Digital picking system

Abstract

To provide a digital picking system (DPS) which can cope with a load flow of a physical distribution system changing in response to a social request, can achieve space saving without lowering facility processing capability of a huge physical distribution facility, can cope with a change in the scale and shape of the physical distribution facility, and has a high degree of design freedom.SOLUTION: A DPS is a system which is managed and controlled by a system capable of managing article information and controlling a physical distribution facility, where two picking storage shelves where a plurality of flow racks for storing commodity items to be sorted are arranged back-to-back at a predetermined interval, and a sorting facility where a conveyance device for moving an article collecting container to which the commodity items are transferred is arranged is provided in a predetermined sorting space on the front surfaces of the picking storage shelves.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This invention is based on digitalization and IoT (Internet of Things). Digital Picking System (DPS) is becoming more and more sophisticated. This paper relates to technology that achieves space saving and high efficiency in the DPS (Dynamic Packaging System). In particular, it relates to technology that achieves space saving and high efficiency by shortening the collection container conveying line and picking storage line, which play a central role in the DPS. [Background technology]

[0002] As the variety and quantity of goods handled in logistics facilities increases, DPSs that are controlled in the space between the collection container transport line and the picking storage line to pick up ordered items indicated by a display from the flow racks that make up the picking storage line and place them in collection containers indicated by a display on the transport line for sorting have been adopted as logistics systems in a wide range of industries (for example, Patent Documents 1-3).

[0003] This is because the DPS allows for accurate and rapid sorting by following the instructions on the display, and can improve and standardize work efficiency, thereby dramatically improving logistics quality. More specifically, the DPS is managed by a Warehouse Management System (WMS), which manages item data such as inventory items and item delivery destinations, and is controlled by a Warehouse Control System (WCS), which controls individual logistics equipment, so that the sorting work is continuous and has short flow lines, eliminating human error in a systematic way, resulting in improved productivity, reduced manpower, and reduced fatigue. In particular, in terms of improving productivity, the process in which the required variety and quantity of product items are supplied in advance from the large automated warehouse where the items are stored to the flow racks that make up the picking storage line and temporarily stored there, based on the vast amount of item information from the WMS, is a major factor in dramatically improving the efficiency of the sorting work. These systems are gradually integrating, and the Warehouse Execution System (WES) combines the functions of warehouse management and warehouse control, and grasps in real time data on inventory and receiving management, as well as on-site work such as picking, and comprehensively controls people, goods, and equipment in the warehouse. It is expected that the transition to the DPS System will take place, but this will not affect the essence of the DPS characteristics.

[0004] Among the various work processes in logistics facilities, such as receiving, receiving inspection, storage, goods movement, sorting (picking and assorting), shipping inspection, packaging, shipping, and inventory, if we focus on the work process of "receiving → receiving inspection → sorting → shipping inspection → shipping" centered on DPS, it is preferable to arrange the equipment in an I-shape or U-shape, where the movement lines of people and things are short and do not cross, from the viewpoint of work efficiency, and the equipment is generally designed in accordance with this. In other words, in the case of an I-shape, if the building is a rectangular parallelepiped, the receiving and shipping processes are arranged on the opposing sides in the longitudinal direction, and the collection container conveying line and the picking storage line are set up in an I-shape (straight line) between them, and the sorting process is arranged with a space for sorting work between the collection container conveying line and the picking storage line, or on the collection container conveying line side of the parallel collection container conveying line and the picking storage line. In addition, in the case of a U-shape, if the building is a rectangular parallelepiped, the receiving and shipping processes will be located on one of the longitudinal sides, and the collection container transport line and picking storage line will be set up in a U-shape in between, and a sorting process will be arranged with a sorting work space similar to that of an I-shape.

[0005] Therefore, this type of sorting process requires long collection container transport lines and picking storage lines, which limits the degree of freedom in facility design. In addition, in order to meet diverse consumer needs, many logistics facilities are handling a dramatic increase in the number of product items. As a result, high-capacity automated warehouses are required to handle the shipping of high-frequency items that are collected frequently. As a result, huge logistics facilities have been built on vast sites isolated from urban areas, such as along highway interchanges or in industrial areas.

[0006] However, in recent years, electronic commerce (EC) In order to establish logistics facilities that can respond to the changing trends in the logistics industry due to the quantitative and qualitative changes in commerce, and to secure the necessary human resources, urban logistics facilities located close to residential areas are required (Non-Patent Document 1). Therefore, while the processing capacity of huge logistics facilities is required, the contradictory issue of saving space in facilities has been taken up as an extremely important issue to be resolved. In addition, there is a demand for logistics cost reduction to absorb the high land prices and rising labor costs of urban logistics facilities and strengthen competitiveness, as well as speed to shorten lead times for high-mix, high-frequency, small-volume product items, and logistics facilities and delivery systems with more efficient operators and facilities than ever before are required.

