DE102022115014A1 - Storage lift with optimized picking performance - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a storage lift which is set up for picking according to the goods-to-person principle and which has: a first and second shelf column for the (static) storage of load carriers, the shelf columns being aligned symmetrically to one another and a shaft between them define; a handling opening defined within one of the shelf columns; and a vertical conveyor arranged in the shaft and having a first, upper and a second, lower load receiving means, each of which is adapted to (horizontally) exchange one of the load carriers with each of the shelf columns and with the handling opening; wherein the load-carrying means within the shaft can be moved independently of one another within vertically overlapping movement areas from and to the handling opening without collision.

Description

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of intralogistics and in particular to a storage lift with an optimized picking performance (number of picked storage goods per unit of time). In particular, the disclosure relates to a storage lift with a shortened load carrier change cycle time or tray change cycle time.

Storage lifts have been known for a long time, see for example the SSI Schäfer brochure “LAGERLIFTE - Whitepaper 2/2019”. Storage lifts are automated storage and picking systems where load carriers are moved according to the goods-to-manipulator principle (manipulator = human or robot) in order to remove stored goods according to a picking order from automatically provided (system-internal) load carriers (sources) and to one or to deliver several (system-external) loading aids (target = e.g. order container). The load carriers usually do not leave the storage lift and remain within the system.

Storage lifts are also known under other names in intralogistics. Terms such as “vertical lift”, “tray storage”, “storage tower”, “lift rack” or “tower storage” are often used. In contrast to paternosters or circulation racks, which are often and mistakenly equated with storage lifts, a storage lift is not a circulating system. The reason for the confusion is often that both are dynamic shelving systems that also work on the goods-to-person principle. With a paternoster, however, all storage locations are brought to an operating station (picking station or operating opening) through a circulation. The stored goods are therefore moved together with the entire storage or shelf frame. A paternoster moves the stored goods or the load carrier that carries the stored goods vertically in depth on one side and at the same time vertically in height on the other parallel side.

A storage lift, on the other hand, can be compared to an oversized drawer cabinet with two shelf or load carrier columns (tray columns) - one at the front and one at the back. A shaft is defined between the two columns, in which an (internal) vertical conveyor (lift) is provided, which pulls out the individual load carriers horizontally with its loading aid and which moves vertically to the respective position of the operating opening in order to deliver the load carriers to them horizontally. The individual charge carriers are completely independent of each other, but do not move themselves.

In the usual design, the storage lifts have exactly one vertical conveyor in each shaft, which moves exactly one load-carrying device (e.g. a horizontal conveyor) vertically between the shelf or storage columns, see e.g DE 42 33 688 or DE 20 2004 012 021 U . In the DE 20 2006 003 068 U1 Two shafts are defined between a total of three shelf columns. In one of these shafts, two vertical conveyors, each with a load-carrying device, are arranged one above the other, the areas of movement of which do not overlap and therefore there is no risk of collision for the two load-carrying devices of the vertical conveyor. The lower vertical conveyor is coupled to a handling or operating opening of the storage lift, which this vertical conveyor alone supplies with load carriers.

The time to change load carriers in the service opening is long, which reduces picking performance. The order picker has to wait a long time until the next load carrier is presented to him, from which he can remove one or more stored goods. The goods or goods that are stored on one or more load carriers and are to be removed are specified by a picking order.

It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a storage lift that has improved order picking performance.

This task is solved by a storage lift which is set up for picking according to the goods-to-person principle and which has: a first and second shelf column for the (static) storage of load carriers, the shelf columns being aligned symmetrically to one another and a shaft between define oneself; a handling opening defined within one of the shelf columns; and a vertical conveyor which is arranged in the shaft and which has a first (upper) and a second (lower) load-carrying means, each of which is adapted to (horizontally) exchange one of the load carriers with each of the shelf columns and with the handling opening; wherein the load-carrying means within the shaft can be moved independently of one another, within vertically overlapping movement areas, without collision, from and to the handling opening.

By providing two load-carrying devices that move independently and overlap one another, the load carrier change cycle times can be shortened. The shortening of the load carrier change cycle time results in a shortening of the picking time because the picker (human or robot) no longer has to wait long before picking the next one stored goods are presented. This increases the picking performance.

While one load-carrying device stores back a load carrier that has already been presented, the other load-carrying device can already remove the next load carrier and deliver it to the handling opening. The next load carrier can be presented earlier than usual because you don't have to wait for the load handling device to be returned.

