Device and method for picking on or from goods carriers

Abstract

Method for order picking on or from goods carriers with a loading floor (42), in particular pallets (24a, 24b), comprising the steps of: arranging a goods carrier in a picking shaft (14) by means of a lowering and lifting device (32), stepwise lowering or raising the loading floor (42) in the picking shaft (14) during loading or unloading of the goods carrier by means of the lowering and lifting device (32), intermediate storage of at least one unloaded goods carrier in an intermediate storage (22) and feeding or removing one unloaded goods carrier from the intermediate storage (22) or into the intermediate storage (22) by means of a transport device (26),Holding a goods carrier in the picking shaft (14) by means of the transport device (26) or by means of a holding device (40) and raising or lowering the goods carrier by means of means (46) provided on the transport device (26) or on the holding device (40) for raising or lowering in order to arrange the loading floor (42) of the goods carrier resting on the transport device (26) or the holding device (40) optionally slightly above the height of a picking level (16), at the height of the picking level (16), or slightly below the height of the picking level (16), wherein the arrangement of the loading floor (42) takes place slightly above the height of the picking level (16) if loading or unloading of the goods carrier is to take place automatically by means of a robot, wherein the arrangement of the loading floor (42) takes place slightly below the height of the picking level (16),if loading of the goods carrier is to be done manually and wherein the loading floor (42) is arranged at a height of the picking level (16) or slightly above the height of the picking level (16) if unloading of the goods carrier is to be done manually.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for order picking on or from goods carriers with a loading platform, in particular pallets, comprising a picking chute, a lowering and lifting device for gradually lowering or raising the loading platform in coordination with a loading height of the loading platform during order picking, an intermediate storage area for unloaded goods carriers, and a transport device for transporting one unloaded goods carrier at a time from the intermediate storage area to the picking chute and vice versa. The invention also relates to a method for order picking on or from goods carriers.

[0002] Utility model DE 20 2016 001 581 U1 discloses a device for order picking on or from pallets, comprising a picking chute, a lowering and lifting device for gradually lowering or raising the loading platform in coordination with a loading height of the loading platform during order picking, an intermediate storage area for unloaded goods carriers, and a transport device for transporting one unloaded goods carrier at a time from the intermediate storage area to the picking chute and vice versa. The pallet's loading platform is positioned slightly above the height of the picking level.

[0003] European patent EP 3 272 682 B1 discloses another device for order picking on or from pallets. The loading platform is designed to... (see...) Fig. 14, arranged exactly at the level of the picking level.

[0004] The invention aims to improve a device and a method for picking items on or from goods carriers in such a way that they can be used flexibly.

[0005] According to the invention, a device with the features of claim 2 or a method with the features of claim 1 is provided for this purpose. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are mentioned in the dependent claims.

[0006] In a device for order picking on or from goods carriers with a loading platform, in particular pallets, comprising a picking chute, a lowering and lifting device for gradually lowering or raising the loading platform in coordination with a loading height of the loading platform during order picking, an intermediate storage area for unloaded goods carriers, and a transport device for transporting one unloaded goods carrier at a time from the intermediate storage area to the picking chute and vice versa, it is provided that the transport device or a holding device for goods carriers in the picking chute has means for raising and lowering the goods carrier in the picking chute in order to position the loading platform of a goods carrier resting on the transport device or the holding device either slightly above a picking level, at the level of the picking level, or slightly below the level of the picking level.

