Lifting / lowering conveyance device

Abstract

To provide a lifting / lowering conveyance device capable of executing efficient sorting work at a work place for performing sorting processing.SOLUTION: A lifting / lowering conveyance device 71 includes: a lifting / lowering part 73 for conveying an object B to be conveyed along the vertical direction from a first conveyor line 61 to a second conveyor line 51; a buffer part 81 arranged between the first conveyor line 61 and the second conveyor line 51 in the vertical direction, and capable of passing / receiving the object B to be conveyed between itself and the lifting / lowering part 73; and a control part 87 for at least controlling the lifting / lowering part 73 so as to execute first processing for retreating the object B to be conveyed to the buffer part 81, second processing for passing the object B to be conveyed to the second conveyor line 51 after the first processing, and third processing for passing the object B to be treated which was retreated to the buffer part 81 after the second processing to the second conveyor line 51, and for switching the order of the object B to be conveyed arriving at a work place 55.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to a lifting and conveying device.

Background Art

[0002] A picking system that takes out an article according to an order from a product display shelf provided in a picking area and assists in the sorting operation of storing the taken-out article in a conveyed object (delivery box) conveyed to the picking area is described in, for example, Patent Document 1. Further, a picking system for taking out an article according to an order from a conveyed object (article box) conveyed from an automated warehouse or the like to a picking area and assisting in the sorting operation of storing the article in a delivery box is also widely known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In such a picking system, there is a desire to efficiently perform the sorting operation at the work location where the sorting process is carried out by changing the order of the conveyed objects conveyed from the upstream side.

[0005] Therefore, an object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a lifting and conveying device capable of efficiently performing a sorting operation at a work location where a sorting process is carried out.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The lifting and conveying device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a first conveyor line connected to a supply unit of an object to be conveyed, a work location where sorting processing is performed is configured, and a second conveyor line provided at a position different from the first conveyor line in the vertical direction. A lifting unit that conveys the object to be conveyed along the vertical direction to the second conveyor line, a buffer unit disposed between the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line in the vertical direction and capable of transferring the object to be conveyed with the lifting unit, a first process of retracting the object to be conveyed received from the first conveyor line in the lifting unit to the buffer unit, a second process of transferring the object to be conveyed received from the first conveyor line after the first process to the second conveyor line, and a third process of transferring the object to be conveyed retracted to the buffer unit after the second process to the second conveyor line. At least the lifting unit is controlled to execute the above processes, and a control unit that rearranges the order of the objects to be conveyed arriving at the work location.

[0007] In this configuration, after at least one object to be conveyed is retracted to the buffer, the object to be conveyed that is conveyed later is sent out in advance to the above work location configured as a part of the second conveyor line, and the retracted object to be conveyed is then sent out to the above work location. As a result, the objects to be conveyed are conveyed to the work location in an order different from the order in which they are conveyed in the first conveyor line, so that the operator can perform an efficient sorting operation at the work location. Note that the second process means transferring at least one object to be conveyed to the buffer unit.

[0008] In the lifting and conveying device according to one aspect of the present invention, a plurality of buffer units are provided, and the plurality of buffer units may be arranged at the same height position. In this configuration, the order of the objects to be conveyed sent out to the above work location can be rearranged among three or more objects to be conveyed. Also, when continuously transferring the object to be conveyed to the buffer units arranged at the same height position, the lifting operation of the lifting unit can be omitted, so that the cycle time can be shortened.

[0009] In the lifting and conveying device according to one aspect of the present invention, it may be configured to be able to place a plurality of objects to be conveyed. In this configuration, the order of the objects to be conveyed sent to the above work location can be interchanged among three or more objects to be conveyed.

[0010] In the lifting and conveying device according to one aspect of the present invention, the lifting part may be configured to be able to convey the object to be conveyed bidirectionally between the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line. In this configuration, the object to be conveyed after the sorting operation can be returned to the first conveyor line.

