WO2020182699A1

WO2020182699A1 - Storage and retrieval unit for loading stackable goods, and logistics system having such a storage and retrieval unit

Info

Publication number: WO2020182699A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/056133
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heinz Buse
Original assignee: Heinz Buse
Priority date: 2019-03-08
Filing date: 2020-03-09
Publication date: 2020-09-17
Also published as: DE102019106033A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage and retrieval unit (1) for loading stackable goods in a logistics system, having • - a goods platform (4), which is adapted to receive a stack of goods (16) or a plurality of stacks of goods (16) arranged in a row along a longitudinal axis A of the goods platform (4); • - a loading unit (8), which is designed to move the stackable goods relative to and along the longitudinal axis A of the goods platform (4); • - a lifting device (6) for adjusting the height of the goods platform (4) in the storage and retrieval unit (1); and • - a holding device (10) having holding means (12) that are arranged above the goods platform (4) and are designed to hold at least one or more part-stacks (16) in a height position on the storage and retrieval unit (1), wherein the goods platform (4) is able to be moved beneath the held part-stack(s) (20).

Description

Storage and retrieval unit for loading stackable goods and a logistics system with such a storage and retrieval unit

The present invention relates to a storage and retrieval unit for loading stackable goods in a logistics system, in particular for the rapid loading of goods between a shelf storage area of the logistics system and a loading area of a vehicle, the storage and retrieval unit having a goods platform that is used to accommodate a stack of goods or several along is adapted to a longitudinal axis of the goods platform lined up stacks of goods. The invention also relates to a logistics system for loading stacks of goods between a warehouse and a loading area of a vehicle, as well as a method for transferring goods to a warehouse and a method for transferring goods to a loading area of a vehicle.

Storage and retrieval machines, also referred to as transfer stations, as well as logistics systems equipped with them for reloading and loading goods are used in logistics centers to temporarily store delivered goods, to reassemble them according to their further destination and / or with regard to the goods to be sent in a consignment and for removal again onto vehicles such as trucks or trains. For this purpose, known logistics systems typically have a warehouse with shelves with a large number of shelf compartments in which one or more storage and retrieval units are provided depending on the size of the warehouse. The storage and retrieval units are The known storage and retrieval units usually have a movable frame structure with a goods platform that is movable relative to the frame structure. The goods platform has a receiving surface which does not necessarily have to be closed in the plane, but can also be made up of a large number of separate support areas. The goods platform is set up to receive one or more stacks of goods along a longitudinal axis of the goods platform. In particular, the storage and retrieval unit can be moved transversely to the longitudinal axis of its goods platform in front of the shelf, for example on rails. Such a storage and retrieval unit is known, for example, from WO 93/18992.

Existing fire protection regulations provide for certain classes of goods, for example, that a maximum permitted concentration of goods per floor space / storage volume in the individual shelves of a warehouse may not be exceeded. So far it has been possible to use the storage and retrieval unit to take over the entire stacks of goods from the loading area of the vehicle for a consignment delivered in stacks of goods, but these stacks cannot be stored immediately because they would exceed the permissible concentration of goods. Therefore, the goods must be rearranged until new stacks are formed, the total height of which conforms to the permissible concentration of goods in a respective shelf before those new stacks can be transferred to the individual shelves.

The re-sorting or compilation of new consignments is labor-intensive and time-consuming. There was definitely room for improvement in this regard. Accordingly, against this background, the invention was based on the object of specifying a storage and retrieval unit, a logistics system and a method for loading goods with which the disadvantages described above can be avoided as far as possible. In particular, the task was to enable more efficient reloading. The invention solves the problem on which it is based in a storage and retrieval unit for loading stackable goods in a logistics system with the features according to claim 1. In particular, the storage and retrieval unit has a loading unit which is set up to move the stackable goods relative to and along the longitudinal axis of the goods. To move the platform, as well as a lifting device for adjusting the height of the goods platform in the storage and retrieval unit, and a holding device with holding means, which are arranged above the goods platform and are set up to at least temporarily one (or more) partial stacks in a height position on the storage and retrieval unit to be held in such a way that the goods platform can be moved below the partial stack or stacks that are held.

According to the invention, the approach is pursued here that by means of the holding device with its holding means, a vertical subdivision of the or stack of goods can be carried out directly on the goods platform. For this purpose, partial stacks are formed by extending the holding means and engaging the holding means on the respective stack of goods, and the respective upper partial stack is held in a height position on the storage and retrieval unit. The goods platform with the remaining partial stack can then be transferred directly to an empty shelf in the warehouse. In this way, any desired stack height can be approached by height movement of the receptacle relative to the holding means. It is therefore possible to form partial stacks of a desired height without having to control a separate picking station or the like.

A loading device is preferably used to transfer the height-adapted partial stack on the goods platform, by means of which the partial stack or stacks are moved in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the goods platform. The longitudinal axis of the goods platform is aligned in particular parallel to the depth direction of the shelf compartment of the goods store that receives the stackable goods.

After the “first” partial stack has been transferred, the goods platform can be approached by means of the lifting device as far as the underside of the partial stack or stacks of goods held or held by the holding device. The holding device can then be released and the partial stacks held by it up to then are released to the goods platform so that they can be transferred to another shelf compartment.

