Title of Invention

BINNING/PICKING WORK SUPPORT METHOD AND BINNING/PICKING WORK SUPPORT SYSTEM

Technical Field

[0001]

The present invention relates to a binning/picking work support method and a binning/picking work support system that support a binning/picking work for binning and picking a predetermined article into and from a storage area, for example, a warehouse.

Background Art

[0002]

Patent Literature 1 discloses a work instruction system which instructs a worker about a work route by using position information of a worker terminal when the worker collects ordered articles from a product shelf.

Citation List

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Literature 1: WO 2006/067829 A

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

[0004]

However, in the work instruction system of Patent Literature 1, in a case where there are a large number of ordered articles, there is a concern that it may not be efficient to collect the large number of ordered articles by one trip.

[0005]

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to support a worker to efficiently bin and pick a plurality of articles. Solution to Problem

[0006]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program (for example, contained on or in a non-transitory computer-readable medium) executable by a computer of a system supporting a worker to bin and pick a plurality of articles in a storage area provided with a cargo carrier passage through which a cargo carrier is moved and a worker passage through which the worker moves, the worker passage including a plurality of connection passages crossing the cargo carrier passage, wherein the program causes the computer to execute a procedure of calculating a shortest route, in which the worker passes through the cargo carrier passage and the worker passage and bins and picks the plurality of articles by using the cargo carrier, in a range of a number of connection passages which is within a predetermined number set in advance.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0007]

According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to support the worker to efficiently bin and pick a plurality of articles.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0008]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a binning/picking work support system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal in the binning/picking work support system.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a support device in the binning/picking work support system.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a shortest route of a worker in a binning/picking work in a storage area.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart for calculating a route of the worker in the binning/picking work support system.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting of a work area in the storage area.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a plurality of work areas set in the storage area.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a work of binning and picking a plurality of articles in the storage area.

Fig. 9A is a diagram illustrating an example of information displayed on a display unit of the mobile terminal in the binning/picking work of Fig. 8.

Fig. 9B is a diagram illustrating an example of the information displayed on the display unit of the mobile terminal in the binning/picking work of Fig. 8.

Fig. 9C is a diagram illustrating an example of the information displayed on the display unit of the mobile terminal in the binning/picking work of Fig. 8.

Fig. 9D is a diagram illustrating an example of the information displayed on the display unit of the mobile terminal in the binning/picking work of Fig. 8.

Fig. 9E is a diagram illustrating an example of the information displayed on the display unit of the mobile terminal in the binning/picking work of Fig. 8.

Fig. 9F is a diagram illustrating an example of the information displayed on the display unit of the mobile terminal in the binning/picking work of Fig. 8.

Fig. 9G is a diagram illustrating an example of the information displayed on the display unit of the mobile terminal in the binning/picking work of Fig. 8.

Fig. 9H is a diagram illustrating an example of the information displayed on the display unit of the mobile terminal in the binning/picking work of Fig. 8.

Fig. 91 is a diagram illustrating an example of the information displayed on the display unit of the mobile terminal in the binning/picking work of Fig. 8.

Fig. 9J is a diagram illustrating an example of the information displayed on the display unit of the mobile terminal in the binning/picking work of Fig. 8.

Description of Embodiments

[0009]

Hereinafter, a binning/picking work support system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010]

First, a storage area 6 in which the binning/picking work support system 100 is used will be described with reference to Fig.

1.

[0011]

The storage area 6 is, for example, an arrangement of bins, a warehouse, a store, a loading or unloading area, a shipping area, or any other type of storage area. In the storage area 6, a plurality of racks 7 for storing articles 11 are provided. In addition, marks 8 are provided at predetermined positions of the storage area 6.

[0012]

The storage area 6 is provided with cargo carrier passages 3a in which a cart 4 (or other type of carrier such as a pallet truck, forklift, order picker, etc.) as a cargo carrier is moved and worker passages 3b in which a worker 1 moves.

[0013]

The cargo carrier passage 3a is formed in a width that allows the worker 1 to push the cart 4 and pass through. The cart 4 can be allowed to temporarily stop in the cargo carrier passage 3a. Not only the cart 4 but also the worker 1 can pass through the cargo carrier passage 3a.

[0014]

The worker passage 3b is formed to have a width narrower than that of the cargo carrier passage 3a. The cart 4 does not enter the worker passage 3b, and only the worker 1 passes through the worker passage 3b. The worker passage 3b includes a plurality of connection passages 3c crossing the cargo carrier passage 3a and a plurality of parallel passages 3d being provided in parallel with the cargo carrier passage 3a and connecting the connection passages 3c. The worker passage 3b is formed in a grid shape in which the connection passages 3c and the parallel passages 3d form cross points .

[0015]

The marks 8 are provided at the cross points of the connection passages 3c and the parallel passages 3d formed between the racks 7. The mark 8 is installed on the ceiling portion of each cross point so as to be easily viewed by the worker 1 and not to interfere with the binning/picking work.