Advantages of the Invention

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, an efficient sorting operation can be carried out at the work location where the sorting process is performed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, the sorting station 5 including the lifting and conveying device 71 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same elements, and redundant descriptions are omitted. In the following description, for convenience of explanation, the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction shown in FIG. 1 are defined. The X direction, Y direction, and Z direction are orthogonal to each other.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the picking system 100 is a system that supports the sorting operation (picking) of taking out items of the types and quantities according to the order of the shipping destination from each of the item box warehouses (supply units) 1 provided for each type of item, aggregating them, and storing them in a delivery box. More specifically, the picking system 100 conveys the item boxes B (objects to be conveyed) in which the products are stored from each of the item box warehouses 1 storing the products to the sorting station 5. At the sorting station 5, the sorting operation of taking out the products of the types and quantities based on the order from the conveyed item boxes B and storing them in the delivery box is performed by the operator. The picking system 100 conveys the item boxes B from which the products have been taken out at the sorting station 5 back to the original item box warehouse 1 of the outgoing warehouse and reinserts them into the item box warehouse 1.

[0015] The item box warehouse 1 is an automated warehouse that stores a plurality of item boxes B each containing different types of items, ships the item boxes B based on the order, receives the item boxes B that have returned after shipping, and can store the item boxes B again. The item box warehouse 1 includes a first rack 11, a first conveyor 12, a first conveying device 13, a vertical conveyor 14, and a second conveyor 15.

[0016] The first rack 11 is a shelf for storing the article boxes B. The first rack 11 is provided so that a plurality of article boxes B can be placed along one direction in the horizontal direction (the X direction shown in FIG. 1). The first rack 11 is arranged in a plurality of stages along the vertical direction (Z direction). The first rack 11 is arranged to face each other with the first conveyor 13 interposed therebetween in a direction (Y direction) orthogonal to the extending direction (X direction) of the first rack 11. The picking system 100 may include a plurality of article box warehouses 1 for storing the same type of article boxes B. The number of the article box warehouses 1 provided in the picking system 100 is not particularly limited. Also, the type and size (the number of article boxes B to be stored) of the article box warehouse 1 are not particularly limited, and the types and sizes of the plurality of article box warehouses 1 may be different from each other.

[0017] The first conveyor 13 transfers the article boxes B placed on the first rack 11 and the first conveyor 12 to another location of the first rack 11 and the first conveyor 12. The type of the first conveyor 13 is not particularly limited. For example, the first conveyor 13 is a conveyor device composed of rails respectively laid at positions corresponding to each stage of the first rack 11 and carriages arranged for each rail. Note that the first conveyor 13 may be a stacker crane having a transfer device capable of traveling along the extending direction of the first rack 11 and transferring the article box B to each placement portion of the first rack 11 and the first conveyor 12. When a stacker crane is adopted, the vertical conveyor 14 described in detail later may be omitted. Also, the rails extend and are arranged along the first rack 11 to reach the first conveyor 12, and the carriages reciprocate along the rails while holding the article boxes B. The carriages have a transfer device capable of transferring the article boxes B between the first rack 11 and the first conveyor 12 and the carriages.

[0018] The first conveyor 12 is respectively arranged at positions corresponding to each stage of the pair of first racks 11, 11. One of the first conveyors 12 conveys the article box B along the extending direction of one of the first racks 11 and discharges the article box B to the vertical conveyor 14. The other first conveyor 12 conveys the article box B along the extending direction of the other first rack 11 and delivers the article box B carried in from the vertical conveyor 14 to the first conveying device 13. The type of the first conveyor 12 is not particularly limited, and for example, it may be a roller conveyor, a belt conveyor, or the like.

[0019] The vertical conveyor 14 conveys the article box B along the vertical direction (Z direction). In the present embodiment, a pair of vertical conveyors 14, 14 corresponding to each of the pair of first conveyors 12, 12 are provided. One of the vertical conveyors 14 conveys the article box B carried in from the first conveyor 12 along the vertical direction and discharges it to the second conveyor 15. The other vertical conveyor 14 conveys the article box B carried in from the second conveyor 15 in the Z direction and discharges it to the first conveyor 12 at a predetermined stage.

[0020] The second conveyor 15 conveys the article box B in the X direction between the main conveying device 3 and the vertical conveyor 14. In the present embodiment, a pair of second conveyors 15, 15 corresponding to each of the pair of vertical conveyors 14, 14 are provided. One of the second conveyors 15 conveys the article box B carried in from the vertical conveyor 14 in the X direction and discharges it to the main conveying device 3. The other second conveyor 15 conveys the article box B carried in from the main conveying device 3 in the X direction and discharges it to the vertical conveyor 14.

