Storage rack and method for managing contents of storage rack

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage rack having a plurality of storage spaces for manual insertion and extraction of items, an identification device being associated with each storage space, wherein the identification device is designed and arranged to identify the item when the item is inserted into the storage location, when the item is extracted from the storage location and / or after the item is positioned in the storage location.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage rack having a plurality of storage locations for manual insertion and extraction of items. The present invention also relates to a method for managing the contents of a storage rack. Background Art

[0002] Storage shelves with multiple storage positions for inserting and extracting items are used, for example, in workshops to store screws, nuts and small parts as well as general items, and are arranged in a clear manner and easily accessible. For example, a worker or operator extracts a box with screws from a shelf before he or she starts work. This usually happens in the morning when starting work. If the worker then puts the screws or boxes with screws that may not be used back into the shelf in the evening, the worker is usually in a hurry in the evening because he or she wants to start his or her off-duty time. Therefore, it can be observed that inserting items or packages with items into storage shelves is sometimes extremely careless. As a result, this leads to: the contents on the storage shelves are no longer in order. If you then look for a specific item, such as a specific screw, this is extremely time-consuming because the entire shelf must be searched in the worst case. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention aims to improve a storage rack having a plurality of storage locations for the manual insertion and removal of items and a method for managing the contents of a storage rack with regard to the option of electronic information about the contents of the storage rack.

[0004] To this end, according to the present invention, a storage rack having a plurality of storage locations for manually inserting and retrieving items is proposed, wherein an identification device is associated with each storage location, wherein the identification device is constructed and arranged for: identifying the item when inserting the item into the storage location, when retrieving the item from the storage location and / or after positioning the item in the storage location.

[0005] By identifying the article at the time of insertion, extraction or only after it is positioned in the storage position, information about the article itself and about the storage position of the article is known. By this, the information can be provided and called in an electronic way. Then, if the worker is looking for a specific package with a plurality of special screws, he can find the screws in the warehouse management system and then learn the storage position of the screws. The worker does not have to search for the article in the entire shelf because of this. In addition, it can also be confirmed with the help of the warehouse management system: when the articles in the storage shelf are facing exhaustion, for example, because there are only a small amount of articles in the storage shelf. The special advantage of the storage shelf according to the present invention is that the storage shelf is not part of a fully automated warehouse, but is constructed for manual insertion and extraction of articles. Therefore, the inventory of the articles in the storage shelf can be managed electronically, and especially if the article is inserted into the storage shelf by mistake, that is, not at the storage position actually set, then the special article can be simply found by electronic querying which storage position the article being searched is located on. Therefore, with the help of the storage shelf according to the present invention, the advantages of the storage shelf for manual insertion and extraction of articles are combined with the electronic management of inventory. In the context of the present invention, articles are generally defined as products, components, small parts, such as screws, nuts or pins, and also as packages containing a plurality of products, components or small parts, such as screws, nuts or pins.

[0006] In a development of the invention, a warehouse management computer is provided, wherein the warehouse management computer is designed to generate information about the storage occupancy, ie which article is stored in which storage location and in which quantity, based on the information from the identification device.

[0007] In a development of the invention, the authentication device has a reading device arranged at the storage location for reading a code on the object.

[0008] For example, a barcode reader or a QR code reader or also a reader for reading digital codes can be arranged at the storage location.

[0009] In a development of the invention, the identification device has an RFID reader device which is arranged at the storage location.

[0010] In this case, each article, for example each package, must have an RFID chip with a unique identification. When the RFID chip is queried by means of an RFID reader, the RFID chip outputs the unique identification, and the identification can then be associated with a data record describing the article or small parts in the package.

[0011] In a development of the invention, the authentication device has at least one camera arranged at the storage location for capturing at least one image of the object and an electronic image processing unit for processing the image and authenticating the object.

[0012] It is also possible to identify objects, such as packages with a plurality of objects, with the aid of electronic image processing. For example, the package can be photographed and an image of the package created. A code, description or symbol on the package can then be recognized with the aid of electronic image processing of the image, whereby the object can be identified.

[0013] The problem on which the present invention is based is also achieved by a method for managing the contents of storage shelves, comprising the following steps: automatically identifying by means of an identification device objects manually inserted into a storage location of a storage shelf or manually extracted from a storage location by an operator, wherein the objects are identified when they are inserted into the storage location, when they are extracted from the storage location and / or after they are positioned in the storage location; delivering a data record of the extracted or inserted objects to a warehouse management computer, wherein the data record contains the identity of the object, information whether the object has been inserted or extracted and information for identifying the storage location; and determining the current storage occupancy of the storage shelves by means of the warehouse management computer.

