DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PICKING LOADS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for picking loads, comprising a picking shaft, a tongue that can be retracted into and extended from the picking shaft for loading with loads, and stripping means that, when the tongue is extended from the picking shaft, strip loads from the top side of the tongue onto a load carrier. The invention also relates to a method for picking loads, wherein the load is picked onto a tongue arranged in a picking shaft, which tongue can be retracted into and extended from the picking shaft, and wherein the load located on the tongue is stripped onto a load carrier by means of stripping means when the tongue is extended from the picking shaft.

[0002] From the German patent application DE 10 2018 203 336 A1 a device and a method for picking loads into roll containers are known, wherein a tongue which can be moved into a picking shaft and extended from the picking shaft is provided for loading with loads and wherein stripping means are provided which strip loads from the top side of the tongue onto a roll container when the tongue is extended from the picking shaft.

[0003] European Patent Application EP 0 487 837 A1 discloses a device for picking loads in which several tines forming a fork can be inserted into a picking shaft from the side. The front end of the tines is beveled, so that the tines' thickness decreases in the area of ​​their ends.

[0004] US Patent Application Publication US 2009 / 0289411 A1 discloses an arrangement for stacking printed products. The products are intermediately stacked on a tongue that is oriented obliquely upwards. The thickness of the tongue decreases toward its end. US 2009 / 289411 A1 discloses the features of the preambles of claims 1 and 4.

[0005] US Patent No. 4,708,564 discloses a device for picking from pallets with a picking chute. Loads in the form of bags are stacked on a table, and this table is then pulled out from below the stack of bags above a pallet to load the pallet with a stack of bags. The table can be tilted so that the bags slide on the table against a stop.

[0006] The invention is intended to improve a device and a method for picking cargo.

[0007] According to the invention, a device having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 4 are provided for this purpose. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0008] In a device for picking loads with a picking shaft, with a tongue that can be moved into and out of the picking shaft for loading with loads and with stripping means that strip loads from the top of the tongue onto a load carrier when the tongue is moved out of the picking shaft, it is provided that means are included for lifting a free, front end of the tongue in the direction of retraction of the tongue in the direction of an upper end of the picking shaft and / or that the tongue, when fully retracted into the picking shaft and unloaded, is arranged at least in sections obliquely in the direction of an upper end of the picking shaft.

[0009] The tongue should be as flat as possible, viewed in the vertical direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the picking shaft, so that when the load is stripped from the tongue to the load carrier, the load only has to overcome a small difference in height before reaching the surface of the load carrier. The flatter the tongue, the smaller this difference in height and the easier it is to position the load correctly on the load carrier when stripping it from the tongue. This is especially true when several stacked layers of load are arranged on the tongue and then to be stripped together onto the load carrier. When loading pallets, for example, stacks of load of considerable height, especially more than 1 m high, can be stacked on the tongue and then have to be stripped together onto the surface of the pallet.Particularly when heavy loads are placed on the free end of the tongue, the tongue bends considerably. As a result, the load or stack of loads is placed at an angle on the surface of the load carrier when it is stripped off. This can lead to the load stacks no longer being aligned correctly on the load carrier. Stiffening the tongue has its limits, as the tongue should be as thin or flat as possible in order to minimize the difference in height that the load overcomes from the top of the tongue to the surface of the load carrier when stripped off. The inventors recognized that a significant improvement can be achieved if the free end of the tongue, which is at the front in the direction of travel of the tongue, is raised towards the upper end of the picking shaft.Alternatively or additionally, the tongue can be arranged at least in sections at an angle towards an upper end of the picking shaft when fully retracted into the picking shaft and unloaded. This measure ensures that the inevitable bending of the tongue when loaded with load is achieved over the length of the tongue. A tongue that is arranged essentially horizontally in the picking shaft or as an extension of the picking shaft when unloaded represents a cantilever beam and bends downwards at its free end when loaded with load. If the tongue is arranged at an angle towards an upper end of the picking shaft from the outset, placing load on the tongue will still cause the tongue to bend, but the deviation from the horizontal position in the loaded state is significantly smaller at the free end of the tongue than if the unloaded tongue was in a horizontal initial position.Alternatively or additionally, the free front end of the tongue, in the direction of retraction of the tongue, can be raised toward an upper end of the picking shaft by suitable lifting means. This can be achieved, for example, by retracting the tongue horizontally into the picking shaft over most of the entry path and then raising it over the last few millimeters of the entry path, specifically by raising the free front end of the tongue, in the direction of retraction of the tongue, toward an upper end of the picking shaft.The invention is therefore based on the realization that a bending of the tongue during loading with load must necessarily be accepted, but that the harmful effects of the bending of the tongue, namely the large downward deflection at the free end of the tongue, can be partially compensated for by raising the free end of the tongue and / or arranging the tongue, when unloaded, at least in sections at an angle towards an upper end of the picking shaft. Across the entire surface of the tongue onto which load is placed, it can be achieved that the deviation of the position of the surface of the tongue from the ideal horizontal position is so small that even high stacks of load can be easily scraped onto the surface of a load carrier.The picking shaft is considered to be a space between the side walls of the picking shaft and within an imaginary extension of the side walls from a parapet, which forms the upper end of the picking shaft, to a surface of the load carrier.

