Multi-level method for automatically ordering goods and order picking system therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to a multi-level method for sorting goods (A1-J5) in an order picking system (1a-1e), comprising: a first sorting device (6a-6c), which comprises a plurality of transport-parallel temporary transport lines (7, PL1-PL4); and a second sorting device (11) arranged downstream. The acquired orders (AT1-AT10) are aligned with one another in a control computer (21) of the order picking system (1a-1e) and are then segmented into a plurality of goods groups (WG1-WG7) independently of the order boundary (ATG), each goods group having a predeterminable number of goods (A1-J5). In order to sort goods groups (WG1-WG7), the goods groups (WG1-WG7) are selectively stored in the temporary conveyor lines (7, PL1-PL4) and then conveyed to a second sorting device (11), where they are sorted in order by one goods group (WG1-WG7) one by one. The invention further relates to an order picking system (1a-1e), in which the disclosed method can be carried out.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an order picking system, which comprises: a warehouse in which goods are stored and which comprises a warehouse outbound conveying technology device; a first sorting device; a second sorting device arranged downstream of the first sorting device; and an order picking area arranged downstream of the second sorting device. The first sorting device comprises a plurality of buffer conveying lines which are parallel in conveying technology, and each buffer conveying line is equipped with a transfer device on the input side, and each buffer conveying line is equipped with a transfer device on the output side. In addition, the order picking system comprises: a first conveying technology device which connects the warehouse and the first sorting device; a second conveying technology device which connects the first sorting device and the second sorting device; and a third conveying technology device which connects the second sorting device and the order picking area. In addition, the order picking system comprises a control system which comprises a control computer and which is connected to the first sorting device and the second sorting device. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for operating the order picking system, for automatically placing goods in a predeterminable sequence. Background Art

[0002] Order picking systems and methods of the type mentioned are known in principle from the prior art. For example, EP2560899B1 discloses an order picking device and a method for picking packages, comprising a pick-up device for picking packages from a warehouse, a buffer device for buffering the picked packages, and an output device, wherein the buffered packages are removed from the buffer device by the delivery device according to a determined picking order. The buffer device may have at least one collecting track on which the buffered packages are collected.

[0003] EP 2 560 899 B1 and other known systems for automatically sequencing goods have the following disadvantages: the equipment required to form a prescribed sequence of goods in an order picking system is very expensive, but they operate inefficiently. Summary of the invention

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for automatically sorting goods and an improved order picking system. In particular, the devices required for forming a prescribed order of goods in the order picking system should operate efficiently.

[0005] In order to achieve the stated object, a multi-stage method of the type mentioned in the introduction for automatically sorting goods in an order picking system is proposed, comprising the following steps:

[0006] a) acquiring a plurality of orders in a control computer, wherein each of the orders includes at least one commodity;

[0007] b) forming in the control computer the desired order sequence of the orders in the order picking area and forming the goods sequence of the goods within each of the orders;

[0008] c) in the control computer, forming a total order of goods by arranging the orders relative to each other in the desired order sequence;

[0009] d) in the control computer, the overall order of goods is segmented into a plurality of goods groups, each of which has a predeterminable number of goods, independently of the order boundaries, and a group order of the goods groups is formed according to the overall order of goods, wherein the number of goods in a goods group is at most equal to the number of goods that can be placed in any order in the second sorting device;

[0010] e) forming a sorting group in the control computer, the sorting group comprising groups of goods sorted in ascending order of group, for which free capacity in the first sorting device will be available when the goods of the sorting group are transferred to the first sorting device;

[0011] f) removing the goods contained in the outbound delivery group from the warehouse by means of outbound delivery conveying technology equipment;

[0012] g) conveying the goods contained in the retrieval group to the first sorting device by means of a first conveying technology device;

[0013] h) selectively transferring the goods of the outgoing group to the buffer conveyor line by the first conveying technical equipment by means of a transfer device on the input side, transferring each of the goods of a goods group of the outgoing group to an empty buffer area on at least one of the buffer conveyor lines, and the goods of the goods group are arranged directly adjacent to each other in any order in the at least one buffer conveyor line;

[0014] i) transferring the goods of each group of goods transferred to the buffer conveyor line in group order from each buffer conveyor line to the second conveying technical equipment by means of a transfer device on the output side;

[0015] j) transporting the goods of each goods group to the second sorting device in group order by means of a second conveying technical equipment;

[0016] k) sorting the goods into groups one by one in the second sorting device according to the order sequence;

[0017] l) transporting the goods from the second sorting device to the order picking area by means of the third conveying technology equipment in the order sequence; and

[0018] m) In the order picking area, the goods are transferred to or onto the target loading aids according to the received orders.

[0019] In the same way, the proposed object is achieved by an order picking system of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein the control computer of the control system is designed to:

[0020] a) obtaining a plurality of orders, each of which includes at least one product;

[0021] b) forming a desired order sequence for each order in the order picking area and forming a goods sequence for the goods within each of the orders;

[0022] c) forming a total order of goods by arranging the orders relative to each other in the desired order sequence;

[0023] d) segmenting the overall order of goods into a plurality of goods groups, each of which has a predeterminable number of goods, independently of the order boundaries, and forming a group sequence of the goods groups according to the overall order of goods, wherein the number of goods in a goods group is at most equal to the number of goods that can be placed in any sequence in the second sorting device;

[0024] e) forming a sorting group, which comprises ascending sorted groups of goods in a group sequence, for which free capacity in the first sorting device will be available when the goods of the sorting group are transferred to the first sorting device;

[0025] f) triggering the goods contained in the outgoing storage group to be outgoing from the warehouse by means of outgoing storage conveying technology equipment;

[0026] g) triggering the conveying of the goods contained in the retrieval group to the first sorting device by means of a first conveying technology device;

[0027] h) triggering the selective transfer of goods of the outgoing group from the first conveying technology equipment to the buffer conveyor line by means of the transfer device on the input side, wherein each of the goods of a goods group of the outgoing group is transferred to an empty buffer area on at least one buffer conveyor line among the buffer conveyor lines, and each of the goods of the goods group is arranged directly adjacent to each other in any order in the at least one buffer conveyor line;

[0028] i) triggering the transfer of each group of goods to each buffer conveyor line, and transferring the goods from each buffer conveyor line to the second conveying technical equipment by means of a transfer device on the output side in group order;

[0029] j) triggering the transport of the goods of each goods group to the second sorting device in group order by means of a second conveying technical equipment;

[0030] k) triggering the sorting of the goods into groups in a second sorting device in accordance with the order sequence in a manner of one group of goods after another;

[0031] l) triggering the transport of the goods from the second sorting device to the order picking area by means of the third conveying technology equipment in the order sequence; and

[0032] m) triggering the transfer of goods to or onto a target loading aid in the order picking area according to the received order.

[0033] The segmentation of the total order of goods into groups of goods each having an arbitrary number of goods independently of the order boundaries has in particular the following technical effect: the second sorting device can be operated in an optimized manner, that is, close to or at the maximum sorting capacity. "Optimized" in the given relationship means in particular that a group of goods can be determined in such a way that the number of goods contained in this group of goods is exactly equal to the number of goods that can be placed in each arbitrary order in a (single) sorting process in the second sorting device. "Optimized" also means in particular that in step e) a warehousing group can be formed, which includes that group of goods among the groups of goods sorted in ascending order of the group order, for which the goods of this group will be available when they are transferred to the first sorting device.

[0034] Due to the separation from order boundaries and due to the segmentation of the overall goods sequence independently of order boundaries, both the first sorting device and the second sorting device can be operated optimally. That is, their efficiency can be increased compared to the prior art. In the order-based processing known from the prior art, the sorting devices that need to be designed for the largest possible order are too large for most other cases and therefore only operate inefficiently.

[0035] An "order" in the sense of the present disclosure can, for example, be assigned to a customer and thus form a "customer order". The goods of this customer order can occupy one dispatching and loading aid, multiple dispatching and loading aids or also only a part of one dispatching and loading aid (for example when goods of multiple customer orders are combined on one pallet). However, an "order" can also be assigned to one dispatching and loading aid and thus include goods that should be loaded into or onto this dispatching and loading aid. Such an order can include goods of one or more customers.

[0036] The order sequence formed in step b) and desired in the order picking area does not necessarily correspond to the order in which the orders are entered, but can be determined according to the priority of the orders or based on the time when the orders need to be completed (that is, for example, based on the delivery deadline). The order of the goods can be the order of the goods desired in the order picking area, but this is not mandatory. In one embodiment of the proposed method or order picking system, a certain order of goods within an order is not required in the order picking area. The concept of "mutual arrangement of orders" can also be synonymously expressed as "linking of orders". A group of goods can include goods of one or more orders. The goods of an order can be contained in one or more groups of goods.

[0037] The outbound transport technology can in particular comprise a rack handling device (single-layer rack handling device or multi-layer rack handling device) and a shuttle transport in one or more rack aisles. The approach proposed above allows the goods to be unloaded in a disorderly manner in step f). Thus, the outbound transport capacity of the outbound transport technology can be optimized, for example, when the goods are arranged in a time-optimized or travel-optimized operation of the rack handling device or the shuttle transport of the outbound transport technology.

[0038] "Parallel in terms of conveying technology" or "parallel in the sense of a conveying flow" does not necessarily mean "running geometrically in parallel", but only means that a conveying flow is divided into a plurality of parallel conveying flows (which in the concrete case run through the buffer conveyor lines). The buffer conveyor lines can, but do not necessarily, be arranged to run geometrically in parallel. The buffer conveyor lines can all be of the same length and accommodate the same amount of goods, but they can also be of different lengths and accommodate different amounts of goods.

