DE102021001248A1 - System for transporting and storing objects and method for dispensing stored objects - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (1) for transporting and storing objects, having at least two storage facilities (10, 20, 30) comprising storage racks, at least one storage entrance (12; 15, 25, 35) and at least one storage exit (17 , 27, 37) and at least one handling device for objects to be stored. According to the invention, it is provided that each storage facility (10, 20, 30) has at least one collecting belt (16, 26, 36) which extends along the storage racks and ends in the storage outlet (17, 27, 37), that at least one transport track ( 51, 52, 53) for transport crates (50) along the storage exits (17, 27, 37), that at each storage exit (17, 27, 37) a handling device (18, 28, 38) is provided which is suitable to load a transport crate (50) with storable objects located on the respective collection belt (16, 26, 36) in such a way that each transport crate (50) finally contains objects to be stored that belong to exactly one defined work order. The present invention also relates to a method for issuing stored objects with the following method steps: depositing stored objects on at least one collecting belt (16, 26, 36) in such a way that objects belonging to a defined work order are deposited adjacent to one another, transporting the objects deposited on the at least one collecting belt (16, 26, 36) to the warehouse exit (17, 27, 37), loading a transport box (50) with the deposited objects that belong to a defined work order, transporting the loaded transport box (50) out of the systems (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a system for transporting and storing objects according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and a method for issuing stored objects according to the preamble of patent claim 12.

A generic device and a generic method are known, for example, in the form of systems and their use in pharmacies. Such a system consists of a storage facility with storage racks arranged one above the other and a handling device (e.g. robotic arm with gripper or grippers) that can be moved along the storage racks and is used to deposit medicines packed in boxes that are to be stored on the storage racks or to order them (by means of a external computer) to take the requested drug from the appropriate storage shelf and to transport it to a warehouse exit. There, the requested drug is typically transferred to an output chute or to an output belt.

However, the device of the generic type and the method of the generic type are only suitable for dispensing individual medications that have been ordered in the order in which they were queried or ordered.

The object of the present invention is accordingly to further develop a generic system or a generic method in such a way that different types of objects, in particular those packaged in any way, can be stored and output in a controlled manner.

The solution to this problem consists in a device with the features of patent claim 1 or in a method with the features of patent claim 12.

The system according to the invention is characterized in that each storage facility has at least one collecting belt, which extends along the storage racks and opens into the storage exit, that at least one conveyor belt for transport crates extends along the storage exit, that a handling device is provided at each storage exit, which is suitable for loading a transport crate with storable objects located on the respective collection belt in such a way that each transport crate finally contains objects to be stored that belong to exactly one defined work order.

The method according to the invention is characterized by the following method steps: depositing stored objects on at least one collecting belt in such a way that objects belonging to a defined work order are deposited adjacent to one another, transporting the objects placed on the at least one collecting belt to the warehouse exit, loading a transport box with the deposited objects belonging to a defined work order, transporting the loaded transport box out of the system.

With the system according to the invention and the method according to the invention, it is possible (in contrast to the generic prior art) to store objects to be stored at any position within the storage facility, but to issue stored objects in a targeted manner in such a way that objects that belong together, i. H. Items belonging to the same work order together in one collection, d. H. placed next to each other, so that they appear one after the other at the warehouse exit, so that one and the same transport box can be loaded with them. In other words: the stored items are not handed over in the order in which they were ordered or queried, but sorted according to the respective work order.

Such work orders are typically manufacturing or assembly orders, with the stored items belonging to a work order being components for the manufacturing or assembly of an intermediate or end product.

An application of the system according to the invention and the method according to the invention which is particularly preferred according to the invention relates to the optical industry and here in particular to the production of spectacles. For this purpose, typically two lens blanks of the most different processing stages, an associated eyeglass frame and possibly one or more block pieces are combined, which belong to the same production order, namely for individually specified eyeglasses.

Advantageous developments result from the dependent claims.

At least three storage devices are preferably provided. The more storage facilities are provided, the more items can be stored, depending on customer requirements. Furthermore, the redundancy of the system according to the invention is increased because if one storage facility fails, the remaining storage facilities are still functional. It is advantageous here if the items to be stored are distributed uniformly by type and type across all existing storage facilities distributed so that any kind or type of item is accessible even if a storage facility fails.

A preferred inventive development consists in the at least one collecting belt being designed and/or controlled in such a way that objects to be stored that belong to a defined work order are transported together to the warehouse exit. In a particularly advantageous manner, the at least one collecting band is controlled in a clocked manner. This further development makes it possible to adapt the output throughput of stored objects to individual customer requirements. Furthermore, the joint filing of items belonging to a work order on the collection belt is simplified.

