EP3071486A1

EP3071486A1 - Packaging aid, packing method, and packing workplace

Info

Publication number: EP3071486A1
Application number: EP14802356.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Max Winkler; Elmar Issing
Original assignee: SSI Schaefer Peem GmbH
Current assignee: Ssi Schaefer Automation GmbH
Priority date: 2014-02-03
Filing date: 2014-11-13
Publication date: 2016-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2034-11-13
Also published as: US20160340067A1; US9789985B2; DE102014101268A1; DE102014101268B4; EP3071486B1; WO2015113665A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a packing workplace (18) for packing articles (26), which belong to a picking order, into a shipping unit, in particular into a shipping carton, comprising a packing device (60) that has a packing plane (32) which is preferably oriented horizontally and on which the articles (26) can be stacked into an article stack (74); a stacking aid (30) with multiple lateral faces (34) on which the articles (26) can be placed for the purpose of forming the article stack (74), wherein the stacking aid (30) can be positioned on the packing plane (32); and a measuring device (20) for determining dimensions of the article stack (74) in order to produce the shipping unit in an individualized manner according to the thus determined dimensions. The invention is characterized in that the lateral faces (34) of the stacking aid (30) are connected to one another in a closed manner in a circumferential direction of the stacking aid (30); the lateral faces (30) define an open lower face (40) and an open upper face (38) of the stacking aid (30), the lateral faces (34), preferably each of the lateral faces, being longitudinally adjustable at least along the circumferential direction in order to sealingly place the lateral faces (34) against a stacked article stack (74) in a circumferential manner; and the measuring device (20) is designed to measure a length of the lateral faces (34), preferably of each of the lateral faces, of the stacking aid (30), to determine a maximum height of the article stack (74), and to transmit the measured lengths (L) and the height determined in this manner to a packaging production device (22) which produces the shipping unit according to the measured lengths (L) and the determined height.

Description

Packaging aid, packing method and pack workstation

The present invention relates to a stacking aid that assists a packer in layering articles of a picking order and which is then used at least temporarily during a process of making a shipping carton whose dimensions are tailored to the individual package produced by the packer Item stacks are matched. The invention further relates to a corresponding packing method and a suitably equipped pack workstation and a storage and picking system.

The document DE 103 00 164 A1 discloses a method and a device for packaging piece goods. The document DE 697 30 758 T2 discloses a method and an apparatus for palletizing packages of any dimensions and weight. The document WO 2009/109218 A1 discloses a method and a workstation for semi-automatic multilayer stacking on a load carrier. Document US 4,564,593 A discloses a method for forming and fixing a bag stack.

[0003] Due to increased availability of (consumer) goods in the light of a globalized market and e-commerce, the number of consignments has been steadily increasing in recent years. Traders usually ship the ordered items to their customers in shipping boxes with pre-assembled sizes. The boxes are pre-assembled with regard to their dimensions (height, width, length). So far, shipping costs have essentially been determined by a weight of the consignment. More recently, shipping costs have increasingly been determined by volume and no longer by weight. Therefore, there are efforts, shipping units or - cartons in terms of their size to a volume of the ordered items as well as possible adapt to avoid unused voids (air) inside the shipping carton. Since a packing volume always depends on the volumes of the articles ordered, the use of prefabricated cartons is disadvantageous. For this reason, machines have been developed in the past that were able to produce packages with individualized dimensions quickly and promptly on demand. Suppliers of such machines include the companies Packsize, T-ROC Equipment and Packaging Sales & Consulting. A machine of this type is described by way of example in the document WO 201 1/072253 A1.

In practice, the articles associated with a picking order are brought to a picking and packing station in a storage and picking system where the items are manually stacked by a human into a stack of items. A minimum (mathematically predeterminable) shipping volume results from the sum of the volumes of the individual articles that belong to the picking order, provided that the individual volumes are backed up by data technology. However, this minimum volume is never achieved in layering and packaging because the articles are never dense, i. without air in between, can be layered. In addition, there are many different ways in which the packer can stack the articles of the picking order into an article pile. This depends e.g. depending on which of the articles below and which of the articles are placed at the top of the article stack. In other words, the height, width and length of an article stack can vary because the packer is free to layer the articles of the order. Of course, the packer will always try to pack the items as close as possible. Studies show that an average air content within shipping cartons is 40%. This is extremely disadvantageous in the case of volume-dependent shipping costs.