[0039] The transfer device on the input side can be formed by an entry device arranged along the first conveying device, such as a roller switch, a belt converter or a push-down device (pusher). The transfer device on the output side can be formed by an exit device arranged along the second conveying device, such as a conveyor roller, a roller switch or a belt converter of the buffer conveyor line.

[0040] The expression “goods of a goods group arranged directly adjacent to one another” means, in particular, that the goods of the respective goods group are arranged so as not to be mixed with the goods of another goods group (if a buffer conveyor line is provided overall for accommodating a plurality of goods groups).

[0041] The formation of the unloading group in step e) can be achieved when the corresponding capacity in the first sorting device is actually available, or it is also predictive or prospective that the corresponding capacity in the first sorting device (forecast) will be available when the goods of the unloading group are transferred to the first sorting device.

[0042] The order picking area can in particular have an order picking station that operates manually and / or automatically. In step m), the loading of goods into or onto the target loading aid can be done manually or with the aid of a loading technology device. In the case of manual loading, it is displayed, in particular automatically, to the relevant worker which goods he should place into or onto the sending loading aid. The corresponding output can be realized optically (for example, via a screen, indicator light or digital glasses) and / or acoustically (for example, via a loudspeaker or headphones). The loading technology device can also have one or more loading robots for automatic loading. In step m), one or more target loading aids, for example, one or more sending loading aids, can be set for each order.

[0043] In addition to the control computer, the "control system" may also have other components that are required for implementing the proposed method. This can be, for example, a data line or radio link between the control computer and the actuator present in the order picking system, that is, for example, a data line or radio link between the control computer and the warehouse conveying technology equipment, the first sorting device, the first conveying technology equipment, the second sorting device, the second conveying technology equipment, the order picking area and the third conveying technology equipment. Steps f) to m) can be triggered by the control computer. The control of these steps f) to m) can then be undertaken, for example, by a local sub-controller, such as a sub-controller of the warehouse conveying technology equipment, a sub-controller of the first sorting device, a sub-controller of the first conveying technology equipment, a sub-controller of the second sorting device, a sub-controller of the second conveying technology equipment, a sub-controller of the order picking area or a sub-controller of the third conveying technology equipment. However, steps f) to m) can also be directly controlled by the control computer. Then, a local sub-controller is not required. A hybrid form can also be considered, in which several steps among steps f) to m) are triggered by the control computer, and other steps among steps f) to m) are directly controlled by the control computer.

[0044] The goods can be transported continuously or discontinuously by means of the first conveying technology, by means of the second conveying technology and by means of the third conveying technology. In discontinuous transport, the goods can be accumulated by means of the first conveying technology, by means of the second conveying technology and / or by means of the third conveying technology. The first conveying technology, the second conveying technology and / or the third conveying technology can therefore be used temporarily or locally as a buffer.

[0045] In general, the sorting is carried out in two stages in the method described or in the order picking system described, but further sorting stages are possible. Strictly speaking, pre-sorting in the first sorting stage is only possible if at least one outbound group includes more than one group of goods. It is therefore particularly advantageous if one outbound group includes a plurality of groups of goods or if all outbound groups include more than one group of goods.

[0046] Further advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are apparent from the dependent claims and from the description in conjunction with the drawings.

[0047] Advantageously, the goods group containing goods of only one order in each case passes through the second sorting device in step k) without a sorting process or bypasses the second sorting device via a bypass. Thus, the second sorting device does not need to be unnecessarily loaded when a specific order of goods within an order is not required in the order picking area. As a result, the second sorting device can be operated even more efficiently.

[0048] But there are also advantages:

[0049] - in step b), a desired order of the goods in the order picking area is additionally formed in the control computer for the goods within each of the individual orders;

[0050] - in step c), the desired overall order of goods in the order picking area is formed by arranging the orders in relation to one another;

[0051] - in step k), the overall order of goods is established in the sorting device by sorting the goods into groups one by one; and

[0052] In step 1), the goods are transported to the order picking area in the order of the total goods by means of a third conveying technology device.

[0053] Therefore, in this embodiment, there is a desired order of goods in the order picking area for the goods within an order. Grouping the goods by order according to the order order is implicitly achieved in this embodiment by establishing a desired overall order of goods. An explicit step for grouping the goods by order according to the order order is therefore not required.

[0054] It is also advantageous that each cargo group has the same number of cargoes. Therefore, in step d), the sequential segmentation of the total cargo can be realized in a simple manner. This method is especially recommended in the following situations: all buffer conveyor lines are of the same length or can accommodate the same number of cargoes.

[0055] It is particularly advantageous if the number of goods in a goods group is exactly equal to the number of goods that can be placed in any order in the second sorting device in a (single) sorting process. The second sorting device is therefore operated at maximum sorting capacity and is therefore particularly efficient.

[0056] Advantageously, each of the goods of a goods group of the warehouse exit group is stored in the free area of ​​just one buffer conveyor line among each buffer conveyor line. Avoid in this way that each of the goods of a goods group is stored by multiple buffer conveyor lines. Therefore, the flow during classification in the first classification level is simplified.

[0057] It is also advantageous that each of the buffer conveyor lines receives exactly one group of goods. Therefore, the process during sorting in the first sorting level is also simplified.

[0058] In the above case, it is particularly advantageous that in step f) the goods contained in the unloading group are unloaded in a random order. Thus, the unloading capacity of the unloading conveying technology can be optimized.

[0059] It is also advantageous that each of the cache conveyor lines receives a plurality of complete groups of goods, each group of goods having a sequence number in the order of the group, and in the corresponding cache line, the goods of the group of goods with a lower sequence number are deposited further downstream than the goods of the group of goods with a higher sequence number. Thus, one cache conveyor line can receive the goods of two, three or more groups of goods in this case. By means of the proposed measures, the required form factor for the first sorting device can be achieved more easily. In addition, a constant conveying flow at the outlet of the first sorting device can also be maintained when relatively more time is required for replenishing the conveying of goods into the first sorting device.

[0060] In another embodiment, it can be provided that the goods of several goods groups among each goods group of the outbound group are stored in the free area of ​​a plurality of cache conveyor lines among each of the cache conveyor lines. Therefore, each of the cache conveyor lines can be better fully utilized under certain preconditions. This is especially applicable in the following cases: the quotient of the goods capacity of a cache conveyor line among each of the cache conveyor lines and the number of goods in a goods group is not an integer, wherein each of the goods groups has a sequence number according to the group order, and on the corresponding cache line, the goods of the goods group with a lower sequence number are stored further downstream than the goods of the goods group with a higher sequence number. Therefore, in this case, more or less goods are stored in a cache conveyor line than the goods contained by the goods group of an integer number.

[0061] When more than one group of goods is or can be deposited in a buffer conveyor line, it is advantageous that the goods contained in the outgoing group in step f) are outgoing in a random order, wherein the goods of those groups of goods that are successively transferred to one of the buffer conveyor lines in step h) are outgoing in group order. In this scheme, the principle of the random outgoing of goods is broken through as follows, because the groups of goods that are successively in a buffer conveyor line are outgoing without damaging the group order. Otherwise, the random outgoing principle comes into play. This means that the goods of the first group of goods deposited further downstream in a buffer conveyor line are outgoing from the warehouse before the goods of the second group of goods (which are deposited further upstream in the buffer conveyor line). However, within these two groups of goods, the goods can exist or be outgoing in a random order respectively. It is even possible that the goods of the other third group of goods are mixed with the goods of the first and second groups of goods.

[0062] When more than one group of goods is stored or can be stored in a buffer conveyor line, it is also advantageous that the goods contained in the outgoing group in step f) are outgoing in a random order, wherein in step e), a outgoing group has at most (especially just) so many groups of goods that the buffer conveyor line has the free capacity for receiving the goods of each group of goods when the goods of the outgoing group are transferred to the first sorting device. Here, it is avoided from the beginning that an outgoing group has multiple groups of goods that are transferred to a unique buffer conveyor line one after another. Therefore, in this case, a random output of goods can be performed without restriction. The initial filling of the first sorting device can be advantageously realized step by step with the help of multiple outgoing groups. In particular, it can be provided that the outgoing groups are as many as the groups of goods that can be received in a (longest) buffer conveyor line.

[0063] In general, the method described can relate to an order picking system, in which the goods each consist of one piece, or the described process can be based on one piece per good. However, this is not a mandatory condition. More precisely, it is also conceivable that:

[0064] - a load in the overall load sequence is any number of loads of the same load type, which are stored in or on a loading aid;

[0065] - steps f) to l) are carried out by corresponding manipulation of the loading aid; and

[0066] - Step m) comprises extracting the goods from or by the loading aid.

[0067] This means that, in the method described, a loading aid with multiple pieces of the relevant goods can also be provided instead of one good. However, this does not change substantially in the sorting method, in particular when each piece of the goods is removed from the relevant loading aid. If multiple pieces of the goods are required in step m), the method can be simplified to the extent that exactly multiple pieces of the goods are removed from one loading aid, without having to occupy multiple positions in the goods sequence for this purpose. Instead, the goods sequence can have a multiplier at the corresponding position, which indicates how many pieces of the relevant goods type are to be extracted in step m). The expression can be: "3 pieces of goods type A". However, it must be ensured that the relevant loading aid then contains at least three pieces of goods type A, and in step m), the pieces of goods type A are removed from the loading aid or from the loading aid and transferred to the target loading aid or to the target loading aid, because otherwise interference may occur in the order picking process.

