Method and apparatus for retrieving goods, computer-readable medium, electronic device, and computer program

Abstract

This application discloses a method and apparatus for retrieving items from storage. A specific embodiment of the method includes the steps of: in response to receiving a task set including a plurality of retrieval tasks, determining, in a plurality of storage areas, storage locations of items to be retrieved for each retrieval task in the task set; determining a target storage area corresponding to the task set from the plurality of storage areas based on the storage locations of the items to be retrieved for each retrieval task; determining, from the target storage area, target storage locations of the items to be retrieved for each retrieval task; and dividing, in the task set, items to be retrieved whose target storage locations belong to the same shelf in the same storage area into the same picking task and performing retrieval processing, thereby providing a method for retrieving items that can improve retrieval efficiency in a complex storage environment having a plurality of storage areas.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority from a Chinese patent application filed on October 15, 2020, bearing application number 202011100792.1 and entitled "Method and apparatus for dispensing articles," the entire text of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of computer technology, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for issuing an article. [Background technology]

[0003] The warehousing of goods is an important part of warehousing operations. For example, frozen goods in the fresh cold chain need to be stored in a low temperature environment (e.g., -18°C), and workers need to take a break in a relatively comfortable environment after working for a certain period of time, which reduces the overall warehousing efficiency and affects customer experience and the aging of the supply chain. Therefore, this requires efficient operation of each work step in the warehousing of fresh cold chain and efficient coordination between each work step.

[0004] In the conventional technology, the work of retrieving the items to be retrieved from the corresponding storage locations in accordance with the order of the retrieval tasks is generally performed by a worker. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application propose a method and device for retrieving an article.

[0006] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for issuing items from storage, wherein each item is stored in a plurality of storage areas, each of the plurality of storage areas including a plurality of shelf sets, each of the plurality of shelf sets including a plurality of shelves with a plurality of storage positions arranged hierarchically, the method for issuing items including the steps of: in response to receiving a task set including a plurality of issuing tasks, determining, in the plurality of storage areas, storage positions of items to be issued in each issuing task of the task set; determining, from the plurality of storage areas, a target storage area corresponding to the task set based on the storage positions of the items to be issued in each issuing task; determining, from the target storage area, a target storage position for the items to be issued in each issuing task; and dividing, in the task set, items to be issued on the same shelf whose target storage positions belong to the same storage area, into the same picking task and performing issuing processing.

[0007] In some embodiments, the step of determining a target storage area corresponding to the task set from a plurality of storage areas based on the storage locations of the items to be shipped in each outbound task includes, for each type of item to be shipped corresponding to the task set, determining the remaining period of the expiration date of the item to be shipped of that type in the storage area in which that type of item to be shipped is stored, and determining the target storage area corresponding to the task set based on the remaining period of the expiration date of the item to be shipped of that type.

[0008] In some embodiments, the step of determining a target storage area corresponding to the task set based on the remaining expiration date of each type of item to be shipped includes a step of determining a priority of each type of item to be shipped based on the remaining expiration date of each type of item to be shipped, where for each type of item to be shipped, the priority of the item to be shipped is negatively correlated with the remaining expiration date, and a step of determining a target storage area corresponding to the task set based on the priority of each type of item to be shipped.

[0009] In some embodiments, the step of determining a target storage area corresponding to the task set from among the multiple storage areas based on the storage locations of the items to be shipped in each shipping task includes the steps of determining from the multiple storage areas the smallest number of storage areas that satisfy the shipping requirements indicated by the task set, and, if the determined number is 1, setting the storage area corresponding to that number as the target storage area corresponding to the task set.

[0010] In some embodiments, the multiple storage areas are located on different floors of a building, and the step of determining a target storage area corresponding to the task set from the multiple storage areas based on the storage locations of the items to be shipped in each outgoing task includes, in response to determining that the determined number is greater than one, selecting a storage area of ​​a storage area group located on the same floor from at least one storage area group as the target storage area corresponding to the task set, each of the at least one storage area group including the determined number of storage areas, and each storage area group being capable of satisfying the outgoing requirements indicated by the task set.

[0011] In some embodiments, the step of determining a target storage area corresponding to the task set from a plurality of storage areas based on the storage location of the items to be issued in each of the above-mentioned issue tasks includes a step of determining an operation cost for completing the issue task in the task set for each storage area group in response to determining that there is no storage area group located on the same layer in at least one storage area group, and a step of determining a target storage area group based on the operation cost of each storage area group, and setting a storage area in the target storage area group as the target storage area. In some embodiments, the step of determining a target storage location for the items to be issued in each issue task from the target storage area includes the steps of determining, for each type of item to be issued in a plurality of issue tasks in the task set, the number of items to be issued that are to be issued, and determining, among the storage locations in the target storage area where the items to be issued are stored, a storage location that has an inventory quantity greater than the number of items to be issued and is closest to the number of items to be issued as the target storage location for the items to be issued.

[0012] In some embodiments, the shelves in each of the plurality of storage areas include a plurality of shelf levels, and determining a target storage location for the item to be shipped from the target storage area in each retrieval task includes determining a target storage location for the item to be shipped based on priorities of the plurality of shelf levels of each shelf in the target storage area, the priorities of the shelf levels on each shelf decreasing from the middle level toward both ends.

[0013] In some embodiments, determining a target storage location for an item to be shipped in each outbound task from the target storage area includes determining a priority of each shelf based on the order of the shelves in the shelf set in the target storage area, and determining a target storage location for the item to be shipped in each outbound task based on the priority of each shelf.

[0014] In some embodiments, the shelves in each of the multiple storage areas are arranged in a ring shape into multiple shelf sets, each of the multiple shelf sets being rotatable in the same direction overall, with one shelf rotated to a predetermined position being the output shelf, and the step of determining a target storage position for the items to be output for each output task from the target storage area includes the steps of performing a determination operation to identify the target shelf where the most numerous types of current items to be output are stored based on the storage positions in the target storage area of ​​each type of item to be output corresponding to the task set, and setting the remaining items to be output as the current items to be output when the next determination operation is performed, and the steps of determining, for each type of item to be output, the storage position of the item to be output on the corresponding shelf as the target storage position of the item to be output.

[0015] In some embodiments, the method further includes a step of determining, for each shelf set of the multiple shelf sets in the target storage area, a rotation direction of the shelf set based on the position of the current output shelf so as to minimize the rotation distance of the shelf set.

[0016] In some embodiments, the step of performing the above-mentioned shipping process includes the steps of binding the picking task to a relay box and a shelf corresponding to the picking task, and rotating the shelf set to which the shelf corresponding to the picking task belongs, and rotating the shelf corresponding to the picking task to a predetermined position to make it an shipping shelf.

[0017] In some embodiments, the method further includes, in response to determining that the shelf corresponding to the picking task has rotated to a predetermined position and become an output shelf, instructing a predetermined operator via a predetermined display screen to pick the item to be output that is located on the output shelf indicated by the picking task and transport the item to be output that is indicated by the picking task into a relay box.

[0018] In some embodiments, the method further includes determining a number of items to be shipped in the relay box, and in response to determining that the number of items to be shipped in the relay box is less than the number of items to be shipped indicated by the picking task, redetermining a target storage location for the remaining items to be shipped in the picking task.

[0019] In some embodiments, the method further includes a step of scanning item identification information of the item to be shipped on the output shelf, and displaying the item information of the scanned item to be shipped on an electronic tag at the target temporary storage aisle entrance in a preset manner.

[0020] In some embodiments, the method further includes a step of determining whether a subsequent task for the relay box exists to indicate that there is an item to be released that needs to be transported via the relay box to a storage area other than the target storage area, and in response to determining that a subsequent task for the relay box exists, a step of transporting the relay box to a storage area corresponding to the subsequent task.

[0021] In some embodiments, there are multiple task sets, and the method further includes a step of preferentially processing the task set for shipping in response to determining that the task set satisfies at least one of the following: time information corresponding to the task set satisfies a predetermined time threshold; the task set includes an outbound processing operation that requires the cooperation of a specified worker; the task set includes items to be shipped stored in multiple storage areas; the ratio of the number of all items to be shipped included in the task set to the number of types of items to be shipped satisfies a predetermined ratio threshold; and the number of shelves corresponding to the task set is less than a predetermined number threshold.

[0022] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a warehouse storage system for items comprising a plurality of storage areas and a work area corresponding to the plurality of storage areas, each of the plurality of storage areas including a plurality of shelf sets in which a plurality of shelves are arranged in a ring, each of the plurality of shelf sets being driven by a drive device and rotatable in the same direction as a whole, each shelf being provided with a plurality of storage positions, a transport device being provided in the work area for transporting relay boxes in and out of the work area, and the relay boxes being used to receive items to be shipped that have been picked by a worker for an outgoing shelf that has been rotated to a predetermined position.

