TWI860499B - System for warehouse management and control method for transporting storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a system for warehouse management, including a storage rack, an elevating device, a shooting device, and a server. The storage rack is installed above a store space and configured to store a plurality of storage containers. The elevating device is connected to the storage rack and includes an elevating platform. The elevating platform is configured to transport the storage container between an initial location and the storage rack. The shooting device is installed inside the elevating device and configured to shoot an interior space of the storage container and generate image data. The server is communicatively connected to the elevating platform and the shooting device and includes a processor and a memory device. The shooting device transmits the image data to the server, and the processor determines a remain capacity of the interior space according to the image data and creates capacity data according to the remain capacity and stores it in the memory device.

Description

Warehouse management system and storage container transportation control method

This case is about a warehouse management system, in particular, a warehouse management system for storage container transportation.

With the booming development of e-commerce, it has become common for consumers to shop online, which has brought challenges to the warehouse management of stores responsible for receiving parcels. In many stores, goods purchased online can be seen piled up on the floor or shelves, and when consumers go to the store to pick up their parcels, the store staff also have to spend a lot of time looking for the consumers' parcels, which is inconvenient for both the store and the consumers.

One embodiment of the present case provides a warehouse management system, including a storage rack, a lifting device, a camera, and a server. The storage rack is arranged above the store space and is used to store a plurality of storage containers. The lifting device is connected to the storage rack and includes a lifting platform. The lifting platform is used to transport the storage container between the initial position and the storage rack. The camera is arranged in the lifting device and is used to capture the internal space of the storage container and generate image data. The server is communicatively connected to the lifting platform and the camera, and the server includes a processor and a memory device. Shooting The device transmits image data to the server. The processor determines the remaining capacity of the internal space based on the image data, creates capacity data based on the remaining capacity, and stores it in the memory device. The capacity data records the remaining capacity of the storage container.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for controlling the transport of a storage container, comprising: transporting a first storage container among a plurality of storage containers from a storage rack to an initial position; scanning a barcode or an image on a first shipment to generate first shipment data, the first shipment data including personal information of a first consumer, and establishing binding data based on the first shipment data, the binding data recording a correspondence between the first consumer and the first storage container transported to the initial position; after transporting the first storage container from the storage rack to the initial position, photographing a first shipment stored in the first shipment; The internal space of the first storage container is measured to determine the remaining capacity of the internal space, and capacity data is established according to the remaining capacity, and the capacity data records the remaining capacity of each storage container; after the first storage container is transported from the storage rack to the initial position, the weight of the first storage container storing the first cargo is measured, and weight data is established according to the weight, and the weight data records the weight of each storage container; and after photographing the internal space of the first storage container and measuring the weight of the first storage container, the first storage container is transported from the initial position to the storage rack.

100: Warehouse management system

110: Point of sale device

112: Scanning device

120: Lifting device

122: Lifting platform

124: Weighing device

126: Filming equipment

128: Control interface

130: Storage rack

132: Storage Cell

132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, 132e, 132f: Storage cells

134: Transport device

136:Framework

140: Storage container

140a, 140b, 140c, 140d, 140e, 140f: Storage containers

A1: Goods

A2: Goods

CEL: Ceiling

COU: Counter

FLR: Floor

PIL: Column

STO: Store space

150: Server

152:Processor

154:Memory device

D1: Cargo information

D2: Binding data

D3: Image data

D4: Capacity data

D5: Weight data

D6: Recipient information

S1: Basket change signal

S2: rising signal

S3: Store signal

S4: Basket signal

S5: Downward signal

W: weight

200: Control method

S210, S220, S230, S240, S250, S260, S270, S280: Steps

S271, S272, S273: Steps

S310, S320, S330: Steps

In order to make the above and other purposes, features, advantages and embodiments of the present disclosure more clearly understandable, the attached drawings are described as follows: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a warehouse management system according to some embodiments of the present case.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a warehouse management system according to some embodiments of the present case.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a warehouse management system according to some embodiments of the present case.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of signal transmission between components of a warehouse management system according to some embodiments of the present case.

Figure 5 is a flow chart of a control method for transporting storage containers according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a flow chart of a control method for storage container transportation according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a flow chart of a control method for transporting storage containers according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a flow chart of a control method for storage container transportation according to some embodiments of the present invention.

The following is a detailed description of the embodiments with the attached diagrams, but the embodiments provided are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, and the description of the structural operation is not intended to limit its execution order. Any device with equal functions produced by the re-combination of components is within the scope of the disclosure. In addition, the diagrams are for illustrative purposes only and are not drawn according to the original size. For ease of understanding, the same or similar components in the following description will be indicated by the same symbols.

The terms used throughout the specification and patent application generally have the ordinary meaning of each term used in this field, in the content disclosed herein and in the specific content, unless otherwise specified.