[0010] In a further development of the invention, the means for lifting comprise a device for positioning at least one initial section of the tongue, which is arranged last in the picking shaft during retraction, obliquely to a central longitudinal axis of the picking shaft in the direction of an upper end of the picking shaft in the unloaded state of the tongue when it is fully retracted into the picking shaft.

[0011] Bending of the tongue during loading can be compensated for by slanting the initial section of the tongue, and in particular, the deflection of the bend can be mediated or averaged out over the length of the tongue in the direction of entry. The free end of the tongue is raised slightly by slanting the initial section of the tongue when unloaded. This means that the bending of the tongue during loading is not as pronounced over the length of the tongue; for example, the bending is only half as pronounced. Likewise, lowering the free end of the tongue by 1 cm when the tongue is fully loaded compared to an ideal horizontal position of the tongue could be acceptable. Even with such deflection, it is still possible to set down even high stacks of load safely on the surface of a load carrier without the risk of slipping.It is also possible to prevent the tongue from resting on the load carrier and shifting it during retraction or extension from the picking shaft.

[0012] According to the invention, the lifting means comprise a guide track.

[0013] For example, the tongue is attached to a roller carriage or a slide, which in turn runs in a guideway, or the tongue can engage directly in a guideway.

[0014] According to the invention, the tongue is attached to a roller carriage, wherein the roller carriage moves along the guide track when the tongue is moved into the picking shaft and when the tongue is moved out of the picking shaft.

[0015] A roller carriage or a slide that moves along a guide track enables the tongue to be guided smoothly and safely. The guide track can have both a lower guide track and an upper guide track, with the upper guide track preventing the tongue from tipping over during loading. In other words, the roller carriage or slide is guided tightly both downwards and upwards when fully retracted and when extended, so that a stack of goods on the tongue can be safely scraped onto the surface of a load carrier. When fully retracted, the tongue is positioned in the picking shaft or within an imaginary extension of the picking shaft. When fully extended, the tongue is positioned outside the picking shaft or outside an imaginary extension of the picking shaft.

[0016] In a further development of the invention, a section of the guide track runs obliquely to a retraction direction of the tongue and in the direction of an upper end of the picking shaft.

