WO1989009172A1

WO1989009172A1 - Display device for a computer-controlled paternoster store

Info

Publication number: WO1989009172A1
Application number: PCT/DE1989/000100
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heinz Seufert
Original assignee: Dr. Seufert Gmbh
Priority date: 1988-03-22
Filing date: 1989-02-23
Publication date: 1989-10-05
Also published as: EP0363453A1; DE3809520C1

Abstract

A device is useful for controlling a paternoster store (10), preferably for storing electrical and electronic components, comprising a plurality of drawers (11) subdivided into compartments (14). The drawers (11) can be moved on an oval track perpendicular to their surface by means of a drive device (12). By controlling the drive device (12), each drawer (11) can be brought into a reference position from which the drawer (11) can be withdrawn from the path to allow removal of stored objects. To facilitate storage of incoming objects and removal of objects to be commissioned and to prevent incorrect storage and removal, a number of luminous pointers (52a to 52d) are provided on the paternoster store (10). The luminous pointers (52a to 52d) produce an array of light spots (54a to 52d) on the bottom (49) of the drawer (11) which corresponds spatially to an array of compartments (14 to 14d).

Description

Display setup for a computer-controlled

Paternoster Laσer

The invention relates to a display device for a computer-controlled paternoster bearing with a plurality of drawers which can be divided into first compartments and which can be moved on an oval-shaped path perpendicular to their surface by means of a drive device, one of the drawers being controlled by the drive device in a reference position can be brought, from which the drawer for removing stored objects from the web can be pulled out, and with means for optically displaying areas of the drawer.

A display device of the type mentioned above is known from DE-PS 34 48 076.

Paternoster camps are known for storing relatively small items. Within the scope of the present invention, paternoster bearings are of particular interest in which electrical and electronic components can be stored. However, the invention is not restricted to this field of application.

Paternoster storage of the type mentioned above are usually designed as high-bay storage with a height of, for example, twelve meters and several dozen drawers up to a few meters wide and typically one meter deep. Accordingly, several thousand components, starting from very small components such as resistors, capacitors, diodes and other semiconductor components, up to larger components, for example motors, printed circuit boards and the like, can be stored in the resulting storage space. Like. Be stored. From this large number of components, there is already the need to be able to individually divide the drawers of the paternoster storage so that components of different dimensions can be stored. For this purpose, it is known to divide the drawers of the paternoster storage into compartments with pluggable partitions or again divide the subjects by inserting usually rectangular boxes. From the aforementioned DE-PS 34 48 076 a position display device for storage devices is known, in which position indicators light up on the front of the pull-out drawers and circuit boards are integrated in a handle bar. The lights and the printed circuit boards are slidably arranged in the handle bar in order to be able to adapt them to different positions of compartments in the drawer.

Disadvantage of this known system is that the display element is located on the front edge of the drawer, so that on the one hand no different compartments can be differentiated in the depth of the drawer and on the other hand the display lamp at the front of the drawer is optically detected and then the corresponding compartment at the back must be controlled at a different position of the drawer. Because of this, only a relatively rough subdivision of the drawers into compartments is possible and, on the other hand, mix-ups cannot be ruled out, especially when the user is at an angle in front of the drawer, so that the assignment of position lamps and drawer compartments can be falsified by parallax errors.

From DE-PS 30 48 394 a display system for mechanical cabinets is known in which the compartments of a storage cabinet cannot be pulled out, but circulate as troughs within the housing. Before a removal opening of the housing, a ledge-like board is attached, in which a display field is integrated. The display field runs across the width of the troughs and is divided into as many fields as each trough is divided into compartments. Each subfield of the display field contains an alphanumeric display. In this way, a compartment of a trough can be identified by lighting up a subfield and at the same time indicated by the special alphanumeric display, for example how many elements are to be removed from the compartment.

This known system also has the disadvantages mentioned above. In the case of a shelving system with non-pull-out troughs, only a very rough subdivision in depth is possible or the troughs must have a relatively large distance from one another so that the user of the store can also reach into the rear areas of the trough. In addition, the spatial separation of the display field from the compartments of the trough has the disadvantage that the assignment errors already explained can occur.

When operating a paternoster warehouse, regularly or irregularly arriving items must be stored in the associated storage areas after they have been checked for completeness and accuracy, and items must be able to be removed from the warehouse if necessary.