[0016]

In the case of binning (depositing) the article 11, the worker 1 who has stopped the cart 4 at the stop position of the cargo carrier passage 3a takes out the articles 11 from the cart 4, enters the worker passage 3b from the connection passage 3c, performs binning of the articles 11, and after that, returns from the connection passage 3c to the cart 4 on the cargo carrier passage 3a. On the other hand, in the case of picking (retrieving) the article 11, the worker 1 who has stopped the cart 4 at the stop position of the cargo carrier passage 3a enters the worker passage 3b from the connection passage 3c, performs picking the article 11, and after that, returns from the connection passage 3c to the cart 4 on the cargo carrier passage 3a to load the article 11.

[0017]

At this time, the connection passage 3c through which the worker 1 passes at the time of entering the worker passage 3b and the connection passage 3c through which the worker 1 passes at the time of returning to the cargo carrier passage 3a may be the same or different. After returning to the cart 4, the worker 1 pushes and moves the cart 4 to the next stop position.

[0018]

Next, the overall configurations of the binning/picking work support system 100 will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to

4.

[0019]

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the binning/picking work support system 100 includes a mobile terminal 2 used by the worker 1 during the binning/picking work and a support device 5 on which various processes for supporting the binning/picking work are executed. The mobile terminal 2 and the support device 5 are communicably connected via a network 9, such as a wireless network.

[0020]

The binning/picking work support system 100 supports the binning/picking work of the plurality of articles 11 by the worker 1 in the storage area 6. Specifically, the binning/picking work support system 100 displays an instruction of the binning/picking work on the mobile terminal 2 carried by the worker 1 on the basis of the shortest route for reaching the article 11 as a binning and picking target during the binning/picking work in which the worker 1 bins and/or picks the article 11 with respect to the storage area 6.

[0021]

The mobile terminal 2 may be a smartphone or a tablet computer. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the mobile terminal 2 includes a read only memory (ROM) 21, a central processing unit (CPU) 22 that controls each component according to various control programs stored in the ROM 21, and a random access memory (RAM) 23 as a work area of the CPU 22. The ROM 21, the CPU 22, the RAM 23, and the components to be described later are connected via an internal bus 24. The mobile terminal 2 can be implemented in any type of computer, controller, control unit or processor programmed or otherwise configured to perform the functions described herein.

[0022]

In addition, the ROM 21, the CPU 22, and the RAM 23 functions as a processing unit that performs a process described later of presenting a map of the entire storage area 6 and work instruction information such as a mark 8 for guiding the worker 1 to the target article 11 of the binning/picking work and a route to the mark 8.

[0023]

The mobile terminal 2 includes a communication unit 25, a display unit 26, an input unit 27, a voice output unit 28, and a memory unit 29. [0024]

The communication unit 25 wirelessly connects the mobile terminal 2 to the network 9 and may be any type of wireless communication circuitry, such as a wireless transceiver.

[0025]

The display unit 26 is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) and displays the work instruction information transmitted from the support device 5 described later by an LCD driver (not illustrated) for activating the LCD.

[0026]

The input unit 27 may be a touch panel configured by combining the display unit 26 and a touch detection sensor (not illustrated) on a display area of the display unit 26. The input unit 27 receives a manipulation from the worker 1 such as selection of a work instruction number and an input indicating that the target article 11 is binned or picked during the binning or picking work. Other types of user interfaces may be used for the input unit such as voice controlled interfaces, buttons, keyboards, graphical user interfaces, motion or other sensors, etc.

[0027]

The voice output unit 28 includes an audio circuit for converting a digital data into voice and a speaker (not illustrated) The voice output unit 28 outputs the work instruction information such as the mark 8 for guiding to the target article 11 and the route to the mark 8 by voice on the basis of the work instruction information transmitted from the support device 5.

[0028]

The memory unit 29 stores the work instruction information transmitted from the support device 5. As the memory unit 29, a hard disk drive (HDD) , a solid state drive (SSD) , or the like can be used.

[0029]

The memory unit 29 may store a program for executing a process for displaying the work instruction information transmitted from the support device 5 on the display unit 26.

[0030] With the above configuration, the mobile terminal 2 receives the work instruction information on the article 11 to be a target of binning/picking work from the support device 5 via the communication unit 25 and displays the work instruction information on the display unit 26 or outputs the work instruction information from the voice output unit 28 by voice.

[0031]

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the support device 5 may be a computer that includes a ROM 51, a CPU 52 that controls each component in accordance with various control programs stored in the ROM 51, and a RAM 53 as a work area of the CPU 52. The ROM 51, the CPU 52, the RAM 53, and the configurations to be described later are connected via an internal bus 54. The support device 5 can be implemented in any type of computer, controller, control unit or processor programmed or otherwise configured to perform the functions described herein.

[0032]

The ROM 51, the CPU 52, and the RAM 53 function as a shortest route calculation unit 55 that executes various processes for supporting the binning/picking work of the articles 11. Details of the processes executed by the support device 5 will be described later.

