Picking system

Abstract

To provide a picking system which can improve working efficiency.SOLUTION: A picking system comprises plural article input parts 27a, a working area 28, and an article supply part 11a. The plural article input parts 27a are arranged in parallel from a first end side X1 toward a second end side X2 in a first direction X. A worker 13 who inputs articles to the plural article input parts 27a is arranged in the working area 28. The article supply part 11a is located with the working area 28 held relative to the article input parts 27a in a second direction Y intersecting the first direction X, and the articles to be inputted to the article input parts 27a by the worker 13 are supplied thereto. The article input part 27a located at least on the first end side X1 in the first direction X is projected toward the side of the article supply part 11a in the second direction Y than other article input parts 27a, and is arranged at a side part of the first end side X1 in the first direction X of the working area 28 held in the second direction Y between the other article input parts 27a and the article supply part 11a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a picking system that distributes articles. [Background technology]

[0002] A picking system is known from the prior art, for example, as described in Patent Document 1 below. In this picking system, a plurality of collection container transport devices that arrange collection containers into which items are to be inserted, and an item supply section that supplies the items to be inserted are arranged in parallel. During picking work, a worker takes out an item that has been supplied to the item supply section, moves to the location of the collection container transport device to which the item is to be inserted, and inserts the item into the collection container. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 8,713,899 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the picking system described above, during picking operations, the worker moves between the item supply section and the collection container of the collection container transport device for the item to be picked up. Therefore, if the worker has a wide range of movement, it may take a long time for the worker to move, which may reduce work efficiency.

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a picking system that can improve work efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The picking system of the present invention comprises a plurality of item input sections arranged side by side from a first end side to a second end side in a first direction, a work area in which a worker is positioned who inputs items into the plurality of item input sections, and an item supply section located across the work area from the item input sections in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and to which the items input by the worker into the item input section are supplied, and the item input section located at least on the first end side in the first direction protrudes toward the item supply section in the second direction more than the other item input sections, and is positioned on the side of the first end side in the first direction of the work area sandwiched in the second direction between the other item input sections and the item supply section. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the picking system of the present invention, the movement range of the worker can be reduced, and work efficiency can be improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic plan view of a layout of a picking system showing one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a transport system provided in the picking system. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a front view of the above conveying system with a portion thereof omitted. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a picking system of a comparative example. [Figure 6] 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D are schematic plan views of the layout of a picking system showing other embodiments of the present invention, respectively. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0010] 1 shows a schematic plan view of a picking system 10. The picking system 10 is used for picking work in which an operator 13, who is the main operator of the work, picks up ordered items from a supply container 12 that is sequentially supplied by an item supply device 11, and then sorts and places the items picked up by the operator 13 into collection containers 15 for each order that have been transported to a picking station 14.

[0011] The item supply device 11 supplies the supply container 12, which contains items to be put into the collection container 15, to the picking station 14. The item supply device 11 uses a transport vehicle 16 that travels autonomously and carries the supply container 12, and the transport vehicle 16 travels on a travel path 17 that is a transport path toward the picking station 14, and transports the supply container 12 and the items in the supply container 12 to an item supply section 11a that is a stop position of the transport vehicle 16 on the travel path 17 and is a supply position that supplies items to the picking station 14. After the removal of the items from the supply container 12 is completed, the transport vehicle 16 moves from the item supply section 11a, and then the transport vehicle 16 carrying the supply container 12 containing the items to be put in moves sequentially to the item supply section 11a.

[0012] The travel path 17 along which the transport vehicle 16 travels includes an inlet path 17a for carrying the supply container 12 to the article supply unit 11a, an outlet path 17b for carrying the supply container 12 from the article supply unit 11a, and an arc-shaped return path 17c for returning the supply container 12 from the inlet path 17a to the outlet path 17b. The article supply unit 11a is provided on the return path 17c. The positional relationship between the article supply unit 11a, the inlet path 17a, the outlet path 17b, the return path 17c, and the picking station 14 will be described later.

[0013] The article supply device 11 may form the carry-in path 17a, the carry-out path 17b, and the return conveying path 17c by a general conveyor for conveying articles. In this case, the return conveying path 17c may be an arc shape, or may be a form in which the carry-in path 17a and the carry-out path 17b are connected in a straight line by turning the collection container 12 twice by 90 degrees via an orthogonal changeover machine. The article supply device 11 may not have the return conveying path 17c, and the carry-in path 17a and the carry-out path 17b may be arranged in a straight line relative to the article supply section 11a. The article supply device 11 may also be a form in which the supply container 12 is supplied to the article supply section 11a by a robot or the like.