The words "include", "include", "have", and similar words used in this article are used to indicate the characteristics, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components described, but they do not exclude the described or additional one or more characteristics, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. In addition, the words "and/or" used below in this article include any combination of one or more of the listed related items.

In this article, when an element is described as being "connected" or "electrically connected" to another element, the element may be directly connected or directly electrically connected to the other element, or there may be an additional element between the two elements, and the element may be indirectly connected or indirectly electrically connected to the other element. Although the terms "first", "second", etc. are used in this article to describe different elements, the terms are only used to distinguish elements or operations described with the same technical terms.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a warehouse management system. Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a schematic diagram of a warehouse management system 100 according to some embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the warehouse management system 100 is configured in a store, wherein the store includes a floor FLR, a ceiling CEL, and a store space STO. The store space STO is between the floor FLR and the ceiling CEL, and is the main activity area for store employees and consumers in the store. A counter COU is provided in the store space STO, and the counter COU is the area where store employees provide services to consumers in the store. In some embodiments, a point of sale device 110 and a scanning device 112 are provided on the counter COU. In some embodiments, the point of sale device 110 is a computer host used as a point of sales (POS) system or a cash register, and the scanning device 112 is used to scan the barcode or image on the goods (such as goods A1 and A2 in Figure 1) to obtain goods-related information such as the name and the last three digits of the contact phone number of the recipient, the arrival date, etc. In some embodiments, the scanning device 112 is connected to the point of sale device 110.

In some embodiments, the warehouse management system 100 mainly includes a lifting device 120 and a storage rack 130, wherein the lifting device 120 is connected to the storage rack 130. The lifting device 120 is disposed in the store space STO and extends upward from the floor FLR to be connected to the storage rack 130. The storage rack 130 is disposed above the store space STO and closer to the ceiling CEL. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the storage rack 130 is supported by a column PIL perpendicular to the floor FLR, so that it can carry a large weight. The number of columns PIL in FIG. 1 is only for illustration and is not intended to limit the embodiments of the present case. In different embodiments, the warehouse management system 100 uses more than two columns PIL to support the storage rack 130. In different embodiments, the storage rack 130 is not supported by the column PIL, and the storage rack 130 is directly connected to the ceiling CEL to fix the storage rack 130 above the store space STO. The warehouse management system 100 transports the goods upward through the lifting device 120, and then stores the goods on the storage rack 130 to avoid the goods from being stockpiled in the store space STO.

In some embodiments, the storage rack 130 is disposed above the store space STO, and a plurality of storage compartments 132 are disposed on the storage rack 130. The storage compartments 132 are used to store storage containers 140, and there is a corresponding relationship between the storage compartments 132 and the storage containers 140. In some embodiments, one storage compartment 132 corresponds to one storage container 140 and is only used to store one storage container 140. In different embodiments, one storage compartment 132 corresponds to a plurality of storage containers 140 and is used to store a plurality of storage containers 140.

In some embodiments, the lifting device 120 includes a lifting platform 122, which is used to carry the storage container 140 and transport the storage container 140 between the initial position and the storage rack 130. The storage container 140 is used to store goods (such as goods A1, A2). In some embodiments, the storage container 140 includes a lid. After the clerk puts multiple goods into the storage container 140, he can confirm whether the lid can be closed to ensure that the storage container 140 can be stored in the storage compartment 132 of the storage rack 130 in the subsequent process. Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 at the same time. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the warehouse management system 100 according to some embodiments of the present case. FIG1 depicts the situation before the lifting platform 122 starts to work, and FIG2 depicts the situation after the lifting platform 122 starts to work and lifts the storage container 140 to the storage rack 130. In FIG1, the lifting platform 122 is located at a lower initial position to facilitate the store clerk to put the goods into the storage container 140. In FIG2, the lifting platform 122 is located at a higher position and aligned with the height of the storage rack 130 to facilitate the subsequent storage of the storage container 140 to the storage compartment 132.

Please refer to Figure 1 again. In some embodiments, the warehouse management system 100 includes a weighing device 124, which is connected to the lifting platform 122 and is used to measure the weight of the storage container 140 when goods are placed in the storage container 140. In some embodiments, the warehouse management system 100 includes a photographing device 126, as shown in Figure 1, which is set in the lifting device 120 and is used to photograph the internal space of the storage container 140 when goods are placed in the storage container 140. In some embodiments, the warehouse management system 100 includes a control interface 128, which is used to allow the store clerk to control the lifting platform 122 to lift the storage container 140 to the storage rack 130 for storage. The following is a detailed description of the components and operations of the storage rack 130 and the lifting device 120.

