EP4244159A1

EP4244159A1 - Order-picking system

Info

Publication number: EP4244159A1
Application number: EP21814708.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Herbert Fellner; Ludwig BRANDMÜLLER
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-11-11
Filing date: 2021-11-11
Publication date: 2023-09-20
Also published as: WO2022101315A1; DE102020129727A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an order-picking system, in which a plurality of racks are provided, between which driving spaces are formed, along which rack operating devices are guided. Transverse carriages are provided transversely to the rack operating devices, which transverse carriages are guided in a plane of the transverse carriages below the racks with shelves and transfer compartments.

Description

picking device

description

The invention relates to an order-picking device according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Fully automatic picking concepts are increasingly being implemented to optimize warehouse logistics processes.

Picking devices are known in which the packs are delivered sorted and then placed on trays in layers or as individual packs via separating systems. These loaded trays are then conveyed to a tray warehouse by means of a complex conveyor device, for example consisting of a large number of driven rollers on which the trays roll, and stored there by means of stacker cranes.

With this known solution, automatic picking takes place outside of the tray warehouse. For this purpose, the corresponding trays are retrieved from the storage and retrieval machines in the correct sequence, the packs are removed from the trays in the required number, separated and fed over long conveyor distances to a palletizing station in the packing sequence. This packing sequence is generated by a packing pattern generator depending on the order.

If necessary, the remaining packs are returned to the tray store on these remainder trays.

The problem with such solutions is, on the one hand, that a considerable effort is required for the provision, storage and processing of the trays. On the other hand, the conveyor devices that bring the trays into the tray warehouse and promote them from there to the picking station are very complex. Furthermore, with these systems, there are relatively often disruptions at the infeed and outfeed points and corner transfers due to unstable or unstable containers, so that the corresponding conveyor line is blocked. These disruptions then have to be eliminated manually by employees and lead to a “break in the sequence” at the palletizing station, so that a comparatively high level of personnel is required despite the automation.

DE 10 2013 100 048 A1 shows an order-picking device in which a shelving system is served by a large number of shuttle vehicles. These shuttle vehicles are equipped with load-carrying equipment, the extension path of which can be largely freely controlled depending on the type, number or dimensions of the goods. It is thus possible for mixed containers to be picked up on the shuttle's load handling attachments and transferred to other stations for storage or order picking. With such a system, picking takes place directly at the shelf compartment.

US Pat. No. 4,265,582 A discloses a device for storing pallets, which are preferably loaded with elongate objects. Several shelves are arranged in a fixed position next to one another and are accessible from at least one broad side via a loading and unloading device that can be moved transversely to the shelves. Multiple shelves hold the pallets and have a guided loading and unloading mechanism that moves under the above-floor shelves. An additional guided, portal-type loading and unloading device moves above the shelves. The loading and unloading device can also be designed as a lifting table that can be moved under the shelves with a device for loading and unloading the pallets. Guides can be attached to the vertical elements of the shelves for lateral support of a platform of the lifting table. A lifting mechanism of a gantry crane can be formed by brackets that are guided on the gantry supports. These consoles can be swiveled into the vertical plane of the supports.

The applicant's EP 2 995 579 A1 discloses an order-picking device whose shelves can be approached by a shuttle vehicle system. This has transport shuttles that can be moved along a longitudinal axis of the shelves and transverse carriages or similar means of transport that run transversely to the longitudinal extent of the shelves, via which the transfer shelves of the shelves can be approached. These transfer shelves can also be accessed using the transport shuttles of the shuttle vehicle system, which are guided in the area of the driving areas.

US 2015/0225187 A1 discloses a storage system with multiple storage areas that is designed for storing containers. Lifting transport devices are arranged on rails in the lower area of the storage arrangement. These lifting transport devices reach the bottom shelves and take over the containers from them in order to move them across the shelves. The containers are fed to the lifting transport devices by further devices which are arranged in the spaces between the shelves so that they can be moved transversely to the lifting transport devices. These devices are also rail-bound and are arranged vertically offset to the lifting transport devices. Several of these devices are provided for each space between the shelves so that they can be moved one above the other in order to be able to reach the entire shelf height. Both loading and retrieval take place on the same level below.

