Method and unloading system for unloading load carrier

Abstract

Unloading of piece goods (2) from a luggage tray (4) has to now require a specially designed, single-function turnover device. The invention relates to a multifunctional unloading system (1) and to a method for unloading load carriers (4), comprising the following method steps: receiving the load carriers (4) together with piece goods (2) by means of a loading device (6). The load carrier (4) is moved by the loading device (6) towards an unloading region (10) arranged above a target position (8) determined by the sorting criteria. The load carrier (4) is tilted by the loading device (6) about a tilt axis (12) up to a tilt angle (14), the tilt angle (14) being selected such that the piece goods (2) slide from the loading device (6) towards the target position (8). The piece goods (2) are slid towards the target location (8) via slides (16) arranged between the load carrier (4) and the target location (8) and above the target location (8), wherein the slides (16) are arranged at the same or similar inclination angle (14). The load carrier (4) is lowered by the loading device (6). The invention can achieve high flexibility in the layout of the conveying system and is well suited for improvements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of conveying systems for load carriers loaded with piece goods, in particular for unloading piece goods from said load carriers. The invention particularly relates to airport baggage conveying systems in which pieces of baggage are transported in baggage trays.

[0002] This application claims priority from European application No. 23 154 289.5 "Method and storage system for storing load carriers". Background Art

[0003] Many baggage handling systems in airports are designed as tray-supported baggage conveying systems (ICS = Individual Carrier System). The advantages of a basic tray-supported system are the consistently standardized shape of the load carriers (baggage trays), resulting in highly uniform conveying characteristics for all load carriers, as well as unambiguous, automated, and nearly 100% baggage identification using RFID tags on the (baggage) trays. Furthermore, the load carriers prevent loose pieces of luggage from becoming stuck in the baggage conveying system, ensuring safe transport. Further advantages of pallets are ease of loading and unloading, higher achievable conveying speeds, and uniformity, which allows for standardized and therefore less complex production of components, which only need to be designed for standardized load carriers and not for large variations in different piece goods. Pallet-supported conveying systems are also used in other areas of logistics, where piece goods are transported and temporarily stored in load carriers.

[0004] The baggage tray, along with the baggage items, is processed according to their sorting criteria and transported to its final destination on the baggage tray. This final destination is typically a baggage carousel in the baggage claim area or on a belt conveyor before loading onto the aircraft. In most cases, the baggage items are manually retrieved from the initial location. In this case, the baggage items are unloaded from the baggage tray onto the belt system. Baggage items are typically unloaded from the baggage tray by tilting or rotating the conveyor, for which several tilting device variants are known. Each of these variants requires space and connection infrastructure to the rest of the conveyor system, resulting in costs associated with each tilting position during installation and operation.

[0005] In addition, some luggage must be stored in Early Baggage Storage (EBS). A common solution for this is to store luggage trays along with the luggage on fixed racks within the warehouse. The luggage trays are moved into and out of the racks using a dedicated transport machine (e.g., a rack handling device). In a modified version (as described in EP23154289.5), the luggage trays along with the luggage are received by a robot (loading device) of the transport system and placed into the rack compartments. The racks can be brought to the storage location by an unmanned guided vehicle (AGV). Whenever a piece of luggage needs to be removed from the Early Baggage Storage, the AGV returns the rack to the robot, which then loads the luggage tray along with the luggage back onto the conveyor system.

[0006] To transport luggage from the initial luggage storage to its final destination in the conveyor system, it is necessary to transport the rack to the robot, move the luggage tray with the luggage (for final sorting), and use a dumping mechanism. This dumping mechanism is typically located outside the main transport route. Therefore, in addition to the dumping mechanism, a diverter, an accumulation conveyor, and a merging device are also required. This method allows for direct retrieval of luggage for other applications.

[0007] Until now, (intermediate) storage in early baggage storage facilities and final sorting have been performed as separate processes, requiring different, mostly single-function equipment: Luggage pieces are sent from the early baggage storage facilities to a tray-based sorting system and unloaded where they are needed. To this end, the luggage trays are tilted using a variant of a special tilting machine. Loading and unloading of the luggage trays is carried out using specialized rack handling equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a solution for unloading a load carrier which is not only flexible but also uncomplicated in terms of structure and operation. This object is achieved by the solution described in the independent claim.

[0009] The invention is not restricted to airport baggage conveying systems, but is suitable for all conveying systems in which piece goods are conveyed in upwardly opening load carriers.

