Cart

Abstract

To provide a cart that realizes picking operations in tight spaces.SOLUTION: A cart 1 is provided with a plurality of mounting sections 10 on which containers C for storing articles are placed, and each of the mounting sections is inclined forward and backward in the direction of travel, and at least some of the mounting sections have front and rear ends in the direction of travel that overlap each other in the height direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cart. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Carts that store products picked from shelves, etc. are known. The carts need to travel in narrow spaces, such as small logistics warehouses and display shelves in supermarkets. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-152534 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a small cart. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a cart according to one aspect of the present invention is a cart having a plurality of loading sections for placing containers for storing items, each of the plurality of loading sections being inclined forwards and backwards in the direction of travel, and at least some of the plurality of loading sections have forward and backward ends in the direction of travel overlapping with each other in the height direction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a cart according to a first embodiment of the present invention, seen from the front side. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the cart as seen from the rear side. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic bottom view of the cart. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic left side view of the cart. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a schematic right side view showing a state in which the container is placed on the cart. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view seen from the front side, showing a cart according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a schematic left side view of the cart. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a schematic left side view showing a state in which a container is placed on the cart. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] (First embodiment) A cart 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter also referred to as "cart 1") will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the direction of travel of the cart 1 is the +Y direction, the direction of the width of the cart 1 that is perpendicular to the direction of travel is the +X direction, and the vertical direction is the +Z direction. Note that the direction of travel is merely a general direction, and the cart 1 can also be moved in the opposite direction to the direction of travel.

[0008] Overview of cart and picking system As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the cart 1 is a device that stores and transports products collected by picking work in a warehouse, supermarket, etc. The cart 1 is controlled by a control unit mounted on the cart itself or a higher-level management device, etc. The control unit is, for example, integrally arranged in the display unit 50, but is not limited to this configuration and may be configured independently of the display unit 50. The display unit 50 transmits information indicating the products to be stored in each cart, i.e., picking work instruction information, to an operator. The cart 1 may be an autonomous cart that has an electric drive unit and runs autonomously, or may be a manual cart that is moved manually by an operator.

[0009] The cart 1 has a plurality of mounting sections 10 on which containers for accommodating articles are placed. In this embodiment, there are three mounting sections 10, but the number is arbitrary. In this embodiment, the mounting sections 10 are composed of an upper mounting section 11, a middle mounting section 12, and a lower mounting section 13, which are arranged in this order from the top to the bottom.

[0010] Each of the placement units 10 is provided with a weighing unit capable of weighing independently of each other. The upper surface of the placement unit 10 is flat, and a container C (see FIG. 9) is placed on each of the placement units 10. The container C is, for example, a foldable container, so-called a folding container, in which each surface is formed by connecting a plurality of elongated flat plates and hinges. The container C is a box-shaped member with an open top, and the picked goods are stored inside the container C. The container C is also a box-shaped, approximately rectangular parallelepiped, longer in the traveling direction than in the width direction. By configuring the container C so that it can be placed with its longer side in the traveling direction, the width direction of the cart 1 can be made small. Therefore, picking work can be performed in a narrow passageway space.

[0011] The container C may also have a lid. For example, the lids may be connected in pairs to the upper edge along the traveling direction, and may be opened and closed like a double door. In the case of a configuration in which the container is placed in a long direction in the width direction, when opening and closing such a lid, the worker must open the lid from the front to the back, or close the lid folded in the back to the front, when working from the front or rear side in the traveling direction. In contrast, according to a configuration in which the container C can be placed in a long direction in the traveling direction, even when a container C with a lid connected to an edge along the traveling direction is placed, the worker can open and close the lid by rotating it to the left and right, so that the lid can be easily opened and closed. The form of the lid of the container C to be placed is arbitrary.

[0012] The plate-like member of the placement unit 10 that contacts at least the container C may be removable. In this case, a member of a different shape may be provided. For example, the plate-like member of the lower placement unit 13 may be modified so that the container C3 can be placed horizontally, with the container C3 long in the width direction. This configuration makes it easier to put products into the container C3.