[0021] The main conveying device 3 conveys the article box B delivered (handed over) from the article box warehouse 1 to each sorting station 5, and also conveys the article box B discharged from each sorting station 5 to the article box warehouse 1. The main conveying device 3 conveys the article box B in one direction. The type of the main conveying device 3 is not particularly limited, and it may be configured by combining a plurality of types of conveying devices. The main conveying device 3 of the present embodiment includes, for example, a main conveying roller 31 and a connecting conveying roller 33.

[0022] The main conveying roller 31 is a roller conveyor that supports from below the bottom surface of the article box B and conveys it in one direction. The connecting conveying roller 33 is disposed at a connecting portion to the second conveying path 63 of the sorting station 5 to be described in detail later. The connecting conveying roller 33 conveys the article box B in the above-mentioned one direction and also conveys the article box B in a direction (X direction) orthogonal to the above-mentioned one direction. That is, the connecting conveying roller 33 enables the loading and unloading of the article box B with respect to the second conveying path 63. Since the configuration of the connecting conveying roller 33 is the same as that of the first conversion conveying path 53B to be described in detail later, detailed description here is omitted.

[0023] The sorting station 5 constitutes a working location 55 where sorting work of articles by an operator is carried out. The sorting station 5 includes a lower conveyor line (second conveyor line) 51, an upper conveyor line (first conveyor line) 61, and a lifting and conveying device 71.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower conveyor line 51 is provided at a position different in the vertical direction from the upper conveyor line 61. The lower conveyor line 51 has a circular first conveying path 53 that conveys the article box B in one direction. At a part of the first conveying path 53 of the lower conveyor line 51, a working location 55 where an operator performs sorting work is provided. The first conveying path 53 is composed of a first straight conveying path 53A and a first conversion conveying path 53B. The first straight conveying path 53A supports the bottom surface of the article box B from below and conveys it in one direction (X direction). The type of the first straight conveying path 53A is not particularly limited, and for example, it is a roller conveyor or a belt conveyor.

[0025] The first conversion conveyance path 53B conveys the article box B along one direction (X direction), and switches the conveyance direction to a direction (Y direction) orthogonal to the one direction to convey the article box B. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the first conversion conveyance path 53B has a long roller 53Ba and a rotating roller 53Bb. The long rollers 53Ba are arranged along the conveyance direction of the article box B. A plurality of the rotating rollers 53Bb are arranged between adjacent long rollers 53Ba along the extending direction (Y direction) of the long roller 53Ba.

[0026] The first conversion conveyance path 53B is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The long roller 53Ba is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction between an extended position located at a first height and a retracted position located at a second height lower than the first height. In the first conversion conveyance path 53B, when the long roller 53Ba is located at the retracted position, the height position of the rotating roller 53Bb (the position that supports the article box B from below) is arranged to be higher than the height position of the long roller 53Ba (the position that supports the article box B from below).

[0027] In the first conversion conveyance path 53B, with the long roller 53Ba positioned at the normal position, the article box B is conveyed in the X direction by rotationally driving all of the long rollers 53Ba or some of the long rollers 53Ba. In the first conversion conveyance path 53B, with the long roller 53Ba positioned at the retracted position, the article box B is conveyed in the Y direction by rotationally driving the rotating roller 53Bb. That is, in the first conversion conveyance path 53B, the article box B can be moved in both the Y direction and the X direction.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, as described above, the working location 55 is the location where the operator sorts the articles. More specifically, there is a stop position for the article box B, and a space for the operator to work is arranged in the vicinity. A terminal device 91, a completion button for inputting work completion, etc. may be arranged at the working location 55. On the display unit (display) of the terminal device 91, the type (product name) of the product that the operator should take out from the article box B and the number of products to be put in are displayed based on the above-described order. The operator takes out the product from the conveyed article box B and presses the completion button based on the content displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 91. When the completion button is pressed, the type and number of products to be taken out from the article box B next are displayed on the display unit.

