DE102011051204B3 - Method for inspecting warehouse equipments, particularly automatic high-bay warehouses, involves checking warehouse for damages, distortions and alignment, where warehouse is automatically checked by sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves checking the warehouse for damages, distortions and alignment, where the warehouse is automatically checked by a sensor (1), which is moved by the warehouse. The sensor is moved by the stored goods transport unit. The tesing by the sensor is carried out during lower purchase order load of the warehouse equipment. The storage racks are checked as total or individual storage compartments by the sensor. An independent claim is included for an automatic sensor for warehouse equipment inspection.

Description

The invention relates to a method for inspection of storage facilities and a suitable probe.

According to DIN EN 15635 (Point 9.4), storage facilities must be checked regularly for safety and especially for any damage that has occurred.

Also automatic high-bay warehouse, such as from the US 3,417,879 A Every 12 months, it must be inspected by an expert (called a qualified person), with at least 20% of the installation being examined in order, so that the whole installation has been completely inspected every 60 months. The result of the inspection is the condition of the construction and, if necessary, recommendations for action to remedy any defects.

For this purpose, the shelving constructions are performed manually by the expert personnel and subjected to a visual inspection for deformations and damage. At the same time the shelves are measured.

These inspections are expensive and resource intensive. In addition, parts of the warehouse must be shut down during the test for the safety of the expert personnel. Furthermore, there is the problem that the accuracy and speed of the inspection depends on the personnel employed.

In contrast, the object of the present invention is to simplify the inspection of storage facilities, especially automatic high-bay warehouses, and at the same time to accelerate. The inspection should be as safe as possible for the expert personnel. Also, the inspection should allow high accuracy and consistent quality.

This object is achieved by the method given in claim 1.

According to the invention it has been recognized that it is possible, an inspection of storage facilities, especially automatic high-bay warehouses, comprising u. a. Storage goods transport means, storage shelves with storage compartments and a warehouse management device or controller for damage, deformations and alignment to carry out automated by means of a probe which is moved through the warehouse, while the camp is missing and visualized. Thus, an automated check of the storage facility, for. B. according to DIN EN 15635, done without an employee must personally check the storage shelves and their storage compartments, d. H. The employee no longer has to go into the storage racks or storage compartments himself and measure or sift them. This otherwise laborious and possibly dangerous work can be omitted. At the same time, the inspection by means of the probe can take place at any time of the day or night, ie around the clock without human intervention. Thus, it is possible to perform the inspection without disturbing the operation, especially in times of low order load of the storage facility. The evaluation of the data determined and recorded by the probe can then take place later and separately.

In the present case, the conveyors present in a storage facility are considered to be stored goods transport means which transport the stored goods either with or without storage aids, such as trays, pallets, containers, etc., in the storage facility and put them in or out.

Preferably, the probe is moved by means of the stored goods transport means of the storage device. Thus, the probe does not require its own drive or "navigation system", so that their structure is less complex. It is virtually treated as a special storage product.

If the probe has the shape of the stock tool (s) used in the stock, it can easily be carried by the stock load carrier and, as it were, handled and managed as stock. Thus, no additional device or separate control is necessary. It is sufficient if the probe is marked or treated as a "special" storage product within the existing warehouse management facility or controller.

In a preferred embodiment, the probe is designed adjustable in size. Then it can be used after adjustment in different storage areas or for different storage compartment types, z. B. if they use different storage goods or storage aids. In addition, it is also possible to use the probe universally, d. H. in different storage facilities as needed.

For this purpose, it makes sense if the probe has a modular design, comprising a universal sensor / IT module and a platform for receiving the universal sensor / IT module with the dimensions of the bearing aid used. Thus, the sensor / IT module can always be made the same and only the platform must be adapted to the storage tool or the goods transport means. In addition, this also supports the universal applicability (see above).

It makes sense to carry out the check by means of the probe with a low order load of the bearing device.

So storage shelves as a whole and / or individual storage compartments will be checked by means of the probe.

It makes sense if the probe begins with insertion after a short delay with the review of the storage rack and / or storage compartment. Thus, this only "comes to rest" before the inspection begins, so that distortions are minimized.

It is also possible that the probe begins before and / or during the introduction into the storage compartment with the review, so that outlying elements can be checked and / or from within the storage compartment bad "recognizable" elements can be checked.

It is also useful if the probe switches after completion of the review in a power-saving mode, so that they can be replaced by a possibly entrained energy supply, eg. B. accumulator, as long as possible without recharging is ready.

If, during the check, the probe detects that the specified tolerances of the storage rack or storage compartments are exceeded, another manual check is automatically marked.

The probe can thus carry out the individual check autonomously and independently with the help of your sensor / IT module, without any intervention by an employee being necessary. It can caching the data and visual recordings for later evaluation and / or by data connection, eg. B. medium radio or wireless, to a central office, z. B. the warehouse management device or controller or a separate workstation for the warehouse inspection, where an operator can track the measurement data and visual recordings of the probe, if necessary, by real-time transmission.

The probe expediently comprises sensors for determining the distance from itself to the supporting structure of the bearing device, as well as possibly additionally a camera and possibly an illumination means in order to carry out the surveying and visualization, if necessary, also in unlit bearings.

In addition, the probe may have other sensors to measure parameters of the environment (storage compartment), such as floor, struts, steel construction, etc., on angularity, inclination, etc.

If necessary, the probe continuously counts the tested area, which is then brought into relation with the history of the stored storage compartments / squares (function in the goods management system). This is followed by the creation of a report with dimensions that meets the standard.

