and the transport container as a target container, and performs an article storage operation of storing one of the specified types of articles into one of the target containers; A cargo consolidation operation area, for each of all the aforementioned designated categories included in one of the aforementioned order information, performs a cargo consolidation operation of packing the aforementioned designated number of items by category into the aforementioned shipping container; a conveying system for conveying the aforementioned shipping container and the aforementioned conveying container; and A control system for controlling the aforementioned container forming device and the aforementioned conveying system; The control system sets the plurality of order information as target order information, and executes a storage order determination process for determining the storage order of each of the items of the specified type included in the target order information into the shipping container. the container forming device forming the shipping container of a size required for storing the articles in the storage order determined in the storage order determination process as the shipping container related to the target order information, i.e., the target shipping container; The aforementioned control system When the target shipping container and the target transport container containing the articles related to the target order information are transported to the cargo consolidation operation area, The above-mentioned conveying system is controlled so that one or more of the above-mentioned target conveying containers containing the above-mentioned articles involved in the above-mentioned target order information arrive at the above-mentioned cargo consolidation operation area in an order corresponding to the above-mentioned storage order determined in the above-mentioned storage order determination processing, and the above-mentioned target shipping container arrives at the above-mentioned cargo consolidation operation area before one or more of the above-mentioned target conveying containers arrive.
2. The article delivery system according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the cargo consolidation operation area, there is provided an operation instruction output device for outputting instructions to operators on the cargo consolidation operation; The operation instruction output device outputs at least a part of the content determined by the storage order determination processing when the goods consolidation operation related to the target order information is performed.
3. The article delivery system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: In the aforementioned storage operation area, both the aforementioned shipping container and the aforementioned transport container are set as the aforementioned target containers, and the aforementioned article storage operation is performed; The transport system includes a temporary storage device for temporarily storing the shipping container and the transport container; The temporary storage device stores the target shipping container and the target transport container until all the target shipping containers and the target transport containers involved in the target order information are available. The control system controls the conveying system so that the target shipping container and the target conveying container stored in the temporary storage device are transported from the temporary storage device toward the cargo consolidation operation area in an order corresponding to the storage order determined in the storage order determination process.
4. The article delivery system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: In the aforementioned receiving operation area, the aforementioned conveying container is set as the aforementioned target container, and the aforementioned article receiving operation is performed; The transport system includes a temporary storage device for temporarily storing the shipping container and the transport container, and the shipping container formed by the container forming device is transported to the temporary storage device in an empty state; The temporary storage device stores the target shipping container and the target transport container until all the target shipping containers and the target transport containers involved in the target order information are available. The control system controls the conveying system so that, after the target shipping container stored in the temporary storage device is transported out from the temporary storage device toward the cargo consolidation operation area, the target conveying containers stored in the temporary storage device are transported out from the temporary storage device toward the cargo consolidation operation area in an order corresponding to the storage order determined in the storage order determination processing.
5. The article delivery system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: In the aforementioned receiving operation area, the aforementioned conveying container is set as the aforementioned target container, and the aforementioned article receiving operation is performed; The transport system includes a temporary storage device for temporarily storing the transport container; The temporary storage device stores the target transport container until all the target transport containers involved in the target order information are available. The control system controls the container forming device so that the target shipping container is formed after all the target transport containers involved in the target order information are stored, and controls the transport system so that the formed target shipping container reaches the cargo consolidation operation area via a path that does not pass through the temporary storage device; The control system controls the conveying system so that the target conveying containers stored in the temporary storage device are transported out from the temporary storage device toward the cargo consolidation operation area in an order corresponding to the storage order determined in the storage order determination process, and controls the conveying system so that the target shipping container arrives at the cargo consolidation operation area before the target conveying container arrives at the cargo consolidation operation area.