[0010] The solution according to the invention proposes a method for unloading standardized load carriers loaded with piece goods, in particular luggage trays loaded with pieces of luggage, wherein the piece goods have assigned sorting criteria and the load carriers can be clearly identified and associated with the sorting criteria. The method comprises the following steps:

[0011] a) Receiving the load carrier together with the piece of goods by the loading equipment.

[0012] b) The load carrier is moved by the loading device towards an unloading area arranged above a target position determined by the sorting criteria.

[0013] c) The load carrier is tilted by the loading device about the tilting axis up to a tilting angle, wherein the tilting angle is selected such that the piece of goods slides out of the loading device toward the target position.

[0014] d) Sliding the piece of goods toward the target location via a slideway arranged between the load carrier and the target location and above the target location, wherein the slideway is arranged at the same or a similar inclination angle.

[0015] e) Lowering the load carrier by means of the loading device.

[0016] In terms of equipment, the aforementioned objectives are achieved by an unloading system for unloading standardized load carriers loaded with piece goods, in particular luggage trays loaded with pieces of luggage, the unloading system comprising a loading device and a slide. The piece goods have assigned sorting criteria, and the load carriers can be clearly identified and associated with the sorting criteria. The loading device is designed to receive and set down load carriers with and without piece goods. The loading device is designed to move the load carriers toward an unloading area arranged above a target position determined by the sorting criteria. The loading device is designed to tilt the load carriers held by the loading device about a tilting axis up to a tilting angle, wherein the tilting angle is selected so that the piece goods slide from the loading device toward the target position. The slide is arranged between the load carrier and the target position and above the target position at the same or a similar tilting angle and has a sliding surface designed to slide the piece goods toward the target position.

[0017] This also results in the following advantages: the load carrier serves as a container that is moved by a corresponding tool of the loading device (robot, etc.). The system with load carriers ensures uniformity in baggage handling, allowing for more reliable operation, higher speeds, and improved throughput. Because all baggage items remain completely contained within their load carriers throughout the entire baggage handling process, the risk of baggage damage and system disruptions (e.g., caused by a stuck carrier, etc.) is low.

[0018] For the purposes of the present invention, a load carrier is understood to include, in particular, a pallet, and more particularly a luggage pallet, which typically allows access from above and, therefore, uncomplicated loading and unloading. Pieces of luggage are identified, typically with luggage tags in the case of luggage. In the case of luggage, the sorting criterion is typically flight number, but handling time or other criteria (such as number of fellow passengers) may also be considered. The reach of the loading device is determined by the reach of its robotic arm. The load carrier can be unloaded by tilting, which results in no or only minor lateral constraints on the load carrier. When the piece of luggage slides, the support surface on the load carrier is consistent before unloading and after unloading at the target position. This provides greater protection compared to the rotation or uncontrolled (complete) tilting of the piece of luggage that can occur at very high tilt angles of the load carrier. The tilt angle includes the horizontal plane of the load carrier and the support surface. It is useful to define as the tilt angle the angle at which a majority of all the pieces of luggage loaded on the load carrier slide. At tilt angles that are too small, static friction is not overcome, and the pieces of luggage do not yet begin to slide out of the load carrier. Choosing a larger inclination angle results in less protection. According to one embodiment, the inclination angle of the slideway can be dynamically matched to the inclination angle of the load carrier.

[0019] The slideway inclination angle corresponds approximately to the load carrier inclination angle or is preferably slightly smaller, so that unnecessarily strong, non-protective accelerations do not occur. Since the load piece is already in motion when it comes into contact with the slideway, a slideway inclination angle that is smaller than the load carrier inclination angle may also be sufficient. According to one embodiment, the slideway inclination angle can also be greater than the load carrier inclination angle, in particular when the load carrier inclination angle is set dynamically (tilted until the load piece slips) while the slideway inclination angle is set fixedly.

[0020] Slideways serve multiple purposes: They enable the continuous sliding of piece goods between the load carrier and the destination. During movement on the conveyor at the destination, during direct unloading without slideways, forces are simultaneously applied to the piece goods by the already conveyed piece goods, which are still in contact with the load carrier, and transferred to the loading device, which is also in contact with the loading device. This requires a more stable design and can potentially damage the goods. To avoid this, the conveyor must be stopped without slideways, with a corresponding reduction in throughput.

[0021] The load carrier can be received by a conveyor or from a stationary receiving location, for example from a shelf grid.