[0013] The placement unit 10 weighs the products contained in the container C together with the container C. The placement unit 10 may store the weight of the container in advance and measure the weight of the product itself by performing a tare process. The containers are delivered to different destinations. Each placement unit 10 may be linked to the destination of the product by the control unit or an appropriate control device.

[0014] The placement section 10 is disposed at an incline with respect to the ground. In this embodiment, the upper placement section 11 and the lower placement section 13 are inclined so that their height decreases from the front side in the traveling direction (+y direction) to the rear side in the traveling direction (-y direction). The middle placement section 12 is inclined so that its height increases from the front side in the traveling direction (+y direction) to the rear side in the traveling direction (-y direction). That is, the placement section 10 is configured so that its height decreases toward the outside of the cart 1. That is, the opening of the container C placed on the placement section 10 is open toward the outside. Therefore, with this configuration, it is easy for the worker to put the product into the container C.

[0015] Furthermore, the middle placement section 12 is disposed at a position lower than the upper end of the container C3 (see FIG. 9) placed on the lower placement section 13. With this configuration, the containers C placed on each placement section 10 partially overlap in the height direction, so the overall height of the cart 1 can be made lower. Therefore, even the employees of a supermarket, who are mostly female, can easily handle it.

[0016] At the four ends of the placement unit 10, protrusions 11a to 11d, 12a to 12d, and 13a to 13d are arranged so as to protrude upward. The protrusions 11a to 11d, 12a to 12d, and 13a to 13d are arranged in an elongated shape along the moving direction or width direction of the placement unit 10. With this configuration, even if the placement unit 10 is inclined, the container C can be held. Since the placement unit 10 is inclined forward and backward in the moving direction, the protrusions 11d, 12a, and 13d arranged at the lower end of the inclination are particularly useful for holding the containers C1, C2, and C3, respectively. In addition, since the positions of the containers C1 to C3 can be guided to the center of the placement unit 10 by the respective protrusions 11a to 11d, 12a to 12d, and 13a to 13d, this configuration ensures accurate weighing of the containers C1 to C3.

[0017] Furthermore, if container C3 (see FIG. 9) is placed so that it rides onto protrusion 13a of lower placement section 13, container C3 interferes with the rear end of middle placement section 12, making it impossible to place container C3 stably. That is, protrusion 13a disposed at the rear end of lower placement section 13 guides container C3 so that it is properly placed on lower placement section 13. This configuration also allows container C3 to be securely held by lower placement section 13, ensuring safety.

[0018] In addition, the mounting portion 10 is substantially octagonal in shape, and the end sides that are inclined relative to the moving direction or width direction are open. Therefore, when removing the container C from the mounting portion 10, the container C can be easily lifted by hand.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 5, at least two of the multiple placement sections 10 are adjacent to each other in the vertical direction, and the two adjacent placement sections 10 have different inclination directions. As a result, the inclination directions of the multiple placement sections 10 are staggered. The multiple placement sections 10 are each inclined forward and backward in the traveling direction, and at least some of the multiple placement sections 10 have front and rear ends in the traveling direction overlap each other in the height direction. The upper placement section 11 is disposed above the middle placement section 12 and the lower placement section 13, and the front and rear ends in the traveling direction overlap with the middle placement section 12 and the lower placement section 13 by approximately half in the height direction. In addition, the rear end in the traveling direction of the middle placement section 12 and the front end in the traveling direction of the lower placement section 13 partially overlap in the upside-down direction. According to this configuration, the length of the cart 1 in the traveling direction can be shortened and the cart 1 can be made smaller than a configuration in which multiple placement sections are arranged side by side.

[0020] In the above description, the products are stored in containers C and placed on the loading section 10, but the cart 1 may be configured to store further products at appropriate positions. For example, case products and paper products such as toilet paper may be stored in the space below the middle loading section 12. In this case, products stored in places other than the loading section 10 are weighed separately before being stored in the space. Furthermore, the weighing process may be omitted for such products.

[0021] Arranged on the upper level of cart 1, at the rear in the direction of travel, are mainly a grip 101 that an operator holds when manually moving cart 1, a printing mechanism 41 that issues labels to be affixed to containers C, a display unit 50, a scanner 60 that reads barcodes, a physical button operation unit 70, a storage unit 80, etc.

