Storage rack, and method for managing the contents of a storage rack

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage rack comprising a plurality of storage locations for manually placing and removing articles, wherein an identification device is associated with each storage location, wherein the identification device is designed and positioned to identify the article when the article is placed in the storage location, when the article is removed from the storage location, and / or after the article has been positioned in the storage location.

Description

[0001] Storage rack and method for managing the contents of a storage rack

[0002] The invention relates to a storage rack with multiple storage locations for manually inserting and removing items. The invention also relates to a method for managing the contents of a storage rack.

[0003] Storage racks with multiple storage locations for the manual insertion and removal of items are used, for example, in craft businesses to store screws, nuts, and small parts (generally referred to as items) and to arrange them in a clear and easy-to-remove manner. For example, a worker or operator takes a box of screws from the shelf before starting work. This usually happens in the morning when they start work. If the worker then puts any unused screws or boxes of screws back on the shelf (generally referred to as items) in the evening, they are usually in a hurry because they want to finish work. It can therefore be observed that the insertion of items or packages containing items into a storage rack is sometimes done extremely carelessly. This consequently leads to the contents of the storage rack no longer being organized.If a specific item, such as a specific screw, is then sought, this is extremely time-consuming because, in the worst case, the entire shelf has to be searched.

[0004] The invention is intended to improve a storage rack with several storage locations for manually inserting and removing articles and a method for managing the contents of a storage rack with regard to an electronic information option about the contents of the storage rack.

[0005] According to the invention, a storage rack with a plurality of storage locations for the manual insertion and removal of articles is provided, in which each storage location is assigned an identification device, wherein the identification device is designed and arranged in such a way as to identify the article when the article is inserted into the storage location, when the article is removed from the storage location and / or after the article has been positioned in the storage location.

[0006] By identifying the item when it is inserted, removed, or even after it has been positioned in the storage location, information about the item itself and its storage location is known. This information can then be provided and retrieved electronically. If a worker is then looking for a specific package with several special screws, they can search for these screws in a warehouse management system and are then informed of their storage location. As a result, they no longer have to search the entire shelf for the item. Furthermore, the warehouse management system can also determine when an item is about to run out on the storage shelf, for example because only a small number of an item is left on the storage shelf.The particular advantage of the storage rack according to the invention is that the storage rack is not part of a fully automated warehouse, but is designed for the manual insertion and removal of articles. Nevertheless, the inventory of articles in the storage rack can be managed electronically and, in particular, if an article is inserted incorrectly, i.e. not in the actually intended storage location, this specific article can still be easily found via an electronic query as to the storage location of the article sought. The storage rack according to the invention therefore combines the advantages of a storage rack for the manual insertion and removal of articles with the electronic management of the inventory. Articles within the scope of the invention generally include products, components, small parts, e.g. screws, nuts or dowels, as well as packaging with several products, components or small parts, e.g.Screws, nuts or dowels.

[0007] In a further development of the invention, a warehouse management computer is provided, wherein the warehouse management computer is designed to create information about a warehouse occupancy on the basis of information from the identification device, namely at which storage location which article is stored in which quantity.

[0008] In a further development of the invention, the identification device has a reading device arranged at the storage location for reading a code on the article.

[0009] For example, a barcode reader or QR code reader or even a reader for reading a numerical code can be arranged at the storage location.

[0010] In a further development of the invention, the identification device has an RFID reading device arranged at the storage location.

[0011] In this case, every item, for example, every package, must have an RFID chip with a unique identifier. When the RFID chip is read by the RFID reader, the RFID chip outputs this unique identifier, which can then be assigned to a data set describing the item or small parts within the package.

[0012] In a further development of the invention, the identification device has at least one camera arranged at the storage location for capturing at least one image of the article and an electronic image processing unit for processing the image and for identifying the article.

[0013] Electronic image processing can also be used to identify an item, such as a package containing multiple items. For example, a package can be photographed and then an image of the package created. A code, description, or symbol on the package can then be recognized using electronic image processing of the image, allowing the item to be identified.

