Cart management system

Abstract

To improve the work efficiency of a system which manages carts.SOLUTION: A cart management system comprises a picking cart, a display panel which displays work instruction information given to the picking cart, and a server. The picking cart is moved by a worker in a plurality of work areas, and carries a loaded article. The article is taken by the worker out of an article group arranged in the work area. The server generates the work instruction information, based upon order reception information. The server determines degrees of congestion in the respective work areas based upon work instruction information already given to the cart and a plurality of candidates for work instruction information to be given to the cart, and then selects work instruction information to be given to the picking cart out of the plurality of candidates, based upon the degrees of congestion in the respective work areas.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6B

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, in stores such as supermarkets and drug stores, information on ordered items is sent to a delivery sensor, and the ordered items are delivered from a delivery center. In the delivery center, workers use carts to pick items from a group of items arranged in multiple work areas and collect the ordered items. For example, Patent Document 1 (JP Patent Publication 2010-269858 A) discloses a picking system for use in a delivery center. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] In product picking work at distribution centers, multiple carts are used, and there are situations where workers using carts must pick up products in the same place as other carts. In such situations, the carts are crowded in the same place, which can reduce work efficiency. Similar situations can also occur in other systems that sort products into multiple areas.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to improve the work efficiency in a system for managing carts, such as a picking system or a sorting system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A cart management system according to a first aspect includes a plurality of carts, a display unit, and a cart management unit. Each of the plurality of carts is moved by a worker through a plurality of work areas. Each of the plurality of carts is transported with a product loaded thereon. The product transported by the cart is a product that the worker has picked up from a group of products arranged in the work area. The display unit shows work instruction information to the worker. The work instruction information is information given to each cart. The work instruction information is also information on work instructions related to picking up the product. The cart management unit creates work instruction information to be given to the cart based on product order information. The cart management unit determines a congestion degree based on one or more pieces of work instruction information already given to one or more carts and multiple candidates for work instruction information to be given to the cart. The congestion degree is the congestion degree in the work area when each of the multiple candidates is given to the cart. After determining the congestion degree, the cart management unit selects work instruction information to be given to the cart from the multiple candidates based on the congestion degrees of the multiple work areas.

[0006] In this cart management system, work instruction information is selected based on the degree of congestion in multiple work areas, which makes it possible to prevent situations in which carts are concentrated in a specific work area, resulting in a drop in work efficiency.

[0007] In addition, products placed in the work area include products located within the work area, as well as products that are present at the location where a worker parks a cart in the work area and removes the products.

[0008] A second aspect of the cart management system is the cart management system of the first aspect, in which the cart management unit calculates the total number of products (products associated with each work area) included in one or more pieces of work instruction information already assigned to the cart, and the total number of products (products associated with each work area) included in one candidate piece of work instruction information, and determines this as the degree of congestion of each work area.

[0009] Here, the cart management unit calculates the total number of products associated with each work area from the target multiple work instruction information, and determines the congestion degree of each work area. This method of determining the congestion degree is one of the preferable methods.

[0010] The cart management system of the third aspect is the cart management system of the first aspect. In the work area, shelves having spaces for placing products are provided. The cart management unit calculates the total number of products (products associated with each shelf or space) included in one or more pieces of work instruction information already given to the cart and the total number of products (products associated with each shelf or space) included in one candidate work instruction information, and determines the total number as the congestion degree of each work area.

[0011] Here, the cart management unit calculates the total number of products associated with each shelf or each space from the target multiple work instruction information, and determines the congestion degree of the work area where the shelf is installed. This method of determining the congestion degree is one of the preferable methods.

[0012] A cart management system according to a fourth aspect is the cart management system according to the second or third aspect. The number of products included in one or more pieces of work instruction information already added to the cart is the number of products included in the work instruction information at the time of adding the products to the cart minus the number of products already removed by the worker.

[0013] Here, the congestion level of each work area can be determined more appropriately.

[0014] A cart management system of a fifth aspect is a cart management system of any one of the second to fourth aspects, in which the cart management unit prioritizes candidates that include only products associated with work areas with a low degree of congestion when selecting them as the next work instruction information to be given to the cart.

[0015] It provides a simple selection method to quickly populate the cart with work instruction information.

