DE202023102165U1 - Sorting device for a picking system and picking system - Google Patents

Abstract

Sorting device (30) for a picking system (10) for receiving and transporting articles (A) provided by an automatic picking machine (20), in particular in the form of an A-frame (20), the sorting device (30) having several means of transport (40 ), on which the articles (A) can be arranged for transport by the automatic order picking machine (20), the transport means (40) being movable along a transport route (R) of the sorting device (30) and each transport means (40) having at least one operable ejector (41), wherein the ejector (41) is designed such that the articles (A) are transferred from the transport means (40) of the sorting device (30) to at least one further component (100, 110, 120) by means of the ejector (41). of the picking system (10) can be transported.

Description

The present invention relates to a sorting device for a picking system for receiving and transporting articles provided by an automatic picking machine, in particular in the form of an A-frame. The invention further relates to a picking system for the automatic, in particular fully automated, picking and dispatching of articles.

Calculator or Computer-controlled picking systems are already known. The document DE 31 00 020 A1 For example, discloses a computer-controlled picking system with several areas in which piece goods or articles are stored according to their access or removal frequency. There are manual, semi-automatic and fully automated picking areas, all connected via a conveyor to transport collection agents between areas.

In general, items that have a high access frequency are often picked in an area of the overall system where automatic picking machines are used to assemble and deliver the items fully automatically.

The document DE 92 03 273 U1 discloses such a zone with corresponding fully automatic machines, e.g. B. are referred to as A-frames. These fully automatic machines have an A-shaped base frame, with the articles being stored in shafts along the essentially vertically oriented legs of the base frame in order to be ejected at the foot of the shafts by means of an ejector onto a central belt, which extends through the legs to all To pass through the shafts of the fully automatic machine. The storage shafts for the items are filled manually from storage shelves that are located near the fully automatic machine.

From the document EP 0 560 206 B1 is a picking machine for the automatic picking and dispatching of items, each with two parallel rows of magazines, slightly inclined towards the vertical, in which the items are stacked. These automatic order picking machines, known as A-frames, are equipped with pushers for pushing out items at the bottom of the stack transversely to the extent of the stack onto a substantially horizontal conveyor belt located between the rows of magazines. In order to increase the picking speed, the invention described in the document relies on the fact that not only a conveyor belt running between the rows of magazines is used, but also that at least one further, essentially horizontally running conveyor belt is assigned to each row of magazines on the outer long side of the magazine.

Conventional conveyors or conveyor belts are therefore always known from the prior art, which are only suitable for further transport and are therefore not very productive in terms of sorting or assigning the items, which means, among other things. automation suffers.

Based on the described prior art, it is an object of the invention to further improve the productivity and speed of a sorting device for a picking system. In particular, it is an object of the invention to further automate, in particular completely automate, the order picking system by means of the sorting device. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to implement the aforementioned with efficient use of space.

The above task is solved by a sorting device with the features of the independent device claim and by a picking system with the features of the independent system claim.

Further features, details, advantageous developments and improvements of the invention result from the subclaims, the description and the drawings. The features described in the protection claims, the description, the drawings and the subclaims can be combined or varied with one another in any technologically sensible manner and show further embodiments of the invention. It should be noted that the exemplary embodiments described below to explain the invention are not restrictive.

To solve the problem, the sorting device according to the invention has several, i.e. a plurality, of means of transport, with the articles provided by an automatic picking machine being arranged on the means of transport. The means of transport can be moved or transported along a transport route. Each means of transport of the sorting device comprises at least one operable, i.e. actuable, ejector, the ejector transporting or conveying the articles from the means of transport to at least one further component of the order-picking system in the course of its actuation or actuation.

It is therefore provided that the sorting device has several means of transport. This already shows that it is not a classic conveyor belt that carries the items ejected from the automatic picking machine promoted. Rather, according to the invention, it is a possibility to position or deposit one or more articles on one or more means of transport and to transport or convey them through the means of transport, with each means of transport additionally having at least one (article) ejector. The ejectors now make it possible for the articles that are arranged on the transport means to be specifically conveyed or transported to another component of the picking system by means of the ejector. Preferably, the article(s) are ejected/transported laterally by means of the ejector compared to the transport direction of the means of transport.

The means of transport move or are moved along a transport route, i.e. a definable path or a definable route. The transport route is preferably a self-contained route. This means that, similar to a conveyor belt, it can be a substantially oval, round or similar route.