[0014] The problem underlying the invention is also solved by a method for managing the contents of a storage rack, comprising the steps of automatically identifying an article manually inserted or manually removed by an operator into a storage location of the storage rack by means of an identification device, wherein the identification of the article takes place when the article is inserted into the storage location, when the article is removed from the storage location and / or after the article has been positioned in the storage location, transferring a data record relating to the removed or inserted article to a warehouse management computer, wherein the data record contains an identification of the article, information as to whether the article was inserted or removed, and information for identifying the storage location, and determining a current storage occupancy of the storage rack by means of the warehouse management computer.

[0015] The method according to the invention makes it possible to electronically manage warehouse occupancy and inventory even in a storage rack for manual insertion and removal of items. This allows the advantages of a storage rack for manual insertion and removal of items to be combined with electronic warehouse management.

[0016] In a further development of the invention, the warehouse management computer provides information about the storage location of a specific item. This allows for the location of a specific item, such as a package containing several small parts, to be easily determined through an electronic query. Accidentally or carelessly placing items in the wrong storage location no longer requires searching the entire warehouse shelf for a specific item. This results in considerable time savings and can prevent considerable frustration.

[0017] In a further development of the invention, the determination of a refill requirement of the storage rack is provided.

[0018] Since the warehouse management computer knows the current warehouse occupancy, it can determine when a replenishment is needed. For example, a replenishment requirement can be identified whenever only two units of a specific item are left.

[0019] In a further development of the invention, the number of articles removed during a predefined period is taken into account when determining the refill requirement for at least one article.

[0020] For example, the number of items removed over a period of one week can be taken into account. If only this number or a smaller number remains on the storage shelf, a replenishment requirement is identified.

[0021] A further development of the invention provides for automatic ordering of the determined refill requirements. This ensures that a sufficient stock of the required items is always available.

[0022] In a further development of the invention, the article is identified by means of querying an RFID chip on or in the article, by reading a code on the article and / or by capturing at least one image of the article by at least one camera and subsequent electronic image processing of the image.

[0023] Using RFID chips, by reading a code such as a barcode or QR code, or by using cameras and electronic image processing, an item can be reliably identified, even if the item is inserted or removed from the storage shelf very quickly and manually. RFID chips can be particularly advantageous here, as the RFID chip can be read during insertion or removal, or even after it has been positioned in the storage location. Reading an RFID chip is done using radio waves and is therefore relatively independent of the item's location in the storage location.

[0024] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the claims and the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention in conjunction with the drawing. The drawing shows:

[0025] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a storage rack according to the invention.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a storage rack 10 with multiple storage locations 12, 14, 16. Only three storage locations or shelf compartments are shown in Fig. 1 as an example. Of course, within the scope of the invention, significantly more or fewer storage locations 12, 14, 16 may be present.

[0027] The storage rack 10 is intended for the manual insertion and removal of articles 18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B. Within the scope of the invention, articles generally refer to products, components, small parts, e.g., screws, nuts, or dowels, as well as packaging containing multiple products, components, or small parts. This is illustrated in Fig. 1 by an operator 24 holding an article 18B. The operator 24 can manually insert the article 18B into one of the storage locations 12, 14, 16 of the storage rack 10. The operator can also remove one or more of the articles 18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B from a respective storage location 12, 14, 16 of the storage rack 10.

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

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

[0030] Each of the articles 18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B is provided with an RFID chip 30. Each of the RFID chips 30 carries a unique identifier, which it outputs when read. Therefore, even though all RFID chips 30 in Fig. 1 are labeled with the reference number 30, the RFID chips 30 are different in that each of the RFID chips 30 has a different identifier. This identifier is typically a multi-digit number for RFID chips. The multi-digit number is assigned to only one RFID chip, so no two RFID chips have the same number as an identifier.

[0031] When the operator 24 places the article 18B in the storage rack 10, the RFID chip 30 in the article 18B, for example, a package containing several small parts, is read during insertion or only when the article 18B is positioned in the respective storage location 12, 14, or 16. The result of this identification is then transmitted by the identification devices 26A, 26B, and 26C to the warehouse management computer 28. If the operator 24 places the article he is holding in his hand into the topmost storage location 12 in Fig. 1, this is the designated storage location for the article 18B. The identification device 26A can then transmit a data set to the warehouse management computer 28 that, on the one hand, identifies the article 18B and, on the other hand, contains the storage location 12 in which the article 18B is stored.