[0007] For such space saving and efficiency improvement of logistics facilities, for example, Patent Document 4 proposes a sorting system in which the backs of flow racks are installed facing the longitudinal direction of the automated warehouse, a collection container conveying line is installed in parallel with the flow racks through the sorting work space, and product items are transferred from the flow racks to the collection containers. This sorting system is characterized in that the backs of the flow racks are installed facing the longitudinal direction of the automated warehouse, product items before being transferred to the flow racks are prepared in advance on placement shelves installed in the automated warehouse, and the product items are transferred from the placement shelves to the flow racks by a stacker crane, thereby avoiding the enlargement of the flow racks, and the placement shelves of the automated warehouse serve as temporary storage shelves for the product items to be transferred to the flow racks. According to this configuration, the variety and quantity of product items stored in the flow racks are extremely small, and therefore the collection container conveying line is short. Furthermore, since the movement of goods is accompanied by a stacker crane in the multi-story warehouse, the processing capacity is low, and if the processing speed is increased, there is a high possibility that a large number of in-process collection containers that have not been sorted will be generated. Therefore, it is considered difficult to handle not only a wide variety of large quantities of merchandise items, but also a small variety of small quantities of merchandise items.

[0008] Furthermore, in Patent Document 5, the installation space for the display conveying path is narrowed to reduce the space required for the entire facility, but it is thought to be difficult to significantly reduce the space required for the DPS.

[0009] Furthermore, in Patent Document 6, a space for sorting is provided on the collection container conveying line side of a parallel collection container conveying line and picking storage line, and in the sorting operation, ordered items indicated by a display are removed from the flow racks that make up the picking storage line and transferred to collection containers indicated by a display on the conveying line, and a conveying line that supplies empty collection containers to the collection container conveying line where sorting takes place is provided along the flow rack, submerged under the lowest shelf of the flow rack, thereby making effective use of the space within the logistics facility and reducing space consumption throughout the facility, but it is not possible to achieve a significant reduction in the space occupied by the DPS by shortening the length of the collection container conveying line and picking storage line.

[0010] Thus, no logistics facility, particularly a DPS, has yet been proposed that satisfies the space-saving and high efficiency requirements for urban logistics facilities. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-298555 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2011-157138 A [Patent Document 3] International Publication No. 2012 / 032865 [Patent Document 4] JP 2014-133643 A [Patent Document 5] JP 2015-048157 A [Patent Document 6] JP 2018-090347 A [Patent Document 7] JP 2022-001534 A [Non-patent literature]

[0012] [Non-Patent Document 1] Fumito Marusumi, "Logistics facilities approaching towns: from isolation to cooperation and consideration, and even to becoming drivers of the local economy", [online], opinion, Japan Research Institute, Ltd. website, February 7, 2022, [Retrieved May 9, 2023], Internet<https: / / www.jri.co.jp / page.jsp?id=101988> . [Non-Patent Document 2] PickGo Logistics Column Editorial Department, "What is just-in-time logistics? Characteristics and solutions to issues facing delivery sites", [on line], PickGo homepage, PickGo Logistics Column, Created on November 8, 2021, Updated on April 18, 2023, [Retrieved on May 9, 2023], Internet<https: / / pickgo.town / media / just-in-time> . Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] As described in the background art, urban logistics facilities close to residential areas are required to install logistics facilities that can respond to the changing trends in the logistics industry and to secure the necessary manpower. In other words, it is necessary to handle a wide variety of product items that meet various consumer needs, to compact logistics facilities that are suitable for urban logistics facilities with high land prices, and to at least maintain the high processing capacity that has been achieved in conventional huge logistics centers. Furthermore, there is a demand not only to solve the labor shortage caused by urbanization of logistics facilities, but also to solve the labor shortage by highly automating logistics facilities. The present invention aims to provide a DPS that can save space without reducing the equipment processing capacity of huge logistics facilities in response to such trends. More specifically, the present invention aims to provide a DPS that can realize high efficiency of operators and equipment that are effective in reducing logistics costs and shortening lead times, and has a high degree of design freedom and is equipped with a collection container conveying line and a picking storage line that can respond to changes in the size and shape of logistics facilities.

[0014] In response to these issues, the present invention aims to solve the above problems by reducing the space required for sorting equipment in a DPS where conventional sorting work is carried out, in which a picking storage line with racks for temporarily storing the products to be sorted and a collection container transport line along which collection containers sorted from the racks move in order to ship ordered product items are installed side by side.Therefore, the present invention first clarifies the specific problems with the collection container transport line and the picking storage line, excluding automated multi-story warehouses that have the item management and storage functions of logistics facilities.

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a typical line conveyor type picking (sorting) equipment 100, focusing on a collection container conveying line 110 and a picking and storage line 130, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic front view of the picking and storage line 130 in FIG. 1. As is clear from the figure, in the process in which a collection container 161 supplied from a collection container supply conveyor 113 is inserted from a collection container preparation area 114 and moves along a long belt conveyor 111, product items are correctly transferred from item storage flow racks 130m, 130n provided in the divided picking zones 120m, 120n in charge of a perator P to collection containers 163m, 163n on the belt conveyor 111. Then, a collection container 165 that has completed collection is inspected in an inspection area 115, and then sent to a shipping conveyor 116 for shipping. In order for the product items to be correctly transferred to the collection container, the position of the collection container 163 passing through the picking zone 120 on the belt conveyor 111 is grasped under a host computer capable of managing a huge amount of product information and comprehensively controlling the logistics facilities such as the conveyor and indicators, and the lighting of various indicators linked to that position indicates the work of the operator P. Taking the m-th picking zone 120m (Zm) as an example, the m-th picking zone 120m is equipped with an item storage flow rack 130m, which is divided into bays 121m to 123m and further divided into 27 storage shelves 131m to 1327m, with bay indicators (item storage bay indicators) 141m to 143m for each bay and storage shelf indicators (item removal indicators) 151m to 1527m for each storage shelf. Meanwhile, the collection container transport line 110 is provided with a guide indicator (item insertion indicator) in parallel with the belt conveyor 111. For example, when an order is placed for a product on the first storage shelf 131m of the first bay 121m, the collection container 163m is moved to a predetermined position in the m-th picking zone 120m by the belt conveyor 111, and the first bay indicator 141m and the first storage level indicator 151m are illuminated, indicating the number of product items stored there to be taken out. Then, when the operator Pm takes out a product item and transfers it to the collection container 163m, the guide indicator is illuminated to indicate the collection container 163 to which it should be transferred.