[0033]

The support device 5 includes a communication unit 56, an input unit 57, a display unit 58, and a memory unit 59.

[0034]

The communication unit 56 wirelessly connects the support device 5 to the network 9 and may be any type of wireless communication circuitry, such as a wireless transceiver.

[0035]

The input unit 57 may be a keyboard, a mouse, or the like, and receives various setting manipulations and registration manipulations for specifying the target article 11 for the binning or picking. As an example of the information input in the input unit 57, there is information for specifying the article 11 to be a target of the binning/picking work. Other types of user interfaces may be used for the input unit such as voice controlled interfaces, buttons, graphical user interfaces, motion or other sensors, etc.

[0036]

In a case where information for identifying the article 11 is attached to the article 11 by an identification medium such as an RFID tag, a bar code, or a two-dimensional code, a reading device, reader, or scanner for reading the information is included as the input unit 57.

[0037]

The display unit 58 is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) and displays necessary items such as a manipulation for selecting the article 11 to be a target of the binning/picking work and various setting manipulations required for performing the binning/picking work.

[0038]

The memory unit 59 includes a map information memory area 59A and a storage location information memory area 59B as virtual areas. As the memory unit 59, an HDD, an SSD, or the like can be used. The map information memory area 59A and the storage location information memory area 59B may be prepared separately from the memory unit 59 as independent memory units.

[0039]

In the map information memory area 59A, map information of the entire storage area 6 and position information of a plurality of marks 8 set in the storage area 6 are stored.

[0040]

An identification ID for identifying the article 11 is attached to every article 11 stored in the storage area 6. In the storage location information memory area 59B, the identification ID for identifying the article 11 and the storage location information indicating the storage location of the article 11 in the storage area 6 are stored in association with each other.

[0041]

As illustrated in Fig. 4, in the map (referred to as an area map) of the entire storage area 6, passages are assigned with row numbers A to D and column numbers 1 to 18. For the cross points at which row passages and column passages cross, cross point numbers such as A1 and A2 are defined by combinations of the row numbers and the column numbers. In the present embodiment, the cross point number is set as the mark 8 (refer to Fig. 1) . In addition, the cross point number is displayed on the mark 8 installed in the storage area 6 such that the worker 1 can visually recognize.

[0042]

The shortest route calculation unit 55 calculates the shortest route in which the worker 1 who has stopped the cart 4 in the cargo carrier passage 3a enters the worker passage 3b from the connection passage 3c and bins or picks the plurality of articles 11. Specifically, the shortest route calculation unit 55 calculates the shortest route for binning or picking the plurality of articles 11 to be targets of the work instruction information selected by the worker 1. First, assuming that the cart 4 is stopped at the stop position on the cargo carrier passage 3a facing all the connection passages 3c, the shortest route calculation unit 55 calculates all the routes where the worker 1 travels so as to bin or pick the plurality of articles 11 from the stop position of the cart 4. The shortest route calculation unit 55 compares the movement distances of the worker 1 on all the calculated routes and sets the route having the shortest movement distance as the shortest route. Techniques for calculating routes and determining the shortest route are described in, for example, JP H01100416A, published April 18, 1989. The entire contents of this publication are incorporated herein by reference for such techniques.

[0043]

The example illustrated in Fig. 4 is to execute a work instruction of binning or picking 30 articles 11 in the storage area 6.

[0044]

First, the worker 1 stops the cart 4 at a cross point Al. The worker 1 travels from the cross point Al toward a cross point B1 on the connection passage 3c. After binning or picking one article 11 on the way, the worker 1 traces back to the connection passage 3c and returns to the cart 4 stopping at the cross point Al.

[0045]

Subsequently, the worker 1 pushes the cart 4 from the cross point Al to travel on the cargo carrier passage 3a and stops at a cross point A6. The worker 1 travels from the cross point A6 toward cross points B6 and C6 on the connection passage 3c. After binning or picking the 25 articles 11 on the way, the worker 1 traces from a cross point A12 back to the cargo carrier passage 3a and returns to the cart 4 stopping at the cross point A6.

[0046]

Subsequently, the worker 1 pushes the cart 4 from the cross point A6 to travel on the cargo carrier passage 3a and stops at a cross point A16. The worker 1 travels from the cross point A16 toward a cross point B16 on the connection passage 3c. After binning or picking the three articles 11 on the way, the worker 1 traces back to the connection passage 3c and returns to the cart 4 stopping at the cross point A16.

[0047]

Subsequently, the worker 1 pushes the cart 4 from the cross point A16 to travel on the cargo carrier passage 3a and stops at the cross point A17. The worker 1 travels from the cross point A17 toward a cross point B17 on the connection passage 3c. After binning or picking one article 11 on the way, the worker 1 traces back to the connection passage 3c and returns to the cart 4 stopping at a cross point A17.

[0048]

By travelling on the above route, the worker 1 can bin or pick all the articles 11.