Advantageously, the transport means can be arranged separately from one another and at a distance from one another on the sorting device, in particular on a transport frame of the sorting device, and can be driven by means of a transport drive. This ensures in particular that the articles can be ejected or transported further on the different means of transport at different points along the transport route. However, the articles do not have to be removed separately and necessarily by another component of the picking system, but rather the ejector(s) transport the articles further at the appropriate point. The transport frame serves, among other things, to hold and guide the means of transport and, on the other hand, to determine the working height. So it can be understood as a kind of framework. For this purpose, the transport frame can in particular have guide elements, for example in the form of rails or the like, so that the means of transport are arranged or stored on it.

The transport drive ensures that the means of transport are transported along the transport route. The means of transport can be driven, for example, by means of a roller drive, belt drive or motor-driven wheels. As a result, the means of transport are moved along the transport route so that the means of transport come to different locations or zones of the picking system.

It is also conceivable that by means of the ejector or ejectors the article or articles can be transported from the means of transport to a further component of the order-picking system either in a first direction or in a direction different therefrom. For this purpose, the ejector is arranged or mounted on the means of transport in such a way that an ejection movement can transport the article or articles in the desired direction. The article or articles can thus be transported away from the means of transport in a first direction or a direction deviating from the first. In particular, these are the directions that are located laterally to the transport direction or the transport route.

The ejector is advantageously designed to be movable in translation, rotation or pivoting. This means in particular that the ejection movement is carried out by a translational movement, a rotational movement or a pivoting movement of the ejector. Depending on the application and structure, the article(s) can be transported away from the transport means by the ejector through a translational movement, a rotational movement and/or a pivoting movement. The ejector is particularly preferably designed to be translationally movable. Accordingly, the ejector can push or eject the item(s) away from the means of transport.

This ensures a high level of flexibility in the further transport of the items by the means of transport. Because the ejector is designed to be translational, rotational or pivotable, the articles can also be dispensed in different directions.

Within the scope of the invention, each means of transport can be assigned a drive unit, the drive unit driving the ejector in such a way that the ejector is moved in at least one, in particular two, directions, so that the articles can be transported to the further component. The drive unit is preferred for this arranged on each means of transport. The drive unit then acts on the ejector and moves it in the course of the ejection movement. That is, the drive unit drives the ejector in particular in a translational, rotational or pivoting manner. The drive unit can be designed, for example, as an electric motor. In particular, a belt drive can be used for this purpose , chain drive or direct drive can be provided.

Accordingly, the ejectors are operatively connected to a drive, so that the electric motor drive in particular exerts a force on the ejector so that it can be moved in preferably two directions. This procedure, also known as the ejection movement, can be automated using the electric motor drive sified and carried out particularly quickly. A further advantage arises from the fact that it can be provided that the ejector or the ejector can transport the article(s) in two different directions. It is therefore conceivable, for example, that the item(s) can be transported along the transport route in two different directions away from the transport means and thus away from the sorting device. The ejector can preferably transport the article or articles away from the transport route to the right or left.

Furthermore, it can be provided according to the invention that a control unit is provided, wherein the ejector(s), in particular the drive unit, can be controlled by means of the control unit depending on order processing. The control unit can also control and/or regulate the speed of the means of transport. Furthermore, it is possible for the control unit to control the ejector(s) in such a way that the article(s) is transported further or ejected at the appropriate location or in the appropriate picking zone.

Within the scope of the invention, connecting elements can be provided for the transport means, so that the transport means are connected to one another by or by means of the connecting elements, in particular that the connecting elements are designed to be movable or flexible at least in sections, preferably bellows-like or as a bellows. Accordingly, a type of chain of transport means is formed, with the transport means each being connected to one another by means of the connecting elements. On the one hand, this can serve to ensure that the means of transport are at a defined distance from one another. Forces can also be transferred accordingly, so that, for example, the drive does not have to drive each means of transport individually. The connecting elements are preferably designed to be movable or flexible, so that in particular unwanted movements can be compensated for and are not transmitted directly to the means of transport. In addition, it is possible to allow movements accordingly in curves. The connecting elements are particularly preferably designed like bellows or like a bellows. This technology is also used in a similar way in articulated buses or trains. This can increase the picking speed.

The object is also achieved according to the invention in that a picking system for automatic, in particular fully automated picking and dispatch preparation of articles is proposed. For this purpose, the order picking system has an automatic order picking machine, in particular in the form of an A-frame, and further components for further transport of the article or article. In addition, a sorting device according to the invention and described above is provided, wherein the sorting device sorts and transports the articles from the automatic picking machine, in particular the A-frame, to the at least one further component of the picking system in a picking zone. On the one hand, all of the advantages that have already been described in connection with the sorting device according to the invention also arise for the order picking system according to the invention.