[0068] In this case, instead of "sequence of goods", we can talk about "sequence of goods types". Accordingly, the concept "sequence of goods" in the above disclosure can be replaced in concept by the concept "sequence of goods types". Mixed forms are also conceivable, in which a part of the goods is present individually and is handled without loading aids, and another part of the goods is transported in loading aids. Accordingly, the concept "sequence of goods" in the above disclosure can be replaced in concept by the concept "mixed goods and sequence of goods types".

[0069] However, it is noted that in each of the cases mentioned, the order of goods can have multiple levels of goods or types of goods if multiple goods or types of goods are required at multiple different order picking stations or also at different times at one order picking station. This situation can occur, for example, when multiple relevant goods or types of goods are required or specified at different positions in a packaging pattern for a pallet.

[0070] Advantageously, the remaining amount of goods remaining in or on the loading aid after step m) can be returned to the warehouse for storage. Thus, the remaining amount of goods can become available for a subsequent order picking process, for example when this is required in a subsequent order. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] For a better understanding of the present invention, the present invention is explained more clearly with the aid of the following drawings.

[0072] The greatly simplified schematic diagrams are as follows:

[0073] Figure 1 A first example of an order picking system is shown in a schematic diagram;

[0074] Figure 2 An exemplary order sequence showing a plurality of orders arranged in relation to one another;

[0075] Figure 3 show Figure 2 The order sequence is exemplarily segmented into a plurality of goods groups;

[0076] Figure 4 Display an outbound group including multiple cargo groups;

[0077] Figure 5 show Figure 2 An exemplary and chaotic order of goods after they are shipped out of the warehouse;

[0078] Figure 6 show Figure 1 The order picking system is in a state in which Figure 5 The goods of the sequence are partially transferred to the first sorting device;

[0079] Figure 7 show Figure 1 The order picking system is in a state in which Figure 5 All goods in the sequence are transferred to the first sorting device;

[0080] Figure 8 show Figure 2 An exemplary order of goods after the goods are output from the first sorting device;

[0081] Fig. 9 Shown in the description Figure 8 An exemplary second sorting device for sorting a second group of goods in a sequence of goods in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0082] Fig.10 Shown in the description Figure 8 After the second cargo group classification in the cargo sequence Fig. 9 a second classification device;

[0083] Fig.11 show Figure 2 An exemplary order of goods after the goods leave the second sorting device;

[0084] Fig.12 Display after the two cargo groups have left the first sorting device again Figure 7 Order picking system;

[0085] Fig.13 Displaying an exemplary order sequence of further orders arranged in relation to one another;

[0086] Fig.14 show Fig.13 The order sequence is exemplarily segmented into a plurality of goods groups;

[0087] Fig.15 Displaying a second warehouse delivery group including a plurality of cargo groups;

[0088] Fig.16 Display after two additional groups of goods have been transferred to the first sorting device Fig.12 Order picking system;

[0089] Fig.17 An example of an order picking system having a plurality of buffer conveyor lines, each of which can receive two groups of goods;

[0090] Fig.18 An example of an order picking system having a plurality of buffer conveyor lines, each of which can receive more than two groups of goods;

[0091] Fig.19 like Fig.17 but having a bypass for bypassing the second sorting means; and

[0092] Fig. 20 like Fig.17 is shown but with a return conveyor track to the warehouse. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0093] First of all, it should be pointed out that in the various embodiments described, the same components are provided with the same reference numerals or the same component names, and the disclosure contained in the entire description can be applied to the same components with the same reference numerals or the same component names in a meaningful manner. The selected orientation descriptions in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., also refer to the directly described and described figures and can be applied to the new orientation in a meaningful manner when the orientation changes.

[0094] Figure 1 The schematic diagram shows a first example of an order picking system 1a. The order picking system 1a comprises a warehouse 2, which here comprises a plurality of shelves 3 and a technical outbound conveyor system 4. In the area of ​​the warehouse 2, a plurality of outbound transfer devices 5 are also provided. During operation of the order picking system 1a, a plurality of Figure 1Goods not described in. In addition, the order picking system 1a includes a first sorting device 6a, which has a plurality of buffer conveyor lines 7 that are parallel in terms of conveying technology, and each buffer conveyor line 7 is equipped with a transfer device 8 on the input side, and each buffer conveyor line 7 is equipped with a transfer device 9 on the output side. In addition, the order picking system 1a includes a first conveying technology device 10, which connects the warehouse 2 and the first sorting device 6a. In addition, the order picking system 1a includes a second sorting device 11 arranged downstream of the first sorting device 6a. The second sorting device 11 in this example includes a central supply track 12 and two laterally arranged lead-out tracks 13 and 14. The order picking system 1a also includes a second conveying technology device 15, which connects the first sorting device 6a and the second sorting device 11. In addition, the order picking system 1a includes an order picking area 16 arranged downstream of the second sorting device 11. The order picking area 16 can have, for example, one manually and / or automatically operated order picking station 17 or, as described by way of example, a plurality of manually and / or automatically operated order picking stations 17, as in the example Figure 1 Schematically described in . In the area of ​​each order picking station 17, a transfer device 18 on the input side is also provided. In addition, the order picking system 1a comprises a third conveyor technology device 19, which connects the second sorting device 11 and the order picking area 16. Finally, the order picking system 1a comprises a control system 20, which has a control computer 21 and is connected to at least the first sorting device 6a and the second sorting device 11.

[0095] The outbound conveying technology 4 may include, for example, a plurality of multi-layer shelf handling devices, single-layer shelf handling devices, and shuttle transports etc. that move between the shelves 3. With the aid of the outbound conveying technology 4, goods can be taken out from the shelves 3 and transferred to the first conveying technology 10.

[0096] The first conveyor technology 10, the second conveyor technology 15, the third conveyor technology 19, the buffer conveyor line 7 of the first sorting device 6a, and the central supply track 12 of the second sorting device 11 and the two laterally arranged discharge tracks 13 and 14 can be designed in particular as roller conveyors or have roller conveyors. As an alternative or in addition, the units mentioned can also be designed by conveyor belts, chain conveyors, etc. or include them.

[0097] The transfer device 5 on the output side in the area of ​​the warehouse 2 can be formed by an exit gate arranged along the first conveyor system 10, for example by conveyor rollers of a warehouse conveyor line following the exit conveyor system 4, by roller switches or belt converters. By means of the transfer device 5, the goods from the exit conveyor system 4 can be transferred to the first conveyor system 10.

[0098] In this example, the buffer conveyor lines 7 extend not only in parallel in terms of conveying technology, but also in geometrical parallelism. However, it is not necessary for the buffer conveyor lines 7 to be oriented parallel to one another in a geometric sense. It is sufficient that a conveyor flow from the first conveyor technology device 10 is divided or can be divided into a plurality of parallel conveyor flows extending through the buffer conveyor lines 7.

[0099] The transfer device 8 on the input side of the first sorting device 6a can be formed, for example, by an entry gate device arranged along the first conveying technology equipment 10, such as a roller switch, a belt converter or a push-down device (pusher). With the help of each transfer device 8, the goods from the first conveying technology equipment 10 can be transferred to each buffer conveyor line 7 in a targeted manner. The transfer device 9 on the output side of the first sorting device 6a can be formed by an exit gate device arranged along the second conveying technology equipment 15, such as by conveyor rollers of the buffer conveyor line 7, by a roller switch or by a belt converter. With the help of each transfer device 9, the goods from each buffer conveyor line 7 can be transferred to the second conveying technology equipment 15.

[0100] The transfer device 18 on the input side in the area of ​​the order picking station 17 can be formed, for example, by a gate arranged along the third conveyor technology 19, for example by a roller switch, a belt converter or a push-off device (pusher). With the help of the transfer devices 18, the goods from the third conveyor technology 19 can be transferred to the order picking stations 17 in a targeted manner.

[0101] The control system 20 can have other components in addition to the control computer 21, such as a radio link between the control computer 21 and the actuators present in the order picking system 1a, i.e., for example, a radio link between the control computer 21 and the outbound conveying technology 4, the first sorting device 6a, the first conveying technology 10, the second sorting device 11, the second conveying technology 15, the order picking area 16 and the third conveying technology 19, as shown in Figure 1 For communication between the control computer 21 and the mentioned units, a data line can also be provided as an alternative or in addition to the radio link.

[0102] Described in Figure 1 The functionality of the order picking system 1a in is now described as follows:

[0103] In step a), a plurality of orders are acquired in the control computer 21, each of which includes at least one product. Figure 2In the described example, seven orders AT1 to AT7 are obtained. Order AT1 includes goods A1 to A3, order AT2 includes goods B1, order AT3 includes goods C1 to C4, order AT4 includes goods D1 to D5, order AT5 includes goods E1 to E2, order AT6 includes goods F1 to F3, and order AT7 includes goods G1 to G6. An "order" in the sense of the present disclosure can, for example, be assigned to a customer and thus also form a "customer order". The goods of the customer order can be loaded on a sending loading auxiliary device, multiple sending loading auxiliary devices, or only a part of a sending loading auxiliary device (for example, when the goods of multiple customer orders are combined on a pallet in the order picking area 16). However, an "order" can also be assigned to a sending loading auxiliary device and therefore include goods that should be loaded into or on the sending loading auxiliary device. Such an order can include goods for one or more customers.

[0104] In step b), the desired order sequence of the orders AT1 to AT7 in the order picking area 16 and, if appropriate, the desired goods sequence of the goods A1 to G6 in each of the orders AT1 to AT7 in the order picking area 16 are formed in the control computer 21. The order sequence does not necessarily correspond to the sequence in which the orders AT1 to AT7 were acquired in step a), but can be determined according to the priority of the orders AT1 to AT7 or based on the time when the orders AT1 to AT7 are to be completed (that is, for example, based on a delivery deadline). For example, in Figure 2 The orders AT1 to AT7 described in step a) are entered in the order AT3, AT7, AT1, AT4, AT5, AT2, AT6 and should be entered as described in step Figure 2 The orders arrive at the order picking area 16 in the order AT1, AT2, AT3, AT4, AT5, AT6, AT7.