[0049]

However, in the example illustrated in Fig. 4, the worker 1 bins or picks 25 articles 11 out of the 30 articles 11 by one travel after stopping the cart 4 at the cross point A6, entering the worker passage 3b, and returning to the cross point A6. For this reason, even if the distance is the shortest, there is a concern that the worker 1 needs to move with many articles 11, and thus, the shortest distance may not be necessarily efficient in order for the worker 1 to perform binning or picking the articles 11. Therefore, in the binning/picking work support system 100, as described below, the work area 10 described later for which the worker 1 is away from the cart 4 to bin/pick the article (s) 11 is divided into a plurality of areas, and then, the shortest route is calculated.

[0050]

Next, a binning/picking work support method using the binning/picking work support system 100 will be described with reference to Figs. 5 to 7. The flowchart of Fig. 5 and the other functions and steps described herein may be performed by any type of computer, controller, control unit or processor programmed or otherwise configured to perform the functions and steps described herein.

[0051]

The support device 5 repeatedly executes the routine illustrated in Fig. 5 at constant time intervals of, for example,

10 milliseconds. Herein, a case where the plurality of articles

11 are binned or picked with respect to the storage area 6 will be described as an example with reference to Figs. 6 and 7.

[0052]

In step Sll, the shortest route calculation unit 55 calculates the shortest route. Specifically, the shortest route calculation unit 55 calculates the shortest route for binning or picking the plurality of articles 11 to be targets of the work instruction information selected by the worker 1. First, assuming that the cart 4 is stopped at the stop position on the cargo carrier passage 3a facing all the connection passages 3c, the shortest route calculation unit 55 calculates all the routes where the worker 1 travels so as to bin or pick the plurality of articles 11 from the stop position of the cart 4. The shortest route calculation unit 55 compares the movement distances of the workers 1 on all the calculated routes and sets the route with the shortest movement distance as the shortest route.

[0053]

In step S12, the shortest route calculation unit 55 creates the work area 10 for each stop position of the cart 4 by setting each position at which the cart 4 is stopped as a start point. Specifically, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the shortest route calculation unit 55 sets an area (area indicated by a broken line) including all the routes starting from the cart 4 to return to the cart 4 as the work area 10. Herein, the length (length in the lateral direction) of the work area 10 in the direction of the parallel passage 3d is W, and the length (length in the longitudinal direction) in the direction of the connection passage 3c is D.

[0054]

In step S13, the shortest route calculation unit 55 determines whether or not the aspect ratio (W/D) of the work area 10 is larger than a predetermined value. When it is determined in step S13 that the aspect ratio (W/D) of the work area 10 is larger than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S15. When it is determined in step S13 that the aspect ratio (W/D) of the work area 10 is not larger than the predetermined value, that is, the aspect ratio (W/D) of the work area 10 is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S14, and the process is exited.

[0055]

Herein, the predetermined value used in step S13 is set to, for example, 0.5. The predetermined value is set to an appropriate value on the basis of the shape and size of the storage area 6.

[0056]

In the example illustrated in Fig. 6, the aspect ratio (W/D) of the work area 10 is larger than 0.5. Therefore, as a result of the determination in step S13, the process proceeds to step S15.

[0057]

As described above, the shortest route calculation unit 55 calculates the shortest route such that the aspect ratio (W/D) of the lateral length in the direction of the parallel passage 3d to the longitudinal length in the direction of the connection passage 3c is equal to or smaller than a predetermined ratio set in advance.

[0058]

Herein, when the work area 10 based on the shortest route calculated in step Sll is relatively large, there is a concern that the number of articles 11 that the worker 1 bins or picks may increase . Therefore, in step S15 to step S17, the work area 10 is divided into smaller pieces by using the number of connection passages 3c.

[0059]

Specifically, in step S15, the shortest route calculation unit 55 determines whether or not the number of connection passages 3c included in the work area 10 is larger than a predetermined number. When it is determined in step S15 that the number of connection passages 3c included in the work area 10 is larger than the predetermined number, the process proceeds to step S16. When it is determined in step S15 that the number of connection passages 3c included in the work area 10 is not larger than the predetermined number, that is, the number of connection passages 3c included in the work area 10 is equal to or smaller than the predetermined number, the process proceeds to step S14, and the process is exited.

[0060]

Herein, the predetermined number used in step S15 is set to, for example, four. The predetermined number is set in relation to the predetermined value used in step S13. Specifically, in a case where when the longitudinal length D of the work area 10 is the longitudinal length of the storage area 6 (in a case where the longitudinal length D of the work area 10 is the maximum) , the predetermined number is set so as to be in a range of being shorter than the lateral length of the work area 10 set on the basis of the predetermined value in step S13.

[0061]

In the example illustrated in Fig. 6, the number of connection passages 3c included in the work area 10 is nine, which is larger than four set as the predetermined number. Therefore, as a result of the determination in step S15, the process proceeds to step S16.