US 2016/0060037 A1 describes a storage system in which rail-bound lifting transport devices are guided in the spaces between the shelves on several levels. Container transport carriages can be moved transversely to the direction of travel of the lifting transport devices, and these can also be moved in several levels along rails. Containers can be fed to a sequencer via these transport trolleys, which can be used to control the storage and retrieval of the containers.

A storage system is known from DE 10 2009 017 241 A1, in which several storage levels are arranged one above the other. An operating level is provided between each storage level, in which shuttle vehicles are arranged so that they can be moved in order to reach practically any storage point on the level above or below. The problem with the aforementioned solutions is that the travel paths of the individual transport devices can overlap and collisions cannot be ruled out as a result. It is also disadvantageous that several transport devices arranged one above the other are necessary in the spaces between the shelves. The control and regulation effort for such systems is very high.

To overcome this disadvantage, WO 2019/154815 A1, which also goes back to the applicants, proposes arranging a loading level in the area of the top shelf compartments and a retrieval level in the area of the bottom shelf compartments, with transverse carriages being movable in the loading level and in the retrieval level the goods/packages/goods can be transported from the loading station to transfer compartments or from these to the retrieval station. The actual distribution of the goods/packages/goods on the respective shelf takes place via storage and retrieval devices, via which, for example, a pack to be stored is picked up from the transfer compartment and placed in the predetermined shelf compartment. When retrieving, the container to be retrieved is transported via the storage and retrieval device from the predetermined shelf compartment in the direction of the transfer compartment. From there, the container is picked up by a transverse carriage that can be moved on the retrieval level and brought to the retrieval station.

This picking device enables goods to be placed and picked very quickly and effectively, with the separate design with transverse carriages that can be moved on different levels and storage and retrieval devices in between preventing a collision when storing and retrieving. The disadvantage of this solution, however, is that the outlay in terms of device technology is considerable due to the transverse carriages arranged in the loading plane and the order-picking plane. Furthermore, when designing the statics, the transverse carriages of the loading level and the associated loading station arranged above the shelves must be taken into account.

In contrast, the invention is based on the object of creating an order-picking device which, with a simple and compact design, enables effective order-picking. This problem is solved by an order-picking device with the features of patent claim 1 .

Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The order-picking device according to the invention has a large number of shelves, each with shelf compartments, with spaces being provided between mutually spaced shelves, in which storage and retrieval devices or the like can be moved, via which the shelf compartments and transfer compartments can be approached for removing or accepting goods. The picking device is also designed with transverse carriages, which can be moved transversely to the shelves/transport spaces in order to transfer goods to a transfer compartment or take them out of it, with the goods being stored via a loading station and retrieved via a retrieval station.

According to the invention, transverse carriages are guided in a transverse carriage plane in such a way that they can be moved between the transfer compartments, the loading station and the retrieval station. This means that these transverse carriages are used for loading, i.e. transporting the goods from the loading station to the respective transfer compartments, and also for picking, i.e. transporting the goods to be picked from the respective transfer compartment to the retrieval station.

This order-picking device is characterized by a very compact structure, with the outlay in terms of device technology being significantly reduced compared to conventional solutions.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, this transverse carriage level is arranged below the transfer compartments and the shelves. This means that the transverse carriages move underneath the shelves, so to speak, between the respective transfer compartments and the loading station or the retrieval station. This transverse carriage level is preferably raised relative to the hall floor on which the picking device stands. In principle, a further transport level along which the goods can be transported can also be arranged below the transverse carriage level. This transport level can also be raised relative to the hall floor.

The effectiveness of the picking device is further improved if the loading station and the retrieval station are arranged in opposite areas of the transverse carriage level, so that the loading station and the retrieval station are offset in the direction of travel of the transverse carriage, so that they can be moved between the loading station and the retrieval station.

In one embodiment of the invention, the picking device is designed with a stacking station, which can be assigned to both the loading station and the retrieval station and which is designed to set down mother pallets on transport racks and/or to take over target pallets from transport racks, possibly in relation to a hall floor level raise or lower towards this.

The loaded transport racks are preferably transported by industrial trucks, which in one exemplary embodiment of the invention are designed to be self-propelled.