When storing incoming items, the problem arises that these items arrive in an irregular chronological order, sometimes also in partial deliveries and without any indication as to whether such items are already stored in the pater noster warehouse. The warehouse manager of conventional paternoster stores must therefore first check whether and at which storage location the objects in question have already been stored are, and he must then store the incoming items exactly in the storage location concerned.

In the case of conventional paternoster bearings, as mentioned, mix-ups cannot be ruled out, especially in the case of small electrical and electronic components which are very similar externally but have completely different electrical properties internally. This is especially the case with integrated electronic circuits that are standardized on the outside and therefore differ only in the type number printed on them. The same applies, however, to resistors, capacitors, diodes and also to various mechanical components, for example screws and nuts. In case of negligent handling of the paternoster warehouse, a component can be stored in an incorrect storage location, for example the wrong rectangular container, so that when components are removed, the wrong components are removed from the correct storage location and then lead to corresponding assembly errors in a subsequent one Lead production.

The same applies to the removal of objects, either individually or on a commission basis. In this case too, the warehouse manager must first check whether and at which storage location the desired items are stored. In the case of careless handling, it can also happen that objects are removed from the wrong storage location and also lead to assembly errors in a subsequent production. The invention is based on the object of further developing a device of the type mentioned in such a way that the disadvantages mentioned above are avoided. In particular, a facility is to be made available with which confusion is practically impossible.

This object is achieved in that a number of first light pointers is provided on the paternoster camp, with which a grid of first compartments corresponding to a grid of first light marks on a bottom of the drawer can be generated, and that after pulling out the drawer only the light pointer is switched on that generates the light mark on the bottom of the first compartment assigned to the preselected objects.

The object underlying the invention is completely achieved in this way. The light pointer control for the user of the paternoster warehouse enables an error-free identification of a specific storage location, so that the desired storage location is indicated by means of the light pointer both when storing and when removing objects from the user, without having to search for storage locations themselves gets. The provision of a grid of first light marks allows, in accordance with the variable division of the drawers into compartments, to control only a certain number of light pointers in order to illuminate any areas within the surface of the drawer which correspond to the selected compartments, so that a storage location can be clearly identified is possible in the form of a subject. The warehouse manager therefore no longer needs to go to a specific storage location known to him when storing or removing objects, he only needs to enter a corresponding identification number of the object in question in the computer system, and the drive device is then automatically controlled so that the respective associated drawer is moved to the reference position. When the warehouse manager pulls the drawer, one or those light pointers are switched on under the control of the computer system, which then use the light marks to optically identify the storage location that is assigned to the respective object. This prevents confusion of the storage space when storing or removing. This also eliminates the need to identify storage spaces using adhesive labels or the like, which is extremely difficult, particularly when the compartments in the drawers are variable in the drawers of conventional paternoster bearings. Also, the warehouse manager no longer needs to visually inspect prints on the objects, for example the electronic components, to determine whether he is taking the correct component, because only the desired object can be located at the optically identified storage location.

Appropriate programming of the computer system can also be used to achieve optimization in a variety of ways, for example by initially clearing out any replacement stores that may have already been created when objects are removed, so that the presence of replacement bearings is reduced as quickly as possible. An inventory check can of course also be carried out, which generates corresponding signals when inventory levels drop below predetermined limit values or prints order lists or the like.

In a further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, a display field is arranged on the paternoster camp, on which a code representing the position of the first compartment corresponding to the preselected objects can be displayed.

This measure has the advantage that an additional alphanumeric user control is possible. For example, the code, ie an identification of the object in question, can be shown on the display panel, in particular as an additional check, so that the user can compare the code number again when approaching the paternoster warehouse in order to correct input errors on the computer system, that may have occurred when selecting a specific item to be stored or stored. The user control through the display panel can also be used with large drawers to indicate to the user, for example by displaying an "L" or an "R", that the storage location is on the left or right half of the drawer located. Finally, when long storage or removal programs are being processed, the alphanumeric user control can be used to display the steps already carried out or to indicate the end of the program. In the case of commission-wise storage or removal of objects, a commission list can first be drawn up and entered into the computer system, so that the entire storage or removal process can then proceed step by step. The user then only needs to press a control button, for example, after storing the item, and the paternoster storage is then automatically moved to the next position under control of the computer system, in which the user then has to pull out the next storage space after pulling out the drawer is shown. When using an alphanumeric user control in accordance with the above-mentioned exemplary embodiment, if the next storage location should be in the same drawer that has already been pulled, this can be advantageously indicated by an alphanumeric signal, which may also be supported by an acoustic signal can.