[0062]

In step S16, the shortest route calculation unit 55 creates the work area 10 such that the predetermined number of connection passages 3c used in step S15 is included. Specifically, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the work area 10 is divided into areas (areas indicated by a two-dot dashed line) including the four connection passages 3c.

[0063]

In step S17, the shortest route calculation unit 55 calculates the shortest route in which the worker 1 bins or picks the articles 11 in the work area 10 set in step S16, similarly to step Sll.

[0064]

As described above, the shortest route calculation unit 55 calculates the shortest route, in which the worker 1 passes through the cargo carrier passage 3a and the worker passage 3b and bins and picks a plurality of the articles 11 by using the cart 4, in a range of the number of connection passages 3c which is a predetermined number set in advance.

[0065]

As a result, the route is formed which maximizes the area including the predetermined number of the connection passages 3c. Therefore, since the work area 10 is divided into small pieces by using the number of the connection passages 3c, it is suppressed that the work area 10 becomes large and the number of the articles 11 which the worker 1 bins or picks increases. Therefore, it is possible to support the worker 1 to be able to efficiently bin and pick the plurality of articles 11.

[0066]

On the other hand, in step S14, since the work area 10 based on the shortest route calculated in step Sll is divided into sufficiently small pieces, the shortest route is used as it is.

[0067]

As described above, in a case where the aspect ratio (W/D) of the work area 10 is larger than a predetermined ratio, the shortest route calculation unit 55 calculates the shortest route within a predetermined number of routes; and in a case where the aspect ratio (W/D) is equal to or smaller than the predetermined ratio, the shortest route calculated on the basis of the predetermined ratio is used even if the predetermined number of routes is exceeded. [0068]

Then, by repeating the routine illustrated in Fig. 5, the shortest route calculation unit 55 also calculates the shortest route for the articles 11 stored in the remaining storage area 6. As a result, as illustrated in Fig. 7, a plurality of routes which maximize the area including the four connection passages 3c are created. That is, the shortest route calculation unit 55 calculates the shortest route for binning and picking the plurality of articles 11 by combining a plurality of routes in which the worker 1 who has stopped the cart 4 in the cargo carrier passage 3a facing the connection passage 3c enters the worker passage 3b from the connection passage 3c, performs binning or picking of the plurality of articles 11, and returns to the cart 4.

[0069]

In addition, without determining whether or not the aspect ratio (W/D) of the work area 10 in step S13 is larger than the predetermined value, it may be determined only whether or not the number of connection passages 3c included in the work area 10 in step S15 is larger than a predetermined number. In this case, the shortest route is calculated on the basis of only the number of connection passages 3c included in the work area 10.

[0070]

In addition, the shortest route calculation unit 55 may calculate the route within a range in which the longitudinal length D of the work area 10 does not exceed a predetermined upper limit value of the longitudinal length in the direction of the worker passage 3b set in advance. In this case, since there is a concern that the longitudinal length D of the work area 10 becomes too long, the storage area 6 is divided such that the longitudinal length does not exceed the predetermined upper limit value.

[0071]

Next, a specific example of the support of the binning or picking work of the article 11 to the worker 1 by the binning/picking work support system 100 will be described with reference to Figs. 8 to 9J.

[0072] The storage area 6 is divided into a plurality of divided areas 6a to which individual color information is set. Herein, as an example, a case where the worker 1 performs the picking work in the divided area 6a to which red color information in the storage area 6 is set will be described. In addition, although the case where the worker 1 picks the articles 11 is described, the same may be applied to the case of binning the articles 11.

[0073]

First, the worker 1 selects work instruction information of the picking work. When the worker 1 completes the selection of the work instruction information, the worker 1 enters the divided area 6a from the cross point A1 while pushing the cart 4.

[0074]

When the worker 1 operates the mobile terminal 2 and logs in to the support device 5, the display unit 26 displays a search screen illustrated in Fig. 9D. A search setting area 31 for inputting a search condition is set on the left side of the search screen, and a work instruction information area 32 for displaying the work instruction information matching the search condition is set on the right side of the screen. Below the work instruction information area 32, a work start point selection switch 33 is provided.

[0075]

In the search setting area 31, selection as to whether the worker 1 performs the binning work or performs the picking work, selection of an area code where the worker 1 performs the binning or picking work, selection as to whether or not the work has not been started, and manual input of the work instruction numbers are possible .

[0076]

The screen illustrated in Fig. 9A illustrates the state of the input by manipulating the mobile terminal 2 such that the worker 1 performs the picking work in the state of not being started in the divided area 6a where the red color information of the first floor is set. In the lowermost portion of the search setting area 31, it is displayed as a search result that three pieces of work instruction information match the search condition.

[0077]

In the work instruction information area 32, work instruction numbers, statuses, and area codes of the three pieces of work instruction information matching the search conditions are displayed. The worker 1 selects any one of the pieces of the work instruction information. Herein, the worker 1 selects the first work instruction number "0003000109". In the display unit 26, the selected work instruction information is highlightedly displayed.