[0017] By means of such a rising or ramp-shaped section of the guideway, the front end of the tongue in the retraction direction can be raised in a simple manner. This is achieved simply by the front end of the roller carriage or slide being raised slightly relative to the rear end of the roller carriage or slide. In the same way, additionally or alternatively, the rear end of the roller carriage or slide can of course also be lowered. A rising or ramp-shaped section of the guideway is advantageously designed such that the front end of the tongue is only raised shortly before it reaches the fully retracted position during retraction, for example only a few millimeters before it reaches the fully retracted position. When the tongue is extended, the tongue is therefore lowered again a few millimeters after it has left the fully retracted position.This prevents the free end of the tongue from being positioned significantly above the surface of the load carrier when extended. Instead, the underside of the tongue is positioned just above the surface of the load carrier, or even rests on the surface of the load carrier as soon as the tongue has moved a few millimeters beyond its fully retracted position during extension. This allows the stacks of loads resting on the surface of the tongue to be safely deposited on the surface of the load carrier without any risk of the stacks or individual loads slipping.

[0018] In a further development of the invention, at least one sensor is provided for detecting a deflection of the tongue during loading and a control unit is further provided for controlling the means for lifting the tongue as a function of the detected deflection of the tongue.

[0019] For example, depending on the weight of the load placed on the tongue, a bend in the tongue can be detected, and the tongue can be raised accordingly to mediate or average the bend over the length of the tongue. Within the scope of the invention, a bend in the tongue during loading can of course also be fully compensated if necessary. The bend can be detected, for example, using optical sensors, strain gauges, or similar devices.

[0020] In a further development of the invention, a control unit is provided which has means for pre-calculating a bending of the tongue as a function of a load to be picked onto the tongue, wherein the control unit is designed to control the means for lifting the tongue as a function of the pre-calculated bending.

[0021] Typically, load carriers, such as wire mesh trolleys or pallets, are picked from a semi-automatic or fully automated high-bay warehouse. The control unit thus knows the weight of the load to be picked from the load data set. The control unit can then predict the expected bending of the tongue and control the means, such as a drive, for raising the tongue accordingly, in order to mediate or average the bending of the tongue over its length, or, if necessary, to fully compensate for the bending of the tongue during loading.

[0022] The problem underlying the invention is also solved by a method for picking loads, wherein the load is picked onto a tongue arranged in a picking shaft, which tongue can be moved into and out of the picking shaft, and wherein the load located on the tongue is stripped onto a load carrier by means of stripping means when the tongue is moved out of the picking shaft, in which the lifting of a free and, in the direction of retraction, front end of the tongue in the direction of an upper end of the picking shaft and / or the positioning of at least a section of the tongue in the completely retracted and unloaded state in the picking shaft is provided for obliquely in the direction of an upper end of the picking shaft.

[0023] In a further development of the invention, the lifting of the free end of the tongue is provided by positioning the tongue in the unloaded state and fully retracted into the picking shaft, wherein the tongue is positioned such that the tongue is arranged in an initial section, which is arranged last in the picking shaft during retraction, obliquely to a central longitudinal axis of the picking shaft in the direction of an upper end of the picking shaft.

[0024] According to the invention, the tongue assumes an arched shape when at least partially loaded with cargo and fully retracted into the picking shaft, viewed perpendicular to the retraction direction and perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the picking shaft.

[0025] In a further development of the invention, a highest point of the arched shape of the tongue lies in the area of ​​the central longitudinal axis of the picking shaft.

[0026] In this way, the deflection can be averaged or averaged over the length of the tongue. In this case, the tongue lowers at its free end only about half as much as it would in a horizontal starting position in the unloaded state.

[0027] In a further development of the invention, the tongue is arranged on a roller carriage or slide, wherein the guiding of the roller carriage or slide on a guide track and the lifting of a first section of the tongue and / or the lowering of a second section of the tongue by means of the guide track when the tongue is inserted into the picking shaft is provided.

[0028] In a further development of the invention, a front end of the roller carriage or the slide in the direction of entry is raised when the tongue is inserted into the picking shaft shortly before reaching the state in which it is completely retracted into the picking shaft and / or a rear end of the roller carriage or the slide in the direction of entry is lowered when the tongue is inserted into the picking shaft shortly before reaching the state in which it is completely retracted into the picking shaft.

