Control system for logistics warehouses

Abstract

The present invention provides a control device for a logistics warehouse that can reduce the computational load when calculating the transport route for transporting goods, even when the transport lane has multiple lanes. [Solution] The route calculation unit 13 assumes, for calculation purposes, that the lower lane 21A and the upper lane 21B are consolidated into a single receiving lane 21. In this case, even if there are multiple lanes 21A and 21B, the route calculation unit 13 can employ a method of calculating the transport route for a single receiving lane 21. That is, the route calculation unit 13 calculates the transport route information based on constraints that allow the goods 150 to be stored from a single receiving lane 21 to the second and third levels. As a result, the route calculation unit 13 can perform calculations with constraints that reproduce the operation when using the lower lane 21A and the upper lane 21B, even though there is only one receiving lane 21.

Claims

1. An automated warehouse for storing goods, A transport lane for transporting multiple items arranged in a line, A control device for a logistics warehouse, comprising a conveyor installed between the conveyor lane and the automated warehouse, When the article moves in the order of the transport lane, the transporter, and the automated warehouse, or when it moves in the order of the automated warehouse, the transporter, and the transport lane, an article information acquisition unit acquires article information indicating the initial state and completed state of the article's movement. A path calculation unit calculates transport path information from the aforementioned item information so as to satisfy a standard logical formula based on constraints, The system includes an operation control unit that controls the transport operation of the logistics warehouse based on the transport route information, The transport lane comprises a first lane installed as the first layer of the transport machine, and a second lane installed as the second layer of the transport machine. The aforementioned path calculation unit, For computational purposes, the calculation is performed assuming that the first lane and the second lane are combined into a single lane, A control device for a logistics warehouse that calculates the transport route information based on the constraints that define whether the items in the single lane enter the first and second levels, or exit from the first and second levels to the single lane.

2. The aforementioned conveyor is a vertical conveyor that performs vertical conveyance by moving the articles laterally while alternately raising and lowering a plurality of adjacent conveyor boxes. The aforementioned path calculation unit, In the current phase, it is predetermined whether the article in the single lane corresponds to the article in the first lane or the article in the second lane. As a reference logical expression indicating the movement constraints of the articles in the first lane, a first expression is applied that indicates that in the next phase, the articles in the first lane will be in the transport box of the first level of the transporter, or will remain lined up in the first lane. The control device for a logistics warehouse according to claim 1, wherein a second formula is applied as a reference logical formula indicating the movement constraints of the articles in the second lane, the formula indicating that in the next phase the articles in the second lane will be in the transport box of the second level of the transporter or remain lined up in the second lane.

3. The route calculation unit further predetermines the order in which the items will be placed in the first lane and the second lane, The control device for a logistics warehouse according to claim 2, wherein in the first lane and the second lane, a third formula is applied as a reference logical formula indicating the constraints on the movement of the articles, the formula defining that the articles do not overtake other articles.

4. The aforementioned conveyor is a vertical conveyor that performs vertical conveyance by moving the articles laterally while alternately raising and lowering a plurality of adjacent conveyor boxes. The aforementioned path calculation unit, A control device for a logistics warehouse according to claim 1, wherein a fourth formula is applied as a reference logical formula indicating the movement constraints of the articles in the single lane, indicating that in the next phase, the articles in the single lane are either in the transport box of the first level of the transporter, in the transport box of the second level of the transporter, or remain lined up in the single lane.

5. The aforementioned path calculation unit, The reverse sequence of movement is calculated assuming that the items are moved in the reverse order from the completed state where they are delivered to the transport lane to their storage location in the automated warehouse. The control device for a logistics warehouse according to claim 1, which calculates a dispatch operation in which the item moves from the storage position in the automated warehouse and reaches the dispatch completion state by reversing the aforementioned reverse operation.

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