[0016] In this way, DPS has been invented, improved, and is still evolving in pursuit of preparing a wide variety of products without shortages, taking into account the shipping frequency, and delivering them to consumers efficiently, at low cost, accurately, safely, and with a short lead time. However, as explained in the background art, in order to efficiently carry out the work process of "supply → preparation → sorting → inspection → shipping" of collection boxes in the sorting equipment of Figures 1 and 2, the sorting equipment is extremely long in one direction, with short and non-intersecting traffic lines of people and objects, and requires a long and narrow site and facility, and the degree of freedom in designing the sorting equipment is extremely low. Therefore, there is a problem that conventional DPS cannot be introduced when building an urban logistics facility on a new site or reusing the site of an existing supermarket or department store for a logistics facility. Moreover, in DPS, there is a strong belief in this I-type sorting equipment, and no technical information that breaks away from this type is recognized.

[0017] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to shorten the length of this sorting equipment and to save space without compromising the excellent features of conventional DPS. [Means for solving the problem]

[0018] Therefore, the reduction in the length of the sorting equipment shown in Figures 1 and 2 was examined by reorganizing the collection container conveying line 110, the picking storage line 130, the work space 170, and the automatic article replenishment space 180, which occupy one picking zone and are extracted from the plan outline schematic diagram in Figure 3, which graphically depicts the equipment components of Figures 1 and 2. For this examination, the replenishment of items to the picking storage line 130 was performed by installing an automatic article replenishment device 190-1 in the automatic article replenishment space 180 to automatically replenish items from one direction, so that the area occupied by the sorting equipment could be treated as fixed. There are various types of automatic article replenishment devices, but in the automatic article replenishment device 190-1 shown in Fig. 3, a shuttle 191-1 having wheels 1912 on a vehicle body 1911 runs on rails 192 laid on each stage (corresponding to the upper stage, middle stage, and lower stage in Fig. 2) of the picking storage line 130, and an arm 1913 having fingers 1914 supplies articles in one direction to the picking storage line 130. Also, the movement of articles in the vertical direction is performed by raising and lowering the shuttle 191-1 to which the articles are supplied.

[0019] The results are shown in Figure 4. The areas of the collection container conveying line 110, the article storage line 130, the work space 170, and the automatic article replenishment space 180, which occupy four picking zones and are extracted from the schematic plan view of Figure 3, are divided into four for each picking zone, and the four divided rectangles are rearranged to show four types of layouts that are considered to be preferable for the sorting equipment.

[0020] Fig. 4(a) shows a typical conventional sorting facility shown in Figs. 1 to 3, with the area it occupies being 100. Fig. 4(b) shows Fig. 4(a) cut in half, with collection container conveying lines 110 arranged to run adjacent to each other in parallel. Fig. 4(c) shows picking and storage lines 130 and work spaces 170 arranged alternately and perpendicularly to the collection container conveying lines 110 with the work spaces 170 in between. Fig. 4(d) shows picking and storage lines 130 arranged in parallel in a position that is linearly symmetrical with respect to the automatic article replenishment space 180 at their rear, This is a sorting facility that includes a collection container conveying line 110 via a predetermined work space 170 along each picking and storage line 130. The automatic replenishment device in this case has a similar configuration to the automatic article replenishment device 190-1 in Fig. 3, but it is premised on the fact that the arm 1913 can move to both sides of the vehicle body 1911 to replenish articles in two directions to the picking and storage line.

[0021] In Fig. 4(c), the length of the sorting equipment is halved and the occupied area is 87.5%, but the movement distance of the operator P moving through the work space 170 is longer by one picking zone. In addition, there is a possibility that the display will be out of sight beyond the movement distance, and the work motion becomes complicated, so there is a high possibility that the work efficiency and work accuracy will be significantly impaired. Furthermore, in Fig. 4(c), like Figs. 4(a), (b), and (d), an automatic replenishment space 180 is provided, but with this arrangement, automatic replenishment is extremely difficult and a large burden is placed on the automatic replenishment device.

[0022] In Fig. 4(b), the length of the sorting equipment is halved, which has a certain effect from the viewpoint of shortening the length of the sorting equipment, which is the subject of the present invention, but the occupied floor area cannot be reduced. In contrast, in Fig. 4(d), the automatic item replenishment space 180, which corresponds to two picking lines, can be made smaller than in Fig. 4(b) by arranging the automatic item replenishment space 180 so that it is sandwiched between the picking storage lines 130. In other words, with the arrangement of the sorting equipment in Fig. 4(d), the length of the sorting equipment can be shortened to about 1 / 2, and the occupied floor area can be reduced to about 87.5%.