[0007] When picking items from or onto goods carriers, i.e., when loading, unloading, or depalletizing, for example, onto or from pallets, the loading platform of the goods carrier is typically positioned slightly below a picking level and thus below the top edge of the picking chute. The top edge of the picking chute defines the picking level. Typically, the loading platform is positioned between 200 mm and 300 mm, particularly 250 mm, below the top edge of the picking chute. This allows a picker to take goods from a feeder system and, in particular, to place the first layer of goods onto the loading platform in such a way that the goods are positioned using the top edge of the picking chute. To do this, the picker simply places the goods onto the loading platform and pushes them up to the top edge to position them correctly.The order picker can then push subsequent items against the outermost items. The edge of the picking chute prevents items from sliding off the loading platform. This saves time during order picking. Once the first layer is complete, the carrier is lowered until the top of the first layer is below the edge. When unloading carriers, the loading platform is also slightly below the edge of the picking chute, at least for the last layer of items, which rests directly on the loading platform. For manual unloading or depalletizing, the order picker must lift the items over the edge of the picking chute and place them onto a conveyor system.When order picking is automated, for example by means of a robot, it is advantageous if the loading platform is positioned slightly above the platform's edge, for example between 20 mm and 100 mm above the platform's edge. This is because automated order picking with robots typically uses so-called L-grippers, where the gripper moves under the load and then removes it from or places it on the loading platform. If the loading platform is positioned below the picking level, in other words, below the platform's edge, the robot's gripper may become caught on the platform's edge. The invention makes it possible to position the loading platform of a goods carrier either slightly above, at, or slightly below the height of a picking level.The picking device according to the invention can thus be adapted in an extremely flexible manner to whether a loading platform is loaded manually, unloaded manually, or loaded or unloaded automatically, for example by means of a robot. According to the invention, additional means for raising and lowering the loading platform in the picking chute are provided, which are arranged on a transport device or a holding device. This makes it possible to flexibly adjust the height of the loading platform even in a picking device that operates with an intermediate storage area for unloaded goods carriers.The lowering and lifting device for gradually lowering or raising the loading platform in accordance with the loading platform's height during order picking is only used in the inventive device once the first layer of goods resting directly on the loading platform has been completed. During unloading, the lowering and lifting device is only used until the penultimate layer of goods has been unloaded. During loading of the first layer of goods or during unloading of the last layer of goods resting on the loading platform, the goods carrier is held according to the invention either by the transport device provided for transporting an unloaded goods carrier from the intermediate storage area to the picking chute and vice versa, or by a separate holding device within the picking chute.During loading, the goods carrier is transferred from the transport device or holding device to the lowering and lifting device only after the first complete layer of goods has been loaded. During unloading, the goods carrier is transferred from the lowering and lifting device to the transport device or holding device after the penultimate layer of goods has been unloaded. According to the invention, the transport device or holding device is now equipped with additional means for raising and lowering the goods carrier in the picking chute. This enables the described flexible use of the device according to the invention.

[0008] In a further development of the invention, the means for lifting and lowering have movable supports which are driven by means of carrying devices, for example belts, chains, ropes, cylinders, geared motors.

[0009] Using such movable supports, a goods carrier can be reliably raised or lowered. The stroke of the lifting and lowering mechanism can be relatively small and only needs to be around the height of a single layer of goods. Hydraulic cylinders, electrically operated cylinders, geared motors, or similar devices can also be used as lifting and lowering mechanisms to drive the movable supports.

[0010] In a further development of the invention, the means for lifting and lowering are arranged on a frame of the transport device and are designed to lift or lower the goods carrier relative to the frame of the transport device.

[0011] In a further development of the invention, the holding device in the picking chute has movable stops for a goods carrier, wherein the means for lifting and lowering are arranged on the stops and are designed to lift or lower the goods carrier relative to the picking level.

[0012] For example, movable supports are arranged at the stops by means of driven belts or chains.

[0013] The problem underlying the invention is also solved by a method for order picking on or from goods carriers with a loading platform, in particular pallets, comprising the following steps: arranging a goods carrier in a picking chute by means of a lowering and lifting device, stepwise lowering or raising of the loading platform in the picking chute during loading or unloading.Unloading the goods carrier by means of the lowering and lifting device, intermediate storage of at least one unloaded goods carrier in an intermediate storage device and feeding or removing one unloaded goods carrier from or into the intermediate storage device by means of the transport device, holding a goods carrier in the picking chute by means of the transport device or by means of a holding device and raising or lowering the goods carrier by means of means provided on the transport device or the holding devices for raising or lowering, in order to optionally position the loading platform of the goods carrier resting on the transport device or the holding device slightly above the height of a picking level, at the height of the picking level or slightly below the height of the picking level.

