Warehouse Conveyance System Hierarchical Area Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing picking systems in warehouses face inefficiencies due to concentrated picking start positions, leading to traffic congestion and inflexibility in changing the starting position without re-determining the entire picking sequence.
Innovation Solution
A conveyance system that divides a warehouse into multiple partial areas, allowing an automatic conveyance apparatus to receive conveyance requests, select a starting area, set partial area and storage position traveling orders, and convey items accordingly, thereby enabling flexible determination of the picking start position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the picking sequence is determined based on storage positions without considering picking start position distribution, then the picking sequence can be simply determined, but traffic congestion occurs and conveyance time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The warehouse area is divided into multiple partial areas, and the picking sequence determination is segmented into two levels: first determining the traveling order of partial areas, then determining the traveling order of storage positions within each partial area. This segmentation allows for more flexible optimization of picking start positions across different partial areas, reducing traffic congestion while maintaining manageable complexity in the determination process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the picking start position is changed after the picking sequence is determined, then flexibility in starting position selection is achieved, but the picking sequence determination must be performed again from the beginning
Solution Approach 1:
The picking sequence determination is divided into hierarchical segments: partial area traveling order and storage position traveling order within each partial area. When the starting position needs to be changed, only the affected segment (storage position traveling order) needs to be re-determined, while the partial area traveling order remains valid. This segmented approach enables flexible starting position changes without requiring complete re-determination of the entire picking sequence.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple partial areas are introduced with hierarchical traveling order, then flexibility in starting position determination is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The warehouse is segmented into partial areas with a hierarchical traveling order system. This segmentation structure naturally organizes the complexity by creating clear boundaries and travel sequences between partial areas, making the system more manageable. The hierarchical structure allows independent optimization at each level without requiring complex cross-level coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The traveling order of partial areas and storage positions is designed to be dynamic and adaptable. The system can flexibly adjust the starting partial area and the sequence of visiting partial areas based on real-time requirements, such as changes in picking requests or traffic conditions. This dynamic capability provides flexibility in starting position determination while the structured hierarchical framework keeps the overall system complexity manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyance system according to the present disclosure includes a conveyance request receiver that receives the conveyance requests of the conveyance targets, a starting area selector that selects a starting area from among the partial areas, a partial area traveling order setter that sets the starting area to one of the partial areas to be traveled first and sets partial area traveling order for traveling of an automatic conveyance apparatus, and a storage position traveling order setter that sets storage position traveling order of the automatic conveyance apparatus inside each of the partial areas. The automatic conveyance apparatus travels the partial areas in accordance with the partial area traveling order and travels the storage positions in accordance with the storage position traveling order inside each of the partial areas so as to convey the conveyance targets corresponding to the received conveyance requests inside the entire area.