[0029] In this way, the front, free end of the tongue can be raised in the fully retracted position, whether unloaded or partially loaded. When the tongue is loaded, the bending of the tongue, or more accurately, the deflection relative to the ideal horizontal position, is then mediated or averaged over the length of the tongue.

[0030] In a further development of the invention, when the tongue is extended out of the picking shaft, a front end of the roller carriage or the slide in the direction of entry is lowered shortly after leaving the state in which it is fully retracted into the picking shaft and / or a rear end of the roller carriage or the slide in the direction of entry is raised when the tongue is extended out of the picking shaft shortly after leaving the state in which it is fully retracted into the picking shaft.

[0031] In a further development of the invention, when the tongue is extended from the picking shaft, the roller carriage or the slide is moved perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the picking shaft, with the exception of a first section of the path, from the state completely retracted into the picking shaft until shortly after leaving the state completely retracted into the picking shaft.

[0032] The tongue is then pulled out horizontally between the stack of loads and the surface of the load carrier. The front end of the tongue is then no longer raised, and the load is placed onto the surface of the load carrier from a low height, ideally only from a height corresponding to the thickness of the tongue. The tongue is lowered during extension or retraction, allowing the load to be placed or pushed onto the load carrier from a lower height using the front end of the tongue.

[0033] In a further development of the invention, the lifting of the free end of the tongue, which is at the front in the direction of entry, in the direction of an upper end of the picking shaft only takes place after the load has been placed on an area of ​​the tongue which is directly adjacent to the free end of the tongue.

[0034] For example, the tongue is only fully retracted after part of the load has been placed on the tongue.

[0035] In a further development of the invention, the bending of the tongue during loading with cargo is measured and the free and front end of the tongue in the direction of entry is lifted towards an upper end of the picking shaft depending on the measured bending.

[0036] In a further development of the invention, the pre-calculation of a bending of the tongue as a result of loading with cargo and the lifting of the free and front end of the tongue in the direction of entry in the direction of an upper end of the picking shaft takes place depending on the pre-calculation.

[0037] 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.

[0038] The drawings show: Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of an inventive device for order picking, Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of an inventive device for order picking, wherein an unloaded state of a tongue and a partially loaded state of a tongue are shown superimposed, Fig. 3 is the detail X from Fig. 2 , Fig. 4 the detail Y from Fig. 2 , Fig. 5one of the Fig. 2 comparable partial sectional view with the tongue in the unloaded state and Fig. 6 one of the Fig. 2 comparable partial sectional view in the partially loaded state of the tongue.

[0039] Fig. 1 schematically shows a picking device 10 according to the invention. The device 10 is constructed similarly to the picking device according to the published patent application DE 10 2018 203 336 A1.

[0040] The device 10 has a Fig. 1 picking shaft 12 which is only indicated. The picking shaft 12 ends at a Fig. 1 only schematically indicated parapet 14. Next to the parapet 14 on a picking platform not shown there is a loading robot or an operator who picks load items 16 onto a tongue 18 which is displaceable in the vertical direction of the picking shaft 12. In the Fig. 1 In the state shown, the operator or order picker or a loading robot has already placed three layers or three layers of load items 16 on the tongue 18. As soon as the load stack on the tongue 18 has reached the intended height, the tongue 18 is lowered to the height of the surface of the loading area of ​​a grid trolley 20. To Fig. 1 only a side wall 21 of the grid trolley 20 arranged behind the tongue 18 is shown, which in Fig. 1 front side wall is not shown. The tongue 18 is then Fig. 1 to the left under the picking shaft 12, whereby the stack of load items 16 is then deposited on the loading surface of the wire mesh trolley 20. For this purpose, stripping means are provided which are Fig. 1 are shown only schematically in the form of a roller shutter 22. The roller shutter 22 is extended when the tongue 18 is lowered. The tongue is then pulled out below the lower end of the roller shutter. The roller shutter 22 then prevents the individual load items 16 from moving out of the picking shaft. Within the scope of the invention, other load carriers, such as pallets, can also be loaded.