[0023] In some embodiments, the conveying device includes a conveying line and a lifting and transferring device installed on the conveying line, a plurality of temporary storage aisle entrances are provided adjacent to the conveying line, relay box identifiers are provided on the relay boxes, a scanner installed on the conveying line scans the relay box identifiers on the relay boxes, and the relay boxes are bound to a target temporary storage aisle entrance among the plurality of temporary storage aisle entrances and a picking task, and each of the plurality of temporary storage aisle entrances instructs a worker to execute the bound picking task for the relay box transferred to the temporary storage aisle entrance by the lifting and transferring device via an electronic tag corresponding to the temporary storage aisle entrance.

[0024] In some embodiments, the multiple storage areas are installed on different floors of a building, with one work area corresponding to at least one storage area installed on the same floor, and the transport device further includes an elevator for transporting the relay boxes between the transport devices on the upper and lower floors.

[0025] In some embodiments, the work area is separated from the storage area via an insulating wall, automatic doors communicating with the work area are provided corresponding to predetermined positions of each shelf set, and predetermined display screens for displaying item information on the output shelves are provided corresponding to each automatic door.

[0026] In some embodiments, a storm screen is provided corresponding to each automatic door.

[0027] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application is a control method for a warehouse storage system, comprising the steps of: determining the shelf indicated by a received picking task, where the items to be shipped indicated by the picking task are stored on the same shelf in the same storage area; rotating the shelf set to which the shelf indicated by the picking task belongs using a drive device, rotating the shelf indicated by the picking task to a predetermined position to make it an outgoing shelf, and instructing a worker to pick the items to be shipped on the outgoing shelf indicated by the picking task to a relay box; and in response to determining that the relay box has received the items to be shipped indicated by the picking task, transporting the items to be shipped by a transport device to ship them out of the warehouse.

[0028] In some embodiments, the method further includes a step of rotating the shelf set to which the shelf indicated by the picking task belongs using a drive device, and before rotating the shelf indicated by the picking task to a predetermined position to become an output shelf, scanning a relay box identifier on the relay box with a scanner in a target work area, which is a work area corresponding to the storage area to which the shelf indicated by the picking task belongs, to bind the relay box with a target temporary storage aisle entrance among multiple temporary storage aisle entrances and the picking task, and a step of transporting the relay box to the target temporary storage aisle entrance by a transport device.

[0029] In some embodiments, the above method further includes a step of displaying item information of the item to be output corresponding to the picking task via an electronic tag corresponding to the target temporary storage aisle entrance, and the step of instructing the worker to pick the item to be output on the output shelf indicated by the picking task into a relay box includes a step of controlling an automatic door to open in response to determining that the shelf indicated by the picking task has rotated to a predetermined position and become the output shelf, and displaying item information of the item on the output shelf via a predetermined display screen corresponding to the automatic door.

[0030] In some embodiments, the step of displaying the item information of the item to be output corresponding to the picking task via an electronic tag corresponding to the target temporary storage aisle entrance includes the step of scanning the item identification information of the item to be output on the output shelf, and displaying the scanned item information of the item to be output on the electronic tag of the target temporary storage aisle entrance in a predetermined manner.

[0031] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an item outgoing device comprising: a first determination unit configured to determine, in a plurality of storage areas, a storage position of an item to be outgoing in each outgoing task in the task set in response to receiving a task set including a plurality of outgoing tasks; a second determination unit configured to determine a target storage area corresponding to the task set from the plurality of storage areas based on the storage position of the item to be outgoing in each outgoing task; a third determination unit configured to determine, from the target storage area, a target storage position for the item to be outgoing in each outgoing task; and an outgoing unit configured to divide, in the task set, items to be outgoing on the same shelf whose target storage positions belong to the same storage area, into the same picking task and perform outgoing processing.

[0032] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a control device for a warehouse storage system, the control device comprising: a fourth determination unit configured to determine the shelf indicated by a received picking task, where the items to be shipped indicated by the picking task are stored on the same shelf in the same storage area; a drive unit configured to rotate the shelf set to which the shelf indicated by the picking task belongs using a drive device, rotate the shelf indicated by the picking task to a predetermined position to make it an outgoing shelf, and instruct a worker to pick the items to be shipped on the outgoing shelf indicated by the picking task to a relay box; and a transport unit configured to transport the items to be shipped by a transport device and outgo in response to determining that the relay box has received the items to be shipped indicated by the picking task.

[0033] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer readable medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program being configured to, when executed by a processor, implement a method according to any of the embodiments of the first or third aspect.

[0034] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an electronic device comprising one or more processors and a storage device having one or more programs stored therein, the one or more programs, when executed by the one or more processors, causing the one or more processors to realize a method according to any of the embodiments of the first aspect or the third aspect. In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program which, when executed by a processor, realises a method according to any of the embodiments of the first and third aspects.

[0035] The embodiment of the present application provides an item issuing method and apparatus that, in response to receiving a task set including multiple issuing tasks, determines in multiple storage areas the storage positions of the items to be issued for each issuing task in the task set, determines a target storage area from the multiple storage areas corresponding to the task set based on the storage positions of the items to be issued in each issuing task, determines the target storage positions of the items to be issued for each issuing task from the target storage area, and, within the task set, divides items to be issued whose target storage positions belong to the same shelf in the same storage area into the same picking task, and performs issuing processing, thereby providing an item issuing method that can improve the efficiency of issuing items in a complex storage environment having multiple storage areas. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0036] Other features, objects and advantages of the present application will become more apparent upon reading the detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments which is given with reference to the following drawings, in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system architecture to which an embodiment of the present application can be applied. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the configuration of a warehousing system for goods according to the present application. [Figure 3A] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of a multi-tier warehousing system according to the present application. [Figure 3B] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along line BB in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for issuing an article according to the present application. [Diagram 5] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an application scene of an article retrieval method according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of a method for issuing an article according to the present application. [Figure 7] 1 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a control method for a warehouse storage system according to the present application. [Figure 8] 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of an article retrieval device according to the present application. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of one embodiment of a control device for the warehouse storage system according to the present application. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a computer system configuration for implementing an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] The present application will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely for the purpose of illustrating the relevant invention, and are not intended to limit the invention. For the sake of convenience, only parts related to the invention are shown in the drawings.

[0038] In addition, the embodiments and features of the embodiments in the present application can be combined with each other unless they are inconsistent. Hereinafter, the present application will be described in detail in combination with the embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary architecture 100 in which the article retrieval method and apparatus of the present application may be applied.

[0040] 1, system architecture 100 may include terminal devices 101, 102, 103, network 104, server 105, network 106, and server 107. Networks 104 and 106 are used as a medium to provide communications links between terminal devices 101, 102, 103 and server 102, and between server 105 and server 107. Networks 104 and 106 may include various types of connections, such as wired, wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables.

[0041] The terminal devices 101, 102, and 103 may be hardware devices or software that support network connection for data exchange and data processing. If the terminal devices 101, 102, and 103 are hardware, they may be various electronic devices that support functions such as network connection, information interaction, display, processing, etc., including, but not limited to, smartphones, tablet computers, e-book readers, laptop computers, and desktop computers. If the terminal devices 101, 102, and 103 are software, they may be installed in the above electronic devices. It may be implemented, for example, as multiple software or software modules for providing distributed services, or may be implemented as a single software or software module. There is no particular limitation here.

[0042] The servers 105 and 107 may be servers that provide various services. For example, the server 105 is a back-end server that accepts and processes an order operation by a user on the terminal devices 101, 102, and 103, and obtains an outgoing task for the corresponding order, and the server 107 is a back-end server that performs outgoing operations based on the outgoing task transmitted by the server 105. In response to receiving a task set including a plurality of outgoing tasks, the back-end server determines the storage positions of the outgoing target items in each outgoing task in a plurality of storage areas, determines a target storage area corresponding to the task set from the plurality of storage areas based on the storage positions of the outgoing target items in each outgoing task, determines the target storage positions of the outgoing target items in each outgoing task from the target storage area, and divides outgoing target items whose target storage positions belong to the same shelf in the same storage area into the same picking task in the task set, and performs outgoing processing. As an example, the servers 105 and 107 may be cloud servers.