In the present case, a goods platform is preferably understood to mean both a goods receptacle with a receiving surface closed in the plane and a receiving structure which comprises two or more separate support areas for the stacks of goods to be loaded. Both the lifting device for adjusting the height of the goods platform and the loading unit for moving the stackable goods along the longitudinal axis of the goods platform each have drive means for moving the goods platform relative to one another. According to a preferred development, the plurality of holding means can be moved back and forth between a holding position and a release position, the holding means in the holding position being in engagement or engagement with at least the partial stack or stacks arranged above the holding means, and in the release position out of contact with the There are stacks of goods or partial stacks so that they can be moved between the holding means along in the vertical direction.

The holding means are preferably designed to slide between two adjacent layers of goods and to bring them out of engagement and / or out of contact with one another in the holding position so that only the partial stacks of the stack of goods that are arranged above the holding means are held. For this purpose, the holding means can engage in corresponding recesses in the goods, if present, or, in the simpler case, reach under the goods so that the goods or the partial stacks consisting of them then rest on the holding means above the holding means. This achieves a targeted subdivision of the stack or stacks of goods arranged on the goods platform.

Depending on the permissible total height within a respective shelf compartment, the goods platform is set up to approach a predetermined height to the holding device with its holding means.

Preferably, the holding device has a plurality of sets of holding means on levels of the storage and retrieval device that are spaced apart from one another in terms of height, in order to be able to temporarily hold more than one partial stack on top of one another. Furthermore, by providing sets of holding means on different levels of the storage and retrieval unit and the associated possibility of holding on different levels, the height of the travel paths to be undertaken by the goods platform can be reduced. The holding means are preferably arranged vertically one above the other on the different levels of the storage and retrieval unit, so that the holding means can be brought into engagement or attack in particular at the same points of a stack of goods.

A further preferred embodiment of the storage and retrieval unit according to the invention proposes that the holding means can be extended in the holding position under one of the stack layers in the travel path of the stack or stacks of goods and, in the extended state, form a kind of support for the partial stack arranged above the holding means. The Design of the holding means as a support offers a structurally simple possibility for bringing into engagement with the partial stacks of the stackable goods to be reloaded to be held on the goods platform. In order to enable the intervening between stacked layers of a stack of goods, goods carriers, such as goods pallets or frames, are arranged at predetermined heights in which the holding means can engage via recesses provided on the goods carriers.

In a preferred embodiment, the holding means are additionally or alternatively designed as clamping elements for clamping or gripping the partial stack or stacks to be held on the storage and retrieval unit.

According to a preferred development of the storage and retrieval unit according to the invention, the loading unit has several runners for grasping and moving the stacks of goods, the runners being movable in the longitudinal direction of the goods platform on and outside the goods platform. With the aid of the runners, for example, the goods carriers of the stacks of goods, which are designed as pallets, can preferably be passed lengthwise by the runners.

By means of the runners, all of the goods or partial stacks that the runners pass under can be transferred in one operation either from the goods platform to a loading area of a vehicle or to a shelf, or from the loading area of the vehicle or from the shelf to the goods. Platform. The runners are preferably movable, in particular displaceable, parallel in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the goods platform. The vehicles to be loaded and unloaded by means of the storage and retrieval unit are, according to the invention, road vehicles such as trucks, and, alternatively or additionally, wagons of a train. In one embodiment of the invention, the runners are equipped with their own drive for their movement inside and outside the goods platform.

Preferably, the runners each have a number of rollers that can be moved back and forth on the underside of the runners between a retracted load-free position and an extended load-bearing position. With the help of the rollers on the underside of the runners, the resistance when moving the runners on the receiving surface of a shelf or the loading area of a vehicle is reduced so that it can be moved of the runners, only a reduced drive power of the drive means moving the runners is necessary.

When the rollers are brought into their load-bearing position, the runners are simultaneously moved relative to one or more stacks of goods arranged above them. In particular, the runners are raised and brought into contact with the underside of a stack of goods, preferably with a goods carrier of the stack of goods. With the transfer of the rollers into the load-bearing position, the stacks of goods located either on the loading area of the goods platform or on the receiving area of the shelf compartment are raised, which enables the stacks of goods to be moved. Each runner preferably has a chassis which is adjustable in the vertical direction and on which the rollers are rotatably mounted.

The loading unit preferably has a pushing unit which can be moved in the longitudinal direction on the goods platform and has a coupling element for mechanical coupling to the movable runners. The pushing unit is preferably set up to move the runners in the longitudinal direction, that is to say parallel to the longitudinal axis A, of the goods platform. For this purpose, the pushing unit is equipped with a coupling device which is coupled to the runners on the goods platform by means of one or more coupling elements, i.e. it forms a mechanical connection.

The thrust unit preferably has an adjusting device which is set up to move the runners or, if present, their rollers, in particular the undercarriage that rotates the rollers, from the load-free position to the extended load-bearing position on the underside of the runner and in the opposite direction . The actuating device on the thrust unit according to the invention preferably interacts with each of the actuators arranged on the movable runners for extending and retracting the rollers.