In some embodiments, the warehouse management system 100 includes a transport device 134, which is used to move and transport the storage container 140 on the storage rack 130, so that when the lifting platform 122 lifts the storage container 140 to the storage rack 130 (i.e., the situation shown in FIG. 2), the storage container 140 is transported to a specific storage cell 132 for storage by the transport device 134. In some embodiments, the transport device 134 is further used to transport the storage container 140 stored in the storage cell 132 from the storage cell 132 to the lifting platform 122, so that the lifting platform 122 can transport the storage container 140 downward. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the transport device 134 is disposed on the frame 136 and can move on the frame 136. In some embodiments, the frame 136 is connected to and disposed on the storage rack 130, and is used to allow the transport device 134 to move above the storage rack 130. In some embodiments, the frame 136 is used as a track for the transport device 134 to move above the lifting platform 122 and between different storage compartments 132. In some embodiments, the frame 136 is directly fixed to the ceiling CEL without being connected to the storage rack 130.

Please refer to FIG. 3, which is a partial schematic diagram of a warehouse management system 100 according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 3 mainly depicts the components on the storage rack 130 to illustrate how the storage cells 132 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are arranged on the storage rack 130, and how the transport device 134 will transport the storage container 140 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. For the sake of clarity, FIG. 3 omits many components in the warehouse management system 100, such as omitting the frame 136 that serves as the moving track of the transport device 134. In some embodiments, the frame 136 has a rectangular track passing above the lifting platform 122 and in front of each storage compartment 132. For example, one corner of the rectangular track is above the lifting platform 122, and one long side of the rectangular track corresponds to the storage compartments 132a, 132b, and 132c in FIG. 3, and the other long side of the rectangular track corresponds to the storage compartments 132d, 132e, and 132f in FIG. 3. The above embodiments are not intended to limit the frame 136 of this case. In different embodiments, the frame 136 may have different structures to enable the transport device 134 to transport the storage container 140 between the lifting platform 122 and the storage compartment 132.

In FIG. 3, storage cells 132a, 132b, 132c, 132d, 132e, 132f are the same storage cells as the storage cells 132 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and storage containers 140a, 140b, 140c, 140d, 140e, 140f are the same storage containers as the storage container 140 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. After the lifting platform 122 lifts the storage container 140 to the storage rack 130 as shown in FIG. 2, the transport device 134 will clamp the storage container 140 to the corresponding storage cell 132 for storage. In FIG. 3 , the transport device 134 clamps the storage container 140a that has been lifted by the lifting platform 122 to the storage rack 130, and is ready to transport the storage container 140a to the corresponding storage compartment 132a. Specifically, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , the storage container 140a corresponds to the storage compartment 132a, the storage container 140b corresponds to the storage compartment 132b, the storage container 140c corresponds to the storage compartment 132c, the storage container 140d corresponds to the storage compartment 132d, the storage container 140e corresponds to the storage compartment 132e, and the storage container 140f corresponds to the storage compartment 132f. In other words, storage container 140a must be stored in storage compartment 132a, and storage containers 140b, 140c, 140d, 140e, and 140f will similarly only be stored in their respective corresponding storage compartments 132.

Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a schematic diagram of signal transmission between components of the warehouse management system 100 according to some embodiments of the present invention. The warehouse management system 100 includes a server 150, and the warehouse management system 100 receives data or signals from multiple components through the server 150, thereby controlling the lifting platform 122 and the transporting device 134 to transport the storage container 140. The server 150 includes a processor 152 and a memory device 154. In some embodiments, the server 150 is a computer host and is managed by a company responsible for operating the store, so the server 150 is not set in the store space STO as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The server 150 is communicatively connected to the scanning device 112, the camera 126, the weighing device 124, the control interface 128, the point-of-sale device 110, the lifting platform 122, and the transporting device 134. The signal transmission between the components of the warehouse management system 100 in different procedures (such as the store storing the goods in the warehouse, the consumer picking up the goods at the store, and the store returning the goods without the consumer picking up the goods) will be described in detail in the following paragraphs.

The following describes the operation and signal transmission of each component of the warehouse management system 100 in the process of the store storing goods into the warehouse (i.e., receiving goods). Please refer to Figure 1. When the cargo transportation operator (such as a logistics company) delivers the consumer's goods to the store, the store clerk first uses the scanning device 112 to scan the barcode or image on the goods to obtain the name of the consumer corresponding to the goods, the consumer's phone number and/or the date of receipt of the goods and other goods-related information. In some embodiments, the scanning device 112 scans the image on the goods and directly obtains the consumer's name and/or consumer's phone number and other information. In some embodiments, the scanning device 112 scans the barcode on the item and transmits the barcode to the server 150 for decoding to obtain the information such as the consumer name and/or the consumer phone number of the item. After the clerk scans the item, the clerk puts the item into the storage container 140. For example, in Figure 1, item A1 has been put into the storage container 140, and item A2 will be put into the storage container 140 by the clerk only after it is scanned by the scanning device 112.