[0014] The picking station 14 uses a transport system 20 that automatically carries in the collection container 15 to the input position for inputting the items taken out from the supply container 12, and carries out the collection container 15 after the input operation (the input operation of all the items to be input) has been completed. The collection container 15 that is carried into the picking station 14 is an empty collection container 15, but it may also be a collection container 15 that contains other items of one order stored in another picking station, etc.

[0015] The conveying system 20 includes an input conveyor 21 which is an input section for inputting the collection container 15, an output conveyor 22 which is an output section for outputting the collection container 15, and a plurality of conveying zones 23 arranged in a first direction X along the main conveying direction Xm for conveying the collection container 15 from the input conveyor 21 to the output conveyor 22. The conveying zones 23 are, for example, four in number, and are arranged in order from the upstream side to the downstream side of the main conveying direction Xm, namely, a first conveying zone 23a, a second conveying zone 23b, a third conveying zone 23c, and a fourth conveying zone 23d. The number of conveying zones 23 is not limited to four in this example, and may be three or five or more.

[0016] The carry-in conveyor 21 is an accumulation conveyor that stores a plurality of collection containers 15 that are carried in succession, and sends out the collection containers 15 successively according to the availability of the transport zone 23 in the picking station 14.

[0017] Each conveying zone 23 has a first conveying device 26 that can convey the collection container 15 by switching between a first conveying state in which the collection container 15 is conveyed in a first direction X (main conveying direction Xm) and a second conveying state in which the collection container 15 is conveyed in a second direction Y intersecting the first direction X, and a second conveying device 27 that is a collection container conveying device that is arranged on a first end side (one side) of the first conveying device 26 in the second direction Y and can convey the collection container 15 in the second direction Y between the first conveying device 26.

[0018] The first conveying devices 26 of the multiple conveying zones 23 are arranged side by side in the first direction X, and the collection container 15 can be conveyed in the first direction X (main conveying direction Xm) between the first conveying devices 26 in the first conveying state of the multiple conveying zones 23. The positions of the second conveying devices 27 of the multiple conveying zones 23 are article input sections 27a which are input positions where the worker 13 inputs articles into the collection container 15, and the multiple article input sections 27a are arranged side by side in the first direction X.

[0019] The second conveying device 27 of the fourth conveying zone 23d, which is the most downstream in the main conveying direction Xm, which is the first end side (left side in Figure 1) X1 in the first direction X, has an extended conveying section 31 that is extended so that its first end side (lower side in Figure 1) in the second direction Y protrudes further than the second conveying devices 27 of the other conveying zones 23a, 23b, 23c on their second end sides (right side in Figure 1) X2.

[0020] In addition, the first conveying device 26 is capable of conveying the collection container 15 in both forward and reverse directions in the first direction X in the first conveying state, and is capable of conveying the collection container 15 in both forward and reverse directions in the second direction Y in the second conveying state, and the second conveying device 27 is capable of conveying the collection container 15 in both forward and reverse directions in the second conveying direction Y.

[0021] The carry-in conveyor 21 is disposed on the second end side (the other side) in the second direction Y, opposite the second conveying device 27, with respect to the first conveying device 26 in the first conveying zone 23a located at the most upstream position in the main conveying direction Xm. The carry-out conveyor 22 is disposed on the second end side in the second direction Y, opposite the second conveying device 27, with respect to the first conveying device 26 in the fourth conveying zone 23d located at the most downstream position in the main conveying direction Xm. At least one of the carry-in conveyor 21 and the carry-out conveyor 22 may be disposed in the first direction X with respect to the first conveying device 26 in the conveying zone 23, and configured to carry in and carry out the collection container 15 from the first direction X.

[0022] 1, the second end X2 on the upstream side of the main conveying direction Xm on the side of the loading conveyor 21 is referred to as the right side, the first end X1 on the downstream side of the main conveying direction Xm on the side of the unloading conveyor 22 is referred to as the left side, the second conveying device 27 side of the conveying zone 23 is referred to as the front side, and the first conveying device 26 side of the conveying zone 23 is referred to as the rear side. Therefore, the first conveying device 26 can convey the collection container 15 by switching the conveying direction between the left-right direction toward the left and right sides and the front-rear direction toward the front and rear sides, and the second conveying device 27 can convey the collection container 15 in the front-rear direction toward the front and rear sides.

[0023] Next, the positional relationship between the article supplying device 11 and the picking station 14 will be described. The second conveying devices 27 and article input sections 27a of the multiple conveying zones 23 are arranged side by side from the first end side X1 toward the second end side X2 in the first direction X. In the second direction Y, the article supplying section 11a of the article supplying device 11 and the second conveying devices 27 and article input sections 27a of the other conveying zones 23a, 23b, 23c are positioned on either side of the work area 28 where the worker 13 performs the picking work.