According to a preferred embodiment, the runners on the operating device according to the invention have opposite end sections, on each of which a coupling means is provided that corresponds to the coupling element on the pushing unit. The coupling means at each end section of the runners is adapted to be mechanically brought into engagement with the coupling member so that the drive movement generated by the pushing unit is reliably transmitted to the runners movably received on the goods platform. The coupling element on the thrust unit and the coupling means on the runners preferably have connecting elements which can be brought into engagement with one another in a form-fitting manner. The coupling of the pushing unit with a corresponding end section of the runners is necessary in order to enable a corresponding movement of the preferably non-powered runners outside the goods platform. In particular, when the runners are moved onto a loading area of a vehicle or a receiving area of a shelf compartment, the pushing unit is previously positioned on the opposite end of the goods platform and coupled to the respectively assigned end section of the runners. In the present case, an end face of the goods platform is to be understood as the side area of the goods platform which runs transversely to the longitudinal axis A of the goods platform.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the storage and retrieval unit according to the invention, the loading unit has, in addition or as an alternative to the runners, at least one circulating conveyor arranged on the goods platform for moving the stacks of goods along the longitudinal axis A. With the aid of the circulating conveyor (s) on the goods platform, the respective stack of goods above the platform can be easily moved and aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the goods platform.

If necessary, the circulating conveyors arranged on the goods platform can also be used to transfer partial stacks and stacks of goods from the goods platform to a loading area of a vehicle or the receiving area of a shelf in the warehouse. Preferably, the circulating conveyor on the goods receptacle has two conveying means which are arranged at a distance from one another on the goods platform and which each preferably run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the goods platform. The conveying means, for example designed as a conveyor chain or conveyor belt, are preferably evenly spaced apart and arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the goods platform. A preferred development provides that several circulating conveyors connected in series are arranged on the goods platform. With the help of several circulating conveyors arranged one behind the other on the goods platform, it is possible to arrange several stacks of goods or partial stacks in a precise position in the longitudinal direction relative to one another on the goods platform. In particular, when putting together several stacks of goods arranged next to one another on the goods platform, which are composed of partial stacks of the same or different goods, a goods layer of several partial stacks arranged in a row behind or next to one another on the goods platform can be exactly below one previously aligned on the goods platform are positioned from partial stacks of goods. As a result, the partial stacks located on the goods platform can be precisely positioned locally and combined with the partial stacks temporarily held above you to form a goods stack. One or more sensors are preferably assigned to the goods platform, which are set up to measure the height of the goods platform on the shelf unit, the position of the loading unit on the goods platform and / or the alignment of the goods platform relative to a parking space for to detect a loading area of a vehicle and to a shelf of a warehouse. The sensors can be part of a detection device. The sensors or the detection device are preferably set up to perform additional functions, such as position detection of the stacks of goods on the goods platform, in addition to the basic detection of the position of the goods platform in relation to the environment. The sensors of the detection device preferably interact with predetermined reference geometries provided on the storage and retrieval unit according to the invention.

The goods platform of the stacker crane according to the invention is preferably assigned a positioning device with at least one actuator, the positioning device being set up to align the goods platform in alignment with the parking space of the vehicle or with the vehicle itself on the one hand, and in alignment with the shelf compartment of the warehouse on the other is. As a result, the stacks of goods taken over from a loading area of a vehicle and, if necessary, goods divided into partial stacks can be transferred even more quickly to the warehouse accessible by the storage and retrieval unit, because the time required for any reparking of the vehicle etc. can be reduced. In order to be able to move to a large number of different shelves, the entire storage and retrieval unit can be moved together with the goods platform transversely to the longitudinal axis of the goods platform, for example on rails along the shelf storage. The storage and retrieval unit preferably has a support structure that accommodates the goods platform, similar to a frame, which is guided along the shelf storage by means of rails, for example.

The goods platform preferably has guide means for laterally aligning the stack or stacks of goods with the longitudinal axis A of the goods platform. The guide means, such as guide rollers, which in a row parallel to the longitudinal axis of the goods Run platform are preferably set up to support a central alignment of the goods or partial stacks to the longitudinal axis. Furthermore, the guide means are preferably set up to block a rotation of the goods or partial stacks when moving the goods or partial stack along the longitudinal axis of the goods platform. Partial stacks positioned one behind the other or one after the other on the goods platform can thus be arranged at an exact angle so that they can then be brought together with the partial stacks held above the goods platform. Alternatively, guide rails running parallel to the long sides of the goods platform are provided as guide means. The invention has been described above with reference to the storage and retrieval unit. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a logistics system for loading stacks of goods between a warehouse and a loading area of a vehicle, with at least one shelf compartment in a warehouse, which is set up to receive and provide a stack of goods or several stacks of goods lined up in a longitudinal direction and a parking space for the loading area of the vehicle.

The invention also solves the problem on which the system is based in that the logistics system provides a storage and retrieval unit according to one of the preferred embodiments described above as an interface between the warehouse and the parking space for the vehicle. The invention is based on the knowledge that such a storage and retrieval unit according to the invention can be used to load the goods delivered by a vehicle into a warehouse of the logistics system according to the invention in a simplified manner. In particular, the design of a separate order-picking station, where incoming goods shipments would have to be separated or outgoing goods shipments would have to be assembled, is avoided. With the storage and retrieval unit according to the invention, the automated sequence within the logistics system according to the invention is further improved. The dividing up of incoming goods shipments and the compilation of outgoing goods shipments can now take place by means of the storage and retrieval system which directly serves the shelf storage as well as the loading area of a vehicle.

