Merge processing system, method, device and computer-readable storage medium

Abstract

A joining processing system, method, and device includes: for each group to be joined, identifying each returnable box containing items corresponding to the group to be joined; and establishing a correspondence between the returnable box and the group to be joined; a box supply line transports each returnable box from each picking zone to a cargo pick-up position where the returnable box can be retrieved by a conveying device; the conveying device transports the returnable box to a storage area and uploads the storage position of the returnable box in the storage area to a control center; the control center identifies the correspondence between the returnable box transported by the conveying device and the storage position; and, based on the correspondence between the returnable box and the group to be joined, controls the conveying device to transport each returnable box of the group to be joined to a joining processing station; and the conveying device transports each returnable box corresponding to the same group to be joined to the joining processing station in order, thereby joining the groups to be joined.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims priority to a Chinese patent application bearing application number 201910980221.2 and entitled "System, method and apparatus for processing converged orders" filed with the China Patent Office on October 15, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of warehouse logistics, and in particular to a merger processing system, method and apparatus. [Background technology]

[0003] At present, with the rapid development of the logistics industry, the scale of logistics parks is becoming larger and larger. Limited by the volume of a single warehouse, existing logistics parks usually adopt a method of establishing multiple zones (i.e., multiple warehouses) to store goods in order to meet the storage capacity requirements of logistics parks. With the emergence of multiple zones, in order to improve the efficiency of warehousing, the control center first generates a collective order including multiple orders based on factors such as order purpose and type of goods, and after receiving all the goods of the collective order obtained from each zone in a set junction work area, the goods corresponding to the collective order are transported to a sorting area for sorting, packaging, and other processes.

[0004] In the prior art, obtaining items from multiple compartments based on collective order information is called merging. Currently, common merging mainly relies on roller conveyor merging systems. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Specifically, in a roller conveyor junction system, returnable boxes conveyed from different sections are transported to each branch line via a roller conveyor, and as shown in FIG. 1, one branch line is responsible for processing the junction of items in one collective order. Since one branch line is used to process one collective order, the number of branches in a roller conveyor junction system limits the upper limit of collective orders to be junctioned. In addition, since the length of the branch line is limited, there is also an upper limit to the number of returnable boxes that can be stored on the branch line, which also limits the number of returnable boxes that can be included in one collective order. If the logistics park expands and the number of sections exceeds the number of returnable boxes that can be stored on the branch line, it may become impossible to process order junctions.

[0006] Existing systems for processing collective orders generally need to rely on relatively complicated hardware equipment (e.g., roller conveyors, hoists, etc.), and therefore, when designing the system, it is generally necessary to consider the balance between efficiency and space utilization rate, which makes it difficult to expand or adjust the system later, and is difficult to adjust. This makes it easy to have difficulty in processing collective orders generated during peak times, resulting in low processing efficiency and waste of costs due to the system being idle during daily operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In an embodiment of the present invention, a meeting processing system and method are provided to ensure confidentiality and security of a delivery area during logistics delivery.

[0008] According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention includes a control center, a storage area, a box supply line, and a conveying device, the control center is configured to identify, for each group to be joined, each returnable container storing an article corresponding to the group to be joined, establish a correspondence between the returnable container and the group to be joined, and control each container supply line to supply each returnable container; the box supply line is configured to transport each returnable box from each picking zone to a cargo pick-up location where the returnable box can be obtained by the conveying device; The conveying device is configured to convey a returnable box supplied by the box supply line at the cargo pick-up position to the storage area, The storage area is configured to place returnable boxes acquired from the box supply line by the conveying device, the control center is further configured to specify a correspondence relationship between the returnable containers transported by the transport device and a storage position in the storage area, and, when it is specified based on the correspondence relationship between the returnable containers and the set to be joined that each of the returnable containers corresponding to the set to be joined has been transported to the storage area, to control the transport device to transport each of the returnable containers corresponding to the set to be joined to a joining processing station; The conveying device is further configured to convey each returnable box corresponding to the same set to be joined in sequence to the joining processing station based on control by the control center, and to join the sets to be joined, thereby providing a joining processing system.

[0009] According to a second aspect, in an embodiment of the invention, The control center identifies, for each group to be joined, each returnable container storing an article corresponding to the group to be joined, and establishes a correspondence between the identified returnable container and the group to be joined; controlling a box supply line to supply each returnable box; controlling a conveying device to convey each returnable box supplied by the box supply line to a deposit area; The present invention further provides a joining processing method that includes controlling the conveying device to convey each returnable box of the group to be joined to a joining processing station when it is determined that each returnable box of the group to be joined has been conveyed to the storage area based on the corresponding relationship between the returnable box and the group to be joined and the corresponding relationship between the storage position and the returnable box, thereby joining the groups to be joined.

[0010] According to a third aspect, in an embodiment of the invention, the control center includes an order identification module for identifying, for each group to be joined, a returnable container storing an item corresponding to the group to be joined, and establishing a correspondence between the identified returnable container and the group to be joined; a box supply module for controlling the box supply line to supply each returnable box; a data cache module that controls a conveying device to convey each returnable box supplied by the box supply line to a storage area and identifies a correspondence between the returnable box and a storage position such as the storage area; and a junction processing module which, when it is determined that each of the returnable boxes in the group to be joined has been transported to the storage area based on the corresponding relationship between the returnable boxes and the group to be joined and the corresponding relationship between the storage position and the returnable boxes, controls the transport device to transport each of the returnable boxes in the group to be joined to a junction processing station, and joins the groups to be joined.

[0011] According to a fourth aspect, in an embodiment of the present invention, there is further provided a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program realizing any one of the confluence processing methods described above when executed by a processor.

[0012] At least one of the above technical solutions adopted in the embodiments of the present specification can achieve the following beneficial effects: For each group to be joined, each returnable box containing articles corresponding to the group to be joined is identified, a corresponding relationship between the group to be joined and each returnable box is established, and each box supply line is controlled to supply each identified returnable box, and the box supply line can transport each returnable box from each picking zone to a cargo pick-up position, whereby the conveying device can obtain the returnable box at the cargo pick-up position and convey it to a deposit position in a deposit area, and when it is identified that each returnable box of the group to be joined has been conveyed to the deposit shelf, each returnable box of the group to be joined is conveyed to a joining processing station and joined together. Compared to the conventional roller conveyor joining system, by using a deposit shelf to store the returnable boxes instead of the branch lines of the roller conveyor, restrictions on the number of group processes to be joined and the number of deposits of returnable boxes due to the number and length of the branch lines are avoided. In addition, the transportation of returnable boxes does not depend on roller conveyors, but is transported by transport equipment, and there is no rigid connection between the storage shelves, box supply lines, and merging processing stations in the present invention, and there is no need to connect them via equipment (e.g., rails, roller conveyors), so that the number and locations of the storage shelves and merging processing stations in the system can be flexibly changed as needed. When performing merging processing for sets that should be merging, this increases the flexibility and expandability of the system and improves processing efficiency.