In particularly preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention, at least one compartment with a plurality of further compartments is provided outside the paternoster store, which are individually provided with optical markings, the light pointer being used to reload preselected objects between the first compartments and the further compartments and the optical marking of the first compartment and further compartment assigned to the preselected objects are switched on. This measure has the very important advantage that an error-free transfer of objects is possible, both when storing and when removing objects. For this purpose, the items to be stored are first temporarily stored in a specialist facility on a commission basis or objects to be removed are commissioned in a specialist facility on a commission basis after removal from the paternoster warehouse. The pair-wise optical marking of the first compartment in a drawer of the paternoster warehouse on the one hand and the other compartment in the compartment system on the other hand ensures that a certain object is transferred exactly from one defined compartment to the other defined compartment without it being with this material ¬ errors and misplacement can occur.

These processes also take place under the control of the computer system, which, by optically marking a compartment in the paternoster warehouse and another compartment in the compartment system, prescribes exactly from which compartment to which compartment the objects have to be moved.

In a preferred variant of this exemplary embodiment, a compartment system is designed as an entrance compartment system with fixed and preferably cuboid second compartments.

This measure has the advantage that the fixed, generously dimensioned cuboid compartments can be used for the one-time storage of an incoming commission of objects. To the incoming commission of objects lies the warehouse manager a list that is entered into the computer system. The computer system now activates an optical marking of a cuboid second compartment in the entrance compartment system for each position of the list, actuates the drive device of the paternoster bearing and switches on the light pointer (s) that identify the respective compartment in a drawer of the paternoster bearing . In this way it is ensured that objects to be stored can first be sorted as a fictitious entrance commission and then position by position of the entrance commission can be transferred to the associated compartments of the paternoster camp by unambiguous identification. As a result of the paired optical marking of one compartment of the entrance compartment system and one compartment in the paternoster warehouse, incorrect storage is practically impossible.

In a preferred development of this variant, the second compartments have walls made of transparent material.

This measure has the advantage that when objects are removed from the second compartments, individual objects do not inadvertently remain in the second compartments, because even when the entrance compartment system is viewed obliquely from above due to the transparent walls, the remaining objects become visible. In this way it is thus ensured that when the objects are moved manually from the second compartments into the first compartments of the paternoster warehouse, all objects are transferred. Furthermore, it is particularly preferred in this variant if the second compartments are provided with lamps.

This measure has the advantage that the expenditure on equipment is reduced compared to a grid of light emitters, which is made possible above all by the fact that the second compartments of the entrance compartment system are arranged in a spatially fixed manner.

It is particularly preferred if the lamps are arranged on the upper end face of vertical walls.

This measure has the advantage that the lamps are particularly well visible, even if the second compartments are filled with objects.

Finally, it is particularly preferred if at least two lamps arranged at the edge of the second compartment can be switched on to identify a second compartment.

This measure has the advantage that a clear identification of the second compartment is possible because the outline of the second compartment is clearly defined by the at least two lamps that are switched on. This eliminates misunderstandings or ambiguities if a lamp lights up between two compartments and the user is undecided on which adjacent compartment this lamp belongs to. If a compartment system is designed as an exit compartment system with movable third and fourth compartments, which can be used as trays and / or slides directly on automated pick and place machines, this has the very significant advantage that when objects are removed from the pater¬ noster -Store the removed items directly into compartments, which in turn are used directly in automated placement machines. In this way, the number of movements during the removal of objects is reduced to a single movement, namely the transfer of the objects from an optically marked compartment of the paternoster warehouse into a likewise optically marked compartment, namely a tray or a slide of the initial compartment system . The trays and chutes filled in this way in the exit compartment system are then moved, for example by means of a hand truck, to the automated assembly machines and inserted there directly, so that the subsequent assembly processes, for example of electronic circuit boards, without further movement the components can be made.

In this exemplary embodiment, it is preferred if the shells in the exit compartment system are arranged in a flat grid and if a number of second light pointers are provided on the exit compartment system, with the one grid

a grid of second light marks corresponding to the shells can be generated in the shells.

This measure has the same advantages that were already explained above using the light pointers of the paternoster camp. Since the shells of the exit compartment system must be designed to be mobile, the solution with light pointers is preferable to a solution with lamps, because a solution with lamps would lead to even higher equipment expenditure.