The advantages and preferred embodiments of the storage and retrieval unit are at the same time advantages and preferred embodiments of the system and vice versa. The storage and retrieval unit of the logistics system preferably has an electronic control unit which is set up to control the storage and retrieval unit. Each movement of the goods platform, the pusher unit, the skids that can be coupled to the pusher unit, the circulating conveyor and the holding device is preferably coordinated with one another by means of the control unit in order to put the stacks of goods to be loaded precisely at the corresponding positions and / or to hold them in height.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for transferring goods to a warehouse, in particular using a storage and retrieval device according to one of the preferred embodiments described above, comprising the steps:

Providing a stack of goods or a plurality of stacks of goods lined up in a longitudinal direction on a goods platform of a storage and retrieval unit;

- Holding at least one partial stack in a height position on the storage and retrieval unit, so that at least one remaining partial stack remains on the goods platform;

- Moving the goods platform with the rest of the sub-stack below the restrained

Partial stack in a position approximated to a shelf of the warehouse and

- Transferring the rest of the partial stack from the goods platform to the shelf;

- Approaching the held partial stack by the goods platform on its underside and then releasing the partial stack, and moving the goods platform with the released partial stack into a position approximated to another shelf of the goods store, and

- Transfer of the partial stack from the goods platform to the other shelf compartment.

The advantages and preferred embodiments of the storage and retrieval unit and the system are at the same time advantages and preferred embodiments of the method and vice versa.

The invention pursues the inventive approach of enabling simplified loading of goods into a warehouse using the present method steps.

Preferably, after one or more stacks of goods have been provided on the goods platform, the entire platform is moved into a position approximating the upper end of the storage and retrieval unit, in which position at least a partial stack of the stack or stacks of goods is held on the storage and retrieval unit. At least one or more remaining partial stacks remain on the goods platform, which then moves at least by moving the goods platform, which is movable further below the fixed partial stack (s), into a position near the shelf compartment to be filled and the remainder -Part stacks are then transferred to the rack compartment that has been approached.

When transferring, the partial stack or stacks are transferred parallel to the longitudinal axis of the goods platform via its end face into the shelf compartment, the depth of the shelf compartment preferably corresponding to the length of the stack of goods arranged in a row. After the remainder of the partial stack has been transferred, the partial stack held in the height position on the storage and retrieval unit is approached by the goods platform from below until the goods platform is in contact with the held partial stacks. The partial stacks are then released and the goods platform with the released partial stacks then moves to the next shelf compartment, to which the partial stack is transferred by moving the partial stack along the longitudinal axis A of the goods platform.

According to a preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention comprises one, several or all of the steps listed below:

- Transfer of one or more stacks of goods lined up in a longitudinal direction from a loading area of a vehicle to a goods platform of a storage and retrieval unit, preferably by moving a loading unit onto the loading area of the vehicle and picking up the stack or stacks of goods by means of the loading unit and moving with the stack or stacks of goods loaded loading unit back to the goods platform;

- Moving the stack or stacks of goods or the partial stack along a longitudinal axis A of the goods platform by means of one that is movable at least on the goods platform

Loading unit, preferably by moving the stack or stacks of goods by means of extendable runners or circulating conveyors;

- Holding the or the entire stack of goods in a height position on the storage and retrieval unit, lowering the goods platform and transferring a push unit of the loading unit from one end section of the goods platform to the opposite one End section, preferably by moving the pusher unit below the stacks of goods held in place;

- Transfer of at least the partial stack or stacks into the shelf compartment by means of a loading unit, preferably by moving the stack or stacks of goods by means of extendable runners or circulating conveyors;

- Aligning the longitudinal axis A of the goods platform to the longitudinal axis of the loading area of the vehicle and to the longitudinal axis of the shelves of the warehouse, and

- Movement of the storage and retrieval device essentially transversely to the longitudinal axis A of the goods platform above a set-up area of the storage and retrieval device and the goods platform in the vertical direction of the storage and retrieval device for approaching a shelf of the warehouse.

In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a method for transferring goods to a loading area of a vehicle, in particular using a storage and retrieval device according to one of the preferred embodiments described above, with the steps:

- Approaching one or more shelves by means of a goods platform of a storage and retrieval device and transferring one or more partial stacks lined up in a longitudinal direction from the one or more shelves of the warehouse to the goods platform; - Moving the goods platform equipped with at least one partial stack to a predetermined height position on the storage and retrieval unit; Holding the partial stack or stacks received on the goods platform in the height position on the storage and retrieval unit;

- Renewed approach of one or more shelves by means of the goods platform and transferring a further or more further partial stacks lined up in a longitudinal direction from the one or more shelves of the warehouse to the goods platform;

- Moving the goods platform equipped with at least one further sub-stack under the sub-stack or sub-stacks previously held in the predetermined height position and - Merging the partial stacks into one or more stacks of goods and releasing the fixed partial stack (s), and approaching the goods platform with the stocked goods stack or stacks in a position approximating the loading area of the vehicle and transferring the stack or stacking goods to the loading area of the vehicle.

With the help of the present method steps, the approach according to the invention is pursued here to be able to individually assemble the same but also different goods provided in a shelf storage on the storage and retrieval unit in such a way that these correspondingly fully picked stacks of goods with goods from the same or different shelves are loaded directly onto the loading area of a vehicle can be.

Goods are preferably removed from the corresponding shelves and arranged one behind the other on the goods platform as a layer of goods and then held in the height position on the storage and retrieval unit. Then another goods layer is put together on the goods platform from goods that can be different from the goods that were positioned in the previous goods layer on the goods platform and are now held above the goods platform. This further layer of goods is brought together, preferably after this partial stack has been aligned on the goods platform, with those goods or partial stacks held above to form a goods stack on the goods platform. This makes it possible to create individually compiled stacks of goods fully automatically.