Dimensions of an article stack can be determined in various ways. The article stack can be completely scanned, for example, with a 3D scanner. Alternatively, individual measurements (height, width and length) can be performed. The dimensions determined in this way are then transmitted to a packaging production machine which automatically produces the shipping carton with the desired dimensions. In WO 2012/082980 A1 a hand-held device for measuring the dimensions of individual articles or a stack of articles is shown. The handset has a reflection distance measuring unit as well as a firmly connected contact angle. The angle of attack is applied to the article stack. A distance to an oppositely arranged stop is determined. The stop may be an integral part of a packing table and, for example, protrude vertically from a packing surface of the table. The article to be measured is clamped during the measurement between the stop and the hand-held device or the angle of the hand-held device. The stop may have two mutually perpendicular connected sides, which together with the packing surface form a three-dimensional right angle, ie form a spatial corner for applying the article or the article stack.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved packing station and an improved packing method.

This object is achieved by a packing workstation for packing articles that belong to a picking order, in a shipping unit, in particular in a shipping carton, with: a packaging device having a, preferably horizontally oriented, packing plane on which the Articles are layerable to a stack of articles; a stacking aid with a plurality of lateral sides, to which the articles can be applied for the purpose of forming the article stack, wherein the stacking aid can be positioned on the packing plane; and a measuring device for determining dimensions of the article stack to produce the shipping unit individually according to the dimensions thus determined; characterized in that the lateral sides of the stacking aid are closed together in a circumferential direction of the stacking aid; the lateral sides defining an open bottom as well as an open top of the stacking aid, the, preferably each of the lateral sides being adjustable in length at least along the circumferential direction to provide the lateral sides circumferentially close to a layered stack of articles; and in that the measuring device is arranged to measure a length, preferably each, of the lateral sides of the stacking aid and to determine a maximum height of the stack of articles and to send the measured lengths and the height so determined to a packaging production device comprising the shipping unit according to the measured lengths and the specific height generated. The present invention is used in particular in e-commerce. As a rule, fewer than five articles are ordered there, but in some cases very widely differing dimensions. A total volume of articles is relatively small. However, different article constellations are ordered again and again, so that the use of prefabricated shipping boxes is not optimal for volume-dependent shipping costs. With the present invention, an optimal pack size can be achieved. In particular, people intuitively pack articles into the stacking aid. The stacking aid is preferably in the form of a basket that is open at the bottom and at the top. The stacking aid is preferably made of plastic. The lateral sides of the stacking aid can be pushed together to an individual packaging dimension. In this way, the smallest possible packaging sizes can be achieved. Accompanying documents and advertising material can be attached without problems.

The stacking aid supports the formation of an optimal package, since there is support from all (four) sides. The stack of items can no longer fall apart or slip off an open side. Nevertheless, the stacking aid can be moved due to the open bottom including the article stack. It is thus possible to move the stacking aid including the article stack onto an individually produced packaging blank, to build up the packaging blank around the stacking aid and then to pull the stacking aid out of the half-finished shipping carton. Thereafter, the shipping carton can be finally closed. If desired, other ingredients can be added beforehand.

Alternatively, e.g. be packed on a thin carrier plate, which is then transferred with the article stack from this manual workstation to a board machine. This means that the carrier plate is moved with the article stack thereon on a flat packaging blank, the carrier plate is then pulled out laterally and then the corresponding parts of the packaging blank are folded up.

Filling and packaging material can be saved to a considerable extent. Inside the shipping container, the items are secured against slipping so that damage during transport is avoided. Packaging is today generally an important advertising medium and is currently being Commerce always higher quality, so that the packaging is a cost driver. The present invention helps to save packaging material and thus save costs.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the lateral sides, preferably each, further height adjustable and the measuring device is also adapted to measure a height of the height-adjustable lateral sides in order to determine the maximum height of the article stack from the measured height of the lateral sides ,

The lateral sides may also have openings, preferably vertical slots, through which, from the outside, by means of e.g. optical measuring method determines the height of the article stack. This eliminates the step of height adjustment of the lateral sides.

By height-adjustable lateral sides of the stacking aid arbitrarily high stack of items can be formed. Thus, the stacking aid is not only adaptable in the circumferential direction to the individual article stack, but also in the height direction. It is prevented that the articles fall down laterally with a high stack of articles. Furthermore, the height of the layered article stack can be easily measured by adjusting the height adjustable sides to the maximum height of the article stack, e.g. by pulling or pushing together, and then measured.

Further, it is preferred that the lateral sides form an upper and lower peripheral edge of the stacking aid, wherein the upper and / or the lower edge is provided at intersections of the lateral sides with markers.

The markers support a length measurement of the sides, especially when a camera system is used, which can be arranged vertically above the stacking aid. On a relatively complex image analysis can be dispensed with. The determination of points in a picture is very simple. The distance between the Points can be easily determined. The distance between the points results in the length of the lateral sides.

In particular, exactly four lateral sides are provided which preferably surround the underside and the upper side at right angles.