[0029] The upper conveyor line 61 is arranged above the lower conveyor line 51 and is connected to the article box warehouse 1 which is the supply unit of the article box B. The upper conveyor line 61 has a second conveyance path 63 that conveys the article box B in one direction from one end to the other end. One end 61a and the other end 61b of the second conveyance path 63 are connected to the main conveyance device 3. The second conveyance path 63 of the present embodiment is formed in a U shape in a plan view seen from the vertical direction.

[0030] The second conveyance path 63 is configured to include a second straight conveyance path 63A and a second conversion conveyance path 63B. The second straight conveyance path 63A supports from below the bottom surface of the article box B and conveys it in one direction. The type of the second straight conveyance path 63A is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a roller conveyor or a belt conveyor. The second conversion conveyance path 63B conveys the article box B along one direction (X direction), and conveys the article box B while switching the conveyance direction to a direction (Y direction) orthogonal to the one direction. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the second conversion conveyance path 63B has a long roller 63Ba and a rotating roller 63Bb. The long rollers 63Ba are arranged along the conveyance direction (X direction) of the article box B. A plurality of the rotating rollers 63Bb are arranged between adjacent long rollers 63Ba along the extending direction (Y direction) of the long rollers 63Ba. Note that since the configuration in which the second conversion conveyance path 63B can move the article box B in both the Y direction and the X direction is the same as the configuration of the first conversion conveyance path 53B, a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the elevating and conveying device 71 conveys the article box B along the vertical direction, and transfers the article box B from the upper conveyor line 61 to the lower conveyor line 51. In this embodiment, the article box B is configured to be conveyable in both directions between the upper conveyor line 61 and the lower conveyor line 51. The elevating and conveying device 71 is arranged slightly downstream of one end 61a of the second conveyance path 63. Note that the arrangement position of the elevating and conveying device 71 is not limited to this position, and is not particularly limited as long as it is a position where the article box B can be carried in and out of the second conveyance path 63 and the first conveyance path 53.

[0032] The elevating and conveying device 71 includes an elevating unit 73, a plurality of buffer units 81, and a control unit 87. The elevating unit 73 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and moves in the vertical direction by the driving force of the moving body driving unit being transmitted thereto.

[0033] The elevating section 73 has a plurality of conveying rollers 77 and a conveying drive section 79. Some or all of the plurality of conveying rollers 77 are driven by the conveying drive section 79. The conveying rollers 77 rotate when the driving force of the conveying drive section 79 is transmitted, and the article box B is carried into the central portion of the elevating section 73 from the first conveying path 53 or the second conveying path 63. Similarly, the conveying rollers 77 rotate when the driving force of the conveying drive section 79 is transmitted, and the article box B is carried out from the central portion of the elevating section 73 to the first conveying path 53 or the second conveying path 63. The elevating section 73 moves in the Z direction with the article box B positioned at the central portion of the moving body. The conveying drive section 79 is provided on the frame constituting the elevating section 73.

[0034] In the present embodiment, the operation of loading the article box B from the first conveying path 53 into the elevating and conveying device 71 and the operation of unloading the article box B from the elevating and conveying device 71 to the first conveying path 53 are executed simultaneously. Also, the operation of loading the article box B from the second conveying path 63 into the elevating and conveying device 71 and the operation of unloading the article box B from the elevating and conveying device 71 to the second conveying path 63 are executed simultaneously. In the present embodiment, the loading direction of the article box B from the first conveying path 53 into the elevating and conveying device 71 and the unloading direction of the article box B from the elevating and conveying device 71 to the first conveying path 53 are the same, and the loading direction of the article box B from the second conveying path 63 into the elevating and conveying device 71 and the unloading direction of the article box B from the elevating and conveying device 71 to the second conveying path 63 are the same. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the elevating and conveying device 71 is illustrated in a box shape along the moving direction of the elevating section 73, but such a cover-shaped housing may or may not be provided.

[0035] Note that the operation of loading the article box B from the first conveying path 53 into the elevating and conveying device 71 may be executed continuously following the operation of unloading the article box B from the elevating and conveying device 71 to the first conveying path 53. Also, the operation of loading the article box B from the second conveying path 63 into the elevating and conveying device 71 may be executed continuously following the operation of unloading the article box B from the elevating and conveying device 71 to the second conveying path 63.