[0013] Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the detailed description of the non-limiting examples given with reference to the following drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a semiconductor device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a semiconductor device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a semiconductor device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a roller conveyor merging system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a convergence processing system provided by an embodiment of the present specification. [Diagram 3]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a box supply line provided by an embodiment of the present specification supplying returnable boxes and transporting them to a deposit shelf by a transport device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an identifier identification device in a box supply line provided by an embodiment of the present specification. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing conveying devices provided according to an embodiment of the present specification lined up at a cargo pick-up position waiting to convey a returnable container; [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a terminal in a merge processing station provided by an embodiment of the present specification. [Figure 7] 1 is a flowchart of a merging process provided by an embodiment of the present specification. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a junction processing device provided by an embodiment of the present specification; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present specification clearer, the technical solutions of the present application will be described below clearly and completely with reference to the specific embodiments of the present specification and the corresponding drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present specification, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without making inventive efforts all belong to the protection scope of the present application.

[0016] Hereinafter, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a convergence processing system provided by an embodiment of the present specification, which includes a control center 100, a storage shelf 102 arranged in a storage area, a box supply line 104, and a conveying device 106.

[0018] The control center 100 is used to remotely control the box supply line 104 and the conveying device 106 to perform the joining process of the groups to be joined. The box supply line 104 connects different warehouse sections and an area where the groups to be joined perform the joining process, and several cargo pick-up positions are provided in the area. The conveying device 106 can move within the area and can convey returnable boxes transported to the cargo pick-up positions by the box supply line 104 to a storage shelf 102 provided in the area. The storage shelf 102 is used to temporarily store returnable boxes corresponding to the groups to be joined. When the control center 100 determines that all returnable boxes corresponding to any of the groups to be joined have been transported to the storage shelf 102 in the storage area, it controls each conveying device 106 to transport the returnable box corresponding to the group to be joined to a joining process station in the area, thereby performing the joining process. The number of junction processing stations within the area can be set as needed, and since returnable boxes can be transported to each station by the conveying device 106, the junction processing stations can be isolated stations, i.e., they do not need to be connected to other equipment (e.g., roller conveyors, box supply lines, etc.).

[0019] Specifically, the control center 100 can identify a set to be merged that is a target of merging processing, and then, based on the items corresponding to the set to be merged, identify which warehouse section the items corresponding to the set to be merged are placed in, and identify the items that each section needs to provide, and each returnable box that stores the identified items. For example, if the items corresponding to the set A to be merged include a, b, and c, and are stored on the warehouse shelves of section 1, section 2, and section 3, respectively, the merging processing system of the set to be merged requires three returnable boxes that respectively carry the items a, b, and c stored in section 1, section 2, and section 3. The control center 100 can send control commands to box supply lines 104 connected to section 1, section 2, and section 3, and control each box supply line 104 to supply returnable boxes. A returnable box containing item a is supplied to a box supply line 104 connected to section 1, a returnable box containing item b is supplied to a box supply line 104 connected to section 2, and a returnable box containing item c is supplied to a box supply line 104 connected to section 3.

[0020] Each item corresponding to the set to be joined is currently identified, and each returnable container corresponding to the set to be joined is determined based on the storage position of each identified item. Identifying is a necessary step for the sets to be merged to perform the merge process. In the prior art, this is already a mature technology, and the specific implementation of this part is not limited in this specification, so a detailed description of this part will be omitted, and reference can be made to the method adopted in the prior art (for example, the process of controlling the roller conveyors of each section so that the roller conveyor merging system transports the returnable box to the main line).

[0021] In this specification, the control center 100 can identify each returnable container that contains the items corresponding to the set to be joined, and then establish a correspondence between the identified returnable container and the set to be joined, thereby subsequently identifying the position of each returnable container corresponding to the set to be joined and identifying the progress of the joining process. Optionally, identifiers can be set for the returnable containers and the set to be joined, respectively, and a correspondence between the returnable containers and the set to be joined for each identifier can be established, but this application is not limited thereto.

[0022] As described above, the control center 100 identifies each returnable box corresponding to the set to be joined, with the purpose of performing a joining process for the articles corresponding to the set to be joined by controlling the box supply line 104 to supply each identified returnable box. Therefore, the control center 100 can further control each box supply line 104 to supply each returnable box.

[0023] The box supply line 104, under control of the control center 100, can transport each returnable box from each section to a cargo pick-up location where the returnable box can be picked up by the conveyor 106.

[0024] The conveying device 106 conveys the returnable container supplied at the cargo pick-up position by the container supply line 104 to a cargo position on the storage shelf 102 that has been preset for the returnable container by the control center.

[0025] In another embodiment of the present specification, if the control center does not pre-set the storage location of the returnable container, the conveying device 106 can convey the returnable container supplied from the cargo pick-up location to an empty cargo location on the storage shelf 102 by itself, and also upload the cargo location identifier of the cargo location to the control center 100.

[0026] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a box supply line provided by an embodiment of the present specification supplying returnable boxes and transporting them to a deposit shelf by a transport device. In Fig. 3, the box supply line 104 transports each returnable box corresponding to two sets to be joined to each cargo pick-up position, that is, returnable boxes m1-m2 corresponding to set M to be joined and returnable boxes n1-n3 corresponding to set N to be joined are transported to the cargo pick-up position by the box supply line 104. The transport device 106 in an idle state waits to transport returnable boxes at each cargo pick-up position under the control of the control center 100. For the conveying device 106 waiting to transport a returnable box at each cargo pick-up position, after the returnable box reaches the cargo pick-up position where the conveying device 106 is located, the conveying device 106 can transport the returnable box to an empty cargo position on the storage shelf 102, and the dashed frame on the storage shelf 102 is an empty cargo position where the returnable box can be placed, and then the conveying device 106 can transport the returnable box m1 to the empty cargo position corresponding to the dashed frame where m1 is marked, by this analogy.

[0027] In addition, the conveying device 106 is provided with a robot arm, which can grab a returnable box from a cargo pick-up position on the box supply line 104 and place the returnable box at an empty cargo position on the storage shelf. The conveying device 106 includes an action mechanism and a robot arm capable of lifting and gripping cargo. This specification does not limit how the conveying device 106 specifically acquires and conveys returnable boxes.

[0028] Further, in this specification, the system may further include an identifier identification device 108 for identifying a box body identifier of a returnable box supplied to a cargo pick-up position by the box supply line 104 and transmitting the box body identifier to the control center 100, as shown in FIG. 4. Here, the identifier identification device 108 may specifically be a camera, a scanning gun, or other equipment for acquiring and identifying a box body identifier of a returnable box that has arrived at a cargo pick-up position. The box body identifier may specifically be a digital object unique identifier (DOI), such as a two-dimensional code, a barcode, or the like. The DOI carries the box body identifier of the returnable box, and the identifier identification device 108 can acquire the box body identifier of the returnable box by collecting the DOI. For example, a camera collects a two-dimensional code including the box body identifier of the returnable box, and identifies the box body identifier of the returnable box.

[0029] 4 is a schematic diagram of an identifier identification device in a box supply line provided by the present specification. An identifier identification device 108 is provided at each cargo pick-up position of the box supply line, so that when a returnable box supplied by the box supply line 104 arrives at a cargo pick-up position, the identifier identification device 108 can collect the DOI of the returnable box, identify the box body identifier of the returnable box, and transmit it to the control center 100.