[0014] By means of the method according to the invention, the storage occupancy or the stock can thus also be managed electronically in storage shelves for manual insertion and manual extraction of items. Storage shelves for manual insertion and manual extraction of items can thus be combined with the advantages of electronic warehouse management.

[0015] In a further development of the invention, the information about the storage location in which a particular object is located is provided by a warehouse management computer.

[0016] In this way, when searching for a specific item, it is possible to determine in a simple manner by electronic query where the item, for example a package with a plurality of small parts, is located. As a result, accidental or careless placement of an item in the wrong storage location no longer results in having to search for the specific item throughout the warehouse shelves. This saves a lot of time and can avoid great frustration.

[0017] In a development of the invention, it is provided that a refilling requirement of a storage shelf is determined.

[0018] Since the warehouse management computer knows the current storage occupancy, it can determine the need for refilling, for example, always when only two pieces of a particular item are left.

[0019] In a development of the invention, the number of objects removed during a predetermined period of time is taken into account when determining the refilling requirement of the at least one object.

[0020] For example, the number of items taken out during a period of one week can be taken into account. If only said number or less is still present in the storage shelf, a refilling requirement is identified.

[0021] In a further development of the invention, provision is made for the determined refilling requirements to be ordered automatically. In this way it can be ensured that there is always a sufficient stock of the required items.

[0022] In a development of the invention, it is provided that the object is identified by interrogating an RFID chip on or in the object, by reading a code on the object and / or by capturing at least one image of the object by at least one camera and subsequently subjecting the image to electronic image processing.

[0023] By means of an RFID chip, by means of reading a code (e.g. a barcode or QR code), or by means of a camera and electronic image processing, an object can be reliably identified even if it is inserted into or removed from a storage rack very quickly and manually. RFID chips can be particularly advantageous here, since they can be interrogated during insertion or removal or only after positioning on a storage location. RFID chips are read by means of radio waves and are therefore also read relatively independently of the position of the object in the storage location. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Other features and advantages of the present invention are derived from the claims and the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings:

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a storage rack according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a storage rack 10 having a plurality of storage locations 12, 14, 16 is shown. Figure 1 In the embodiment, only three storage locations or shelf grids are shown by way of example. Of course, within the scope of the invention, significantly more or fewer storage locations 12, 14, 16 may exist.

[0027] The storage rack 10 is used for manual insertion and extraction of articles 18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B. In the context of the present invention, products, components, small parts, such as screws, nuts or pins, and packages with multiple products, components or small parts are generally referred to as articles. This should be Figure 110 is shown in the following manner: the operator 24 holds the item 18B. The operator 24 can manually insert the item 18B into one of the storage locations 12, 14, 16 of the storage rack 10. The operator can also extract one or more of the items 18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B from the corresponding storage locations 12, 14, 16 of the storage rack 10.

[0028] The storage rack 10 is provided with an identification device 26A, 26B, 26C at each storage location 12, 14, 16. The identification device 26A is associated with the storage location 12, the identification device 26B is associated with the storage location 14, and the identification device 26C is associated with the storage location 16.

[0029] The identification devices 26A, 26B, 26C are connected to a warehouse management computer 28 and can thereby transmit data to the warehouse management computer 28 .

[0030] Each item 18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B is provided with an RFID chip 30. Each RFID chip 30 carries a unique identification which is output when the RFID chip is read. Figure 1 All RFID chips 30 in the embodiment are denoted by reference numeral 30, and the difference between the RFID chips 30 is that each RFID chip 30 has a different identification. The identification is usually designed in the RFID chip so that the identification is a multi-digit number. The multi-digit number is only associated with a unique RFID chip, so that no two RFID chips have the same number as the identification.

[0031] If the operator 24 inserts the object 18B into the storage rack 10, the RFID chip 30 in the object 18B, for example, a package containing a plurality of small parts, is read when the object 18B is inserted or when the object 18B is positioned in the corresponding storage position 12, 14 or 16a. Then, the identification result is transmitted to the warehouse management computer 28 by the identification device 26A, 26B, 26C. Figure 1 When the storage location 12 is located at the top of the storage location 12, this is the storage location for the item 18B. The identification device 26A can then transmit a data record to the warehouse management computer 28, which on the one hand identifies the item 18B and on the other hand contains the storage location 12 in which the item 18B is placed.