[0036] The buffer section 81 is arranged vertically between the upper conveyor line 61 and the lower conveyor line 51, and is provided so as to be able to transfer the article box B to and from the elevating section 73. A plurality of buffer sections 81 are provided, and the plurality of buffer sections 81 are arranged at the same height position. In the present embodiment, two buffer sections 81 are provided, and the two buffer sections 81 are arranged so as to sandwich and face the elevating section 73.

[0037] The buffer section 81 has a conveying roller 83 and a conveying drive section 85. Some or all of the plurality of conveying rollers 83 are driven by the conveying drive section 85. The conveying roller 83 rotates when the driving force of the conveying drive section 85 is transmitted, and the article box B is carried into the buffer section 81 from the elevating section 73. Similarly, the conveying roller 83 rotates when the driving force of the conveying drive section 85 is transmitted, and the article box B is carried out of the buffer section 81 to the elevating section 73. The elevating section 73 moves in the Z direction with the article box B positioned at the central portion of the moving body. The conveying drive section 79 is provided on the frame constituting the elevating section 73.

[0038] The control section 87 is a part that executes various control processes in the elevating and conveying device 71, and is composed of, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc. As shown in FIG. 2, the control section 87 can be configured as software in which a program stored in the ROM, for example, is loaded onto the RAM and executed by the CPU. Note that the control section 87 may be configured as hardware by an electronic circuit or the like.

[0039] The control section 87 controls at least the elevating section 73 so as to execute a first process of retracting the article box B received from the upper conveyor line 61 in the elevating section 73 to the buffer section 81, a second process of transferring the article box B received from the upper conveyor line 61 to the lower conveyor line 51 after the first process, and a third process of transferring the article box B retracted to the buffer section 81 to the lower conveyor line 51 after the second process, and rearranges the order of the article boxes B arriving at the work location 55.

[0040] Next, the operation of the lifting and conveying device 71 configured as described above will be described. The article box B carried in from the main conveying device 3 is conveyed to the front of the lifting and conveying device 71 along the second conveying path 63 of the upper conveyor line 61. Hereinafter, taking as an example the case where the article box B (article box Ba) containing the product a, the article box B (article box Bb) containing the product b, and the article box B (article box Bc) containing the product c are conveyed in this order to the front of the lifting and conveying device 71, an explanation will be given.

[0041] The control unit 87 usually controls the lifting unit 73 into which the article box B is carried in from the upper conveyor line 61 to directly transfer it to the lower conveyor line 51. That is, the lifting unit 73 transfers the article box B to the lower conveyor line 51 while maintaining the order of the article boxes B (the order of article box Ba, article box Bb, and article box Bc) that have been conveyed to the front of the lifting and conveying device 71. In this case, the article box B arrives at the work location 55 in the order of the article boxes B (the order of article box Ba, article box Bb, and article box Bc) that have been conveyed to the front of the lifting and conveying device 71.

[0042] The control unit 87, for example, based on an order transmitted to the terminal device 91, exchanges the order of the article boxes B that have been conveyed to the front of the lifting and conveying device 71 and the order in which the article boxes B are transferred to the lower conveyor line 51. For example, the control unit 87 controls the lifting unit 73 and the buffer unit 81 so that the article box B arrives at the work location 55 in the order of article box Bc, article box Bb, and article box Ba.

[0043] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 5(A), for the article box B that has been conveyed to the front of the lifting and conveying device 71 in the order of article box Ba, article box Bb, and article box Bc, as shown in Fig. 5(B), the control unit 87 controls the lifting unit 73 and the buffer unit 81 to retract the article box Ba into the first buffer unit 81A which is one of the buffer units 81, and retract the article box Bb into the second buffer unit 81B which is one of the buffer units 81 (first process). Next, as shown in Fig. 5(C), the control unit 87 controls the lifting unit 73 to transfer the article box Bc from the upper conveyor line 61 to the lower conveyor line 51 (second process).