[0030] When the number of merging sets to be processed is small, the control center 100, after receiving the box body identifier, selects some of the idle conveying devices 106 based on the state of each conveying device 106, and sends a control command to the selected conveying device 106 to move the selected conveying device 106 to the cargo pick-up position of the supply line 104, pick up the returnable box, and transport it to the cargo position of the storage shelf 102. The cargo position of the storage shelf 102 is identified from each idle storage position in the storage area. After the cargo position of the returnable box on the storage shelf 102 is identified, the state of the identified cargo position is changed to occupied, the correspondence between the box body identifier of the returnable box and the cargo position 102 is stored, and a control command is sent to the conveying device 106 to transport the returnable box to the identified cargo position.

[0031] Based on a control command from the control center 100, the conveying device 106 picks up the returnable box at the cargo pick-up position of the box supply line 104 and conveys it to the deposit position, for example, the cargo position.

[0032] In other embodiments herein, the transport device 106 may also transport a tote to a cargo location on its own, and collect and transmit a cargo location identifier for the cargo location to the control center 100 .

[0033] Based on the cargo location identifier transmitted from the conveying device 106, the control center 100 can specify at which cargo location on the storage shelf 102 the conveyed returnable container will be stored. Specifically, based on the cargo location identifier transmitted from the conveying device 106, the control center 100 can specify and store the correspondence between the box body identifier of the returnable container and the cargo location identifier.

[0034] When there are many sets to be processed, the control center 100 can control a plurality of idle conveyors 106 to wait in line at each cargo pick-up position of the box supply line 104, and when a returnable box arrives at the cargo pick-up position, the control center can receive the box body identifier sent from the identifier identification device 108 and send a control command to the conveyor 106 at the head position in the queue. The conveyor 106 conveys the returnable box to the deposit shelf 102 based on the control command, as shown in Figure 5, and the remaining conveyors 106 in the queue take their positions in order to wait for the remaining returnable boxes to arrive at the cargo pick-up position. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of conveyors provided by the present specification waiting in line to convey returnable boxes at the cargo pick-up position, and as can be seen, there are three conveyors waiting to convey returnable boxes to the cargo pick-up position, and each returnable box that arrives in order is conveyed to the deposit cargo position.

[0035] In this specification, the conveying device 106 is provided with a cargo location identifier collecting device, which may be, for example, a camera, a scanning gun, or the like, or an identifier identifying device 108. When the conveying device 106 conveys the returnable container to the cargo location on the storage shelf 102, the collecting device or identifier identifying device 108 collects the cargo location identifier provided at the cargo location and transmits it to the control center 100.

[0036] In this specification, the control center 100 can further specify, for each returnable box supplied by the box supply line 104, a cargo position at which the returnable box is to be placed from an idle cargo position on the storage shelf 102, and change the status of the specified cargo position to occupied. After that, the control center 100 can further transmit a control command to the conveying device 106 so that the conveying device 106 conveys the returnable box to the specified cargo position.

[0037] Specifically, the control center 100 , knowledgeWhen the control center 100 receives the box body identifier transmitted from the identifier device 108, it identifies a cargo location in the storage shelf 102 that is in an idle state and changes the state of the cargo location to occupied. Furthermore, it transmits a control command to the transport device 106 to transport a returnable box corresponding to the box body identifier to the identified cargo location. The transport device 106 transports the returnable box to the identified cargo location based on the received control command. Because the control center 100 has already identified the cargo location where the returnable box is stored before the transport device 106 transports the returnable box to the cargo location on the storage shelf 120, the transport device 106 does not need to collect a cargo location identifier for the cargo location.

[0038] Furthermore, since the control center 100 identifies the main box identifiers of the returnable boxes corresponding to each group to be joined and stores the correspondence between the main box identifiers and the cargo location identifiers of each returnable box transported to the storage shelf 102, the control center 100 can identify, for each group to be joined, the progress at which each returnable box corresponding to the group to be joined has been transported to the storage shelf 102, based on the correspondence between the main box identifiers and the cargo location identifiers. When all of the returnable boxes corresponding to the groups to be joined have been transported to the storage shelf 102, the control center 100 can identify an idle junction processing station from each junction processing station and transmit a control command to the transport device 106.

[0039] Based on the received control command, the transport device 106 transports each returnable container corresponding to the set to be joined from the storage shelf 102 to the specified joining processing station in order.

[0040] Specifically, the control center 100 identifies a plurality of idle conveying devices 106 based on the number of returnable containers corresponding to the set to be joined, and transmits a control command to each of the identified conveying devices 106, so that each conveying device 106 retrieves one returnable container corresponding to the set to be joined from the storage shelf 102 based on the control command received, and conveys it to the joining processing station.

[0041] In addition, since the joining processing station has an upper limit on its joining processing capacity, for example, the number of returnable boxes that can be processed simultaneously is limited, in order to prevent the number of transported returnable boxes from exceeding the upper limit of the joining processing station's capacity, in this specification, the control center 100 can sequentially send control commands to each conveying device 106 so that each conveying device 106 can sequentially convey each returnable box corresponding to the joining set to the specified joining processing station, thus controlling the number of returnable boxes that need to be processed at the joining processing station within the same time. This reduces the number of conveying devices 106 required to process one joining set at the same time, reduces the time that the conveying devices 106 are idle, and improves processing efficiency.

[0042] The junction processing system for a group to be junctioned provided by the present specification may further include a terminal 110, which is located at a junction processing station and receives information transmitted from the control center 100, as shown in the schematic diagram of a terminal in a junction processing station provided by an embodiment of the present specification, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0043] The control center 100 transmits the order information of the set to be joined to the terminal 110 corresponding to the identified joining processing station, and updates the status of the joining processing station to busy.

[0044] The terminal 110 displays that the order information of the group to be joined has been received, and transmits notification information to the control center 100 after all the items corresponding to the group to be joined have been joined.

[0045] Based on the received notification information, the control center 100 updates the state of the junction processing station in which the terminal 110 is located to idle.

[0046] Here, the order information is used to inform the worker at the joining processing station where the terminal 110 is located which items are included in the set to be joined, which orders are included in the set to be joined, and which items the orders in the set to be joined correspond to. Based on the order information, the worker can specify how to perform joining processing for the set to be joined. Of course, the specific content of the order information can be set as necessary, and this specification does not limit this. For example, assuming that the specification is based on the warehouse's outgoing logic and the joining processing in the warehouse's outgoing logic is to pick up the items corresponding to the set to be joined, in this case, the order information only needs to include item information of the items corresponding to the set to be joined, and the worker can specify whether or not joining of all items in the set to be joined has been completed for the set to be joined based on the order information. If the joining processing in the warehouse's outgoing logic further includes preliminary sorting of each order in the set to be joined, the order information can further include information necessary for preliminary sorting.

[0047] In this specification, the system refers to a seeding station located at the joining processing station for placing each article of the set to be joined. Shelves That is, the joint processing station further includes a seeding device that transfers the articles in the returnable containers transferred by the transfer device 106 to the seeding device 106. On the shelf Each of the items corresponding to the set to be joined can be transferred to the seeding On the shelf When this is done, the merging process for the set to be merged is identified as being completed.

[0048] For each terminal 110 in the system, the terminal 110 receives seed from a returnable container. On the shelf The item information of the transferred items can be obtained and uploaded to the control center 100. Therefore, the control center 100 can further identify the progress of processing the convoys to be merged at each merge processing station based on the received item information.