[0024] The work area 28 is a range that may include the body of the worker 13 during picking work, and is a certain area extending in the first direction X and the second direction Y. For example, a virtual rectangular area can be defined as the work area.

[0025] The inlet path 17a and the outlet path 17b of the article supply device 11 are arranged along the first direction X, the inlet direction of the inlet path 17a faces from the first end side X1 to the second end side X2 (right side) of the first direction X, which is the opposite direction to the main conveying direction Xm, the outlet direction of the outlet path 17b faces from the second end side X2 to the first end side X1 (left side) of the first direction X, which is the opposite direction to the inlet path 17a and is the main conveying direction Xm, and the conveying direction of the turn-back conveying path 17c is arranged from the inlet path 17a to the outlet path 17b in a direction in which the supply container 12 moves away from the working area 28. In addition, the tip side 17d of the turn-back conveying path 17c, which is opposite to the side connected to the inlet path 17a and the outlet path 17b, is arranged toward the second end side X2 (right side) of the first direction X, which is the opposite direction to the main conveying direction Xm.

[0026] The tip side 17d of the return conveying path 17c is located at the most upstream side of the main conveying direction Xm, closer to the first end side X1 than the position of the outer surface of the second conveying device 27 of the first conveying zone 23a located at the second end side X2 in the first direction X (the position of the dashed line S2 in Figure 1).

[0027] The extended conveying section 31 of the second conveying device 27 of the fourth conveying zone 23d, which is located on the first end side X1 in the first direction X, protrudes toward the item supply section 11a in the second direction Y more than the second conveying devices 27 of the other conveying zones 23a, 23b, 23c, and is arranged adjacent to the side of the first end side X1 in the first direction X of the working area 28 sandwiched between the second conveying devices 27 of the other conveying zones 23a, 23b, 23c and the item supply section 11a. In other words, the second conveying devices 27 of the other conveying zones 23a, 23b, 23c are positioned adjacent to the first end (rear end) in the second direction Y of the working area 28, the extended conveying section 31 of the second conveying device 27 of the fourth conveying zone 23d is positioned adjacent to the first end side X1 in the first direction X of the working area 28, and the item supply section 11a is positioned adjacent to the second end (front end) in the second direction Y of the working area 28, thereby defining the spacing of the working area 28 in the second direction Y and defining the first end side X1 in the first direction X, and dividing the area of ​​the working area 28 surrounded from three directions.

[0028] The article supply section 11a of the article supply device 11 is disposed between the downstream side of the carry-in path 17a and the upstream side of the return conveying path 17c. The article supply section 11a is disposed at a position after some or all of the supply containers 12 have passed through the second device 27 of the fourth conveying zone 23d having the extended conveying section 31. The article supply section 11a is disposed in a position in the first direction X1 closer to the second conveying device 27 of the other conveying zones 23a, 23b, 23c (a position closer to the second end side X2 in the first direction X, which is the opposite side to the main conveying direction Xm) than the position of the second conveying device 27 of the fourth conveying zone 23d having the extended conveying section 31 (the position of the dashed line S1 in FIG. 1). Here, a position closer to the second conveying device 27 of the other conveying zones 23a, 23b, 23c means a state in which at least a part of the supply container 12 located in the item supply section 11a extends downstream to the right side from the second end (right side) in the first direction X of the second conveying device 27 of the fourth conveying zone 23d, and the other part or all of the item supply section 11a faces the second conveying device 27 of the other conveying zone 23c across the work area 28, and which of the second conveying devices 27 of the other conveying zones 23a, 23b, 23c the item supply section 11a is facing can be changed depending on the number and length of the conveying zones 23.

[0029] 2 to 4 show the configuration of the transport system 20. FIG.

[0030] The first conveying device 26 of each conveying zone 23 is equipped with a plurality of rollers 29 for conveying the collection container 15 in a first direction X (left-right direction), and a plurality of belts 30 arranged between the rollers 29 for conveying the collection container 15 in a second direction Y (front-back direction), and is configured by a switch that can switch the conveying direction to an orthogonal direction. The plurality of rollers 29 are rotated integrally by a rotational force transmitted from a motor, and the plurality of belts 30 are each rotatably supported by a plurality of pulleys, and are rotated integrally by a rotational force transmitted from a motor.

[0031] The first conveying device 26 uses an orthogonal conversion device in which the rollers 29 rise and the belt 30 falls in a first conveying state in which the collection container 15 is conveyed in a first direction X, and the rollers 29 fall and the belt 30 rises in a second conveying state in which the collection container 15 is conveyed in a second direction Y. The rise and fall of the rollers 29 and the rise and fall of the belt 30 are performed in conjunction with each other. The rollers 29 and the belt 30 are stopped from being driven when they are lowered, and can be driven when they are raised.