[0044] Next, the control unit 87 controls the elevating unit 73 so as to transfer the article box Bb stored in the second buffer unit 81B to the lower conveyor line 51 from the second buffer unit 81B, and then continuously controls the elevating unit 73 so as to transfer the article box Ba stored in the first buffer unit 81A to the lower conveyor line 51 from the first buffer unit 81A (third process). As a result, as shown in FIG. 5(D), the article box B is sent out to the lower conveyor line 51 in the order of the article box Bc, the article box Bb, and the article box Ba, and the article box B arrives at the work location 55 in this order.

[0045] The operation and effect of the elevating and conveying device 71 in the above embodiment will be described. In the elevating and conveying device 71 of the above embodiment, after at least one article box B is stored in the buffer unit, the article box B that is subsequently conveyed is sent out in advance to the work location 55 formed in a part of the lower conveyor line 51, and the stored article box B is then sent out to the work location 55. As a result, the article box B is conveyed to the work location 55 in an order different from the order in which it is conveyed on the upper conveyor line 61. The operator can perform, for example, an efficient sorting operation according to the order at the work location 55.

[0046] When the article box B is carried out from the article box warehouse 1 as in the above embodiment, in order to make the article box B arrive at the work location 55 according to the type of product displayed on the terminal device 91 at the work location 55, for example, it may wait somewhere in the main conveyor device 3 or wait for the merging order. In the elevating and conveying device 71 of the above embodiment, such processing does not need to be performed in the upstream process, so that the residence and the like in the main conveyor device 3 can be suppressed and the conveying efficiency can be improved. Further, for example, in the article box warehouse 1 that carries out a plurality of article boxes B together, there may be a case where the article boxes B cannot be carried out in the order according to the order. Even in such a case where the upper conveyor line 61 is connected to the article box warehouse 1, the article box B can be conveyed to the work location 55 in an order different from the order in which it is conveyed on the upper conveyor line 61.

[0047] In the lifting and conveying device 71 of the above embodiment, a plurality of buffer units are provided. Thereby, the order of the article boxes B to be sent out to the working location 55 can be switched among three or more article boxes B. Further, in the lifting and conveying device 71 of the above embodiment, the first buffer unit 81A and the second buffer unit 81B are arranged at the same height position. Thereby, when continuously delivering the article box B between the first buffer unit 81A and the second buffer unit 81B, the lifting operation of the lifting unit can be omitted, so that the cycle time can be shortened.

[0048] In the lifting and conveying device 71 of the above embodiment, the lifting unit 73 is configured to be able to convey the article box B bidirectionally between the upper conveyor line 61 and the lower conveyor line 51. Thereby, the article box B after the commodity is picked up due to the working difference can be returned to the upper conveyor line 61.

[0049] As described above, one embodiment has been described. However, one aspect of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0050] (Modification Example 1) In the lifting and conveying device 71 of the above embodiment, an example in which the two buffer units 81 are arranged at the same height position has been described. However, they may be arranged at different height positions from each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 6(A), they may be arranged in multiple stages. Further, when a plurality of buffer units 81 are arranged at the same height position, the number thereof may be three or more. Even in these cases, the order of the article boxes B to be sent out to the working location 55 can be switched among three or more article boxes B.

[0051] (Modification Example 2) In the lifting and conveying device 71 of the above-described embodiment and modification, an example has been described in which only one article box B can be stored in one buffer unit 81. However, for example, as shown in FIG. 6(B), a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality (for example, two) of article boxes B can be placed (stored). Even with this configuration, it is possible to change the order of the article boxes B to be sent to the working location 55 among three or more article boxes B. Further, instead of the buffer unit 81 in which only one article box B that is arranged in the above-described embodiment and modification 1 can be placed, a buffer unit 81 in which a plurality of article boxes B can be placed may be arranged.

[0052] (Other Modifications) In the lifting unit 73 of the lifting and conveying device 71 of the above-described embodiment and modification, an example has been described in which the article box B is carried in and out by the conveying roller 77. However, a transfer arm may be provided instead of these conveying rollers 77. Even in this case, it is possible to transfer the article box B between the lower conveyor line 51, the upper conveyor line 61, and the buffer unit 81. Further, when the lifting unit 73 is provided with a transfer arm, each buffer unit 81 may be configured to include a plate or the like on which the article box B can be placed, instead of the configuration including the conveying roller 83 and the conveying drive unit 82.