- Transfer of the stack or stacks of goods from the shelf or shelves to the goods platform by means of a loading unit, preferably by moving the loading unit into the shelf compartment and picking up the stack or stacks of goods by means of the loading unit and moving the loading unit equipped with the stack or stacks of goods back onto the Goods platform;

- Positioning of the partial stack (s) on the goods platform along its longitudinal axis A, preferably by means of one or more circulating conveyors arranged on the goods platform; - Holding the or the entire stack of goods in a height position on the storage and retrieval unit, lowering the goods platform and transferring a pushing unit of the loading unit from one end section of the goods platform to the opposite end section, preferably by moving the pushing unit below the stacks of goods held;

- Transfer of the stack or stacks of goods on the loading area of the vehicle by means of a loading unit, preferably by moving the stack or stacks of goods by means of extendable runners or circulating conveyors;

- Movement of the storage and retrieval device essentially transversely to the longitudinal axis A of the goods platform above a set-up area of the storage and retrieval device and the goods platform in the vertical direction of the storage and retrieval device for approaching a shelf of the warehouse. The transfer of the partial stack (s) from at least one shelf to the goods platform and the transfer of the stack or stacks of goods to the loading area of the vehicle by means of a loading unit preferably includes the method of at least one runner inside and outside the goods platform, the lifting of at least a goods or partial stack and moving the raised goods or partial stack by means of the skid onto the goods platform or from the goods platform down.

The positioning of the partial stack (s) is preferably carried out by means of several circulating conveyors arranged one behind the other on the goods platform, each of which has a length that essentially corresponds to the dimensions of a goods or partial stack to be positioned in the direction of the longitudinal axis A of the goods platform.

The alignment of the longitudinal axis A of the goods platform to the longitudinal axis of the loading area of the vehicle and to the longitudinal axis of the respective shelves of the warehouse is preferably done by moving the goods platform in a substantially parallel to the receiving surface of the goods platform, especially in the transverse direction to the longitudinal axis of the goods Platform, wherein the goods platform is preferably moved relative to the support structure receiving the goods platform. The goods platform can preferably be pivoted around a pivot point and thus the longitudinal axis of the goods platform can be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shelf compartment or the loading area.

The invention is described in more detail below using a preferred exemplary embodiment with reference to the following figures. Here show:

1: a schematic, perspective illustration of a

Logistics system with a storage and retrieval unit according to the invention according to one possible embodiment;

Fig. 2-12: simplified representations of a method for transferring

Goods to a warehouse using a stacker crane according to the invention, and

13-18: schematic representations of a method for transferring

Goods on a loading area of a vehicle using the storage and retrieval unit according to the invention. 1 shows a logistics system 100 which has a warehouse 101, such as a shelf storage facility, schematically represented by the shelves 102, 103. Furthermore, the logistics system 100 comprises one or more parking spaces 104 for a vehicle 105, such as for one Semitrailer of a truck with goods arranged on the loading area. A storage and retrieval unit 1 is arranged adjacent to the warehouse 101 and the parking space 104. The storage and retrieval unit 1 is set up to transfer both goods from the warehouse 101 via the rear opening of the vehicle 105 onto its loading area 106 and goods from the loading area 106 into the goods warehouse 101. In a variant not shown, but also according to the invention, the parking space 104 is set up to accommodate a rail-bound vehicle, in particular a wagon of a train (for its loading and unloading).

In the possible embodiment shown here, the storage and retrieval unit 1 can be moved in the transverse direction (arrow 108) via rails 107. The storage and retrieval unit comprises a support structure 2 and a goods platform 4 for receiving the goods to be loaded accordingly. The goods platform 4 comprises a longitudinal axis A along which the goods can be lined up in the form of several stacks of goods 16 (Fig. 3). The platform 4 is adjustable by means of a lifting device 6 in the vertical direction (arrow 109), ie in the height direction of the storage and retrieval unit 1. The storage and retrieval unit also includes a loading unit 8 which is set up to move the stackable goods relative to and along the longitudinal axis A of the goods platform 4. Furthermore, the storage and retrieval unit 1 has a holding device 10 with holding means 12. The holding means are arranged above the goods platform 4 and are set up to hold at least some of the goods located on the goods platform 4 in a height position on the storage and retrieval unit 1. As a result, the empty goods platform 4 or together with a part of the goods remaining on the goods platform 4 can be moved below the part of the goods that is held.

A method for transferring goods to a warehouse using the storage and retrieval device 1 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 is described in FIGS. In the following, in addition to the method according to the invention, the further structural design of the storage and retrieval unit 1 is to be illustrated using the method steps that run one after the other.

The loading unit 8 for moving the goods on the goods platform 4 has, in the embodiment shown, several runners 14 (FIG. 1) for grasping and moving the goods, which are movable on the goods platform and outside the goods platform 4 . In particular, the runners 14 are moved parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the goods platform 4, wherein the runners can be moved over both end faces of the goods platform 4. As FIG. 2 shows, the goods platform 4 is aligned with the height of the loading area 106 of the vehicle 105 to be unloaded so that the runners slide over the loading area of the vehicle and are moved under the goods located on the loading area. The runners 14 each have a number of rollers, not shown in detail, on their underside. The rollers can be moved back and forth between a retracted load-free position and a load-receiving position extended on the underside of the runners. The rollers protrude from the underside of the runners 14 both in their load-free position and in the extended load-bearing position. In the extended load-carrying position, however, the rollers are extended so far on the underside of the runners that the goods located on the loading surface 106 (FIG. 3) of the vehicle 105 are raised by means of the runners 14. After the goods or stacks of goods 16 have been lifted on the loading surface 106, they are moved onto the goods platform 4 by means of the runners 14 of the loading unit 8, as can be seen from FIG. 3. The runners 14 are preferably moved back into their starting position on the goods platform 4. After the runners 14 have moved back, the rollers are also moved from their extended load-bearing position into their load-free position. The goods or stacks of goods 16 are thereby deposited on corresponding support areas of the goods platform 4.