The slides can also be provided with a plurality of shafts and the shafts with lamps. The slides are usually provided as a compact unit, on which a large number of shafts are mechanically connected to one another and are also handled together. These multiple shafts can e.g. be placed on a suitable console, which is then provided with the corresponding lamps.

The exit compartment system can have a scale controlled by the computing system, which is provided with a lamp. This has the advantage that a computer-controlled removal is also possible for objects that are removed by weight. This can be done, for example, as part of a withdrawal commission, for a position of this commission

the lamp is switched on in order to signal the user that the following object to be removed can be removed by weight. This is e.g. for very small and cheap components, e.g. with resistors of usual tolerance, the case. The scale can also be controlled by the computer system so that it is already loaded with a weight target. The user can now remove one of the trays, which is optically identified by means of the light pointer, from the flat grid of the exit compartment system and place it on the scale. The user can now fill the components into the bowl, and the lamp can then, for example by switching on a flashing light or by extinguishing, indicate that - taking into account the weight of the bowl - the desired amount of weight has been filled into the bowl. The user can now put the bowl back into the flat grid.

In this way, there is the advantage that even when objects are removed by weight, there is complete control by the computer system, which eliminates confusion and errors.

The computing system can be connected to a central computer (PPS) via a local area network (LAN). This has the essential advantage that the control device for the paternoster warehouse and also the warehouse management itself have a central computer can be networked, which, for example, controls the entire ordering process of a company.

In this way e.g. When goods are received, incoming commissions are formed and mixed with the data from the computer system of the paternoster warehouse, as has already been explained above. Also, by constantly monitoring the inventory using the computing system of the paternoster warehouse, a message list can be formed, which then notifies the central computer via the local network that certain components are running low. The central computer can then print out corresponding order lists.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and are explained in more detail in the following description. Show it:

1 shows an extremely schematic, perspective view of an overall device for controlling a Pater¬ noster camp;

2 shows a side view, in section, through components of the paternoster camp that are of interest here;

3 shows a perspective view of an entrance compartment system;

Fig. 4 is a side view, in section, through part of an exit compartment system;

5 shows a perspective view of a further part of an exit compartment system;

6 shows an extremely schematic block diagram to explain the data flow between the components of the device according to the invention.

In Fig. 1, 10 designates a total of a paternoster camp of conventional design. The paternoster bearing 10 has a plurality of drawers 11, 11a, 11b, 11c, lld, lle. An arrow 13 indicates that one of the drawers, in FIG. 11 the drawer 11, can be pulled out of the paternoster bearing 10 to the front in a vertical reference position. Known telescopic guides according to the prior art are used for this purpose.

In the pulled-out drawer 11 it can be seen that the drawer 11 is divided into compartments 14, 14a representing a relatively large compartment for storing larger objects or assemblies, while 14b denotes a medium-sized compartment, 14c a narrow, long compartment and 14d one small compartment. The long, narrow compartment 14c can be used, for example, for storing so-called "logs". In electrical engineering, this is a container made of electronic semiconductor Components that are inserted in a row in the longitudinal direction in a plastic packaging sleeve. Typically, these are integrated components with a cuboid plastic body and two rows of connecting legs which project outwards and downwards on the long sides. These components are pushed onto a rail of the sleeve, in the longitudinal direction next to one another. In contrast, the small compartment 14d can be designed, for example, as a cuboid plastic box, several of which can be arranged next to and behind one another in order to accommodate small electronic components, for example resistors or capacitors or integrated circuits.

A drive device 12 indicates that the drawers 11 to 11 are on a paternosteric, i.e. oval-shaped path can be moved perpendicular to the level of the drawer 11. Typically, a paternoster store 10 of the type of interest here has a height of ten to twelve meters, contains several dozen of drawers 11 to 11 which are up to several meters wide and about one meter deep. Several thousand components of the type described above can be stored in such a paternoster bearing 10.

On the front of the paternoster camp 10, a display and control device 15 is arranged as an addition according to the invention, which has display fields 16 and control buttons 17. The display fields 16 and the control buttons 17 serve to control the paternoster camp 10, as will be explained further below. Arranged at a spatial distance from the paternoster warehouse 10, for example on an appropriately dimensioned table, is an entrance compartment system 20 which has a plurality of parallelepiped-shaped compartments 21 of the same size.

Furthermore, an exit compartment system 30 is arranged at a spatial distance from the paternoster warehouse 10. The exit compartment system 30 has, on the one hand, a frame 31, for example also on a correspondingly dimensioned table, which receives a plurality of trays 32 which serve as third compartments. In addition to the frame 31, a console for slides 33 is arranged, which serve as fourth compartments.