[0105] In step c), in the control computer 21, the orders AT1 to AT7 are arranged in the desired order to form a total order of goods. Figure 2 It can also be seen in.

[0106] In step d), in the control computer 21, the total order of goods is segmented into a plurality of goods groups WG1 to WG4, each of which has a predeterminable number of goods A1 to G6, and a group order of the goods groups WG1 to WG4 is formed in the control computer 21 according to the total order of goods. The number of goods A1 to G6 in a goods group WG1 to WG4 is equal to the number of goods A1 to G6 that can be placed in a sequence or any arbitrary sequence in the second sorting device 11 during the sorting process. In this example, a maximum of six goods A1 to G6 can be placed in an arbitrary sequence in the second sorting device 11 during the sorting process (see also for this purpose). Fig. 9 and 10 ).

[0107] Preferably, each of the goods groups WG1-WG4 has the same number of goods A1-G6, and preferably, the number of goods A1-G6 in one of the goods groups WG1-WG4 is exactly equal to the number of goods A1-G6 that can be placed in one sequence or in any sequence in the second sorting device 11 during the sorting process (this is six goods A1-G6 in the specific example). Figure 3 In the example, each cargo group WG1-WG4 includes six cargoes A1-G6. Specifically, cargo group WG1 includes cargoes A1-C2, cargo group WG2 includes cargoes C3-D4, cargo group WG3 includes cargoes D5-F3, and cargo group WG4 includes cargoes G1-G6.

[0108] It goes without saying that second sorting devices 11 are also conceivable, which can place different numbers of goods A1 to G6 in any order during the sorting process. It is also conceivable that the goods groups WG1 to WG4 include different numbers of goods A1 to G6. If the second sorting device 11 has a maximum sorting capacity of ten goods A1 to G6, then, for example, the goods group WG1 can have nine goods A1 to D1, the goods group WG2 can have four goods D3 to E1, the goods group WG3 can have five goods E2 to G1, and the goods group WG4 can have five goods G2 to G6.

[0109] If Figure 3 It can be seen that the goods groups WG1 to WG4 are formed independently of the order boundary ATG, which forms the boundary between every two orders in the orders AT1 to AT7. In other words, the boundary between the goods groups WG1 to WG4 is independent of the order boundary ATG.

[0110] In a further step e), a retrieval group AG1 is formed in the control computer 21, which includes the goods groups WG1 to WG4 sorted in ascending order of group sequence, for which the goods A1 to G6 of the retrieval group will be available when they are transferred to the first sorting device 6a. Figure 1 In the state of the first sorting device 6a, the first sorting device 6a is empty. Advantageously, the outbound group AG1 includes so many goods groups WG1 to WG4 that for the goods A1 to G6 of these goods groups, when they are transferred to the first sorting device 6a, free capacity in the first sorting device 6a will be available. Figure 4 In the example described in , the warehouse group AG1 therefore includes the goods groups WG1 to WG4.

[0111] In general, the formation of the retrieval group AG1 can be achieved in step e) when the corresponding capacity in the first sorting device 6a is currently available, or also predictively or prospectively, when the corresponding capacity in the first sorting device 6a will be available when the goods A1~G6 of the retrieval group AG1 are transferred to the first sorting device 6a.

[0112] In step f), the goods A1 to G6 included in the outgoing group AG1 are outgoing from the warehouse 2 by means of the outgoing conveying technology device 4. To this end, the control computer 21 issues corresponding instructions to the outgoing conveying technology device 4. It is conceivable that the outgoing conveying technology device 4 executes the instructions autonomously, that is, the goods A1 to G6 are outgoing autonomously and without further involvement of the control computer 21. However, it is also conceivable that the outgoing process is not only triggered by the control computer 21, but also actively controlled by the control computer.

[0113] In step g), the goods A1 to G6 contained in the outbound group AG1 are transported to the first sorting device 6a by means of the first conveying technology device 10. To this end, the control computer 21 issues corresponding instructions to the first conveying technology device 10. It is conceivable that the first conveying technology device 10 executes the instructions autonomously, that is, the goods A1 to G6 are transported autonomously and without further involvement of the control computer 21. However, it is also conceivable that the transportation of the goods is not only triggered by the control computer 21, but also actively controlled by the control computer.

[0114] The goods A1 to G6 contained in the outbound group AG1 can be removed from the warehouse in a random order, as in Figure 5 Thus, the outbound capacity of the outbound conveying technology 4 can be optimized, for example, when the goods A1 to G6 are arranged in a time-optimized or travel-optimized operation of the outbound conveying technology 4 . Figure 5 The order of the goods A1 to G6 at the point P1 on the first conveying technology device 10 is shown. Figure 5 It can be clearly seen that the goods A1 to G6 pass through point P1 not in a particular order but in a random order.

[0115] In another step h), the goods A1 to G6 of the outbound group AG1 are selectively transferred from the first conveying technology equipment 10 to each buffer conveyor line 7 by means of the transfer device 8 on the input side. To this end, the control computer 21 issues corresponding instructions to the transfer device 8. It is conceivable that the transfer device 8 executes the instructions autonomously, that is, the goods A1 to G6 are selectively transferred from the first conveying technology equipment 10 to the buffer conveyor line 7 autonomously and without further involvement of the control computer 21. However, it is also conceivable that the transfer of goods is not only triggered by the control computer 21, but also actively controlled by the control computer.

[0116] Here, each of the goods A1 to G6 of a goods group WG1 to WG4 of the warehouse outgoing group AG1 is transferred to a free buffer area on at least one of the buffer conveyor lines 7, and each of the goods A1 to G6 of the goods group WG1 to WG4 is arranged directly adjacent to each other in any order in the at least one buffer conveyor line 7. The goods A1 to G6 are conveyed downstream on the buffer conveyor line 7. To this end, the control computer 21 issues corresponding instructions to the buffer conveyor line 7. It is conceivable that the buffer conveyor line 7 executes the instructions autonomously, that is, the goods A1 to G6 are conveyed autonomously and without further involvement of the control computer 21. However, it is also conceivable that the goods transportation is not only triggered by the control computer 21, but also actively controlled by the control computer.

[0117] Figure 6 show Figure 1 The order picking system 1a is here in a state in which some of the goods, namely goods A1, A2, A3, B1, C2, C3, C4, D2, D4, D5, E2, F2, F3, G1, G3 and G6, have been transferred to the buffer conveyor line 7; and some of the goods, namely goods C1, D1, D3, E1, F1, G2, G4 and G5, have not yet arrived. For a better overview, the individual items of the order picking system 1a have been Figure 1 The components described in the above are not described again. In addition, the buffer conveyor line 7 is Figure 6 And in the subsequent drawings, they are represented by their numbers PL1~PL4.

[0118] In the description of Figure 6In the example, cargo group WG1 is stored in cache conveyor line PL3, cargo group WG2 is stored in cache conveyor line PL1, cargo group WG3 is stored in cache conveyor line PL2, and cargo group WG4 is stored in cache conveyor line PL4. A special match between a cargo group WG1~WG4 and a cache conveyor line PL1~PL4 does not need to exist. In other words, cargo groups WG1~WG4 can be transferred to one of the idle cache conveyor lines PL1~PL4 completely freely. However, in an alternative embodiment, a special match between a cargo group WG1~WG4 and a cache conveyor line PL1~PL4 can be provided. Finally, Figure 7 show Figure 1 The order picking system 1a is in a state in which all goods A1~G6 are transferred to the buffer conveyor lines PL1~PL4.

[0119] In step i), the goods A1 to G6 of each goods group WG1 to WG4 transferred to each buffer conveyor line PL1 to PL4 are transferred from each buffer conveyor line PL1 to PL4 to the second conveying technical equipment 15 in group order by means of the transfer device 9 on the output side. To this end, the control computer 21 sends corresponding control instructions to the transfer device 9. It is conceivable that the transfer device 9 executes the instructions autonomously, that is, the goods A1 to G6 are transferred from the buffer conveyor line 7 to the second conveying technical equipment 15 autonomously and without further involvement of the control computer 21. However, it is also conceivable that the goods transfer is not only triggered by the control computer 21, but also actively controlled by the control computer.

[0120] Figure 8 The order of the goods A1 to G6 at a point P2 on the second conveying technology equipment 15 is shown. Figure 8 It can be seen clearly that the goods A1 to G6 of the goods groups WG1 to WG4 pass through the point P2 in the order of the group. However, there is no particular order of the goods A1 to G6 within the goods groups WG1 to WG4, that is, the goods A1 to G6 exist in a random order within the goods groups WG1 to WG4. Specifically, the goods A1 to G6 within a goods group WG1 to WG4 exist in the (random) order in which these goods are shipped out of the warehouse 2.

[0121] In step j), the goods A1 to G6 of each of the goods groups WG1 to WG4 are transported to the second sorting device 11 in group order by means of the second conveying technology device 15. To this end, the control computer 21 issues corresponding control instructions to the second conveying technology device 15. It is conceivable that the second conveying technology device 15 executes the instructions autonomously, that is, the goods A1 to G6 are transported autonomously and without further involvement of the control computer 21. However, it is also conceivable that the goods transportation is not only triggered by the control computer 21, but also actively controlled by the control computer.