[0022] As long as it can be transferred, the unloading system has the same advantages as those described above with respect to the method. The embodiments described in the dependent claims can be combined individually and in any suitable combination with the method and unloading system according to the invention. Therefore, method features should also be considered as characteristics of the corresponding equipment unit, and vice versa. The following discusses these embodiments and the advantages associated therewith.

[0023] To enable the load to slide out of the loading device even at a small tilt angle, according to one embodiment, the loading device can move the load carrier with a motion component counter to the sliding direction, in particular a sudden motion. By fully utilizing the inertia of the load, it is not necessary to increase the tilt angle to initiate sliding. Otherwise, a larger tilt angle would cause the load to accelerate more and provide less protection. Therefore, according to one embodiment, the loading device can be designed to move the load carrier with a motion component counter to the sliding direction, in particular a sudden motion.

[0024] According to another embodiment, the load carrier can be vibrated by the loading device so that the starter item can be slid out of the loading device. For this reason, the loading device can be designed to vibrate the load carrier.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the target location can be located on a conveyor, wherein the conveyor transports the goods with a movement component transverse to the sliding direction and can be designed for this purpose.

[0026] In order to achieve optimal utilization of the unloading area, according to one embodiment, the entire loading device and / or only a portion of the loading device can be moved along the conveyor while the load is being started to slide out of the load carrier, wherein the entire loading device and / or only a portion of the loading device can be designed for this purpose. Since the unloading position is moved by the conveyor, the unloading position can be reached more accurately and the slippage of the load along the conveyor is reduced due to its inertia when it reaches the conveyor.

[0027] According to another embodiment, the position of other objects, particularly other piece goods, on the conveyor can be detected, and a target location can be selected based on the detected position. To this end, the unloading system can include a detection unit designed to detect the position and a control device designed to select the target location. In this way, collisions between the piece goods and other objects can be avoided and the distance from the other objects can be adjusted.

[0028] According to another embodiment, the loading device can also receive additional load carriers with piece goods in the unloading area and deposit the load carriers with piece goods in the storage area, which can, but need not, coincide with the unloading area. To this end, the loading device can be designed to deposit the load carriers with piece goods into a storage location in the storage area, which can, but need not, coincide with the unloading area. This allows for versatility, not only for unloading piece goods from the load carriers but also for repositioning loaded load carriers, making it possible to configure new layouts of the conveyor system using the same loading device as a functional unit. According to one embodiment, there can be multiple storage locations in the storage area.

[0029] According to another embodiment, the storage locations can be rack bays, where the racks can be moved from the storage area to the storage area by unmanned transport vehicles. The racks can be considered as storage, with the same loading device acting as a rack handling device and being used to unload the loading devices. This embodiment allows for the combination of flexible intermediate storage (early baggage storage) with terminals in the conveyor system that require unloading functionality (e.g., baggage discharge carousels or loading stations).

[0030] According to another embodiment, the loading device can slowly tilt the load carrier, wherein further movements of the load carrier (pulling or vibrating) can be performed continuously or incrementally before reaching a maximum predetermined tilting angle in order to initiate the sliding of the load carrier. In this way, only the necessary tilting is performed and unloading is particularly safe.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, the loading device can be designed as a multi-joint robot, can obtain particularly high flexibility thus. In addition, the part of the robot arm also can have telescopic extendable or shortenable parts, therefore can implement sudden movements particularly simply. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The following is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, which is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] Figure 1 3 and 4 illustrate the unloading process of piece goods from the load-bearing member of the unloading system according to the present invention by means of a loading device;

[0034] Figure 2 The loading process is shown using the same loading device;

[0035] Figure 5 A conveyor system is shown having a loading device according to the invention which not only repositions loaded load carriers but also unloads load carriers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The following description of the embodiments of the apparatus and method relates, for example, to an unloading system 1 at an airport. However, all embodiments are also applicable to other types of unloading systems 1 in logistics. Therefore, in each of the following embodiments, the terms baggage piece 2 and baggage tray 4 can be replaced by the general terms piece 2 and load carrier 4 / pallet 4. The conveyor system is designed as a pallet-supported baggage conveying system, wherein the baggage piece 2 is transported within the entire baggage conveying system on a baggage tray 4, which functions as a load carrier 4. After unloading, the baggage piece 2 can also be transported without a baggage tray 4, while the early baggage storage 30, which serves as a storage system 30 for early baggage, is pallet-supported. The pallet 4 serves as a standardized container that is moved to the loading system 8 by a corresponding tool. Due to the easily available, independent components (loading system 6, load carrier 4, runner 16), the unloading system 1 can be expanded without complexity, resulting in low initial investment costs.