The picking system according to the invention for the automatic, in particular fully automated, picking and dispatch preparation of articles enables a high picking speed and at the same time a reduction in the number of employees required. In particular, the order picking system according to the invention enables a fully automated, i.e. H. Employee-free picking and provision of items.

Accordingly, it is conceivable that the articles can be delivered to different picking zones along the picking or transport route using the ejectors and are thus transported to other components of the picking system. This makes it possible to create different picking zones along the transport route and thus process several orders at the same time.

The use of an automatic order picking machine, especially an A-frame, enables quick order processing. The high flexibility of the configurable product channels is an essential feature of an A-Frame. This means that a large number of products/items, regardless of whether they are cylindrical or rectangular, can be picked per hour. A-frame systems are therefore particularly suitable, especially in conjunction with automated picking systems, for picking products with high volumes. Key areas where an A-Frame is used include pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, office supplies or contact lenses.

One advantage of the A-Frame, for example, is that refilling and picking are separate processes. It is conceivable that the A-frames are refilled during off-peak times and that picking is then carried out fully automatically during peak times.

According to the invention, it is conceivable that an article checking unit is provided for checking articles arranged on the transport means or the transport route by the automatic order picking machine, in particular the A-frame. The checking unit can be designed in the form of a barcode scanner, a camera or similar recognition units. Accordingly, faulty articles or faulty articles issued by the picking machine can be sorted out. For this purpose, the ejector can be controlled, for example, at a picking zone in which the defective items can be collected and returned. This further automates the system and reduces picking errors.

Within the scope of the invention, it can be provided that the further component of the picking system is a robot, in particular an industrial robot, particularly preferably a picking robot. For this purpose, a robot according to the invention is arranged in particular in a picking zone in which the articles are further processed or picked by the means of transport. The ejector of each transport means can accordingly move the article or articles from the transport means towards the robot. The robot thus accepts the items and can process or pick them autonomously and, in particular, automatically. This allows a high degree of automation to be achieved. Particularly preferably, the robot is designed with a corresponding module that makes it possible to pick up the articles in such a way that they can be quickly transported for further picking or further processing, in particular in a further picking zone.

In addition, according to the invention it can be provided that the further component of the order picking system is a conveyor belt.

Further measures improving the invention result from the following description of some exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are shown schematically in the figures. It should be noted that the figures are only descriptive and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. Embodiments which are not explicitly shown or explained in the figures, but which emerge from the explained embodiments through separate combinations of features and can be generated are therefore also to be regarded as being included and disclosed by the invention. In the figures, the same reference numerals denote the same or functionally identical components, unless otherwise stated.

• 1 eine mögliche Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Kommissioniersystems mit einer möglichen Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Sortiervorrichtung,
• 2 eine weitere mögliche Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Kommissioniersystems mit einer möglichen Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Sortiervorrichtung,
• 3a eine Ausschnitt der Sortiervorrichtung gemäß der Ausführungsform der 2 und
• 3b ein Ausschnitt der Sortiervorrichtung gemäß der Ausführungsform von 2 aus einer anderen Perspektive.

Show it:

• 1 a possible embodiment of a picking system according to the invention with a possible embodiment of a sorting device according to the invention,
• 2 a further possible embodiment of a picking system according to the invention with a possible embodiment of a sorting device according to the invention,
• 3a a section of the sorting device according to the embodiment of 2 and
• 3b a section of the sorting device according to the embodiment of 2 from a different perspective.

The 1 shows a possible embodiment of the order picking system 10 according to the invention with an automatic order picking machine in the form of an A-frame 20. The A-frame has a first magazine row 21 and a second magazine row 22, the magazine rows 21, 22 being arranged in such a way that the typical A-frame shape is formed. The articles A are filled in the magazine rows 21, 22, so that the articles A are delivered from the A-frame 20, in particular from the two magazine rows 21, 22, to the sorting device 30. The order picking system 10 shown also has a control unit 50, in particular in the form of a central control unit, the control unit 50 being signal-connected at least to the A-frame 20, the sorting device 30 and the article checking unit 60. In addition, the control unit 50 can of course also process the item orders. Consequently, the control unit 50 is able to control/activate in particular the transport means 40, the ejectors 41 assigned to the transport means 40 and the A-frame 20. The article checking unit can be, for example, a barcode scanner and/or a camera, as explained in the general description section.