[0032] Should the operator 24 mistakenly place the article 18B, which he is holding in his hand, into the storage location 14, this will be detected when the RFID chip 30 in the article 18B is read. In this case, the identification device 26B would then transmit a data set to the warehouse management computer 28 in which the article 18B is identified and in which the storage location 14 where the article 18B is now located is included.

[0033] The warehouse management computer 28 therefore always has information about the current occupancy of the storage shelf 10.

[0034] If, for example, the operator 24 is looking for a specific article 22A, 22B, they can use an electronic device, for example a smartphone 32, to query the storage location of the article 22A, 22B. During this query, they access information from the warehouse management computer 28 and thereby receive the information that the article 22A, 22B is located in storage location 16. The warehouse management computer can, for example, also transmit additional information to the effect that only two articles 22A, 22B are still present at storage location 16. However, it is essential within the scope of the invention that the operator 24 does not have to laboriously search for a specific article in all storage locations 12, 14, 16, for example because the article they are looking for is stored in the wrong storage location, but can obtain the current storage location of the article from the warehouse management computer 28 via their smartphone 32.

[0035] The storage rack 10 thus combines the advantages of a storage rack for manual insertion and removal of items, namely the quick and easy insertion and removal of searched items, with the ability to obtain the storage location of a searched item via electronic query. This can result in significant time savings when searching for items, particularly in large storage racks with numerous storage locations for manual insertion and removal, as well as when numerous workers or operators 24 are working on a storage rack 10.

[0036] In addition to identifying the article and its storage location, an identifier of the respective RFID chip can of course also be assigned further information, for example a manufacturer, an address of the manufacturer, processing information such as speed and torque and the like.

[0037] As explained, the warehouse management computer 28 can also trigger an automatic reorder so that there are always enough items 18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B available to fill the storage shelf 10.

Claims

Claims: Storage rack (10) with several storage locations (12, 14, 16) for manually inserting and removing articles (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B), characterized in that each storage location (12, 14, 16) is assigned an identification device (26A, 26B, 26C), wherein the identification device (26A, 26B, 26C) is designed and arranged to identify the article (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) when it is inserted into the storage location (12, 14, 16), when it is removed from the storage location (12, 14, 16), and / or after positioning the article. (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) to identify the item (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) in the storage location (12, 14, 16).Storage rack according to claim 1, characterized by a warehouse management computer (28), wherein the warehouse management computer (28) is configured to generate information about a storage location based on information from the identification device (26A, 26B, 26C), namely, at which storage location (12, 14, 16) which article (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) is stored in what quantity. Storage rack according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the identification device (26A, 26B, 26C) comprises an RFID reading device arranged at the storage location (12, 14, 16). Storage rack according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the identification device comprises a reading device arranged at the storage location for reading a code on the article.Storage rack according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the identification device comprises at least one camera arranged at the storage location for capturing at least one image of the article and an electronic image processing unit for processing the image and identifying the article. Method for managing the contents of a storage rack (10), characterized by automatically identifying an article (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) manually placed into or removed from a storage location (12, 14, 16) of the storage rack (10) by an operator (24) by means of an identification device (26A, 26B, 26C), wherein the identification of the article (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) occurs upon placement of the article. When an item (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) is placed in storage location (12, 14, 16), when the item (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) is removed from storage location (12, 14, 16) and / or after the item (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) is positioned in storage location (12, 14, 16), a data record for the removed or inserted item (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) is transmitted to a warehouse management computer, the data record containing an identification of the item (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B). 22B), information on whether the article (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) has been inserted or removed and contains information for identifying the storage location (12, 14, 16), and determining a current storage occupancy of the storage rack (10) by means of the warehouse management computer (28). Method according to claim 6, characterized by providing information by the warehouse management computer (28) on which storage location (12, 14, 16) a specific article (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) is located.A method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by determining the replenishment requirement of the storage rack (10). A method according to claim 8, characterized in that, when determining the replenishment requirement for at least one item (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B), the number of items (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) removed during a predefined period is taken into account. A method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by automatically ordering the determined replenishment requirement. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by identifying the article (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B) by querying an RFID chip (30) on or in the article (18A, 18B, 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B), by reading a code on the article or on packaging of the article and / or by capturing at least one image of the article or the packaging of the article by at least one camera and subsequent electronic image processing of the image.

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