[0043] It should be noted that the server may be either hardware or software. If the server is hardware, it may be implemented as a distributed server cluster consisting of multiple servers, or as a single server. If the server is software, it may be realized as multiple pieces of software or software modules (e.g., software or software modules for providing distributed services), or as a single piece of software or software module. There are no particular limitations here.

[0044] The article retrieval method according to the embodiment of the present application can be executed by a server. Accordingly, each part (e.g., each unit, sub-unit, module, sub-module) of the article retrieval device can be provided in the server.

[0045] It should be understood that the number of terminal devices, networks, and servers in FIG. 1 is merely exemplary. The number of terminal devices, networks, and servers may be arbitrarily increased or decreased according to implementation needs. If the electronic device on which the article retrieval method operates does not need to transmit data with other electronic devices, the system architecture may include only the electronic device on which the article retrieval method operates (e.g., a server or a terminal device).

[0046] 2, there is shown an embodiment of a warehousing system 200 consistent with the method for retrieving an article of the present application. The warehousing system 200 performs an retrieval operation of an article according to the method for retrieving an article of the present application.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 2, the warehouse storage system 200 includes a plurality of storage areas 202 and a work area 201 provided corresponding to the plurality of storage areas. Of these, the work area 201 is for providing a comfortable work environment for workers, and various items are stored in the storage area 202. As an example, various fresh items are stored in a frozen state in the storage area. The work area 201 and the storage area 202 may be separated by an insulating wall.

[0048] As shown in Fig. 3A, there may be multiple work areas 201 and multiple storage areas 202, and the multiple work areas 201 and multiple storage areas 202 may be arranged separately by region or by floor of a building. The multiple work areas 201 and the multiple storage areas 202 may be provided in one-to-one correspondence, or one work area 201 and multiple storage areas 202 may be provided in correspondence with each other. For example, one work area 201 in Fig. 2 is provided corresponding to two storage areas 202.

[0049] Each work area 201 is provided with a conveying device 203 for conveying the goods to be shipped. The conveying device 203 conveys a relay box 2032 into the work area 201 via a carry-in line 2031 of the conveying line, and after receiving the goods to be shipped, conveys the relay box 2032 out of the work area 201 via a carry-out line 2033 of the conveying line. The carry-in line 2031 of the conveying line and the carry-out line 2032 of the conveying line constitute a conveying line of the conveying device. Among these, on the carry-in line 2032 of the conveying line or the carry-out line 2033 of the conveying line, the direction of the relay box is changed by a lifting and transferring device 2034, and the relay box is conveyed between the conveying devices in the work areas 201 on different floors of the building by an elevator 2035.

[0050] From the viewpoint of work convenience, a plurality of temporary storage passage openings 2036 for temporarily storing relay boxes may be provided near the carry-out line 2033 of the conveying line. After the relay box enters the corresponding temporary storage passage opening under the control of the lifting and transferring device 2034, a worker can take out an item to be shipped from an outgoing shelf in the storage area 202, place it in the relay box 2032 at the temporary storage passage opening 2036, and then ship out the item to be shipped through the relay box 2032.

[0051] In order to improve the transportation efficiency of the transport device, during the transport of the relay box, a scanner 206 provided on the transport line scans the relay box identifier on the relay box, and binds the relay box to a target temporary storage passageway entrance among a plurality of temporary storage passageways and a picking task, and by being bound, the relay box enters the target temporary storage passageway entrance by the drive of the lifting and transferring device, and the bound picking task can be executed. For example, the transport device is controlled to automatically transport an empty relay box, and a barcode scanner is controlled to scan the barcode on the outside of the relay box that has passed through, so that different relay boxes can be identified and the registration can be completed, and the relay box is bound to the picking task and the temporary storage passageway entrance, and the relay box is transported to the position of the bound target temporary storage passageway entrance by the transport device, and information on the relay box that has arrived at the target temporary storage passageway entrance can be fed back to the execution entity of the method of the present application (the server 107 in FIG. 1).

[0052] Each temporary storage passage entrance may be provided with a corresponding electronic tag and control button, and information about the item to be shipped in the picking task corresponding to the bound relay box may be displayed on the electronic tag. After the picking task corresponding to the relay box is completed, the worker can check the information about the item to be shipped using the control button, and if abnormal information occurs (for example, there is a difference between the item picked from the storage area and the item to be picked corresponding to the picking task), the abnormal information can be fed back.

[0053] Each storage area 202 is provided with a plurality of shelf rotation systems 204, each of which includes a shelf set 2041 and a drive unit (including a power unit 2043 and a transmission unit 2044) that controls the rotation of the shelf set 2041 around a tunnel 2042. Here, each shelf set 2041 includes a plurality of shelves 2045. Each shelf 2045 is provided with a plurality of shelf boards that divide the shelf into a plurality of storage levels, and each storage level is provided with a plurality of storage positions 2046 for storing different types of articles.

[0054] As shown in Fig. 3B (a cross-sectional view of Fig. 2B-B), for the convenience of work, a plurality of automatic doors 207 that can be opened and closed automatically are provided on the insulation wall between work area 201 and storage area 202, and the plurality of automatic doors correspond one-to-one to a plurality of shelf sets 2041 in storage area 202. When the shelf corresponding to the picking task rotates up to the automatic door, the automatic door opens, and the worker picks the item to be removed and places the item to be removed into the corresponding temporary storage passage entrance.

[0055] A predetermined display screen 208 may be provided corresponding to each automatic door, and the predetermined display screen displays item information (item name, stock quantity, specification part number, product code, etc.) of all items on the shelf, as well as the corresponding shelf number and storage position information. Based on the information displayed on the predetermined display screen, workers can easily know item information on the output shelf, improving work efficiency.

[0056] In this embodiment, a windshield curtain 209 may be provided for each automatic door to reduce temperature exchange between the work area 201 and the storage area 202 when the automatic door is open.

[0057] With continued reference to FIG. 4, a flow 400 of one embodiment of a method for issuing an article is shown, which includes the following steps.

[0058] In step 401, in response to receiving a task set including a plurality of retrieval tasks, a storage location of an item to be retrieved in each retrieval task in the task set is determined in a plurality of storage areas.

[0059] In this embodiment, an entity executing the method for shipping items (e.g., server 107 in FIG. 1) can determine storage locations of items to be shipped in each shipping task in the task set in multiple storage areas in response to receiving a task set including multiple shipping tasks.

[0060] For example, the execution entity is provided with a WCS (Warehouse Control System), and the WCS system can receive a task set including a plurality of shipping tasks distributed from a higher-level server (e.g., server 105 in FIG. 1). Here, each shipping task may include information on the items to be shipped, including, but not limited to, item names, quantities, and the like.

[0061] The executing entity or the electronic device communicatively connected to the executing entity stores information on items at each storage location in the device to be sent out. After acquiring a plurality of sending tasks in the task set, the executing entity can determine the storage location of the items to be sent out in each sending task based on the information on the items to be sent out in each sending task. It is understood that the same type of items may be stored in different storage locations in different storage areas.

[0062] In step 402, a target storage area corresponding to the task set is determined from among a plurality of storage areas based on the storage location of the item to be retrieved in each retrieval task.

[0063] In this embodiment, the execution subject is step 401 Based on the storage positions of the items to be shipped in each shipping task determined in step 2, a target storage area corresponding to the task set can be determined from among the multiple storage areas. The target storage area corresponding to the task set refers to a storage area that can satisfy the shipping requirements indicated by the task set. The shipping requirements include information such as the item name and quantity of the items to be shipped.

[0064] For example, the execution entity first determines a storage area that satisfies each outgoing task in the task set. Then, the execution entity determines the next storage area until the remaining outgoing tasks are zero. Confirmed Perform the action. Confirmed The operation is as follows: among the remaining outgoing tasks, the storage area that can satisfy the most outgoing tasks is set as the intended storage area, and then the outgoing tasks that cannot be satisfied in the intended storage area are set as the next outgoing storage area. Confirmed The remaining tasks for the first operation are included in the task. Confirmed The remaining outgoing tasks in the operation are all outgoing tasks in the task set.Finally, the intention storage area of ​​each confirmed operation is set as the target storage area.

[0065] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the execution entity performs step 402 by determining, for each type of item to be shipped that corresponds to the task set, the remaining expiration date of that type of item to be shipped in the storage area in which that type of item to be shipped is stored, and identifying a target storage area corresponding to the task set based on the remaining expiration date of each type of item to be shipped.

[0066] In this embodiment, the execution entity can determine the priority of each type of item to be shipped based on the remaining period of the expiration date of each type of item to be shipped. For each type of item to be shipped, the priority of the item to be shipped is negatively correlated with the remaining period of the expiration date. Based on ,Identify a target storage area corresponding to the task set.