The vertical conveyor preferably has a frame which has two vertically aligned racks (and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction) which extend in the shaft essentially over an entire height of the shelf columns.

In particular, each of the load-carrying devices has its own (vertical) drive and, for example, a gear that engages in the respective rack in order to move the load-carrying devices individually vertically within the shaft.

The combination of rack and gear enables simple, independent movement of the load-carrying devices, especially if the load-carrying devices are each provided with their own drive.

Preferably, the handling opening is arranged at such a height of the storage lift that the second (lower) load-carrying means can be positioned below the first load-carrying means in a state in which the second load-carrying means is loaded with one of the load carriers, while the first (upper) load-carrying means has one the load carrier is exchanged with the handling opening.

The space in the vertical direction below the handling opening in the shaft is selected so that the lower load-carrying device can move downwards from the upper load-carrying device, especially when the lower load-carrying device is loaded with a full load carrier. This increases the delivery options. The lower load-carrying device does not have to be free, i.e. unloaded, so that the upper load-carrying device can deliver a load carrier to the handling opening.

Furthermore, it is preferred to arrange the handling opening in a central vertical section of one shelf column.

This vertical relative positioning allows the lower load-carrying device to access almost the same number of storage locations as the upper load-carrying device. This applies to both the storage of load carriers and the removal of load carriers. In particular, if the order (sequence) of the load carriers specified by a picking order does not play a role, the optimization possibilities increase. This allows the charge carrier change cycle time to be further shortened.

In particular, the handling opening is designed to accommodate at least two of the load carriers vertically one above the other at the same time.

In this case, the load-carrying means can simultaneously deliver two load carriers to the handling opening and/or pick them up from it. The load-carrying devices can therefore interact with the handling opening at the same time. The load-carrying devices do not have to wait for each other in the overlapping movement area at the level of the handling opening in order to exchange load carriers.

Furthermore, it is preferred to provide the handling opening with its own lift unit.

This measure makes it possible, for example, for the load carrier within the handling opening from which a stored item has just been removed to be transported upwards (or downwards) within the handling opening (particularly if the corresponding load carrier has been emptied) and the next load carrier is already at an ergonomic removal height can be offered for the next withdrawal.

It is also advantageous to provide a third shelf column that defines a further shaft between itself and the second shelf column, where a further vertical conveyor is provided, which is set up to exchange the load carriers with the second and third shelf columns.

The storage capacity is increased without having to forego the shortened load carrier change cycle time at the handling opening.

It is particularly advantageous if the load carriers are stored twice as deep in the second shelf column and the second shelf column is provided with a horizontal transfer unit.

Using the horizontal transfer unit, load carriers from the third rack column can “tunnel” horizontally into the area of the first shaft, where the vertical conveyor with the two load-carrying devices is provided. In this case, this vertical conveyor has (indirect) access to more load carriers than the first and second rack columns can store.

The double-deep storage in the middle second shelf column further increases storage capacity.

It is also advantageous to design the load carriers as trays, which extend in particular over the entire length of the shelf columns.

Furthermore, it is preferred to provide a data processing system, in particular an order in which at least three of the load carriers are to be presented in the handling opening is determined in advance by a picking order, the data processing system being set up: to initially cause one of the load-carrying devices to receive a first load carrier outsource the order from a corresponding shelf column; to initially cause the other of the load-carrying devices to remove a second load carrier in the sequence from a corresponding one of the shelf columns; to cause one of the load-carrying devices to deliver the first load carrier to the handling opening and, after a corresponding removal of the stored goods, to pick it up again from the handling opening and then return it to one of the shelf columns; to cause the other of the load-carrying devices to deliver the second load carrier to the handling opening as soon as the first load carrier has been picked up again from the handling opening by the one of the load-carrying devices; and after the second load carrier has been delivered to the handling opening, a third load carrier is to be removed from the sequence by that of the load-carrying means, which results in a shortest (load carrier change) cycle time, the cycle time generally beginning with the pickup of a load carrier from the handling opening and with the delivery of a subsequent load carrier to the handling opening ends.

This means that as soon as the first two load carriers have been presented in the handling opening for the removal of the corresponding stored goods, an (optimized) selection is made as to which of the, in particular free, load-carrying devices will remove the third load carrier and then deliver it to the handling opening. This decision is made based on an optimization process. This optimization process is aimed at keeping the charge carrier exchange cycle time as short as possible. This allows cycle times (12s) to be achieved that are only a third of the usual cycle time (35s).