In addition to the stacking station, at least one hand packing station can also be provided on the outbound side, in which goods/containers/goods that cannot be processed in the automated warehouse can be added by hand.

Operational safety can be further improved if the loading station is assigned a teach-in station for scanning a container from a master pallet.

In a preferred solution, the loading station is designed with a depalletizer, via which, for example, layers of the master pallet are unloaded and the packs of these layers are separated. The depalletizer can also do so be designed so that the separated containers are lowered or raised from a separation level to a loading Zeinlager level.

A storage station can be provided to transfer the individual packs from the loading station to the transverse carriage.

For full automation of the operation, the retrieval station can be designed with a loader controlled by a pack pattern generator for loading the target pallet.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below using schematic drawings. Show it:

1 shows a plan view of an order-picking device according to the invention, and FIG. 2 shows a side view of part of the order-picking device according to FIG.

The order-picking device 1 shown in a top view in FIG. 1 is arranged in a hall (not shown) and has a large number of shelves 2, 4, with the shelves 2 on the outside (top and bottom in the view according to FIG. 1) being designed as single-row shelves, while the intermediate shelves 4 are designed as double-row shelves. In the illustrated embodiment, four double-row shelves and two single-row shelves are accordingly provided. Depending on the storage capacity, other rack combinations can of course also be used. Between adjacent shelves 2, 4 there is an aisle, referred to below as the driving space 6, which is thus delimited by two shelves 2, 4 or 4, 4 and can be moved along the longitudinal direction (see arrow in Figure 1) of the driving space 6 Storage and retrieval devices 8 are guided, which can also be moved perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing, so that shelves 10, 12 of the shelves 2, 4 delimiting the respective driving space 6 can be reached. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a total of 15 storage and retrieval devices 8 are arranged so that they can be moved within the driving areas 6 . Thus, three such storage and retrieval devices 8 are provided within each driving area 6 in order to reach each shelf compartment 10, 12 in a short time. As will be explained in more detail below, transverse carriages 14 are arranged below the shelves 10, 12 and can be moved transversely to the driving areas 6. In the illustrated embodiment, four such transverse carriages 14 - also called crabs - are combined to form a transverse carriage group 16, with the transverse carriages 14 being guided along rails 18 in each case. As explained, these rails 18 run below the shelves 10, 12.

This is also evident from FIG. 2, which shows a partial side view of the picking device 1 according to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2 above, within each shelf 2, 4 shelves 10, 12 are formed, on which the goods to be stored or retrieved, hereinafter referred to as containers 22, can be placed. This storage and retrieval takes place via the storage and retrieval devices 8, which are not visible in the illustration according to FIG.

The transverse carriages 14 described above of each transverse carriage group 16 are guided along the rails 18, which are clearly visible in FIG is created.

According to the illustration in FIG. 2, each transverse carriage 14 has load handling devices 26 which are designed, for example, as height-adjustable forks. In addition, the width of the forks can also be adjusted, so that a simple adjustment to the container 22 is made possible. As shown on the left in Figure 2, the load handling devices 26 are designed in such a way that they can lift a container from the transport level of the transverse carriage 14 in the direction of the shelves 2, 4 in order to remove the container 22 from a transfer compartment 28 provided in this area or to store in this. This means that these transfer compartments 28 are arranged at the bottom of the shelves 2, 4 in the representation according to FIG. With the shelves 4 designed as double-row shelves, it may be sufficient if only one such transfer compartment 28 is assigned to each double row per rail track of the transverse carriage 16, from which both rows of the shelf 4 are then served. As explained above, the load handling devices 26 are designed in such a way that the container 22 in the respective transfer compartment 28 can be stored or removed from it. The packs 22 are then distributed from the transfer compartments 28 to the shelves 10, 12 via the stacker cranes 8 shown in FIG. In principle, the containers 22 could also be placed on trays.

The rails 18 are extended beyond the outer shelves 2, so that a storage station 30 (on the right in FIG. 2) and an output station 32 (on the left in FIG. 2) are formed. These stations 30, 32 thus form interfaces to components of the order-picking device 1 that are arranged outside of the shelving system, the structure of which is explained below.