[0122] In step k), the goods A1 to G6 are sorted by group in the second sorting device 11 in the order of the order in the manner of one goods group WG1 to WG4 after another goods group WG1 to WG4. That is, in the first sorting process, the goods A1 to C2 of the goods group WG1 are sorted, in the second sorting process, the goods C3 to D4 of the goods group WG2 are sorted, in the third sorting process, the goods D5 to F3 of the goods group WG3 are sorted, and in the fourth sorting process, the goods G1 to G6 of the goods group WG4 are sorted.

[0123] Fig. 9 and Fig.10 The second cargo group WG2 is used as an example to describe the sorting process in the second sorting device 11. Fig. 9 In the state of , the goods C3 have been transferred from the central supply track 12 to the export track 13, and the goods D4 have been transferred from the central supply track 12 to the export track 14. Fig. 9 The transfer takes place from the central supply track 12 to the discharge track 13 . Fig.10 A state is shown in which the goods C3, C4, D1 have been transferred to the lead-out track 13, and the goods D2, D3, D4 have been transferred to the lead-out track 14. Next, the goods C3, C4, D1 are transferred from the lead-out track 13 to the third conveyor technology device 19, and then the goods D2, D3, D4 are transferred to the third conveyor technology device.

[0124] For the sorting process, the control computer 21 issues corresponding instructions to the second sorting device 11. It is conceivable that the second sorting device 11 executes the instructions autonomously, that is, the goods C3 to D4 are sorted autonomously and without further involvement of the control computer 21. However, it is also conceivable that the sorting process is not only triggered by the control computer 21, but also actively controlled by the control computer.

[0125] In a further step 1), the goods A1 to G6 are transported from the second sorting device 11 to the order picking area 16 in the order sequence by means of the third conveying technology device 19. For this purpose, the control computer 21 issues corresponding instructions to the third conveying technology device 19. It is conceivable that the third conveying technology device 19 executes the instructions autonomously, that is, the goods A1 to G6 are transported autonomously and without further involvement of the control computer 21. However, it is also conceivable that the goods transportation is not only triggered by the control computer 21, but also actively controlled by the control computer.

[0126] Fig.11 The sequence of goods A1 to G6 at point P3 on the third conveying technology equipment 19 is shown. Fig.11It can be seen that goods A1 to G6 are as described in step c) and Figures 2~4 The total goods sequence described in passes through point P3. That is, the goods A1-G6 arrive at the order picking area 16 according to the order sequence expected in step b) of each order AT1-AT7 and the expected goods sequence of each goods A1-G6.

[0127] Finally, in step m), the goods A1 to G6 are transferred to or onto the target loading auxiliary device in accordance with the acquired orders AT1 to AT7 in the order picking area 16. To this end, the control computer 21 issues corresponding instructions to the transfer device 18, so that the goods A1 to G6 are transferred to the desired order picking station 17. For example, the goods A1 to A3 of order AT1 and the goods B1 of order AT2 are transferred to the order picking station on the left side of each order picking station 17, the goods C1 to C4 of order AT3, the goods D1 to D5 of order AT4 and the goods E1 to E2 of order AT5 are transferred to the middle order picking station of each order picking station 17, and the goods F1 to F3 of order AT6 and the goods G1 to G6 of order AT7 are transferred to the order picking station 17 on the right side of each order picking station 17. It is conceivable that each transfer device 18 executes the command autonomously, that is, the goods A1 to G6 are selectively transferred from the third conveyor technology device 19 to each order picking station 17 autonomously and without further involvement of the control computer 21. However, it is also conceivable that the transfer of goods is not only triggered by the control computer 21, but also actively controlled by the control computer.

[0128] In step m), the goods A1~G6 are transferred to or onto the target loading auxiliary device, which can be achieved manually or automatically through loading technical equipment. In general, in step m), one or more target loading auxiliary devices, such as one or more sending loading auxiliary devices, can be set for each order. In the case of manual transfer, it can be displayed on the screen, in particular, which goods A1~G6 should be loaded into which target loading auxiliary device. For transfer, the control computer 21 sends corresponding instructions to the order picking station 17. It is conceivable that the order picking station 17 executes the instructions autonomously, that is, the transfer is carried out autonomously and without further involvement of the control computer 21. However, it is also conceivable that the transfer is not only triggered by the control computer 21, but also actively controlled by the control computer.

[0129] The process or sequence described in steps a) to m) can in particular be carried out continuously or repeatedly.

[0130] For example, orders AT1~AT7 can be continuously obtained (step a), order sequence and goods sequence can be continuously formed (step b), the total goods sequence can be continuously formed (step c), goods groups WG1~WG4 and group sequence can be continuously formed (step d), warehouse out group AG1 can be continuously formed (step e), goods A1~G6 can be continuously shipped out of the warehouse (step f), goods A1~G6 can be continuously transported to the first sorting device 6a (step g), goods A1~G6 can be continuously transferred to the cache conveyor line 7 (step h), goods A1~G6 can be continuously transferred to the second conveying technical equipment 15 (step i), goods A1~G6 can be continuously transported to the second sorting device 11 (step j), goods A1~G6 can be continuously sorted in the second sorting device 11 (step k), goods A1~G6 can be continuously transported to the order picking area 16 (step l), and goods A1~G6 can be continuously transshipped (step m).

[0131] Fig.12 In this relationship, the description is shown in Figure 1 A state of the order picking system 1a, in which the goods A1-C2 of the goods group WG1 and the goods C3-D4 of the goods group WG2 have left the first sorting device 6a, and the buffer conveyor lines PL1 and PL3 are then idle again.

[0132] Also assume that, in the intervening time, additional orders AT8 to AT10 have been obtained (step a), such as Fig.13 At this time, order AT8 includes goods H1~H8, order AT9 includes goods I1~I7, and order AT10 includes goods J1~J5. For the newly arrived orders AT8~AT10, steps b) and c) are performed in the manner already described. In addition, Fig.13 The total order of goods thus obtained is displayed. In addition, for the newly arrived orders AT8-AT10, step d) is also performed in the manner already described. Fig.14 In addition, the cargo groups WG5 to WG7 thus obtained are shown. Fig.14 It can be seen that not all goods H1-J5 are included in the goods groups WG5-WG7, but two goods J4-J5 are left. They are considered when the goods groups are re-formed. Fig.15 The result of further carrying out step e) is shown, and therefore specifically the second bin removal group AG2 is shown.

[0133] After re-implementing steps f), g) and h), there may be Fig.16Specifically, goods H1-H6 of goods group WG5 have been transferred to the buffer conveyor line PL3 and goods H7-I4 of goods group WG6 have been transferred to the buffer conveyor line PL1. Goods groups WG3 and WG4 are still in the area of ​​the first sorting device 6a, but they may have left the first sorting device in the meantime.

[0134] Steps i) to m) are also carried out in the manner already described.

[0135] Fig.17 A further embodiment of the order picking system 1b is now shown, which is similar to the one described in Figure 1 is very similar to the order picking system 1a in . However, differently therefrom, the buffer conveyor lines PL1~PL4 of the first sorting device 6b are now longer, in particular, twice as long as the buffer conveyor lines PL1~PL4 of the first sorting device 6a. Each of the buffer conveyor lines PL1~PL4 of the first sorting device 6a receives goods A1~G6 of exactly one goods group WG1~WG4, while the buffer conveyor lines PL1~PL4 of the first sorting device 6b receive multiple complete goods groups WG1~WG4, and in the specific example, receive goods A1~G6 of exactly two complete goods groups WG1~WG4 respectively. Accordingly, in Fig.17 In the embodiment, the goods C3-D4 of the goods group WG2 are received in the buffer conveyor line PL1, the goods D5-F3 of the goods group WG3 are received on the buffer conveyor line PL2, and the goods A1-C2 of the goods group WG1 and the goods G1-G6 of the goods group WG4 are received on the buffer conveyor line PL3. However, it is also conceivable to set up buffer conveyor lines PL1-PL4, which receive other numbers of complete goods A1-G6 of the goods groups WG1-WG4, for example, three, four or more complete goods A1-G6 of the goods groups WG1-WG4, respectively.

[0136] Steps a) to d), g) and i) to m) are carried out in the same manner as those already described with the aid of Figures 2~5 and Figures 8 to 11 The described sequence is implemented in a similar manner, with only differences in steps e), f) and h).

[0137] Although in step h) the goods A1-G6 of the outbound group AG1 are selectively transferred from the first conveying technical equipment 10 to the buffer conveyor lines PL1-PL4 by means of the transfer device 8 on the input side, wherein the goods A1-G6 of a goods group WG1-WG4 of the outbound group AG1 are transferred to the free buffer area on the buffer conveyor lines PL1-PL4, and the goods A1-G6 of the goods group WG1-WG4 are arranged directly adjacent to each other in any order on at least one buffer conveyor line PL1-PL4. However, the goods A1-C2 of the goods group WG1 and the goods G1-G6 of the goods group WG4 are not located side by side on the buffer conveyor lines PL3 and PL4, as described in Figure 7 This is the case in the example described in the example; instead, they are successively located on the buffer transmission line PL3. In contrast, the buffer transmission line PL4 is described in the example described in the example. Fig.17 The state is still idle.

[0138] The goods groups WG1 to WG4 have sequence numbers in a group order, wherein in the corresponding buffer conveyor lines PL1 to PL4, the goods A1 to G6 of the goods groups WG1 to WG4 with lower sequence numbers are stored further downstream than the goods A1 to G6 of the goods groups WG1 to WG4 with higher sequence numbers. This is described in Fig.17 In the example of , it means that the goods A1 to C2 of the goods group WG1 are stored further downstream than the goods G1 to G6 of the goods group WG4.