In particular, the shortest cycle time is a result of an optimization based on at least one of the following parameters: path; Time; storage space occupancy; vertical relative position of the handling opening; Sequence; and/or storage regulations.

It is understood that the features of the claimed invention mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention.

• 1 ein Blockdiagramm eines Lagerlift-Systems mit einem Lagerlift;
• 2 eine Seitenansicht eines schematisch dargestellten Lagerlifts;
• 3 eine perspektivische Ansicht des Lagerlifts der 2;
• 4 ein Blockdiagramm eines Vertikalförderers;
• 5 eine perspektivische Detailansicht einer Handhabungsöffnung;
• 6 eine schematische Seitenansicht eines weiteren Lagerlifts mit einer Handhabungsöffnung in einem mittleren Vertikalabschnitt des Lagerlifts;
• 7 eine schematische Seitenansicht eines noch weiteren Lagerlifts, der über eine zusätzliche Regalsäule verfügt; und
• 8 eine zeitliche Abfolge eines Kommissioniervorgangs, der auf einem Kommissionierauftrag basiert, der die Kommissionierung von fünf Lagergütern bedingt.

Further features and advantages of the claimed invention result from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. Show it:

• 1 a block diagram of a storage lift system with a storage lift;
• 2 a side view of a schematically illustrated storage lift;
• 3 a perspective view of the storage lift 2 ;
• 4 a block diagram of a vertical conveyor;
• 5 a perspective detailed view of a handling opening;
• 6 a schematic side view of another storage lift with a handling opening in a central vertical section of the storage lift;
• 7 a schematic side view of yet another storage lift that has an additional shelf column; and
• 8th a chronological sequence of a picking process that is based on a picking order that requires the picking of five stored goods.

1 shows a block diagram of a storage lift system 10. The storage lift system 10, which will also be referred to below as “system 10”, includes at least one storage lift 12, of the type mentioned at the beginning. Each of the storage lifts 12 represents an automatic (in itself closed) storage and picking system, as already explained above. However, only a single storage lift 12 will be considered below. It is understood that the following description applies to each of the storage lifts 12 if several of the storage lifts 12 are present in the storage lift system 10.

A storage lift 12 generally includes a shelf 14. The shelf 14 has a large number of shelf columns 16. The shelf 14 includes at least two Shelf columns 16, in particular a first shelf column 16-1 and a second shelf column 16-2. Each of the shelf columns 16 has a plurality of storage spaces 20 arranged vertically one above the other, where a load carrier (eg a tray) 18 can be stored statically in the shelf 14. At least one of the shelf columns 16 has at least one handling opening (operating opening) 22, where stored goods 32 are removed and/or refilled, ie handled, manually and/or automatically.

The shelf columns 16 are aligned symmetrically to one another, so that load carriers 18 can be accessed on both sides, and each define a shaft 24, i.e. a free space where no storage spaces 20 are provided, between them. Basically, a vertical conveyor 26 is arranged in each shaft 24. To simplify the description, a storage lift 12 is considered below, the shelf 14 of which consists of only two shelf columns 16-1 and 16-2, which define a (single) shaft 24 between them. At least one of the vertical conveyors 26, in particular the vertical conveyor 26, which adjoins the shelf column 16 with the handling opening 22, has - in contrast to conventional storage lifts, a first load-carrying device (LAM) 28-1 and a further, second LAM 28-2.

The first LAM 28-1 and the second LAM 28-2 are independent of one another within overlapping movement areas 30-1 and 30-2 (cf. 2 ) movable vertically from and to the handling opening 22 without collision.

The LAM 28 are basically set up for the (horizontal) exchange of one of the load carriers 18 with each of the shelf columns 16 (here 16-1 and 16-2) and with the handling opening 22. The handling opening 22 is defined here as an example within the first shelf column 16-1 in that no storage spaces 20 (but presentation or staging spaces for picking) are provided there.

The handling opening 22 generally represents an interface of the storage lift 12 to the outside world. In the area of the handling opening 22, such load carriers 18 are presented for further processing, which are required, for example, to process a picking order. A picking order generally consists of one or more stored goods 32 which are stored on one or more of the load carriers 18. Preferably, each of the load carriers 18 is always only loaded with one type of stored goods 32, with several stored goods 32 of the same type being provided on the load carrier 18. It goes without saying that the load carriers 18 can also be divided into compartments or mixed in order to store several different types of stored goods on the same load carrier 18. The picking order specifies which types of stored goods are required and in what quantities. The corresponding load carriers 18 are to be moved automatically to the handling opening 22 one after the other, preferably in a predetermined order (sequence). A picker 58 (human or robot) who is positioned outside the storage lift 12, cf. 7 , removes the number of stored goods 32 specified by the picking order from the load carrier 18 and delivers them to an order loading aid (not shown) (eg an order container).