[0078]

The work start point selection switch 33 is for selecting the start point of the route calculated by the shortest route calculation unit 55 from a plurality of points on the cargo carrier passage 3a. The work start point selection switch 33 is provided so as to allow a plurality of (herein, three) work start points to be selectable.

[0079]

When the worker 1 selects a first point selection switch 33a on the left side, the shortest route calculation unit 55 calculates the shortest route from the state where the cart 4 is located at the entrance of the divided area 6a, that is, the state where the cart 4 is located at the cross point Al. When the worker 1 selects a second point selection switch 33b at the center, the shortest route calculation unit 55 calculates the shortest route from the state where the cart 4 is located at a point advanced about 1/3 of the whole distance from the entrance of the divided area 6a, that is, the state where the cart 4 is located in the vicinity of a cross point A4. When the worker 1 selects a third point selection switch 33c on the right side, the shortest route calculation unit 55 calculates the shortest route from the state where the cart 4 is located at a point advanced about 2/3 of the whole distance from the entrance of the divided area 6a, that is, the state where the cart 4 is located in the vicinity of a cross point A8.

[0080]

In this manner, by allowing the work start point to be selectable, the next binning or picking work can be started from the position near the point where the binning or the picking work previously performed by the worker 1 is completed in the divided area 6a. Thus, the worker 1 may not return to the start point (for example, the cross point A1 at the entrance) every time the binning or picking work is completed. Therefore, the movement distance of the worker 1 can be shortened.

[0081]

When the worker 1 selects one of the first point selection switch 33a, the second point selection switch 33b, and the third point selection switch 33c, the shortest route calculation unit 55 executes the routine illustrated in Fig. 5 described above. As a result, the shortest route for binning and picking the plurality of articles 11 is calculated by combining a plurality of routes where the worker 1 stops the cart 4 in the cargo carrier passage 3a in the vicinity of the point selected by the work start point selection switch 33, enters the worker passage 3b from the connection passage 3c, performs binning or picking the plurality of articles 11, and returns to the cart 4.

[0082]

In the example illustrated in Fig. 8, illustrated is the state where the worker 1 selects the first point selection switch 33a and the shortest route is calculated from the state where the cart 4 is located at the entrance of the divided area 6a. In addition, in the route illustrated by a solid line in Fig. 8, a navigation screen described later is displayed on the display unit 26, and in the route illustrated by a broken line, a data display screen described later is displayed on the display unit 26.

[0083]

The display unit 26 is switched to the navigation screen illustrated in Fig. 9B. That is, an instruction for the picking work is displayed on the display unit 26 on the basis of the shortest route calculated by the shortest route calculation unit 55.

[0084]

As illustrated in Fig. 9B, a cargo carrier route display area 34 for displaying the route information of the cart 4 is set on the left side of the navigation screen, and a worker route display area 35 for displaying the route information of the worker 1 is set on the right side of the navigation screen. As described above, in the state where the navigation screen is displayed, the route information of the cart 4 and the route information of the worker 1 based on the route information of the cart 4 are simultaneously displayed in the divided screens of the display unit 26.

[0085]

Therefore, even while worker 1 is moving through the worker passage 3b away from cart 4, since the stop position of cart 4 is always displayed, it is possible to check which point is good to return to after the article 11 is picked.

[0086]

In addition, the work instruction number selected by the worker 1 on the search screen is displayed at the upper end of the navigation screen, and the number of articles 11 to be picked in the work area 10 is displayed at the lower right side of the navigation screen.

[0087]

The route information of the cart 4 displayed in the cargo carrier route display area 34 is the stop position information on the cargo carrier passage 3a for stopping the cart 4. In the example illustrated in Fig. 9B, the work instruction information for pushing the cart 4 to travel on the cargo carrier passage 3a and stopping at a cross point A3 is displayed.

[0088]

The route information of the worker 1 displayed in the worker route display area 35 is navigation information for sequentially displaying the route of the worker 1 from the stop position where the cart 4 is stopped on the basis of the stop position information of the cart 4. In the example illustrated in Fig. 9B, after the cart 4 is stopped at the cross point A3, the work instruction information "A3 upper" indicating that the traveling backward on the connection passage 3c from the cross point A3 is displayed.

[0089]

Herein, when the area map of the divided area 6a illustrated in Fig. 8 is viewed in plan in the state where the cargo carrier passage 3a is placed in the lower portion, the term "upper" denotes directing upward (backward) (away from the cargo carrier passage 3a) , and the term "lower" denotes directing downward (forward) (closer to the cargo carrier passage 3a) .

[0090]

Herein, since the worker 1 moves on the cargo carrier passage 3a together with the cart 4, the cargo carrier route display area 34 indicating the route information of the cart 4 is highlightedly displayed. As a result, when the worker 1 looks at the display unit 26, the worker 1 can recognize which information is currently required. The highlighted display is displayed in the same color as the color information (red in this case) set in the divided area 6a. Therefore, it can be visually recognized in which divided area 6a the worker 1 is currently performing the picking work.