[0053] In the lifting and conveying device 71 of the above-described embodiment and modification, an example has been described in which only one article box B (article box B) can be conveyed in one conveyance. However, it may be provided so as to be able to convey a plurality of article boxes B simultaneously. Specifically, by configuring the length of the lifting unit 73 to be a length on which a plurality of article boxes B can be placed, a plurality of article boxes B may be conveyed simultaneously.

[0054] In the above-described embodiment and modification, the roller conveyor has been described as an example of the main conveying device 3. However, a belt conveyor or a rail-guided vehicle may be used. Further, as an example of the main conveying device 3, a conveying cart such as a stacker crane that exchanges articles with a shelf for storing articles may be used.

[0055] In the above-described embodiments and modified examples, an example was given in which sorting is performed by an operator taking out necessary products from the article box B conveyed on the lower conveyor line 51 at the work location 55. However, sorting may also be performed by the operator putting the necessary products into the delivery box (object to be conveyed) conveyed on the lower conveyor line 51 at the work location 55. In this case, the operator takes out the products displayed on the terminal device 91 arranged at the work location 55 from a shelf or the like arranged around the work location 55 and puts them into the delivery box.

[0056] In the above-described embodiments and modified examples, an example was given in which the conveyor line connected to the article box warehouse 1 of the article box B is configured as the upper conveyor line 61, and the conveyor forming the work location 55 is configured as the lower conveyor line 51. However, the conveyor line connected to the article box warehouse 1 of the article box B may be configured as the lower conveyor line 51, and the conveyor forming the work location 55 may be configured as the upper conveyor line 61.

[0057] In the above-described embodiments and modified examples, as an example of the sorting process, an example of taking out products from the article box B based on an order or an example of putting products into the delivery box was given and described, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the operator may perform an operation of taking out the article box B and stacking it on a pallet placed around the work location 55 (palletizing operation) as the sorting process. In this case, the lower conveyor line 51 as the second conveyor line may have the work location 55 as the final conveyance destination, and it is not necessary to configure a conveyance path for returning the article box B or the delivery box from the work location 55 to the elevating and conveying device 71.

[0058] In the above-described embodiments and modified examples, an example was given in which the operator performs the sorting process at the work location 55. However, the sorting process may also be executed by a robot. In this case, it is not necessarily required to provide a terminal device 91 such as a display for displaying order information, and the information regarding the order may be directly transmitted to the robot.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0059] 1…Item box warehouse (supply department), 5…Sorting station, 51…Lower conveyor line (second conveyor line), 55…Work location, 61…Upper conveyor line (first conveyor line), 71…Lifting and conveying device, 73…Lifting part, 77…Conveyor roller, 79…Conveyor drive part, 81…Buffer part, 81A…First buffer part, 81B…Second buffer part, 83…Conveyor roller, 85…Conveyor drive part, 87…Control part, 91…Terminal device, 100…Picking system, B…Item box (object to be conveyed).

Claims

1. A vertical transfer unit that conveys the object to be conveyed along the vertical direction from a first conveyor line connected to a supply unit of the object to be conveyed to a second conveyor line provided at a different position in the vertical direction with respect to the first conveyor line, and A buffer unit that is disposed between the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line in the vertical direction and is capable of transferring the object to be conveyed to and from the vertical transfer unit, and A control unit that controls at least the vertical transfer unit to execute a first process of retracting the object to be conveyed received from the first conveyor line in the vertical transfer unit to the buffer unit, a second process of transferring the object to be conveyed received from the first conveyor line after the first process to the second conveyor line, and a third process of transferring the object to be conveyed retracted to the buffer unit after the second process to the second conveyor line, and that switches the order of the objects to be conveyed arriving at the work location. A vertical transfer device comprising:

2. A plurality of the buffer units are provided, and The plurality of buffer units are arranged at the same height position. The vertical transfer device according to claim 1.

3. One of the buffer units is configured to be able to place a plurality of the objects to be conveyed. The vertical transfer device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The vertical transfer unit is configured to be able to convey the object to be conveyed bidirectionally between the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line. The vertical transfer device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The vertical transfer unit is configured to be able to convey the object to be conveyed bidirectionally between the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line. The vertical transfer device according to claim 3.

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