[0041] The tongue 18 is attached to a roller carriage 26 with its rear end in the retraction direction 24. The roller carriage 26 has a front pair of rollers and a rear pair of rollers. The roller pairs are guided on both sides of the roller carriage on a guide track 32. In the side view of the Fig. 1 only a front roller of the front roller pair 28, a rear roller of the rear roller pair 30 and one of the guide tracks 32 for the roller pairs 28, 30 can be seen.

[0042] The guide track 32 runs essentially horizontally, i.e. perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis 34 of the picking shaft 12. Only in its last section 36 does the guide track 32 rise, so that the section 36 is at least partially ramp-shaped.

[0043] In Fig. 1 The position of the tongue 18 is shown when it is fully retracted into the picking shaft 12. The picking shaft 12 is defined as the space between the Fig. 1 visible side walls and within the imaginary extension of the side walls from the parapet 14 to the loading area of ​​the mesh trolley 20. In this fully retracted state, the front pair of rollers 28 in the retraction direction 24 has already reached the area of ​​the ramp-shaped section 36. The front pair of rollers 28 in the retraction direction 24 is thereby raised somewhat relative to the rear pair of rollers 30. As a result, an initial section of the tongue 18, which is therefore the last section to be arranged in the picking shaft 12 during retraction, is inclined towards the Fig. 1 upper end of the picking shaft 12. This is achieved by the roller carriage 26 also being arranged at an angle and rising towards the picking shaft 12.

[0044] In the unloaded state of the tongue 18, it would consequently be arranged obliquely upwards over its entire length in the direction of the upper end of the picking shaft 12. Bending of the tongue in the unloaded state is negligible, since such bending would be caused solely by the dead weight of the tongue 18.

[0045] In the loaded state of the tongue 18, which is in Fig. 1 As shown, the free and front end 38 of the tongue in the retraction direction 24 is deflected downwards and is located only slightly below the rear end 40 of the tongue 18 in the retraction direction 24. For definition purposes, the rear end 40 of the tongue is defined at the point on the tongue 18 which, when the tongue 18 is fully retracted, is just positioned within an imaginary downward extension of the picking shaft 12. The tongue 18 is located below the picking shaft 12.

[0046] As in Fig. 1 As can be seen, the tongue 18 thus takes on an arc-like shape between the rear end 40 in the retraction direction and the front end 38 in the retraction direction. An apex of this bend can be found in the Fig. 1 In the state shown, the position of the picking shaft 12 is approximately in the middle, i.e., at the level of the central longitudinal axis 34 of the picking shaft 12. However, this is not absolutely necessary within the scope of the invention.

[0047] Out of Fig. 1 This makes it clear that a bending of the tongue 18 in the loaded state or, better, a deviation of the position of the tongue 18 compared to an ideal horizontal position is mediated or averaged over the length of the tongue 18 located in the picking shaft 12.

[0048] As in Fig. 1 As shown, all columns or individual stacks of load items 16 lie slightly obliquely on the tongue 18. However, the deviation of the columns of load items 16 from the vertical is so small for all columns that there is no need to fear that the individual columns will not be correctly placed on the surface of the pallet 20.

[0049] If the downward deflection of the free end 38 of the tongue 18 were significantly greater than in the Fig. 1 shown state, the deviation of the Fig. 1 right column of cargo pieces from the vertical so large that at least these in Fig. 1 right column of load pieces 16 could not be correctly placed on the surface of the pallet 20 if the tongue 18 is pulled out between the stack of load pieces 16 and the surface of the wire mesh trolley 20.