[0016] A cart management system according to a sixth aspect includes a plurality of carts, a display unit, and a cart management unit. The plurality of carts are each used to transport products loaded thereon so that a worker can sort the products into a plurality of work areas. The display unit shows work instruction information to the worker. The work instruction information is information related to sorting the products that is given to the cart. The cart management unit creates work instruction information to be given to the cart. Based on one or more pieces of work instruction information already given to the cart and multiple candidates for work instruction information to be given to the cart, the cart management unit determines the degree of congestion in the work area when each of the multiple candidates is given to the cart. The cart management unit selects work instruction information to be given to the cart from the multiple candidates based on the degree of congestion in the plurality of work areas.

[0017] In this cart management system, work instruction information is selected based on the degree of congestion in multiple work areas, which makes it possible to prevent situations in which carts are concentrated in a specific work area, resulting in a drop in work efficiency. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the cart management system of the present invention, the occurrence of a situation in which carts are concentrated in a specific work area, causing a drop in work efficiency, is suppressed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a network configuration of a cart management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of a picking cart and a cart management system. [Figure 4] This is a plan view of the shelves in a product distribution center and the transportation paths (aisles) for picking carts. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a front view of a menu screen displayed on a display panel. [Figure 6A]FIG. 11 is a control flow diagram of the creation, selection, and transmission of work instruction information by the server. [Figure 6B] FIG. 11 is a control flow diagram of the creation, selection, and transmission of work instruction information by the server. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are specific examples of the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0021] (1) Overview of Cart Management System 200 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a network configuration of a cart management system 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cart management system 200 is a picking system that uses multiple picking carts 10, and is a system that picks up ordered products (ordered products) at distribution centers such as supermarkets, convenience stores, and drug stores.

[0022] In the cart management system 200, a network is constructed that allows information to be transmitted and received between the server 90 and the picking carts 10 via wireless communication devices. In the server 90, one ID number is registered for each picking cart.

[0023] The server 90 receives and stores order information on product orders from the terminals 100 of multiple stores. The server 90 also stores information that allows identification of the shelf position where the product is displayed. Furthermore, the server 90 links the information on the ordered product with the product position information, and provides them to the picking cart 10.

[0024] 2, the picking cart 10 includes a plurality of placement units 21, 22, 23, a plurality of scales 31, 32, 33, a communication unit 40, a control unit 50, a display panel 60, a label printer 70, and a scanner 80 (including a fixed scanner 81 and a handy scanner 83 shown in FIG. 3). Each of the placement units 21, 22, 23 has one scale installed thereon, and each of the scales 31, 32, 33 has one container 9 (see FIG. 1) placed thereon.

[0025] The control unit 50 receives information about the ordered items and linked item location information from the server 90 via the communication unit 40. The control unit 50 stores the information in the memory 53. The control unit 50 also causes the label printer 70, which issues shipping labels, and a receipt printer (not shown) to print the necessary order information. The receipt printer prints details of the ordered items.

[0026] The control unit 50 also causes the display panel 60 to display information on the ordered product and the shelf position where the product is displayed (the shelf location number that specifies the space where the product is placed), and the worker picks the ordered product from the specified shelf position and reads the barcode of the picked product using the scanner 80. The information on the ordered product and the shelf position where the product is displayed are included in the work instruction information received from the server 90 via the communication unit 40. The work instruction information also includes information such as the product code, the average unit weight described below, and its error rate. The product code is compared with the barcode acquired by the scanner 80. This checks whether the taken-out product is an ordered product. The average unit weight and the error rate are used to determine whether the product weight loaded on the scales 31, 32, and 33 is within the weight range corresponding to the designated number of the product. For example, if the measured weight is within the weight range of the designated number, the designated product is deemed to have been taken out in the designated number, and the work instruction information for the next product is displayed on the display panel 60.

[0027] The control unit 50 determines whether the information on the ordered product matches the information on the picked product based on the read information from the scanner 80, and if they match, displays a match on the display panel 60. On the other hand, if they do not match, displays an error on the display panel 60.

[0028] The worker checks the display on the display panel 60 and places the product in the container 9 of the picking cart 10. A first weighing scale 31, a second weighing scale 32, and a third weighing scale 33 are installed at the bottom of each container 9. This allows the control unit 50 to grasp the weight of the product placed in the container 9.