2 shows a schematic side view of the storage lift 12 with the first, front shelf column 16-1 and the second shelf column 16-2 arranged behind it. The shaft 24 is positioned between the shelf columns 16-1 and 16-2, which are spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction Z of the storage lift 12 but are otherwise arranged symmetrically to one another, and extends in the height direction Y over the entire height of the shelf columns 16-1 and 16-2. The two LAM 28-1 and 28-2 of the vertical conveyor 26 (not shown) are vertically movable within the shaft 24, as indicated by corresponding double arrows. The first LAM 28-1 has a (vertical) range of motion 30-1. The second LAM 28-2 has a (vertical) range of motion 30-2. The movement areas 30-1 and 30-2 overlap within a (vertical) overlap area 34. The handling opening 22 provided in the first shelf column 16-1 lies within the overlap area 34 and is therefore accessible to both LAM 28-1 and 28-2.

Some of the storage bins 20 are in the 2 proven. Other storage spaces 20 are free. Load carriers 18 from which stored goods 32 were removed during the processing of a picking order can be returned to the free storage locations 20. The return storage takes place according to storage regulations. Goods 32 to be returned or newly stored (or their load carriers 18) are stored in fixed or freely selectable storage locations. This determines the storage regulations.

The occupied storage locations 20 serve as a source for picking. In the 2 As an example, a swapping process is indicated by the second LAM 28-2 with dashed line arrows 36, 38 and 40. The load carrier 18 directly below the handling opening 22 must be removed. The second LAM 28-2 is moved to the appropriate height and stores the load carrier 18 (horizontally) (see arrow 36). The second LAM 28-2 is then moved vertically to the height of the handling opening 22 (see arrow 38) in order to then Load carrier 18 is to be delivered horizontally to the handling opening 22 (see arrow 40), so that a picker 58 (not shown) can remove the stored goods 32. A storage or return storage process runs analogously in the opposite direction, with the load carrier 18 in this case being stored back in a free storage space 20.

3 shows a perspective view of the storage lift 12 2 . The handling opening 22 is arranged in a lower vertical section of the first shelf column 16-1. No storage spaces 20 are provided in the area of the handling opening 22. Each of the shelf columns 16-1 and 16-2 is provided laterally with a large number of storage brackets 42, for example, on which the load carriers 18 can be placed by the LAM 28. The bearing angles 42 are preferably arranged along a vertical grid with a uniform vertical distance (pitch). The storage angles 42 preferably extend over the entire height of the shelf columns 16, especially in the area of the handling opening 22, where they define staging areas. Depending on the height of the stored goods 32, the corresponding load carriers 18 are stored at varying vertical distances from one another. This also applies to the area of the handling opening 22. There, too, the load carriers 18, from which stored goods 32 are to be removed, are moved horizontally into the handling opening 22 at an adjusted relative height or are delivered to the handling opening 22. The handling opening 22 is in the 3 empty. The charge carriers 18 are in the 3 empty. The LAM 28-1 and 28-2 are also empty. It is understood that the load carriers 18 are equipped with stored goods 32 (not shown here) during normal operation.

In the area of the shaft 24 there are generally no bearing brackets 42 provided. In the area of the shaft 24, a frame 44 of the vertical conveyor 26 is arranged, which includes, for example, racks 46, cf. 4 , along which the LAM 28 move vertically.

The load-carrying means 28 are preferably each provided with their own (vertical) drive 48, which is coupled, for example, to one or more gears 50 which engage in the racks 46 in order to move the LAM 28 vertically up and down.

The vertical conveyor 26 can have its own (optional) control module 52, which is connected to the LAM 28 in terms of data technology in order to move the LAM 28 vertically within the shaft 24 independently of one another and without collision. The control module 52 is also set up to control the horizontal exchange of the load carriers 18 between the load-carrying devices 28 and the shelf columns 16 (storage spaces 20 and handling opening 22). The control module 52 can also be part of a higher-level controller (not shown here).

It is understood that the racks 46 and the gears 50 of 4 can also be realized by other movement mechanisms (e.g. rotating drive belts to which the LAM 28 are attached).