[0022] The printing mechanism 41 is held below the grip 101 on the right side in the traveling direction, and prints on the labels pulled out from the label roll. The printed labels are discharged from the front of the cart 1 (-y direction). Note that in the case of a mode in which an ESL (Electric Shelf Label) is connected to an object to which the label is to be affixed, such as a container, the configuration may not include the printing mechanism 41. In this case, the picking system performs a process of changing the display content of the ESL instead of issuing a label.

[0023] The display unit 50 is a so-called touch panel display in which a liquid crystal display and a touch panel are stacked on top of each other, allowing data to be displayed and input on the same surface. When the operator touches the touch panel, it detects the touched position and accepts input according to the detected position. The display unit 50 displays picking work instruction information or the status of the cart 1 to the worker. The display unit 50 is an example of an alarm unit.

[0024] The display unit 50 is disposed at the upper rear of the cart 1 in the traveling direction, with the display surface facing in the opposite direction to the traveling direction. In other words, the display unit 50 is visible to a worker behind the cart 1 in the traveling direction. This worker is, for example, a worker who pushes the cart 1 or a worker who runs alongside the automatically traveling cart 1.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, the display unit 50 is connected to the side frame 130 via the upper frame 160 and the support 161. The upper frame 160 is an inverted U-shaped member with both ends connected to the upper portions of the pair of side frames 130. The support 161 is a flat plate-shaped member extending toward the rear in the traveling direction from approximately the center of the upper frame 160. The display unit 50 is connected to the support 161 via a rotation axis 50z along the z-axis and a rotation axis 50x along the x-axis in this order. As a result, the display unit 50 can rotate up and down and left and right. The display unit 50 can rotate, for example, upward and downward to a position 50'. The order of connection of the rotation axes is arbitrary.

[0026] The scanner 60 can read barcodes on products, shelves in a warehouse, containers C, containers, labels, and the like. The scanner 60 may include a wireless handheld scanner 61 as well as a fixed scanner 62 fixed below the display unit 50. The fixed scanner 62 can read barcodes, for example, by holding a label issued by the printing mechanism unit 41 up to it. Furthermore, a separate wireless scanner may be carried by each worker, and in this case, the wireless scanner may be connected to the cart 1 by an appropriate standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) to perform short-range communication and transfer the scanned data.

[0027] The fixed scanner 62 is supported by a scanner support plate 162 that is sandwiched at the connection portion between the display unit 50 and the support 161. The scanner support plate 162 is a flat plate-like member that is bent in a crank shape. The scanner support plate 162 holds the fixed scanner 62 at one end, and an appropriate member that constitutes the rotation axis 50z is inserted at the other end. As a result, the fixed scanner 62 can rotate left and right. The scanner support plate 162 may also be connected to the display unit 50. According to this configuration, when the display unit 50 rotates left and right, the fixed scanner 62 also rotates left and right accordingly. That is, the reading area of ​​the fixed scanner 62 faces the operator facing the display unit 50. Therefore, even when the display unit 50 is rotated left and right, reading by the fixed scanner 62 can be easily performed.

[0028] A storage section 80 for storing work tools is disposed near the grip 101. The storage section 80 is disposed, for example, at the rear end of the cart 1 in the traveling direction between the pair of grips 101. In the figure, there is one storage section 80, but the number is arbitrary. The storage section 80 has an appropriate insertion hole 81 so that an appropriate work tool can be inserted therein. The work tool may be, for example, a handy scanner 61. The handy scanner 61 has a relatively thin grip and a relatively thick reading section at the tip, so that the reading section is engaged with the storage section 80 by inserting the grip into the insertion hole 81. As a result, the handy scanner 61 can be stored in the storage section 80.

[0029] The cart 1 also has a frame 100 that surrounds the entire cart 1 from the outside. The frame 100 is mainly composed of a base frame 110, a support 120, a side frame 130, a connecting portion 140, a support plate 150, and an upper frame 160. The base frame 110 is a substantially U-shaped member that is open at the rear in the traveling direction, and constitutes the bottom of the cart 1. The base frame 110 is substantially parallel to the ground. A plurality of wheels 72 are connected to the bottom surface of the base frame 110. The plurality of wheels 72 are arranged on the periphery of the bottom surface of the cart 1, support the cart 1, and rotate as the cart 1 moves. Both ends of the base frame 110 are connected to a locking mechanism 111. The locking mechanism 111 is a rod-shaped member bent into a crank shape. A pedal 112 is connected to the lock mechanism 111, and when the operator steps on the pedal 112, the stand 113 comes into contact with the ground and the rotation of the wheels 72 is restricted.