[0032] The first conveying device 26 is in a first conveying state in the first direction X during standby, switches to a second conveying state in the second direction Y when conveying the product collection container 15 in the second direction Y, and returns to the standby state after conveying the product collection container 15 in the second direction Y. Note that the second conveying state in the second direction Y may be the standby state, and the state after switching may be the standby state.

[0033] The first transport device 26 may be configured to switch the transport direction between the first direction X and the second direction Y by rotating a transport mechanism that transports in one direction by 90 degrees.

[0034] Further, the second conveying device 27 in each conveying zone 23 is a belt conveyor or the like that can rotate forward and backward in the second direction Y. The second conveying device 27 is inclined downward toward the front, and the top opening of the collection container 15 brought into the second conveying device 27 is positioned facing the work area 28 diagonally forward. This allows the worker 13 to see the entire inside of the collection container 15, making it easy to insert articles.

[0035] The second conveying device 27 of the fourth conveying zone 23d located at the most downstream of the main conveying direction Xm includes a basic conveying unit 27b having the same configuration as the second conveying devices 27 of the other conveying zones 23a, 23b, and 23c, and includes an auxiliary conveying unit 27c for extension arranged between the first conveying device 26 and the basic conveying unit 27b. The auxiliary conveying unit 27c is a belt conveyor or the like capable of forward and reverse rotation in the second direction Y, similar to the second conveying device 27, and is driven in synchronization with the second conveying device 27. Note that the second conveying device 27 is not limited to being composed of the divided basic conveying unit 27b and auxiliary conveying unit 27c, and may be integrally configured in the second direction Y.

[0036] The protruding width L of the extended conveying section 31 from the second conveying device 27 of the other conveying zones 23a, 23b, 23c is a dimension that is half or more of the length in the second direction Y of the collection container 15 placed in the article input section 27a of the second conveying device 27. Therefore, a length dimension that is half or more of the length in the second direction Y of the collection container 15 is placed in the extended conveying section 31 from the second conveying device 27.

[0037] The inclination angle of the second conveying device 27 having the extended conveying section 31 is the same as that of the other second conveying devices 27. The collection container 15 carried into the extended conveying section 31 of the second conveying device 27 is positioned on the left side of the working area 28, in a position forward of the collection container 15 carried to the other second conveying devices 27, and at least the front half of the top opening is positioned lower than the top opening of the collection container 15 carried to the other second conveying devices 27.

[0038] Side wall portions 32 are provided on both the left and right sides of the second conveying device 27 to regulate the left-right position of the collection container 15 transported by the second conveying device 27, and a front wall portion 33 is provided at the front end of the second conveying device 27 to regulate the loading position of the collection container 15 to be transported into the item input section 27a.

[0039] Between the first conveying device 26 and the second conveying device 27, a transfer roller 34 is disposed to guide the transfer of the collection container 15.

[0040] Moreover, above the second transport device 27 of each transport zone 23, a display operation unit 35 is mounted by a support frame 36.

[0041] The display operation unit 35 includes a display unit 37 that lights up and displays the collection container 15 in the transport zone 23 where the articles removed from the supply container 12 are input, and an operation unit 38 such as a touch sensor that is disposed at a position corresponding to the display unit 37 and operated by the worker 13 after input of the articles. The display operation unit 35 further includes a display unit 39 and an operation unit 40 similar to the display unit 37 and the operation unit 38. The display unit 39 and the operation unit 40 are used, for example, when the collection container 15 becomes full of articles to store, to operate the operation unit 40 to instruct the replacement of the collection container 15 and to light up the display unit 39 corresponding to the replaced collection container 15.

[0042] The support frame 36 includes vertical frames 41 installed on the floor surface on both the left and right sides of the area of ​​the multiple transport zones 23, and a horizontal frame 42 installed between the upper ends of these vertical frames 41. Auxiliary frames 43, 44 inclined to face each other toward the center of the work area 28 are attached to the front side of the horizontal frame 42 facing the work area 28 and above the second transport devices 27 of the left and right transport zones 23a, 23d. The left auxiliary frame 44 is disposed above the extended transport section 31 of the second transport device 27 of the fourth transport zone 23d, and has a larger angle of inclination with respect to the horizontal frame 42 than the right auxiliary frame 43.

[0043] Display operation unit 35 for the two central transport zones 23b, 23c are respectively installed above the two central transport zones 23b, 23c in the central area on the front of the horizontal frame 42, a display operation unit 35 for the first transport zone 23a is installed on the front side of the right auxiliary frame 43, and a display operation unit 35 for the fourth transport zone 23d is installed on the front side of the left auxiliary frame 44.