5 shows a perspective detailed view of a handling opening 22, which is provided with an (optional) lift unit 54 in order to vertically move the load carriers 18 within the handling opening 22. The lift unit 54 can be implemented, for example, by endlessly rotating belts or chains, which are connected to one another via bearing brackets 42 and which are arranged (in the longitudinal direction X) in the outer side regions of the handling opening 22.

6 shows a schematic side view of another storage lift 12. The 6 serves to illustrate that the handling opening 22 can be arranged at different heights. In the 6 the handling opening 22 is arranged in a central vertical section of, for example, the second shelf column 16-2. The choice of the relative height position of the handling opening 22 influences a number of storage locations 20 that can serve the upper LAM 28-1 and the lower LAM 28-2 when starting from the handling opening 22. 6 expresses that the upper LAM 28-1 and the lower LAM 28-2 can serve almost the same number of storage spaces 20, while the other LAM remains in the area of the handling opening 22 or exchanges load carriers 18 with the handling opening 22. In the 2 and 3 On the other hand, the lower LAM 28-2 can serve fewer storage spaces 20 than the upper LAM 28-1 because the handling opening 22 is arranged there in a lower vertical section of the first shelf column 16-1. The relative height of the handling opening 22 can influence the (cycle time) optimization process, which will be explained in more detail below.

7 shows a further modification of a storage lift 12 in a schematic side view.

The storage lift 12 7 comprises - in contrast to the storage lifts described so far - three shelf columns 16-1 to 16-3, the middle shelf column 16-2 being set up in particular for double-deep storage of load carriers 18 (not shown here). Furthermore, the middle shelf column 16-2 is provided with at least one (eg bidirectionally operated) horizontal transfer unit 56. In the 2 are two unidirectionally operated Hori Zontal transfer units 56-1 and 56-2 are provided, the horizontal movement direction of which is indicated by arrows. The horizontal transfer units 56 are set up to transfer load carriers 18 horizontally between the two shafts 24-1 and 24-2. The first shaft 24-1 is defined between the first shelf column 16-1 and the second shelf column 16-2. The second shaft 24-2 is defined between the second shelf column 16-2 and the third shelf column 16-3. A vertical conveyor 26 with two independently movable LAMs 28-1 and 28-2 is provided in the first shaft 24-1 in order to supply the handling opening 22 provided in the first shelf column 16-1 with load carriers 18. A vertical conveyor 26 is provided in the second shaft 24-2, which, for example, has only a single LAM 28. Load carriers 18, which are stored in the rear (right) part of the second shelf column 16-2 and in the third shelf column 16-3, serve as buffer storage or to increase storage capacity. The vertical conveyor 26 in the second shaft 24-2 can be operated with only a single LAM 28 because this vertical conveyor 26 does not have to supply a handling opening 22. Otherwise this would also be provided with two independent LAM 28s.

The handling opening 22 of the 7 is operated manually by a human order picker 58 removing the stored goods 32 (not shown) from the load carriers 18 (not shown) and handing them over to order loading aids (not shown) in order to carry out the picking.

What all of the storage lifts 12 described above have in common is that the handling opening 22 is served by a vertical conveyor 26, which is supplied by two independently operated LAMs 28-1 and 28-2. The LAM 28-1 and 28-2 are moved within the corresponding shaft 24 without collision.

The provision of two independently movable LAMs 28-1 and 28-2 results in a shortened charge carrier exchange cycle time. The load carrier change cycle time is defined as the time required to replace a first load carrier 18-1, which is located in the handling opening 22, with a second load carrier 18-2, which was previously in one of the two shelf columns 16-1 and 16-2 was stored. While one of the two LAMs 28-1 or 28-2 removes the first load carrier 18-1 from the handling opening 22 and returns it to one of the shelf columns 16-1 or 16-2, the other load-carrying device 28-2 can store the second load carrier 18-2 Remove (horizontally), move (vertically) to the handling opening 22 and deliver (horizontally) to the handling opening 22. Ideally, delivery occurs as soon as the first load carrier 18-1 is removed from the handling opening 22.

The cycle time of a conventional storage lift 12, whose handling opening 22 is supplied with only a single LAM 28, is on average 35 seconds, depending on the storage lift height or the vertical travel path and the vertical travel speed of the LAM. The storage lifts 12 of the present disclosure enable cycle time to be reduced to up to 12 seconds. This reduction in cycle time results in increased throughput (number of charge carriers 18 presented in the handling opening 22/unit of time). The waiting time of the order picker 58 is shortened. This increases the picking performance (number of stored goods removed 32/unit of time).