[0023] The present invention thus provides a simple, one-zone rectangular picking bin conveying line 110, an item storage line 130, a work space 170, and an automatic item replenishment space 180. Based on the result of Fig. 4(d) in which the above items are allocated, the sorting equipment shown in the schematic plan view in Fig. 5 was designed and a demonstration experiment was conducted. It was confirmed that the transport device, the automatic item supply device, and the indicators of the picking and storage line can be controlled under a host computer that can manage a huge amount of item information and comprehensively control the logistics facilities such as the conveyors and indicators, and that the length of the sorting equipment can be shortened to about half and the exclusive area can be reduced to about 87.5% without reducing the capacity of the conventional DPS. Further improvements were made, and the present invention was completed. Here, the automatic item supply device 190-2 shown in Fig. 5 is capable of supplying items to both sides of the car body 1911, as explained in Fig. 4(d). That is, similar to the automatic item replenishment device 190-1 in FIG. 3, a shuttle 191-2 having wheels 1912 on a body 1911 runs along rails 192 laid on each stage of the picking and storage line 130, and items are replenished in two directions to the picking and storage line 130 by an arm 1913 having fingers 1914.

[0024] That is, the present invention is a digital picking system managed and controlled by a system for managing product information (WMS, Warehouse Management System) and a system for controlling individual logistics facilities (WCS, Warehouse Control System), characterized in that the system is equipped with a sorting facility in which two picking storage shelves for storing product items to be sorted and having a rear opening for replenishing product items on one side and a front opening for removing product items on the other side are arranged in a plurality of rows in the width direction of the rear opening and the front opening, in positions facing each other across a predetermined rear space at the rear opening for replenishing the product items, and in the direction opposite to the rear opening of the front opening for removing the product items, a conveying device is installed to move a collection container into which the product items are transferred to a sorting space where sorting is performed. Here, the sorting space is a space composed of a work space where an operator performs sorting work and a space exclusively used by the conveying device for moving the collection container.

[0025] Such shelves are not particularly limited as long as they can be supplied with merchandise items from the rear opening and the operator can remove them from the front opening, but it is preferable for them to be flow racks (moving shelves) that allow merchandise items to be supplied from the rear opening in a continuous, uninterrupted manner and that can be removed from the front opening.

[0026] It is sufficient that the predetermined space at the rear entrance is a work space for replenishing the shelves with product items, for example, a space through which a cart loaded with product items to be replenished from a multi-story warehouse or the like in which a wide variety of product items are stored can pass, and it is preferable that an automatic item replenishing device is provided in that space adjacent to the rear entrance, and product items are efficiently and automatically replenished to the shelves on both sides adjacent to the automatic replenishing device. The automatic item replenishing device may be a shuttle that runs on a rail and has an arm capable of supplying product items to the shelves, a stacker crane that also has an arm capable of supplying product items to the shelves, or a cross-carrier belt type conveyor, and although not particularly limited thereto, it is more preferable that the cross-carrier belt type conveyor, which is structurally simple, is used. Furthermore, it is even more preferable that the automatic article replenishment device is an automatic article replenishment device selected from an automatic guided vehicle (AGV), an autonomous mobile robot (AMR), and an autonomous navigation robot (ANR) disclosed in Patent Document 7. This is because it has excellent mobility and freedom of travel area, is easy to grasp the position and control the travel route, and has excellent design freedom to freely change the form of the automatic article replenishment device associated with reorganization such as changing the arrangement of the sorting equipment, especially the picking storage shelves. However, in this case, the article placement tables of the AGV, AMR, and ANR must have a lifting function to accommodate vertical article replenishment on the picking storage shelves, and a conveyor function to accommodate horizontal article replenishment on the picking storage shelves.

[0027] On the other hand, the sorting space where sorting is carried out is a space where an operator sorts the product items on the picking storage shelf into collection containers according to instructions on a display controlled by a host computer, and the collection containers to which the product items are transferred from the picking storage shelf are preferably continuously supplied by a transport device such as a belt conveyor or roller conveyor. Such a conveyor may be installed in parallel with the front opening of the picking storage shelf, separated by a work space where the operator performs the sorting work, or may be installed in a space adjacent to the front opening of the picking storage shelf. and an operator's workspace is provided adjacent to the conveyor and on the opposite side of the front opening of the picking storage shelf.

[0028] However, since there are various shipping situations, such as when a large number of product items with a high variety and low shipping frequency are handled, and when a small number of product items with a high shipping frequency are mixed in, if a conveyor that continuously moves the collection container is used as a device for transporting the collection container on the collection container transport line, it is difficult to intermittently control the movement speed of the collection container regardless of whether or not a product item is transferred to the collection container, so the sorting efficiency cannot be improved. Therefore, it is more efficient and preferable to use an automatic unmanned guided vehicle that can move the collection container at high speed to the position where sorting is performed according to instructions from a host computer as the transport device for the collection container transport line.

[0029] This automated guided vehicle is a type of automated guided vehicle (AGV) that is already in use in general logistics facilities. An autonomous vehicle (AMR) and an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) are preferably used, and an autonomous guided transport robot (ANR) disclosed in Patent Document 7 is also preferably used. The automated guided vehicle may be a Robot Navigation System (ROS), and is preferably an automated guided vehicle selected from any of these. In particular, in consideration of the transfer between the conveyor of the collection container and the automated guided vehicle, it is more preferable that the automated guided vehicle is equipped with a rotatable conveyor. Furthermore, it is preferable that the automated guided vehicle is equipped with rotatable drive wheels that allow the automated guided vehicle to move and operate freely.