[0091]

While viewing the navigation screen illustrated in Fig. 9B, the worker 1 pushes the cart 4 to the cross point A3 and stops the cart 4. After the worker 1 arrives at the cross point A3 and stops the cart 4, when the worker 1 taps the display unit 26 (herein, also serving as the input unit 27) , the display unit 26 is switched to the data display screen illustrated in Fig. 9C.

[0092]

As illustrated in Fig. 9C, data of the article 11 to be picked is displayed on the data display screen. Herein, the work instruction information for picking one article 11 having the identification ID "01955803" stored in "A3-11-2-01" of the rack 7 is displayed. When the worker 1 completes the picking work of the instructed article 11 and taps the display unit 26, the display unit 26 is switched again to the navigation screen illustrated in Fig. 9D.

[0093]

In the example illustrated in Fig. 9D, the work instruction information of "pass through passage B3 to B2 upper" indicating traveling through the cross point B3 from the cross point B2 backward on the connection passage 3c is displayed in the worker route display area 35. [0094]

At this time, since the worker 1 moves on the worker passage 3b away from the cart 4, the worker route display area 35 indicating the route information of the worker 1 is highlightedly displayed. The highlighted display is displayed in the same color as the color information (red in this case) set in the divided area 6a.

[0095]

While viewing the navigation screen illustrated in Fig. 9D, the worker 1 travels backward on the connection passage 3c, passes through the cross point B3, moves in the parallel passage 3d to arrive at the cross point B2, and then, the worker 1 turns to the direction of traveling backward on the connection passage 3c. After the worker 1 arrives at the cross point B2, when the worker 1 taps the display unit 26, the display unit 26 is switched to the data display screen. Then, when the worker 1 completes the picking work of the instructed article 11 and taps the display unit 26, the display unit 26 is switched again to the navigation screen illustrated in Fig. 9E.

[0096]

In the example illustrated in Fig. 9E, the work instruction information of "pass through passage C2 to C4 lower" indicating traveling through the cross point C2 from the cross point C4 backward on the connection passage 3c is displayed in the worker route display area 35.

[0097]

While viewing the navigation screen illustrated in Fig. 9E, the worker 1 travels backward on the connection passage 3c, passes through the cross point C2, moves in the parallel passage 3d, arrives at the cross point C4, and turns to the direction of traveling forward on the connection passage 3c. After the worker 1 arrives at the cross point C4, when the worker 1 taps the display unit 26, the display unit 26 is switched to the data display screen. Then, when the worker 1 completes the picking work of the instructed article 11 and taps the display unit 26, the display unit 26 is switched again to the navigation screen illustrated in Fig. 9F.

[0098] As illustrated in Fig. 8, since the worker 1 has completely- picked all the articles 11 in the first work area 10, the worker

I returns to the cart 4 and loads the articles 11 on the cart 4. Then, the worker 1 pushes the cart 4 and moves to the next work area 10 to perform the picking work. In the example illustrated in Fig. 9F, the work instruction information for moving the cart 4 from the cross point A3 which is the current stop position to a cross point A9 is displayed in the cargo carrier route display area 34. In addition, the work instruction information "A9 upper" indicating traveling backward on the connection passage 3c from the cross point A9 is displayed in the worker route display area 35.

[0099]

Thus, when the worker 1 completes the binning and picking of the plurality of articles 11 and returns to the cart 4, the stop position information of the cart 4 and the stop position information for stopping the cart 4 next are displayed simultaneously on the display unit 26.

[0100]

The worker 1 views the navigation screen illustrated in Fig. 9F and pushes the cart 4 to the cross point A9 to stop the cart 4. After the worker 1 arrives at the cross point A9 and stops the cart 4, when the worker 1 taps the display unit 26, the display unit 26 is switched to the data display screen illustrated in Fig. 9G.

[0101]

As illustrated in Fig. 9G, data of the article 11 to be picked is displayed on the data display screen. Herein, after one article

II having the identification ID "05519534" stored in "A9-11-5-04" of the rack 7 is picked, the work instruction information for picking one article 11 stored in "A9-12-3-22" of the rack 7 is displayed. When the worker 1 completes the picking work of the instructed first article 11 and taps the display unit 26, as illustrated in Fig. 9H, the display of the first article 11 disappears, and only the information on the second article 11 is displayed.

[0102] When the worker 1 completes the picking work of the instructed second article 11 and taps the display unit 26, the display unit 26 is switched to the navigation screen illustrated in Fig. 91. As illustrated in Fig. 91, the work instruction information for returning to the cross point A9 which is the current stop position of the cart 4 is displayed in the cargo carrier route display area 34.

[0103]

When the worker 1 returns to the cart 4 stopping at the cross point A9 and taps the display unit 26, as illustrated in Fig. 9J, the display unit 26 displays a check of completion of the picking work. When the worker 1 taps "Yes" on the display unit 26, the work having the work instruction number "0003000109" selected first is completed. Then, the search screen illustrated in Fig. 9A is displayed again on the display unit 26.