A further, particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that at least two, preferably three, transport lanes are provided for transport boxes. Overtaking operations are thus possible, so that transport crates can be transported independently of one another to a storage exit of any storage facility. If the at least two transport lanes are advantageously designed in such a way that transport crates can be moved between the at least two transport lanes, the flexibility of transporting the transport crates to the various warehouse exits is further increased.

At least one transport track is expediently designed in such a way that loaded transport crates are transported out of the system, i. H. Completely loaded transport crates are collected on this transport lane and ejected from the system one after the other.

In a particularly advantageous manner, at least some of the objects to be stored are accommodated in storage containers. The storage containers provided according to the invention serve in particular to accommodate objects that are not packed in cardboard boxes, ie cannot be transported into the storage systems and placed on storage shelves in the manner described above. The use of storage containers has the advantage that the handling devices provided in the storage facilities can handle the storage containers without requiring any modification.

The storage containers are expediently provided with a readable storage medium, preferably an RFID chip, in order to individualize them. If at least one reading device is provided in a particularly advantageous manner, which is suitable for reading both the readable storage medium and an identification located on the storable object or its packaging, the storage container and the object accommodated therein can be “paired”. The system according to the invention therefore knows which object is accommodated in which individual storage container and on which shelf space this storage container is placed.

If an object accommodated in a storage container exists or is retrieved, this storage container with the ordered or retrieved object accommodated in it is placed on the at least one collecting belt.

In this case, empty storage containers remain after the transport crates have been loaded. These can advantageously be returned to a packing station by means of a return belt in order to be restocked there.

• 1 ein Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung in einer Draufsicht;
• 2 das Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß 1 in einer ersten perspektivischen Darstellung;
• 3 das Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß 1 in einer zweiten perspektivischen Darstellung;
• 4 das Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß 1 mit schematischer Darstellung von Sammelbändern;
• 5 eine Detailansicht eines Sammelbands mit einer ersten Taktung;
• 6 eine Detailansicht eines Sammelbands mit einer zweiten Taktung;
• 7 eine Detailansicht der Lagerausgänge mit Sammelbändern, Transportspuren und Rücklaufbändern.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows in a schematic representation, not true to scale:

• 1 an embodiment of the present invention in a plan view;
• 2 the embodiment according to 1 in a first perspective view;
• 3 the embodiment according to 1 in a second perspective view;
• 4 the embodiment according to 1 with schematic representation of anthologies;
• 5 a detailed view of an anthology with a first timing;
• 6 a detailed view of an anthology with a second timing;
• 7 a detailed view of the warehouse exits with collecting belts, transport lanes and return belts.

That in the 1 until 3 The illustrated embodiment of a system 1 according to the invention has three storage units 10, 20, 30 as an example. The storage units 10, 20, 30 can be identical to commercially available storage units for pharmacies, such as those manufactured by the company BD-Rowa. The storage units 10, 30 have loading devices 11, 31, as are known from the commercially available storage units for pharmacies. The loading devices 11 and 31 serve to load the storage units 10 and 30 with objects which—similar to medicines or other pharmaceutical products—are packed in cardboard boxes. The packaged objects are placed on a conveyor belt in a manner known per se, in a random manner, by being separated separated device and guided over a conveyor belt 12, 32 in the storage unit 10, 30, where they are picked up by a known handling device (not shown) and placed on a storage location of a storage rack (not shown).

Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiment, the storage units 10 and 30 contain all conceivable types of objects to be stored or stored, while the storage unit 20 does not contain any objects packed in cardboard boxes because it does not have a comparable loading device here.

The storage units 10, 20, 30 each have a storage device 13, 23, 33 and a reading device 14, 24, 34 for readable storage elements such as RFID chips or barcodes on one of their front sides.

Objects to be stored can be stored via the storage devices 13, 23, 33. In the exemplary embodiment, these are objects that are accommodated in storage containers (not shown). The storage containers can, for example, be boxes of different sizes, preferably made of plastic, which in the exemplary embodiment are individualized by means of an integrated RFID chip, ie each storage container has its own individual identifier, for example a combination of numbers and/or letters. For this purpose, in the exemplary embodiment, objects delivered in any packaging units 42, 43 are provided at a packing station 40, 41 each, and storage containers of different sizes are provided in storage containers 44, 45 in the exemplary embodiment. The delivered items are transferred individually into a storage container. For example, a spectacle frame can be transferred to a larger storage container and a "finished lens" to a smaller storage container. This can - as in the 1 until 3 indicated - done manually. At this point, however, an automated unpacking system—known per se—can also be provided.