[0030] Such an automated guided vehicle is loaded with collection containers and passes through a sorting space where an operator sorts the product items on the picking storage shelf into collection containers at least according to instructions on a display controlled by a host computer. In this case, as described in paragraph 0027, the automated guided vehicle can travel through two sorting spaces along the front opening of the picking storage shelf like a conveyor, but it is not necessary to travel within a fixed travel space like a conveyor. Furthermore, it is more preferable that the automated guided vehicle can travel through the under-shelf space formed between the lowermost shelf of the picking storage shelf and the floor surface of the logistics facility, so that the automated guided vehicle can overtake and wait, the ordering process after the DPS process can be omitted, the travel distance can be shortened, and the sorting equipment can be made compact.

[0031] When a conveyor is used as the collection container transport device, the DPS of the present invention can save space without compromising the capacity of a conventional DPS, and has the specific effects of shortening the length of the sorting equipment by about half and reducing the occupied floor space by about 87.5%. Furthermore, when an automated guided vehicle is used as the collection container transport device on the collection container transport line, it not only saves space but also achieves high efficiency. Therefore, a logistics facility equipped with the DPS of the present invention can build a space-saving and highly efficient logistics system. Effect of the Invention

[0032] According to the DPS of the present invention, when a conveyor is used as a device for transporting the collection containers, the length of the sorting equipment centered on the collection container transport line and the picking and storage line can be shortened to about half that of a conventional sorting equipment, and the occupied floor space can be reduced to about 87.5%. Furthermore, when an automated guided vehicle is used as a device for transporting the collection containers on the collection container transport line, it is possible to achieve not only space saving but also high efficiency. Furthermore, by installing the DPS of the present invention in a logistics facility, it is possible to build a logistics system that saves space and is highly efficient in the logistics facility. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of sorting equipment, centered on a collection container transport line and a picking and storage line, in a typical conventional DPS. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the picking and storage line shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view diagrammatically illustrating the schematic plan view shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] This is the result of considering a layout suitable for sorting equipment by reorganizing the collection container transport line, picking storage line, work space, and automatic item replenishment space, which occupy one picking zone, extracted from the schematic plan view of Figure 3. [Diagram 5] This is a schematic plan view of a sorting facility according to one embodiment of the present invention, drawn based on the results of Figure 4, and comprising an automatic item replenishment device, two picking and storage lines arranged adjacent to both sides of the device in a line-symmetrical position relationship in the longitudinal direction, and two collection container transport lines arranged along the two picking and storage lines through a specified work space. [Figure 6]This is a schematic plan view of a DPS in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, in which two picking storage lines, each with multiple flow racks arranged in the longitudinal direction, face each other with a predetermined space between them and are arranged side by side in a position that is linearly symmetrical about a longitudinal straight line passing through the midpoint of the space, and in which an automatic item replenishment device is disposed adjacent to these picking storage lines in this space, and a sorting facility is provided in which a belt conveyor collection container transport line is arranged side by side on the opposite side of the automatic item replenishment device of the picking storage line, with a predetermined space between them for sorting work to be performed. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. [Figure 8] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a DPS equipped with a sorting facility equipped with an automatic item replenishment device having a higher item processing capacity, in place of the automatic item replenishment device shown in the schematic cross-sectional view of Figure 6 according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which each of two parallel picking storage lines is equipped with a device for automatically replenishing merchandise items. [Figure 9] 7 is a schematic plan view of a DPS equipped with a sorting facility in which an automatic article replenishment device has been removed from the DPS of FIG. 6 according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. [Figure 11] This is a schematic plan view of a DPS in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, in which the sorting equipment of Figure 6 is arranged in a U-shape with a collection container supply conveyor and a shipping conveyor on one side of a logistics facility, and the movement of people and goods is short and does not cross, in order to efficiently carry out the work process of "supply → preparation → sorting → inspection → shipping" of the collection containers. [Figure 12] 1A and 1B are schematic plan views of an automatic guided vehicle used as a device for transporting a collection container of a DPS of the present invention, and FIG. 1C is a schematic side view of the automatic guided vehicle. [Figure 13] 13 is a schematic plan view of a DPS to which the automatic guided vehicle shown in FIG. 12 is applied as a device for transporting a collection container on the collection container transport line of FIG. 6 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 14]13 is a schematic plan view of a DPS in which the automatic guided vehicle shown in FIG. 12 is applied as a device for transporting a collection container on the collection container transport line in FIG. 11 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] The present invention will be described in more detail below using the embodiments shown in the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and can be implemented in various modifications within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention. The present invention is limited only by the technical ideas described in the claims.

[0035] 6 is a schematic plan view of a DPS according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which two picking and storage lines, each having a plurality of flow racks arranged in a longitudinal direction, face each other with a predetermined space therebetween, and are arranged in a line-symmetrical position with respect to a longitudinal straight line passing through the midpoint of the space, and an automatic article replenishing device is arranged adjacent to these picking and storage lines in this space, and a sorting facility is provided in which a belt conveyor's collection container transport line is arranged in parallel on the opposite side of the automatic article replenishing device of the picking and storage line, via a predetermined space for sorting work, i.e., a work space, in which an m-th picking zone 120m, an n-th picking zone 120n, an s-th picking zone 120s, and a t-th picking zone 120t are extracted and drawn. Therefore, the sorting space of the m-th picking zone is composed of the work space 170m of the m-th picking zone, the belt conveyor 111 of the m-th picking zone, and the collection container transport line 110 of the m-th picking zone, including the guide display device 112 of the m-th picking zone. The same applies to the other picking zones, and also to the following Figures 7 to 11. Also, a schematic cross-sectional view of this DPS cut perpendicularly to the paper surface by a straight line passing through the m-th picking zone 130m and the s-th picking zone 130s is shown in Figure 7.