[0014] According to the invention, the loading platform is arranged slightly above the height of the picking level if the loading or unloading of the goods carrier is to be carried out automatically by means of a robot.

[0015] Such an arrangement of the loading platform slightly above the height of the picking level can be carried out automatically, depending on whether loading or unloading is to be performed by a robot. For the purposes of this invention, "robot" includes not only articulated robots, but also, for example, loading gantries and the like.

[0016] According to the invention, the loading platform is arranged slightly below the height of the picking level if the goods carrier is to be loaded manually.

[0017] Positioning the loading platform slightly below the height of the picking level, for example about 250 mm below the picking level or the parapet of the picking chute, can be done automatically if a control device is appropriately informed that loading is to be done manually.

[0018] According to the invention, the loading platform is arranged at the same level as the picking level or slightly above the picking level if the goods carrier is to be unloaded manually.

[0019] Positioning the loading platform at or slightly above the picking level can be automated if a control unit is appropriately informed that the goods carrier is to be unloaded manually. This allows a picker to unload the goods carrier ergonomically without having to lift the load over the edge of the picking chute.

[0020] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the claims and the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the drawings. Individual features of the different embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described in the description can be combined with one another in any way without exceeding the scope of the invention. This also applies to the combination of individual features without further individual features with which they are shown and / or described. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a schematic side view of a device according to the invention for order picking in a first state, Fig. 2 the device of the Fig. 1 in a second state and Fig. 3 Another device according to the invention for order picking in a schematic side view.

[0021] In Fig. Figure 1 schematically illustrates a device 10 according to the invention for order picking onto or from pallets 24. As an alternative to pallets 24, other goods carriers besides pallets 24, for example roll containers or folding pallets, can also be loaded and unloaded in the device 10. In addition to the device 10, an articulated robot arm 12 is provided, with which order picking onto and from the pallets 24 is carried out automatically. The device 10 has a picking chute 14, the in Fig. A top parapet defines a picking level 16. A conveyor belt 18 transports goods 20 to or from the picking chute 14. The upper run of the conveyor belt 18 is located at the level of the picking level 16.

[0022] A buffer storage area 22 for pallets 24 is provided to the side of the picking chute 14. The buffer storage area 22 is designed to temporarily store one unloaded pallet 24 at a time and then transfer it by means of a Fig. The transport device 26, shown only schematically, is moved into the picking chute along an arrow 28. Pallet 24a can then be reloaded with goods 20, while another already loaded pallet 24b is conveyed downwards out of the picking chute 14 and, if necessary, wrapped with stretch film by means of a wrapping device 30 during conveyance. A lowering and lifting device 32 is provided for raising and lowering pallet 24b. By means of the lifting and lowering device 32, pallets 24a and 24b are also gradually lowered or raised during loading or unloading in coordination with the loading height of the loading platform 42 of pallets 24a and 24b during picking, i.e., during loading or unloading.

[0023] Using the lowering and lifting device 32, the loaded pallet 26b is then transferred to a suitable conveyor system 34. The loaded pallet 24b is then removed by the conveyor system 34, and unloaded pallets 24 are conveyed to it. The lifting and lowering device 32 is located on a warehouse floor 36. A picking platform 38 is accessed via the picking chute 14 and is positioned above the warehouse floor 36. The articulated robot arm 12, for example, is located on the picking platform 38.