[0104]

As described above, the worker 1 can perform the binning or picking work while referring to the work instruction information displayed on the display unit 26 of the mobile terminal 2. In the state where the navigation screen is displayed, the route information of the cart 4 and the route information of the worker 1 based on the route information of the cart 4 are simultaneously displayed in the divided screens of the display unit 26. For this reason, the worker 1 can easily understand at which position in the divided area 6a the worker 1 exists and where is good to finally return. Therefore, in a case where the worker 1 bins and picks a plurality of articles 11 by using the cart 4, it is possible to support the worker 1 to efficiently perform the binning and the picking.

[0105]

According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

[0106]

The shortest route calculation unit 55 calculates the shortest route, in which the worker 1 passes through the cargo carrier passage 3a and the worker passage 3b and bins and picks the plurality of articles 11 by using the cart 4, in a range of the number of connection passages 3c which is within a predetermined number. Thus, the route which maximizes the area including the predetermined number of connection passages 3c is formed. Therefore, since the work area 10 is divided into small pieces by using the number of connection passages 3c, it is suppressed that the work area 10 becomes large and the number of the articles 11 to be binned or picked by the worker 1 is increased. Therefore, the worker 1 can be supported to be able to efficiently bin and pick the plurality of articles 11.

[0107]

As mentioned above, although embodiments of the present invention have been described, the embodiments illustrate only a portion of application examples of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific configurations of the embodiments. One or more features or aspects of one embodiment may be combined with one or more other features or aspects of another embodiment. Also, one or more features or aspects may be removed from a particular embodiment .

[0108]

For example, in the above-described embodiments, the worker

I manipulates the input unit 27 of the mobile terminal 2 (taps the display unit 26) to input that the article 11 has been binned or picked. Instead of this, information for identifying the article

II may be allocated by an identification medium such as an RFID tag, a bar code, and a two-dimensional code, and a reading device may read the identification medium to input that the article 11 has been binned or picked.

[0109]

In addition, in the above-described embodiments, the shortest route calculation unit 55 is provided in the support device 5, so that the calculation of the shortest route is performed in the support device 5. Instead of this, the shortest route calculation unit 55 may be provided in the mobile terminal 2, so that the calculation of the shortest route may be calculated in the mobile terminal 2.

[0110]

In addition, a computer may be connected to a cloud server on the Internet, and execution of each of the above processes in the mobile terminal 2 and the support device 5 may be performed in the cloud server. Furthermore, in a case where the execution of each of the above processes is in the cloud server, the configuration may be such that the binning/picking work support system 100 does not include a computer and each device such as the mobile terminal 2 is directly connected to the cloud server via the Internet. The term computer as used in this specification and the claims includes such a cloud server and any other type of server.

[0111]

In addition, a series of the processes in the binning/picking work support system 100 described above may be provided as a program for executing the processes on a computer.

[0112]

That is, the program according to the present embodiment causes the computer to execute a procedure of calculating the shortest route, in which the worker 1 passes through the cargo carrier passage 3a and the worker passage 3b and bins and picks the plurality of articles 11 by using the cart 4, in a range of the number of connection passages 3c which is within a predetermined number set in advance.

[0113]

A program for executing a series of the processes described above is provided by a computer-readable storage medium. In the support device 5, the program may be stored in the memory unit 59.

[0114]

In addition, as various programs executed by the computer, for example, those stored on or in a non-transitory recording medium such as a CD-ROM may be used.

Reference Signs List

[0115]

100 BINNING/PICKING WORK SUPPORT SYSTEM MOBILE TERMINAL

a CARGO CARRIER PASSAGE

b WORKER PASSAGE

c CONNECTION PASSAGE

d PARALLEL PASSAGE

CART (CARGO CARRIER)

SUPPORT DEVICE

STORAGE AREA

a DIVIDED AREA

RACK

MARK

NETWORK

0 WORK AREA

1 ARTICLE

1 ROM

2 CPU

3 RAM

4 INTERNAL BUS

5 COMMUNICATION UNIT

6 DISPLAY UNIT

7 INPUT UNIT

8 VOICE OUTPUT UNIT

9 MEMORY UNIT

1 SEARCH SETTING AREA

2 WORK INSTRUCTION INFORMATION AREA3 WORK START POINT SELECTION SWITCH3a FIRST POINT SELECTION SWITCH3b SECOND POINT SELECTION SWITCH3c THIRD POINT SELECTION SWITCH4 CARGO CARRIER ROUTE DISPLAY AREA5 WORKER ROUTE DISPLAY AREA

1 ROM

2 CPU

3 RAM

4 INTERNAL BUS SHORTEST ROUTE CALCULATION UNIT

COMMUNICATION UNIT INPUT UNIT DISPLAY UNIT MEMORY UNITA MAP INFORMATION MEMORY AREAB STORAGE LOCATION INFORMATION MEMORY AREA