Goods supply system

• US 20070228142A1
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Kazuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,712,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/376
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A goods supply system that retrieves parts for making up a product from goods storage locations in a supply area and supplies them to an assembly line, which comprises: a storage means that registers key information on the product and parts information including information on types and storage locations of the parts in advance; a first in-process card issuing machine that writes the key information on the product into a first in-process card; and a retrieving unit having a means that reads out the key information written in the first in-process card, collates the key information with the key information and the parts information registered in the storage means, and retrieves the parts corresponding to the key information from the goods storage locations.

Claims

1. A goods supply system that retrieves parts for making up a product from goods storage locations in a supply area and supplies them to an assembly line, comprising:

a storage means that registers key information on the product and parts information including information on types and storage locations of the parts in advance;

a first in-process card issuing machine that writes the key information on the product into a first in-process card; and

a retrieving unit having a means that reads out the key information written in the first in-process card, collates the key information with the key information and the parts information registered in the storage means, and retrieves the parts corresponding to the key information from the goods storage locations.

2. The goods supply system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second in-process card issuing machine that writes the key information and assembly line information on the product into a second in-process card;

a carrier that carries the parts retrieved from the goods storage locations to the assembly line; and

a carrier control means that reads out the key information and assembly line information written in the second in-process card, and when the key information written in the first in-process card conforms to the key information written in the second in-process card, moves the carrier to the assembly line corresponding to the assembly line information.

3. The goods supply system according to claim 2, wherein the system has at least two supply areas, wherein the first in-process card issuing machine and the retrieving unit are located in each of the supply areas, wherein the carrier control means comprises:

a means that reads out the key information and assembly line information written in the second in-process card, and moves the carrier to the supply area having the goods storage locations wherein the parts corresponding to the assembly line information are stored; and

a means that moves the carrier to the assembly line corresponding to the assembly line information, when the key information written in the first in-process card conforms to the key information written in the second in-process card.

4. The goods supply system according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is an automated guided vehicle that automatically moves along a travel course, and wherein the carrier control means moves the automated guided vehicle according to the instruction of traveling the automated guided vehicle by a start instruction means.

5. The goods supply system according to claim 1, wherein both the key information written in the first in-process card and the key information and assembly area information written in the second in-process card are rewritable.

6. A goods supply system that retrieves goods from goods storage locations in a supply area and supplies them to a carriage destination, comprising:

a storage means that registers key information on the goods and goods information including information on types and storage locations of the goods in advance;

a first in-process card issuing machine that writes the key information on the goods into a first rewritable in-process card;

a second in-process card issuing machine that writes the key information and carriage destination information on the goods into a second rewritable in-process card;

a retrieving unit having a means that reads out the key information written in the first in-process card, collates the key information with the key information and the goods information registered in the storage means, and retrieves the goods corresponding to the key information from the goods storage locations;

a carrier that carries the goods retrieved from the goods storage locations to the carriage destination; and

a carrier control means that reads out the key information and the carriage destination information written in the second in-process card, and when the key information written in the first in-process card conforms to the key information written in the second in-process card, moves the carrier to the carriage destination corresponding to the carriage destination information.