[0036] As is clear from the figure, the sorting equipment of the DPS of the present invention can be operated using a mechanism similar to that of the conventional sorting equipment shown in Figures 1 and 2, but what is unique about the present invention is that merchandise items are replenished from the rear openings of the item storage flow racks 130m, 130n, 130s, and 130t on the picking storage line 130 using a single automatic item replenishment device 190-2.

[0037] As can be seen from Fig. 7, in this automatic article replenishing device 190-2, a shuttle 191-2 having wheels 1912 on a vehicle body 1911 runs on rails 192 laid adjacent to the rear openings of the upper, middle, and lower tiers of the mth article storage flow rack 130m and the sth article storage flow rack 130s, and merchandise items are replenished to both the mth article storage flow rack 130m and the sth article storage flow rack 130s by an arm 1913 having fingers 1914. The merchandise items to be replenished are transferred from a replenishment article supply conveyor 194 shown in Fig. 6 to the shuttle 191-2 through a replenishment article passage port 199 provided in a shuttle elevator 195 that raises and lowers the shuttle 191-2. The shuttle 191-2 with the transferred product items is distributed by the shuttle elevator 193 to the upper, middle, or lower level of the mth item storage flow rack 130m and the sth item storage flow rack 130s, and runs on rails 192 to replenish the product items at the rear openings of the mth item storage flow rack 130m and the sth item storage flow rack 130s that need to be replenished.

[0038] This automatic article replenishing device 190-2 is an example, and is not limited thereto. As shown in Fig. 8, the automatic article replenishing space 180 is wider, and although it is inferior in terms of space saving, an automatic article replenishing device 190-3 having a higher article processing capacity may be used, in which two parallel picking and storage lines are each provided with a device for automatically replenishing product items. In this case, the product items to be replenished are transferred from the replenishing product supply conveyor 194 shown in Fig. 6 to the product loading transport platform 196 through a replenishing product passage port 199 provided in the product loading transport platform elevator 195. The article placement conveying platform 196 onto which the product items have been transferred is sorted by an article placement conveying platform elevator 195 into the upper, middle, and lower stages of the mth product storage flow rack 130m and the sth product storage flow rack 130s, and the product items are transferred to a shuttle 191-3 equipped with an arm 1913 having a finger 1914 attached thereto for replenishing product items in only one direction via a replenishment product conveying conveyor 197 provided in the longitudinal direction of each stage and a replenishment product conveying conveyor-shuttle transfer conveyor 198. Then, this shuttle 191-3 travels on a rail 192 to replenish the product items at the rear opening of the mth product storage flow rack 130m and the sth product storage flow rack 130s to be replenished.

[0039] In the above-mentioned automatic item replenishment device 190-2, the shuttle 191 that transfers and replenishes product items to the pinking storage line 130 consisting of flow racks using an arm 1913 equipped with fingers 1914 has been described as an example of an automatic replenishment device, but it may also be a shuttle equipped with a cross belt sorter.

[0040] Conversely, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, depending on various conditions such as the types, quantities, and shipping frequency of product items handled at the logistics facility, the DPS may be equipped with sorting equipment that removes the automatic item replenishment device from the DPS in Figure 6.

[0041] In addition, in Figures 6 and 7, etc., a work space where operator P performs sorting is formed between the picking and storage line 130 and the belt conveyor 111, but the belt conveyor 111 may be installed adjacent to the picking and storage line 130, and a work space where operator P performs sorting may be formed on the opposite side of the picking and storage line 130 via the belt conveyor 111.

[0042] The sorting equipment described above is applied to a DPS in which a collection container supply conveyor 113 is provided on one side of a logistics facility and a shipping conveyor 116 is provided on the other side, and the flow lines of people and goods are short and do not cross, in order to efficiently carry out the collection container work process of "supply → preparation → sorting → inspection → shipping," in an I-shape; however, as shown in Figure 11, the sorting equipment can also be applied to a DPS in which a collection container supply conveyor 113 and a shipping conveyor 116 are provided on one side of a logistics facility, and the flow lines of people and goods are short and do not cross, in order to efficiently carry out the collection container work process of "supply → preparation → sorting → inspection → shipping," in a U-shape, and similar space savings can be achieved.

[0043] In the DPS of the present invention, in order to achieve high efficiency as well as space saving, it is preferable to employ an automatic unmanned guided vehicle as a device for transporting collection containers. An automatic unmanned guided vehicle 210 for this purpose is shown in Fig. 12. Figs. 12(a) and (b) are schematic plan views, and Fig. 12(c) is a schematic side view. (b) is a schematic plan view of the belt conveyor 214 in (a) rotated 90 degrees.

[0044] As is clear from the figure, a vehicle body 211 is equipped with swivelable driving wheels 212 and driven wheels 213 for stable travel of the vehicle body 212. In particular, it is preferable that a rotary elevator 215 is equipped with a belt conveyor 214, which makes it easy to transfer the collection container 160, but any of the operating mechanisms of an AGV, AMR, and ANR may be used. In particular, AMR and ANR are preferable, which have a high degree of freedom of travel, do not require a guide such as a magnetic tape (guideless), and can estimate their own position from information from mounted sensors, etc.