In detail, as shown in FIG. 4 , when the scanning device 112 scans the barcode or image on the shipment, the scanning device 112 generates shipment data D1 (i.e., the consumer's name, the consumer's phone number and/or the date of purchase, etc.) and transmits the shipment data D1 to the server 150. The processor 152 of the server 150 creates binding data D2 based on the shipment data D1 and stores the binding data D2 in the memory device 154. The binding data D2 records the corresponding relationship between the consumer and the storage container 140 storing the goods. For example, the consumer corresponding to the goods A1 in FIG. 1 will be bound to the storage container 140 storing the goods A1, and the goods A2 in FIG. 2 are also placed in the storage container 140, so the consumer corresponding to the goods A2 will also be bound to the storage container 140 storing the goods A2. In other words, the binding data D2 will record in which storage container 140 the goods purchased by a specific consumer are stored. In the subsequent process, the binding data D2 can be used to quickly identify which storage containers 140 one or more of the consumer's goods are stored in when the consumer picks up the goods. It can also be used when a newly arrived goods corresponds to a consumer who has other goods stored in a storage container 140. The warehouse management system 100 can select the specific storage container 140 to store the newly arrived goods, so that the goods of the same consumer can be concentrated in the same storage container 140 to improve the efficiency of subsequent consumers picking up goods. In some embodiments, the binding data D2 also records the arrival date of all goods stored in the storage container 140 according to the goods data D1.

Please refer to FIG. 1 again. When the clerk puts the goods into the storage container 140, the camera 126 takes a picture of the interior space of the storage container 140. In detail, as shown in FIG. 4, the camera 126 takes a picture of the interior space of the storage container 140 to generate image data D3 (e.g., digital data of the image inside the storage container 140), and transmits the image data D3 to the server 150. The processor 152 of the server 150 determines the remaining capacity of the interior space of the storage container 140 based on the image data D3. Specifically, in some embodiments, the processor 152 identifies the length, width, and height of the cargo A1 in the storage container 140 shown in FIG. 1 according to the image data D3 through a related image analysis application, and calculates the volume of the cargo A1 (i.e., equal to the product of the length, width, and height of the cargo A1). In some embodiments, the memory device 154 includes the capacity data of the storage container 140, so the remaining capacity of the storage container 140 can be obtained by deducting the volume of the cargo A1 from the volume of the storage container 140. Then, the processor 152 creates the capacity data D4 according to the remaining capacity, and then stores the capacity data D4 in the memory device 154. The capacity data D4 records the remaining capacity of the storage container 140.

Please refer to Figure 1 again. When the clerk puts the goods into the storage container 140, the weighing device 124 measures the weight W of the storage container 140. In detail, as shown in Figure 4, the weighing device 124 measures the weight W of the storage container 140 and transmits the weight W to the server 150. The processor 152 of the server 150 creates weight data D5 according to the weight W and stores the weight data D5 in the memory device 154. The weight data D5 records the weight W of each storage container 140.

In other words, the warehouse management system 100 records the remaining capacity and weight W of the storage container 140 through the camera 126 and the weighing device 124 when a piece of cargo is placed in the storage container 140. It is worth noting that the order of using the camera 126 to take a picture of the internal space of the storage container 140 and using the weighing device 124 to measure the weight W of the storage container 140 can be freely adjusted, and the present case does not limit the order. In addition, when the goods A2 in Figure 1 is also placed into the storage container 140 by the clerk, the camera 126 will take a photo of the internal space of the storage container 140 again, and the weighing device 124 will measure the weight W of the storage container 140 again and transmit the relevant data to the server 150 to update the capacity data D4 and weight data D5 in the server 150.

After the camera 126 takes a picture of the interior of the storage container 140 and the weighing device 124 measures the weight W of the storage container 140, if the clerk finds that there is no more space in the storage container 140 to put more goods, the clerk can input a basket-changing instruction on the control interface 128 of the lifting device 120 to control the lifting platform 122 and the transporting device 134 to transport the full storage container 140 to the storage rack 130 for storage, and then take another storage container 140 from the storage rack 130 to store the subsequent goods. In some embodiments, the control interface 128 is a touch panel, or a display device with an input interface such as a keyboard or button, so that it can be used to receive the basket-changing instruction given by the clerk. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4 , when the control interface 128 receives a basket change command (not shown in the figure), the control interface 128 transmits a basket change signal S1 to the server 150, and the server 150 transmits an ascending signal S2 to the lifting platform 122, so that the lifting platform 122 lifts the storage container 140 from the initial position to the storage rack 130. Then, when the storage container 140 has been lifted to the storage rack 130, the server 150 transmits a storage signal S3 to the transport device 134, so that the transport device 134 transports the storage container 140 to the corresponding storage compartment 132. The warehouse management system 100 can lift the storage container 140 at the initial position to the storage rack 130 through the above signal transmission and component actuation, and then transport the storage container 140a to the storage compartment 132a for storage through the transport device 134 as shown in the embodiment of Figure 3.

