Robot-Guided Circulation Box Picking Without Separate Sorting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for picking goods ordered at high frequencies with small sizes in electronic commerce environments face challenges of low warehouse delivery efficiency and complex logistics processes due to the need for additional sorting regions.

Innovation Solution

A robot-based warehouse order picking method that binds a circulation box and a robot using identity information, including tags and goods placement marks, to directly connect picking and packaging regions, eliminating the need for an additional sorting region, thereby simplifying logistics and improving efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a sorting region is added to handle high-frequency small goods picking, then picking accuracy can be improved, but device complexity and logistics process complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepicking accuracyVSAvoidlogistics process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the sorting function into the circulation box itself by adding identification markers and using the robot to perform sorting during the circulation process. The circulation box serves dual purposes: transporting goods and enabling sorting through its structured positions and identification system, eliminating the need for a separate sorting region.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The circulation box is designed with self-identification capabilities through tags and markers that allow the robot to automatically identify and sort goods without human intervention. The system uses the circulation box's own structure and identification markers to enable autonomous sorting functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If multiple orders are combined into a large goods picking task and processed in a single round trip, then productivity can be improved, but loss of time increases due to complex sorting operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepicking throughputVSAvoidsorting time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The circulation box is pre-configured with identification markers and structured positions for different orders before the picking process begins. This preliminary setup allows the robot to quickly identify and sort goods during circulation without time-consuming sorting operations, enabling efficient batch processing of multiple orders.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a circulation box with identification markers is used to bind with a robot, then adaptability to high-frequency small goods picking is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to picking requirementsVSAvoidsystem structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The circulation box is designed as a universal container that can handle multiple orders and different types of goods. The identification markers and structured positions enable the same circulation box to serve multiple functions: transporting goods, enabling robot identification, and facilitating sorting operations for various order combinations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3886015B1Robot-based inventory order picking method, apparatus, system, and electronic device, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 JUXING TECH SHENZHEN CO LTD
  • EP3886015B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3886015B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3886015B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

A robot-based warehouse order picking method includes that: a circulation box and a robot are bound by means of acquiring box body identity information of the circulation box including at least one circulation position, wherein a tag and a goods placement mark are correspondingly arranged at the circulation position, and the box body identity information includes information of the tag and information of the goods placement mark (S10); warehouse order information is acquired and the warehouse order information is associated with the box body identity information to obtain order binding information (S11); and an interaction terminal of the robot is controlled according to the order binding information to display an interaction interface to instruct a picker to pick goods at a corresponding goods position and place the goods at the circulation position according to the goods placement mark (S 12). In such a manner, a picking region is directly connected with a packaging region, and arrangement of an additional sorting region is avoided, so that not only technical effects of simplifying logistics procedures and improving the logistics efficiency are achieved, but also a purpose of reducing the logistics cost is achieved.