Today, most shipping boxes are cuboid. Only when shipping very special articles, which have a very special geometry, is exceptionally deviated from the cuboid shape. Therefore, the stacking aid is preferably formed of four lateral sides with adjacent sides defining a right angle.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the lateral sides are hinged together.

In this way it is possible to save the lateral sides in an unused state of the stacking aid to save space on each other.

In a particular embodiment, each of the lateral sides of a, preferably rectilinear, guide and at least two wall elements, which are mounted in the guide length-adjustable movable into each other.

In this way it is possible to adjust the respective lateral side in terms of their length. The wall elements are designed so that they can be moved in and out of one another. The guidance ensures that a given geometry (e.g., cuboidal shape) is maintained when adjusting the lateral sides.

Further, it is advantageous if each of the lateral sides has a latching mechanism to adjust the respective lateral side in, preferably fixed predetermined intervals, in their length. The packaging production device usually makes the packaging blanks according to a fixed predetermined grid with individual lengths. This grid is imaged by the latching mechanism. Thus, intermediate dimensions are avoided which the packaging production facility may not be able to produce.

In particular, the lateral sides are flat planes.

Further, it is advantageous if in addition a conveyor is provided on soft the layered article stack is transferable together with the stacking aid and connects the packing plane with the packaging production device, wherein the conveyor is set up, the stacked article stack together with the stacking aid to move a flat packaging blank, which forms the shipping unit in a folded state and which has a bottom, side walls and a lid.

This embodiment is used in particular for manual packing. The packer does not need to manually move the stacking aid including the stack of articles onto the packaging blank. The movement is automated. This can e.g. can be achieved by the conveyor on which the stacking aid including the article stack is slightly raised relative to the provided packaging blank is arranged to promote the stacking aid including the stack of articles on the packaging blank.

In a further preferred embodiment, the packing station further comprises a packaging material dispenser, which adjoins the packaging device and which is adapted to deliver a packaging material web to the package level.

In this way, it is possible that the stacking aid is placed directly on the packaging material web to be subsequently filled with the articles. This simplifies the transfer of the stacking aid including the stack of articles to the packaging blank because the packaging blank is made from the packaging material web. The packer only cuts off a section of the web on which the Stacking aid including the stack of articles is before this composite is transferred to the packaging production facility.

In particular, the pack workstation also has the packaging production facility.

In a preferred embodiment, the pack workstation further comprises an article feeder coupled to the packaging production facility for transferring the articles to the pack level.

The above object is further achieved by a method for packing articles that belong to a picking order, in a shipping unit, in particular in a shipping box, which is made individually volume optimized for the article of the order, with the steps: Spend the Article about a packaging device having a packing plane; Positioning a stacking aid on the pack level, the stacking aid having a plurality of lateral sides self-contained in a circumferential direction of the stacking aid and defining an open bottom and an open top, each of the lateral sides being at least length adjustable; Laying the articles within the stacking aid on the packaging surface to a, preferably volume-optimized, article stack by moving the articles through the open top or bottom and placed on the packaging surface or an already layered article as close as possible; Pushing together the lateral sides so that the lateral sides are as close as possible to the stack of articles; Measuring a length of the lateral sides of the stacking aid in the collapsed state; Determining a maximum height of the article stack; Producing a flat packaging blank forming the shipping unit in a folded state according to the measured lengths and the determined height, the packaging blank having a bottom, side walls and a lid; Providing the floor under the article stack and the stacking aid; Erecting the side walls of the package blank into a position such that the side walls of the blank abut the lateral sides of the stacking aid; Connecting the erected side walls to each other; Removing the stacking aid; and closing the lid. Preferably, the step of providing the tray comprises: moving the stack of articles located within the stacking aid together with the stacking aid to the bottom of the package blank.

Alternatively, the step of providing the floor comprises: providing a packaging material web at the package level from which the package blank is made, the stacking aid being positioned on the packaging material web prior to layering the articles.

Further, it is advantageous if the step of removing the stacking aid comprises: pulling out the stacking aid from the erected and interconnected side walls.

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

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a storage and picking system;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a stacking aid on a packing plane; FIG.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a packing work station;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through a side wall of the stacking aid of Fig. 2;

FIGS. 5A and 5B

a flow chart for creating, packing and shipping a shipping unit or a shipping box; Fig. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional on-demand packaging creation system; and

Fig. 7 shows a conventional packing workstation.

The present invention is commonly found in a storage and order picking system 10, such as e.g. in a distribution system, used. The storage and order-picking system can have a goods receipt (not shown), a (long-term) warehouse, a short-term storage or a buffer, one or more conveyor technologies, a sorter, a goods issue and / or a controller 24.