[0044] Therefore, the display operation unit 35 for the first transport zone 23a and the display operation unit 35 for the fourth transport zone 23d face and approach the worker 13 working in the work area 28. The worker 13 who takes out an article from the supply container 12 of the article supply unit 11a in the work area 28 can easily see the display units 37, 39 of the corresponding display operation unit 35 and easily operate the operation units 38, 40 even if the first transport zone 23a, which is the most upstream, is the farthest from the article supply unit 11a, and even if the extension transport unit 31 of the fourth transport zone 23d, which is the most downstream, protrudes to the side of the work area 28, the display units 37, 39 of the corresponding display operation unit 35 can be easily seen and the operation units 38, 40 can be easily operated. Moreover, the moving distance of the worker 13 can be shortened, which improves work efficiency and reduces fatigue of the worker.

[0045] The horizontal frame 42 and auxiliary frames 43, 44 are positioned at a height that allows the collection container 15 transported by the second conveying device 27 to pass underneath, and are also positioned at a height that allows the worker 13 positioned in the work area 28 to operate the operation units 38, 40 of each display operation unit 35.

[0046] A status display unit 47 is provided on the upper portion of the support frame 36 to indicate an operating status, an abnormal status, or the like by lighting up or flashing in a predetermined luminous color.

[0047] Although not shown, there are sensors that detect collection containers 15 at each predetermined position on the loading conveyor 21 and the unloading conveyor 22, as well as sensors that detect collection containers 15 being transported to the positions of each first conveying device 26 and each second conveying device 27.

[0048] Next, the operation of the picking system 10 will be described.

[0049] In FIG. 1, the collection container 15 carried in from the carry-in conveyor 21 is carried into the article input section 27a of the second transport device 27 in the transport zone 23 where it can be carried in.

[0050] For example, when a collection container 15 is to be transported into the item input section 27a of the first transport zone 23a, the first transport device 26 and the second transport device 27 in the second transport state of the first transport zone 23a are driven, and the collection container 15 transported from the input conveyor 21 is transported into the item input section 27a of the second transport device 27.

[0051] When a collection container 15 is to be transported into the item input section 27a of the fourth conveying zone 23d, the first conveying device 26 in the first conveying zone 23a is driven in the second conveying state, and the collection container 15 from the input conveyor 21 is transported onto the first conveying device 26, and then the first conveying devices 26 in all conveying zones 23 are switched to the first conveying state and driven to transport the collection container 15 on the first conveying device 26 in the first conveying zone 23a onto the first conveying device 26 in the fourth conveying zone 23d, and further, the first conveying device 26 in the fourth conveying zone 23d is switched to the second conveying state, and this first conveying device 26 and the second conveying device 27 are driven, and the collection container 15 on the first conveying device 26 in the fourth conveying zone 23d is transported into the item input section 27a of the second conveying device 27.

[0052] The collection container 15 brought into the item input section 27a of the second conveying section 27 of this fourth conveying zone 23d is placed in the extended conveying section 31 of the second conveying device 27, and is positioned protruding toward the item supply section 11a further forward than the collection containers 15 placed in the item input sections 27a of the other conveying zones 23a, 23b, 23c, and is positioned on the side of the working area 28 between the item input section 27a of the second conveying section 27 of the other conveying zones 23a, 23b, 23c and the item supply section 11a.

[0053] In addition, a transport vehicle 16 carrying a supply container 12 containing items to be put into a collection container 15 travels along a travel path 17 and stops at the item supply section 11a.

[0054] Then, the worker 13 located in the work area 28 takes out the goods from the supply container 12 that has arrived at the goods supply section 11a, places them in the collection container 15 in the transport zone 23 where the display section 37 of the display operation section 35 is lit, and after placing them, operates the operation section 38 corresponding to the display section 37. If there are goods to be placed in the collection containers 15 in multiple transport zones 23, the same operation is performed for each of them.

[0055] When loading items into a collection container 15 arranged in the item loading section 27a of the first to third transport zones 23a, 23b, 23c, the worker 13 moves within the work area 28 from the position where the items are removed from the supply container 12 of the item supply section 11a to the front side of the item loading section 27a of the second conveying device 27 of the transport zone 23a, 23b, 23c to which the items are to be loaded, and loads the items into the collection container 15 from the front side.

[0056] When loading items into a collection container 15 placed in the item input section 27a of the second conveying device 27 in the fourth conveying zone 23d, the worker 13 moves within the work area 28 from the position where the items are removed from the supply container 12 in the item supply section 11a to the front side of the item input section 27a of the third conveying zone 23c, next to the extended conveying section 31 which is the item input section 27a of the second conveying device 27 in the fourth conveying zone 23d to which the items are to be loaded, and loads the items into the collection container 15 from the side (the same direction as the main conveying direction Xm).