The following one 8th illustrates a possible variant of processing a picking order that requires five stored goods 32-1 to 32-5, which are stored on five different load carriers 18-1 to 18-5. This means that the five different load carriers 18 must be presented in the handling opening 22 in order to enable the order picker 58 to remove the stored goods 32-1 to 32-5 specified by the picking order (and to deliver them to an order load carrier in order to carry out the picking to be carried out).

8th shows a sequence of schematic side views of a storage lift 12 with two shelf columns 16-1 and 16-2, the operating opening 22 being provided in the second shelf column 16-2, exemplarily in a lower vertical section. The five load carriers 18-1 to 18-5 are distributed anywhere over the two shelf columns 16-1 and 16-2. The distribution described below is only of an exemplary nature.

8A shows the initial situation. Both LAM 28-1 and 28-2 are empty, i.e. not loaded with any load carrier 18. The first required storage item 32-1 on the load carrier 18-1 is stored in the first shelf column 16-1 in an upper area. The second storage item 32-2 required is stored in the second shelf column 16-2 at a medium height.

Both LAM 28-1 and 28-2 are moved vertically to an appropriate height in order to remove the stored goods 32-1 and 32-2. The first, upper LAM 28-1 removes the first stored goods 32-1. The second, lower LAM 28-2 stores the second stored goods 32-2, cf. 8B .

In 8C Both LAM 28-1 and 28-2 were moved so far down that the first upper LAM 28-1 can deliver the first stored goods 32-1 (including its load carrier 18-1) to the handling opening 22 (horizontally). The second, lower LAM 28-2, which transports the second stored goods 32-2, is located below the first, upper LAM 28-1 at this point in time. The first, upper LAM 28-1 then delivers the first stored goods 32-1 (via its load carrier 18) to the operating opening 22, as shown in 8D is shown.

As soon as the order picker 58 (not shown) (human or robot) has removed the stored goods 32-1 specified by the order picking order, the first LAM 28-1 picks up the corresponding first load carrier 18-1 again, cf. 8E .

While the first LAM 28-1 returns the first load carrier 18-1 by moving vertically upwards, provided the corresponding return storage location 20 is at the top, the second LAM 28-2 is also moved vertically upwards to the handling opening 22, cf. 8F. The second LAM 28-2 delivers the second stored goods 32-2 (with its load carrier 18-2) to the operating opening 22, cf. 8G . The first LAM 28-1 has reached the storage location in the vertical direction, cf. also 8G .

8H shows a later point in time at which the first LAM 28-1 has stored the first charge carrier 18-1 back and at which the second LAM 28-2 moves upwards away from the handling opening 22. Both LAM 28-1 and 28-2 are free at this point to accommodate the third stock 32-3.

It is understood that the lower LAM 28-2 could also have picked up the first stored goods 32-1 and that the upper LAM 28-1 could have picked up the second stored goods 32-2 in order to get the two initial stored goods 32-1 and 32- 2 in the handling opening 22 to present. The initial situation is always the same. The two LAMs 28-1 and 28-2 pick up the first two stored goods 32-1 and 32-2, with the first stored goods 32-1 being presented first to be subsequently stored back by the same LAM 28, while the second stored goods 32-2 is presented by the other LAM 28 and the already presented first stored item 32-1 is put back into storage. You usually end up in the situation of 8A , where both LAM are 28-1 and 28-2 free. In exceptional cases, one LAM 28 can also remove the third stored goods 32-3, while the other LAM 28 puts the first stored goods 32-1 (or possibly also an emptied load carrier 18-1) back into storage. In this situation, when both LAM 28 are free, a decision must be made at the latest as to which of the two LAM 28-1 and 28-2 will remove and present the third stored item 32-3 (and the fourth stored item 32-4). This depends on which procedure, ie selection of one of the two LAM 28-1 and 28-2, results in the shorter charge carrier exchange cycle time, which represents an optimization problem. It goes without saying that these transport orders can also be calculated in advance, ie they do not have to be carried out in real time.

8I illustrates the decision that the third stored item 32-3 is removed from the lower LAM 28-2. Both LAM 28-1 and LAM 28-2 are then moved downwards so that the upper LAM 28-1 can receive the second load carrier 18-2 from the handling opening 22, while the lower LAM 28-2 is loaded below the upper LAM 28 -1 is “parked”, cf. 8y . The second charge carrier 18-2 is then picked up by the upper LAM 28-1 and stored back.

8K shows a later point in time at which the lower LAM 28-2 was moved vertically to the handling opening 22 in order to deliver the third stored goods 32-3 to the handling opening 22, while the upper LAM 28-1 continues to move upwards around the second load carrier 18-2.