[0050] The mediating or averaging of the bending of the tongue 18 in the loaded state is consequently achieved by raising the free end of the tongue 38 in the unloaded state compared to an ideal horizontal arrangement of the tongue 18. This is symbolized by an arrow 42. The raising of the free end 38 of the tongue 18 according to the arrow 42 is in turn achieved by tilting the roller carriage 26 or by raising the front pair of rollers 28 of the roller carriage 26. This is symbolized by an arrow 44.

[0051] The length of the ramp-like section 36 of the guide track 32 is only a few millimeters, for example, a mere 10 mm. A height increase in section 36 is, for example, only a few millimeters. Raising the front pair of rollers 28 of the roller carriage 26 by a few millimeters in this way is sufficient to raise the free end 38 of the tongue 18 by a sufficient amount, for example, by approximately 35 mm in the unloaded state. Within the scope of the invention, it is intended that the tongue 18, in the unloaded state, is arranged in the picking shaft 12 at an angle of approximately 1° to 5° diagonally upwards in the direction of the upper end of the picking shaft 12. Within the scope of the invention, the dimensioning of the ramp-like section 36 and also of the tongue 18 itself can be dependent on the intended application, for example, whether very heavy loads or rather light loads are to be picked.However, the ramp-like section 36 can also be dimensioned in such a way that, depending on the intended application, the end position of the trolley is selected so that the desired position of the tongue is obtained.

[0052] Based on the Fig. 1 It can be seen that when the tongue 18 is extended from the picking shaft 12, the front pair of rollers 28 of the roller carriage 26, after leaving the section 36, is already at the same height as the rear pair of rollers 30. Thus, with the exception of a few millimeters or centimeters after the start of the extension, the tongue 18 is extended horizontally from the picking shaft 12. This enables the correct placement of the stack of load items 16 on the surface of the pallet 20.

[0053] Fig. 2 shows a partial sectional view of an inventive device for picking 10. The tongue 18 is shown in the state completely retracted into the picking shaft 12. Fig. 2 but shows the unloaded state of the tongue 18 and, at the same time, the state of the tongue 18 loaded with several items of cargo 16 in superimposition. The tongue 18 is attached to the roller carriage 26, which has a front pair of rollers 28 and a rear pair of rollers 30. The roller pairs 28, 30 each run on a lower guide track 32 on either side of the roller carriage 26. Upper guide tracks 46 prevent the roller pairs 28, 30 from deflecting upwards. In the fully retracted state of the tongue 18 shown, the rear roller rests on top of the upper guide track 46. This prevents the tongue 18 from tipping downwards when the tongue 18 is loaded.

[0054] The front pair of rollers 28 is located in section 36 of the lower guide track 32, whereby this Fig. 3 can be seen. Fig. 3 shows the detail X from Fig. 2 in an enlarged view. The section 36 has an ascending, ramp-like area and a horizontal area adjoining the ramp-like area. When the tongue 18 is fully retracted, the pair of rollers 28 rests on the horizontal area. There is therefore no risk of the roller carriage 26 automatically moving back down the ramp-like area during loading. Within the scope of the invention, the pair of rollers 28 can also be arranged in the ramp-like area in order to be able to set a desired height of the tongue by means of a position of the pair of rollers 28 within the ramp-like area. The roller carriage 26 is motor-driven.

[0055] The ramp-like and thus rising section, for example, is only about 10 mm long. Section 36 as a whole is significantly longer, for example, 30 mm.

[0056] In Fig. 2 It can be seen that above the area 36, ​​the upper guide track 46 also has an upward bulge. The upper guide track 46 has a downward step above the rear roller 30. The front pair of rollers 28 and also the rear pair of rollers 30 are tightly guided between the lower guide track 32 and the upper guide track 46, so that tilting of the roller carriage 26 during loading of the tongue 18 is impossible.

[0057] Fine positioning of the tongue 18 during entry into the picking shaft 12 and also during exit is carried out via a drive motor 50 of the roller carriage 26, specifically via an encoder of the drive motor 50.