After the storage container 140 storing the goods is stored in the storage compartment 132, as shown in FIG. 4 , the server 150 further transmits a basket-taking signal S4 to the transport device 134, so that the transport device 134 transports one of the storage containers 140 to the lifting platform 122 of the lifting device 120. Then, the server 150 transmits a descending signal S5 to the lifting platform 122, so that the lifting platform 122 transports the storage container 140 downward to the initial position. Please refer to Figure 3. For example, in one embodiment, after the transport device 134 stores the storage container 140a in the storage compartment 132a, the transport device 134 moves to the storage compartment 132b and transports the storage container 140b according to the basket retrieval signal S4 transmitted by the server 150. After the transport device 134 transports the storage container 140b back to the lifting platform 122, the lifting platform 122 transports the storage container 140b downward to the initial position according to the descending signal S5 transmitted by the server 150, so that the clerk can load the goods into the storage container 140b.

It is worth noting that in the aforementioned embodiment, the warehouse management system 100 selects the storage container 140b as the next container for storing goods after storing the storage container 140a for illustration only. In different embodiments, the warehouse management system 100 generates a basket-fetching signal S4 according to the binding data D2, capacity data D4 and/or weight data D5 stored in the memory device 154 of the server 150 to select the next container for storing goods. The following describes different ways in which the server 150 selects the next storage container 140.

In some embodiments, after the warehouse management system 100 stores the storage container 140a in the storage cell 132a, the server 150 generates a basket fetching signal S4 according to the capacity data D4 to select the storage container 140 with the largest remaining capacity as the next storage container 140 for storing goods. Specifically, the capacity data D4 records the remaining capacity of each storage container 140, so the server 150 can identify the storage container 140 with the largest remaining capacity according to the capacity data D4, and then transport the storage container 140 with the largest remaining capacity to the initial position according to the aforementioned signal transmission. In some embodiments, if the server 150 recognizes that multiple storage containers 140 have the same remaining capacity based on the capacity data D4, and the remaining capacity is greater than the remaining capacity of other storage containers 140, the server 150 may select any one of the multiple storage containers 140 as the next storage container 140 for storing the goods.

In some embodiments, after the warehouse management system 100 stores the storage container 140a in the storage compartment 132a, the server 150 generates a basket fetching signal S4 according to the weight data D5 to select the storage container 140 with the smallest weight W as the next storage container 140 for storing the goods. In detail, the weight data D5 records the weight W of each storage container 140, so the server 150 can identify the storage container 140 with the smallest weight W (i.e., the lightest storage container 140) according to the weight data D5, and then transport the lightest storage container 140 to the initial position according to the aforementioned signal transmission. In some embodiments, if the server 150 recognizes that multiple storage containers 140 have the same weight W based on the weight data D5, and this weight W is less than the weight W of other storage containers 140, the server 150 can select any one of the multiple storage containers 140 as the next storage container 140 for storing the goods.

Please refer to FIG. 4 . In some embodiments, after the warehouse management system 100 stores the storage container 140 in the storage compartment 132, if the clerk uses the scanning device 112 to scan the barcode or image of the new incoming goods again, the scanning device 112 will generate the goods data D1 corresponding to the new goods again, and transmit the goods data D1 to the server 150. The server 150 will generate a basket retrieval signal S4 based on the existing binding data D2 and the new goods data D1. The new cargo data D1 includes a consumer's personal data. If any storage container 140 on the storage rack 130 already stores the consumer's cargo, the server 150 can identify the storage container 140 that has stored the consumer's cargo by comparing the binding data D2 and the new cargo data D1. Then, the server 150 generates a basket-taking signal S4 to drive the transport device 134 and the lifting platform 122 to transport the storage container 140 that has stored the consumer's cargo to the initial position. Therefore, in this embodiment, if the new goods and the goods stored in the storage container 140 correspond to the same consumer, the new goods and the old goods can be stored in the same storage container 140, so that when the subsequent consumers go to the store to pick up the goods, the warehouse management system 100 can only move a small number of storage containers 140, thereby avoiding the goods of the same consumer being scattered and stored in multiple different storage containers 140, resulting in inefficiency when consumers pick up the goods.

In the above embodiment, the server 150 uses the capacity data D4, the weight data D5, and the binding data D2 to determine how to select a new storage container 140 to store the goods. In some embodiments, the server 150 may use the capacity data D4, the weight data D5, and the binding data D2 simultaneously to determine how to select a new storage container 140. For example, the server 150 may first store a plurality of goods in the storage container 140 according to the capacity data D4, and when the remaining capacity of all the storage containers 140 is less than a value, the server 150 may select the lightest storage container 140 according to the weight data D5 to store the subsequent goods. For another example, after the clerk scans the incoming goods with the scanning device 112, if the server 150 identifies the specific storage container 140 that has stored the same consumer goods according to the binding data D2, but the server 150 finds that the remaining capacity of the specific storage container 140 is too small or the weight W is too large according to the capacity data D4 or the weight data D5, the server 150 can select a storage container 140 other than the specific storage container 140 to store the new goods. The above embodiments are only examples and are not intended to limit the present case. Those with ordinary knowledge in the relevant technical field can adjust, combine or change the above embodiments according to actual storage needs and situations, and should still be deemed to fall within the scope of the embodiments of the present case.