[0139] The proposed measures make it easier to achieve the required form factor for the first sorting device 6b. Furthermore, a constant conveying flow can be maintained at the outlet of the first sorting device 6b even when additional conveying of the goods A1 to G6 into the first sorting device 6b requires relatively much time.

[0140] In the first sub-scheme, the goods A1 to G6 contained in the warehouse outgoing group AG1 are output in a random order in step f), but the goods A1 to G6 of the goods group WG1 to WG4 that are successively transferred to a buffer conveyor line PL1 to PL4 in step h) are output without damaging the group order or in accordance with the group order. In this scheme, the principle of random output is broken through as follows: the goods groups WG1 to WG4 that are successively in a buffer conveyor line PL1 to PL4 are output without damaging the group order. In other aspects, the random output principle works. This means in a specific example that (all) goods A1 to C2 of the goods group WG1 are output before (all) goods G1 to G6 of the goods group WG4, but there is no restriction on random output except for this condition.

[0141] In the second sub-scheme, in step f), the goods A1 to G6 contained in the outgoing warehouse group AG1 are output in a random order, wherein in step e), the outgoing warehouse group AG1 has at most (especially exactly) so many goods groups WG1 to WG4 that when the goods A1 to G6 of the outgoing warehouse group AG1 are transferred to the first sorting device 6b, there is a free capacity of the buffer conveyor line PL1 to PL4 to accommodate the goods A1 to G6 of each goods group WG1 to WG4. Here, it is avoided from the beginning that an outgoing warehouse group AG1 has goods groups WG1 to WG4 that are transferred successively to a single buffer conveyor line PL1 to PL4. Therefore, in step f), the goods A1 to G6 of the outgoing warehouse group AG1 can be output in a random manner without restriction in this case, even though one buffer conveyor line PL1 to PL4 can accommodate goods A1 to G6 of multiple goods groups WG1 to WG4.

[0142] In concrete examples this means that, for example, Fig.17 As described in , the goods A1 to C2 of the goods group WG1 and the goods G1 to G6 of the goods group WG4 can be stored in the buffer conveyor line PL3 successively if they are output successively in step f). This is not the case, for example, because the goods G6 has been output before the goods C1, and then the goods G1 to G6 of the goods group WG4 are stored in the buffer conveyor line PL3 successively as described in Fig.17 The situation in is stored differently in the buffer transmission line PL4. Then basically there is what has been described in Figure 7 Status in.

[0143] The initial filling of the first sorting device 6b can be achieved step by step with the aid of multiple outbound groups AG1, AG2. In particular, it is possible to set up just as many outbound groups AG1, AG2 as the number of goods groups WG1 to WG7 that can be accommodated in one buffer conveyor line PL1 to PL4. In the current example, this means that the goods H1 to J3 of the goods groups WG5 to WG7 can have been transferred to the first sorting device 6b, even when the goods groups WG1 to WG4 have not yet left the first sorting device 6b, because in this example the first sorting device 6b has a receiving capacity of eight goods groups WG1 to WG7. In particular, an outbound group AG1 with goods groups WG1 to WG4, and then, as always, an outbound group AG2 with goods groups WG5 to WG7, can be formed. However, the outbound group AG2 in this case can also include the goods group WG7 and the eighth goods group.

[0144] If the operation is carried out according to the first sub-scheme, the first sorting device 6 b can also be filled with a single retrieval group AG1 , which has the article groups WG1 to WG7 and the eighth article group.

[0145] Fig.18A further embodiment of the order picking system 1c is now shown, which is similar to the one described in Fig.17 The order picking system 1b in FIG. 1 is very similar to the order picking system 1b in FIG. However, unlike it, the buffer conveyor lines PL1~PL4 of the first sorting device 6c are slightly longer. In particular, each buffer conveyor line PL1~PL4 of the first sorting device 6c can accommodate fourteen goods A1~G6. Accordingly, the quotient of the goods capacity of one buffer conveyor line PL1~PL4 among the buffer conveyor lines PL1~PL4 and the number of goods A1~G6 in a goods group WG1~WG7 is not an integer. In the specific example, the quotient is 14 / 6 = 2.33.

[0146] For reference Fig.17 The technical teaching disclosed in the examples of explanation can also be applied to the description in the Fig.18 In the specific example, the goods C3-D4 of the goods group WG2 and the goods D5-F3 of the goods group WG3 are stored in the buffer conveyor line PL1, and the goods A1-C2 of the goods group WG1 are stored in the buffer conveyor line PL3. On the contrary, the goods G1-G6 of the goods group WG4 are "dispersedly" stored in the idle areas of multiple buffer conveyor lines among the buffer conveyor lines PL1-PL4, that is, stored in the idle areas of the buffer conveyor lines PL1 and PL3. Specifically, the goods G3 and G6 of the first goods group part WG4' are in the cache conveyor line PL1, and the goods G1, G2, G4, G5 of the second goods group part WG4" are in the cache conveyor line PL3. Therefore, it should be noted in step i) that the goods group WG4 is formed by controlling the two cache conveyor lines PL1 and PL3. It does not matter whether the goods G3 and G6 are first output from the cache conveyor line PL1 and then the goods G1, G2, G4, G5 are output from the cache conveyor line PL3, or whether they are output in reverse, because the goods G1~G6 of the goods group WG4 can be placed in the correct order again in the second sorting device 11 anyway.

[0147] In the examples so far, the starting point is that in step b), in the control computer 21, in addition to the desired order sequence of orders AT1 to AT7 in the order picking area 16, the desired order of goods A1 to G6 in the order picking area 16 within each order AT1 to AT7 is formed.

[0148] That is:

[0149] - In step c), the desired overall order of goods in the order picking area 16 is formed by arranging the orders AT1 to AT7 relative to each other;

[0150] - in step k), the goods A1 to G6 are sorted in groups by one goods group WG1 to WG4 after another, establishing a total goods sequence in the second sorting device 11; and

[0151] - In step 1), the goods A1 to G6 are transported to the order picking area 16 in the order of the total goods via the third conveying technology equipment 19 .

[0152] However, this is not mandatory. More precisely, it is conceivable that the order of the goods A1-G6 within each order AT1-AT7 does not need to correspond to the desired order of the goods A1-G6 in the order picking area 16, but the goods A1-G6 of an order AT1-AT7 can arrive there in any order, that is, in any order.

[0153] In the examples so far, the grouping of goods A1 to G6 according to order sequence in step h) is at least implicitly achieved by establishing the desired overall order of goods, and the explicit step of grouping goods A1 to G6 according to order sequence is not necessary for this; now in step h), the focus is (only) on grouping goods A1 to G6 according to order sequence.

[0154] For the classification of goods group WG2 (see also Fig. 9 and Fig.10 ), which now means that, although the goods C3 and C4 of order AT3 need to leave the second sorting device 11 before the goods D1 to D4 of order AT4, any order can be set or allowed within orders AT3 and AT4. Therefore, for example, it is conceivable that the goods C3 and C4 of the goods group WG2 leave the second sorting device 11 in the order C4, C3, D3, D4, D1, D2. In particular, it is an order that exists after the random storage in step f) (see also Figure 8 ) can be simply retained within the order AT3, AT4. Accordingly, the goods C3, C4 of the goods group WG2 can in particular leave the second sorting device 11 in the order C3, C4, D4, D2, D3, D1. Figure 8 Starting from the existing state, it is only necessary to exchange the order of goods D4 and C4.

[0155] Goods groups WG1-WG7, each containing only goods A1-J5 of one order AT1-AT10, can be passed through the second sorting device 11 in step k) completely without a sorting process or by bypassing the second sorting device, because sorting of goods A1-J5 within one order AT1-AT10 is not necessary in the embodiment described here. In the present example, this applies to goods groups WG4 and WG5.

[0156] If the goods G1 to G6 of the goods group WG4 or the goods H1 to H6 of the goods group WG5 pass through the second sorting device 11 without a sorting process, they can simply be discharged from the central supply track 12 to one of the discharge tracks 13 and 14 one after another. It is also conceivable that the central supply track 12 is directly connected to the third conveying technology device 19. The discharge of the goods G1 to G6 and H1 to H6 to the discharge tracks 13 and 14 can then be omitted.

[0157] It is also conceivable to provide a bypass 22 which bypasses the second sorting device 11, as described in Fig.19 This is the case in the example of the order picking system 1d in FIG. The goods groups WG4 and WG5, which respectively contain only the goods G1 to G6 and H1 to H6 of one order AT7 and AT8, can bypass the second sorting device 11 via the bypass 22 in step k). Such a bypass 22 can also be arranged in the manner described in FIG. Figure 1 , Fig.17 and Fig.18 In the order picking system 1a~1c.

[0158] In the examples disclosed so far, the starting point is that the goods A1 to J5 each consist of one piece, or the described process is based on one piece of goods A1 to J5. However, this is not a mandatory condition. More precisely, it is also possible to consider:

[0159] - One item A1-J5 in the total item sequence is any number of items A1-J5 of the same item type, which are stored in or on one loading aid;

[0160] - steps f) to l) are carried out by correspondingly actuating the loading aid; and

[0161] - Step m) comprises extracting the goods A1 to J5 from or by the loading aid.

[0162] With reference to the examples disclosed so far, this means that in the examples presented, instead of one article A1 to J5, a loading aid with a plurality of the relevant articles A1 to J5 can also be provided. That is to say, for example, instead of article A1, a loading aid with a plurality of such articles A1 can be provided, and so on. However, this does not change the sorting method in principle, in particular when the articles A1 to J5 are removed one by one from the relevant loading aid. If multiple articles A1 to J5 are required in step m), the method can be simplified to the extent that exactly multiple articles A1 to J5 are removed from one loading aid, and for this purpose multiple positions cannot be occupied in the sorting method. If, for example, three articles A1 are required in step m), the article sequence does not need to include the sequence A1, A1, A1, A2, A3, ..., but can be simply described as 3×A1, 1×A2, 1×A3, or in simplified form as 3×A1, A2, A3, ... It is merely necessary to ensure that the relevant loading aid then contains at least three items A1 and that in step m) the three items A1 are removed from or from the loading aid and transferred to or onto a target loading aid.

