METHOD FOR OPERATING A PRODUCTION SUPERMARKET, DEVICE FOR OPERATING A PRODUCTION SUPERMARKET, TROLLEY AND SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a production supermarket (100), wherein the method comprises the following steps: receiving a first allocation (Z1) of at least one production part type and a number of production parts to at least one of a plurality of containers (C); determining a second allocation (Z2) of at least one of the plurality of containers (C) to one of a plurality of track-bound trolleys (R); receiving a locating signal (LOC) coming from a terminal (D) connected to the trolley (R); determining a position (P) of the trolley (R) of the second allocation (Z2) according to the received locating signal (LOC); and providing the first allocation (Z1), the second allocation (Z2) and the position (P).

Claims

1. A method for operating a production supermarket (100), wherein the method comprises: receiving a first allocation (Z1) of at least one production part type and a number of production parts to at least one of a plurality of containers (C); determining a second allocation (Z2) of at least one of the plurality of containers (C) to one of a plurality of floor-bound trolleys (R); receiving a locating signal (LOC) emanating from a terminal device (D) connected to the trolley (R); determining a position (P) of the trolley of the second allocation (Z2) depending on the received locating signal (LOC); and providing the first allocation (Z1), the second allocation (Z2) and the position (P).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein determining the second allocation (Z2) comprises: passing through a pairing area (110) by means of the trolley (R); determining an identifier of the trolley which is located in the pairing area (110); detecting a plurality of identifiers of the containers (C) which are disposed on the trolley (R) passing through the pairing area (110); and providing the second allocation (Z2) comprising the determined identifier of the trolley and the plurality of determined identifiers of the containers (C).

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the identifier of the trolley (R) is determined in the pairing area (110) depending on the locating signal (LOC).

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of containers (C) is equipped with a respective RFID transponder, wherein the respective identifier of the containers (C) located on the trolley is captured by means of an RFID reading device (112) in the pairing area (110).

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method comprises: determining a row (L1; L2; L3) in the production supermarket (100) depending on the position (P); and providing the first allocation (Z1), the second allocation (Z2) and the row (L1; L2; L3).

6. A device (200) for operating a production supermarket (100), wherein the device (200) comprises a processor (P-200), a memory (M-200) with computer program code (C-200), a communication module (CM-200) and an antenna (A-200), wherein the computer program code (C-200) is configured in such a way that, together with the processor (P-200), the communication module (CM-200) and the antenna (A-200), it has the effect that the device (200): receives a first allocation (Z1) of at least one production part type and a number of production parts to at least one of a plurality of containers (C); determines a second allocation (Z2) of at least one of the plurality of containers (C) to one of a plurality of floor-bound trolleys (R); receives a locating signal (LOC) emanating from a terminal device (D) connected to the trolley (R); determines a position (P) of the trolley (R) of the second allocation (Z2) depending on the received locating signal (LOC); and provides the first allocation (Z1), the second allocation (Z2) and the position (P).

7. A floor-bound trolley (R) for a production supermarket (100), wherein the trolley (R) comprises: a plurality of non-driven wheels; an accommodation section for accommodating containers (C); a wireless terminal device (D) which comprises at least one communication module (CM-D) and at least one antenna (A-D), and which is configured: to transmit a locating signal (LOC) for determining a position (P) of the trolley (R).

8. A system comprising: a device (200) for operating a production supermarket (100), wherein the device (200) comprises a processor (P-200), a memory (M-200) with computer program code (C-200), a communication module (CM-200) and an antenna (A-200), wherein the computer program code (C-200) is configured in such a way that, together with the processor (P-200), the communication module (CM-200) and the antenna (A-200), it has the effect that the device (200): receives a first allocation (Z1) of at least one production part type and a number of production parts to at least one of a plurality of containers (C); determines a second allocation (Z2) of at least one of the plurality of containers (C) to one of a plurality of floor-bound trolleys (R); receives a locating signal (LOC) emanating from a terminal device (D) connected to the trolley (R); determines a position (P) of the trolley (R) of the second allocation (Z2) depending on the received locating signal (LOC); and provides the first allocation (Z1), the second allocation (Z2) and the position (P), and wherein each of the plurality of trolleys (R) comprises: a plurality of non-driven wheels; an accommodation section for accommodating containers (C); a wireless terminal device (D) which comprises at least one communication module (CM-D) and at least one antenna (A-D), and which is configured: to transmit a locating signal (LOC) for determining a position (P) of the trolley (R).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In the drawing:

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a production supermarket in schematic form; and

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sequence diagram.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a production supermarket 100 in schematic form. A system for operating the production supermarket of a plant comprises a plurality of floor-bound, preferably non-driven, trolleys R11-R32 and a device 200.

[0022] The device 200 for operating the production supermarket 100 comprises at least one processor P-200, at least one memory M-200 with computer program code C-200, at least one communication module CM-200 and at least one antenna A-200. The computer program code C-200 is configured in such a way that, together with the at least one processor P-200, the at least one communication module CM-200 and the least one antenna A-200, it carries out the methods described in this description.