In particular, the control unit 50 can be designed such that the ejectors 41 of the transport means 40 in the corresponding picking zone Z1, Z2, or Z3 transport the articles A away from the transport means 40 at the desired removal/delivery location O. For this purpose, the ejectors 41, in particular an associated drive unit, receive a corresponding signal so that the articles A are transported from the transport means 40 to a further component 100, 110 or 120 of the order picking system 10. The components can be as in the 1 shown is, for example, a robot 100, a conveyor belt 110 or an order container 120. It is conceivable that so-called article slides 130 are arranged between the transport means 40 and the further component. This allows you to Differences in height between the components can be overcome in a cost-effective manner. In addition, shelves 140 into which items A can be sorted can also be provided in the picking system. It can also be provided that manual removal locations in the form of containers 71 are also arranged along the transport route R.

The transport route R of the sorting device 30 has in the 1 one in oval shape. The transport frame 31 serves as a mechanical basic structure for the sorting device 30, with the transport means 40 being arranged on the transport frame 31 and preferably stored. The means of transport 40 consequently move along the oval transport route R. Since the transport route R is a closed transport route R, the means of transport 40 therefore run/move in a circle. The ejectors 41 are arranged on the transport means 40 in such a way that they are moved in particular from the inside to the outside and/or from the outside to the inside. This should be understood to mean that the outer circumference of the transport route R or the means of transport 40 corresponds to the outside information. The articles A can therefore be transported in the direction of the outer radius of the sorting device 30 and/or in the direction of the inner radius. This becomes clear not least from the figures, where it can be seen that items A are handed over/transported to the other components.

In the 2 a further embodiment of the sorting device 30 and the order picking system 10 is shown. Essentially, the exemplary embodiments differ in that: 2 a special robot 100, or in particular a robot module 103, is provided. In addition, the sorting device 30 in the 2 flexible or movable connecting elements 43, which are designed in particular as bellows or as bellows. Another significant difference is that in addition to a first level I, a second level II is provided. In the first level I there are the transport means 40 with the ejectors 41, which move along the transport route and thus transport the articles A from the A-frame 20 and sort them accordingly to the other components 100, 110. For this purpose, as mentioned above, the ejectors 41 are controlled accordingly, for example via the control unit 50. Each means of transport 40 has a drive unit 42 for this purpose, the drive unit 42 applying a force to the ejector 41, so that the ejector 41 is moved and the / the articles are transported further, so that the articles are transported away from the means of transport 40. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the ejectors 41 are translationally movable.

In the first level I, the articles A are consequently transported to the robot 100, whereby in the 2 Conveyor rollers are interposed on which the articles A are moved further. The robot 100 is located at the end of the conveyor rollers 110 in level I. The robot 100 has a first robot arm 101 and a second robot arm 102. The robot module 103 is arranged on the second robot arm 102 or connected to the robot arm 102. The articles A can be received by the robot module 103 and further picked. The module 103 has several robot transport means 104 for this purpose. The robot transport means 104 are designed here and preferably have the same function as the transport means 40 of the sorting device 30. Accordingly, reference may be made to the comments on this. In any case, the robot transport means 104 also had ejectors 105, so that the articles A can be transported/further transported away from the robot transport means 104 by means of the ejectors 105. For particularly efficient order picking, the robot transport means 104 are mounted like a drum in the robot module 104 and can rotate accordingly about an axis, as shown in FIG 2 is indicated by an arrow and will be described further later.

In the 3a and 3b are each detail sections of the exemplary embodiment of 2 shown, so that reference is also made to the statements made.

The 3a shows in particular the means of transport 40 in detail. As already explained, the means of transport 40 each have at least one ejector 41, by means of which the articles A can be transported away from the means of transport. Here and preferably the ejectors 41 are guided translationally along the guide geometry 44. The guide geometry 44 can be, for example, a groove, a rail or a slot, so that the ejector 41 is guided and stored. The guide geometry 44 thus ensures that the ejector 41 is guided translationally. It can be provided that the ejector 41 conveys the articles A in the direction of level I and/or in the direction of level II. So along the guide geometry in the 3a i.e. to the right and/or to the left. In each case, the article A or the articles A are transported further on another component, for example a conveyor belt 110.

The 3b now shows in particular the robot module 103 in detail. These details will be discussed in particular below. The other features correspond to those of the 2 and 3a , so that reference is made to the statements.

The robot module 103 has several robot transport means 104 and each robot transport means 104 has an ejector 105 for the transport means 104, so that the articles arranged on the robot transport means 104 can be transported further by means of the ejector 105. For this purpose, each robot transport means 104 is assigned ejector drives 107, so that the ejectors 105 are subjected to a force by the drive 107 and the articles can therefore be transported.