[0049] Furthermore, since the control center 100 can determine the progress of processing the sets to be joined at each joining processing station based on the received item information, the control center 100 can further estimate for each terminal 110 the completion time of processing the returnable container based on the item information of the items in the returnable container being processed at the joining processing station where the terminal 110 is located and the item information uploaded by the terminal 110.

[0050] For example, assuming that the number of items in the returnable box conveyed by the conveying device 106 is 10, and after the conveying device 106 conveys the returnable box to the joining processing station, if the terminal 110 at the joining processing station uploads 5 items of item information within one minute, the control center 100 can estimate the processing completion time of the returnable box at the joining processing station. Alternatively, the control center 100 may adopt a method of predicting with a prediction model to determine the processing completion time of the returnable box. For example, the frequency at which the terminal 110 uploads item information and the number of items corresponding to the returnable box are input into a pre-trained prediction model, and the processing completion time output from the prediction model is obtained. Based on the history data of processing the set to be joined at each joining processing station, a training sample for training the prediction model can be identified, and based on the difference between the time required to actually process one returnable box and the processing completion time output from the prediction model, a loss of the prediction model can be identified, and the parameters of the prediction model can be adjusted based on the identified loss.

[0051] The control center 100 can estimate the processing completion time of the returnable container currently being processed at the junction processing station, and then transmit a control command to the conveying device 106 based on the estimated processing completion time of the returnable container.

[0052] After the transport device 106 has completed processing the returnable container at the junction processing station, the transport device 106 transports another returnable container to the junction processing station based on the received control command.

[0053] For example, assuming that a set of three returnable containers that needs to be processed at a certain junction processing station corresponds to three returnable containers, and the junction processing station can only process one returnable container at a time, after a conveying device conveys the first returnable container to the junction processing station, the control center estimates that the processing of the returnable container will be completed after 5 minutes based on the received item information and the number of items contained in the returnable container. If the time required to convey the second returnable container from the storage shelf to the junction processing station is 1 minute, the control center will send a control command to another conveying device after 4 minutes, so that after the first returnable container is processed at the junction processing station, the other conveying device can process the second transported returnable container, and so on until the junction of the set of three returnable containers is completed.

[0054] Further, in the present specification, the seeding The shelf , and may be mobile, and when the control center 100 transmits order information to each terminal 110, it identifies an idle conveying device 106 and transmits a control command to the conveying device 106.

[0055] The transport device 106 is in an idle state. Shelves The package is transported to a junction processing station where the terminal 110 is located.

[0056] sowing Shelves too If you can move flexibly, sowing Shelves andBy weakening the correspondence with the joint processing station, the position of each joint processing station in the joint processing area can be flexibly arranged as required, further increasing the flexibility of the joint processing system.

[0057] In this specification, the system is a replacement station located at a junction processing station for placing returnable containers transported by the transport device 106. Shelves It may further include:

[0058] The conveying device 106 conveys the returnable container to the joining processing station by replacing the returnable container. On the shelf The container can be directly placed in the container, and the worker can sow the container at the joint processing station. On the shelf After waiting for the transfer, there is no need to perform other tasks. This can greatly release the transportation capacity of the transport device 106, and reduce the problem of wasting transportation capacity due to waiting for the transport device 106. The shelf , at least two cargo positions, and the conveyor 106 replaces the tote box. Shelf After the goods are transported, the workers at the joint processing station transfer the goods and ensure that all the goods in the returnable box are seeded. On the shelf After being transferred, the tote box becomes an empty tote box, and the following conveying device 106 replaces the tote box with another tote box. Shelf When transporting the returnable container, the returnable container is placed at another empty cargo position, and the empty returnable container after the merging process at the replacement shelf is transported and transported to a designated position, which may be a position for collecting the empty returnable container.

[0059] replacement Shelves By providing the conveying device 106, the waiting time at the joining processing station can be reduced, and the utilization efficiency of the conveying device 106 can be improved.

[0060] Based on the system shown in Fig. 2, for each group to be joined, each returnable box containing an article corresponding to the group to be joined is identified, a correspondence relationship between the group identifier to be joined and the box body identifier of each returnable box is established, and each box supply line is controlled to supply each identified returnable box, and the box supply line can transport each returnable box from each picking zone to a cargo pick-up position, so that the conveying device can obtain the returnable box at the cargo pick-up position and convey it to the cargo position of the designated storage shelf, and when it is determined that each returnable box of the group to be joined has been conveyed to the storage shelf, each returnable box of the group to be joined is conveyed to a joining processing station and the groups to be joined are joined. In contrast to the conventional roller conveyor joining system, by using a storage shelf to store the returnable boxes instead of the branch lines of the roller conveyor, restrictions on the number of group processes to be joined and the number of deposits of returnable boxes due to the number and length of the branch lines are avoided. In addition, the transportation of returnable boxes does not depend on roller conveyors, but is transported by transport equipment, and there is no rigid connection between the storage shelves, box supply lines, and merging processing stations in the present invention, and there is no need to connect them via equipment (e.g., rails, roller conveyors), so that the number and locations of the storage shelves and merging processing stations in the system can all be flexibly changed as needed. When merging processing is performed for sets that should be merging, the flexibility and expandability of the system are increased, and the processing efficiency of the system is improved.

[0061] In one embodiment of the present specification, the set to be joined may be a joint order, and according to the system shown in Fig. 2, for each joint order, by identifying each returnable box containing an item corresponding to the joint order, a corresponding relationship between the joint order and each returnable box is established, and each box supply line is controlled to supply each identified returnable box, and the box supply line can transport each returnable box from each picking zone to a cargo pick-up position, and each picking zone can be located in the same stock section or different stock sections. A conveying device can obtain the returnable box at the cargo pick-up position and convey it to a cargo position in a designated storage area, and when it is identified that each returnable box of the joint order has been conveyed to the storage shelf in the storage area, each returnable box of the joint order is conveyed to a joining processing station to join the joint orders. In the present invention, there is no rigid connection between the storage shelves, the box supply lines and the merging processing stations, and there is no need to connect them via equipment (e.g., rails, roller conveyors), so that the number and locations of the storage shelves and the merging processing stations in the system can be flexibly changed as needed. When performing merging processing for collective orders, this increases the flexibility and expandability of the system and improves the processing efficiency of the system.

[0062] In another embodiment of the present specification, the set to be merged may be a set of stock keeping unit SKUs from the same store, and according to the system shown in FIG. 2, for each SKU set, a corresponding relationship between the SKU set and each returnable box is established by identifying each returnable box containing items corresponding to the SKU set, and each box supply line is controlled to supply each identified returnable box, and the box supply line can transport each returnable box from each picking zone to a cargo picking position, and each picking zone can be located in the same or different stock section. A conveying device can obtain the returnable box at the cargo picking position and convey it to a cargo position in a designated storage area, and when it is identified that each returnable box of the SKU set has been conveyed to the storage shelf in the storage area, each returnable box of the SKU set is conveyed to a merge processing station to merge the SKU sets. In the present invention, there is no rigid connection between the storage shelves, box supply lines and the merging processing stations, and no need to connect them via equipment (e.g., rails, roller conveyors), so that the number and locations of the storage shelves and the merging processing stations in the system can all be flexibly changed as needed. When performing merging processing for a set of SKUs, this increases the flexibility and scalability of the system and improves the processing efficiency of the system.