The following describes the operation and signal transmission of each component of the warehouse management system 100 in the process of a consumer picking up a parcel from a store. Referring to FIG. 4 , in some embodiments, after a consumer goes to a store and tells the store clerk the consumer's name and the last three digits of his/her phone number, the clerk enters the consumer's name and the last three digits of his/her phone number into the point-of-sale device 110, and the point-of-sale device 110 transmits the pickup person data D6 to the server 150, and the pickup person data D6 includes the consumer's name and the last three digits of his/her phone number and other personal information. The server 150 identifies the storage container 140 that has stored the consignee's cargo based on the consignee data D6 and the binding data D2. In other words, the server 150 searches for a matching consumer in the binding data D2 based on the consignee's name and the last three digits of the phone number in the consignee data D6, and then finds the storage container 140 that has stored the consignee's cargo based on the corresponding relationship between the consumer and the storage container 140 recorded in the binding data D2. Next, the server 150 controls the transporting device 134 by sending a signal to transport the storage container 140 storing the consignee's goods to the lifting device 120. The server 150 controls the lifting platform 122 by sending a signal to transport the storage container 140 storing the consignee's goods downward to the initial position.

In some embodiments, when the server 150 recognizes that there are two or more storage containers 140 storing the consignee's goods based on the consignee data D6 and the binding data D2, the server 150 will transmit a signal to the transport device 134 and the lifting platform 122 to sequentially transport all the storage containers 140 storing the consignee's goods to the initial position, so that the consumer can pick up the goods.

The following describes the operation and signal transmission of each component of the warehouse management system 100 in the process of returning goods that have not been picked up by consumers. In some embodiments, when the goods are stored in the storage container 140 for a certain return threshold number of days (such as 7 days) and the consumer has not yet picked up the goods at the store, the store clerk will return the goods through the point of sale device 110 to return these goods to the seller or e-commerce operator. Referring to FIG. 4 , when the clerk inputs a return instruction to the point-of-sale device 110, the point-of-sale device 110 transmits a return signal S6 to the server 150. The server 150 retrieves the binding data D2 to obtain the arrival date of all the goods stored in the storage container 140. The server 150 then determines the number of days between the arrival date of all the goods stored in the storage container 140 and the current date, and compares the days. The server 150 compares the number of days with the return threshold number of days. If the result of the comparison is that the number of days is greater than or equal to the return threshold number of days, the server 150 then sends a signal to the transport device 134 to enable the transport device 134 to transport the storage container 140 storing the goods to the lifting device 120. The server 150 then sends a signal to the lifting platform 122 to enable the lifting platform 122 to transport the storage container 140 downward to the initial position. In other words, the server 150 finds the storage container 140 that has stored goods for more than the return threshold number of days based on the arrival date of all goods recorded in the binding data D2, and controls the transport device 134 and the lifting platform 122 to transport these storage containers 140 to the initial position, so that the store staff can return the goods.

In some embodiments, when the server 150 identifies that there are two or more storage containers 140 that have stored goods that have exceeded the return threshold number of days based on the binding data D2, the server 150 will sequentially transport all storage containers 140 that have stored goods that have exceeded the return threshold number of days to the initial position by transmitting a signal to the transport device 134 and the lift 122.

In summary, the warehouse management system 100 stores goods on the storage rack 130 through the lifting device 120 to better utilize the space in the store. The warehouse management system 100 also uses the camera 126, the weighing device 124 and the scanning device 112 to better manage the storage of goods, so as to properly utilize the capacity of the storage container 140, avoid the storage container 140 from being overweight, and improve the efficiency of consumers picking up goods later. In addition, the above storage method combined with the data stored in the server 150 also improves the efficiency of consumers picking up goods and store staff returning goods.