The robot transport center 104 are stored in a suspension 106. The suspension 106 consists of several arms which are essentially star-shaped or shaped like a circle. this is the 3b very easy to see. The robot transport means 104 are mounted on the arms of the suspension 106. The suspension 106 is designed to be rotatably movable about an axis, as indicated by the arrow. The suspension can 106 can therefore rotate about an axis, so that the robot transport means 104 are also rotated. Overall, it can be said to be a kind of drum. The robot module 103 here and preferably has eight robot transport means 104. Each of these means of transport 104 can be filled with items from a sorting device and thus from an automatic order picking machine, in particular an A-frame. For this purpose, the suspension can rotate and all means of transport 104 can be filled with articles, so that quick and automated picking can be achieved.

The eight-transport robot module 104 shortens picking time eightfold and offers a picking and delivery capacity of more than 3,600 items per hour. As soon as the means of transport 104 is loaded with orders/items, they are transported further. The system makes it possible to bundle different orders and reduce the number of sorting points.

Reference symbol list

10

Order picking system

20

Order picking machine, A-Frame

21

first series of magazines

22

second series of magazines

30

Sorting device

31

Transport rack

40

Mode of Transport

41

Ejector

42

Drive unit

43

Fasteners

44

Guidance geometry

50

Control unit

60

Article Review Unit

70

manual removal zone

71

Container for manual withdrawal

100

Component: Robot

101

first robot arm

102

second robot arm

103

Robot module

104

Robotic transport means

105

Ejector for robot transport vehicles

106

suspension

107

Ejector drive

110

Component: conveyor belt

120

Component: order container

130

Article slide

140

Item shelf

A

Article

O

Pick-up/drop-off location

R

Transport route

Z1

Picking zone 1

Z2

Picking zone 2

Z3

Picking zone 3

I

first floor

II

second level

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 3100020 A1 [0002]
• DE 9203273 U1 [0004]
• EP 0560206 B1 [0005]

Claims (11)

Sorting device (30) for a picking system (10) for receiving and transporting articles (A) provided by an automatic picking machine (20), in particular in the form of an A-frame (20), the sorting device (30) having several means of transport (40 ), on which the articles (A) can be arranged for transport by the automatic order picking machine (20), the transport means (40) being movable along a transport route (R) of the sorting device (30) and each transport means (40) having at least one operable ejector (41), wherein the ejector (41) is designed such that the articles (A) are transferred from the transport means (40) of the sorting device (30) to at least one further component (100, 110, 120) by means of the ejector (41). of the picking system (10) can be transported. Sorting device (30). Claim 1 , characterized in that the transport means (40) are arranged separately from one another and at a distance from one another on the sorting device (30), in particular on a transport frame (31), and can be driven by means of a transport drive. Sorting device (30). Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the ejector (41) is designed such that the articles (A) can be transported in two different directions from the transport means (40) to the further component (100, 110, 120) by means of the ejector (41). Sorting device (30) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ejector (41) is designed to be translationally movable and/or rotationally movable and/or pivotally movable. Sorting device (30) according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that each transport means (40) is assigned a drive unit (42), the drive unit (42) driving the ejector (41) in such a way that the ejector (41) in at least one, in particular two, direction is moved so that the articles (A) can be transported to the further component (100, 110, 120). Sorting device (30) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control unit (50) is provided, wherein the ejector (41), in particular the drive unit (42) of the ejector (41), by means of the control unit (50) depending on a Order processing can be controlled. Sorting device (30) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that connecting elements (43) are provided for the transport means, so that the transport means (40) are connected to one another by the connecting elements (43), in particular that the connecting elements (43) are movable at least in sections or are designed to be flexible, preferably bellows-like or as bellows. Picking system (10) for the automatic, in particular fully automated, picking and dispatch preparation of articles (A), comprising an automatic order picking machine (20), in particular in the form of an A-frame (20), a further component (100, 110, 120) for further transport of the articles (A), and a sorting device (30) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sorting device (30) transfers the articles (A) from the automatic picking machine (20) to the at least one further component (100, 110, 120) in a picking zone (Z1, Z2, Z3) sorted and transported. Order picking system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an article checking unit (60) is provided for checking the articles (A) arranged on the transport means (40). Order picking system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the further component (100, 110, 120) is a robot (100). Order picking system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the further component (100, 110, 120) is a conveyor belt (110).

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