[0029] The control unit 50 judges whether the weight values ​​provided by the scales 31, 32, 33 match the weight of the ordered items, and if they match, displays a match on the display panel 60. On the other hand, if they do not match, displays an error on the display panel 60.

[0030] (2) Configuration of picking cart 10 As shown in Fig. 2, the cart body 11 of the picking cart 10 has a lower platform 13, an upper platform 15, a frame 17, a work platform 18, and a handle 19. The lower platform 13 has four wheels attached to the side facing the floor surface so that it can travel on the transport path. Two placement sections 22, 23 are provided on the upper surface of the lower platform 13.

[0031] The upper platform 15 is supported horizontally at a height that corresponds to about the waist of an operator above the lower platform 13. A placement section 21 is provided on the upper surface of the upper platform 15. In addition, an intermediate platform 14 is disposed in the middle position between the lower platform 13 and the upper platform 15.

[0032] The frame 17 is composed of four rectangular pillars extending upward from the area between the two mounting portions 22, 23 of the lower loading platform 13. The rectangular pillars bend diagonally backward before reaching the underside of the upper loading platform 15, and support the rear end of the upper loading platform 15. Furthermore, a work platform 18 is disposed near the end of the rectangular pillars. A handle 19 protrudes from the side surface of the work platform 18 facing in the rearward direction. In the above embodiment, a total of three weighing devices 31, 32, 33 are disposed on the upper and lower levels, but four or more weighing devices may be disposed.

[0033] While driving the cart body 11 along the transport path (path 1 to path M shown in FIG. 4), the worker picks up ordered products from product shelves (multiple shelves with shelf numbers R11 to R98 shown in FIG. 4) arranged opposite each other on either side of the transport path. In the distribution center, the paths 1 to M located between groups of shelves are operated in the order shown by the dashed arrows in FIG. 4. The transport path consisting of the paths 1 to M is divided into a plurality of work areas (each of the work areas with work area numbers A11 to A54 shown in FIG. 4), and the work area divisions and shelf numbers are stored in the memory of the server 90. The picking cart 10 is moved between the plurality of work areas by the worker, and carries the ordered products that the worker has taken out of the shelves and transports them. Each of the plurality of picking carts 10 is transported and used by one worker.

[0034] Barcodes 21a, 22a, 23a are attached to the top or side surfaces of the three placement sections 21, 22, 23. Display LEDs 21b, 22b, 23b are provided on the side surfaces of the three placement sections 21, 22, 23. This is to clearly indicate the destination of the product when it is placed into the container 9.

[0035] The first weighing machine 31, the second weighing machine 32, and the third weighing machine 33 are positioned below the weighing platforms 31a, 32a, and 33a, and each have a load cell type weight sensor.

[0036] The communication unit 40 is housed in an electrical equipment box 55 disposed in the center of the lower loading platform 13. The communication unit 40 can wirelessly communicate with the server 90 via a communication device 3 installed in the delivery center. A wireless antenna 40a is attached to the upper outside of the electrical equipment box 55.

[0037] Control unit 50 is housed in electrical equipment box 55. As shown in Fig. 3, control unit 50 has built-in microcomputer 51 and memory 53. Signals from first measuring unit 31, second measuring unit 32, third measuring unit 33, communication unit 40, display panel 60, label printer 70, scanner 80, and the like are input to microcomputer 51.

[0038] In addition, the microcomputer 51 performs display control of the display panel 60, ON-OFF control of the display LEDs 21b, 22b, and 23b, and printing control of the label printer .

[0039] The display panel 60 is provided on the workbench 18. The display panel 60 is a touch panel type liquid crystal display screen, and displays input keys and selection buttons for performing various functions. The display panel 60 also plays a role in showing the work instruction information related to picking sent from the server 90 to the worker.

[0040] The label printer 70 is mounted on the central stand 14. The label printer 70 is provided with an outlet 70a through which printed shipping labels are discharged. A label barcode that identifies the shipping destination is printed on the shipping label discharged from the outlet 70a, and the discharged shipping label is usually affixed to the container 9 by an operator.

[0041] The picking cart 10 is also provided with a fixed scanner 81 and a handy scanner 83. The worker uses the fixed scanner 81 when reading the barcodes of easy-to-handle items, and uses the handy scanner 83 when reading the barcodes of large items, the label barcodes of shipping labels, and the frontage barcodes.