[0067] As an example, the execution entity determines, for each type of item to be released, storage areas that satisfy the type of item to be released within the task set, in order of priority from high to low.

[0068] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the execution entity executes the above step 402 by determining, from among a plurality of storage areas, the smallest number of storage areas that meets the outgoing requirements indicated by the task set, and in response to the determined number being 1, setting the storage area corresponding to that number as the target storage area corresponding to the task set.

[0069] As an example, if, of storage areas A, B, C, and D, storage area A and B can alone satisfy the shipping requirements of task set G, the smallest number can be identified as 1; if none of storage areas A, B, C, and D can alone satisfy the shipping requirements of task set G, but storage areas A and B, and A and C can be combined to satisfy the shipping requirements of task set G, the smallest number can be identified as 2.

[0070] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the multiple storage areas are located on different floors of a building. In response to the determined number being greater than 1, the execution entity executes step 402 by determining a storage area belonging to at least one storage area group located on the same floor as a target storage area corresponding to the task set, where the at least one storage area group includes the above number of storage areas, and each storage area group can satisfy the retrieval requirement indicated by the task set.

[0071] Taking the above storage areas A and B combined and A and C combined as an example, the retrieval requirements of task set G can be met, the storage area group includes a storage area group consisting of storage areas A and B, and a storage area group consisting of storage areas A and C. If storage areas A and B are on the same floor of a building and storage areas A and C are on different floors of a building, the storage area group consisting of storage areas A and B is selected as the target storage area group, and storage areas A and B are selected as the target storage areas.

[0072] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, in response to determining that there is no storage area group located on the same floor of the building among at least one storage area group, the execution entity performs step 402 by determining the work cost for completing the outbound task in the task set for each storage area group, determining a target storage area group based on the work cost of each storage area group, and setting a storage area within the target storage area group as the target storage area.

[0073] Among these, the operation cost needs to take into consideration factors such as picking tasks being performed in the storage area, picking tasks indicated by the task set, elevator operation costs, transportation costs, etc. Specifically, the execution entity can accurately determine the operation cost by setting weights according to the above factors.

[0074] In step 403, a target storage location is determined for the item to be retrieved in each retrieval task from the target storage area.

[0075] In this embodiment, the execution subject can determine a target storage location for the retrieval target item in each retrieval task from the target storage area determined in step 402 .

[0076] As an example, for each type of item to be shipped, if there is only one storage location in the target storage area where the item to be shipped is stored, that storage location may be used as the target storage location as is, and if there are multiple storage locations in the target storage area where the item to be shipped is stored, one of those storage locations may be randomly used as the target storage location.

[0077] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the execution entity executes step 403 by performing the following operations: for each type of item to be shipped in the task set, determining the number of the item to be shipped in multiple shipping tasks; and setting a storage location in the target storage area where the item to be shipped is stored, has an inventory quantity greater than the number of the item to be shipped, and has an inventory quantity closest to the number of the item to be shipped, as the target storage location for the item to be shipped.

[0078] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, each shelf of the multiple storage areas includes multiple shelf levels. The execution entity executes step 403 by determining the target storage position of the item to be removed from the warehouse based on the priority of the multiple shelf levels of each shelf in the target storage area. Shelf in The priority of decreases from the middle stages to the ends.

[0079] As an example, if the number of shelves u is an even number, the top shelf has the lowest priority, for example, X(roundup(u / 2))>X(roundup(u / 2)+1)>X(roundup(u / 2)-1)>X(roundup(u / 2)+2)>X(roundup(u / 2)-2)...>Xu, where roundup() indicates rounding up. For example, if the number of shelves is an even number, u=6, the priorities may be X3>X4>X2>X5>X1>X6.

[0080] As yet another example, when the number of shelves u is an odd number, the lowest shelf has the lowest priority. For example, X(roundup(u / 2))>X(roundup(u / 2)+1)>X(roundup(u / 2)-1)>X(roundup(u / 2)+2)>X(roundup(u / 2)-2)...>X1 may be used. For example, when the number of shelves is an odd number u=5, the priority may be X3>X4>X2>X5>X1.

[0081] In this way, the height of the shelves in the middle of the shelves is appropriate, and by giving priority to storage positions on these shelves as target storage positions, it is possible to improve retrieval efficiency.

[0082] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the multiple shelves arranged in each of the multiple storage areas are arranged in a ring as multiple shelf sets, and each of the multiple shelf sets rotates in the same direction as a whole, so that one shelf that has been rotated to a predetermined position can be selected as the output shelf.

[0083] For example, the predetermined position may be a position corresponding to an automatic door as shown in FIG. 2, or a shelf that has been rotated to the position of the automatic door among the shelf set may be set as the output shelf.

[0084] The executing entity executes a determination operation to identify the target shelf where the most numerous types of current items to be output are stored based on the storage positions in the target storage area of ​​each type of item to be output that corresponds to the task set, sets the remaining items to be output as the current items to be output when the next determination operation is executed, and executes step 403 by setting, for each type of item to be output, the storage positions in the corresponding target shelf of the item to be output as the target storage positions of the items to be output. Here, the current items to be output in the first determination operation are all items to be output that are included in the task set.

[0085] In this way, the retrieval work for as many retrieval target articles as possible can be completed during one rotation of the target shelf.

[0086] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the execution entity can determine the priority of each shelf based on the arrangement order of each shelf of the shelf set in the target storage area, and determine a target storage position for the item to be handed over in each retrieval task based on the priority of each shelf. For example, a storage position for retrieval may be assigned based on a policy of priority L1>priority L2>...>LK, where K is the total number of shelves in the shelf set. Even in this way, retrieval can be completed by picking as many items to be retrieval as possible with the fewest possible number of rotations of the shelves.

[0087] In step 404, items to be retrieved from the same shelf in the task set, whose target storage positions belong to the same storage area, are assigned to the same picking task and retrieval processing is performed. In this embodiment, the executing entity can assign to the same picking task the items to be retrieval that are on the same shelf and whose target storage positions in the task set belong to the same storage area, and perform the retrieval process.

[0088] By assigning items to be shipped from the same shelf to the same picking task, i.e., by executing a picking task once on one output shelf, at least one type of item to be shipped that is included in the task set can be shipped from that output shelf, thereby improving the efficiency of shipping of the items to be shipped.

[0089] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the execution entity binds the picking task to a relay box and a shelf corresponding to the picking task, and rotates the shelf set to which the shelf corresponding to the picking task belongs so as to rotate the shelf corresponding to the picking task to a predetermined position and make it an output shelf.

[0090] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, in response to the shelf corresponding to the picking task rotating to a predetermined position to become an output shelf, the execution entity instructs a specified worker via a specified display screen to pick the item to be output from the output shelf indicated by the picking task into a relay box in order to transport the item to be output indicated by the picking task.

[0091] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the execution entity may scan the item identification information of the item to be shipped on the shipping shelf, and display the item information of the scanned item to be shipped on an electronic tag at the target temporary storage aisle entrance in a predetermined manner.

[0092] Continuing to refer to Figure 2, when the shelf corresponding to the picking task rotates to the position of the automatic door and becomes the output shelf, the automatic door opens and a specified display screen provided corresponding to the automatic door displays the logistics attribute information of all items on that output shelf, and a specified worker picks the items to be output from the output shelf indicated by the picking task into a relay box and outputs the items to be output indicated by the picking task.

[0093] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, at the time of retrieval, the execution entity determines, for each of a plurality of shelf sets in the target storage area, the rotation direction of the shelf set so as to minimize the rotation distance of the shelf set depending on the current position of the retrieval shelf.

[0094] For example, a shelf set includes 60 shelves, which are numbered L1 to L60 in clockwise order. The shelf with the target storage position is L4, and the current outgoing shelf is L10.

[0095] In this case, when an item in L4 is to be taken out of storage, if it rotates clockwise, the rotation distance will be L11-L60 and L1-L4. anti If it rotates clockwise, the rotation distance will be L4-L9. Therefore, according to the principle of the shortest distance, the retrieval process is performed by rotating the shelf counterclockwise.