[0163] Strictly speaking, in this case, instead of "goods sequence", we can talk about "goods type sequence". Accordingly, the concept "goods sequence" in the above disclosure can be replaced in concept by the concept "goods type sequence". Mixed forms are also conceivable, in which a part of the goods A1 to J5 is present in individual pieces and is handled without loading aids, and another part of the goods A1 to J5 is transported in loading aids. Accordingly, the concept "goods sequence" in the above disclosure can be replaced in concept by the concept "mixed goods and goods type sequence".

[0164] Note, however, that the sequence of goods in each of the cases discussed can have multiple levels, for example of good A1, if multiple items or good type A1 are required at different order picking stations 17 or also at different times at one order picking station 17, for example if multiple items or good type A1 are required or are arranged at different positions for a pallet in a wrapping mode.

[0165] Advantageously, the remaining amount of goods A1-J5 remaining in or on the loading aid after step m) can be returned to the warehouse 2 for storage. Fig. 20 An embodiment of an order picking system 1e is shown, which is similar to that described in Fig.17The order picking system 1e is similar to the order picking system 1b in FIG. Different from the order picking system 1e, the order picking system 1e includes a return conveyor track 23, through which the unnecessary goods A1-J5 can be returned to the warehouse 2 for storage. The return conveyor track 23 is described in Fig. 20 In the example shown in FIG. 1 , the return conveyor track 23 is guided to the back side of the warehouse 2 so that the outbound process is not disturbed by the goods A1 to J5 to be returned for storage. However, it is also conceivable that the return conveyor track 23 is guided to the front side of the warehouse 2, as indicated by the dotted line. Such a return conveyor track 23 can also be arranged in the manner described in FIG. Figure 1 , Figures 17 to 19 In the order picking system 1a~1d.

[0166] It is also conceivable that the first conveyor system 10 comprises an annular conveyor track, as in Fig. 20 In addition, for example, it is possible that the second conveying technology device 15 can also be connected to the return conveying track 23 and / or the circular conveying track of the first conveying technology device 10, such as in Fig. 20 By means of the circular conveyor track or by means of the connection of the second conveyor technology 15 with the return conveyor track 23, the goods A1 to J5 can be guided back to the first sorting device 6b or the second sorting device 11 and in particular also returned to storage. This is advantageous, for example, in the following situations: interference occurs in the process of the order picking method, or, for example, orders AT1 to AT10 are cancelled or given different priorities. It goes without saying that in Fig. 20 The measures recommended in Fig.19 The bypass 22 combination, and / or as described in Figure 1 , Figures 17 to 19 It is set in the order picking system 1a~1d.

[0167] Since the total order of goods is segmented into goods groups WG1 to WG7 with any number of goods A1 to J5, respectively, independently of the order boundary ATG, the second sorting device 11 can be operated in an overall optimized manner, i.e., close to or at the maximum sorting capacity. As already mentioned, this is particularly successful in the following situation: the number of goods A1 to J5 in a goods group WG1 to WG7 is exactly equal to the number of goods A1 to J5 that can be placed in each arbitrary order in a sorting process in the second sorting device 11. However, in principle, the goods group WG1 to WG7 can also include fewer goods A1 to J5, and in principle, the goods group WG1 to WG7 can also be of different sizes. It is also pointed out that although the buffer conveyor lines PL1 to PL4 are of the same length in the described example and can accommodate the same number of goods A1 to J5, this is not a mandatory condition for the method described. More precisely, the buffer conveyor lines PL1 to PL4 can also be of different lengths, for example, when the abdominal condition requires this. As already mentioned, one or more steps f) to m) can be triggered by the control computer 21, or can also be controlled by the control computer. The control of one or more steps among the steps f) to m) may also be undertaken by a local sub-controller.

[0168] Advantageously, the goods A1-J5 of a goods group WG1-WG7 of the warehouse outgoing groups AG1 and AG2 are respectively stored in the free area of ​​exactly one of the buffer conveyor lines PL1-PL4, and in particular, the goods A1-J5 of all goods groups WG1-WG7 are respectively stored in the free area of ​​exactly one of the buffer conveyor lines PL1-PL4, such as Fig.18 This is the case in the examples described above.

[0169] In general, as described in Figures 1 to 20 The classification in the example in is implemented in two levels, but other classification levels are possible.

[0170] Strictly speaking, pre-sorting in the first sorting level 6a-6c can only be achieved when one retrieval group AG1, AG2 includes more than one goods group WG1-WG7. Therefore, it is particularly advantageous that one retrieval group AG1, AG2 includes more than one goods group WG1-WG7.

[0171] In each example, the default starting point is that the goods A1 to J5 are continuously conveyed on the first conveyor technology 10, on the second conveyor technology 15 and on the third conveyor technology 19. However, it is also conceivable that the goods A1 to J5 are conveyed discontinuously on the first conveyor technology 10, on the second conveyor technology 15 and / or on the third conveyor technology 19 and can therefore accumulate there. Therefore, the first conveyor technology 10, the second conveyor technology 15 and / or the third conveyor technology 19 can be used temporarily or locally as a buffer.

[0172] Finally, it is pointed out that the scope of protection is determined by the claims. However, the description and the drawings can be used to interpret the claims. Individual features or combinations of features from the different embodiments shown and described can form independent inventive solutions. The tasks that form the basis of independent inventive solutions can be derived from the description.

[0173] In particular, it is also pointed out that the described devices may actually also include more or fewer components than described. The described devices or their components may also be partially not to scale and / or enlarged and / or reduced.

[0174] Reference numerals list

[0175] 1a~1e Order picking system

[0176] 2Warehouse

[0177] 3 Shelves

[0178] 4Warehouse delivery technology equipment

[0179] 5. Transfer device on the output side of the warehouse

[0180] 6a~6d The first classification device

[0181] 7 Cache conveyor line

[0182] 8 Handover device on the input side of the first classification device

[0183] 9 Handover device at the output side of the first sorting device

[0184] 10First conveying technology equipment

[0185] 11 Second Classification Device

[0186] 12 Central supply track

[0187] 13 Export Tracks

[0188] 14 Export Tracks

[0189] 15 Second conveying technology equipment

[0190] 16Order Picking Areas

[0191] 17 Order Picking Stations

[0192] 18 Handover device on the input side of the order picking station

[0193] 19Third conveying technology equipment

[0194] 20Control System

[0195] 21 Control Computer

[0196] 22 Bypass

[0197] 23 Return conveyor track

[0198] A1~J5 cargo

[0199] AG1, AG2 warehouse delivery group

[0200] AT1~AT10 Orders

[0201] ATG Order Limits

[0202] Points P1 to P3

[0203] PL1~PL4 cache conveyor line number

[0204] WG1~WG4 cargo group

[0205] WG4', WG4” cargo group part

Claims

1. A multi-stage method for automatically sorting goods (A1-J5) in an order picking system (1a-1e), the order picking system comprising: - a warehouse (2) in which the goods (A1 to J5) are stored and which includes a technical equipment for outbound transport (4); - a first sorting device (6a-6c), the first sorting device comprising a plurality of buffer conveying lines (7, PL1-PL4) which are parallel in conveying technology, and each buffer conveying line (7, PL1-PL4) is equipped with a transfer device (8) on the input side, and each buffer conveying line (7, PL1-PL4) is equipped with a transfer device (9) on the output side; - a first conveying technology device (10), which connects the warehouse (2) and the first sorting device (6a-6c); - a second sorting device (11), the second sorting device being arranged downstream of the first sorting device (6a-6c); - a second conveying technology device (15), which connects the first sorting device (6a-6c) and the second sorting device (11); - an order picking area (16), which is arranged downstream of the second sorting device (11); - a third conveyor technology device (19) which connects the second sorting device (11) and the order picking area (16); and - a control system (20), the control system comprising a control computer (21) and the control system being connected to the first classification device (6a-6c) and the second classification device (11); The method comprises the following steps: a) acquiring a plurality of orders (AT1-AT10) in a control computer (21), wherein each order includes at least one good (A1-J5); b) in the control computer (21), forming a desired order sequence of the orders (AT1-AT10) in the order picking area (16), and forming a goods sequence of the goods (A1-J5) within each order (AT1-AT10) among the orders (AT1-AT10); c) in the control computer (21), the total order of goods is formed by arranging the orders (AT1-AT10) relative to each other in the desired order order; d) in the control computer (21), the total order of goods is segmented into a plurality of goods groups (WG1 to WG7) independently of the order boundary (ATG), each of which has a predeterminable number of goods (A1 to J5), and a group order of the goods groups (WG1 to WG7) is formed according to the total order of goods, wherein the number of goods (A1 to J5) in a goods group (WG1 to WG7) is at most equal to the number of goods (A1 to J5) that can be placed in any order in the second sorting device (11); e) forming an outbound storage group (AG1, AG2) in the control computer (21), the outbound storage group comprising the goods groups (WG1-WG7) sorted in ascending order of group sequence, and for the goods (A1-J5) of the outbound storage group, when they are transferred to the first sorting device (6a-6c), the free capacity in the first sorting device (6a-6c) will be available; f) removing the goods (A1 to J5) contained in the outbound delivery group (AG1, AG2) from the warehouse (2) by means of an outbound delivery conveying technology device (4); g) transporting the goods (A1-J5) contained in the outbound storage group (AG1, AG2) to the first sorting device (6a-6c) by means of a first conveying technology device (10); h) selectively transferring the goods (A1-J5) of the outbound group (AG1, AG2) from the first conveying technology equipment (10) to each buffer conveyor line (7, PL1-PL4) by means of a transfer device (8) on the input side, transferring each of the goods (A1-J5) of a goods group (WG1-WG7) of the outbound group (AG1, AG2) to an empty buffer area on at least one of the buffer conveyor lines (7, PL1-PL4), and the goods (A1-J5) of the goods group (WG1-WG7) are arranged directly adjacent to each other in any order in the at least one buffer conveyor line (7, PL1-PL4); i) transferring the goods (A1-J5) of each goods group (WG1-WG7) to the buffer conveyor line (7, PL1-PL4) in group order from the buffer conveyor line (7, PL1-PL4) to the second conveying technical equipment (15) by means of a transfer device (9) on the output side; j) transporting the goods (A1-J5) of each goods group (WG1-WG7) to the second sorting device (11) in group order by means of a second conveying technical device (15); k) sorting the goods (A1-J5) into groups in a second sorting device (11) in accordance with the order sequence, one goods group (WG1-WG7) after another goods group (WG1-WG7); l) transporting the goods (A1-J5) from the second sorting device (11) to the order picking area (16) by means of the third conveying technology equipment (19) in the order sequence; and m) In the order picking area (16), the goods (A1-J5) are transferred to or onto the target loading auxiliary device according to the received order (AT1-AT10).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Goods groups (WG1-WG7) each containing goods (A1-J5) of only one order (AT1-AT10) pass through the second sorting device (11) in step k) without a sorting process or bypass the second sorting device via a bypass (22).