[0042] (3) Example of operation of the cart management system 200 An example of the operation of the cart management system 200 is described in detail in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-218318.

[0043] (4) Creation of work instruction information by the server 90 In the cart management system 200, an operator who operates a picking cart 10 logs in by inputting his / her own ID code on the login screen of the display panel 60, and causes a menu screen 602 shown in FIG. 5 to be displayed.

[0044] In FIG. 5, a menu screen 602 displays a plurality of function selection buttons including a [Picking] button 602a for issuing an instruction to perform a picking operation.

[0045] When the worker presses the [Picking] button 602a on the menu screen 602, a request signal is sent from the communication unit 40 of the picking cart 10 to the server 90, and the server 90 creates work instruction information for the picking cart 10 and sends the work instruction information to the communication unit 40. Based on the received work instruction information, the control unit 50 of the picking cart 10 displays on the display panel 60 the shelf position (location number) of the product to be picked first and the number of products to be picked. While looking at the displayed content, the worker enters the work area and begins picking work from the specified shelf position. In this way, multiple picking carts 10 proceed sequentially into the work area and begin picking work.

[0046] The server 90 is realized by a computer, and serves as a cart management unit that manages the picking carts 10 in the cart management system 200. The server 90 includes a control arithmetic device 91 and a storage device 92. A processor such as a CPU or a GPU can be used for the control arithmetic device 91. The control arithmetic device 91 reads out a program stored in the storage device 92, and performs predetermined image processing and arithmetic processing according to the program. Furthermore, the control arithmetic device 91 can write the results of calculations to the storage device 92 and read out information stored in the storage device 92 according to the program.

[0047] When the server 90 receives order information from each store, it stores the order information in the storage device 92, extracts a group of products that can be picked by one picking cart 10, and creates candidates for work instruction information to be provided to the picking cart 10. Thus, the server 90 usually holds multiple candidates for work instruction information (multiple candidates are temporarily stored in the storage device 92). When a request is made from a picking cart 10, the server 90 selects appropriate work instruction information from the multiple candidates and sends it to the picking cart 10. The work instruction information is information to be provided to each picking cart 10, and is information on work instructions related to picking up ordered products. The server 90 determines the congestion degree based on one or more pieces of work instruction information already sent to one or more picking carts 10 and multiple candidates for work instruction information to be provided to the picking cart 10. The congestion degree is the congestion degree in the work area when each of the multiple candidates is provided to the picking cart 10. After determining the congestion degree, the server 90 selects work instruction information to be given to the picking cart 10 from a plurality of candidates based on the congestion degrees of the plurality of work areas.

[0048] Next, the process flow of creating, selecting and transmitting work instruction information by server 90 will be described with reference to the process flow shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, taking as examples each of the work areas with work area numbers A11 to A54 in the distribution center shown in FIG.

[0049] In step S11, the server 90 determines whether or not it has received order information from the store, and if so, in step S12, creates work instruction information to be given to the picking cart 10 based on the order information, and stores and accumulates it in the memory device 92.

[0050] In step S13, the server 90 determines whether there is an update to the work progress information from the picking cart 10 to which the work instruction information has already been provided (sent). In the picking cart 10, when the worker has taken out (picked) a specified number of products from the shelves in each work area in accordance with the work instruction information, the communication unit 40 transmits information indicating that the products have been picked to the server 90. In response to receiving this information indicating that the products have been picked, the server 90 updates the work instruction information that has already been provided to the picking cart 10 in step S14. The information on each product contained in the work instruction information includes, as attribute information, information on whether the product has been picked and whether it has been picked. For example, a flag is set for a product that has been picked.