[0057] 5 shows the layout of the picking system 10 of the comparative example. If the article supply device 11 is arranged on the side of the picking station 14 in the main conveying direction Xm, the area between the position where the article is taken out from the supply container 12 in the article supply section 11a and the article input section 27a of the second conveying device 27 in the first conveying zone 23a becomes the work area 28, and the width of the first direction X of the work area 28 is large, the movement range of the worker 13 is wide, and the work efficiency is reduced.

[0058] In the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the front side of the article input section 27a of the first to third transport zones 23a, 23b, 23c becomes the work area 28. Therefore, compared to the layout of the comparative example in FIG. 5, the width of the work area 28 in the first direction X is smaller, the movement range of the worker 13 is smaller, and work efficiency is improved.

[0059] In addition, once all of the items to be inserted have been placed into the collection container 15, the collection container 15 is transported toward the output conveyor 22.

[0060] For example, when a collection container 15 is to be transported out of the first conveying zone 23a, the first conveying device 26 and the second conveying device 27 in the first conveying zone 23a are driven in the second conveying state, and the collection container 15 on the second conveying device 27 is transported to the first conveying device 26. After that, the first conveying devices 26 in all conveying zones 23 are switched to the first conveying state and driven to transport the collection container 15 on the first conveying device 26 in the first conveying zone 23a onto the first conveying device 26 in the fourth conveying zone 23d. Furthermore, the first conveying device 26 in the fourth conveying zone 23d is switched to the second conveying state, and this first conveying device 26 and second conveying device 27 are driven, and the collection container 15 on the first conveying device 26 in the fourth conveying zone 23d is transported out to the output conveyor 22.

[0061] When transporting a collection container 15 from the fourth transport zone 23d, the first transport device 26 and the second transport device 27 in the second transport state in the fourth transport zone 23d are driven to transport the collection container 15 from the fourth transport zone 23d to the output conveyor 22.

[0062] In the picking system 10 configured in this manner, the second conveying device 27 of the fourth conveying zone 23d, which is the most downstream in the main conveying direction Xm, which is the first end side X1 in the first direction X, is provided with an extended conveying section 31 that extends so as to protrude toward the item supply section 11a further than the second conveying device 27 of the other conveying zones 23a, 23b, 23c, and this extended conveying section 31 is disposed on the side of the working area 28 between the second conveying device 27 of the other conveying zones 23a, 23b, 23c and the item supply section 11a. As a result, items can be loaded into the collection container 15 in the fourth conveying zone 23d from the side, so that the working area 28 need only be the area in front of the other conveying zones 23a, 23b, 23c. As a result, the width of the working area 28 in the first direction X is small, and the range of movement of the worker 13 is reduced, thereby improving work efficiency.

[0063] In addition, since the article supply section 11a of the article supply device 11 is positioned in the first direction X1 closer to the second conveying device 27 of the other conveying zones 23a, 23b, 23c than the position of the second conveying device 27 of the fourth conveying zone 23d having the extended conveying section 31 (the position of the dashed line S1 in FIG. 1), it can be positioned at the middle position in the first direction X of the processing area 28, reducing the travel distance of the worker 13 and improving work efficiency. Furthermore, when removing articles from the supply container 12 of the article supply section 11a, the articles can be removed from the supply container 12 of the article supply section 11a without being blocked by the extended conveying section 31.

[0064] In addition, the tip side 17d of the return conveying path 17c is positioned at a position closer to the first end side X1 than the position of the outer surface of the second conveying device 27 of the first conveying zone 23a, which is located at the most upstream of the main conveying direction Xm and at the second end side X2 of the first direction X (the position of the dashed line S2 in Figure 1).Therefore, the area in front of the second conveying device 27 of the first conveying zone 23a is wider, making it easier for workers to enter and exit the work area 28 and reducing the feeling of oppression caused by the running path 17 for the worker 13 working in the work area 28.

[0065] Next, other embodiments are shown in FIGS. 6(a), (b), (c) and (d).

[0066] 6(a) shows a case where the article conveying direction in the article conveying device 11 is opposite to that in the first embodiment. In this case, the article supplying device 11 has an inlet path 17a for conveying the supply container 12 containing the articles to be put into the collection container 15 from the first end side X1 to the second end side X2 in the first direction X, an outlet path 17b for conveying the supply container 12 in the opposite direction to the inlet direction, and a return conveying path 17c for conveying the supply container 12 from the inlet path 17a to the outlet path 17b in a direction approaching the working area 28. The article supplying section 11a is disposed between the downstream side of the return conveying path 17c and the upstream side of the outlet path 11b, at a position before part or all of the supply container 12 passes through the second conveying device 27 of the fourth conveying zone 23d having the extension conveying section 31 (part or all of the supply container 12 is disposed to the right of the dashed line S1).