[0030] The pillars 120 are rod-shaped members that stand upright in the height direction from the base frame 110. The pillars 120 are arranged in pairs on the left and right. The upper ends of the pillars 120 are connected to the side frames 130. A battery 90 that applies power to each functional unit is mounted on the lower part of the pillars 120.

[0031] The side frames 130 are members that form the left and right outer shells of the cart 1. The side frames 130 are arranged in pairs symmetrically on the left and right. The rear end of the side frame 130 in the traveling direction is approximately parallel to the base frame 110 and is connected to the upper end of the support 120. The other end of the side frame 130 is inclined downward from the upper end of the support 120 toward the front in the traveling direction and is connected to the base frame 110. With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 9, the side wall of the container C2 placed on the middle stage placement section 12 can be protected by the side frame 130. In addition, the front end of the inclined part of the side frame 130 is bent in an R shape and connected to the base frame 110. With this configuration, even if the cart 1 collides with a person, injury to the person can be reduced.

[0032] The connecting portion 140 is a rod-shaped member that is connected to the support pillar 120 and the side frame 130. The connecting portion 140 is suspended, for example, substantially horizontally between the front and rear in the traveling direction. The connecting portions 140 are also arranged in pairs on the left and right sides substantially parallel to each other.

[0033] The support plate 150 is a member that supports the placement portion 10, and is hung across the left and right sides of the cart 1. The number of support plates 150 corresponds to the number of placement portions 10, and in this embodiment, there are three support plates 150. The support plate 150 has an upper support plate 151 that supports the upper placement portion 11, a middle support plate 152 that supports the middle placement portion 12, and a lower support plate 153 that supports the lower placement portion 13. Both ends of the upper support plate 151 are connected to the upper portions of the left and right side frames 130, respectively. Both ends of the middle support plate 152 are connected to the left and right connecting portions 140. The lower support plate 153 is connected to the lower side of the base frame 110 in the traveling direction.

[0034] Moreover, the holder 63 for the handy scanner 61 is disposed on the middle support plate 152 that is spanned across the connecting portion 140, below the rear side in the traveling direction of the middle placement portion 12. The holder 63 is connected to the battery 90, and the handy scanner 61 held in the holder 63 can be charged. Since the height of the middle placement portion 12 at the rear side in the traveling direction is higher than that at the front side, this configuration allows the handy scanner 61 to be stored rationally while maintaining the size of the cart 1. Furthermore, with this configuration, the battery 90 is located inside the base frame 110 and close to the battery 90 that is stored below the middle placement portion 12, so that the conductor wire from the battery 90 to the holder 63 can be shortened.

[0035] According to the cart according to the present embodiment described above, picking operations can be carried out in narrow spaces.

[0036] Second embodiment The configuration of a cart 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 12. The cart 2 differs from the first embodiment mainly in that the middle loading section 22 is substantially horizontal with the ground surface. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and the description will be omitted.

[0037] As shown in the figure, the cart 2 has a loading section 10 in which an upper loading section 11, a middle loading section 22 and a lower loading section 13 are arranged in this order from the top. With this configuration, the balance of the products loaded on the middle loading section 12 is more stable. The loading section 10 of the cart 2 is substantially hexagonal in shape. More specifically, the loading surface of the first embodiment has a shape in which the short side facing forward or backward in the traveling direction is cut off.