The evaluation of the data can be done at the workplace then possibly by visual and / or mathematical support using appropriate software for image and data analysis. If appropriate, this can also be carried out in a partially automated manner such that the software gives the user indications of possible problem areas and / or displays them.

Typically, the probe or sensor / IT module will be provided with one or more cameras, illumination means, sensors (eg, motion sensors, laser scanners, tilt sensors, etc.), a computer (eg, on-board PC), and a power supply (eg accumulator). The computer is programmed to control the probe for either automatic, semi-automatic or manual visualization and surveying.

The probe is thus autonomous or self-sufficient, except for the use of the goods-transporting means for movement.

Further details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment with reference to the drawing, in which

1 shows a schematic perspective view of a probe and

2 a flow chart of a bearing check with the probe off 1 shows.

In the 1 is one as a whole with 1 designated probe for bearing inspection shown.

The probe 1 essentially comprises a platform 2 , an IT / Sensor module arranged on it 3 and a linkage 4 ,

The platform 2 has the shape of the bearing aid used in the bearing, present a pallet. Thus, the probe simulates 1 for the load handling equipment, conveyors, etc. in the warehouse a common stored goods on a storage tool and can be moved and handled by the existing means.

The platform 2 is adjustable in length and width in the sense of the arrows shown, so that different pallet sizes (Euro range of different standard sizes) can be adjusted. To adjust the individual support elements of the platform 2 latching into each other and shifted against each other.

That at the platform 2 fixed linkage 4 On the one hand serves to protect the IT / sensor module 3 and on the other hand, it simulates the space requirement of a conventional stored goods on the storage tool. It includes corner elements 4a , each at the platform 2 in corner holes 2a plugged in and fastened, and these bracing struts 4b ,

On the platform 2 is about the middle of the IT / sensor module 3 releasably fixed. It contains on the front and back each a CCD camera 5a , b with a fisheye lens, so that a viewing angle of about 180 degrees can be covered. Thus, the visual inspection can be done electronically.

The IT / sensor module 3 also has on its upper side a pivotable lighting means to illuminate the environment, since most bearings are not illuminated. Thus, an illumination for the CCD cameras 5a , b take place.

In addition, the IT / sensor module includes 3 Inclination sensors (not visible) indicating the inclination of the shelf in the longitudinal and transverse direction of the shelf.

In addition, the IT / sensor module is 3 on the front and back each with a laser scanner 6a , b equipped, which are well suited for obstacle detection, so can detect and measure fixed structures of the shelf.

In addition, the IT / sensor module includes 3 a computer (including memory, not visible) and a power supply (accumulator, not visible). The computer has a WLan modem for communication and data exchange with a central computer.

The cameras and sensors are controlled by the computer and pass their measurement data to the computer, which stores them accordingly and forwards them if necessary.

The computer is programmatically set up to probe 1 optionally for automatic, semi-automatic or manual visualization and surveying.

The following is based on the flowchart 2 the measurement of a storage compartment described.

First (start, step 100 ) is the probe 1 in a standby position in sleep mode. The standby position can either be any storage compartment or a special station in the warehouse, where z. B. a charge of the accumulator takes place and a wired data exchange is possible.

If the warehouse utilization falls (step 101 ) below a given specific utilization level, capacities of the funds are free to carry out an inspection.

Thus, the probe becomes 2 awakened and moved by means of funding in the warehouse to a storage compartment to be checked (step 102 ).

If the bearing on the travel of the probe 2 to the respective storage compartment also be checked (step 103 ), the probe is already in the process 2 in the survey mode (step 104 ).

If the storage compartment should also be checked from the outside (step 105 ), is already before or when retracting the probe 2 into the storage compartment the probe 2 in the survey mode (step 106 ).

Is the probe located? 2 in the storage compartment, after a short delay with the survey and visual recording or inspection by the probe 2 computer-controlled started (step 107 ).

Represents the probe 2 already stuck during the inspection (step 108 ), that damage, deviations of the supporting structure, struts, shelf etc. are present, the respective storage compartment for a manual post-inspection is marked (step 109 ).

The determined data are temporarily stored and later transmitted to the central computer for personal data analysis by radio (WLan) (step 110 ).

Subsequently, the probe 2 is put into sleep mode and the cycle starts again (step 100 ).

Claims (12)

Method for inspecting storage facilities, in particular automatic high-bay warehouses, comprising storage goods transport means, storage shelves with storage compartments and a storage management device, wherein the bearing is checked for damage, deformation and alignment, for which the bearing is automatically checked by a probe which is moved through the bearing and while missing the camp and visualized. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the probe is moved by means of the stored goods transport means. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the verification is carried out by means of the probe at low order load of the storage facility. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that bearing rules are checked as a whole and / or individual storage compartments by means of the probe. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the probe begins upon insertion after a short delay with the review of the storage rack and / or storage compartment. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the probe switches into a power saving mode after completion of the check. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when exceeding predetermined tolerances, a further manual check is reserved. An automated storage inspection probe, in particular for performing a method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the probe has the shape of the bearing aid (s) used in the bearing. Probe according to claim 8, characterized in that the probe is designed adjustable in size depending on the storage compartment type. Probe according to claim 9, characterized in that the probe has a modular construction, comprising a universal sensor / IT module and a platform for receiving the universal sensor / IT module with the dimensions of the bearing aid used. Probe according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the probe comprises optical, visual sensors for determining the distance from itself to the supporting structure of the bearing device and for measuring parameters of the environment, as well as storage compartments. Probe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the probe has a camera and / or a lighting means.

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