[0045] FIG. 13 shows a schematic plan view of a DPS in which such an automated guided vehicle 210 is applied as a device for transporting the collection container 160 of the collection container transport line 110 in FIG. 6, and FIG. 14 shows a schematic plan view of a DPS in which such an automated guided vehicle 210 is applied as a device for transporting the collection container 160 of the collection container transport line 110 in FIG. 12. By adopting the automated guided vehicle 210 as a device for transporting the collection container 160 of the collection container transport line 110 in this way, unlike the belt conveyor 111 that continuously moves the collection container 160, the collection container can be moved at high speed to a position where sorting is performed according to instructions from a host computer, making it possible to sort more efficiently. In this case, the sorting space of the m-th picking zone is composed of the operator's working space 170m in the m-th picking zone and the running area 220 of the automated guided vehicle 210 in the m-th picking zone, and the same is true in FIG. 14.

[0046] In Figs. 13 and 14, the travel space of the automated guided vehicle 210 is set at the position of the belt conveyor 111 in Figs. 6 and 7, etc., separated by the work space where the operator performs the sorting work, but this is not limited to this. P, a travel space may be provided between the picking storage shelf 130 and the sorting space, and the automated automated guided vehicle may travel along the front opening of the picking storage shelf 130 and pass through the sorting space. Furthermore, although not shown, it is more preferable that the automated automated guided vehicle travels in the under-shelf space formed between the lower part of the picking storage shelf, the lowest shelf board, and the floor surface of the logistics facility, so that the automated automated guided vehicle can overtake and wait, and the sorting process after the DPS process can be omitted, the travel distance can be shortened, and the sorting equipment can be made compact. In addition, regarding the travel of the automated automated guided vehicle 210, an example of travel on a fixed travel path such as the belt conveyor 111 is shown in FIG. 14, but due to its characteristics, it is preferable that the automated automated guided vehicle travels along the shortest travel path, so that the automated automated guided vehicle can freely travel in a space that is not an obstacle to travel in the logistics facility. [Industrial Applicability]

[0047] The DPS of the present invention can significantly shorten the length of sorting equipment without compromising processing capacity, and can also significantly reduce the floor space it requires. Because it has a high degree of design freedom, it is likely that in many cases it can be installed in newly constructed, small, urban logistics facilities as well as in logistics facilities constructed on the sites of existing buildings, and it has extremely high industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 100 Line conveyor type picking (sorting) equipment 100-1(I) Single automatic replenishment type single I line conveyor type sorting equipment 100-2(I) Double automatic replenishment type double I line conveyor type sorting equipment 100-3(I) Single automatic replenishment type double I line conveyor type sorting equipment 100-3(U) Single automatic replenishment type double U line conveyor type sorting equipment 100-4(I) Double I-line conveyor-type sorting equipment 110 Collection container transport line 111 Conveyor Belt 112 Guide indicator (item insertion indicator) 113 Collection container supply conveyor 114 Collection container preparation area 115 Inspection Area 116 Shipping Conveyor 120 Picking Zone 120l First picking zone (Zl) 120m mth picking zone (Zm) 121m 1st bay of the mth picking zone (Zm 1 ) 122m 2nd bay of the mth picking zone (Zm 2 ) 123m 3rd bay of mth picking zone (Zm 3 ) 120n nth picking zone (Zn) 121n The first bay of the nth picking zone (Zn1 ) 122n The second bay of the nth picking zone (Zn 2 ) 123n The third bay of the nth picking zone (Zn 3 ) 120о Picking Zone (Zо) 120s s Picking Zone (Zs) 120t Picking Zone (Zt) 130 Picking and storage (item storage) line 130l 1st item storage flow rack in 1st picking zone 130m mth picking zone mth item storage flow rack 131m 1st storage shelf (upper level) of the m-th storage flow rack 133m 3rd storage shelf (upper level) of the m-th item storage flow rack 139m No. 9 storage shelf (upper level) of the m-th storage flow rack 1310m 10th shelf (middle) of the m-th storage flow rack 1319m No. 19 storage shelf (lower section) of the m-th storage flow rack 130n: nth item storage flow rack in nth picking zone 131n 1st storage shelf (upper level) of nth item storage flow rack 138n 8th storage shelf (upper level) of nth item storage flow rack 139n 9th storage shelf (upper level) of nth item storage flow rack 1318n 18th storage shelf (middle level) of nth item storage flow rack 1327n 27th storage shelf (lower level) of nth item storage flow rack 130s sth item storage flow rack in sth picking zone 130t t-item storage flow rack in t-item picking zone 140 Picking zone bay indicator (item storage bay indicator) 140m Bay indicator for mth picking zone 141m mth picking zone 1st bay indicator 143m mth picking zone 3rd bay indicator 140n Bay indicator for nth picking zone 141n 1st bay indicator for nth picking zone 143n 3rd bay indicator for nth picking zone 140s Picking Zone Bay Indicator 140t Picking Zone Bay Indicator 150 Picking zone storage shelf indicator (item removal indicator) 150m Storage shelf indicator for the mth picking zone 151m No. m picking zone, No. 1 storage shelf indicator (upper level) 158m No. 8 storage shelf indicator (upper level) in the m-th picking zone 159m No. 9 storage shelf indicator (upper level) in the mth picking zone 1510m No. 10 storage shelf indicator (middle level) in the mth picking zone 1519m No. 19 storage shelf indicator (lower level) in the mth picking zone 150n Storage shelf indicator for nth picking zone 151n nth picking zone, 1st storage shelf indicator (upper level) 154n: nth picking zone, 4th storage shelf indicator (upper level) 159n 9th storage shelf indicator (upper level) of nth picking zone 1518n 18th storage shelf indicator (middle shelf) in nth picking zone 1527n 27th storage shelf indicator (lower level) in nth picking zone 150s Picking Zone Storage Shelf Indicator 150t Storage shelf indicator for the t-th picking zone 160 Collection container 161 Containers on container supply conveyor 162 Bin on bin preparation area 163 Bin passing through picking zone 163l Container passing through picking zone 1 163m A collection container passing through the mth picking zone 163n A collection container passing through the nth picking zone 163о Container passing through picking zone о 163s A collection container passing through the sth picking zone 163t A collection container passing through the picking zone 164 Bin passing between picking zones 165 Collection containers above the inspection area 166 Collection containers on shipping conveyors 167 Order Number Panel 170 Working Space 170l Work space of the first picking zone 170m Picking zone work space 170n Work space of nth picking zone 170o Picking Zone No. o Work Space 170s Picking Zone m Work Space 170t nth picking zone work space 180 Automatic article replenishment space 190 Automatic article replenishment device 190-1 First automatic item replenishment device 190-2 Second automatic item replenishment device 190-3 Third item automatic replenishment device 191 Shuttle 191-1 First Shuttle 191-2 Second Shuttle 191-3 Third Shuttle 1911 Body 1912 wheels 1913 Arm 1914 Finger 192 Rail 193 Shuttle Elevator 194 Replenishment item supply conveyor 195 Item loading transport platform lift 196 Item loading transport platform 197 Replenishment item transport conveyor 198 Replenishment item transport conveyor - shuttle transfer conveyor 199 Replenishment passage port 200 Line transport vehicle type sorting equipment 200-1(I) Single replenishment type double I-line transport vehicle type sorting equipment 200-1(U) Single replenishment type double U line transport vehicle type sorting equipment 210 Automatic guided vehicle 211 Vehicle body 212 Drive Wheel 213 Driven Wheel 214 Belt Conveyor 215 Rotating elevator 2102 Automated guided vehicle above collection container preparation area 210m An automated guided vehicle traveling in the mth picking zone 210n An automated guided vehicle traveling in the nth picking zone 210s An automated guided vehicle traveling in the sth picking zone 210t An automated guided vehicle traveling through the picking zone 2104 An automated guided vehicle traveling between picking zones 2105 Automatic guided vehicle above inspection area 220 Automated guided vehicle driving area D Moving direction D 1 Direction of collection container movement D 2 Shuttle movement direction P Operator Pl Picking Zone Operator Pm Operator in charge of the mth picking zone Pn Operator in charge of the nth picking zone Po Operator in charge of picking zone No. Ps. Picking Zone Operator Pt Picking Zone Operator M Goods Mm Item in the mth item storage flow rack Items in Ms sth item storage flow rack