The shells 32 are designed such that they can be used directly in conventional machine assembly systems. This is understood to mean workplaces for assembling printed circuit boards in which a printed circuit board to be fitted with components is clamped in a holder. The worker on this pick and place machine is sequentially fed trays individually by means of a suitable transport device, in each of which there is a specific type of component. At the same time, a light pointer on the circuit board to be populated indicates at which point the populations are to be carried out. The worker removes one of the relevant components from the shell and places it in the position identified by the light pointer. When processing so-called rod goods, a lamp lights up on a slide that contains a specific semiconductor circuit, and the worker removes one of these circuits from the slide and places it in a position on the circuit board that is also identified by a light pointer. The shells 32 and slides 33 of FIG. 1 are designed such that they can be used directly in such placement machines. _.

The exit compartment system 30 also has a scale 34 which is provided with a lamp 35. The scale 34 is used to remove objects by weight, as will be explained below.

Finally, in the arrangement of FIG. 1 there is also a computing system 40 which serves to control the above-mentioned components.

The computing system 40 is connected to the paternoster bearing 10 by means of a bidirectional data line 41. In this way, the drive device 12 is controlled, as are the display fields 16 of the display and control device 15. The bidirectional data line 41 is also used to return control commands that the user of the paternoster camp 10 uses the control buttons 17 of the display and control device 15 has entered.

A unidirectional second data line 42 is used to control the input specialist system 20, and a unidirectional third data line 43 is used to control the output specialist system 30, as will all be explained in more detail below.

2 shows a side sectional view of essential components of the paternoster bearing 10. The drawer 11 pulled out has a base 49 and partitions 50 in order to define compartments, for example compartments 14c and 14d, as storage spaces for objects to be stored. With 50a and 50b it is indicated that smaller compartments 14 can also be defined by inserting further walls, so that overall a variable division of the drawer 11 is possible. With A, B, C and D it is indicated that, seen in the depth direction of the drawer 11, a four-place grid can be realized, a correspondingly larger number of grids in the lateral direction of the drawer 11 being possible, as is self-evident.

Above the drawer 11, a bracket 51 is attached to a fixed point of the paternoster bearing 10 and carries a plurality of first light pointers 52, in the example shown four first light pointers 52a to 52d. The light pointers 52a to 52d emit first light beams 53a to 53d, the orientation of the first light pointers 52a to 52d being selected such that the first light beams 53a to 53d generate first light marks 54a to 54d at the four raster positions A, B, C, D. . For this purpose, first lamps 55a to 55d are provided in the first light pointers 52a to 52d and are supplied via first connections 56a to 56d. These first connections 56a to 56d open into the first data line 41.

It goes without saying that the arrangement of four first light pointers 52a to 52d described above, seen across the width of the drawer 11, is provided in as many times as corresponds to the number of grid elements in the width direction of the drawer 11. In other words, there can be so many first light marks on the bottom 49 of the drawer 11 54 are generated as this corresponds to the number of fields of the grid of the first compartments 14 in the drawer 11. In Fig. 1 it can also be seen that the drive device 12 cooperates with an electric motor 57, which is also controlled by a branch 41 'of the first data line 41.

A third branch 41 ″ of the first data line 41 is used to control the display fields 16 of the display and control device 15 or to report back ^“ commands that are entered using the control buttons 17.

3 shows a perspective view of part of the entrance compartment system 20. On a base, for example a table top, transverse walls 60a to 60d ... and longitudinal walls 61a to 61d ... are arranged in a spatially fixed manner, each intersecting at 90 °. The transverse walls 60a to 60d and the longitudinal walls 61a to βld consist of a translucent material, for example acrylic glass.

In this way cuboidal compartments 21a / l to 21a / 3 ... arise in the first row, 21b / l to 21b / 3 ... in the second row, 21c / l to 21c / 3 - in the third row etc. The compartments 21 can, for example, have a cube-shaped shape with an edge length between 10 and 20 cm. The compartments 21 are dimensioned such that lots of incoming objects that are to be stored in the paternoster warehouse 10 fit into one of these compartments 21.