[0096] Next, refer to Fig. 5, which is a schematic diagram 500 showing an application scene of the method for retrieving goods according to the present embodiment. In the application scene of Fig. 5, a server 501 receives a task set including a plurality of retrieval tasks, where retrieval task A includes retrieval target goods a, b, and c, and retrieval task A includes retrieval target goods a, c, and d. In response to receiving a task set including a plurality of outgoing tasks, the server 501 determines storage positions of the items to be outgoing in each outgoing task in the task set in a plurality of storage areas 502, 503, 504, 505. The storage area 502 includes storage positions 5021, 5022 of the item a to be outgoing, storage position 5023 of the item b to be outgoing, storage positions 5024, 5025 of the item c to be outgoing, and storage positions 5026, 5027 of the item d to be outgoing. The storage area 503 includes storage positions 5031, 5032 of the item a to be outgoing, storage position 5033 of the item b to be outgoing, and storage positions 5034, 5035 of the item c to be outgoing. The storage area 504 includes storage positions 5041, 5042 of the item a to be outgoing, storage position 5043 of the item b to be outgoing, and storage positions 5044, 5045 of the item c to be outgoing. 5041 , 5042 , Storage location of item b to be shipped 5043 and the storage location of item d to be shipped 5044 , 5045 The storage area 505 does not include the storage locations of the items a, b, c, and d to be output.

[0097] Server 501 ,each Based on the storage location of the item to be shipped in the shipping task, From the multiple storage areas 502, 503, 504, 505, so as to fulfill the outbound tasks A and B with the fewest number of storage areas, The target storage area corresponding to the task set is Special fixed Since storage area 502 satisfies both retrieval tasks A and B at the same time, storage area 502 is set as the target storage area. Target Storage Area 502, based on the priority of each type of item to be shipped , the target storage position for the item to be shipped in each shipping task is set Special For example, the storage location of the item a to be output in the output task is 5021, the storage location of the item b to be output is 5023, the storage location of the item c to be output is 5024, and the storage location of the item d to be output is 5026. It is determined that the storage positions (5021, 5023) of the items a and b to be removed belong to the same shelf in the storage area 502, and the storage positions (5024, 5026) of the items c and d to be removed belong to a different shelf in the storage area 502. case ,sa The server 501 is a target storage location in the task set. Guaranteed Pipe Area 502 In Items a and b to be shipped from the same shelf are the same ofAssign to picking task, storage area 502 Another in Items c and d to be shipped belong to one shelf of both The outbound process is then performed by assigning it to another picking task.

[0098] The method according to the above embodiment of the present application provides a method for issuing goods that can improve the efficiency of issuing goods in a complex storage environment of multiple storage areas, by determining, in response to receiving a task set including multiple issuing tasks, storage locations of items to be issued in each issuing task in multiple storage areas, determining a target storage area corresponding to the task set from the multiple storage areas based on the storage locations of the items to be issued in each issuing task, determining target storage locations for the items to be issued in each issuing task from the target storage area, and assigning items to be issued whose target storage locations in the task set belong to the same shelf in the same storage area to the same picking task, and performing issuing processing.

[0099] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the execution entity may determine the number of items to be shipped in the relay box, and in response to determining that the number of items to be shipped in the relay box is less than the number of items to be shipped indicated by the picking task, re-determine target storage locations for the remaining items to be shipped in the picking task.

[0100] As an example, the executing entity may determine whether the number of items to be shipped in the relay box is less than the number of items to be shipped indicated by the picking task based on abnormality information input by the worker via a control button, and in response to determining that the number of items to be shipped in the relay box is less than the number of items to be shipped indicated by the picking task, re-determine target storage positions for the remaining items to be shipped in the picking task.

[0101] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, there are multiple task sets, and the method further includes a step of preferentially processing the task set for outbound shipping in response to determining that the task set satisfies at least one of the following: time information corresponding to the task set satisfies a predetermined time threshold; the task set includes outbound processing work that requires the cooperation of a specified worker; the task set includes items to be outbound stored in multiple storage areas; the ratio of the number of all items to be outbound included in the task set to the number of types of items to be outbound satisfies a predetermined ratio threshold; and the number of shelves corresponding to the task set is less than a predetermined number threshold.

[0102] For example, the preset time threshold may be a time threshold set based on a cutoff time of batch processing (WAVE processing) of the outbound task. For example, if the cutoff time of the batch processing is 11:00, if an outbound task in a task set is a outbound task that was confirmed before 11:00, the task set can be processed preferentially.

[0103] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the execution entity may determine whether or not a subsequent task for the relay box exists to indicate that there are items to be shipped that need to be transported via the relay box to a storage area other than the target storage area, and in response to determining that a subsequent task for the relay box exists, transport the relay box to a storage area corresponding to the subsequent task.

[0104] Continuing to refer to FIG. 6, a schematic flow 600 of another embodiment of a method for issuing an article according to the present application is shown, which includes the following steps.

[0105] In step 601, in response to receiving a task set including a plurality of retrieval tasks, a storage location of an item to be retrieved in each retrieval task in the task set is determined in a plurality of storage areas.

[0106] In step 602, a target storage area corresponding to the task set is determined from among a plurality of storage areas based on the storage location of the item to be retrieved in each retrieval task.

[0107] In step 603, a target storage location is determined for the item to be retrieved in each retrieval task from the target storage area.

[0108] In step 604, items to be retrieved from the same shelf in the task set and whose target storage positions belong to the same storage area are assigned to the same picking task.

[0109] In step 605, the picking task is bound to the transit box and the shelf corresponding to the picking task.

[0110] In step 606, the shelf set to which the shelf corresponding to the picking task belongs is rotated so that the shelf corresponding to the picking task is rotated to a predetermined position and used as an output shelf.

[0111] In step 607, in response to the shelf corresponding to the picking task rotating to a predetermined position and becoming an output shelf, an instruction is given to a predetermined operator via a predetermined display screen to pick the item to be output from the output shelf indicated by the picking task into a relay box in order to transport the item to be output indicated by the picking task.

[0112] In step 608, the number of items to be shipped in the transfer box is determined.

[0113] In step 609, in response to determining that the number of items to be shipped in the relay box is less than the number of items to be shipped indicated by the picking task, the target storage positions are re-determined for the remaining items to be shipped in the picking task.

[0114] As can be seen from this embodiment, the flow 600 of the retrieval method of the present embodiment specifically explains the retrieval processing procedure of the retrieval target item, compared with the embodiment corresponding to Fig. 4. In this way, the convenience and accuracy of the retrieval work in this embodiment are further improved.

[0115] Continuing to refer to FIG. 7, there is shown a schematic flow chart 700 of another embodiment of a warehousing system control method according to the present application for controlling a warehousing system as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, which includes the following steps:

[0116] In step 701, the shelf indicated by the received picking task is determined.

[0117] In this embodiment, the items to be retrieved indicated by the picking task are stored on the same shelf in the same storage area.

[0118] In step 702, the shelf set to which the shelf indicated by the picking task belongs is rotated by a drive device, the shelf indicated by the picking task is rotated to a specified position to become the output shelf, and the worker is instructed to pick the items to be output from the output shelf indicated by the picking task into a relay box.

[0119] In step 703, in response to the determination that the relay box has received the item to be shipped indicated by the picking task, the item to be shipped is transported by the transport device and shipped out.

[0120] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, before executing step 702, the execution subject of this embodiment may scan the relay box identifier on the relay box with a scanner in the target work area, bind the relay box to a target temporary storage aisle entrance among a plurality of temporary storage aisle entrances and a picking task, and transport the relay box to the target temporary storage aisle entrance by a transport device. Here, the target work area is a work area corresponding to the storage area to which the shelf indicated by the picking task belongs.

[0121] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the execution entity may display item information of the outgoing item corresponding to the picking task via an electronic tag corresponding to the target temporary storage passage entrance. The step of instructing the worker to pick the outgoing item on the outgoing shelf indicated by the picking task into a relay box includes controlling an automatic door to open in response to determining that the shelf indicated by the picking task has rotated to a predetermined position and become the outgoing shelf, and displaying item information of the item on the outgoing shelf via a predetermined display screen corresponding to the automatic door.

[0122] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the execution entity may scan the item identification information of the item to be shipped on the shipping shelf, and display the item information of the scanned item to be shipped on an electronic tag at the target temporary storage aisle entrance in a predetermined manner.

[0123] Further referring to FIG. 8, as an embodiment of the method shown in each of the above figures, the present application provides an embodiment of an article retrieval device, which corresponds to the embodiment of the method shown in FIG. 4, and which can be specifically applied to various electronic devices.

[0124] As shown in FIG. 8, the item outgoing device includes a first determination unit 801 configured to determine, in a plurality of storage areas, storage positions of items to be outgoing in each outgoing task in the task set in response to receiving a task set including a plurality of outgoing tasks; a second determination unit 802 configured to determine a target storage area corresponding to the task set from the plurality of storage areas based on the storage positions of the items to be outgoing in each outgoing task; a third determination unit 803 configured to determine, from the target storage area, target storage positions for the items to be outgoing in each outgoing task; and an outgoing unit 804 configured to divide, in the task set, items to be outgoing on the same shelf whose target storage positions belong to the same storage area, into the same picking task and perform outgoing processing.