As FIG. 4 illustrates, the goods platform is then moved by means of the lifting device 6 in the vertical direction 109 into a height position in which the stack of goods 16 is assigned to the holding device 10 with its holding elements 12. By means of the holding means 12, the entire stacks of goods 16 are held on the goods platform 4 in the height position on the storage and retrieval unit 1.

After, as FIG. 4 shows, the stacks of goods 16 are held in the height position by engaging or engaging the holding means 12 with the stacks of goods 16, the goods platform 4 is lowered without the stacks of goods 16 by means of the lifting device 6. In the lowered position of the goods platform, a push unit 18 of the loading unit 8 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 4, which is approximated to the goods storage 101, into a position approximating to the loading surface 106 of the vehicle 105. The goods platform 4 with the pushing unit 18 at the opposite end is then moved back under the stacks of goods 16 that have been held, so that the stacks of goods 16 stand up on the goods platform 4. The holding means 12 are then transferred into their release position. The stacks of goods 16, together with the goods platform 4, can then be moved again between the holding means 12 in the height direction of the storage and retrieval unit 1. 6 shows that the goods platform 4 with the stacks of goods 16 are now moved in the vertical direction 109 such that a partial stack 20 is arranged above the holding means 12 and a remaining partial stack 20 ′ is arranged below the holding means 12. The holding means 12 are then transferred back into their holding position, the holding means 12 in the embodiment shown being extended in their holding position under one of the stack layers of the stacks of goods 16 in its travel path. The extended holding means 12 subdivide the stacks of goods 16 into a fixed sub-stack 20 and a remaining sub-stack 20 ′, the holding means 12 forming a type of support for the sub-stacks 20 arranged above and simultaneously held. As can be seen from the figures, the holding device 10 has a plurality of holding means on different levels of the Stacker crane. As a result, the stacks of goods 16 or partial stacks 20 can be held in different height positions on the storage and retrieval unit. Instead of forming a type of support, the holding means can also be designed as clamping elements for gripping at least one or at least several partial stacks. 7 shows how the goods platform 4 with the remaining partial stacks 20 'remaining on it is brought up to the level of the shelf compartment 102 of the goods store relative to the fixed partial stacks 20. Then, see FIG. 8, the remaining partial stacks 20 ′ on the goods platform 4 are transferred to the shelf compartment 102 by means of the runners 14 and the pushing unit 18 which moves the runners and which are part of the loading unit 8. For this purpose, the remaining partial stacks 20 'are raised by means of the runners 14 on the goods platform 4, moved into the shelf compartment 102 and lowered again in the shelf compartment 102 and placed there on its receiving surface. Subsequently, the runners 14, as shown in FIG. 9, are moved back onto the goods platform 4 by means of the pushing unit 18. The goods platform 4 is then moved by means of the lifting device 6 in the vertical direction 109 to the underside of the fixed partial stacks 20, in such a way that they are in contact with the goods platform 4. The holding means 12 are then transferred from their holding position to their release position, so that the height position of the partial stacks 20 with the goods platform 4 can be changed. In addition to the runners 14 and the pushing unit 18, the loading unit 8 comprises at least one circulating conveyor 22, for example in the form of a chain conveyor, arranged on the goods platform for moving the stacks of goods along the longitudinal axis A of the goods platform 4 (FIG. 1). The position of the partial stacks 20 along the longitudinal axis A of the goods platform 4 can thus be adapted or changed. The partial stacks 20 released by the holding device 10 are, as can also be seen from FIG. 10, moved by means of the lifting device 6 adjusting the goods platform 4 into a position approaching the shelf compartment 103. As soon as the goods platform 4 is aligned at least in its height with the receiving surface of the shelf compartment 103, the partial stacks 20 are transferred to the shelf compartment 103 by means of the runners 14 movable along the longitudinal axis A of the goods platform 4, see FIG. 11. To transfer the partial stacks 20, these are in turn raised by means of the runners 14 on the goods platform, moved into the shelf compartment 103 by means of the pushing unit 18 coupled to the runners 14 and then lowered by lowering the runners 14 on the receiving surface of the shelf compartment 103. After the partial stack 20 has been transferred to the shelf compartment 103, the runners 14 are the Loading unit 8 is then moved into its starting position on the goods platform 4 by means of the pusher unit 18 and the loading process of the goods from the loading surface 106 of the vehicle 105 into the goods store 101 is completed.

13 to 18 show a method for transferring goods from a warehouse to a loading area of a vehicle using a storage and retrieval unit 1 according to the invention.

With the aid of the storage and retrieval unit 1, it is possible to assemble goods from a warehouse 101 into correspondingly pre-assembled goods stacks 16 which are composed of the same type of goods or different types of goods. The loading area 106 of the vehicle 105 is to be loaded with four stacks of goods 16 each with a predetermined configuration. For this purpose, the storage and retrieval unit 1 with its goods platform 4 moves to shelves 102, 103 of the goods warehouse 101, which have goods types, and successively transfers first partial stacks 20 to the goods platform 4, for example by means of the runners 14 of the loading unit 8 (FIG 14. After the partial stacks 20 have been transferred, they are aligned with one another on the goods platform 4 with the aid of several circulating conveyors 22 connected in series in the direction of their longitudinal axis A of the goods platform 4.