Claims

1. A digital picking system managed and controlled by a system for managing item information (WMS, Warehouse Management System) and a system for controlling individual logistics facilities (WCS, Warehouse Control System), two picking storage shelves for storing the product items to be sorted and having a rear opening on one side for replenishing the product items and a front opening on the other side for removing the product items are arranged in a plurality of rows in a width direction of the rear opening and the front opening, the two picking storage shelves being arranged side by side in positions facing each other across a predetermined rear space at the rear opening for replenishing the product items; A digital picking system comprising a sorting facility equipped with a conveying device that moves a collection container into which the product items are transferred to a sorting space where sorting is performed in the opposite direction of the front opening from which the product items are removed and the rear opening.

2. 2. The digital picking system according to claim 1, wherein the shelf is a flow rack.

3. 3. The digital picking system according to claim 2, wherein an automatic replenishing device for the merchandise items is provided adjacent to the rear opening in the predetermined rear space of the rear opening.

4. The automatic replenishment device is an automatic guided vehicle (AGV), an autonomous mobile robot (AMR), and an autonomous guided transport robot (ANR).

4. The digital picking system according to claim 3, wherein the automatic replenishment device is selected from the group consisting of a robot, a robotic navigation robot, and a robotic picking machine.

5. 5. The digital picking system according to claim 1, wherein the transport device is a conveyor.

6. 6. The digital picking system according to claim 5, wherein the conveyor is arranged in parallel with the front opening across a predetermined working space.

7. 6. The digital picking system according to claim 5, wherein the conveyor is arranged in parallel adjacent to the front entrance, and a predetermined working space is provided adjacent to the conveyor on the opposite side of the front entrance.

8. The transport device may be an automatic guided vehicle (AGV), an autonomous transport robot (AMR), or a Mobile Robot), and Autonomous Navigation Robot (ANR) 5. The digital picking system according to claim 1, wherein the conveying device is selected from the group consisting of a robot, a conveying device for conveying a signal, and a conveying device for conveying a signal.

9. 9. The digital picking system according to claim 8, wherein a travel space for the AGV, the AMR, and the ANR includes, in addition to the sorting space, an under-shelf space provided below the shelf.

10. A logistics facility equipped with the digital picking system according to claim 5.

11. A logistics facility equipped with the digital picking system according to claim 8.

Images