FIG. 1 shows a storage and order-picking system or a distribution system 10. The storage and order-picking system 10 has a control component 12 for storage management and for regulating a material flow. The material flow usually takes place via conveyors not shown here (for example belt, roller, chain, hanging or belt conveyors, shuttle, storage and retrieval machines, driverless transport systems). In addition, a picking control system 14 (hardware and / or software) and an order processing 16 (hardware and / or software) may be provided. The software can in turn be executed or executed on a central controller 24 or on distributed control components. Warehouse management or the material flow, the order-picking system and order processing communicate with each other in terms of data.

The storage and order-picking system 10 also has at least one packing workstation 18, which has at least one measuring device 20. Furthermore, it can have a packaging production device 22. Exemplary measuring devices 20 and packaging production devices 22 are described, for example, in WO 201 1/072253 A1 and WO 2012/082980 A1. A more detailed description will follow with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. Another exemplary measuring device 20 is described in US 6,373,579 B1. It is understood that the measuring device 20 and the packaging production device 22 can also be obtained from other suppliers in another embodiment. The controller 24 may be connected either wirelessly or via fixed lines to the measuring device 20 and the packaging production device 22. Article 26, which are not shown in detail in FIG. 1, are delivered in larger quantities via a goods receipt to the distribution system 10. From the goods receipt, the items are usually transported to a long-term warehouse. There, the articles 26 serve as a stock for the processing of (commissioning) orders.

An order consists of one or more order items, which are also referred to as order lines. An order line indicates a respective quantity (quantity) of an article type that a customer has ordered. The order processing 16 ensures that the articles 26, which are in the right place in the right place to meet a picking order between the individual components of the system 10 in time, are reordered items, and the like.

[0043] An article 26 is understood below to be a piece goods or a packaging unit. An article 26 is a (smallest) unit of an article assortment that can be distinguished by an article type. Piece goods are individualized, distinguishable goods that are handled individually and whose stock is managed in pieces or as a container or packaging unit. A container or a packaging unit is generally understood to mean an individually manageable unit which can be moved manually or by means of technical equipment (conveyor technology). Also, a subset of a loading unit, such as e.g. a crate on a fully loaded with crates pallet is called a container. In the following, the terms "article", "container", "packaging unit" and "general cargo" are used equivalently.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a stacking aid 30 used in a pack workstation 18 which will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 3. The stacking aid 30 is placed on a packing plane 32, which will also be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 3. The stacking aid 30 has a plurality of lateral sides 34 which are interconnected in a circumferential direction (in the XZ plane) closed together. The stacking aid 30 of FIG. 2 has four lateral sides 34-1 to 34-4. The stacking aid 30 preferably surrounds a substantially cuboid stack volume V into which the articles 26 are layered can be, as indicated by an arrow 36. The stack volume V is circumferentially bounded by the lateral sides 34.

A layering process takes place through an open top 38 of the stacking aid 30 by the articles 26 of a picking order from above into an interior of the stacking aid manually (packer) or automated (packing robot) are introduced and layered there. The (fully) open top 38 of the stacking aid 30 is circumferentially bounded by the lateral sides 34 and lies substantially in the XZ plane. An underside 40 of the stacking aid 30 is likewise designed to be completely open and is temporarily closed by the packing plane 32 in FIG. 2. The articles 26 are parked primarily at the pack level 32 and secondarily to each other. The articles 26 are thereby preferably aligned against one of the corners of the stacking aid, which are defined by adjoining lateral sides 34 and the packing plane 32. The layering can also take place against one or more of the lateral sides 34, which prevent overturning of a stack of articles stacked in this way