The first partial stacks 20 are then moved on the goods platform 4 by means of the lifting device 6 in the vertical direction 109 to a height position in which the partial stacks 20 can be held by the holding device 10 with its holding means 12. The empty goods platform 4 now moves to a predetermined sequence of shelves 102, 103 in order to transfer the partial stacks 20 ‘from the respective shelves to the goods platform of the storage and retrieval unit 1 in accordance with the specifications. After transferring and, if necessary, aligning the partial stacks 20 by means of the circulating conveyor 22 in the direction of the longitudinal axis A of the goods platform, the second partial stacks 20 ‘are then driven from below against the first partial stacks 20 that are held in place. The first and second partial stacks 20, 20 'are brought together to form a stack of goods 16.

After the merging, the holding means 12 of the holding device 10 are released and the goods platform 4 is moved upward so far that the entire stack of goods 16 is arranged above the holding device 10. The holding means 12 of the holding device 10 are then transferred back into their holding position so that the stacks of goods 16 produced are then fixed by means of the holding device 10. The goods- Platform 4 can in turn, as described above, remove further partial stacks 20 ′ from the warehouse 101. As shown in FIG. 16, the sub-stacks 20 'that are further removed are brought together one after the other with a previously generated stack of goods 16 until the stacks of goods 16 are completely assembled. Finally, see FIG. 17, the assembled stacks of goods 16 are lowered by lowering the goods platform 4 in the vertical direction 109 to the level of the loading surface 106 of the vehicle 105. 18 shows the moment of the method after the stacks of goods 16 have been transferred to the loading area 106 of the vehicle by means of the loading unit 8 (FIG. 1), in particular the runners 14 (not shown in detail) and the pushing unit 18 moving the runners. After the final return (not shown in detail) of the loading unit 8 onto the goods platform, the loading process of the vehicle 105 is completed. The process steps described above represent the loading process in a simplified, schematic sequence. In order to remove partial stacks from the warehouse, it is common for the entire storage and retrieval device to be positioned in the transverse direction 108 (FIG. 1), i.e. perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the goods. Platform 4 is moved. Further, not mentioned steps such as aligning the goods platform with its longitudinal axis to the longitudinal axis of the shelf or to the longitudinal axis of the loading area can be part of the method described above for loading the loading area of the vehicle.

The storage and retrieval unit 1 also includes a detection device (not shown) with sensors, which is set up to measure the height of the goods platform on the storage and retrieval unit 1, the position of the loading unit 8 on the goods platform 4 and / or the alignment of the goods platform 4 to be determined relative to the parking space 104 and the shelf compartment 102, 103 of the warehouse. In addition, the stacker crane 1 comprises at least one positioning device, not shown, which is coupled to the detection device, the positioning device having several actuators with which the entire stacker crane 1 moves the goods platform 4 in alignment with the parking space of the vehicle or with the longitudinal axis of the shelf Aligned warehouse or, for example, is moved in height to the loading area 105 of the vehicle 106 or the shelf compartment. In particular, it is possible to track the height of the loading device to the change in height of the loading area 106 of the vehicle 105 that occurs during the unloading or loading of the loading area.

Similar or identical components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Reference list:

1 stacker crane

2 support structure

4 goods platform

6 lifting device

8 loading unit

10 holding device

12 holding means

14 runners

16 stacks of goods

18 thrust unit

20, 20 ‘partial stack

22 circulating conveyors

A longitudinal axis

100 logistics system

101 warehouse

102, 103 shelf

104 parking spaces

105 vehicle

106 loading area

107 rails

108 cross direction

109 vertical direction

Claims

Expectations

1 . Storage and retrieval unit (1) for loading stackable goods in a logistics system, with

- A goods platform (4) which is adapted to receive a stack of goods (16) or several stacks of goods (16) lined up along a longitudinal axis A of the goods platform (4);

- A loading unit (8) which is set up to move the stackable goods relative to and along the longitudinal axis A of the goods platform (4);

- A lifting device (6) for adjusting the height of the goods platform (4) in the storage and retrieval unit (1), and

- A holding device (10) with holding means (12) which are arranged above the goods platform (4) and are set up to hold at least one or more partial stacks (16) in a height position on the storage and retrieval unit (1) so that the goods Platform (4) can be moved below the partial stack or stacks (20) held.

2. Storage and retrieval unit according to claim 1,

wherein the plurality of holding means can be switched back and forth between a holding position and a release position, wherein preferably the holding means in the holding position can be brought into engagement or engagement with at least the partial stack or stacks arranged above the holding means, and in the release position at least the partial stack or stacks between the holding means are movable in the height direction.

3. Storage and retrieval unit according to claim 1 to 2,

wherein the holding device has a plurality of holding means on different levels of the storage and retrieval device for locking at least the partial stack (s) at different heights.

4. Storage and retrieval unit according to claim 1 to 3,

wherein the holding means in the holding position can be extended under one of the stack layers into the travel path of the stack or stacks of goods and, in the extended state, form a type of support for the partial stack arranged above the holding means.

5. Storage and retrieval unit according to claim 1 to 4,

wherein the holding means are designed at least as a clamping element for gripping at least the partial stack or stacks.