[0023] Containers C11a-C32b are supplied from a different plant W or a pre-assembly or preproduction, and first allocations Z1 are also provided. One of these first allocations Z1 comprises at least one production part type and/or a number of production parts to at least one of the containers C which are supplied or are to be supplied. The first allocation Z1 is received by the device 200.

[0024] Alternatively, the first allocation Z1 can also be captured manually, wherein a supplementary sheet having a QR code, barcode, etc., is enclosed with the respective stocked container C. The first allocation Z1 is provided by scanning the supplementary sheet and by capturing an identifier of the container C, and is received by the device 200.

[0025] The production supermarket 100 comprises, for example, rows L1 to L3 in which the trolleys R are arranged with the containers C disposed thereon.

[0026] A second allocation Z2 of at least one of the plurality of containers C to one of a plurality of floor-bound trolleys R is determined in a pairing area 110. An RFID gateway 114 defines, for example, this pairing area 110.

[0027] The determination of the second allocation Z2 therefore comprises, for example, a manual passing through the pairing area 110, in particular the RFID gateway 114, by means of the trolley R. An identifier of the trolley R which is located in the pairing area 110 is determined. A plurality of identifiers of the containers C which are arranged on the trolley R passing through the RFID gateway 114 according to an arrow 116 are determined. The second allocation Z2 comprises the determined identifier of the trolley and the plurality of determined identifiers of the containers C.

[0028] The identifier of the trolley R is determined in the pairing area 110 depending on a locating signal LOC. Alternatively or additionally, a respective RFID transponder T11 to T32 which is read in the area of the RFID gateway 114 and serves to determine the second allocation Z2 is arranged on the trolley.

[0029] Each of the plurality of containers C is equipped with a respective RFID transponder T. The containers C11a, C11b, C11c located on the trolley R11 are equipped, for example, with a respective RFID transponder T11a, T11b, T11c. The respective RFID transponder T is, for example, glued onto the associated container C or is disposed invisibly in a material of the container C. The capture of the respective identifier of the container C located on the trolley R is therefore determined by means of an RFID reading device 112 in the pairing area 110. The reading device 112 transmits the identifiers ID_C of the containers C in the pairing area 110 to the device 200.

[0030] The locating signals LOC11 to LOC32 are transmitted by terminal devices D11 to D32 which are connected to the trolley R11 to R32 and are received by the device 200. In the simplest case, the locating signal LOC can comprise a signal comprising an identifier of the trolley R11 to R32. The locating signal LOC is received, for example, by at least three antennas of the device 200 which are spaced apart from one another, wherein a position P11 to P32 of the respective trolley R11 to R32 is determined by means of a triangulation. The position P of the trolley R of the second allocation Z2 is then determined depending on the received locating signal LOC. Other locating methods are obviously also applicable.

[0031] A respective terminal device of the terminal devices D11 to D32 comprises at least one processor P-D, at least one memory M-D with computer program code C-D, at least one communication module CM-D and at least one antenna A-D. The computer program code C-D is configured in such a way that, together with the at least one processor P-D, the at least one communication module CM-D and the at least one antenna A-D, it carries out the methods described in this description. The respective terminal device D communicates, for example according to the 5G standard, with the device 200.

[0032] A respective terminal device of the terminal devices D11 to D32 comprises an accumulator (not shown). In a form not shown, the tracks of the supermarket comprise charging rails for charging the accumulator. On travelling over or parking on one of the charging rails, the respective accumulators of the terminal devices D11 to D32 are preferably inductively charged.

[0033] The first allocation Z1, the second allocation Z2 and the position P are provided by the device 200, for example to a production control system 300.

[0034] The respective floor-bound trolley R for a production supermarket 100 comprises a plurality of non-driven wheels, an accommodation section for accommodating the containers C, and the wireless terminal device D which comprises at least one communication module CM-D and at least one antenna A-D, and which is designed to transmit the locating signal LOC for determining the position P of the trolley R.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sequence diagram. The different plant W or an external supplier manufactures the production parts in a step 502, wherein the production parts are packed into the containers C from FIG. 1. In a step 504, the plurality of containers are supplied and are fed to the pairing area 114 before being checked into the production supermarket. The first allocation Z1 of the at least one production part type and the number of production parts to one of a plurality of containers is further received by the device 200.

[0036] In a step 506, the determination of the second allocation Z2 of at least one of the plurality of containers to one of the plurality of floor-bound trolleys begins in the pairing area 114. The locating signal LOC emanating from the terminal device of the trolley is thus transmitted to the device 200 which, depending thereon, determines the identifier of the trolley and its position in the pairing area 115 in a step 508. The identifiers of the containers in the pairing area 114 are further transmitted to the device 200. The received identifiers of the containers and the identifier of the trolley are linked in a step 510 to the second allocation Z2. The first allocation Z1, the second allocation Z2 and the position P are provided in a step 512.

[0037] Alternatively or additionally, the pairing can take place in a production line. In one example, the trolleys R11-R32 stand in a queue in a production line. An automatic introduction of empty trolleys D forms the queue. The production line knows how many parts of a specific type are packed into a respective container. The respective container C is allocated to the respective trolley R by means of the position P which is provided by the respective terminal device D, and at which the respective trolley R is loaded.