The lateral side 34-1 extends substantially in the vertical XY plane. The first lateral side 34-1 is pivotally connected, preferably articulated about the Y-axis, to the second lateral side 34-2 extending in the vertical YZ-plane. The second lateral side 34-2 is in turn, preferably articulated and rotating about the Y-axis, connected to the third lateral side 34-3, which extends substantially in the XY-plane. The third lateral side 34-3 is, preferably articulated and rotating about the Y axis, connected to the fourth lateral side 34-4 which extends substantially in the YZ plane. The fourth lateral side 34-4 is in turn connected to the first lateral side 34-1 with, preferably articulated and rotating about the Y-axis. The first lateral side 34-1 extends substantially parallel to the third lateral side 34-3. The same applies to the lateral sides 34-2 and 34-4. It is understood that the sides 34 can also be rigidly interconnected. However, the articulated connection makes it possible to collapse the stacking aid 30 in the unused state to save space. However, to form a cuboid, at least two diagonally opposite corners must define a rigid right angle, at least during a packing operation and until the stacking aid 30 is removed from the shipping carton. The stacking aid 30 is shown in FIG. 2 in a built-up, maximally extended position. Each of the lateral sides 34-1 to 34-3 is at least length-adjustable and in FIG. 2 maximally extended. The first and the third lateral side 34-1 and 34-3 each have three extendable and retractable wall elements 42. The second and fourth lateral sides 34-2 and 34-4 each have two extendable and retractable wall elements 42. Of the wall elements 42, only the wall elements 42 of the first and second lateral sides 34-1 and 34-2 are designated in more detail in FIG. The lengths L1 -1 to L1 -3 of these wall elements 42 of the first lateral side 34-1 are selected so that they give the total length L1 of the first side 34-1 in a maximally extended state. The lengths L2-1 and L2-2 of the wall elements 42 of the second lateral side 34-2 are selected so that they give the length L2 of the second side 34-2 in the maximum extended state, as shown in FIG. The same applies to the third lateral side 34-3 and the fourth lateral side 34-4. The wall elements 42 can generally guided longitudinally displaceable in guides 44, as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 4 by way of example for the first lateral side 34-1 of FIG. 2. The guides 44 may be, for example, rails in which upper and lower edges of the wall elements 42 are slidably mounted. Due to the displaceability, the length adjustability of the sides 34 is ensured.

The wall elements 42 of FIG. 2 are preferably plate-shaped. The wall elements 42 have closed surfaces to prevent lateral falling out of the article 26 from the stacking aid 30. It is understood that the wall elements 42 are further e.g. may be formed transparently by grating structures or the like to be transparent to laterally incident radiation (e.g., for height measurement of the article stack).

The lateral sides 34 further define an upper peripheral edge 48 and a lower peripheral edge 50. At corners of the upper edge 48 where adjacent lateral sides 34 abut each other, markers 46 may be provided which cooperate with the measuring device 20 to at least indicate the lengths L1 and L2 of the first lateral side 34-1 and the second lateral side 34-2. Assuming that the lateral sides 34 define a cuboid, it suffices to determine the lengths L1 and L2 to measure the smallest packing volume which is defined by an article stack (not shown) that is stacked inside the stacking aid 30. The pages 34 of the stacking aid 30 are pushed together as much as possible after the stratification of the article 26 to form an article stack, as will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

It is understood that the packing volume V does not necessarily have to be parallelepipedic. Depending on the configuration of the lateral sides 34, other geometric shapes can be realized. The wall elements 42 may e.g. also be formed around to define a cylindrical packing volume. Depending on the shape of the wall elements 42, the markers 46 can also be arranged between adjacent wall elements 42 on one and the same lateral side 34, in particular at the upper edge 48. The sides 34 can each be made up of the same number of wall elements 42.

In addition, the lateral sides 34 can also be designed to be height-adjustable, i. 2 extendable and retractable along the vertical Y-axis of FIG. For this purpose, in turn corresponding vertical guides 44 are provided. With the height-adjustable lateral sides 34, the height of the stacking aid 30 can be adapted to a maximum height of an article stack.

3 shows a plan view of a packing workstation 18. The packing workstation 18 has a packing device 60, an article feed 62, a stacking aid 30 and a measuring device 20. The packing device 60 may be designed as a table 64, the upper side of which forms the (horizontal) packing plane 32. The stacking aid 30 stands vertically on the table 64 in an extended state. The article feeder 62 is exemplarily implemented as a (belt) conveyor 66 to convey the articles 26 towards the packer 60, as indicated by an arrow 68. The conveyor 66 is disposed above the stacking aid 30 at a height that allows a packer 70 to grip the fed articles 26 and layer them into an interior 72 of the stacking aid 30 to form an article stack 74. The packer 70 aligns the article stack 74, for example, at the lower left corner of the stacking aid 30 of FIG. 3. Further, a display 76 (see also order-picking 14) may be provided to the packer 70, for example, a number of articles 26 to be layered. In the example of FIG. 3, the packer 70 is notified that three more articles 26 are still to be stacked on the article stack 74.

Adjacent to the table 64, which represents a packing station, a measuring station 78 is provided so that the packer 70 can push the stacking aid 30 after a completed layering operation together with the article stack 74 laterally horizontally on the measuring station 78, as it Arrow 80 is indicated. The packer 70 collapses the lateral sides 34 of the stacking aid 30 to support the stack of articles 74 from all sides. The pushing together preferably takes place before the packer 70 moves the stacking aid 30 together with the article stack 74 from the packing station to the measuring station 78. By pushing together the sides 34 of the stacking aid 30, the packing volume of the later to be produced shipping unit (shipping box) is set at least in the circumferential direction. The pushing together of the sides 34 of the stacking aid 30 takes place before a measuring operation which is carried out by the measuring device 20.