[0024] In the state of Fig. As described above, the fully loaded pallet 24b is lowered out of picking chute 14. To utilize the time during which pallet 24b is lowered, transferred to the conveyor 34, and possibly wrapped beforehand, the unloaded pallet 24a is inserted into picking chute 14 by means of the transport device 26 and placed on holding devices 40 as soon as the upper section of picking chute 14 is clear again. The holding devices 40 have stops that extend from the edges of picking chute 14 into the interior of the picking chute. The unloaded pallet 24a is then held in picking chute 14 and can immediately be reloaded with goods 20.As soon as a lifting fork 48 of the lifting and lowering device 32 is positioned again in the picking chute 14 below the pallet 24a, ideally at the latest when the first layer of goods 20 on the loading platform 42 of the pallet 24a is complete, the pallet 24a is taken over by the lifting and lowering device 32 and the stops 40 are moved out of the picking chute 14. Using the lifting and lowering device 32, the pallet 24a is then lowered by the height of each layer of goods 20 after each layer has been completed. The top of the last layer of goods is therefore always slightly above the height of the picking level 16, so that loading is possible without any problems.

[0025] The articulated robot arm 12 has a gripper 44. This gripper grasps the load 20, lifts the load 20 from the conveyor belt 18, and places it on the loading platform 42 of the pallet 24a. To prevent the gripper 44 from getting caught on the side 16 of the picking chute 14, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the loading platform 42 is arranged slightly above the picking level 16, in other words, slightly above the sill of the picking chute 14. According to the invention, this is achieved by additional means 46 for raising and lowering a goods carrier, in the illustrated embodiment for raising the pallet 24a. The means 46 are provided at the stops 40. The means 46 are, for example, supports provided at the stops 40, which can be extended by means of belts (not shown) and the motors acting on the belts, in order to lower the pallet 24a into the Fig. 2 to raise the position shown. Instead of belts, ropes or chains can also be used. The belts, ropes, or chains can also be driven by cylinders. Instead of belts, cylinders or geared motors can also move the supports directly. The means 46 can also be arranged behind the walls of the picking chute 14 and move the stops 40 themselves.

[0026] Once the first layer of cargo 20 is arranged on the loading platform 42 of pallet 24a, either in the Fig. In the position shown in Figure 2, the lifting and lowering device 32, the pallet 24a, or the lifting and lowering means 46 are returned to the position shown in Figure 2. Fig. 1 position shown is retracted and the pallet 24a is taken over in this lowered position by the lifting fork 48 of the lifting and lowering device 32.

[0027] In the presentation of the Fig. 2 The lifting fork 48 of the lifting and lowering device 32 is arranged in the picking chute 14 and another unloaded pallet 24c rests on the lifting fork 48. In the state of Fig. 2 The unloaded pallet 24c is being removed from the lifting fork 48 by means of the transport device 26 and moved into the intermediate storage 22.

[0028] Starting from the state of Fig. 2 again the state of Fig. Once stage 1 is reached, i.e., when pallet 24a is fully loaded and moved downwards out of picking chute 14, pallet 24c is moved from intermediate storage 22 back into picking chute 14 and transferred to the holding device 40. The lifting and lowering means 46 then move pallet 24c back into the picking chute 14. Fig. Figure 2 shows the position in which a loading platform 42 of pallet 24c is then positioned slightly above the picking level 16. Pallet 24c can then be loaded as already described for pallet 24b.

[0029] Fig. Figure 3 shows the device 10 of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, where instead of the articulated arm robot 12 of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. A picker 50 is provided for the manual loading and unloading, i.e., the manual picking of pallets 24a, 24b. To facilitate the picker 50's placement of loads 20 onto the loading platform 42 of pallet 24a, the loading platform 42 is positioned slightly below the picking level 16 for placing the first layer of loads 20. Specifically, the loading platform 42 is positioned 250 mm below the picking level 16. This allows the picker 50 to remove loads 20 from the conveyor belt 18, move them via the picking chute 14, and then move them downwards a short distance before placing them on the loading platform 42. The picker 50 can move the loads 20 against the inner walls of the picking chute 14, so that the loads 20 can be automatically moved to the edge of the loading platform 42. In the illustration of the Fig. 3. A gap is provided between the outer edge of the load items 20 and the boundary or inner wall of the picking chute 14. For example, the picker 50 can, however, place the load items 20 against the in Fig. 3 move the partially concealed edge of the picking chute 14, which is then positioned between it and the pallet 24a.