[0038] Further, a storage space 24 is disposed below the middle stage loading section 22, in front of the cart 2 in the traveling direction. The storage space 24 is, for example, a plate-shaped member connected to the bent portion of the base frame 110. In the storage space 24, products that have been weighed in advance or products that do not require weighing can be loaded and transported. The storage space 24 can also be provided in the first embodiment. According to the configuration in which the middle stage loading section 22 is substantially horizontal to the ground surface as in the second embodiment, compared to the configuration in which the middle stage loading section 12 is inclined, a larger space can be secured above the storage space 24, which is preferable because larger products can be loaded. The products placed in the storage space 24 are, for example, products that are originally placed on one of the loading sections 10, but are bulky when added, such as rice bags and toilet paper, due to their volume. The products placed in the storage space 24 may be configured to be individually input and registered as being placed in the storage space 24, or may be set in advance as product attributes.

[0039] When picking of all the products is completed, or when picking of all the customers who will put the products is completed, a notification may be given to place the products placed in the storage space 24 on the corresponding placement unit 10. The notification may be given in an appropriate manner, such as display on a display unit, sound, or buzzer. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent mistakes in picking even for products temporarily placed in the storage space 24. In addition, if the product is directly placed in the storage space 24 without a weight check at the time of registration, a weight check may be performed after picking is completed. In this case, a notification may be given to encourage weighing at the time of picking completion. Even if the product is placed on the correct placement unit 10 and weight checked at the time of product registration, if the product is subsequently moved to the storage space 24 and picking work is continued, after picking completion, a suitable notification may be given to encourage placing the product on the corresponding placement unit 10, and the product placed on the appropriate placement unit 10 may be weighed again.

[0040] Summary of the implementation form The present invention relates to a cart.

[0041] 2. Description of the Related Art Carts that store products picked from shelves, etc. are known. The carts need to travel in narrow spaces, such as small logistics warehouses and display shelves in supermarkets.

[0042] As a patent document, JP 2020-152534 A is known.

[0043] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a small cart.

[0044] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a cart according to one aspect of the present invention is a cart having a plurality of loading sections for placing containers for storing items, each of the plurality of loading sections being inclined forwards and backwards in the direction of travel, and at least some of the plurality of loading sections have forward and backward ends in the direction of travel overlapping with each other in the height direction.

[0045] At least two of the plurality of mounting sections may be adjacent to each other in the up-down direction, and the two adjacent mounting sections may have different inclination directions.

[0046] The loading section may be an upper loading section, a middle loading section and a lower loading section, arranged in this order from top to bottom, and the front and rear ends of the upper loading section in the direction of travel may overlap in the height direction with those of the middle loading section and the lower loading section.

[0047] The middle loading section may be disposed at a position lower than upper ends of the containers loaded on the lower loading section.

[0048] The vehicle may further include wheels, a base frame connected to the wheels, a plurality of pillars erected in the height direction from the base frame, and side frames that incline downward as they move forward in the direction of travel from the upper ends of the pillars and connect to the base frame.

[0049] The plurality of placement sections may each include a weighing section that weighs the container placed on each placement section independently of one another.

[0050] The cart according to the present invention enables picking operations to be carried out in narrow spaces. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1 Cart 10 Placement section 11 Upper placement section 12 Middle shelf 13 Lower placement section 50 Display 72 wheels 110 Base frame 120 Posts 130 Side frame

Claims

1. A cart having a plurality of placement sections for placing containers for storing items, The plurality of placement sections are each inclined forward and backward in the traveling direction, At least some of the plurality of placement sections have front and rear ends in the traveling direction overlapping each other in the height direction. A cart characterized by:

2. At least two of the plurality of mounting sections are adjacent to each other in the up-down direction, and the two adjacent mounting sections have inclination directions different from each other.

2. The cart of claim 1.

3. The placement section includes an upper placement section, a middle placement section, and a lower placement section, which are arranged in this order from the top downward, The upper placement section has front and rear ends in a direction of travel overlapping with the middle placement section and the lower placement section in a height direction.

2. The cart of claim 1.

4. The middle placement section is disposed at a position lower than the upper ends of the containers placed on the lower placement section.

4. The cart according to claim 3.

5. Wheels and A base frame connected to the wheel; A plurality of support columns erected in a height direction from the base frame; A side frame that is inclined downward from the upper end of the support column toward the front in the traveling direction and is connected to the base frame; The cart of claim 1 further comprising:

6. The plurality of placement sections each include a weighing section that weighs the container placed on each of the placement sections independently of one another.

2. The cart of claim 1.

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