In the 8L the upper LAM 28-1 has reached the return storage height for the second load carrier 18-2, while the lower LAM 28-2 has delivered the third stored goods 32-3 to the handling opening 22. The upper LAM 28-1 then delivers the second load carrier 18-2 to the second shelf column 16-2 in order to complete its return storage, cf. 8M . Again, both LAM 28-1 and 28-2 are free, so they could both pick up the fourth stock 32-4. Here too, the LAM 28 is selected, which results in the shorter cycle time.

As in 8N shown, it is the upper LAM 28-1 that removes the fourth stored goods 32-4, while the lower LAM 28-2 remains at the handling opening 22 in order to return the third load carrier 18-3 after the third stored goods 32-3 have been removed to include, cf. 8O .

Both LAM 28-1 and 28-2 are then moved downwards. The lower LAM 28-2 delivers the third load carrier 18-3 to the first shelf column 16-1 in order to store it back, while the upper LAM 28-1 is moved to the height of the handling opening 22 in order to deliver the fourth stored item 32-4 to release the handling opening 22, cf. 8P .

As soon as the fourth stored item 32-4 has been delivered to the handling opening 22, both LAM 28-1 and 28-2 are free again to accept the last (fifth) To remove stored goods 32-5, cf. 8Q . Here too, an optimization decision is made. In 8R For example, it is the lower LAM 28-2, which removes the fifth stored item 32-5. Both LAM 28-1 and 28-2 are then moved downwards so that the upper LAM 28-1 can receive the fourth load carrier 18-4 from the handling opening 22, cf. 8S.

At a later date 8T the lower LAM 28-2 has delivered the fifth stored item 32-5 to the handling opening 22, while the upper LAM 28-1 has returned the fourth load carrier 18-4.

8U shows an even later point in time where the lower LAM 28-2 has already picked up the fifth load carrier 18-5 from the handling opening 22 and has moved vertically upwards in order to store the fifth load carrier 18-5 back.

From the process described above it is clear that a decision always has to be made as to which of the two free LAMs 28-1 and 28-2 will receive the next load carrier 18 or the next stored goods 32, which is generally specified by the picking order Presentation picked up in the handling opening 22. This represents a classic optimization problem related to short cycle time.

Parameters that influence the optimization are, for example: a transport time; a length of the transport route; an occupancy of the storage spaces 20 with the load carriers 18 (in particular also free storage spaces 20 for the return storage of load carriers 18 that have already been handled); a relative positioning height of the handling opening 22 (cf. e.g 2 opposite 6 ); and/or a storage regulation.

The storage regulation is to be understood as a regulation as to whether an outsourced load carrier 18 must be stored back in the same storage location 20 or another specified storage location 20 (or alternatively can be stored back in any free storage location 20).

Another boundary condition that makes the optimization process more complex can be seen in the order in which the stored goods 32 are to be presented in the handling opening 22. It makes a difference whether the stored goods 32 specified by the picking order must also be presented in exactly the order specified by the picking order or whether the order can be freely selected. If the order can be chosen freely, the degree of complexity of the optimization problem is reduced.

However, the provision of two LAM 28 within the same shaft 24 enables optimization, which in turn results in the shortened charge carrier change cycle time. It is understood that the vertical conveyor 26, which serves the handling opening 22, can generally be equipped with more than two LAM 28.

The storage lift 12 itself can also be equipped with a corresponding data processing system that is set up to solve this optimization problem. The data processing system (not shown) is equipped with a corresponding optimization algorithm. Furthermore, the data processing system has knowledge of the locations of the storage locations 20, which are selected by the picking order from all possible storage locations 20 that store the load carriers 18.

It goes without saying that this data processing system can be either part of the storage lift 12 or the storage lift system 10. In the latter case, the data processing system is located away from the storage lift 12.

10

Storage lift system

12

Storage lift

14

shelf

16

Shelf column

18

charge carrier

20

Storage location

22

Handling opening

24

shaft

26

Vertical conveyor

28

Load handling equipment (LAM)

30

Range of motion

32

Stored goods

34

Overlap area

36, 38, 40

(Transportation) arrow

42

Bearing angle

44

Rack of 26

46

Rack

48

drive

50

gear

52

Control module from 26

54

Lift unit of 22

56

Horizontal transfer unit

58

Order picker

60

Horizontal conveyor

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed 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.