[0125] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the second determination unit 802 is further configured to determine, for each type of item to be shipped corresponding to the task set, the remaining expiration date of that type of item to be shipped in the storage area in which the item to be shipped of that type is stored, and identify a target storage area corresponding to the task set based on the remaining expiration date of each type of item to be shipped.

[0126] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the second determination unit 802 is further configured to determine, from among the multiple storage areas, the smallest number of storage areas that meets the outgoing requirements indicated by the task set, and in response to the determined number being 1, set the storage area corresponding to the number as the target storage area corresponding to the task set.

[0127] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the multiple storage areas are located on different floors of the building, and the second determination unit 802 further includes, in response to determining that the determined number is greater than one, selecting a storage area from the at least one storage area group that is located on the same floor as a target storage area corresponding to the task set, each of the at least one storage area group including the determined number of storage areas, and each storage area group being capable of satisfying the outbound requirements indicated by the task set.

[0128] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the second determination unit 802 is further configured, in response to determining that there is no storage area group among the at least one storage area group located on the same floor of the building, to determine an operation cost for completing an outbound task in the task set for each storage area group, determine a target storage area group based on the operation cost of each storage area group, and set a storage area within the target storage area group as the target storage area.

[0129] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the third determination unit 803 is further configured to perform an operation of determining, for each type of item to be shipped in the task set, the number of the item to be shipped in the multiple shipping tasks, and determining, in the target storage area, a storage location where the item to be shipped is stored, has an inventory quantity greater than the number of the item to be shipped and is closest to the number of the item to be shipped, as the target storage location of the item to be shipped.

[0130] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the shelves in each of the multiple storage areas include multiple shelf levels, and the third determination unit 803 is further configured to determine the target storage location of the item to be released based on the priority of the multiple shelf levels of each shelf in the target storage area, where the priority of the shelf levels on each shelf decreases from the middle level to both ends.

[0131] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the multiple shelves in each of the multiple storage areas are arranged in a ring shape into multiple shelf sets, each of the multiple shelf sets being rotatable in the same direction as a whole, and one shelf that has been rotated to a predetermined position is selected as the output shelf, and the third determination unit 803 is further configured to perform a determination operation to identify the target shelf on which the most numerous types of current output target items are stored based on the storage positions in the target storage area of ​​each type of output target item corresponding to the task set, set the remaining output target items as the current output target items when the next determination operation is performed, and set, for each type of output target item, the storage position on the corresponding shelf of the output target item as the target storage position of the output target item.

[0132] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the apparatus further includes a fourth determination unit (not shown) that determines, for each of a plurality of shelf sets in the target storage area, a rotation direction of the shelf set so that the rotation distance of the shelf set is shortest depending on the current position of the output shelf.

[0133] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the outbound unit 804 is further configured to bind the picking task with a staging box and a shelf corresponding to the picking task, and rotate the shelf set to which the shelf corresponding to the picking task belongs, so as to rotate the shelf corresponding to the picking task into a predetermined position to become the outbound shelf.

[0134] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the apparatus further includes an instruction unit configured to instruct a specified worker via a specified display screen to pick the item to be shipped from the shipping shelf indicated by the picking task into a relay box in response to the shelf corresponding to the picking task rotating to a specified position to become an outgoing shelf, in order to transport and outgo the item to be shipped indicated by the picking task.

[0135] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the apparatus further includes a re-determination unit (not shown) configured to determine the number of items to be shipped in the relay box and, in response to determining that the number of items to be shipped in the relay box is less than the number of items to be shipped indicated by the picking task, re-determine the target storage positions for the remaining items to be shipped in the picking task.

[0136] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, there are multiple task sets, and the device further includes a priority processing unit (not shown) configured to prioritize outbound processing of the task set in response to determining that the task set satisfies at least one of the following: time information corresponding to the task set satisfies a predetermined time threshold; the task set includes an outbound processing task that requires the cooperation of a specified worker; the task set includes items to be outbound stored in multiple storage areas; the ratio of the number of all items to be outbound included in the task set to the number of types of items to be outbound satisfies a predetermined ratio threshold; and the number of shelves corresponding to the task set is less than a predetermined number threshold.

[0137] In this embodiment, a first determination unit in an item outgoing device, in response to receiving a task set including multiple outgoing tasks, determines, in multiple storage areas, the storage positions of the items to be outgoing for each outgoing task in the task set; a second determination unit determines a target storage area corresponding to the task set from the multiple storage areas based on the storage positions of the items to be outgoing for each outgoing task; a third determination unit determines, from the target storage area, a target storage position for the items to be outgoing for each outgoing task; and a outgoing unit assigns items to be outgoing whose target storage positions in the task set belong to the same shelf in the same storage area to the same picking task and performs outgoing processing, thereby providing an item outgoing method that can improve the efficiency of outgoing of items in a complex storage environment of multiple storage areas.

[0138] Further referring to FIG. 9, as an embodiment of the method shown in each of the above figures, the present application provides an embodiment of a control device for a warehouse storage system, which embodiment of the device corresponds to the embodiment of the method shown in FIG. 7, and which can be specifically applied to various electronic devices.

[0139] As shown in FIG. 9, the storage system control device 900 includes a fourth determination unit 901 configured to determine the shelf indicated by the received picking task, where the items to be shipped indicated by the picking task are stored on the same shelf in the same storage area, a drive unit 902 configured to rotate the shelf set to which the shelf indicated by the picking task belongs using a drive device, rotate the shelf indicated by the picking task to a predetermined position to make it an outgoing shelf, and instruct a worker to pick the items to be shipped on the outgoing shelf indicated by the picking task to a relay box, and a transport unit 903 configured to transport the items to be shipped by a transport device and outgo in response to the relay box determining that it has received the items to be shipped indicated by the picking task.

[0140] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the apparatus further includes a bind unit (not shown) configured to scan a relay box identifier on the relay box with a scanner in the target work area, bind the relay box with a target temporary storage aisle opening among a plurality of temporary storage aisle openings and a picking task, and transport the relay box to the target temporary storage aisle opening by a transport device, where the target work area is a work area corresponding to the storage area to which the shelf indicated by the picking task belongs.

[0141] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the apparatus further includes a display unit (not shown) that displays item information of the items to be shipped corresponding to the picking task via an electronic tag corresponding to the target temporary storage aisle entrance.

[0142] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the drive unit 902 is configured to control the automatic door to open in response to determining that the shelf indicated by the picking task has rotated to a predetermined position and become the output shelf, and to display item information of the item on the output shelf via a predetermined display screen corresponding to the automatic door.

[0143] In some optional embodiments of this embodiment, the display unit (not shown) is configured to scan item identification information of an item to be shipped on the shipping shelf, and display the item information of the scanned item to be shipped in a predetermined manner on an electronic tag at the target temporary storage aisle entrance.

[0144] Hereinafter, reference will be made to Fig. 10, which is a structural schematic diagram showing a computer system 1000 applied to an apparatus for implementing the embodiments of the present application (such as the devices 101, 102, 103, 105, and 107 shown in Fig. 1). The apparatus shown in Fig. 10 is merely an example, and does not impose any limitations on the functions and scope of use of the embodiments of the present application.

[0145] 10, the computer system 1000 includes a processor (e.g., CPU, central processing unit) 1001 that can execute various appropriate operations and processes according to programs stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 1002 or programs loaded from a storage unit 1008 into a random access memory (RAM) 1003. The RAM 1003 further stores various programs and data necessary for the operation of the system 1000. The processor 1001, the ROM 1002, and the RAM 1003 are connected to each other via a bus 1004. An input / output (I / O) interface 1005 is also connected to the bus 1004.

[0146] An input unit 1006 including a keyboard, a mouse, etc., an output unit 1007 including a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), etc., and a speaker, a storage unit 1008 including a hard disk, etc., and a communication unit 1009 including a network interface card such as a LAN card and a modem are connected to the I / O interface 1005. The communication unit 1009 executes communication processing via a network such as the Internet. A driver 1010 is connected to the I / O interface 1005 as necessary. Removable media 1011 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, and a semiconductor memory are installed in the drive 1010 as necessary so that a computer program read from the removable media 1011 is installed in the storage unit 1008 as necessary.