[0037] Figure 1 The unloading system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. First, a luggage tray (load carrier) 4 together with a piece of luggage (piece goods) 2 is received by a loading device 6, which includes a gripping device or other designed receiving device. To receive the load carrier 6, the load carrier 6 only needs to be in the gripping area of ​​the loading device 6; manual introduction of the load carrier 4 into the loading device is not necessary. The load carrier 4 can be received by a moving conveyor 22 or from another location, such as from a shelf grid. The load carrier 4 is then positioned by the arm 6a of the loading device 6 in the unloading area 10, which is located above the slide 16 and the target location 8.

[0038] The luggage piece 2 is unloaded by the loading device 6, which holds the luggage tray 4, wherein the luggage piece 2 is unloaded onto the Figure 1 2 or from the conveyor to the starting end of the conveyor 6 (the destination position 8 for unloading the baggage piece 2). Therefore, no lateral delimitation 34 is required as in the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, because the movement component in the sliding direction 18 coincides with the conveying direction 24 of the conveyor and there is no risk of the baggage piece 2 sliding uncontrolled over the edge of the conveyor 22. The loading device 6 tilts the baggage tray 4 about the tilting axis 12 to the tilting angle 14, so that the baggage piece 2 slides onto the conveyor 22 via the slide 16. Figure 1 In the embodiment, the slide inclination angle 14 and the load carrier inclination angle 14' are identical, but this is not mandatory. After unloading the baggage piece 2, the loading device 6 lowers the empty baggage tray 4. After unloading, the baggage piece 2 is processed according to its sorting criteria, which were determined before unloading.

[0039] Figure 2 It shows how luggage pieces 2 can be loaded from the conveyor 22 onto the luggage tray 4 using the same loading device 6. For loading, the luggage tray 4 held by the loading device 6 is positioned directly on the conveyor 22, possibly slightly below, and the luggage piece 2 to be loaded is conveyed into the luggage tray 4. Before another luggage piece 2 is taken up again by the conveyor 22, the loading device 8 receives another luggage tray 4.

[0040] In accordance with Figure 1 and Figure 2 During unloading and loading, the infeed and outfeed conveyors 22 can also be arranged directly one above the other (with sufficient space between them for the baggage items 4 a to be transported) or in another manner directly adjacent to each other in the unloading area 10 to be reached by the loading device 6, so that the same loading device 8 can be used for both loading and unloading. To monitor loading and unloading, a detection unit 28 included in the unloading system 1 can be considered according to another embodiment, which detection unit can also be used to detect the sorting criteria in a corresponding embodiment.

[0041] FIG3 shows an unloading according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the unloading is performed in conjunction with Figure 1 is similar to the embodiment shown in . However, the slideway inclination angle 14' is greater than the loading device inclination angle 14. Unloading requires the luggage piece 2 to slide along the inclined portion of the luggage tray 4 held by the loading device 6. A predetermined inclination angle 14 can be selected for each unloading operation, and the selection of the inclination angle 14 is therefore independent of the adhesion and tack of the specific luggage piece 2 to be unloaded. Alternatively, the luggage tray 4 can be tilted only cautiously (continuously or sequentially) until the luggage piece 2 begins to slide.

[0042] In addition to the simple rotation required to unload the luggage item 2, as in conventional dump trucks (tippers), the robotic loading device 6 can perform movements that conventional tippers cannot. This improves the tipping process. FIG4 shows, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the possibility of additional sliding activation, either combined or separately, with the tilt angle 14 already set as in FIG3 . On the one hand, the inertia of the luggage item 2 can be utilized by suddenly pulling the load carrier 4 away with a movement component 20 counter to the sliding direction 18 . Consequently, the luggage tray 4 not only tilts / tilts about the axis 12 , but also simultaneously moves the arm 6a or the entire loading device 6 away from the luggage item 2 . This sudden movement causes the luggage item 2 to experience additional acceleration as it clears the luggage tray 4 . Compared to conventional dump trucks, the number of unloaded luggage items 2 is reduced, as is the space requirement.

[0043] In addition to tilting / tilting, the load carrier 4 can also be vibrated (double arrow in FIG. 4 b ) to overcome static friction. Particularly sticky luggage pieces 2, such as wet suitcases 2 , would otherwise tend to remain in the luggage tray 4 . Vibration also reduces the number of luggage pieces 2 that are not properly unloaded.