[0063] In another embodiment of the present specification, the set to be merged may be a set of SKUs from the same order, and based on the system shown in Fig. 2, for each SKU set from the same order, a correspondence between the SKU set and each returnable box is established by identifying each returnable box containing items corresponding to the SKU set, and each box supply line is controlled to supply each identified returnable box, and the box supply line can transport each returnable box from each picking zone to a cargo pick-up position, and each picking zone can be located in the same stock section or different stock sections. A conveying device can obtain the returnable box at the cargo pick-up position and convey it to a cargo position in a designated storage area, and when it is identified that each returnable box of the SKU set has been conveyed to the storage shelf in the storage area, each returnable box of the SKU set is conveyed to a merge processing station to merge the SKU sets. In the present invention, there are no rigid connections between the storage shelves, box supply lines and merging processing stations, and no need for connection via equipment (e.g., rails, roller conveyors), so that the number and locations of the storage shelves and merging processing stations in the system can be flexibly changed as needed. When merging processing is performed on a set of SKUs from the same order, this increases the flexibility and scalability of the system and improves the processing efficiency of the system.

[0064] In addition, the present specification does not limit how the movement path of the transport device 106 is determined, and the control center 100 can perform a route plan for the transport device 106 based on the movable area in the junction processing area (i.e., an area where the storage shelf 102 is not placed and the junction processing station is not provided), the location of the transport device 106, and the destination position (e.g., the idle cargo position of the storage shelf 102, the junction processing station, the cargo pick-up position of the box supply line 104, etc.) to determine the movement path of the transport device 106. Alternatively, the control center 100 can further determine the movement path of the transport device based on a positioning identifier preset on the ground. The transport device 106 can identify a positioning identifier (e.g., a two-dimensional code) laid on the ground by a navigation identification assembly carried by the transport device 106 based on visual mark navigation.

[0065] Alternatively, in this specification, when the conveying device 106 is determined to have not received a control command sent from the control center 100 within a certain period of time, it can determine that it is in an idle state and move by itself to a cargo pick-up position on the box supply line 104 to wait to transport a returnable box.

[0066] For each conveying device 106, after the conveying device 106 picks up a returnable box from a cargo pick-up position of the box supply line 104, the conveying device 106 can send notification information to the control center 100, and the control center 100 can then determine the number of returnable boxes to be delivered to the conveying device 106 based on the notification information and the cargo pick-up position corresponding to the queue of the conveying device 106. Main unit An identifier can be specified.

[0067] Based on the system shown in FIG. 2, this specification further provides a merge processing method for sets to be merged, as shown in FIG.

[0068] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the merging process of groups to be merged provided by the present specification. The warehouse includes a storage shelf, a box supply line and a conveying device, and the merging process flow of the groups to be merged specifically can include the following steps.

[0069] In S200, the control center identifies, for each group to be joined, each returnable container storing an article corresponding to the group to be joined, and establishes a correspondence relationship between the identified returnable container and the group to be joined.

[0070] Selectably, an identifier can be set for each returnable container and the set to be joined, and a correspondence between the returnable container and the set to be joined can be established by each identifier, but this specification is not limited to this.

[0071] In this specification, the control center identifies a set to be merged, and then identifies in which warehouse picking zone the item corresponding to the set to be merged is located based on the item corresponding to the set to be merged; each The items that need to be supplied to the picking zone and each returnable container containing the identified items can be identified, and a correspondence can be established between the box body identifier of the identified returnable container and the collection identifier to which it should merge.

[0072] In S202, a box supply line is controlled to supply each returnable box.

[0073] In this specification, each After identifying the returnable boxes, the box supply line is controlled to supply each returnable box, thereby facilitating the merging process.

[0074] In addition, the control center can collect a box body identifier of each returnable box provided by the box supply line, and after the returnable box is transported to a cargo position on the storage shelf, collect a cargo position identifier of the cargo position, and identify and store the correspondence between the box body identifier of the returnable box and the cargo position identifier.

[0075] In S204, for each returnable box supplied by the box supply line, the returnable box is transported to the deposit area.

[0076] Optionally, the storage area may include a storage shelf, and the storage shelf may include a plurality of storage cargo locations. A unique identifier may be established for each storage cargo location.

[0077] each idle storage location in the storage area; from After the storage location of the returnable container is designated, the state of the designated storage location is changed to occupied, a correspondence relationship between the box body identifier of the returnable container and the storage location is stored, and a control command is transmitted to the conveying device so that the conveying device conveys the returnable container to the designated cargo location.

[0078] The conveying device, based on a control command from a control center, picks up the returnable box at a cargo pick-up position on the box supply line and conveys it to the specified cargo position.

[0079] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the transport device may further transport the returnable container to a deposit location on its own, collect identification information of the deposit location, such as a cargo location identifier, and transmit the information to the control center.

[0080] A correspondence relationship between the returnable container and the stored cargo location is established according to the container body identifier of the returnable container and the cargo location identifier. This specification does not limit the specific process for establishing the correspondence relationship.

[0081] In this specification, the control center identifies a cargo location where the returnable container is to be placed from among the idle cargo locations on the storage shelf, changes the status of the identified cargo location to occupied, and controls a transport device to transport the returnable container to the cargo location.

[0082] In S206, when it is determined that each returnable container of the group to be joined has been transported to the deposit shelf based on the corresponding relationship between the returnable container and the group to be joined and the corresponding relationship between the deposit position and the returnable container, each returnable container of the group to be joined is transported to a joining processing station, and the groups to be joined are joined.

[0083] In this specification, when it is determined that each returnable container in the group to be joined has been transported to the deposit shelf, the control center can identify a returnable container in an idle state from each returnable container processing station, and control the transport device to transport each returnable container corresponding to the group to be joined, one by one, from the deposit shelf to the identified returnable container processing station.

[0084] The control center can also transmit order information of the group to a terminal corresponding to the identified meeting processing station, and update the status of the meeting processing station to busy, receive notification information transmitted from the terminal after all of the items corresponding to the group have been met, and update the status of the meeting processing station where the terminal is located to idle based on the received notification information.

[0085] In addition, when performing the junction processing at the junction processing station, the control center can receive item information uploaded from the terminal of the junction processing station, and the item information is the item information of the items transferred from the return box to the sowing shelf obtained by the terminal.

[0086] The control center can estimate the processing completion time of the returnable container based on the item information uploaded from the terminal and the item information of the items in the returnable container being processed at the joint processing station where the terminal is located, and controls a conveying device to convey another returnable container to the joint processing station based on the identified time after the processing of the returnable container is completed.

[0087] For the detailed implementation process of this method, reference may be made to the process of performing the joining process of the sets to be joined by the joining process system for the sets to be joined, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted in this specification.