Another embodiment of the present invention also discloses a control method for transporting a storage container. Please refer to FIG. 5, which is a flow chart of a control method 200 for transporting a storage container according to some embodiments of the present invention. The control method 200 includes steps S210, S220, S230, S240, and S250. The control method 200 can be described through the embodiments of the aforementioned FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4. In step S210, the original storage container 140 is stored in the storage compartment 132 on the storage rack 130. When the logistics operator delivers the goods to the store and the clerk wants to start storing the goods, the server 150 controls the handling device 134 and the lifting platform 122 to transport a storage container 140 from the storage rack 130 to the initial position. In step S220, the clerk uses the scanning device 112 to scan the barcode or image on the goods (e.g., goods A1 or A2 in FIG. 1 ) to generate goods data D1. After receiving the goods data D1, the server 150 creates binding data D2 according to the goods data D1. In step S230, the camera 126 captures the internal space of the storage container 140 in which the goods A1 is stored as shown in FIG. 1 , and transmits the image to the server 150 so that the server 150 determines the remaining capacity of the internal space of the storage container 140 according to the captured image. In step S240, the weighing device 124 measures the weight W of the storage container 140 storing the cargo A1 as shown in FIG. 1, and transmits it to the server 150 so that the server 150 establishes the weight data D5 according to the weight W. In step S250, the server 150 transmits a signal to the transport device 134 and the lifting platform 122 to transport the storage container 140 from the initial position to the storage rack 130 for storage.

In some embodiments, the control method 200 further includes steps S260, S270, and S280. In step S260, after the storage container 140 is stored on the storage rack 130 in step S250, the clerk scans another item with the scanning device 112 again to generate new item data D1. In step S270, the server 150 selects a storage container 140 from the storage containers 140 to store the item. In step S280, the server 150 transports the storage container 140 selected in step S270 from the storage rack 130 to the initial position by sending a signal to the transport device 134 and the lifting platform 122.

Please refer to FIG. 6, which is a flow chart of a control method 200 for storage container transportation according to some embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, step S270 further includes S271, S272 or S273. When the server 150 selects a storage container 140 again to store a new shipment in step S270, the server 150 has different selection methods. In some embodiments, the server 150 identifies the consumer of the shipment according to the shipment data D1 of the new shipment, and determines whether there is a storage container 140 storing the shipment of this consumer according to the binding data D2. If so, the server 150 selects the storage container 140 that has stored the shipment of this consumer to store the new shipment. In some embodiments, the server 150 selects the storage container 140 with the largest remaining capacity among the storage containers 140 to store the new cargo according to the capacity data D4. In some embodiments, the server 150 selects the storage container 140 with the smallest weight W among the storage containers 140 to store the new cargo according to the weight data D5.

Please refer to FIG. 7, which is a flow chart of a control method 200 for transporting a storage container according to some embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, the control method 200 further includes steps S310, S320, and S330. In step S310, the server 150 identifies the storage container 140 in which the consignee's cargo has been stored according to the consignee's data D6 and the binding data D2. In step S320, the server 150 controls the transport device 134 and the lift 122 by transmitting a signal to the transport device 134 and the lift 122 to transport the storage container 140 in which the consignee's cargo has been stored from the storage rack 130 to the initial position. In some embodiments, when the server 150 recognizes that more than two storage containers 140 have stored the consignee's goods, the server 150 controls the conveying device 134 and the lifting platform 122 by sending signals to the conveying device 134 and the lifting platform 122 to sequentially transport the storage containers 140 that have stored the consignee's goods from the storage rack 130 to the initial position.

Please refer to FIG. 8, which is a flow chart of the control method 200 for transporting storage containers according to some embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, the control method 200 further includes steps S410 and S420. In step S410, the server 150 determines the number of days between the arrival date of the goods and the current date, and compares the number of days with the return threshold days. In step S420, if the result of the comparison of the server 150 is that the number of days is greater than or equal to the return threshold days, the server 150 controls the transport device 134 and the lift 122 by sending a signal to the transport device 134 and the lift 122 to transport the storage container 140 storing the goods that have reached the return threshold days from the storage rack 130 to the initial position.

For details of the above control method 200 embodiment, please refer to the relevant paragraphs of the above-mentioned Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. It is worth noting that a person with ordinary knowledge in the relevant technical field can adjust or change the order of each step of the control method 200 in the above embodiment according to actual needs and circumstances, and it should still be considered to fall within the scope of the embodiment of this case.

In summary, the control method 200 transports the storage container 140 in a specific manner, thereby improving the store's efficiency in storing and returning goods and consumers picking up goods.

Although the present disclosure has been disclosed in the form of implementation as above, it is not intended to limit the present disclosure. Anyone with ordinary knowledge in the field can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the present disclosure shall be subject to the scope defined in the attached patent application.