[0044] In Figures 3 and 4, the unloading destination 8 is located on a conveyor 22, which is driven in a transport direction 24 transverse to the sliding direction 18. The slideways 16 ensure that the luggage piece 2 is not conveyed by the conveyor 22 in the transport direction 24 while it is still in contact with the load carrier 4 and, therefore, the loading device 6. Consequently, forces do not act simultaneously on the arm 6 of the loading device 4 from multiple sides. Laterally to the destination 8, side protection devices 34 are also provided to prevent the luggage piece 2 from falling off the conveyor 22.

[0045] EP23154289.5 discloses an early-stage luggage storage system with robotically loaded racks. Luggage trays 4 loaded with luggage pieces 2 are transported in a horizontal position in the early-stage luggage storage system. A robotic loading device 2 can access multiple storage locations in the storage area 26 for luggage trays 4. According to one embodiment, a portion of the storage area 26 is transferred to the unloading area 10. The loading device 2 retrieves a luggage tray 4 from a rack 36 or a conveyor belt 122 and moves it to the unloading area. The loading device 2 then performs a tilting motion with the luggage tray 4, and the luggage piece 2 slides out of the luggage tray 4. The unloading and unloading system 1 according to the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and can be used in combination with an early-stage luggage storage system 30. The unloading system according to the present invention can be used anywhere a robot can receive a full luggage tray 4 and deposit an empty one.

[0046] The design of the loading device 2 as an articulated robot is advantageous not only for the additional movement of the loading device 2, as shown in FIG4 b , but also for the concomitant movement of the luggage tray 4. The components of the robot arm can also have telescopically extendable or retractable components, thereby making it particularly easy to implement sudden movements, as well as concomitant movements (above the target position of the moving conveyor 22).

[0047] Figure 5The following illustrates a layout configuration of an airport baggage handling system according to another embodiment that can be implemented using the present invention. Baggage trays 4 loaded with pieces of luggage 2 are transported on conveyors 122 toward the robotic unloading area 10 of each loading device 6. Depending on the sorting criteria, the pieces of luggage 2 are either unloaded onto further conveyors 22, which transport the unloaded pieces of luggage 2 toward the end of the baggage handling system, such as a baggage discharge carousel 32. However, the loading device 6 can also deposit the load carrier 4 along with the pieces of luggage 2 into a storage area 26. Shelves 36 or other storage devices 36 are provided in the storage area 26, onto which the load carrier 4 along with the pieces of luggage 2 can be deposited and either later deposited back onto the conveyor 122 and subsequently sorted by the baggage handling system, or the load carrier 4 along with the pieces of luggage 2 can be removed from the storage area 26 by the loading device 6 at a later time, and the pieces of luggage are then directly unloaded from the baggage tray 4 by the loading device 6 onto the conveyor 22 to the end 32. For intermediate storage, the racks can be positioned in the storage area by unmanned transport vehicles, as described in EP 23154289.5.

[0048] According to another embodiment, the entire loading device 6 and / or only a portion of the loading device, such as the robot arm 6a, moves along the conveyor 22, while the loading device 6 tilts the baggage tray 4. For this purpose, the loading device 6 can be guided, for example, on rails alongside the conveyor 22. This allows the target position 8 to be reached more precisely, which is particularly important when adjusting the tilt angle 14 sequentially.

[0049] According to another embodiment, the position of further objects 2', in particular further pieces of luggage 2, on the conveyor 22 is detected by the detection unit 28 and the target position 8 of the piece of luggage 2 to be unloaded is determined as a function of the position of the objects 2' already placed on the conveyor 22, for example by selecting the unloading time or by positioning the luggage tray 4 to be unloaded above the conveyor 22.

[0050] For manual removal of individual pieces of luggage 2 , in addition to unloading onto the conveyor belt 22 , unloading into boxes or the like is also possible.