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that - in step b), a desired order of the goods (A1-J5) in each of the orders (AT1-AT10) is additionally formed in the control computer (21) in the order picking area (16); - in step c), the desired overall order of goods in the order picking area (16) is formed by arranging the orders (AT1 to AT10) relative to each other; - in step k), the goods (A1-J5) are sorted by group, one by one (WG1-WG7) and the total order of goods is established in the second sorting device (11); and - In step 1), the goods (A1-J5) are transported to the order picking area (16) in the order of the total goods via the third conveying technology equipment (19).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that Each cargo group (WG1~WG7) has the same number of cargoes (A1~J5).

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The number of goods (A1-J5) in one goods group (WG1-WG7) is exactly equal to the number of goods (A1-J5) that can be placed in any order in the second sorting device (11).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The goods (A1-J5) of a goods group (WG1-WG7) of the warehouse exit group (AG1, AG2) are stored in an idle area of ​​exactly one buffer conveyor line among each buffer conveyor line (7, PL1-PL4).

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that Each of the buffer conveyor lines (7, PL1-PL4) receives goods (A1-J5) of exactly one goods group (WG1-WG7).

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that In step f), the goods (A1-J5) contained in the warehouse dispatching group (AG1, AG2) are dispatched in a random order.

9. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that Each of the cache conveyor lines (7, PL1-PL4) receives goods (A1-J5) of a plurality of complete goods groups (WG1-WG7), each of the goods groups (WG1-WG7) having sequence numbers in group order, and in the corresponding cache line, goods (A1-J5) of the goods group (WG1-WG7) having a lower sequence number are stored further downstream than goods (A1-J5) of the goods group (WG1-WG7) having a higher sequence number.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that Goods (A1-J5) of several goods groups in each goods group (WG1-WG7) of the warehouse exit group (AG1, AG2) are stored in idle areas of multiple buffer conveyor lines in each buffer conveyor line (7, PL1-PL4).

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The quotient of the cargo capacity of a cache conveyor line (7, PL1~PL4) among the cache conveyor lines (7, PL1~PL4) and the number of cargoes (A1~J5) in a cargo group (WG1~WG7) is not an integer, wherein each cargo group (WG1~WG7) has a sequence number in group order, and in the corresponding cache line, the cargoes (A1~J5) of the cargo group (WG1~WG7) with a lower sequence number are stored further downstream than the cargoes (A1~J5) of the cargo group (WG1~WG7) with a higher sequence number.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that In step f), the goods (A1~J5) contained in the warehouse discharge group (AG1, AG2) are discharged in a random order, wherein in step h), the goods (A1~J5) of those goods groups (WG1~WG7) that are successively transferred to one of the buffer conveyor lines (7, PL1~PL4) are discharged in group order.

13. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that In step f), the goods (A1-J5) contained in the warehousing group (AG1, AG2) are discharged in a random order, wherein, in step e), one warehousing group (AG1, AG2) has at most as many goods groups (WG1-WG7) as the free capacity, and when the goods (A1-J5) of the warehousing group (AG1, AG2) are transferred to the first sorting device (6a-6c), the buffer conveyor line (7, PL1-PL4) has the free capacity for receiving the goods (A1-J5) of each goods group (WG1-WG7).

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that Steps f) to m) are triggered by the control computer (21).

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that One or more of steps f) to m) are controlled by a control computer (21).

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that - One cargo (A1~J5) in the total cargo sequence is a plurality of cargoes (A1~J5) of the same cargo type of any one piece, which are stored in or on one loading aid; - steps f) to l) are carried out by corresponding manipulation of the loading aid; and - Step m) comprises extracting the goods from or by the loading aid (A1 to J5).

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that After step m), the remaining amount of goods (A1-J5) remaining in or on the loading aid is returned to the warehouse (2) for storage.

18. An order picking system (1a-1e), the order picking system comprising: - a warehouse (2) in which the goods (A1 to J5) are stored and which includes a technical equipment for outbound transport (4); - a first sorting device (6a-6c), the first sorting device comprising a plurality of buffer conveying lines (7, PL1-PL4) which are parallel in conveying technology, and each buffer conveying line (7, PL1-PL4) is equipped with a transfer device (8) on the input side, and each buffer conveying line (7, PL1-PL4) is equipped with a transfer device (9) on the output side; - a first conveying technology device (10), which connects the warehouse (2) and the first sorting device (6a-6c); - a second sorting device (11), the second sorting device being arranged downstream of the first sorting device (6a-6c); - a second conveying technology device (15), which connects the first sorting device (6a-6c) and the second sorting device (11); - an order picking area (16), which is arranged downstream of the second sorting device (11); - a third conveyor technology device (19) which connects the second sorting device (11) and the order picking area (16); and - a control system (20), the control system comprising a control computer (21), and the control system is connected to the first classification device (6a-6c) and the second classification device (11); The control computer (21) is configured to: a) obtaining multiple orders (AT1-AT10), each of which includes at least one item (A1-J5); b) forming a desired order sequence of each order (AT1-AT10) in the order picking area (16), and forming a goods sequence of goods (A1-J5) within each order (AT1-AT10) among each order (AT1-AT10); c) Form the total order of goods by arranging the orders (AT1~AT10) with each other in the desired order sequence; d) segmenting the overall order of goods into a plurality of goods groups (WG1 to WG7) independently of the order boundary (ATG), each of which has a predeterminable number of goods (A1 to J5), and forming a group sequence of the goods groups (WG1 to WG7) according to the overall order of goods, wherein the number of goods (A1 to J5) in a goods group (WG1 to WG7) is at most equal to the number of goods (A1 to J5) that can be placed in any sequence in the second sorting device (11); e) forming an outbound storage group (AG1, AG2), said outbound storage group comprising ascendingly sorted goods groups (WG1-WG7) in group order, for which free capacity in the first sorting device (6a-6c) will be available when the goods (A1-J5) of the outbound storage group are transferred to the first sorting device (6a-6c); f) triggering the goods (A1 to J5) contained in the outbound delivery group (AG1, AG2) to be delivered from the warehouse (2) by means of an outbound delivery conveying technology device (4); g) triggering the conveying of the goods (A1-J5) contained in the outbound storage group (AG1, AG2) to the first sorting device (6a-6c) by means of the first conveying technology equipment (10); h) triggering the selective transfer of goods (A1-J5) of the outbound group (AG1, AG2) from the first conveying technology equipment (10) to each buffer conveyor line (7, PL1-PL4) by means of a transfer device (8) on the input side, the goods (A1-J5) of a goods group (WG1-WG7) of the outbound group (AG1, AG2) being transferred to an idle buffer area on at least one buffer conveyor line among the buffer conveyor lines (7, PL1-PL4), and the goods (A1-J5) of the goods group (WG1-WG7) being arranged directly adjacent to each other in any order in the at least one buffer conveyor line (7, PL1-PL4); i) triggering the transfer of each cargo group (WG1-WG7) to the cargo (A1-J5) on the buffer conveyor line (7, PL1-PL4) in group order from the buffer conveyor line (7, PL1-PL4) to the second conveying technical equipment (15) by means of the transfer device (9) on the output side; j) triggering the transport of the goods (A1-J5) of each goods group (WG1-WG7) to the second sorting device (11) in group order by means of the second conveying technology equipment (15); k) triggering the second sorting device (11) to sort the goods (A1-J5) into groups in the order of one goods group (WG1-WG7) after another goods group (WG1-WG7); l) triggering the transport of the goods (A1-J5) from the second sorting device (11) to the order picking area (16) by means of the third conveying technology equipment (19) in the order sequence; and m) triggering the transfer of goods (A1-J5) to or onto a target loading aid in the order picking area (16) according to the received order (AT1-AT10).

19. The order picking system (1a-1e) according to claim 18, characterized in that: The controller is further configured to control one or more steps among steps f) to m).

Images