Second lamps 62 are arranged on the upper end face of the longitudinal walls 61a to 61d, in each case in the middle of the boundary wall of one of the compartments 21 a row 62a / l, 62a / 2 ... of second lamps 62 and corresponding rows of lamps on the further longitudinal walls 61b, 61c .... The second lamps 62 are provided with second connections 63, of which only one is shown on the lamp 62c / l in FIG. 3 for the sake of clarity. All second connections 63 of all second lamps 62 are brought together and open into the unidirectional second data line 42.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a longitudinal section through part of the exit compartment system 30. The frame 31 into which the grid of shells 32 is inserted can be seen, with a row of four shells 32a to 32d being shown in longitudinal section in FIG is.

Similar to what has already been explained in relation to FIG. 2, there is a console 81 at a fixed point above the frame 31, which carries second light pointers 82, in the exemplary embodiment shown four such second light pointers 82a to 82d. The second light pointers 82a to 82d emit second light beams 83a to 83d, which generate second light marks 84a to 84d on the bottom of the shells 32a to 32d.

For this purpose, third lamps 85a to 85d with associated third connections 86a to 86d are used, which open into the unidirectional third data line 43.

It goes without saying that depending on the number of shells 32 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 4, corresponding groups of second light pointers 82 are also provided in order to generate a grid of second light marks 84 in frame 31, which is just the number corresponds to the shells 32. 5 shows a perspective side view of a further part of the exit compartment system 30 with slides 33.

Shafts 91, four such shafts 91a to 91d in the exemplary embodiment shown, are arranged obliquely on a stand 90. The shafts 91a to 91d are provided on their upper side with fourth lamps 92a to 92d, which in turn can be controlled via fourth connections 93. The fourth connections 93 open into a further branch 43 ′ of the unidirectional third data line 43.

The stand 90 is selected such that it can be used directly on the placement machines.

6 finally shows in a block diagram the control of the overall system as it is represented in FIG. 1 and its components were shown in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

It can be seen from FIG. 6 that the computer system 40 consists of a customary personal computer 100 and a switching device 101, as is produced by the applicant as a so-called intelligent operating system under the type designation IBS.

The personal computer 100 is connected to the switching device 101 via a bidirectional fourth data line 102. A fifth bidirectional data line 103 connects the personal computer 100 to a local area network (LAN) 104 so that the personal computer 100 can interact with a central computer (PPS). The mode of operation of the device shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 is as follows:

To store incoming items, the warehouse manager first creates a fictitious input commission and stores it in the personal computer 100 as a list of items. The list of the incoming commission can also be generated by mixing data of the central computer and the personal computer 100 via the LAN 104.

The incoming objects are now placed lot by lot in the second compartments 21 of the entrance compartment system 20, with a defined second compartment 21 being assigned to each lot of objects. This can either be done by the warehouse manager entering a corresponding message into the personal computer 100 when the objects are placed in the second compartments 21, but on the other hand the allocation of the second compartments 21 can also take place under the control of the personal computer 100 by this calls up a certain lot of items to be stored on the screen and at the same time drives second lamps 62 in order to assign one of the second compartments 21 to this lot of items.

In order to avoid confusion, two adjacent second lamps 62 are activated in order to identify second compartments 21. If, for example, the second compartment 21b / 2 is to be identified, the second lamps 62b / 2 and 62c / 2 are indicated via the second data line 42, between which the preselected second compartment 21b / 2 is located. The warehouse manager can now insert the lots of objects in accordance with the identification of the second compartments 21 carried out by the computer system 40.

If the fictitious input commission is distributed to the second compartments 21, the transfer of these items to the paternoster warehouse 10 is initiated in a second step.

For this purpose, the list of objects to be stored stored in the personal computer 100 is processed sequentially. The entire division of the drawers 11 into first compartments 14 is stored in the personal computer 100 with the assignment of part numbers of the objects stored there. Thus, if a certain object is to be stored in the paternoster warehouse 10, it can be determined in the personal computer 100 by comparison with the warehouse list at which storage location, i.e. in which first compartment 14 which drawer 11 such items are already stored. During such a search, it turns out that the objects in question are new, i.e. are not yet stored in the paternoster warehouse 10, the personal computer 100 assigns a new storage location for these new items. The same applies if there is already a storage space for objects to be stored, but the corresponding first compartments 14 are insufficient in their capacity to still accommodate the new objects to be stored. In this case, the personal computer forms 100 replacement storage spaces in order to be able to store the additional items there.