The stocked storage containers are first guided to a reading device (not shown) on a conveyor belt 46 or several conveyor belts. There, both the data stored on the RFID chip of the storage container and the data that is stored, for example in the form of a barcode on the packaging of each item accommodated in a storage container, are read out. This data is combined or “paired” with one another in such a way that it is stored in the system 1 according to the invention or alternatively on the RFID chip of the storage container which object is accommodated in which individual storage container. The storage containers are then transported to the storage devices 13, 23, 33 and passed through further reading devices 14, 24, 34, which only read the RFID chip in order to ensure that the storage containers can be tracked. The storage containers are then pushed in a manner known per se via slides onto a respective storage belt 15, 25, 35, which transports the respective storage container into the interior of the storage unit 10, 20, 30. There the storage containers are picked up by the handling device and placed on a storage location of a storage rack.

The system 1 according to the invention therefore now knows in which storage container which object is accommodated (superordinate software) or in which storage facility 10, 20, 30 a storage container that contains exactly one object defined, for example by means of a barcode, on which storage location is stored ( storage software).

4 shows an enlarged detail of the embodiment according to FIG 1 until 3 , with the focus now being on the output of stored items. Each storage unit 10, 20, 30 has a collecting belt 16, 26, 36, which runs along the storage racks (not shown) and opens into a further storage outlet 17, 27, 37 in each case. The collecting belts 16, 26, 36 are shown as continuous in the exemplary embodiment, ie they extend over the entire length of the storage device 10, 20, 30. The collecting belts 16, 26, 36 can also be shorter, for example only half as long.

At each warehouse exit 17, 27, 37 is a - provided handling device 18, 28, 38 - known per se. The handling devices 18, 28, 38 are used to grip objects located on the collecting belts 17, 27, 37 and to transfer them to transport boxes 50 (see below). In the exemplary embodiment, three transport tracks 51 , 52 , 53 run under the handling devices 18 , 28 , 38 and serve to transport the transport crates 50 along the storage exits 17 , 27 , 37 . In the exemplary embodiment, the transport tracks 51, 52, 53 are designed as separate transport belts, which are however driven by a common motor and are arranged parallel to one another. However, the transport tracks 51, 52, 53 can also be designed as a single wide transport belt or in the form of two (one narrow and one wide) transport belts. There can also be several motors instead of one motor, so that the treadmills can be operated at different speeds.

Furthermore, a return belt 54 is arranged above the transport tracks 51, 52, 53, which serves to empty storage containers to the Packstatio NEN 40, 41 attributed (see also 1 until 3 ).

In the exemplary embodiment, the conveyor belt 53 serves to eject completely loaded transport crates 50 from the system 1 according to the invention. As in the 1 until 3 shown, the transport crates can then pass through a reader 48 and a printer 49. The reading device 48 reads an RFID chip integrated in the transport box 50, whereupon the work order contained therein is identified. In the exemplary embodiment, the printer 49 is a combined device made up of printer, folding machine and handle, which prints out a so-called “job ticket” with the details of the respective work order, folds it and places it in the transport box 50 . Of course, the reading device and printer can also be integrated in a single device. Furthermore, two or more printers can also be present in order to improve redundancy.

Each transport crate is then channeled to the work position which, depending on the work order, carries out the first work step. In the exemplary embodiment, these can be coating devices, block devices, lathes and/or milling machines, polishing machines, cleaning machines or other machines and devices that are required to produce spectacles from lens blanks and a spectacle frame. The transport crates 50 can also be introduced into a self-organizing system, as is the case, for example, in EP 2 822 883 A1 is described.

the 5 and 6 show partial views of collecting belts 16, 26, 36 with different control or clocking. In the exemplary embodiment, it is assumed that a maximum of four different objects that belong to the same work order are stored side by side on the collection belt 16, 26, 36 in a defined storage location 19, 29, 39 (identified by the dashed border) in positions I, II, III , IV are filed. Not all positions have to be filled. For example, a lens blank can be placed on positions I, II and a spectacle frame can be placed on position III, while position IV remains free.

In a first variant of the method according to the invention, the collecting belt 16, 26, 36 is moved slowly but continuously in the direction of the arrow (in the direction of the respective storage outlets 17, 27, 37). The speed is low enough that the handling device (not shown) can pick up all objects belonging to the same work order or their storage containers from their respective storage location and place them on the respective positions I, II, III, IV on the collecting belt 16, 26, 36.