The single-variety products, for example fruit and vegetables, are arranged on so-called master pallets (single-variety product pallets) and are usually delivered by truck, being transferred to loading ramps 34 indicated in FIG. According to the invention, these loading ramps 34 are used both for incoming goods and for outgoing goods. The unloaded master pallets are then fed to a transfer station identified by reference number 36 in FIG.

The transport racks 38 loaded in this way are then transported via driverless industrial trucks (so-called AGVs) 44 from the loading ramp side around the rack system to the opposite storage side 48 - FIG. 1 shows an example of such an industrial truck 44 with a mother pallet 46 arranged on it. In the exemplary embodiment shown, another transfer station 36', which is essentially identical in construction, is provided. As indicated by the shaded area, a third transfer station 36'' can also be provided in order to increase the loading and unloading capacity.

The industrial truck 44 then transports the mother pallet 46 to a teach-in station 50, 50' or 50''. Additional ones can be used to increase the capacity Teach-in places 50'", 50 ^lv and/or 50 ^v can be provided. Each of these teach-in stations 50 has a scanner, with which a container 22 arranged on the mother pallet 46 or removed from it is scanned, so that the control of the picking device 1 can be used to check whether the container 22 corresponds to the specifications and/or or which container 22 is stored.

In a subsequent operation, the transport lock is removed from the mother pallet 46 and this is fed to a depalletizer 52 (52', 52", 52'", 52 ^IV , 52 ^v ), the last three depalletizers again being optional. When the individual layers are unloaded in this way, the pallet is at a height of approx. 5.8 m. As shown in particular in Figure 2 on the right, the pack layers 54 are then separated and the separated packs 22 are moved by approx. 3 m lowered vertically and then transported via a transport device 58 to the storage station 30. In principle, the separation can also take place after the entire layer 54 has been lowered to the level of the transport device 58 by means of the lifting device 56 .

The individual packs 22 are then transferred to a respective transverse carriage 14 at the storage station 30, it being possible for the pack 22 to be transferred with different pick-up heights by appropriate control of the load-receiving means 26 of each transverse carriage 14. The container 22 is then lowered via the load handling device 26 into the area of the travel plane 60 specified by the rails 18 and then transported by moving the transverse carriage 14 in the direction of the shelf 2, 4 in which the predetermined transfer compartment 28 is arranged. Appropriate control of the load handling device 26 of the transverse carriage 14 then deposits the container 22 in question in the respective predetermined transfer compartment 28 and the “empty” transverse carriage 14 is then moved back to the storage station 30 or to the transfer station 32.

The containers 22 received in the transfer compartments 28 are then transported via the storage and retrieval devices 8 to the predetermined compartments 10, 12 and deposited there. After the warehouse (picking device 1) has been filled according to the specifications of the controller and the order lines of the branches/shops are available, picking/retrieval begins. Accordingly, in accordance with the specification of the order lines, the containers 22 accommodated in the shelves 10, 12 are transported via the storage and retrieval devices 8 to predetermined transfer compartments 28 and deposited there. The packs 22 intended for retrieval are then taken over by the load handling devices 26 of the transverse carriages 14 in accordance with the procedure described above when they are placed in storage and are transported along the travel plane 60 to the output station 32, the sequence being specified by the control of the picking device as a function of the order lines.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 1, each depalletizer 52 is assigned two transverse carriage groups 16, 16′, which are connected to the depalletizer 52 via the transport device 58 described above. For the sake of clarity, only the transverse carriage groups 16, 16' of the depalletizer 52 are provided with a reference number in the representation according to FIG. The transverse carriage groups of the other depalletizers 52', 52", etc. are constructed accordingly.

As stated, the packs 22 intended for order picking are conveyed via the transverse carriage groups 16, 16', ... in the direction of the output stations 32, 32' (only these are provided with reference numbers in FIG. 1) and each to a loader 62, 62', which is controlled as a function of a packing pattern generator and then forms the target pallets accordingly. These are provided with the reference number 64 in FIG.

One of these loaders 62 is shown schematically on the left in FIG. This has several grippers 68 guided on a portal 66, which are designed to be able to position almost any container 22 to be picked. The fully loaded target pallet 64 is then in turn placed on a transport frame 38 in the loader 62 and then transported away by means of the aforementioned industrial truck 44 . The target pallet 64 can either be transported back to the transfer station 36 via the industrial truck 44, which is then designed as an in-out station, so to speak. Of this the target pallets 54 are lowered again for loading onto the loading ramp 34 or the hall floor 24 and thus brought to loading.