[0147] In particular, according to embodiments of the present application, the processes described with reference to the above-mentioned flowcharts may be implemented as a computer software program. For example, embodiments of the present application may be implemented as a computer program embodied in a computer-readable medium. MThe computer program includes a program code for executing the method shown in the flowchart. In such an embodiment, the computer program can be downloaded and installed from a network via the communication unit 1009 and / or can be installed from a removable medium 1011. When the computer program is executed by the processor 1001, it performs the above-mentioned functions defined in the method of the present application.

[0148] It should be noted that the computer readable medium described in this application may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium, or any combination thereof. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electrical, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any combination thereof. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium may include, but are not limited to, a portable computer disk, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), an optical memory, a magnetic memory, or any suitable combination thereof, electrically connected by one or more conductors. In this application, the computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that contains or stores a program usable by, or embedded in, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. In this application, the computer readable signal medium may include a data signal in baseband or propagated as part of a carrier wave, in which the computer readable program code is carried. Such a propagated data signal may take various forms, including, but not limited to, an electromagnetic signal, an optical signal, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer-readable signal medium may also be any computer-readable medium other than a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable medium may transmit, propagate, or transmit a program for use by or embedded in an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The program code contained in the computer-readable medium may be transmitted by any suitable medium, including, but not limited to, wireless, wired, optical cable, RF, or the like, or any suitable combination thereof.

[0149] Computer program code for carrying out the operations of the present application can be written in one or more programming languages, or a combination thereof, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Java, Smalltalk, C++, and traditional procedural programming languages ​​such as "C" or similar programming languages. The program code can run entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, as a separate software package, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In the case of a remote computer, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer via any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or may be connected to an external computer (e.g., via an Internet service provided by an Internet service provider).

[0150] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the drawings are illustrative examples of architecture, functions, and operations that can be realized by the apparatus, method, and computer program according to various embodiments of the present application. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, a program segment, or a portion of code. The module, program segment, or portion of code includes one or more executable instructions for implementing a certain logic function. It is to be noted that in some alternative embodiments, the functions shown in the blocks may be executed in a different order than that shown in the drawings. For example, two blocks shown in succession may actually be executed substantially in parallel in response to such functions, or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order. It is to be noted that all blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, as well as combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, may be implemented in a dedicated hardware-based system that executes a certain function or operation, or may be implemented in a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0151] The means described in the embodiments of the present application may be realized by software or hardware. The above-mentioned units may be provided in a processor, and may be described as a processor having a first determination unit, a second determination unit, a third determination unit, and a retrieval unit. Note that the names of these units do not necessarily limit the units themselves in some cases. For example, the retrieval unit may be described as "a unit that assigns retrieval target items on the same shelf that belong to the same storage area and have target storage positions in a task set to the same picking task and performs retrieval processing."

[0152] Meanwhile, the present application further provides a computer-readable medium, which may be included in the device described in the embodiment, or may exist independently and not be incorporated in the device. The computer-readable medium carries one or more programs, and when the one or more programs are executed by the device, the computer, in response to receiving a task set including a plurality of outgoing tasks, determines, in a plurality of storage areas, storage positions of items to be outgoing in each outgoing task in the task set, determines a target storage area corresponding to the task set from the plurality of storage areas based on the storage positions of the items to be outgoing in each outgoing task, determines a target storage position for the items to be outgoing in each outgoing task from the target storage area, and assigns items to be outgoing whose target storage positions in the task set belong to the same shelf in the same storage area to the same picking task, and performs outgoing processing.

[0153] The above description is merely a description of the preferred embodiments of the present application and the technical principles used. Those skilled in the art should understand that the scope of the invention of the present application is not limited to the solution consisting of a specific combination of the above technical features, but should also include other solutions consisting of any combination of the above technical features or their equivalent features within the scope of the above application. For example, the above features and the technical features having similar functions disclosed in the present application (not limited to these) can be substituted for each other.

Claims

1. A method for retrieving an item from storage, comprising: storing each item in a plurality of storage areas, each of the plurality of storage areas including a plurality of shelf sets, each of the plurality of shelf sets including a plurality of shelves with a plurality of storage positions arranged in a hierarchical manner, In response to receiving a task set including a plurality of retrieval tasks, determining a storage location of an item to be retrieved in each retrieval task of the task set in the plurality of storage areas; determining a target storage area corresponding to the task set from among the plurality of storage areas based on a storage location of an item to be removed from the warehouse in each of the removal tasks; determining a target storage location for an item to be removed from the target storage area in each of the removing tasks; A method for retrieving goods from storage, comprising: a step of dividing, in the task set, goods to be retrieved from the same shelf, whose target storage positions belong to the same storage area, into the same picking task and performing retrieval processing.

2. The step of determining a target storage area corresponding to the task set from among the plurality of storage areas based on a storage position of an item to be removed from the storage area in each of the removal tasks includes: determining a remaining period of the expiration date of each type of retrieval target item corresponding to the task set in a storage area in which the retrieval target item of the type is stored; 2. The method for retrieving goods according to claim 1, further comprising a step of determining a target storage area corresponding to said task set based on the remaining period of the expiration date of each type of retrieval target goods.

3. The step of determining a target storage area corresponding to the task set based on the remaining period of the expiration date of each type of the goods to be shipped out includes: A step of determining a priority of each type of item to be shipped based on a remaining period of the expiration date of each type of item to be shipped, wherein the priority of each type of item to be shipped has a negative correlation with a remaining period of the expiration date; 3. The method for retrieving goods according to claim 2, further comprising a step of determining a target storage area corresponding to said task set based on the priority of each type of retrieval target goods.

4. The step of determining a target storage area corresponding to the task set from among the plurality of storage areas based on a storage position of an item to be removed from the storage area in each of the removal tasks includes: determining, from the plurality of storage areas, a minimum number of storage areas that satisfy the outgoing requirements indicated by the task set; The method for retrieving goods according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of: if the determined number is 1, setting a storage area corresponding to the number as a target storage area corresponding to the task set.

5. the plurality of storage areas are located on different floors of a building; The step of determining a target storage area corresponding to the task set from among the plurality of storage areas based on a storage position of an item to be removed from the storage area in each of the removal tasks includes: In response to determining that the determined number is greater than one, from at least one storage area group, a storage area in a storage area group on the same floor of a building is selected as a target storage area corresponding to the task set; each group of storage areas in said at least one group of storage areas includes said number of storage areas; The method for retrieving an article according to claim 4, wherein each group of storage areas can satisfy the retrieval requirements indicated by the task set.

6. The step of determining a target storage area corresponding to the task set from among the plurality of storage areas based on a storage position of an item to be removed from the storage area in each of the removal tasks includes: determining an operation cost for completing a retrieval task in the task set for each storage area group in response to determining that there is no storage area group located in the same layer within the at least one storage area group; 6. The method for retrieving an article according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of: determining a target storage area group based on the operation cost of each storage area group; and determining a storage area within the target storage area group as the target storage area.

7. The step of determining a target storage position for the retrieval target item in each retrieval task from the target storage area includes: For each type of item to be shipped in the task set, determining a number of items to be shipped for the plurality of shipping tasks; and determining, as a target storage location for the item to be shipped, a storage location in the target storage area where the item to be shipped is stored, the storage location having an inventory quantity greater than the number of the item to be shipped and closest to the number of the item to be shipped.

8. A shelf in each of the plurality of storage areas includes a plurality of shelf levels, The step of determining a target storage position for the retrieval target item in each retrieval task from the target storage area includes: determining a target storage position of the item to be removed from the warehouse based on the priority of a plurality of shelves of each shelf in the target storage area; 2. The method for retrieving an article from a warehouse according to claim 1, wherein the priority of the shelf levels on each shelf gradually decreases from the middle level to both ends.

9. The step of determining a target storage position for the retrieval target item in each retrieval task from the target storage area includes: determining a priority of each shelf based on an arrangement order of each shelf in the shelf set in the target storage area; 2. The method for retrieving articles according to claim 1, further comprising a step of determining a target storage position for the articles to be retrieved in each of the retrieval tasks based on the priority of each shelf.

10. A plurality of shelves in each of the plurality of storage areas are arranged in a ring shape into a plurality of shelf sets, each of the plurality of shelf sets is rotatable in the same direction as a whole, and one shelf that has been rotated to a predetermined position is set as an output shelf, The step of determining a target storage position for the retrieval target item in each retrieval task from the target storage area includes: A step of executing a determination operation to identify a target shelf on which the most numerous types of current items to be shipped are stored based on storage positions in a target storage area of ​​each type of item to be shipped corresponding to the task set, and setting the remaining items to be shipped as current items to be shipped when the next determination operation is executed; 2. The method for issuing an article according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: setting, for each type of article to be issued, a storage position on a corresponding shelf of the article to be issued as a target storage position of the article to be issued.