[0067] In this way, even if the article transport direction in article transport device 11 is reversed compared to the first embodiment, the travel distance of worker 13 can be reduced, and work efficiency can be improved, as in the first embodiment.

[0068] In addition, Figure 6 (b) shows a case in which, depending on the work content, layout, etc., extended conveying sections 31 are provided in both the second conveying device 27 of the fourth conveying zone 23d, which is the first end side (left side in Figure 1) X1 in the first direction X, and the second conveying device 27 of the first conveying zone 23a, which is the second end side (right side in Figure 1) X2 in the first direction X.

[0069] The working area 28 is limited to the area in front of the second and third transport zones 23b, 23c, and the width of the working area 28 in the first direction X is small, so that the movement range of the worker 13 is reduced, improving work efficiency.

[0070] Even if an extended conveying section 31 is provided in the second conveying device 27 in the first conveying zone 23a, the tip side 17d of the return conveying path 17c is positioned closer to the first end side X1 than the position of the outer surface of the second conveying device 27 in the first conveying zone 23a (the position of the dashed line S2), thereby ensuring ease of entry and exit for workers to the work area 28.

[0071] In addition, the extended conveying section 31 may not be provided in the second conveying device 27 in the fourth conveying zone 23d, which is the first end side (left side in Figure 1) X1 in the first direction X, and the extended conveying section 31 may be provided only in the second conveying device 27 in the first conveying zone 23a, which is the second end side (right side in Figure 1) X2 in the first direction X.

[0072] 6(c) shows another example of the transport device 20 of the picking station 14. The carry-in conveyor 21 and the carry-out conveyor 22 are arranged in a straight line to transport the collection container 15 in the first direction X, and the collection container transport units 60, which are collection container transport devices for the transport zones 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d, are arranged side by side in the first direction X between the carry-in conveyor 21 and the carry-out conveyor 22.

[0073] The collection container transport sections 60 of the other transport zones 23a, 23b, and 23c sequentially transport the collection containers 15 in the main transport direction Xm, and each of them uses an accumulation conveyor that can be driven and stopped independently. Each position of the collection container transport sections 60 of the other transport zones 23a, 23b, and 23c becomes an article input section 27a where articles are input into the collection containers 15.

[0074] The collection container conveying section 60 of the fourth conveying zone 23d has an orthogonal switch 61 that can switch the collection container 15 between the main conveying direction Xm and the second direction Y for conveying, and an extended conveying section 31 that protrudes from the orthogonal switch 61 toward the item supply section 11a in the second direction Y further than the collection container conveying sections 60 of the other conveying zones 23a, 23b, and 23c. The extended conveying section 31 is disposed on the side of the first end side X1 in the first direction X of the working area 28 that is sandwiched in the second direction Y between the collection container conveying sections 60 of the other conveying zones 23a, 23b, and 23c and the item supply section 11a. The position of the extended conveying section 31 of the collection container conveying section 60 of the fourth conveying zone 23d becomes the item input section 27a that inputs items into the collection container 15.

[0075] The collection containers 15 sent from the carry-in conveyor 21 are transported in sequence from the upstream collection container transport section 60 in the main transport direction Xm to the downstream collection container transport section 60, and stopped at each item input section 27a. In addition, the collection containers 15 in which all of the target items have been input are transported in sequence from the upstream collection container transport section 60 in the main transport direction Xm to the downstream collection container transport section 60, and are output to the carry-out conveyor 22.

[0076] Even if all of the items to be inserted have been inserted into a collection container 15, if there is a collection container 15 downstream in the main transport direction Xm that has not yet been inserted, the upstream collection container 15 will wait for the downstream collection container 15 to be removed.

[0077] In the collection container conveying section 60 of the fourth conveying zone 23d, the orthogonal switch 61 in the first conveying state receives the collection container 15 conveyed from the upstream side in the main conveying direction Xm, and then switches the conveying direction of the orthogonal switch 61 to the second conveying state to convey the collection container 15 to the extended conveying section 31 in the second direction Y, where it stops at the article input section 27a. In addition, the collection container 15 in which all of the target articles have been input is conveyed from the extended conveying section 31 onto the orthogonal switch 61 by the drive of the extended conveying section 31 and the orthogonal switch 61 in the second conveying state, and then switches to the first conveying state in the conveying direction of the orthogonal switch 61 and conveys it out to the discharge conveyor 22.