In the case of containers 22 that cannot be processed in the automatic warehouse according to the procedure described above, the target pallet 64 is conveyed via the industrial truck 44 to a hand packing station 70 in which containers are added to the target pallet 64 manually. The target pallets 64 completed in this way are then transferred to the loading ramp 34 for retrieval.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 71 also denotes a testing station to which containers can be fed for manual testing. This feed also takes place by means of a type of transverse carriage.

The shelves 2, 4 are supported or elevated on the hall floor 24. In the exemplary embodiment shown, three storage and retrieval devices 8 can be moved in each of the driving spaces 6 . Each shelf compartment 10, 12 and each transfer compartment 28 of the shelves 2, 4 (double-row shelf) arranged adjacent to the traffic spaces 6 can be reached via this.

According to the above statements, the loading station is thus formed by the storage side identified by reference number 48 in FIG. 1, while the retrieval station is formed on the loading ramp side. This removal station is provided with reference number 72 in FIG.

Disclosed is an order-picking device in which a large number of shelves are provided, between which travel spaces are formed, along which storage and retrieval devices are guided. Transverse carriages are provided transversely to the storage and retrieval devices, which are guided in a transverse carriage level below the shelves with shelf compartments and transfer compartments. Reference character list:

1 picking device

2 single shelf

4 double row shelf/double shelf

6 driving space

8 stacker crane

10 shelf compartment

12 shelf compartment

14 cross cars

16 transverse carriage group

18 rail

22 bundles

24 hall floor

26 load handling devices

28 transfer tray

30 storage station

32 dispensing station

34 loading ramp

36 transfer station

38 transport frame

40 caddy storage

42 caddy storage

44 industrial truck

46 mother pallet

48 deposit page

50 teach-in place

52 depalletizers

54 pack layers

56 lifting device

58 transport device

60 traversing level

62 loaders 64 target palette

66 portal

68 grippers

70 hand packing station 71 testing station

72 retrieval station

Claims

patent claims

1. Picking device with shelves (2, 4) that have a plurality of shelves (10, 12), wherein between the shelves (2, 4) driving spaces (6) are provided, in which storage and retrieval devices (8) are movable, over which the shelf compartments (10, 12) and transfer compartments (28) can be approached for removing or taking over goods, and with transverse carriages (14) which can be moved transversely to the shelves (2, 4) or the driving spaces (6) to move goods to be transferred to a transfer compartment (28) or taken over from this, the goods being stored via a loading station and removed via a retrieval station (72), characterized in that the transverse carriages (14) are guided in a transverse carriage plane in such a way that they are between the transfer compartments (28) of the loading station and the retrieval station (72) can be moved.

2. picking device according to claim 1, wherein the transverse car level below the transfer compartments (28) and the shelves (10, 12) is arranged.

3. Picking device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading station and the retrieval station (72) seen in the direction of travel of the transverse carriage (14) are arranged on opposite areas of the plane of the transverse carriage.

4. Picking device according to one of the preceding claims, with a transfer station (36) which is assigned to the loading station and the retrieval station (72) and which is designed to set down mother pallets (46) on transport frames (38) and/or target pallets (64) from Transport frames (38) to take over.

5. picking device according to claim 4, with an industrial truck (44) for transporting the loaded transport racks (38).

6. Picking device according to one of the preceding claims, with a delivery-side hand packing station (70).

7. Picking device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading station has a teach-in place (50) for scanning a container (22) of a mother pallet (46).

8. Picking device according to one of the preceding claims, with a depalletizer (52) of the loading station, which is used for unloading pack layers (54) of the mother pallet (46), for separating the packs (22) of the pack layers (54) and, if necessary, for lowering the Container (22) is designed from a separating level to a storage level.

9. Picking device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading station has a storage station (30) for transferring the individual packs (22) to the transverse carriage (14) and wherein a delivery station (32) for transferring the packs (22) to be retrieved to a loader (62).

10. Order-picking device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the retrieval station (72) has a loader (62) controlled by a packing pattern generator for loading target pallets (64).