Cited patent literature

• DE 4233688 [0005]
• DE 202004012021 U [0005]
• DE 202006003068 U1 [0005]

Claims (14)

Storage lift (12), which is set up for picking according to the goods-to-person principle and which has: a first and second shelf column (16-1, 16-2) for storing load carriers (18), the shelf columns (16) being aligned symmetrically to one another and defining a shaft (24) between them; a handling opening (22) defined within one of the shelf columns (16); and a vertical conveyor (22) which is arranged in the shaft (24) and which has a first, upper and a second, lower load-carrying means (28-1, 28-2), each of which is used to exchange one of the load carriers (18). each of the shelf columns (16) and are equipped with the handling opening (22); wherein the load-carrying means (28-1, 28-2) within the shaft (24) independently of each other collision-free within vertically overlapping movement areas (30). can be moved vertically from and to the handling opening (22). Storage lift (12). Claim 1 , wherein the vertical conveyor (22) has a frame which has at least two vertically aligned racks (46) which extend in the shaft (24) substantially over an entire height of the shelf columns (16), and wherein each of the load-carrying means (28) has its own drive (48) and at least one gear (50) which engages in the respective rack (46) in order to move the load-carrying means (28) individually vertically within the shaft (24). Storage lift (12). Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the handling opening (22) is arranged at such a height of the storage lift (12) that the second load-carrying device (28-2) is loaded with one of the load carriers (18) in a state in which the second load-carrying device (28-2). is, can be positioned below the first load-carrying means (28-1), while the first upper load-carrying means (28-1) exchanges another of the load carriers (18) with the handling opening (22). Storage lift (12). Claim 3 , wherein the handling opening (22) is arranged in a central vertical section of one shelf column (16). Storage lift (12) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , wherein the handling opening (22) is set up to accommodate at least two of the load carriers (18) vertically one above the other at the same time. Storage lift (12) according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , wherein the handling opening (22) is provided with its own lift unit (54). Storage lift (12) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , wherein a third shelf column (16) is provided, which defines a further shaft (24-2) between itself and the second shelf column (16-2), where a further vertical conveyor (24-2) is provided, which is used to exchange the load carriers (18) is set up with the second and third shelf columns (16-2, 16-3). Storage lift (12). Claim 7 , wherein the load carriers (18) are stored twice as deep in the second shelf column (16-2) and the second shelf column (16-2) is provided with a horizontal transfer unit (56). Storage lift (12) according to one of the Claims 1 until 8th , wherein the load carriers (18) are trays which extend in particular over an entire length of the shelf columns (16). Storage lift (12) according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , wherein in particular an order in which at least three of the load carriers (18) are to be presented in the handling opening (22) is determined in advance by a picking order and a data processing system is also provided which is set up: one of the load-carrying devices (28-1 , 28-2) to initially cause a first load carrier (18-1) in the sequence to be removed from a corresponding one of the shelf columns (16); to initially cause the other of the load-carrying devices (28-2, 28-1) to remove a second load carrier (18-2) in the order from a corresponding one of the shelf columns (16); to cause one of the load-carrying devices (28-1, 28-2) to deliver the first load carrier (18-1) to the handling opening (22) and, after a corresponding removal of the stored goods, to pick it up again from the handling opening (22) and then into one of the shelf columns (16) to return; to cause the other of the load-carrying devices (28-2, 28-1) to deliver the second load carrier (18-2) to the handling opening (22) as soon as the first load carrier (18-1) is removed from one of the load-carrying devices (28-1 , 28-2) was picked up again from the handling opening (22); after the second load carrier (18-2) has been delivered to the handling opening (22), a third load carrier (18-3) is to be removed from the sequence by that of the load-carrying means (28-1 or 28-2), in the shortest cycle time results, the cycle time generally beginning with the pickup of a load carrier (18) from the handling opening (22) and with the Delivery of a subsequent load carrier (18) to the handling opening (22) ends. Storage lift (12). Claim 10 , where the shortest cycle time is a result of an optimization based on at least one of the following parameters: path; Time; storage location occupancy; vertical relative position of the handling opening; and storage regulations. Storage lift (12) according to one of the Claims 1 until 11 , which further has an acknowledgment device or sensor device for indicating an end of a storage goods removal in order to initiate a load carrier change. Storage lift (12) according to one of the Claims 1 until 12 , whereby the load carriers (18) never leave the storage lift (12) during normal operation. Storage lift (12) according to one of the Claims 1 until 13 , which is set up to move the load carriers (18) only vertically (Y) and in a transverse direction (Z).

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