[0032] If the operator 24 mistakenly places the object 18B held in his hand into the storage location 14, this is recognized when the RFID chip 30 in the object 18B is read. In this case, the identification device 26B will then transmit a data record to the warehouse management computer 28, in which the object 18B is identified and the storage location 14 in which the object 18B is now located is contained in the data record.

[0033] However, the warehouse management computer 28 thus always has information about the current storage occupancy of the storage shelves 10 .

[0034] For example, if the operator 24 is looking for a specific object 22A, 22B, he can query via an electronic terminal device (e.g., a smartphone 32): in which storage location the object 22A, 22B is located. During the query, the operator accesses the information of the warehouse management computer 28 and thereby obtains the information that the object 22A, 22B is located in the storage location 16. The warehouse management computer can also transmit additional information, for example: that there are only two objects 22A, 22B at the storage location 16. However, it is important within the scope of the present invention that the operator 24 does not have to laboriously search for a specific object in all storage locations 12, 14, 16, for example because the object being searched is placed in the wrong storage location, but can obtain the current storage location of the object from the warehouse management computer 28 via his smartphone 32.

[0035] Thus, the storage rack 10 combines the possibility of obtaining the storage location of the sought-after item by electronic query with the advantages of a storage rack for manual insertion and extraction of items, i.e. the advantages of quick and easy storage and extraction of the sought-after items. Especially in the case of large storage racks with a large number of storage locations for manual insertion and extraction, and also when a large number of workers or operators 24 are operating at the storage rack 10, a significant time saving can be achieved when searching for items.

[0036] In addition to the identification of the item and its storage location, further information can of course be associated with the identification of the corresponding RFID chip, such as the manufacturer, the manufacturer's address, processing information such as rotational speed and torque, etc.

[0037] As described above, the warehouse management computer 28 may also trigger automatic reordering so that there are always enough items 18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B available to fill the storage shelves 10.

Claims

1. A storage rack (10) having a plurality of storage locations (12, 14, 16) for manual insertion and extraction of items (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B), characterized in that: An identification device (26A, 26B, 26C) is associated with each storage location (12, 14, 16), wherein the identification device (26A, 26B, 26C) is constructed and arranged to: identify the object (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) when the object (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) is inserted into the storage location (12, 14, 16), when the object (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) is extracted from the storage location (12, 14, 16) and / or after the object (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) is positioned in the storage location (12, 14, 16).

2. The storage shelf according to claim 1, characterized in that: A warehouse management computer (28) is provided, wherein the warehouse management computer (28) is configured to: create information about storage occupancy based on information from the identification device (26A, 26B, 26C), that is, what kind of items (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) are stored in what quantity at which storage location (12, 14, 16).

3. A storage rack according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: The identification device (26A, 26B, 26C) has an RFID reading device arranged at the storage location (12, 14, 16).

4. The storage shelf according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The authentication device has a reading device arranged at the storage location for reading a code on the object.

5. A storage rack according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: The authentication device has at least one camera arranged at the storage location for capturing at least one image of the object and an electronic image processing unit for processing the image and authenticating the object.

6. A method for managing the contents of a storage shelf (10), characterized in that: An object (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) manually inserted into a storage location (12, 14, 16) of a storage rack (10) or manually extracted from a storage location (12, 14, 16) of the storage rack (10) by an operator (24) is automatically identified by means of an identification device (26A, 26B, 26C), wherein when the object (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) is inserted into the storage location (12, 14, 16), when the object (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) is extracted from the storage location (12, 14, 16) and / or when the object (1 8A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) is positioned in the storage location (12, 14, 16) to identify the object (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B); delivering a data record of the extracted or inserted object (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) to a warehouse management computer, wherein the data record contains the identity of the object (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B), information on whether the object (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) has been inserted or extracted, and information for identifying the storage location (12, 14, 16); and determining the current storage occupancy of the storage shelves (10) by means of the warehouse management computer (28).

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The warehouse management computer (28) provides information on which storage location (12, 14, 16) a specific object (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) is located.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: The refilling requirement of the storage rack (10) is determined.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that In determining a refill requirement for at least one item (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B), a quantity of the item (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) withdrawn during a predetermined time period is taken into account.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that: Automatically order determined refill needs.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The items (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) are identified by interrogating an RFID chip (30) at or in the items (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B), by reading a code at or on the packaging of the items and / or by detecting at least one image of the items or the packaging of the items by at least one camera and subsequently performing electronic image processing on the image.

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