The measuring device 20 may be implemented in the form of a camera 82, e.g. is arranged vertically above the measuring station 78. A field of view 84 of the camera 82 is dimensioned so that the camera 82 can clearly see the sides 34 of the stacking aid 30 even in their maximum extended state. As soon as the stacking aid 30 with the article stack 74 contained therein and maximum pushed together pages 34 on the measuring station 78, there is a measurement of the lengths of the sides 34, preferably from each of the pages 34 of the stacking aid 30. A measuring operation can be triggered manually by the packer 70 by the packer 70 actuating a corresponding actuator 86 (pushbutton, footswitch or the like). The measuring process can also be triggered automatically, e.g. a camera image is evaluated by means of a corresponding image evaluation algorithm. The image of the camera 82 can also be evaluated to determine the lengths of the sides 34 of the stacking aid 30.

It is understood that the measuring device 20 can also be arranged directly in the region of the packing device 60, for example vertically vertically above the table 64. The spatial decoupling of the packing station from the measuring station 78 has the advantage that during a measurement process already a new article stack 74 can be formed in another stacking aid 30.

Furthermore, it is understood that the measuring device 20 can also be implemented by spatially sensitive reflection sensors or the like, which can detect the relative position of the markers 46 (see Fig. 2). The measuring device 20 is set up to determine from the measured lengths, the base area of the stacking aid 30, and thus also the base area of the article stack 74. For this purpose, the basic geometry of the stacking aid 30 can be deposited as additional information in terms of data technology. In the example of FIG. 2, the base of the stacking aid 30 is a rectangle.

To determine the packing volume, it is necessary to determine a maximum height of the article stack 74. The maximum height of the article stack 74 may be determined by image processing algorithms from the image of the camera 82. Alternatively and / or additionally, in the area of the measuring station 78, e.g. not shown here in detail and designated vertical light grids are arranged, which are adapted to penetrate transparent sides 34 of the stacking aid 30 and to measure the maximum height of the article stack 74.

From the measured lengths of the sides 34 of the stacking aid 30 and the measured or determined (calculated) maximum height of the stack of articles 74, the volume and dimensions of a shipping unit can be calculated. This information is sent to a packaging production facility 22, as indicated by an arrow 88. The packaging production device 22 produces a packaging blank 90 and outputs it, as indicated by an arrow 92. The shipping unit is preferably cuboid. The packaging blank 90 has a bottom 92, side walls 94 and a lid 96, which are initially in a plane and are cut out of a cardboard web, for example. A waste can be collected in a waste storage 98, as indicated by an arrow 100. Later, the waste can be used as filler before the shipping unit is finally closed. This is indicated in FIG. 3 by an arrow 102. The measured on the measuring station 78 stacking aid 30 is transferred together with the article stack 74 on the packaging blank 90, as shown in Fig. 3 right of the measuring station 78. Right from the measuring station 78, a packing station 104 is arranged. It is understood that both the measuring station 78 and the packing station 104 can coincide with the table 64 or the packing device 60. It can also be packed, measured and assembled in one place without lateral displacement. Here, the spatial decoupling serves only the purpose of decoupling different stages of the packing process or to be able to process several shipping units in parallel.

Once the stacking aid 30 is arranged with the article stack 74 on the bottom 92 of the packaging blank 90, the side walls 94 of the packaging blank 90 can be folded up and connected to each other. In this state, the lateral sides 34 of the stacking aid 30 are supported by the side walls 94 of the packaging blank in a supportive and durable manner. In this state, the stacking aid 30 can be pulled up out of the folded and erected packaging blank 90. Subsequently, a remaining cavity can optionally be filled with waste material (see arrow 102). At the end of the packing operation, the lid 96 is also connected to one or more of the side walls 94. The packing volume is then closed. The shipping unit thus formed and filled may then be e.g. be transported over a further conveyor 106, as indicated by an arrow 108. It is understood that the additional (shipping unit) conveyor 106 may be directly adjacent to the packing station 104, such that the packer 70 does not have to lift the shipping unit from the packing station 104 onto the conveyor 106. Furthermore, it is understood that multiple buffer locations can be provided between the individual locations 60, 68 and 104. The transport of the stacking aid 30 with the article stack 74 can be done by other sponsors. This means that the packaging device 60 itself can be implemented by a conveyor. The same applies to the measuring station 78 and the packing station 104.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide a material web, from which the packaging blank 90 is formed, from the beginning on the packing plane 32, so that the stacking aid 30 stands on the material web during the layering process. The cutting of the web takes place later. The stacking aid 30 is then used together with the material web in the direction of the subsequently arranged packaging production device 22 moves.