[0051] As described above, when the worker presses the [Pick] button 602a (see FIG. 5), a signal is sent from the communication unit 40 of the picking cart 10 to the server 90. The signal corresponds to a request from the picking cart 10 to the server 90 for the provision of work instruction information. In step S15, it is determined whether the signal (request) has been received. If it is determined in step S15 that the request has been received, the process proceeds to steps S16 to S19, where the server 90 calculates the congestion degree of each work area. In step S16, N is set to 1, and the server 90 sets the first candidate for work instruction information as the object of the congestion degree calculation. In step S17, the server 90 extracts the product to be picked from the candidate N for unsent work instruction information that is the object of the congestion degree calculation and one or more pieces of already-sent work instruction information that have already been provided to the picking cart 10. Then, the server 90 identifies the work area in which the shelf to which the extracted product is associated is located, calculates the total number of products for each work area, and sets it as the congestion degree of the work area. For example, Work instruction information for candidate N: The sixth product (work area number A33), 9th product (work area number A41), 11th product (work area number A42), 18th product (work area number A53), -First work instruction information already sent: The second product (work area number A11), The fifth product (work area number A31), The sixth product (work area number A33), - Second work instruction information already sent: The third product (work area number A12), The fifth product (work area number A31), 13th product (work area number A44), - Third work instruction information already sent: The second product (work area number A11), 9th product (work area number A41), 15th product (work area number A52), 19th product (work area number A54), From the target work instruction information group, the server 90 Work area congestion level for work area number A11 = 2 Work area congestion level for work area number A12 = 1 Congestion level of work area number A31 = 2 Congestion level of work area number A33 = 2 Work area congestion level for work area number A41 = 2 Work area congestion level for work area number A42 = 1 Congestion level of work area number A52 = 1 Congestion level of work area number A53 = 1 and determine the congestion level of each work area.

[0052] In step S18, the current N is incremented by 1 to obtain a new N.

[0053] In step S19, the server 90 compares the number of pieces of work instruction information (the number of candidates) that have not yet been sent to the picking cart 10 and that are stored in the storage device 92 with N to determine whether N exceeds the number of candidates. If N exceeds the number of candidates, the server 90 determines that it has finished determining the congestion degree of each work area for all the candidates, and proceeds to the next step S20. On the other hand, if N is the number of candidates or less, the server 90 proceeds to step S17 to determine the congestion degree of each work area for the next candidate N.

[0054] In step S20, the server 90 extracts candidates that do not include products placed in work areas whose congestion degree is greater than an acceptable threshold as candidates to be sent to the picking cart 10. For example, if the threshold is set to 3, the server 90 extracts candidates whose work areas have congestion degrees of 3 or less from among the multiple candidates, and determines the work instruction information of the candidates as the work instruction information to be given to the picking cart 10 next in step S21. Note that if all the candidates have congestion degrees exceeding the threshold in any of the work areas and there is no candidate whose congestion degrees in all the work areas are equal to or less than the threshold, the server 90 determines a candidate whose maximum congestion degree is smaller than the other candidates as the work instruction information to be given to the picking cart 10 next. In other words, the server 90 determines the work instruction information to be given to the picking cart 10 next by giving priority to candidates that include only products associated with work areas whose congestion degree is small.

[0055] Then, the server 90 transmits the determined candidate (work instruction information) to the picking cart 10 in step S22.

[0056] (5) Features (5-1) In the cart management system 200, the server 90 selects work instruction information based on the degree of congestion in multiple work areas. This makes it possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which picking carts 10 are concentrated in a specific work area, resulting in a drop in work efficiency. For example, in a distribution center shown in FIG. 4, when many picking carts 10 simultaneously receive work instruction information for picking products placed on shelves in the work area A31 and many picking carts 10 enter the work area A31, congestion of the picking carts 10 occurs, which reduces the efficiency of the work performed by the workers. However, such congestion hardly occurs in the cart management system 200 of this embodiment.

[0057] (5-2) In the cart management system 200, the server 90 calculates the total number of products associated with each work area from the target multiple work instruction information, and determines the congestion degree of that work area. This method of determining the congestion degree is simple, and the work instruction information can be quickly provided to the picking cart 10.

[0058] The server 90 may determine the work instruction information to be given to the picking cart 10 by taking into consideration parameters such as shipping priority, work start position, overlapping of products, and ease of picking, in addition to the parameter of the congestion level of each work area. In this case, which parameter is given priority will be determined according to the needs of the distribution center or store.

[0059] (5-3) In the cart management system 200, the server 90 updates the work instruction information that has already been provided to the picking cart 10 based on the picking completion information sent from the picking cart 10 in step S14. As a result, the congestion degree of each work area in step S17 is obtained by subtracting the number of products that the worker has already taken out from the shelf in each work area. In other words, the server 90 uses the number of products included in the work instruction information at the time of giving it to the picking cart 10 minus the number of products that the worker has already taken out as the number of products included in one or more pieces of work instruction information already given to the picking cart 10 in each work area. The server 90 calculates the total number of products for each work area by using this as the number of products included in the work instruction information already sent to each work area. Therefore, the cart management system 200 can more appropriately determine the congestion degree of each work area.