In this way, it is established in which compartment 14, which has already been reserved, or the first compartment 14 to be newly determined, a particular one Lot of objects to be transferred from a certain second compartment 21 of the entrance compartment system 20, the personal computer 100 actuates the electric motor 47 of the drive device 12 via the branch 41 'of the first data line 41, and the drawers 11 remain on their oval path for so long move until the drawer 11, in which the desired first compartment 14 is located, has reached a reference position. From this reference position, the drawer, in FIG. 1 the drawer 11 shown there, can be pulled out by hand in the direction of the arrow 13.

As soon as the drawer 11 is pulled out, the personal computer 100 uses the switching device 101 and the first data line 41 to switch on the one or those first light pointer 52 which is illuminating the sought-after first compartment 14 with a light mark 54 in the pulled-out drawer 11. In addition, one of the display fields 16 of the display and control device 15 can use a letter to indicate whether this first compartment 14 is located in the right or in the left half of the drawer 11, and the code number of the item to be stored can also be alphanumerically again are shown in order to enable additional control.

The warehouse manager now only needs to take the objects therein from the second compartment 21 of the entrance compartment system 20 identified by actuating the second lamps 62, to carry them to the drawer 11 of the paternoster warehouse 10 and to insert them there into the first compartment 14 which is Actuation of the corresponding first light pointer 52 is optically identified. Confusion of storage spaces is practically impossible in this way. If the warehouse manager has transferred a certain lot of the objects to be stored from the entrance compartment system 20 to the paternoster warehouse 10 in this way, he can press one of the control buttons 17 of the display and control unit 15, via the branch 41 ″ of the first This control command is reported back to the data line 41 to the personal computer 100, and this switches the list of the fictitious input commission one position further. By actuating second lamps 62 again, one of the second compartments 21 is now again identified for the removal of the next batch of objects to be stored, and at the same time the drive device 12 of the paternoster bearing 10 is activated, so that the next drawer concerned is placed in the The reference position arrives, can be pulled out and the first compartment 14 that is now sought is identified by actuating a further first light pointer 52.

This process is repeated until all objects to be stored have been transferred from the second compartments 21 of the entrance compartment system 20 into first compartments 14 of the drawers 11 of the pater noster store 10.

It goes without saying that 15 additional control and monitoring functions are possible via the display and control device. For example, the storage procedure can be interrupted at any time, for example to selectively remove a component from another first compartment 14, which is urgently needed, for example, by a customer service technician who has just arrived. The storage procedure can then be continued by returning to the storage program. Also, if the warehouse manager determines when moving items that the space in the first compartment 14 is not sufficient, by entering appropriate control commands it can be achieved that a replacement store in the same drawer 11 or another drawer of the Pater¬ noster can be achieved via the personal computer 100 -Layer 10 is created, and the drive device 12 may automatically move into this replacement position to enable the further storage of objects.

The display and control device 15 can also be used for other functions, for example as a test device to check the function of the first and second and further lamps and. Like. more. It also goes without saying that the display and control unit 15 can be provided with additional acoustic signal transmitters.

The removal of objects from the paternoster store 10 is carried out in a corresponding manner.

Paternoster bearings 10 of the type of interest here are usually used in companies which produce electronic devices. If e.g. the warehouse manager receives the order to provide a so-called commission, i.e. the required number of all components that are required to assemble the circuit boards in question.

For this purpose, there is a commission list which is entered into the personal computer 100. By comparing the commission list with its stock list, the personal computer 100 determines at which locations in the paternoster camp 10 the desired components are located. The commission list is now being processed step by step. For this purpose, the drive device 12 of the paternoster bearing 10 is actuated again, so that the drawer 11, which contains the first component to be removed, reaches the reference position. The warehouse manager now pulls out the first drawer 11, a first light mark 54 is now generated in the first compartment 14 containing the desired component via the first light pointer 52.

Depending on the component involved, the personal computer 100 now actuates an optical marking in the exit compartment system 30 via the switching device 101.

If the components to be removed are manually countable small components, one of the second light pointers 82 is switched on in order to generate a second light mark 84 in a predetermined shell 32. The warehouse manager can now remove the lot of components in question from the optically marked first compartment 14 of the drawer 11 and transfer it into the likewise optically marked shell 32.

If the components to be removed are very small and cheap components, for economic reasons they are not counted manually, but rather weighed, with an approved percentage increase. This can be done using the scale 34. The scale 34 can either be used as a completely independent component in order to weigh the desired quantity of such components, but the scale 34 can also be included in the control process. For this purpose, by actuating the lamp 35 on the scale 34, the warehouse manager can first be shown that he is weighing the components now removed and not should count. A corresponding instruction can also be displayed on one of the display fields 16 of the display and control device 15.