In a second, preferred variant of the method according to the invention, the collecting belt 16, 26, 36 is controlled in a clocked manner, i. H. the collecting belt 16, 26, 36 stands still as long as the positions I, II, III, IV are occupied with objects or their storage containers. Then the collecting belt 16, 26, 36 is moved by a specific, preselected distance in the direction of the arrow (in the direction of the respective bearing outlets 17, 27, 37) and then stopped again. Now new, upstream positions I, II, III, IV are loaded with items belonging to the same work order.

This second, preferred variant has the advantage that, as in the 5 and 6 shown, each collection band 16, 26, 36 can be clocked individually depending on customer requirements. 5 shows a comparatively shorter cycle, in which the storage locations 19, 29, 39 with their respective positions I, II, III, IV are defined at a smaller distance from one another on the collecting belt 16, 26, 36. 6 shows a comparatively longer cycle, in which the storage locations 19, 29, 39 with their respective positions I, II, III, IV are defined at a greater distance from one another on the collecting belt 16, 26, 36.

7 shows a detailed view of the respective warehouse exits 17 (not shown), 27, 37 and illustrates the process of loading the transport crates 50. In the exemplary embodiment, three transport lanes 51, 52, 53 are provided, which are arranged parallel to one another and follow the same running direction along the warehouse exits 17 , 27, 37. Handling devices 18, 28, 38 are provided above the transport tracks (see also 4 ).

The middle transport track 52 is used to load the transport crates 50. Each transport crate 50, which slowly passes under a handling device 18, 28, 38 or is stopped in this position, is loaded by the handling device 18, 28, 38 with objects that are on the Collective volume 16, 26, 36 are on a storage location 19, 29, 39 at positions I, II, III, IV. If an empty storage container remains, it is conveyed by the handling device 18, 28, 38 onto the return conveyor 54 and transported back to the packing station 40 (see above and 1 until 3 ). If the return belt is already occupied by a storage container, the empty storage container in question can run parallel to the return belt 54 on a belt section 18a, 28a, 38a (in particular it can be pushed from the collecting belt 16, 26, 36 onto the respective belt section 18a, 28a, 38a). and possibly pushed onto a free space on the return belt 54 by means of a slider known per se.

In a preferred, in 7 In the illustrated embodiment, the transport track 51 is used to introduce empty transport crates 50. At each warehouse exit 17, 27, 37, a certain number of empty transport crates 50 (at least corresponding to the number of stocked storage locations 19, 29, 39; preferably more) pushed onto the transport track 52 and held there in a buffer zone. The transport lane 53 is basically used to eject completely loaded transport crates 50 from the system 1.

Since three transport lanes 51, 52, 53 are provided in the exemplary embodiment, there are several scenarios for loading the transport crates 50 according to the invention.

In a first, preferred scenario, a transport crate 50 is transported on the transport lane 52 from the buffer zone to the warehouse exit 17 and is fully loaded there with all the items required that belong to one and the same work process. The transport crate 50 is then transported on the transport track 52 into a further buffer zone and is pushed there by means of a pusher known per se to a free space on the transport track 53 and ejected from the system.

In a second scenario, a transport box 50 is loaded in front of the warehouse exits 17, 27 or 27, 37 or 17, 27, 37, i. H. it needs two or three consecutive warehouse exits to be fully loaded. In this case, the not fully loaded transport box 50 is transported on the transport track 52 to the immediately following warehouse exit and loaded there as described above. Finally, as already described, the completely loaded transport box 50 is pushed onto the conveyor belt 53 via a further buffer zone and discharged from the system 1 according to the invention.

In a third scenario, a transport box 50 is loaded in front of the warehouse exits 17, 37, i. H. warehouse exit 27 is skipped. In this case, the transport crate that is incompletely loaded in front of the warehouse exit 17 is pushed onto the transport track 53 and transported by it to the front of the warehouse exit 37, where it is pushed onto the transport track 52 again. Then the complete loading and the ejection of the transport box 50 from the system 1 takes place as described.

In a fourth scenario, two lens blanks with a so-called "customer frame", i. H. be combined with an individual frame, e.g. sent by an optician. Theoretically, with the exception of the edging, the lens blank could be finished and stored until the spectacle frame is available. However, it is preferred not to start manufacturing the glasses until the glasses frame is available. This is then placed in a shipping crate 50, and the shipping crate 50 is treated as an incompletely loaded shipping crate, as described above for the second and third scenarios.