[0088] Based on the method shown in Fig. 7, by identifying each returnable box containing an article corresponding to each set to be joined, a correspondence relationship between the set identifier to be joined and the box body identifier of each returnable box is established, and each box supply line is controlled to supply each identified returnable box, and the box supply line can transport each returnable box from each picking zone to a cargo pick-up position, so that the conveying device can obtain the returnable box at the cargo pick-up position and convey it to the cargo position of the designated storage shelf, and when it is identified that each returnable box of the set to be joined has been conveyed to the storage shelf, each returnable box of the set to be joined is conveyed to a joining processing station and the sets to be joined are joined. In contrast to the conventional roller conveyor joining system, by using a storage shelf to store the returnable boxes instead of the branch lines of the roller conveyor, restrictions on the number of collection processes to be joined and the number of deposits of returnable boxes due to the number and length of the branch lines are avoided. In addition, the transportation of returnable boxes does not depend on roller conveyors but is carried by transportation equipment, and there is no rigid connection between the storage shelves, box supply lines and junction processing stations in the present invention, and there is no need to connect them via equipment (e.g., rails, roller conveyors), so that the number and locations of the storage shelves and junction processing stations in the system can all be flexibly changed as needed. When junction processing is performed for sets that should be junctioned, the flexibility and expandability of the system are increased, and processing efficiency is improved.

[0089] In one embodiment of the present specification, the set to be merged may be a collective order, and for each collective order, a corresponding relationship between the collective order and each returnable box is established by identifying each returnable box containing items corresponding to the collective order according to the method shown in Figure 7, and each box supply line is controlled to supply each identified returnable box, and the box supply line can transport each returnable box from each picking zone to a cargo pick-up position, and each picking zone can be located in the same stock section or different stock sections. A conveying device can obtain the returnable box at the cargo pick-up position and convey it to a cargo position in a designated storage area, and when it is identified that each returnable box of the collective order has been conveyed to the storage shelf in the storage area, each returnable box of the collective order is conveyed to a merge processing station to merge the collective orders. In the present invention, there is no rigid connection between the storage shelves, the box supply lines and the merging processing stations, and there is no need to connect them via equipment (e.g., rails, roller conveyors), so that the number and locations of the storage shelves and the merging processing stations in the system can be flexibly changed as needed. When performing merging processing for collective orders, this increases the flexibility and expandability of the system and improves processing efficiency.

[0090] In another embodiment of the present specification, the set to be merged may be a set of stock keeping unit SKUs from the same store, and for each SKU set, a corresponding relationship between the SKU set and each returnable box is established by identifying each returnable box containing items corresponding to the SKU set according to the method shown in FIG. 7, and each box supply line can transport each returnable box from each picking zone to a cargo pick-up location, and each picking zone can be located in the same or different stock sections. A conveying device can obtain the returnable box at the cargo pick-up location and transport it to a cargo location in a designated storage area, and when it is identified that each returnable box of the SKU set has been transported to the storage shelf in the storage area, each returnable box of the SKU set is transported to a merge processing station to merge the SKU sets. In the present invention, there is no rigid connection between the storage shelves, box supply lines and merging processing stations, and no need to connect them via equipment (e.g., rails, roller conveyors), so that the number and locations of the storage shelves and merging processing stations in the system can all be flexibly changed as needed. When performing merging processing for a set of SKUs, this increases the flexibility and scalability of the system and improves processing efficiency.

[0091] In another embodiment of the present specification, the set to be merged may be a set of SKUs from the same order, and for each SKU set from the same order, a corresponding relationship between the SKU set and each returnable box is established by identifying each returnable box containing items corresponding to the SKU set according to the method shown in Fig. 7, and each box supply line is controlled to supply each identified returnable box, and the box supply line can transport each returnable box from each picking zone to a cargo pick-up position, and each picking zone can be located in the same stock section or different stock sections. A conveying device can obtain the returnable box at the cargo pick-up position and convey it to a cargo position in a designated storage area, and when it is identified that each returnable box of the SKU set has been conveyed to the storage shelf in the storage area, each returnable box of the SKU set is conveyed to a merge processing station to merge the SKU sets. In the present invention, there are no rigid connections between the storage shelves, box supply lines and merging processing stations, and no need for connection via equipment (e.g., rails, roller conveyors), so that the number and locations of the storage shelves and merging processing stations in the system can be flexibly changed as needed. When merging processing is performed on a set of SKUs from the same order, this increases the flexibility and scalability of the system and improves the processing efficiency of the system.

[0092] Based on the method shown in FIG. 7, the present specification further provides a merge processing device for sets to be merged, as shown in FIG.

[0093] FIG. 8 is a structural schematic diagram of a confluence processing device for confluence sets provided by the present specification, which specifically can include:

[0094] The control center includes an order identification module 300 for identifying, for each group to be joined, each returnable container storing an item corresponding to the group to be joined, and establishing a correspondence between the identified returnable container and the group to be joined, Selectably, an identifier can be set for each returnable container and the set to be joined, and a correspondence between the returnable container and the set to be joined can be established by each identifier, but this specification is not limited to this.

[0095] A box supply module 302 controls the box supply line to supply each returnable box.

[0096] For each returnable box supplied by the box supply line, a conveying device is controlled so as to convey the returnable box to the storage area, and the returnable box and the storage area are etc. a data cache module 304 for identifying a correspondence between the storage location of the Optionally, a storage shelf may be provided in the storage area, and a plurality of storage cargo positions may be provided on the storage shelf. A unique identifier may be set for each storage cargo position, and a correspondence relationship between the returnable container and the storage cargo position may be established by the container body identifier of the returnable container and the cargo position identifier. This specification does not limit the specific process for establishing the correspondence relationship.

[0097] A joining processing module 306 controls a conveying device to convey each returnable box of the group to be joined to a joining processing station when it is determined that each returnable box of the group to be joined has been conveyed to the deposit shelf based on the corresponding relationship between the returnable box and the group to be joined and the corresponding relationship between the deposit location and the returnable box, thereby joining the groups to be joined.

[0098] In one embodiment herein, the sets to be merged include aggregate orders.

[0099] In another embodiment herein, the set to be merged includes a set of stock keeping unit SKUs from the same store or a set of SKUs from the same order.

[0100] Selectably, each of the tote containers may be from the same inventory bay or from different inventory bays.

[0101] Optionally, the data cache module 304 controls an identifier identification device to collect a box body identifier in the returnable box for each returnable box supplied by the box supply line, and controls a transport device to transport the returnable box to a designated cargo location on the storage shelf.

[0102] each idle storage location in the storage area; from After the cargo position of the returnable container is designated, the state of the designated cargo position is changed to occupied, a correspondence relationship between a box body identifier of the returnable container and the designated position is stored, and a control command is transmitted to the conveying device so that the conveying device conveys the returnable container to the designated cargo position.

[0103] The conveying device, based on a control command from a control center, picks up the returnable box at a cargo pick-up position on the box supply line and conveys it to the specified cargo position.

[0104] Optionally, in another embodiment of the present specification, the data cache module 304 controls the transport device to collect identification information of the storage location, such as a cargo location identifier, after the transport device transports the returnable container to the storage location by itself, and identifies and stores the correspondence between the container body identifier of the returnable container and the cargo location identifier.

[0105] Optionally, the data cache module 304 identifies a cargo location in the storage shelf from among idle cargo locations in which to place the tote box, changes the status of the identified cargo location to occupied, and transports the tote box to the cargo location.

[0106] Optionally, the merge processing module 306 identifies an idle merge processing station from among the merge processing stations, and transports each returnable container corresponding to the set to be merged, one by one, from the deposit shelf to the identified merge processing station.

[0107] Optionally, the joining processing module 306 sends order information of the group to be joined to a terminal corresponding to the identified joining processing station, updates the status of the joining processing station to busy, receives notification information sent by the terminal after all of the items corresponding to the group to be joined have joined, and updates the status of the joining processing station where the terminal is located to idle based on the received notification information.