[0078] When the length of the extended conveying section 31 in the second direction Y is longer than the length of the collection container 15 in the second direction Y and the entire collection container 15 is placed within the extended conveying section 31, when a collection container 15 that has not yet been fully loaded is placed within the extended conveying section 31, the collection container 15 to be removed, which is being transported from the collection container conveying section 60 upstream in the main conveying direction Xm, may be transported to the output conveyor 22 by the orthogonal switch 61 in the first conveying state.

[0079] 6(d) shows a case where the article supplying device 11 faces the article input section 27a of the second transporting device 27 of the multiple transporting zones 23 and is provided with a linear transport path 50 along the first direction X. The transport path 50 is configured by a conveyor that transports the supply containers 12. Note that the article supplying device 11 may use the transport vehicle 16 as in the above-mentioned embodiment, and the running path 17 on which the transport vehicle 16 runs may be configured to be linear.

[0080] Furthermore, the article supply device 11 may supply the supply container 12 to the article supply section 11a by a robot having a hand for holding the supply container 12 and a multi-joint arm for moving the hand.

[0081] Although the work entity has been described as a worker 13, the work entity may be, for example, a robot capable of performing a similar task, and although the item supply device 11 and the conveying system 20 convey containers containing items, it is also possible to directly convey the items themselves.

[0082] Although the embodiment of the present invention and its modified examples have been described above, various combinations of configurations, partial omissions, substitutions and modifications are also possible. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 10 Picking System 11 Goods supply device 11a Goods supply department 13 Worker who is the subject of the work 15 Collection container 17a Loading road 17b Export path 17c Return transport path 17d Tip side 27 Second conveying device which is a collection container conveying device 27a Article input section 28 Work Area 31 Extended conveyor section X 1st direction X1 1st end side X2 2nd end side Y Second direction

Claims

1. A plurality of article insertion sections arranged side by side from a first end side to a second end side in a first direction; a work area in which an operator who inserts articles into the article inserting sections is located; an item supply section that is located across the work area from the item input section in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and to which the items input by the worker to the item input section are supplied; Equipped with The article input section located at least on the first end side in the first direction protrudes toward the article supply section in the second direction more than the other article input sections, and is disposed on the side of the first end side in the first direction of the work area sandwiched between the other article input sections and the article supply section in the second direction. A picking system comprising:

2. a plurality of collection container transport devices each capable of receiving and sending out a collection container into which an article is inserted, the collection container transport devices being arranged in parallel from a first end side toward a second end side in a first direction; a work area in which workers who input the items into the multiple collection container transport devices are located; an item supply unit that is located across the work area from the multiple item collection container transport devices in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and to which the items that the worker puts into the item collection container are supplied; Equipped with The product collection container transport device located at least on the first end side in the first direction has an extension transport section that protrudes toward the product supply unit in the second direction further than the other product collection container transport devices and is disposed on the side of the first end side in the first direction of the work area sandwiched in the second direction between the other product collection container transport device and the product supply unit. A picking system comprising:

3. The item supply unit is disposed at a position closer to the second end side in the first direction than the product collection container transport device having the extension transport unit so that a part or all of the item supply unit faces the other product collection container transport device across the work area. The picking system according to claim 2 .

4. an item supply device having an inlet path for carrying the items to be put into the item collection container or a supply container containing the items from the first end side to the second end side in the first direction, an outlet path for carrying the supply container in the opposite direction to the inlet direction, and a return transport path for carrying the items or the supply container from the inlet path to the outlet path in a direction away from the work area, the tip side of the return transport path being positioned closer to the first end side than an outer surface of the item collection container transport device positioned at the second end side in the first direction, The article supply unit is disposed between the downstream side of the carry-in path and the upstream side of the return conveying path. The picking system according to claim 2 .

5. The item supply section is disposed at a position after the items or a part or all of the supply container have passed through the collection container conveying device having the extension conveying section. The picking system according to claim 4 .

6. an item supply device having an inlet path for carrying the items to be put into the item collection container or a supply container containing the items from the first end side to the second end side in the first direction, an outlet path for carrying the supply container in the opposite direction to the inlet direction, and a return transport path for transporting the items or the supply container from the inlet path to the outlet path in a direction approaching the work area, the tip side of the return transport path being positioned closer to the first end side in the first direction than an outer surface of the item collection container transport device positioned on the second end side; The article supply unit is disposed between the downstream side of the return conveying path and the upstream side of the carry-out path. The picking system according to claim 2 .

7. The item supply section is disposed at a position before the items or a part or all of the supply container pass through the collection container conveying device having the extension conveying section. The picking system according to claim 6 .

Images