[0060] (5-4) In step S20 of the cart management system 200, the server 90 extracts candidates that do not include products placed in work areas with a congestion level greater than an acceptable threshold as candidates to be sent to the picking cart 10. In other words, the server 90 prioritizes candidates that include only products associated with work areas with a low congestion level, and selects them as work instruction information to be given to the picking cart 10 next. In this way, the cart management system 200 selects work instruction information by a simple selection method, and can quickly give the work instruction information to the picking cart 10.

[0061] (6) Variations (6-1) First Modification In the above embodiment, the transport route is divided into a plurality of work areas with work area numbers A11 to A54 as shown in Fig. 4, but the division of the work areas may be changed according to the size of each distribution center, the arrangement of shelves, etc. For example, when each of aisles 1 to M is set as one work area, the server 90 determines the congestion degree of each aisle, and selects from a plurality of candidates the work instruction information to be provided to the picking cart 10 according to the congestion degree.

[0062] (6-2) Second Modification In the above embodiment, the congestion degree for each work area is determined, and work instruction information to be sent to the picking cart 10 is selected based on the congestion degrees, but instead of this method, the congestion degree for each shelf may be determined, and work instruction information to be sent to the picking cart 10 may be selected based on the congestion degrees. In this case, the server 90 calculates the total number of products (products associated with each shelf) included in one or more pieces of work instruction information already given to the picking cart 10 and the number of products (products associated with each shelf) included in one candidate, and determines this as the congestion degree of each work area.

[0063] Also, instead of using a work area or shelf as a unit, the congestion degree for each space may be determined using multiple spaces provided on each shelf as a unit. In this case, the server 90 calculates the total number of products (products associated with each space) included in one or more pieces of work instruction information already given to the picking cart 10 and the total number of products (products associated with each space) included in one candidate, and determines this as the congestion degree of each work area.

[0064] (6-3) Third Modification The cart management system 200 according to the embodiment described above is a system for picking ordered products at a delivery center, but the present invention can also be applied to a system for sorting products into each work area. The cart management system according to this modification includes a plurality of sorting carts, a display unit, and a server. The plurality of sorting carts carry products on them so that workers can sort the products into the plurality of work areas. The display unit shows the work instruction information to the workers. The work instruction information is information related to the sorting of products that is given to the sorting cart. The server creates work instruction information to be given to the sorting cart. Based on one or more pieces of work instruction information already given to the sorting cart and a plurality of candidates for work instruction information to be given to the sorting cart, the server determines the degree of congestion in the work area when each of the plurality of candidates is given to the sorting cart. The server selects work instruction information to be given to the sorting cart from the plurality of candidates based on the degree of congestion in the plurality of work areas.

[0065] In the cart management system according to this modification, the work instruction information is selected based on the degree of congestion in multiple work areas. This makes it possible to prevent situations in which sorting carts are concentrated in a specific work area, resulting in a drop in work efficiency.

[0066] (6-4) Fourth Modification In the above embodiment, various pieces of information are presented to the worker via the display panel 60 of the picking cart 10. Instead of or in addition to this, various pieces of information may be presented to the worker using a wireless device such as a tablet terminal or a handheld terminal carried by the worker.

[0067] (6-5) Fifth Modification In the above embodiment, although detailed description is omitted, it is determined whether the weight value given by the scales 31, 32, and 33 matches the weight of the ordered product. In this weight inspection, in order to calculate the optimal error rate for each package (loose, ball) taking into account the variation in weight for each product, the control unit 50 of the picking cart 10 determines the weight range of the specified number of products based on the average unit weight and error rate of the unit weight of loose, ball, etc. included in the work instruction information, and if the actual weight value received from the scales 31, 32, and 33 is within the weight range thus determined, the number of products loaded on the scales is determined to be the specified number. The average unit weight and its error rate used in this case are transmitted from each picking cart 10 to the server 90 during weight inspection, and are calculated based on the specified number of products and their measured weights stored in the storage device 92. That is, when the work for one day is finished, the server 90 calculates the unit weight at each inspection from the indicated number of pieces at each weight inspection and the measured weight stored in the storage device 92, calculates the average value of the unit weights thus calculated and the average value (standard deviation) of the differences between each unit weight, and calculates the error rate. The formula for this calculation is as follows: Bulk weight error rate (%) = (standard deviation of bulk weight / average bulk weight) x 100 It becomes.