[0030] The means for raising and lowering 46 are in the state of Fig. 3 in their lowest position. This allows the loading platform 42 to be positioned below the picking level 16, as discussed.

[0031] If, however, pallet 24a is to be unloaded, the lifting and lowering means 46 can position pallet 24a such that the loading platform 42 is located slightly above the picking level 16 or exactly at the level of the picking level 16. The order picker can then remove the load items 20 from the loading platform 42 and transfer them to the conveyor belt 18 at the same level.

[0032] The device 10 according to the invention can therefore be used in an extremely flexible manner for both automated order picking using robots and manual order picking. The loading platform 42 of the pallets 24a, 24b, 24c to be loaded or unloaded can always be arranged in the optimal configuration relative to the picking level 16.

Claims

[1] Method for order picking on or from goods carriers with a loading platform (42), in particular pallets (24a, 24b), comprising the steps of: arranging a goods carrier in a picking chute (14) by means of a lowering and lifting device (32), stepwise lowering or raising of the loading platform (42) in the picking chute (14) during the loading or unloading of the goods carrier by means of the lowering and lifting device (32), intermediate storage of at least one unloaded goods carrier in an intermediate storage (22) and feeding or removing one unloaded goods carrier from or into the intermediate storage (22) by means of a transport device (26),Holding a goods carrier in the picking chute (14) by means of the transport device (26) or by means of a holding device (40) and raising or lowering the goods carrier by means (46) provided on the transport device (26) or on the holding device (40) in order to position the loading platform (42) of the goods carrier resting on the transport device (26) or the holding device (40) either slightly above the height of a picking level (16), at the height of the picking level (16) or slightly below the height of the picking level (16), wherein the loading platform (42) is positioned slightly above the height of the picking level (16) if the goods carrier is to be loaded or unloaded automatically by means of a robot, wherein the loading platform (42) is positioned slightly below the height of the picking level (16),if the goods carrier is to be loaded manually and the loading platform (42) is to be positioned at the same level as the picking level (16) or slightly above the level of the picking level (16) if the goods carrier is to be unloaded manually. [2] Device for carrying out the method according to claim 1, namely picking on or from goods carriers with a loading platform (42), in particular pallets (24a, 24b), with a picking chute (14), a lowering and lifting device (32) for gradually lowering or raising the loading platform (42) in coordination with a loading height of the loading platform (42) during picking, an intermediate storage (22) for unloaded goods carriers and a transport device (26) for transporting one unloaded goods carrier at a time from the intermediate storage (22) to the picking chute (14) and vice versa, characterized by, that the transport device (26) or a holding device (40) for goods carriers in the picking chute (14) has means (46) for raising and lowering the goods carrier in the picking chute (14) in order to position the loading platform (42) of a goods carrier resting on the transport device (26) or the holding device (40) optionally slightly above a height of a picking level (16), at the height of the picking level (16) or slightly below the height of the picking level (16). [3] Device according to claim 2, characterized by , that the means (46) for lifting and lowering have movable supports which are driven by means of load-bearing means, for example belts, chains, ropes, hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, electric cylinders, geared motors. [4] Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by, that the means (46) for raising and lowering are arranged on a frame of the transport device (26) and are designed to raise or lower the load carrier relative to the frame of the transport device (26). [5] Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by , that the holding device (40) in the picking chute (14) has movable stops for a goods carrier, wherein the means (46) for raising and lowering are arranged on the stops and are designed to raise or lower the goods carrier relative to the picking level.

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