[0058] Fig. 4 shows the detail Y from Fig. 2 in an enlarged view. The oblique arrangement of the tongue 18 in the unloaded state above a surface of a pallet 20, onto which a stack of load items 16 is to be placed, can be seen.

[0059] Fig. 5 shows one of the Fig. 2 Comparable partial sectional view. To clarify the illustration, the tongue 18 is shown in the unloaded state. It can be seen that the tongue 18 is arranged diagonally upwards within the picking shaft 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the tongue 18 is arranged diagonally upwards by approximately 1.3° in the picking shaft 12. According to the invention, this angle, which the tongue 18 assumes in the unloaded state within the picking shaft 12, should be between 1° and a maximum of 5°, in particular between 1° and 2°, depending, among other things, on the material and length of the tongue.

[0060] Fig. 6 shows one of the Fig. 2 and the Fig. 5 comparable partial sectional view, whereby a piece of cargo 16 has now been placed in the area of ​​the free end 38 of the tongue 18. The free end of the tongue 18 has been Fig. 5 shown unloaded state is already lowered, so that the part of the tongue 18 located within the picking shaft 12 takes on an arched shape, cf. Fig. 1 It can be seen that the bending of the tongue 18 or the deflection of the tongue 18 compared to an ideal horizontal position is thereby mediated or averaged over the length of the tongue 18. In particular, although the load item 16 now sits obliquely on the tongue 18, the deviation of the position of the load item 16 from the vertical is significantly smaller than if the tongue 18 were not as in Fig. 5 shown diagonally upwards in the unloaded state in the picking shaft 12, but horizontally. Fig. 6 shown load piece 16, further load pieces 16 can now be stacked, cf. Fig. 1 The stack of loads can then be easily removed by pulling out the tongue 18, Fig. 6 to the left, from the picking shaft 12 onto the surface of the pallet 20. The individual load items then lie within a specified tolerance to one another and on the surface of the pallet 20. The pallet 20 is thus securely loaded, and during further transport of the pallet there is no risk of individual load items 16 falling off the pallet 20.

Claims

1. Apparatus (10) for picking load goods, comprising a picking chute (12), comprising a tongue (18), which can be moved into the picking chute (12) and can be moved out of the picking chute (12), for loading with load goods, and comprising wipe-off means which, as the tongue (18) is moved out of the picking chute (12), wipe load goods from the top side of the tongue (18) onto a load goods carrier, wherein means for lifting a free end of the tongue (18), that is at the front in the moving in direction of the tongue (18), in the direction of an upper end of the picking chute (12) are provided and wherein the tongue (18), in the state in which it is fully moved into the picking chute (12) and is not loaded, is arranged obliquely at least in sections in the direction of an upper end of the picking chute (12), wherein the means for lifting have a guide track (32), wherein the tongue (18) is fastened to a roller carriage (26), wherein the roller carriage (26) moves along the guide track (32) as the tongue (18) is moved into the picking chute (12) and as the tongue (18) is moved out of the picking chute (12), wherein a portion of the guide track (32) runs obliquely to a moving in direction of the tongue (18) and in the direction of an upper end of the picking chute (12), characterized in that the guide track (32) runs substantially horizontally, that is to say perpendicularly to a central longitudinal axis (34) of the picking chute (12), and only rises in its last portion (36), so that the portion (36) is of ramp-like design at least in sections.

2. Apparatus (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the means for lifting have a device for positioning at least one initial portion of the tongue (18), which initial portion is arranged last in the picking chute (12) during moving in, obliquely to a central longitudinal axis (34) of the picking chute (12) in the direction of an upper end of the picking chute (12) in the state of the tongue (18) in which it is not loaded and is fully moved into the picking chute (12).