[0108] Optionally, the joining processing module 306 receives item information uploaded from the terminal, where the item information is item information of the item transferred from the returnable container to the seeding rack, which is acquired by the terminal.

[0109] Optionally, the joining processing module 306 estimates, for each terminal, a processing completion time for the returnable container based on item information uploaded from the terminal and item information of the items in the returnable container being processed at the joining processing station where the terminal is located, and transports another returnable container to the joining processing station after the processing of the returnable container is completed based on the identified time.

[0110] Optionally, the meeting processing module 306, for each terminal, transports an idle seeding rack to a meeting processing station where the terminal is located when sending order information to the terminal.

[0111] Optionally, when there is an empty returnable box on the replacement shelf of the joining processing station, the joining processing module 306 transports each returnable box of the set to be joined to the replacement shelf of the joining processing station and transports the empty returnable box to a specified position.

[0112] An embodiment of the present specification further provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program realizing the above-mentioned joining processing method when executed by a processor.

[0113] Of course, in addition to the software implementation method, this specification does not exclude other implementation methods, such as logical devices or a combination of software and hardware, that is, the execution body of the following processing flow is not limited to each logical unit, but may be hardware or a logical device.

[0114] In the 1990s, improvements to a technology could be clearly distinguished as improvements on hardware (e.g., improvements on circuit structures such as diodes, transistors, switches, etc.) or improvements on software (improvements on method flows). However, with the development of technology, many current method flow improvements can be regarded as direct improvements on hardware circuit structures. Designers obtain the corresponding hardware circuit structures by programming most of the improved method flows into hardware circuits. Therefore, it cannot be said that an improvement on a method flow cannot be realized in a hardware entity module. For example, a programmable logic device (PLD) (e.g., a field programmable gate array (FPGA)) is such an integrated circuit, and its logic function is specified by a user programming the device. It is not necessary for a designer to program and "integrate" a digital system into a PLD by himself, and for a chip manufacturer to design and manufacture a dedicated integrated circuit chip.Nowadays, instead of manually manufacturing integrated circuit chips, such programming is often realized by "logic compiler" software instead, which is similar to the software compiler used in program development and creation, and the original code before compilation must also be created in a specific programming language, which is called Hardware Description Language (HDL). There is not just one type of HDL, but various types, such as ABEL (Advanced Boolean Expression Language), AHDL (Altera Hardware Description Language), Confluence, CUPL (Cornell University Programming Language), HDCal, JHDL (Java (registered trademark) Hardware Description Language), Lava, Lola, MyHDL, PALASM, RHDL (Ruby Hardware Description Language), etc., and currently, the most commonly used are VHDL (Very-High-Speed ​​Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language) and Verilog. It is clear to those skilled in the art that a hardware circuit that realizes a logical method flow can be easily obtained by simply programming the method flow into an integrated circuit by logically programming the method flow in some of the above hardware description languages.

[0115] The controller may be implemented in any suitable manner, for example, the controller may take the form of, for example, a microprocessor or a processor and a computer readable medium storing computer readable program code (e.g., software or firmware) executable by the (micro)processor, logic gates, switches, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), programmable logic controllers, and embedded microcontrollers, examples of which include, but are not limited to, microcontrollers such as ARC 625D, Atmel AT91SAM, Microchip PIC18F26K20, and Silicone Labs C8051F320, and the memory controller may further be implemented as part of the control logic of the memory. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, other than implementing the controller purely in the form of computer readable program code, the controller may also realize the same functions in the form of logic gates, switches, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic controllers, embedded microcontrollers, etc. by fully logically programming the method steps. Thus, such a controller may be considered as a hardware component, and the devices for implementing various functions contained therein may also be considered as structures within the hardware component. Alternatively or additionally, the apparatus for implementing various functions may be considered as both software modules implementing methods and structures within hardware components.

[0116] The system, device, module or unit described in the above embodiments may be specifically realized by a computer chip or entity, or may be specifically realized by a product having a certain function. A typical implementation equipment is a computer. Specifically, the computer may be, for example, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a mobile phone, a camera phone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, a media player, a navigation equipment, an e-mail equipment, a game console, a tablet computer, a wearable equipment, or any combination of these equipment.

[0117] For ease of explanation, the above devices are described by dividing them into various units according to their functions. Of course, when implementing this specification, the functions of each unit can be realized by the same or multiple pieces of software and / or hardware.

[0118] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments of the present invention may be provided as a method, a system, or a computer program product. Thus, the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware. And, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer usable storage mediums (including, but not limited to, magnetic disk memories, CD-ROMs, optical memories, etc.) containing computer usable program code.

[0119] The present invention has been described with reference to flowcharts and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that each flow and / or block of the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and / or blocks of the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, can be realized by computer program commands. By providing these computer program commands to a processor of a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing facility to generate an apparatus, the commands executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing facility generate an apparatus for implementing the function specified in one or more flows of the flowcharts and / or one or more blocks of the block diagrams.

[0120] These computer program instructions may be stored in a computer readable memory that can cause a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to operate in a particular manner, thereby causing the commands stored in the computer readable memory to produce an article of manufacture including a command apparatus that implements the functions specified in one or more flows of the flowcharts and / or one or more blocks of the block diagrams.

[0121] These computer program instructions can be loaded into a computer or other programmable data processing device, thereby causing the computer or other programmable equipment to execute a series of operational steps to generate a computer-implemented process, the commands executed by the computer or other programmable equipment providing steps for implementing the functions specified in one or more flows of the flowcharts and / or one or more blocks of the block diagrams.

[0122] In one typical configuration, the computing facility includes one or more processors (CPUs), input / output interfaces, network interfaces, and memory.

[0123] The memory may include volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM), and / or non-volatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM) or flash memory (flash RAM), in a computer-readable medium. The memory is one example of a computer-readable medium.

[0124] Non-volatile and volatile, movable and non-movable media included in computer readable media can realize information storage by any method or technology. Information can be computer readable commands, data structures, program modules or other data. Examples of computer storage media include, but are not limited to, phase change memory (PRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), other types of random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), digital multifunction optical disk (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cartridge magnetic tape, magnetic tape magnetic disk storage facility, other magnetic storage facility or any other non-transmission medium that can be used to store information accessible by a computing device. As defined herein, computer readable media does not include computer readable transitory media, such as modulated data signals and carriers.

[0125] It should be further explained that the terms "comprise", "have" or any other variation thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, whereby a process, method, product, or apparatus that comprises a set of elements not only includes those elements, but also includes other elements not expressly listed or further elements inherent to such process, method, product, or apparatus. In the absence of more limitations, an element qualified with the phrase "comprises a" does not exclude the presence of further identical elements in the process, method, product, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0126] It should be known to those skilled in the art that the embodiments of the present specification may be provided as a method, a system, or a computer program product. Therefore, the present specification may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware. Also, the present specification may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer usable storage media (including, but not limited to, magnetic disk memory, CD-ROM, optical memory, etc.) containing computer usable program code.

[0127] The specification may be described in the general context of computer-executable commands being executed by a computer, such as program modules. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The specification may also be implemented in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing facilities that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer storage media including storage facilities.