[0068] This makes it possible to set the optimal weight error rate for each product, contributing to improving the accuracy of weight inspection.

[0069] (6-6) Sixth Modification Although detailed description is omitted in the above embodiment, the optimal picking number may be calculated as follows.

[0070] Since there is variation in the weight of individual products measured as loose or ball-sized items, if this is not taken into consideration, an error of one or more items may occur if the number of items placed on the scale increases. Therefore, as a method for calculating the maximum quantity (optimum picking number) that does not cause an error, the server 90 uses the following formula to find the optimum picking number. Optimal picking number = (average unit weight × weight error rate) / (| (standard deviation of unit weight × rate of deviation above the average unit weight) - (standard deviation of unit weight × rate of deviation below the average unit weight) |)

[0071] Here, the rate of deviation from the average unit weight is: Number of times the actual unit weight exceeded the average unit weight / total number of measurements x (average unit weight - actual unit weight) The rate at which the unit weight falls below the average value is Number of times the actual unit weight was below the average unit weight / total number of measurements x (average unit weight - actual unit weight) It is.

[0072] This sets the optimal number of items that can be picked at one time, with the upper limit being the quantity that exceeds the unit weight.

[0073] In this way, by calculating the optimal number of items that can be picked at one time, taking into account the variation in weight for each product, the specified number of items can be divided and picked for each calculated picking number, eliminating the difference between the actual quantity put in and the quantity calculated by measurement, and eliminating the need for visual inspection. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 10 Picking Cart (Cart) 60 Display panel (display section) 90 Server (Cart Management Department) 200 Cart Management System A11~A54 Work area number R11~R98 Shelf number [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0075] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-269858 A

Claims

1. A plurality of carts that move among a plurality of work areas and carry and transport products that workers pick up from a group of products arranged in the work areas; a display unit that displays to the worker work instruction information related to the removal of the product, the work instruction information being provided to the cart; a cart management unit that creates the work instruction information to be provided to the cart based on the order information of the product; Equipped with the cart management unit determines a degree of congestion in the work area when each of the plurality of candidates is assigned to the cart, based on one or more pieces of work instruction information already assigned to the cart and a plurality of candidates for the work instruction information to be assigned to the cart, and selects the work instruction information to be assigned to the cart from the plurality of candidates based on the degree of congestion of each of the work areas. Cart management system.

2. the cart management unit determines, as the congestion degree, a total number of the number of products included in one or more pieces of work instruction information already assigned to the cart, which are associated with each of the work areas, and a number of products included in one piece of work instruction information of the candidate; The cart management system according to claim 1 .

3. The work area is provided with a shelf having a space for placing the product, the cart management unit determines, as the congestion degree, the total number of the number of products included in one or more pieces of work instruction information already assigned to the cart, which are associated with each of the shelves or spaces, and the number of products included in one piece of work instruction information of the candidate; The cart management system according to claim 1 .

4. The number of products included in the one or more pieces of work instruction information already added to the cart is the number of products included in the work instruction information at the time of adding the products to the cart minus the number of products already taken out by the worker. The cart management system according to claim 2 or 3.

5. the cart management unit selects, as the work instruction information to be given to the cart, the candidate that includes only the product associated with the work area having a low degree of congestion, with priority; The cart management system according to claim 2 or 3.

6. A plurality of carts for carrying and transporting the products so that workers can sort the products into a plurality of work areas; a display unit that displays to the worker work instruction information related to sorting the products that is provided to the cart; a cart management unit that creates the work instruction information to be provided to the cart; Equipped with the cart management unit determines a degree of congestion in the work area when each of the plurality of candidates is assigned to the cart, based on one or more pieces of work instruction information already assigned to the cart and a plurality of candidates for the work instruction information to be assigned to the cart, and selects the work instruction information to be assigned to the cart from the plurality of candidates based on the degrees of congestion of the plurality of work areas. Cart management system.

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