As a result, a system according to the invention and a method according to the invention are obtained with which any objects belonging to the same work process can be automatically accommodated in one and the same transport box, which can be highly flexibly adapted to customer requirements and which have a high level of redundancy, so that in the event of a failure, for example a storage facility, the remaining components of the system according to the invention can continue to work.

Reference List

10, 20, 30

storage units

11, 31

loading device

12:32

treadmill

13, 23, 33

storage facility

14, 24, 34

reading device

15, 25, 35

storage tape

16, 26, 36

anthology

17, 27, 37

stock out

18, 28, 38

handling device

18a, 28a, 38a

tape section

19, 29, 39

storage space

40, 41

packing station

42, 43

packaging units

44, 45

reservoir

46

treadmill

48

reader

49

Printer

50

transport box

51, 52, 53

transport tracks

54

return tape

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• EP 2822883 A1 [0031]

Claims (17)

System (1) for transporting and storing objects, with at least two storage facilities (10, 20, 30) comprising storage racks, at least one storage entrance (12; 15, 25, 35) and at least one storage exit (17, 27, 37) and at least one handling device for objects to be stored, characterized in that - each storage device (10, 20, 30) has at least one collecting belt (16, 26, 36) which extends along the storage shelves and into the storage exit (17, 27, 37), - that at least one transport track (51, 52, 53) for transport crates (50) extends along the storage exits (17, 27, 37), - that at each storage exit (17, 27, 37) a handling device (18 , 28, 38) is provided, which is suitable for loading a transport box (50) with storable objects located on the respective collection belt (16, 26, 36), - in such a way that each transport box (50) finally contains objects to be stored, which belong to exactly one defined A work order belong. system after Claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least three storage devices (10, 20, 30). System according to at least one of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that the at least one collecting belt (16, 26, 36) is designed and/or controlled in such a way that objects to be stored, which belong to a defined work order, are transported together to the warehouse exit (17, 27 , 37) to transport. system after patent claim 3 , characterized in that the at least one collection belt (16, 26, 36) is clocked controlled. System according to at least one of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that at least two, preferably three, transport tracks (51, 52, 53) are provided for transport boxes (50). system after Claim 5 , characterized in that the at least two transport tracks (51, 52, 53) are designed in such a way that transport boxes (50) can be displaced between the at least two transport tracks (51, 52, 53). system after Claim 5 or 6 , characterized in that at least one conveyor belt (53) is designed in such a way that loaded transport crates (50) are transported out of the system. System according to at least one of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that at least some of the objects to be stored are accommodated in storage containers. system after patent claim 8 , characterized in that the storage containers are provided with a readable storage medium, preferably an RFID chip. system after Claim 9 , characterized in that at least one reading device is provided which is suitable for reading both the readable storage medium and an identification located on the storable object or its packaging. system after at least one of the patent claims 8 until 10 , characterized in that at least one return belt (54) is provided for storage containers. Method for issuing stored objects from a system (1) with at least two storage facilities (10, 20, 30) comprising storage racks, at least one storage entrance (12; 15, 25, 35) and at least one storage exit (17, 27, 37) and at least one handling device for stored objects, characterized by the following method steps: a) depositing stored objects on at least one collecting belt (16, 26, 36) in such a way that objects belonging to a defined work order are deposited adjacent to one another, b) transporting the objects deposited on the at least one collecting belt (16, 26, 36) to the warehouse exit, c) loading a transport crate (50) with the deposited objects that belong to a defined work order, d) transporting the loaded transport crate (50) out of the system ( 1). procedure after Claim 12 , characterized in that the at least one collecting belt (16, 26, 36) is controlled in a clocked manner. procedure after Claim 12 or 13 , characterized in that the transport boxes (50) can be transported independently of one another to a storage exit (17, 27, 37) of any storage facility (10, 20, 30). Process according to at least one of Claims 12 until 14 , characterized in that storage containers are used for storing stored objects and in step a) the filing of stored objects at least one collecting belt (16, 26, 36) in that a storage container with a stored object received therein is placed on the at least one collecting belt (16, 26, 36). procedure after Claim 15 , characterized in that in step c) the loading of a transport crate (50) takes place in that an object accommodated in a storage container is removed from the storage container and placed in the transport crate (50). Process according to at least one of Claims 14 until 16 , characterized in that by means of at least one reading device both a readable storage medium located on a storage container and an identification located on the stored object or its packaging are read out and the data read out are linked to one another.

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