[0128] Each embodiment in this specification will be described in a progressive manner, and the same or similar parts between the embodiments may be referred to each other, and each embodiment will be described with emphasis on the differences from other embodiments. In particular, the system embodiments are basically similar to the method embodiments, so the description is relatively simple, and the relevant parts may be referred to the description of the corresponding parts of the method embodiments.

[0129] The above is merely an embodiment of the present invention, and does not limit the present specification. For those skilled in the art, the present specification may be modified or changed in various ways. All amendments, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present specification should be included within the scope of protection of the present specification.

Claims

1. The system includes a control center, a storage area, a box supply line, and a self-moving conveying device; the control center is configured to identify, for each group to be joined, each returnable container storing an article corresponding to the group to be joined, establish a correspondence between the returnable container and the group to be joined, and control each container supply line to supply each returnable container; the box supply line is configured to transport each returnable box from each picking zone to a cargo pick-up location where the returnable box can be obtained by the conveying device; The conveying device is configured to move to the cargo pick-up position to pick up the returnable container, and convey the returnable container to the storage area by moving, The storage area is configured to place returnable boxes acquired from the box supply line by the conveying device, the control center is further configured to specify a correspondence relationship between the returnable containers transported by the transport device and a storage position in the storage area, and, when it is specified based on the correspondence relationship between the returnable containers and the set to be joined that each of the returnable containers corresponding to the set to be joined has been transported to the storage area, to control the transport device to transport each of the returnable containers corresponding to the set to be joined to a joining processing station; The conveying device is further configured to convey each returnable box corresponding to the same set to be joined in order to the joining processing station under the control of the control center, and join the sets to be joined. A junction processing system comprising:

2. and an identifier identification device configured to identify a box body identifier in the returnable box supplied to the cargo pick-up position by the box supply line and transmit the box body identifier to the control center.

2. The junction processing system according to claim 1.

3. the control center is further configured to identify, from among the idle conveying devices based on the received box body identifier, a conveying device that conveys the returnable box, and to identify, from among the idle storage positions in the storage area, a storage position at which to place the returnable box, change the state of the identified cargo position to occupied, store a correspondence between the box body identifier of the returnable box and the storage positions, and transmit a control command to the conveying device so as to convey the returnable box to the identified storage position; The conveying device is further configured to obtain the returnable box at a cargo pick-up position of the box supply line and convey the returnable box to the deposit position based on a control command from a control center.

3. The junction processing system according to claim 2.

4. the control center is further configured to, for each group to be joined, when it is determined that each returnable container corresponding to the group to be joined is located at each deposit position based on the box body identifier of each returnable container corresponding to the group to be joined and the stored correspondence between the returnable container and the deposit position, identify a junction processing station that is in an idle state from among the junction processing stations and transmit a control command to the conveying device; the conveying device is further configured to sequentially convey each returnable container corresponding to the set to be joined from each deposit location to the identified joining processing station based on the received control command.

2. The junction processing system according to claim 1.

5. a terminal located at a junction processing station and configured to exchange information with the control center; 5. The junction processing system according to claim 4.

6. The control center is further configured to transmit order information of the group to be joined to a terminal corresponding to the identified joining processing station, update a status of the joining processing station to busy, receive notification information indicating that joining has been completed, and update a status of the joining processing station where the terminal is located to idle; The terminal is further configured to display that the order information of the group to be joined has been received, and to transmit notification information to the control center after each of the items corresponding to the group to be joined has been joined.

6. The junction processing system according to claim 5.

7. and a seed shelf located at the merge processing station and configured to place each article of the set to be merged.

6. The junction processing system according to claim 5.

8. The control center is further configured to, for each terminal, estimate a processing completion time of the returnable container based on item information of items in the returnable container being processed at the joining processing station where the terminal is located and item information uploaded from the terminal, and to control the conveying device to convey another returnable container to the joining processing station based on the identified time after the processing of the returnable container is completed. The junction processing system according to claim 7 .

9. a replacement shelf located at a joint processing station and configured to place a returnable container transported by the transport device; The conveying device is further configured to place the returnable box on the replacement shelf when conveying the returnable box to the joining processing station, and to convey the empty returnable box that has been subjected to the joining processing on the replacement shelf to a designated position.

2. The junction processing system according to claim 1.

10. the sets to be merged include aggregate orders; or The sets to be merged include a set of stock keeping units (SKUs) from the same store or a set of SKUs from the same order.

2. The junction processing system according to claim 1.

11. the storage area includes a storage shelf, and the storage location includes a cargo location in the storage shelf; The junction processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The control center identifies, for each group to be joined, each returnable container storing an article corresponding to the group to be joined, and establishes a correspondence between the identified returnable container and the group to be joined; controlling a box supply line to supply each returnable box; controlling a self-moving conveying device to move to acquire each returnable box supplied by the box supply line and to convey the returnable box to a storage area including a storage shelf by moving the self-moving conveying device; When it is determined that each returnable container of the group to be joined has been transported to the storage area based on the corresponding relationship between the returnable container and the group to be joined and the corresponding relationship between the storage position and the returnable container, controlling the transport device to transport each returnable container of the group to be joined to a joining processing station, thereby joining the groups to be joined. A merging processing method comprising:

13. Specifically, controlling the conveying device to convey the returnable container to the cargo position on the storage shelf includes: a control center identifying a cargo location at which the returnable container is to be placed from among cargo locations in an idle state on the storage shelf; changing the status of the identified cargo location to occupied; and and controlling the conveying device to convey the returnable container to the cargo location. The junction processing method according to claim 12 .

14. Specifically, controlling the conveying device to convey each returnable box of the set to be joined to the joining processing station includes: the control center identifying an idle merge processing station from among each merge processing station; and controlling the conveying device to convey each returnable container corresponding to the set to be merged one by one from the deposit shelf to a specified merge processing station. The junction processing method according to claim 12 .

15. The control center transmits order information of the group to be joined to a terminal corresponding to the specified joining processing station, and updates the status of the joining processing station to busy; A control center receives notification information transmitted from the terminal after each of the items corresponding to the group to be joined has joined; and updating a state of the joining processing station where the terminal is located to idle based on the notification information received by the control center. The joining processing method according to claim 14 .

16. the sets to be merged include aggregate orders; or The sets to be merged include a set of stock keeping units (SKUs) from the same store or a set of SKUs from the same order. The junction processing method according to claim 12 .

17. the control center includes an order identification module for identifying, for each group to be joined, a returnable container storing an item corresponding to the group to be joined, and establishing a correspondence between the identified returnable container and the group to be joined; a box supply module for controlling the box supply line to supply each returnable box; a data cache module that moves to acquire each returnable box supplied by the box supply line, controls a self-moving conveying device to convey the returnable box to a storage area by movement, and identifies a correspondence between the returnable box and a storage position such as the storage area; a joining processing module which, when it is determined that each of the returnable containers of the group to be joined has been transported to the storage area based on a corresponding relationship between the returnable container and the group to be joined and a corresponding relationship between the storage position and the returnable container, controls the transport device to transport each of the returnable containers of the group to be joined to a joining processing station, thereby joining the groups to be joined. A junction processing device characterized by:

18. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program being executed by a processor to realize the joining processing method according to any one of claims 12 to 16. A computer-readable storage medium comprising:

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