11. The method for retrieving an item according to claim 10, further comprising a step of determining, for each of a plurality of shelf sets in the target storage area, a rotation direction of the shelf set based on a current position of the retrieval shelf so as to minimize a rotation distance of the shelf set.

12. The step of carrying out the outgoing process includes: Binding the picking task to a relay box and a shelf corresponding to the picking task; The method for retrieving goods according to claim 10, further comprising a step of rotating a shelf set to which a shelf corresponding to the picking task belongs, and rotating the shelf corresponding to the picking task to a predetermined position to set it as an retrieving shelf.

13. 13. The method for issuing goods as described in claim 12, further comprising the step of instructing a predetermined operator via a predetermined display screen to pick the goods to be issued that are located on the issuing shelf indicated by the picking task into the relay box in response to determining that the shelf corresponding to the picking task has rotated to a predetermined position and become an issuing shelf in order to transport the goods to be issued that are indicated by the picking task.

14. determining the number of items to be shipped in the transfer box; 14. The method for issuing goods as described in claim 13, further comprising a step of re-determining a target storage position for the remaining items to be issued in the picking task in response to determining that the number of items to be issued in the relay box is less than the number of items to be issued indicated by the picking task.

15. The method for retrieving goods according to claim 13, further comprising a step of scanning the goods identification information of the goods to be retrieved on the retrieval shelf, and displaying the goods information of the scanned goods to be retrieved on an electronic tag at the target temporary storage passage entrance in a preset manner.

16. determining whether there is a subsequent task of the relay box to indicate that there is an item to be shipped that needs to be transported via the relay box to a storage area other than the target storage area; The method for retrieving an article according to claim 13, further comprising the step of: in response to determining that a subsequent task for the relay box exists, transporting the relay box to a storage area corresponding to the subsequent task.

17. There are multiple task sets, The method for retrieving the article comprises the steps of: The method for issuing an item according to any one of claims 1 to 16, further comprising a step of preferentially processing the task set for issuing in response to determining that the task set satisfies at least one of the following: the time information corresponding to the task set satisfies a preset time threshold; The task set includes a shipping process that requires the cooperation of a predetermined worker; The task set includes items to be retrieved that are stored in a plurality of storage areas; The ratio of the number of all items to be shipped included in the task set to the number of types of items to be shipped satisfies a preset ratio threshold value; The number of shelves corresponding to the task set is less than a preset number threshold.

18. A warehouse storage system for goods comprising a plurality of storage areas and a work area provided corresponding to the plurality of storage areas, Each of the plurality of storage areas includes a plurality of shelf sets in which a plurality of shelves are arranged in a circular shape, each of the plurality of shelf sets is driven by a drive device to be rotatable in the same direction as a whole, and each shelf is provided with a plurality of storage positions; a conveying device is provided in the work area for conveying a relay box in and out of the work area; the relay box is used to receive an item to be handed over to a warehousing shelf that has been rotated to a predetermined position by a worker who has performed a picking task thereon; The article warehousing system is further configured to perform an article retrieval operation according to the article retrieval method of any one of claims 1 to 17. Warehousing system for goods.

19. The conveying device includes a conveying line and a lifting and transferring device installed on the conveying line, A plurality of temporary storage passageways are provided adjacent to the conveying line, and a relay box identifier is provided on the relay box; Scanning a relay box identifier on the relay box with a scanner installed on the conveying line, and binding the relay box to a target temporary storage passageway entrance among the plurality of temporary storage passageways and the picking task; Each of the plurality of temporary storage passage entrances instructs an operator to execute a bound picking task for the relay box transferred to the temporary storage passage entrance by the lifting and transferring device via an electronic tag corresponding to the temporary storage passage entrance.

20. A system for warehousing items according to claim 18.

20. The plurality of storage areas are installed on different floors of a building, and one work area is provided corresponding to at least one storage area installed on the same floor; 20. The warehousing system for storing items according to claim 19, wherein the transport device further comprises an elevator for transporting the relay boxes between transport devices on upper and lower levels.

21. The work area is separated from the storage area via a heat insulating wall, An automatic door communicating with the work area is provided corresponding to a predetermined position of each shelf set, A predetermined display screen for displaying information on the items on the delivery shelves is provided corresponding to each automatic door.

20. A system for warehousing items according to claim 18.

22. 22. A warehousing system for storing items as claimed in claim 21, wherein a wind shield is provided for each automatic door.

23. 1. A method for controlling a warehousing system, comprising: A step of performing an item retrieval operation by a method for retrieving an item according to any one of claims 1 to 17; A step of determining a shelf indicated by the received picking task, in which the items to be taken out indicated by the picking task are stored on the same shelf in the same storage area; a step of rotating a shelf set to which the shelf indicated by the picking task belongs by a drive device, rotating the shelf indicated by the picking task to a predetermined position to set it as an output shelf, and instructing an operator to pick the item to be output from the output shelf indicated by the picking task into a relay box; In response to the determination that the relay box has received the item to be shipped out indicated by the picking task, the item to be shipped out is transported by a transport device and shipped out. A method for controlling a warehouse storage system comprising:

24. Before rotating the shelf set to which the shelf indicated by the picking task belongs by a drive device and rotating the shelf indicated by the picking task to a predetermined position to become an outgoing shelf, a step of scanning a relay box identifier on the relay box by a scanner in a target work area, which is a work area corresponding to a storage area to which a shelf indicated by the picking task belongs, and binding the relay box with a target temporary storage passage entrance among a plurality of temporary storage passage entrances and the picking task; 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of transporting the relay box to the target temporary storage aisle entrance by the transport device.

25. The method further includes a step of displaying information on the item to be removed from the warehouse corresponding to the picking task via an electronic tag corresponding to the target temporary storage passageway entrance; The step of instructing a worker to pick the retrieval target item located on the retrieval shelf indicated by the picking task into a relay box includes: and a step of controlling an automatic door to open in response to a determination that the shelf indicated by the picking task has rotated to a predetermined position and become an output shelf, and displaying item information of the item on the output shelf via a predetermined display screen corresponding to the automatic door.

25. A method for controlling a warehousing system according to claim 24.

26. The step of displaying the article information of the retrieval target article corresponding to the picking task via the electronic tag corresponding to the target temporary storage passage entrance includes:

26. The method for controlling a warehouse storage system according to claim 25, further comprising the steps of scanning item identification information of the items to be shipped on the shipping shelf, and displaying the scanned item information of the items to be shipped on an electronic tag at the target temporary storage passage entrance in a preset manner.

27. An article retrieval device, comprising: a first determination unit configured to, in response to receiving a task set including a plurality of outgoing tasks, determine, in a plurality of storage areas, storage locations of items to be outgoing in each outgoing task in the task set; A second determination unit configured to determine a target storage area corresponding to the task set from the plurality of storage areas according to a storage location of an item to be put out in each of the putting out tasks; A third determination unit configured to determine a target storage location for a retrieval target item in each retrieval task from the target storage area; A retrieval unit configured to divide, in the task set, retrieval target items on the same shelf that belong to the same storage area and have target storage positions, into the same picking task and perform retrieval processing; An article delivery device comprising:

28. A control device for a warehouse storage system, comprising: An article retrieval device that performs an article retrieval operation by the article retrieval method according to any one of claims 1 to 17; A fourth determination unit configured to determine a shelf indicated by the received picking task, wherein the items to be shipped indicated by the picking task are stored on the same shelf in the same storage area; a drive unit configured to rotate a shelf set to which the shelf indicated by the picking task belongs by a drive device, rotate the shelf indicated by the picking task to a predetermined position to set it as an output shelf, and instruct an operator to pick the item to be output that is on the output shelf indicated by the picking task into a relay box; a transport unit configured to transport the item to be shipped by a transport device in response to the relay box determining that the item to be shipped has been received by the picking task; and A control device for a warehouse storage system comprising:

29. A computer-readable medium having a computer program stored thereon, A computer-readable medium that, when the computer program is executed by a processor, realizes any one of the article retrieval method according to claims 1 to 17 and the warehouse storage system control method according to claims 23 to 26.

30. An electronic device comprising one or more processors and a storage device storing one or more programs, An electronic device that, when the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to realize any one of the article retrieval method described in claims 1 to 17 and the warehouse storage system control method described in claims 23 to 26.

31. A computer program which, when executed by a processor, realizes any one of the method for retrieving an article according to claims 1 to 17 and the method for controlling a warehouse storage system according to claims 23 to 26.

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