[0051] Reference Signs List

[0052] 1 Uninstall the system

[0053] 2 pieces of cargo and luggage

[0054] 4 Load carriers, luggage trays

[0055] 6 Loading equipment

[0056] 6a Robotic Arm

[0057] 8 Target Location

[0058] 10 Unloading area

[0059] 12 Tilt axis

[0060] 14 Tilt Angle

[0061] 16 slides

[0062] 18 Slip direction

[0063] 20 Component of motion against the slip direction

[0064] 22, 122 conveyor

[0065] 24 Conveying direction

[0066] 26 Storage areas for load carriers and piece goods

[0067] 28 Detection Units

[0068] 30 storage areas, early luggage storage

[0069] 32 Baggage outgoing carousel, piece goods terminal

[0070] 34 Side protection device

[0071] 36 shelves

Claims

1. A method for unloading a standardized load carrier (4), in particular a luggage tray (4), loaded with piece goods (2), wherein the piece goods (2) have assigned sorting criteria and the load carrier (4) can be clearly identified and can be associated with the sorting criteria, the method comprising the following method steps: a) receiving the load carrier (4) together with the piece of cargo (2) by a loading device (6); b) moving the load carrier (4) by means of the loading device (6) towards an unloading area (10) arranged above a target position (8) determined by the sorting criterion; c) tilting the load carrier (4) about a tilting axis (12) by means of the loading device (6) up to a tilting angle (14), wherein the tilting angle (14) is selected such that the piece of goods (2) slides from the loading device (6) toward the target position (8); d) sliding the piece of cargo (2) toward the target location (8) via a slideway (16) disposed between the load carrier (4) and the target location (8) and above the target location (8), wherein the slideway (16) is disposed at the same or similar inclination angle (14); e) Lowering the load carrier (4) by means of the loading device (6).

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the following steps: The load carrier (4) is moved, in particular abruptly, by the loading device (6) with a movement component (20) counter to the sliding direction (18).

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the following method steps: The load carrier (4) is vibrated by the loading device (6) in order to initiate the sliding of the piece of cargo (2) out of the loading device (6).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The target location (8) is located on a conveyor (22), wherein the conveyor (22) transports the piece of goods (2) with a movement component (24) transverse to the sliding direction (18).

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the following steps: During the initiation of sliding the piece of freight (2) out of the load carrier (4), the entire loading device (6) and / or only a portion of the loading device is moved along the conveyor (22).

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the following steps: - detecting the position of further objects (2'), in particular further piece goods (2), on the conveyor (22); - Selecting the target position (8) based on the detected position.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the following method steps: - receiving a further load carrier (4) together with the piece of goods (2) in the unloading area (10) by means of the loading device (6); The load carrier (4) together with the piece of goods (2) is set down in a storage area (26) by the loading device (6), wherein the storage area (26) can coincide with the unloading area (10), but does not necessarily have to coincide.

8. An unloading system (1) for unloading a standardized load carrier loaded with piece goods (2), in particular a luggage tray (4) loaded with pieces of luggage (2), comprising a loading device (6) and a slideway (16), wherein The piece goods (2) have an assigned sorting criterion, and the load carrier (4) can be clearly identified and can be associated with the sorting criterion; - the loading device (6) is designed to receive and set down the load carrier (4) with and without piece goods (2); The loading device (6) is designed to move the load carrier (4) by means of the loading device (6) towards an unloading area (10) arranged above a target position (8) determined by the sorting criterion; - the loading device (6) is designed to tilt a load carrier (4) held by the loading device (6) about a tilting axis (12) up to a tilting angle (14), wherein the tilting angle (14) is selected such that the piece of goods (2) slides from the loading device (6) toward the target position (8); The slideway (16) is arranged at the same or similar inclination angle (14) between the load carrier (4) and the target position (8) and above the target position (8) and has a sliding surface designed to slide the piece of goods (2) towards the target position (8).

9. The unloading system (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that The loading device (6) is designed to move the load carrier (4) with a movement component (20) counter to the sliding direction (18), in particular to move it suddenly.

10. Unloading system (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 9, characterized in that The loading device (6) is designed to vibrate the load carrier (4) in order to initiate the sliding of the piece of cargo (2) out of the loading device (6).

11. The unloading system (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, further comprising A conveyor (22), wherein the target location (8) is located on the conveyor (22), and the conveyor (22) is designed to transport the piece of goods (2) with a movement component (24) transverse to the sliding direction (18).

12. Unloading system (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that The entire loading device (6) and / or only a portion of the loading device is designed to move along the conveyor (22) during the initiation of sliding the piece goods (2) out of the load carrier (4).

13. The unloading system (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 12, further comprising A detection unit (28) and a control device, wherein the detection unit (28) is designed to detect the position of another object, in particular another piece of goods (2), on the conveyor (22), and the control device is designed to select the target position (8) based on the detected position.

14. Unloading system (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that The loading device (6) is designed to lower the load carrier (4) together with the piece of goods (2) into a storage position (30) in a storage area, wherein the storage area (26) can coincide with the unloading area (10), but does not necessarily have to coincide.

15. Unloading system (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that The storage locations are bays of racks (32), wherein the racks can be moved from the storage area (26) to the storage area (30) by an unmanned transport vehicle.

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