3. Apparatus (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one sensor for detecting a deflection of the tongue (18) during loading and a control unit for controlling the means for lifting the tongue depending on the detected deflection of the tongue (18) and / or by a control unit which has means for predicting a deflection of the tongue (18) depending on a load good to be picked onto the tongue, wherein the control unit is designed to control the means for lifting the tongue (18) depending on the predicted deflection.

4. Method for picking load goods, wherein the load goods are picked onto a tongue (18) which is arranged in a picking chute (12) and can be moved into the picking chute (12) and moved out of the picking chute (12), and wherein the load goods located on the tongue (18) are wiped off onto a load goods carrier by means of wiping means as the tongue (18) is moved out of the picking chute (12), wherein lifting a free end of the tongue (18) that is at the front in the moving in direction in the direction of an upper end of the picking chute (12) and / or positioning at least one portion of the tongue (18) obliquely in the direction of an upper end of the picking chute (12) in the state in which it is fully moved into the picking chute (12) and is not loaded are provided, characterized in that, in the state in which it is at least partially loaded with load goods and is fully moved into the picking chute (12), the tongue (18) assumes an arc-like shape, as seen perpendicularly to the moving in direction and perpendicularly to the central longitudinal axis (34) of the picking chute (12).

5. Method according to Claim 4, characterized by lifting the free end of the tongue (18) by means of positioning the tongue (18), in the state in which it is not loaded and is fully moved into the picking chute, such that the tongue (18), in an initial portion which is arranged last in the picking chute (12) during moving in, is arranged obliquely to a central longitudinal axis (34) of the picking chute (12) in the direction of an upper end of the picking chute (12).

6. Method according to either of Claims 4 and 5, wherein the tongue (18) is arranged on a roller carriage (26) or slide, characterized by guiding the roller carriage (26) or the slide on a guide track (32) and lifting a first portion of the tongue (18) and / or lowering a second portion of the tongue (18) by means of the guide track (32) as the tongue (18) is moved into the picking chute (12).

7. Method according to Claim 6, wherein an end of the roller carriage (26) or of the slide that is at the front in the moving in direction is lifted shortly before the state of being fully moved into the picking chute (12) is reached as the tongue (18) is moved into the picking chute (12) and / or an end of the roller carriage (26) or of the slide that is at the rear in the retraction direction is lowered shortly before the state of being fully moved into the picking chute (12) is reached as the tongue (18) is moved into the picking chute (12).

8. Method according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein an end of the roller carriage (26) or of the slide that is at the front in the moving in direction is lowered shortly after the state of being fully moved into the picking chute (12) is left as the tongue (18) is moved out of the picking chute (12) and / or an end of the roller carriage (26) or of the slide that is at the rear in the moving in direction is raised shortly after the state of being fully moved into the picking chute (12) is left as the tongue (18) is moved out of the picking chute (12).

9. Method according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein, as the tongue (18) is moved out of the picking chute (12), the roller carriage (26) or the slide is moved perpendicularly to the central longitudinal axis (34) of the picking chute (12) with the exception of a first travel portion from the state of being fully moved into the picking chute (12) until shortly after the state of being fully moved into the picking chute (12) is left.

10. Method according to at least one of Claims 4 to 9, wherein the free end of the tongue (18) that is at the front in the moving in direction is lifted in the direction of an upper end of the picking chute (12) only after load goods are placed on a region of the tongue (18) that directly adjoins the free end of the tongue (18).

11. Method according to at least one of Claims 4 to 10, characterized by measuring a bend in the tongue (18) when the tongue is loaded with load goods and lifting the free end of the tongue (18) that is at the front in the moving in direction in the direction of an upper end of the picking chute (12) depending on the measured bend.

12. Method according to at least one of Claims 4 to 11, characterized by predicting a bend in the tongue (18) as a result of loading with load goods and lifting the free end of the tongue (18) that is at the front in the moving in direction in the direction of an upper end of the picking chute (12) depending on the prediction.