In a further step of automation, the switching device 101 can transfer a corresponding target weight value into the scale 34 via the third data line 43 ″, which is designed bidirectionally in this case. Taking into account the known own weight of the trays 32, it can now be monitored by feedback to the personal computer 100 whether the desired amount of weight has been filled into the tray 32 located on the scale 34. Reaching the target weight can be indicated on the lamp 35, for example by switching on a flashing light, by actuating another lamp of a different color, by actuating an acoustic signal or the like.

The warehouse manager now moves the tray 32 in question from the scale back to the free space in the frame 31.

If, on the other hand, the components to be removed are so-called rod products, the personal computer 100 controls one of the fourth lamps 92 on the shafts 91 of the slides 33 via the switching device 101. The warehouse manager can now fill the logs from the plastic sleeves described above directly into the shaft 91 optically identified by lighting up one of the fourth lamps 92. In this case too, an additional instruction for filling components into one of the shafts 91 can be displayed on one of the display fields 16 of the display and control device 15. The entire removal commission is now processed lot by lot in the manner described above, until finally all the desired components in the desired quantity have been removed from the paternoster storage 10 and either inserted into the trays 32 or the slides 33. The removal commission formed in this way is then brought to a pick and place machine, for example by means of a trolley, and there the slides 33 are inserted directly into the receptacle provided there for such slides, and the trays contained in the frame 31 according to a predetermined order 32 are placed on a transport device of the pick and place machine so that they can be fed to the worker on the pick and place machine in a predetermined order. A further implementation of the components is therefore no longer necessary.

From the above, it follows that the components on their way from delivery to the storage area to delivery at the place of the pick and place machine only had to go through a total of two movement processes, which were also designed to be interchangeable with optical markings. In this way, assembly errors on the assembly machine can be reduced to practically zero.

Claims

Display device for a computer-controlled pater¬ noster storage (10) with a plurality of drawers (11 to 11) which can be divided into first compartments (14 to 14d) and which can be moved on an oval path perpendicular to their surface by means of a drive device (12) each, one of the drawers (11) can be brought into a reference position by controlling the drive device (12), from which the drawer (11) can be pulled out of the web for the removal of stored objects, and with means for optically displaying areas of the Drawer (11), characterized in that a number of first light pointers (52a to 52d) are provided on the paternoster bearing (10), with which a grid of first light marks (54a.) Spatially corresponding to a grid of first surfaces (14 to 14d) is provided to 54d) can be generated on a bottom (49) of the drawer (11), and that only the light pointer (52a to 52d) is inserted after the drawer (11 to 11) has been pulled out is switched, which generates the light mark (54a to 54d) on the floor (49) of the first compartment (14 to 14d) assigned to the preselected objects.

Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a display field (16) is arranged on the paternoster bearing (10), on which a code representing the position of the first compartment (14 to 14d) corresponding to the preselected objects can be displayed.

3. Device according to one or more of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that outside the Pater¬ noster camp (10) at least one compartment system (20; 30) with a plurality of further compartments (21; 32, 33) is provided , which are individually provided with optical markings, and that for reloading preselected objects between the first compartments (14) and the further compartments (21; 32, 33) the light pointer (52) and the optical marking of those assigned to the preselected objects first compartment (14) and further compartment (21; 32, 33) are switched on.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that a compartment system is designed as an entrance compartment system (20) with solid and preferably cuboid-shaped second compartments (21a / l to 21c / 3).

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the second compartments (21a / l to 21c / 3) have walls (60, 6-1) made of transparent material.

6. Device according to one or both of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the second compartments (21a / l to 21c / 3) are provided with lamps (62a / l to 62c / 2).

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the lamps (62a / l to 62c / 2) are arranged on the upper end face of vertical walls (60, 61). Device according to one or both of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that for identifying a second compartment (21a / l to 21c / 3) at least two lamps (62a / l) arranged on the edge of the second compartment (21a / l to 21c / 3) l to 62c / l) can be switched on.

Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the shells (32a to 32d) in the initial compartment position (30) are arranged in a flat grid and in that a number of second light pointers (82a to 82d) on the exit compartment system (30) It is provided with which a grid of second light marks (84a to 84d) in the shells (32a to 32d) that corresponds spatially to the grid of the shells (32a to 32d) can be generated.