With reference to Fig. 5, a method of creating, packing and shipping a shipping unit (e.g., shipping carton) will be explained below. In a first step S10, the stacking aid 30 is brought into a packing position (sides 34 are extended), as shown in the packaging device 60 in FIG. In a step S12, the stacking aid 30 is filled with the articles 26, i. an article stack 74 is formed. In a step S14, the sides 34 of the stacking aid 30, preferably maximally, are pushed together to support the stack of articles 74 from all sides. In a step S16, the lengths L of the sides 34 of the stacking aid 30 are measured. Furthermore, a (maximum) height of the article stack is determined, preferably measured. In a step S18, the packaging blank 90 is cut by means of the packaging production device 22, preferably from a board web. In a step S20, the blank 90 is brought under the filled stacking aid 30. In a step S22, the side walls 94 of the blank 90 are erected and (permanently) connected to each other. In a step S24, the stacking aid 30 is removed. In a step S26, filler (optional) is introduced into the semi-finished shipping carton. In a step S28, the shipping unit is finally closed. In a step S30, the shipping unit can be addressed. In a step S32, the addressed shipping unit can be sent.

Usually, the steps S10 and 12 and S20 to S32 are done manually, whereas the remaining steps are performed automatically. But it is also possible to carry out the steps S20 to S32 automated. A return transport of the removed stacking aids 30 to the packing station is usually automated. However, the steps S10 to S14 can also be carried out automatically, e.g. by means of a robot.

It is understood that in addition to the articles 26 at any time other elements can be added, such as invoices or advertising leaflets. Fig. 6 shows a block diagram of a conventional system 1000 for creating on-demand packaging. The system 1000 includes a packing station 1002, a measuring unit 1004 and a packaging production machine 1006. The packaging production machine 1006 includes a packaging design machine 1008 and a production system 1010. For further details, reference is made to the aforementioned WO 2012/082980 A1.

Fig. 7 shows a conventional packing workstation 1200, which has a table 1202, on which an article stack 1204 is arranged. The article stack 1204 consists of several individual articles 1206 that are stacked to the stack 1204. To one of the articles 1206, the above-mentioned measuring unit 1004 is created. The measuring unit 1004 comprises the handset 1208 mentioned in the beginning and the angle 1210 attached thereto. The hand-held device 1208 emits a (light) beam 1212 which is reflected by the abutment angle 1214 mentioned above for the purpose of measuring the distance of a length X.

In the above description of the figures, the choice of the orientation of the coordinate systems is generally based on the usual designations in the warehouse logistics, so that a longitudinal direction with X, a transverse direction with Z and a (vertical) height with Y denotes were.

Furthermore, the same parts and features have been given the same reference numerals. The disclosures contained in the description are mutatis mutandis to like parts and features with the same reference numerals transferable. Location and orientation information (eg "top", "bottom", "side", "longitudinal", "horizontal", "vertical", "circumferential" and the like) are related to the directly described figure. In the event of a change in position or orientation, however, these details must be transferred analogously to the new situation or orientation. Designation: 0 Warehousing and Picking System 2 LVR / MFR

4 order picking system

6 order processing

8 pack workstation

0 measuring device

2 packaging production facility 4 control

6 articles

0 stacking aid

2 pack level

4 lateral sides

36 shift operation

38 top

0 bottom

42 wall element

44 leadership

46 markers

48 upper edge

50 lower edge

60 packing device

62 article feeder

64 table

66 sponsors

68 conveying direction

70 packers

72 inside of 30

74 article stack

76 display

78 measuring station

80 displacement movement

82 camera

84 field of view

86 actuator

88 data transmission 0 packaging blank

2 bottom of 90

4 side walls of 90

6 lids of 90

8 caching storage

100, 102 arrows

104 packing place

106 conveyor

108 arrow

1 10 conveyor

1 12 arrow

1000 conventional system

1002 packing station

1004 measuring unit

1006 packaging production machine

1008 packaging design machine

1010 P rod u ction system

1200 conventional pack workstation

1202 table

1204 article stack

1206 articles

1208 handset

1210 angle

1212 (light) beam

Claims

claims

Packing station (18) for packing articles (26), which belong to a picking order, into a shipping unit, in particular into a shipping box, with:

a packaging device (60) which has a, preferably horizontally oriented, packing plane (32) on which the articles (26) can be layered to form an article stack (74);

a stacking aid (30) having a plurality of lateral sides (34) to which the articles (26) for forming the stack of articles (74) can be applied, wherein the stacking aid (30) on the packing plane (32) can be positioned; and

a measuring device (20) for determining dimensions of the article stack (74) to produce the shipping unit individually according to the dimensions thus determined;