100: Warehouse management system

110: Point of sale device

112: Scanning device

120: Lifting device

122: Lifting platform

124: Weighing device

126: Filming equipment

128: Control interface

130: Storage rack

132: Storage Cell

134: Transport device

136:Framework

140: Storage container

A1: Goods

A2: Goods

CEL: Ceiling

COU: Counter

FLR: Floor

PIL: Column

STO: Store space

Claims (9)

A warehouse management system includes: a storage rack, which is arranged above a store space and is used to store a plurality of storage containers; a lifting device, which is connected to the storage rack and includes a lifting platform, and the lifting platform is used to transport one of the storage containers between an initial position and the storage rack; a shooting device, which is arranged in the lifting device and is used to shoot an internal space of one of the storage containers and generate image data; a server, which is communicatively connected to the lifting platform and the shooting device, and the server includes a processor and a memory device; and a transporting device, which is communicatively connected to the server and is used to move above the storage rack to transport the storage containers, and the transporting device is different from the lifting device; wherein the The camera transmits the image data to the server, the processor determines a remaining capacity of the internal space according to the image data, and creates a capacity data according to the remaining capacity and stores it in the memory device, the capacity data recording the remaining capacity of each of the storage containers; wherein the server is further used to identify a first storage container in which a consignee's goods have been stored among the storage containers according to a consignee's data and a binding data, wherein the consignee's data includes a consignee's personal data, and after identifying the first storage container in which the consignee's goods have been stored among the storage containers, the server controls the lifting platform to transport the first storage container in which the consignee's goods have been stored from the storage rack to the initial position. The warehouse management system as described in claim 1 further comprises: a weighing device connected to the lifting platform and communicatively connected to the server, and used to measure a weight of one of the storage containers placed on the lifting platform; wherein the weighing device transmits the weight to the server, and the processor creates a weight data according to the weight and stores it in the memory device, and the weight data records the weight of each of the storage containers. The warehouse management system as described in claim 2 further comprises: a scanning device, which is communicatively connected to the server and is used to scan a barcode or image on a shipment to generate shipment data, and the shipment data includes personal data of a consumer; wherein the scanning device transmits the shipment data to the server, and the processor establishes the binding data in the memory device according to the shipment data, and the binding data records the corresponding relationship between the consumer and one of the storage containers storing the shipment. The warehouse management system as described in claim 3, wherein the lifting device further comprises a control interface, the control interface is communicatively connected to the server, and when the control interface receives a basket change instruction, the control interface transmits a basket change signal to the server, and the server transmits an ascending signal to the lifting platform so that the lifting platform lifts a second storage container among the storage containers from the initial position to the storage rack, and the server then transmits a storage signal to the transporting device so that the transporting device transports the first storage container to a first storage compartment corresponding to the second storage container. The warehouse management system as described in claim 4, wherein: the server is further used to transmit a basket-taking signal to the transporting device so that the transporting device transports a third storage container stored in a second storage compartment to the lifting device, and the server then transmits a descending signal to the lifting platform so that the lifting platform transports the third storage container downward to the initial position; the basket-taking signal is generated by the processor of the server according to the capacity data, the weight data and/or the binding data in the memory device. A method for controlling the transport of a storage container includes: transporting a first storage container from a storage rack to an initial position; scanning a barcode or an image on a first shipment to generate first shipment data, the first shipment data including personal data of a first consumer, and establishing binding data based on the first shipment data, the binding data recording the first consumer and the transporter; to the initial position; after the first storage container is transported from the storage rack to the initial position, an internal space of the first storage container storing the first cargo is photographed to determine a remaining capacity of the internal space, and a capacity data is established according to the remaining capacity, the capacity data recording the remaining capacity of each of the storage containers; After the storage container is transported from the storage rack to the initial position, a weight of the first storage container storing the first cargo is measured, and a weight data is established according to the weight, the weight data recording the weight of each of the storage containers; after photographing the internal space of the first storage container and measuring the weight of the first storage container, the first storage container is transported from the initial position to the storage rack. Rack; identify a second storage container in which a consignee's cargo has been stored among the storage containers according to a consignee's data and the binding data, wherein the consignee's data includes the personal data of the consignee; and after identifying the second storage container in which the consignee's cargo has been stored among the storage containers, transport the second storage container in which the consignee's cargo has been stored from the storage rack to the initial position. The control method as described in claim 6 further comprises: scanning a barcode or image on a second shipment to generate second shipment data, the second shipment data including personal data of a second consumer; selecting a third storage container from the storage containers; and after selecting the third storage container from the storage containers, transporting the third storage container from the storage rack to the initial position; wherein the selecting of the third storage container from the storage containers The storage container includes one of the following three: Selecting the storage container that has stored the second consumer's cargo as the third storage container according to the binding data and the second cargo data; or selecting the storage container with the largest remaining capacity among the storage containers as the third storage container according to the capacity data; or selecting the storage container with the smallest weight among the storage containers as the third storage container according to the weight data. The control method as described in claim 6 further includes: when it is identified that two or more storage containers have stored the consignee's goods, the storage containers that have stored the consignee's goods are transported from the storage rack to the initial position in sequence. The control method as described in claim 6, wherein the first shipment data further includes a purchase date, and the control method further includes: determining the number of days between the purchase date and a current date, and comparing the number of days with a return threshold number of days; and after comparing the number of days with the return threshold number of days, if the comparison result is that the number of days is greater than or equal to the return threshold number of days, transporting the first storage container storing the first shipment from the storage rack to the initial position.

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