6. Storage and retrieval device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading unit has a plurality of runners for detecting and moving the stacks of goods, the runners being movable on and outside the goods platform.

7. Storage and retrieval device according to claim 6,

wherein the runners each have a number of rollers which can be moved back and forth on the underside of the runners between a retracted load-free position and an extended load-bearing position.

8. Storage and retrieval device according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein the loading unit has a pushing unit which can be moved in the longitudinal direction on the goods platform and has a coupling element for mechanical coupling to the movable runners.

9. Storage and retrieval device according to claim 8,

wherein the runners have opposite end sections, on each of which a coupling means corresponding to the coupling member is provided.

10. Storage and retrieval unit according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein the loading unit has at least one circulating conveyor arranged on the goods platform for moving the stacks of goods along the longitudinal axis A.

11. Storage and retrieval unit according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein several circulating conveyors connected in series are arranged on the goods platform, the circulating conveyors preferably being designed as chain conveyors.

12. Storage and retrieval unit according to one of the preceding claims,

the goods platform being assigned a detection device with sensors, which is set up to measure the height of the goods platform on the shelf unit, the position of the loading unit on the goods platform and / or the orientation of the goods platform relative to a parking space to detect a loading area of a vehicle and to a shelf of a warehouse.

13. Storage and retrieval device according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein the goods platform is assigned a positioning device with at least one actuator, the positioning device being set up to align the goods platform with the parking space of the vehicle and with the shelf of the warehouse.

14. Storage and retrieval device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the goods platform guide means for the lateral alignment of the or

Has goods stack to the longitudinal axis A of the goods platform.

15. Logistics system for loading stacks of goods between a warehouse and a loading area of a vehicle, with

- At least one shelf compartment in a warehouse, which is set up to accommodate and provide a stack of goods or several stacks of goods lined up in a longitudinal direction,

- a parking space for the loading area of the vehicle, and

- A stacker crane according to one of the preceding claims.

16. A method for transferring goods to a warehouse, in particular using a storage and retrieval device according to one of claims 1 to 14, comprising the steps:

- Provision of a stack of goods or several stacks of goods lined up in a longitudinal direction on a goods platform of a storage and retrieval unit;

- Moving the goods platform with the rest of the sub-stack below the restrained

Partial stack in a position approximated to a shelf of the warehouse and transferring the remaining partial stack from the goods platform to the shelf;

- Approaching the held partial stack through the goods platform on its underside and then releasing the partial stack, and

- Moving the goods platform with the released partial stack into one to another

Shelf of the warehouse approximate position, and transfer of the partial stack from the goods platform to the other shelf.

17. The method according to claim 16, comprising one, several or all of the following method steps:

- Transferring one or more stacks of goods lined up in a longitudinal direction from a loading area of a vehicle to a goods platform of a storage and retrieval unit, preferably by moving a loading unit onto the loading area of the vehicle and picking up the stack or stacks of goods by means of the loading unit and moving with the stack or stacks of goods loaded loading unit back to the goods platform; Moving the stack or stacks of goods or the partial stack along a longitudinal axis A of the goods platform by means of a loading unit that can be moved at least on the goods platform, preferably by moving the stack or stacks of goods by means of extendable runners or circulating conveyors

- Holding the or the entire stack of goods in a height position on

Storage and retrieval device, lowering of the goods platform and transferring a pushing unit of the loading unit from one end section of the goods platform to the opposite end section, preferably by moving the pushing unit underneath the stacks of goods held;

- Transfer of at least the one or more partial stack into the shelf compartment by means of a

- Moving the storage and retrieval unit essentially transversely to the longitudinal axis A of the goods

Platform above a set-up area of the storage and retrieval unit and the goods platform in the vertical direction of the storage and retrieval unit for approaching a shelf in the warehouse.

18. A method for transferring goods to a loading area of a vehicle, in particular using a storage and retrieval unit according to one of claims 1 to 14, comprising the steps:

- Provision of a plurality of stacks of goods in several shelves of a warehouse;

- Approaching one or more shelves by means of a goods platform

Storage and retrieval device and transferring one or more partial stacks lined up in a longitudinal direction from the one or more shelf compartments of the warehouse to the goods platform;

- Moving the goods platform equipped with at least one partial stack to a predetermined height position on the storage and retrieval unit;

- Holding the partial stack or stacks received on the goods platform in the height position on the storage and retrieval unit;

- Renewed approach of one or more shelves by means of the goods platform and transferring a further or more further partial stacks lined up in a longitudinal direction from the one or more shelves of the warehouse to the goods platform; - Moving the goods platform equipped with at least one further sub-stack under the sub-stack or sub-stacks previously held in the predetermined height position and merging the sub-stacks into one or more goods stacks and releasing the sub-stack (s) held, and

- Approaching the goods platform with the stocked stacks of goods in one to the

Loading area of the vehicle approximated position and transferring the stack (s) of goods to the loading area of the vehicle.

19. The method according to claim 18, comprising one, several or all of the method steps listed below:

- Positioning of the partial stack (s) on the goods platform along its longitudinal axis A, preferably by means of one or more circulating conveyors arranged on the goods platform;

- Holding the or the entire stack of goods in a height position on the storage and retrieval unit, lowering the goods platform and moving a pushing unit of the

Loading unit from one end section of the goods platform to the opposite end section, preferably by moving the pushing unit below the stacks of goods held in place;