characterized in that

the lateral sides (34) of the stacking aid (30) are closed together in a circumferential direction of the stacking aid (30);

in that the lateral sides (30) define an open lower side (40) and an open upper side (38) of the stacking aid (30), the, preferably each, of the lateral sides (34) being adjustable in length at least along the circumferential direction apply the lateral sides (34) circumferentially close to a layered article stack (74); and

in that the measuring device (20) is set up to measure a length, preferably each, of the lateral sides (34) of the stacking aid (30) and to determine a maximum height of the stack of articles (74) and the measured lengths (L) and the ones thus determined Send height to a packaging production device (22), which generates the shipping unit according to the measured lengths (L) and the determined height.

The pack workstation (18) of claim 1, wherein at least one of the lateral sides (34), preferably each, is further height adjustable, and wherein the gauge (20) is further configured to have a height-adjustable lateral height To measure pages (34) to determine from the measured height of the lateral sides (34) the maximum height of the article stack (74).

Packing workstation (18) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lateral sides (34) form an upper and lower peripheral edge (48, 50) of the stacking aid (30), wherein the upper and / or lower edge (48, 50) is provided at intersections of the lateral sides (34) with markers (46).

4. Pack workplace (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein exactly four lateral sides (34) are provided, which surround the bottom (40) and the top (38) preferably at right angles.

5. Pack workstation (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lateral sides (34) are hinged together to the side sides (34) in an unused state of the stacking aid (30) to save space on each other.

6. Pack workplace (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of the lateral sides (34) has a, preferably rectilinear, guide (44) and at least two wall elements (42) in the guide (44) adjustable in length are movably mounted in each other to adjust the respective lateral side (34) in terms of their length (L).

7. Pack workstation (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each of the lateral sides (34) has a latching mechanism to the respective lateral side (34) in, preferably fixed predetermined intervals, in their length (L) adjust.

The packing station (18) of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the lateral sides (34) are flat planes.

9. pack workstation (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a conveyor, on which the layered article stack (74) is transferable together with the stacking aid (30) and the packing plane (32) with the packaging The conveyor is arranged to move the layered article stack (74) together with the stacking aid (30) onto a flat packaging blank (90) which in a folded state forms the shipping unit and which has a bottom (92). , Side walls (94) and a lid (96).

10. Packing workstation (18) according to one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a packaging material dispenser adjacent to the packing device (60) and which is adapted to deliver a packaging material web to the packing plane (32), so that then the Stacking aid (30) can be arranged on the packaging material web.

1 1. The pack station (18) of any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising the packaging producing means (22).

The pack work station (18) of any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising an article feeder (62) coupled to the packer (60) for transferring the articles (26) to the pack level (32).

13. A method for packing articles belonging to a picking order into a shipping unit, in particular a shipping box, which is produced individually for the volume of the order, with the steps of:

Transferring the articles (26) to a packaging device (60) having a packing plane (32);

Positioning a stacking aid (30) on the packing plane (32), the stacking aid (30) having a plurality of lateral sides (34) closed together in a circumferential direction of the stacking aid (30) and an open underside (40) and define an open top (38), wherein each of the lateral sides (34) is at least adjustable in length;

Laying the articles (26) within the stacking aid (30) on the packaging surface (32) to a, preferably volume-optimized, article stack (74) by the articles (26) through the open top or bottom (38, 40) moves and on the packing surface (32) or an already layered article (26) are set as close as possible;

Pushing together the lateral sides (34) so that the lateral sides (34) lie as close as possible to the stack of articles (74);

Measuring a length (L) of the lateral sides (34) of the stacking aid (30) in the collapsed state;

Determining a maximum height of the article stack (74);

Producing a flat package blank (90) which in a folded state forms the shipping unit according to the measured lengths and the determined height, the package blank (90) having a bottom (92), side walls (94) and a lid (96);

Providing the bottom (92) under the stack of articles (74) and the stacking aid

(30);

Erecting the side walls (94) of the package blank (90) into a position such that the side walls (94) of the blank (90) abut the lateral sides (34) of the stacking aid (30);

Connecting the erected side walls (94) together;

Removing the stacking aid (30); and

Close the lid (96).

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of providing the bottom (92) comprises:

Moving the stack of articles (74) located within the stacking aid (30), together with the stacking aid (30), to the bottom (92) of the package blank (90).

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of providing the bottom (92) comprises:

Providing a packaging material web at the package level (32) from which the package blank (90) is made, the stacking aid (30) being positioned on the packaging material web prior to laminating the articles (26).

16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the step of removing the stacking aid (30) comprises:

Pulling out the stacking aid (30) from the erected and interconnected side walls (94).